PSI-FORCE #29: 'The Siberian Project, Part III: The Hero Killing'

March, 1989
(22 Pages)

Cover Artists: Rodney Ramos & Chris Ivy
Writer: Fabian Nicieza
Penciler: Rodney Ramos
Inker: Chris Ivy
Letterer: Rick Parker
Colorist: Nel Yomtov
Editor: Howard Mackie
Assistant Editor: David Wohl
Editor-in-Chief: Tom DeFalco

(Special Note: One minor mistake in this issue: Justice uses his shield and sword arm at the same time, which he has never been able to do.)

From the frontispiece of PSI-FORCE #29:

My name is John Tensen. I work for the National Security Council as a ... special operative.

All my life I have sought one thing in my professional and person life. Justice, for all.

But now I find myself in a situation where all my knowledge...all my powers ... will do little to find justice for all. I sit and stare at the people around me, looking at them and seeing them in a clearer light than anyone else on the planet can see people -- I see them for all the good and evil they possess...

...and I see that they are as evil in many ways as the injustices we seek to rectify. And if the people I associate with are of questionable virtue, can I be any better?

And if I am no better, than what right do I have to judge the paranormals we seek to terminate?

Four paranormal teens, code-named Psi-Force by the Central Intelligence Agency. Wayne Tucker, a telepath; Thomas Boyd, an adrenaline vampire; Kathy Ling, a telekinetic; and Lindsey Falmon, an object empath. Four teenagers who formed an energy being of unimaginable power they called Psi-Hawk, and proceeded to destroy a majority of Washington D.C. in combat with a psychotic Russian paranormal named Rodstvow. The Russian survived the battle, the energy being did not. We have learned that the children's bodies were taken to a special research facility in Siberia. And now, allied with the mysterious organization known as the Medusa Web, we proceed with our assignment.

Well, I seek to terminate two parties, my Medusa Web allies seek to rescue one party and terminate the other. Will our cross purposes prevent us from accomplishing either goal?

And if the children and the Russian beast are no better or no worse than any other individual placed in as tenuous a position as paranormals have across the world, then what am I to do?

What is justice in a world that is simply losing any semblance of structure?

These are all questions I'm afraid I will have to answer very soon...

Summary (Continued from the pages of Justice #28):

Justice is on his way to the Siberian Project for Paranormal Research, in the company of members from Medusa Web. He chose this mission as a way to "repent" for not judging Rodstvow and Psi-Hawk, hoping that Angela will soon awaken from her coma (see Justice #28) if he does. He has a discussion with Babel, the field leader, about half the squad "reading" like baby killers, thanks to his aura-reading power.

At the Siberian Project, the three members of Red Sun are honing their skills; there is Sillatocha, able to cause objects to explode; Coojeechiscue, who can make cubes of energy with her mind; and Shivowtnoeh, a paranormal whose body has mutated to resemble that of a beast. The man running the session calls them to quit, insulted by their pathetic performance. Meanwhile, Lindsey Falmon, one of the members of Psi-Force, discusses an escape plan with Sillatocha, who doesn't like serving his country.

Boyd and Johnny Do (the young, autistic Russian paranormal known as Dehman Doosha -- "The Demon Within") are roaming the halls of the compound when Johnny clutches his midsection and collapses. Immediately, several fire alarms go off and the door next to them melts. Boyd investigates to find that several Russian technicians are putting out a fire. Fiberglass body molds are strewn all over the room. Elsewhere, in a small conference room, four scientists discuss the current problem with Tucker, who has been in a coma and telepathically probing things. They recognize that the Psi-Force team, if they banded together, could easily break out ... however, the Russians have an ace in the hole ... Rodstvow.

The extraction team slips in easily enough, making good time only to be pinned down briefly by several guards. Inside, Sillatocha and Lindsey try to see Kathy Ling, but the guards will not allow them. Finally, Kathy blows open the door, knocking the guards unconscious. After a few moments, Lindsey convinces Kathy that Sillatocha (Leonid), is on their side.

While the extraction team keeps the main forces busy, an assault team lands and makes their way into the compound. Boyd and Johnny are led by Tucker's telepathy to his room, where they manage to get in and rescue him. The assault team runs across Kathy, Lindsey, and Leonid. They turn to run, only for Leonid to be killed by Potiphar, the Medusa Web's nonparanormal assassin.

The extraction team encounters Boyd carrying Tucker, with Johnny right behind. As they leave, Rodstvow breaks out of his containment unit. The two teams meet on the surface and manage to escape in the helicopters that brought them there. At this point, Thomas learns that the reason Jessup, their missing number, is not among them is that he has been drafted (see the back-up story in PSI-FORCE #28 and this issue). The groups then wonder if they are truly safe...

To be continued .... in JUSTICE #29!

Summary written by Rod Myers Jr.