CRASH AND BURN

• Writer - Peter David
• Penciler - Rick Leonardi
• Inker - Al Williamson
• Lettering - Ken Lopez
• Lettering - Jon Babcock
• Colorist - Steve Buccellato
• Colorist - Joe Andreani
• Editor - Joey Cavalieri
• Editor in Chief - Tom Defalco

Summary

  Discord offers Miguel to be his sidekick. Discord has locked everyone else out but his old "friend" Firelight". Miguel sneaked in with his "shareware". Discord was responsible for the "Domino Crash" from several years ago, but he was foiled by Firelight and other "supreme banktanks". Discord apparently survived that counterattack. He has returned with this scheme because he has created Asimov's "time-line prediction program". It predicts the world is destroyed in 2112, so Discord decided to ease humanity into Armageddon by destroying the Internet. Meanwhile, a secret failsafe program created by Gabriel urges him to "pull the plug", which Miguel does. A flow of data floods Cyberspace, and Discord's plans (and existence?) are annihilated. After saving his life, Firelight finds this the perfect time to tell Miguel he knows his secret identity.

  "Getting in Deep" (Young Miguel O'Hara)5 pages

  Miguel is caught flirting with Xina by his holoteacher, Mr. Hoffman. Xina says her interests are artificial intelligence and extraterrestrials. She says that textbooks try to keep knowledge of aliens a secret. Kron Stone apologizes to Miguel for his prank. He is sporting a bandage across his nose (thanks to Angela). Xina and Miguel agree to meet at the pool, but before Xina gets there, Kron tries to drown his new rival.