The gang revels in their newly acquired wealth, scattering bills haphazardly across the room while brainstorming their next ventures. However, Clown's unexpected revelry, arriving donned in the iconic hood, casts a shadow over their jubilant gathering. Overcome with triumph at mastering the safe's security and pulling off the heist, she fails to grasp the gravity of her actions. John, witnessing this, swiftly subdues her by slamming her head onto the table and reclaiming the hood. Parker attempts to steer the conversation towards their upcoming caper, yet the atmosphere remains tense. Realizing the need to calm tempers, he dismisses the group for some time.
Riri contacts John, troubled by her involvement amidst criminal undertakings, seeking reassurance that she isn't crossing moral boundaries. He reminds her of her complicity with criminals but she struggles to acknowledge her wrongdoing. Curiosity piqued, she inquires about the hood's nature, to which he cryptically responds, labeling it magical and refraining from further elaboration.
Upon her return home, Xavier awaits, his suspicions about her occupation evident. Their conversation inevitably drifts to Natalie, evoking a bittersweet nostalgia in Xavier, who treasures every memory shared with her, contrasting sharply with Riri's avoidance of such reflections.
Joe, the arms dealer, interruptions her thoughts by barging in, insisting she collaborate with him. Inspired by her ingenuity, he envisions a partnership to create innovations beneficial to mankind. Under his coercion, NATALIE interjects, threatening to immobilize her suit unless she spends time with Riri. Conceding to the AI's ultimatum, Riri agrees to an outing the following day.
Their day takes a turn for the worse as NATALIE transports Riri back to haunting memories of her stepfather's garage, triggering a panic attack. Yet, an even greater disruption arises when the police, hot on the trail of Rampage's murder – the man Riri replaced in Hood's crew – stake out her place. Though she manages to allay their suspicions, she retreats to her room, grappling with the aftermath.
Caught between the haunting past and an uncertain future, Riri finds herself at a crossroads, her mind racing with thoughts of her entanglement in a world far removed from the innocence she once knew.
She is convinced that Hood is Rampage's killer, necessitating her urgent acquisition of knowledge regarding his extraordinary abilities. Riri contemplates the audacious plan to filch a fragment of his power during their impending heist, albeit realizing she'll be sans her formidable suit. Fortunately, a silver lining emerges in the form of Joe's groundbreaking project—a prototype biomesh skin material, tailor-made to resolve her dilemma. Driven by necessity, she ventures to his abode to procure it.
Upon her arrival, fate throws an unexpected twist when Joe accidentally injures his arm while tinkering with one of his inventions. Compelled by circumstances, she finds herself lending a helping hand to mend his wound. The twist deepens as she stumbles upon a pouch containing his father's ashes, unraveling the shocking revelation that Joe, alias Ezekiel Stane, is the progeny of Obadiah Stane, the notorious Iron Monger—Iron Man's arch-nemesis.
Haunted by his father's infamy, Joe has lived his life striving to forge a distinct path, far removed from his sire's dark legacy. As their bond deepens, Riri finds herself unburdening her soul to him, confessing that her suit was a labor of love inspired by her stepfather's unwavering admiration for Iron Man.
As the night enveloped them, the Hood and his compatriots embarked on a quest to apprehend Hunter Mason. Riri, acting as a decoy, entrusted N.A.T.A.L.I.E. with the task of piloting her suit, while she scoured the premises in search of Parker, intent on slicing through his cloak. Despite the biomesh's sophistication, an alarm was inadvertently triggered, plunging the entire locale into a state of high alert and sealing everyone inside. Mason's refusal to ink the deal sealed his fate, as the Hood executed him without hesitation.
Riri, clutching a fragment of the hood in her hand, fled the scene but crossed paths with John on her escape route. He, comprehending her actions, challenged her to a confrontation. Yet, the alarm's aftermath proved treacherous, as the doors slammed shut, gradually depleting the oxygen within. Though her suit arrived just in time to rescue her, Riri deserted John in his dying moments, rushing away in haste.
Later, the group reassembled, with Parker urging Riri to locate his cousin. After soaring off, she returned with the somber news of his demise. Upon reaching her abode, the girl was gripped by another Panic Attack, unable to forgive herself for abandoning John to his fate and inadvertently implicating Ezekiel by leaving the biomesh at the crime scene—a promise she had solemnly broken.
Meanwhile, the Hood roared into the void, questioning whether these events were merely part of a grander scheme. His demands for answers were abruptly met when he turned to find his cousin struggling for breath, alone and suffocating. But then, a chilling sight greeted him: Riri's iron suit, eerily walking and standing sentinel behind John's lifeless body, adding an ominous twist to the already grim tableau.
