It's a sweltering summer afternoon. The little, run-down electronics store in the poorer district of Halcyon City barely has any air conditioning left to give, and now that its street window has been shattered, the heat flows in as well.
"They are among us, brothers and sisters," says Blaire Zeal from one of the plasma TVs. The televangelist hate-preacher turned alien collaborator has lost none of his flair for theatrics in his change of careers. "They could be your neighbor. Your co-worker. Even your family. No one is above suspicion."
"It wasn't too long ago that they lorded over us with the sins of pride and hubris. You remember what it was like when they walked among us openly! Explosions, disasters, peace nothing more than a dying hope! But now, a new dawn has come. Our friends from the stars have brought this city stability, justice, and order, like water to parched lips! But don't think we can let our guard down! They're still out there, biding their time from the shadows! New abominations are formed every day, testing our resolve, and our partnership with the Tangee! And they want nothing more than to ensure that all we have achieved is ruined! We have proven that we do not need them, and they cannot stand it!"
"Do you know what the eight scariest words in the English language are? 'I'm a superhero, and I'm here to rescue-"
SMAAAASH!
The final scariest word in the English language is forever rendered a mystery when an enraged man lays a baseball bat into the television, shattering the screen. Elsewhere in the shopping district, other scenes of chaos are unfolding. Customers storm a Jewish Bistro. A maniac attacks a fire hydrant with a wrench. Windows are being smashed, tables upturned, and more and more people are being drawn in to participate, creating a full-on riot.
At the center of the action, an eight foot tall man marches through the street. He wears a massive pinstripe suit tailored to his broad, powerful frame. His head is bald and craggy, and he gazes at the mayhem through perpetually squinting eyes. In one hand he holds a megaphone, which he uses to continually bark encouragement at the mob.
"THAT'S RIGHT! BREAK STUFF! SHOW 'EM WHAT WE THINK OF THE BEAKS! ABOUT THEM TAKIN' PEOPLE IN THE NIGHT! ABOUT PLANNIN' TO SET UP CHECKPOINTS SO THEY CAN TAKE US IN THE DAY! WE DON'T HAVE TO LIVE LIKE THIS!"
Just then, a HUAC tactical vehicle pulls up to block the street. HUAC operatives immediately begin pouring out in their black armored uniforms. Elsewhere, police cars begin arriving to cut off other avenues of escape.
A HUAC officer steps forward. "YOU ARE PART OF AN ILLEGAL GATHERING! EITHER DISPERSE NOW OR PREPARE TO BE PROCESSED!" The operatives behind him produce electric riot prods and hand held force shields, gifts from their Tangee 'sponsors.' They advance, but the riot shows no sign of dispersing...