Having escaped from military custody, within the Strategic Air Command base, in Colorado, Orion finds himself pursued by two United States Air Force fighter jets. Orion eludes his pursuers by flying up into the atmosphere, achieving an altitude far beyond their capacity to follow. Watching from New Genesis, are Izaya, the High-Father of the New Gods, and the young God, Esak. Izaya reveals to Esak that Orion, and other New Gods, received a message from the Source, that sent them to Apokolips, in search of Darkseid. They followed Darkseid's trail to Earth's moon, where they discovered that Darkseid had identified six humans, each of whom possessed a piece of the Anti-Life Equation, buried in their minds. Orion assigned a New God to make contact with each of these humans, and to protect them, at all costs, from falling into Darkseid's hands. Having encountered a degree of difficulty in his contact with Brigadier General Maxwell Torch, Orion decides on a more subtle course. Journeying to the Denver International Airport, Orion uses his Mother Box to scan for a suitable cover identity. Once found, Orion adopts the identity of Anthony J. Masters, a security agent with the Internal Investigations Bureau. From a hidden command post on Earth, Darkseid watches as his first field agent arrives at his destination, in New Orleans. The sole witness to that arrival is a drunken vagrant who is promptly disintegrated. At the apartment of Lorraine Hampton, Metron maintains a constant vigil over his charge.

In his guise as Masters, Orion drives to the Strategic Air Command base, to make contact with Torch. Orion's Mother Box alerts him to the presence of an agent of Apokolips, somewhere within the base. To protect his newly created cover identity, Orion resumes his costumed identity, and skulks about the base in search of Darkseid's agent. In short order, Orion is attacked by Jaffar, a member of the Deep Six. In their last encounter, Orion slew Jaffar. The scaly monster's resurrection gives Orion pause, but only for a moment. Overwhelmed by his warrior's madness, Orion beats Jaffar bloody, with his bare hands. Jaffar tells Orion that he is merely a distraction. The real attack is happening in New Orleans. Their battle draws base security forces, who quickly surround Orion. When Orion refuses to comply with their order to stand down, he is shot in the face. Metron accompanies Hampton to the the Purple Palace, where Hampton is scheduled to perform. Waiting for Hampton backstage, Metron is attacked, and subdued, by Slig, the newly resurrected leader of the Deep Six. While under interrogation by Brigadier General Torch, Orion burns free of his bonds, using the Astro-Force, then fights his way out of the base. Racing to New Orleans, Orion arrives in time to see Slig dragging Hampton away. Orion and Slig battle for the briefest of moments. Orion quickly ends the conflict with a concentrated burst of Astro-Force, which burns Slig to ashes. Hampton is visibly shaken by the horrific events of the night. As always, Darkseid watches from afar, planning his next stratagem.