The noose begins to tighten as Iron Man's enemies are getting closer to acheiving their goal. As Tony Stark's experiments to save the Living Laser come closer to success, it also makes him a target for another industrial espionage assault on Stark International headquarters. It's Iron Man vs. the Ghost: Round Two!

The Spymaster, realizing that the Ghost merely destroyed a decoy and not the real Iron Man, confronts Tony Stark at the ceremonial opening of a new scientific research center. In his secret identity of Abbot Sinclair, the Spymaster taunts Stark about his past mistakes, and later sends the Ghost on another mission to infiltrate Stark International and to steal the Living Laser.

Tony takes Dr. Dillon out for dinner in order to discuss the Arthur Parks (Living Laser) case, and to get to know her better. She becomes faint due to the recent stress on her health caused by the Intrabeam Particle Communication technology used to contact Arthur Parks. Tony insists she goes home to rest. He asks Harold Hogan to drive her home, but once inside the car she tells Happy to take her back to the lab so that she can again attempt to gain access to Arthur Parks mind using the experimental technology.

Meanwhile, Iron Man upgrades the security systems and procedures at the Stark International plant in the wake of the Ghost's latest attack. In so doing, he sets up a trap to catch the Ghost upon his return...