Permission to speak freely? Sir, I was never intended to be customer-facing... 
- — The Centipede
Dial H #9 is an issue of the series Dial H (Volume 1) with a cover date of April, 2013. It was published on February 6, 2013.
Synopsis for "A Hiding to Nothing"
Having yanked Nelson Jent's dial away from him, the Centipede warns that he knows what it is, and how to use it. He begins dialing the numbers, but finds that there is no effect, to his surprise. That surprise provides Nelson with the chance to punch the Centipede in the face - which itself provides enough distraction for Roxie Hodder to touch the stolen dial, and become Minotaura. Her power allows her to trap the Centipede within a maze, affording them the chance to escape. After getting to safety, Roxie worries that Centipede knew more about the dial than she did, and they would need to find out exactly what he knows.
Meanwhile, the Centipede rendezvous with General Choler at a Canadian government facility. Having extensive knowledge of the dials, thanks to his research in Littleville, the General asks the Centipede to stand in on the interrogation of the Canadians' own dial user. When he had encountered Nelson as Flame War earlier, he had inexplicably seized up, and been unable to do anything. Agents are analyzing footage of their encounter, searching for some indication of what Nelson did to affect this soldier. Despite all of this, Centipede chooses not to tell them all he has learned. Despite having no idea how they work, he does have an idea of what's wrong with the government's dial, and why Nelson's dial wouldn't work for him. If the Canadian Government's research could be combined with Roxie's, they would know so much more. Much of Roxie's research was recorded in her hand-written notebooks - which he chose to withhold from the government.
In the meantime, General Choler outfits the Centipede with an actual focus-group approved centipede head mask, complete with visual filters for enhanced reconnaissance.
Meanwhile, Roxie and Nelson have moved into a hotel room overlooking a government building which she has pinpointed as the most likely location of some kind of secret government headquarters, thanks to surveillance showing an inordinate number of military and medical personnel entering the building. Dialing himself a hero, Nelson becomes The Glimpse, a hero who can only be seen briefly in the corner of one's eye - a perfect hero for infiltrating a highly protected government facility.
The dial's power is detected, but its source cannot be pinpointed. Though Nelson is undetectable, thanks to his persona, the Centipede knows that he is in the building and begins manipulating the government's dial user into using the dial, despite orders not to. Meanwhile, using his new mask's visual filters, the Centipede actually manages to see Nelson, and manipulates events such that just as Nelson enters the room to steal the lost dial, it is used by the soldier, and the Glimpse is made to face the Bristol Bloodhound.
Appearing in "A Hiding to Nothing"
Featured Characters:
- Nelson Jent
- Cloud-Herd
- The Glimpse
Supporting Characters:
- Roxie Hodder
- Minotaura
Antagonists:
- The Centipede
- Mason Jones
- Bristol Bloodhound
Other Characters:
- General Choler
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also