Sleeper (Volume 2) #4 is an issue of the series Sleeper (Volume 2) with a cover date of November, 2004. It was published on September 22, 2004.
Synopsis for "Face/Two Face"
At the strip club called the Alter Ego, in reality one of Tao's criminals-only establishment, it is attended by Holden and the other Prodigals as he waits for his sign of contact from John Lynch, in which it came as a note on his drink coaster; which reads that he must be ready for an incoming diversion. Knowing that one of the Syndicate members is under Lynch's control, he immediately figured it out to be Triple-X Ray. Holden follow and confront Ray into the men's bathroom. Ray admits that he was the one for informing Lynch of the truck hijacking and is assure by Holden that he will never be kill and outed for being an informer. Wanting Ray and Miss Misery to get out of safety of Lynch's diversion, Holden have Ray fake for being ill and convincing Miss Misery to escort him home. Only a few minutes to the diversion, Tao's ranking Prodigal Peter Grimm arrives, who had come to assign Holden and the Hounds for tomorrow. The diversion finally came in the form of a federal raid, boasting with a man in power armor. The club's patrons, including Grimm, attack and creating an all out brawl. Holden escapes and travel across the city, finding Lynch's flying car.
As the car is put on auto, Holden is transported to an I.O. facility in New Jersey and meets an awaiting John Lynch. Holden, wary at first, is lead inside the now-emptied facility by Lynch to the monitoring room. Here Lynch explains to Holden that the Bleed artifact that gave him his power didn't fell out of the Bleed alone. After Holden's team was killed at the site of the fallen artifact, I.O. discovered a crashed alien ship a thousand north of where the artifact was found. And as a result, I.O. discovered an alien explorer from the ship, in which Lynch shows Holden the pilot, now captive, in the facility's holding cells. The alien was recovered from hiding for nearly a year. According from the alien, the artifact is a kind of symbiotic armor for dimensional travel, and can be remove from Holden by the explorer. Meaning that he can cure Holden's condition. Though Lynch admits that he had kept this secret from Holden when he was already in the organization, but solidly states that he never intends to abandon him. Holden then demands that he wants to personally talk to the alien.
Once meeting with the alien, he and Holden communicates, as the former uses telepathy to communicate. The alien, known as Aldo, tells Holden that it knows that the artifact called the "raiment" is within him and that he will be able to remove it. Holden then ask him that once the artifact remove, would he be normal as before. Aldo briefly pauses and stares at Lynch before reiterating that he can remove it.
Once finishing talking with Aldo, Lynch talks to Holden that he must understand that he is doing what is right to stop Tao, and regardless he can offer to cure Holden and in return for helping against Tao. However, to ensure that Lynch keep his promise, Holden wants further demands that includes pardoning Triple-X Ray, a new life for himself on an tropical island, and an unknown offer. After Holden left on the flying car, Lynch confronts Aldo and criticize him for possibly ruined the deal with Holden after hearing his question, knowing that the procedure would not guarantee to grant Holden's normal condition.
The next morning, Holden report everything that had happened last night to Tao. Tao tells Holden that Grimm was injured in the raid and have made aware that Triple-X Ray and Misery escape due to Holden's machination, in which Holden excuse that they are the people he likes. Tao then tells that everything is in place against Lynch. Holden then poignantly questions Tao as to why he and Lynch hold a great vendetta for each other.
Appearing in "Face/Two Face"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Triple X-Ray
- Miss Misery
- John Lynch
- Aldo
Antagonists:
- Peter Grimm
- Tao
Other Characters:
- Blackwolf
- Pit Bull
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
- Flying car