Max and Donald Lydecker are taken hostages at a convention. Logan decides to trade himself as a hostage for all the women. Max decides to stay and ends up helping Logan when the terrorists push him off the roof of the building. She also does the unexpected when she saves Lydecker from being shot in the head.

Zack reappears and tells Max Lydecker has captured Brin, one of their Manticore sisters, and plans to do her harm. Max decides they must kidnap Lydecker and force him to reveal Brin's whereabouts. When Max and Zack discover that Lydecker was not behind Brin's disappearance, they have no choice but to team up with Lydecker to find their lost sister.

A suspicious-looking man takes pictures of Max. She follows him and is surprised that he seems to possess super-natural strength. Finding out that he is actually a good guy, the two team up with Logan and investigate the deaths of recently released prisoners. This leads to shocking discoveries about Logan's family business. Logan is left with a dilemma. If Eyes Only goes public about this finding, he would lose his source of income.

Tinga, who escaped to Canada in #1.12 with other X5's, when Eyes Only warned them their locations were compromised, comes back in town to save her husband and son. With Max and Zack's help, the family is reunited, but not before the son is given a deadly pathogen. Lydecker agrees to cure the boy in exchange for Tinga. Unbeknownst to him, Madame X has already arranged for Brin to double cross Lydecker. She captures Tinga, who is able to pass her special traits to her children, to study her.

Max is in heat again, ready to jump at any men, even Normal! She hates her condition and is ashamed of it. Meanwhile, she is avoiding Logan at all cost and decides to cancel their anniversary dinner. After the day is over, she confronts the still-confused Logan about her condition and the two finally admit their feelings towards each other. Just as they are kissing, Zack interrupts with bad news about Tinga. They must go rescue her from a secret government facility.

Lydecker realises that he has lost control over Manticore, as Madame X is now clearly running the show. He would rather see the project destroyed than see it abused by others. He asks Max for help in bringing Manticore down. Together with Zack and other X5's, they storm the facility and destroy the DNA lab.