Mars. Valles Marineris. Progenitor Research Facility.The air in the tunnels was stale, recycled for fifty years by failing scrubbers.Commander Vance led the way. He didn't use a flashlight. He moved by touch and sound, striking his bone spear on the floor after every few steps.Ethan, Kael, and Jarek came behind, with their weapons down. The Iron Legionnaires were running at the back, but their feet were covered in improvised cloth wrappings Vance had insisted they use."...Quiet..." Vance hesitated at a huge blast door. "...It sleeps in the Atrium.""What sleeps?" Kael mumbled through the comms and you could hardly hear him."...The Silencer..." Vance replied. "...The Queen caused it to guard the weapon. It hates noise. It eats vibration."Vance pointed to the keypad. It was shattered."...We cannot open the door. The gears squeak. If we open it, it wakes up.""So how do we get in?" Ethan asked.Vance indicated a ventilator. It was small, tight, and dark."...We crawl."The Atrium.

Mars. The Progenitor Facility.The cavern was no longer dark. It was gold, searingly, blindingly gold.The Pale Rider was no longer restraining himself. The porcelain shell of his humanoid form snapped and broke off like eggshells. Under it, he was not flesh and blood. He was a contained supernova.Straight rays of pure entropy lashed. They smashed against the stone walls converting the rock to helium gas. They struck the slain Progenitor Beast smashing its diamond bones."...Back!" Ethan shouted, and put his hand over his eyes. "Get behind the Bell!"Jarek, whose armour of bio-steel was flaming cherry-red in the heat dragged the rest of the survivors of the Iron Legionnaire behind the huge tuning fork. The Heart of the Guardian was building a forcefield around the Bell of Silence which was barely containing the power of the Rider."...He's going critical!" Sofia screamed over the comms in the Ark. "...Energy spike! He will make the whole hemisphere evaporate!The Rider was suspended

The Spire Plaza. Noon.The huge hologram displays which normally showed weather forecasts and Council messages were now blood red.The Imposter clung on the balcony of the Spire, and his golden skin gleamed in the midday sunshine. He looked perfect. Divine.Thousands of citizens--humans, cyborgs, and mutants--cheered him below him, but massed in confused silence. General Kael stood behind the "King" looking grim, with his hand trembling on his bolter."...Citizens of the New World..." The voice of the Imposter was smooth and was increased so as to reach every corner of the city. "...We were too long contented with Chaos. On the Orders of Order we have set up this city. But Order requires... cleaning."The balcony floor opened. A gravity-lift rose.The Phantom was chained to a pillar.The assassin was a ruin. His shade figure was spasming out of control. He had lost his legs (his battle with Mars), and he floated on a cushion of hysterical shadow energy. He looked broken."...The Pale

The Base of the Spire. Sector 7. Sub-Level 3: The Cooling Grid.The center of the new city was an ice and silicone fortress.Through the ventilation shafts, Ethan, Jarek, and The Phantom were moving through the room above the main server. The atmosphere was chilling, and was pumping it to prevent the melting of the huge quantum processors of the City grid.Behind them went patrols of Golden Legionnaires in close harmony. Their armor was no longer of grey iron; it was gold ceramic plated. They were as glowing in their eyes as the Imposter."...They don't blink..." Looking through the grate, Jarek whispered. "...They are drones in meat suits.""Keep moving," Ethan wheezed.He clutched his chest. The crimson heart black veins were throbbing with pain. Each heart stroke seemed like a blow to a bruise. He wiped a drop of dark sludge off his nose."...You're leaking again, Wolf..." The Phantom observed, flitting unheard."I'm fine," Ethan lied. The central hub is the server access point. Ge

Sector 1. The Space Elevator. Altitude: 40,000 Feet.The rain blew through the bones of the old tower of Lord Vex. The giant elevator platform that had been utilized to carry blood-tithes to the sky had five rusty Orbital Drop Pods.General Kael, Elena, The Phantom, Ethan and Jarek were standing on the gantry. The air was thin and freezing. Under them the world was a topography of clouds and ruins."...Pods are fueled..." Lord Gear had a report through the console. His blue holographic avatar was moving in the wind. "...Trajectory calculated. Target: The Spire Roof. Impact in 4 minutes."Ethan checked his harness. His hands were shaking. The black lines of the Crimson Heart had come up to his neck. He resembled a walking dead man."...Ethan..." Elena touched his arm. "...You don't have to lead the jump. Stay in the rear."I must be first, Ethan yanked. "He's waiting for me."Then, the console screen became bright.The static cleared.The Imposter's face appeared. He sat up on the roof