Dylan, Rhade, and Doyle had made a good start on the hole in Harper's wall when Trance announced she had completed her genetic tests. Andromeda looked down from the screen as Beka joined them.

Trance said, "Three percent of the DNA was…unrecognizable. Even with Andromeda's database, I couldn't make sense of it. The rest…we'll, there's no easy way to say it." She turned to Beka and added: "Half his DNA came from Drago Musevini, and half came from you."

Beka's eyes widened. "That was a Nietzschean? Rhade?"

Rhade had his back to the others. "I thought it was a myth, or a story your mothers and stepmothers used to threatened you. 'Eat your vegetables or you'll become one of Falco's mutates.'"

"Falco?" Harper yelped. "As in Falco Musevini? Drago's crazy little brother? That Falco?"

Rhade turned. "That Falco. And Harper, whatever you have to say about him, next to any Nietzscehean, you would be kind.

"Falco believed that Drago was fundamentally wrong headed – that trying to evolve the human body was a dead end. The only thing worth saving was the brain, according to him. And he thought that even expanding out into the universe, humans were breeding too fast. The population had to be reduced.

"So Falco came up with a two-stage plan. The first stage would sneak chemicals and nanotech into prescription medication so millions of people with susceptible genes would be mutated into monsters with enlarged, self-sustaining brains. The brains would be harvested and used to power machinery – computers, robots, communications networks, you name it. At the same time, he would breed a dozen girls – test tube babies – who's instinctive drive would be not for reproduction but for combat. They would live to kill. When the girls reached puberty, they would fight to the death until one was left. She would be the….well, some versions of the story called her the Valkyrie; others call her the Genocide Angel. But in the second stage of the plan, she would lead an army of brain-driven machines to cull the human race. Some people would be used to make more brains; others would be kept around for menial labor. The rest would be slaughtered."

Harper arched his eyebrows. "Wow, that's…even the Drago Kasov wouldn't do that."

Rhade nodded. "Drago banished Falco from Ayn Rand station, then set about to create the Nietzschean race. But after he'd bred he first generation of Nietzscheans, Falco returned. He stole digital copies of his and the alpha…of Beka's DNA. Drago gave chase; they disappeared for a month. Then Drago returned. He wouldn't say what happened. But ever since, every Nietzschean male who achieves maturity-" He broke off, then turned to Beka. "Every Nietzschean male swears that when the Alpha Matriarch returns, we will help her and her huntsman defeat Falco and his allies."

"Hunts…Man?" Beka said.

Dylan said, "That wasn't just an oath, Rhade. It was a message to us. He wants our help to beat Falco."

Beka said, "So Falco is here?"

"Or in a universe connected to us," Andromeda said. "I've scanned the mansion near Boyagen. There are zero-point energy emissions coming from it."

Doyle said, "So Falco found a universe where he can put his plans into effect, and maybe spread out into other universes."

"This may sound strange coming from me," Rhade said, "but if Falco is out there, he has to be stopped."

"All right then," Dylan said. "Who am I to refuse to help the alpha matriarch?"