Sodality: Augmentation

At this point in time, the heroes have been doing there thing for three full years. They discover, however, that Arfaas had successfully infiltrated Toklisana's supreme court. Capp Aard was getting his supplies with partial help from a certain Judge Beliah. Beliah, it turns out, was hiding his daughter in a brothel in Laos to cover up the fact that he'd molested her. He was not only working with Arfaas behind everyone's back, but later worked with Aard to build the death ray. The two had gotten together with remnants of the disgraced FPB to hunt down Phexos and Phexo-friendly Marlquaanites. Several heroes have been captured, and were being held in Chimerica-controlled lands that were once part of Netheel. Just as Emeraldon was to be executed in a grand fashion over Houston before being rescued by Ciem and Earwig, so also was a similar attack being planned by what remained of the Hebbleskin Gang. And the newly-captured heroes would be the next to go. The only one they feared they could not kill off completely was Extirpon, who had been captured ten years prior. He was to remain in Marlquaanite suspended animation possibly forever, as that alone would keep him from ever again becoming a danger to anyone.

Candi and Donte decide to return with Black Rat and Stung Hornet to Alaska, and attend Steve and Miriam's wedding. Botan encourages them to go, saying that the remaining team would keep in touch with them. The ride back proves dangerous, but they manage to fight their way through various assaults on their plane and landing strip. Stung Hornet sacrifices herself to get the remaining five back to Steve's cabin. Meanwhile, Botan and Earwig head into dangerous territory with Chimerican officials to search out the missing heroes. The original Navyrope reveals himself, joining them. They first rescue Pilltar and Strawberry's pilots, who complain that their robots are in Ameristan. Emeraldon flies in and helps to secure the props for Pilltar and Strawberry, as well as the backup droids. They find their neighborhood in ruins, and act quickly before any Jihadist radicals can spot them. The recovered heroes are rushed back to safety immediately, and resume operations down in Texas.

The next two heroes recovered are Mukade and Meerkat, who promise to help Botan finish his journey. Dolly is sent home in the nick of time, as the Phaletori reveal they're not quite finished yet. Candi and Donte return home as well, after wishing their hosts the best of luck on their new lives. Black Rat initially stays with Steve and Miriam. Melvin Markus makes an attempt on all three, and Black Rat is soon called home to China. Steve and Miriam find out they are expecting twin daughters, and name them Marie and Trina. They now have the cabin in Alaska to themselves.

Meanwhile, the situation in Texas gets even messier. With Ciem down, Emeraldon and Earwig find themselves overwhelmed. Lex does what he can to even the odds; but the Phaelite mainstream begins having more Phaletori deserters every week. Beliah tries to use the True Centhuens and the mess they make as an argument for the Toklisanan government to outlaw all Phexos. When given a tip that Botan the Plant-Man and Navyrope are working with Pilltar and an escaped Mukade and Meerkat, he is enraged. He tells his underground network to pull out all the stops to defeat these heroes; before they can rescue any more of their number. Beliah incites his La Raza connections to start riots as a diversion, while ordering that the remaining heroes be killed ahead of schedule.

The Sapphire King resurfaces, however, and lends the heroes some help. Alas, he ends up sacrificing himself to secure the escape of Hea Pang and the Gray Champion. Gray immediately rescues his daughter Mapacha. While the members of Team Ciem that are back in Texas strive to expose Beliah, the race is on for those in Chimerica to rescue Extirpon - the last remaining hope that the heroes have. However, they all realize how dangerous Extirpon is. America may be united again as a country; but only because of all the Ameristani and others that Extirpon will slaughter in order to secure that. Even the Chimerican colonial government begins to have second thoughts, as they fear Extirpon may not tolerate them either. Other countries, particularly major members of the UN, begin to put pressure on China to make sure Extirpon is not revived. But as he is, Beliah is exposed. Several nations grow desperate, fearing that their corrupt regimes will once again have to live in fear of the scourge that is Extirpon. The heroes all celebrate their moment of victory; but realize they may have just started World War III.