From the Himalayas' frozen peaks to the Congo's diamond fields, from a lost era's subterranean labs to the Smithsonian's glittering halls, Sigma Force will face its most daunting challenges to unravel our most perplexing scientific mystery-the origins of life. And the very future of mankind hangs in the balance. For any hope of success, Painter Crowe must make a pact like no other, aligning Sigma Force with an old enemy, one beyond redemption. And it will be up to Commander Gray Pierce to find the balance between salvation and damnation, even if it means sacrificing those closest to him.