I said today would be a doozy, and it looks like I was right. We are on Svalbard, racing toward the top of the world to avert World War III. My abilities are doing strange things—hope they don’t fritz out on me when I need them the most.

I had been thinking that Yarger’s plan was somehow metaphysical or mystical in nature. While there may be a mystical component to it, he’s also got the hard-nosed practicality of a businessman: the events he’s put into motion just may set off the next World War, rather than “merely” a mythical Ragnarok.

A fleet of troop transports had launched from Murmansk heading to Svalbard, the location of the Doomsday Vault. From the type and number of the ships, it was estimated that they might hold as many as 10,000 troops. Frostburn’s people would be able to get us to Svalbard, but it would take hours—the fleet would beat us there. Since we had managed to stop the tanker from crashing into the oil rig, NATO resources would be able to respond to the threat instead of looking for survivors of the crash.

As we’re getting into a chopper to take us off the rig, Raptor decides to try out his new wings, see if he can get some recon on the Vault. Turns out he’s shockingly fast when he puts his mind to it. Of course, the Wired Alchemy boys are waiting there. The skinny Goth wizard guy somehow managed to possess Raptor’s body. We had just arrived at an airstrip on the mainland when we see Raptor coming fast—the wizard tried to make him attack us, but Raptor managed to fight off his influence. Our attacks just went right through him as if he were a ghost. My claws, Frostburn’s ice beams, even Raptor’s new energy bolts, nothing could touch him. He says something about how we’re totally unprepared to face someone like him, then whips out this sickly green ribbon of corrupt energy and lashes Cole with it. The kid drops.

The cocky little punk pissed me off—all these Wired Alchemy guys think they own the world. I lunged at him, even knowing I couldn’t touch him, but something weird happened. I felt this burst of energy from behind my ribs, my body felt warm, and my claws actually sliced into the guy. Later, the others told me that my whole body glowed green—like the green force I saw when I first gained my abilities—especially around my claws. Being a ghost and all, he was totally unprepared for something to actually touch him…I messed him up real bad. He was lying there, half submerged in the tarmac, and took a potshot at me. The effort of the blast must have pushed him past his limits, because his eyes rolled back in his head and he slipped under the ground.

I have no idea what this means—I’ve just gotten used to having claws and all, what does it mean to glow green? Am I getting in better touch with my abilities, or am I burning them out?

The three of us got on the plane while Raptor went back to check out the Vault again. Dominion, Melvin, and Razor were still there (Razor is the ninja chick that Frostburn fended off in the loft), with Yarger’s voice on the intercom. Raptor tussled with them but managed to retreat.

Meanwhile, Frostburn is talking to Admiral Collins, the NATO commander in the region. Looks like we’re working for NATO for the duration of the current conflict. Raptor managed to disable five of the troop transports before running into Yarger. He also got some important intel from some of the sailors: there are “only” about 2,000 men on those boats, the rest of the space is taken up with the portal array.

Yarger, as it turns out, is one serious badass. He can grow to at least 40 feet tall, can shoot energy blasts, is immensely strong, and was able to shrug off one of Raptor’s bolts without a scratch. I’m not sure how we’re going to take him down. Unlike most corporate assholes, he might actually live up to his own marketing—first “god” of the new age and all.

The transports beat us to Svalbard, but Raptor was able to convince the civilians to get to safety. The troops are moving the equipment north at a brisk pace; they’re already past the Vault. Yarger is escorting them, but somehow they’re not put off by a 40-foot man walking beside them.

Gerald called and told me that this whole thing was blowing up into an international incident—the transports came from Russia and landed on Norwegian soil. The US is rattling sabers, Russia’s getting pissed, even China’s getting into the mix. If we don’t settle this soon, with a minimum of mess, the whole thing could blow up. He also said that he talked to the Norwegians and got the encrypted data to Graham—Graham says it’s “alive” but he’s making progress. It’s great to have Graham back and to have Gerald on our side.

We’re heading north to intercept, still not sure what we’re going to do once we get there. Collins will be looking for a military solution, but there’s a chance that might be playing into Yarger’s hand. There’s the Wired Alchemy team at the Vault, two thousand enemy troops, and a freakin’ giant with an array of portals into Hell. We’re going to have to work together and play this smart, or the world might come crashing down around us.