Since the events of Instinct, King must raise Fiona Lane, the sole survivor of an attack in the Siletz reservation. When King receives a call that his mother has died, he goes to attend her funeral. After meeting his father for the seemingly first time and discovering that his mother had faked her death, King learns the truth about his parents’ past. While the rest of Chess Team is sent on a mission, their base, Fort Bragg is attacked by a myserious force and Fiona is kidnapped. Richard Ridley has returned, seeking to eliminate the last of the world's known speakers of ancient languages, including Fiona. Teaming up with Alexander Diotrephes, the mythical Hercules, Chess Team races to stop Ridley from harnessing the Mother Tongue and destroying mankind. Meanwhile, Tom Duncan makes plans to exit his presidency and devout his time to his role as Deep Blue.
