Another excellent issue of this remarkable series. However, the complexity of the storyline and the proliferation of characters, alliances and agendas is now making it hard to keep track of some of what is going on. Maika's allinace with the Captain of the Defiled firms up and she learns from him that beings like him can survive by feeding on plants - an interesting revelation that may or may not apply to Zinn. The Dr. continues to be compromised and controlled by the Defiled within him, the one who has rebelled against the Captain. Kippa is occupied by another betrayer and the real Kippa is blinded and trapped within limnal space by the being now controlling her body. However, hope comes in the unlikely form of Yvette Lo Lim -illustrating how alliances can shift in this complex story -who has allied herself with the other Defiled. Together, with Kippa, they consider how to drive the being out of Kippa and help their captain. Corvin finally acts, and gets soundly beaten for his trouble, but apparently that was part of a plan that has enabled Zortia, his Cueman assistant, to gain control of the mask fragments. We learn a lot more about the Beast. Apparently, when she was a tiny child, possibly an infant, Maika manifested Zinn and attacked her. The Beast's body is emaciated and sucked dry, like all of Zinn's victimes, but her father begins replacing her damaged body parts with mechanical limbs and protections, assuring her that Maika will never be able to harm her again. The Beast has entered an alliance with her grandmother Seizi, apparently plotting to seize control of the Dr's army before the creature inside of him can do more damage. Finally, the Captain inside of Maika insists that she consult with the Shaman Empress - someone who is, supposedly long dead but whom the Captain insists is not as dead as she seems and who, he also insists, Maika and has met before.

The story becomes more and more complex but, hopefully, the many different threads will pull together soon. All of these different strands seem to be heading in a grand direction - a confrontation with the horrifying beings who drove Zinn and his people from their planet and whose presence caused the cats and other starfaring races to destroy the gateways. The Dr. was planning to confront these monstrosiites and it seems like Maika is, however reluctantly, heading in the same direction. more