Rex and Noah are aboard the Keep and returning to Providence HQ when news breaks of surprise attacks against major Providence bases around the world. Having lost his nature-controlling powers at Rex's hands (he has apparently manage to turn himself back into a E.V. O. through a as of yet unidentified means), Van Kleiss is out for revenge; he personally leads the Abysus forces which board the Keep. Rex counter attacks, but is restrained by Biowulf long enough for Van Kleiss to drain Rex of all his active nanites. This alters his powers into the mirror image of Rex's: as Rex is able to cure E. V. O's, Van Kleiss is now able to create them, which he demonstrates on Captain Calan. The depowered Rex is thrown from the Keep by Biowulf, but is rescued in midair by Six's jumpjet. Van Kleiss is determined to destroy Providence once and for all; the Keep is rammed into the HQ tower, and a heavy battle develops. Rex, Noah and Bobo escape in a jumpjet to Purgatory Base, where Rex risks his life by immersing himself in active nanites in order to reactivate his powers. The procedure seemingly activates the large, unusual nanite that Dr. Rylander had injected into him in Dark Passage. Providence HQ is about to fall; Van Kleiss makes it into the situation room, defeats Six, and dispatches Biowulf and Skalamander after White Knight and Dr. Holiday. Rex reappears and attacks Van Kleiss, manifesting a new, whip-like build granted by Rylander's nanite; he is able to use its abilities to disable Van Kleiss. Meanwhile Holiday takes down Skalamander by releasing her E. V. O. sister, and White Knight lures Biowulf into a trap. Van Kleiss is snatched to safety by an E. V. O., while Breach sets bombs throughout Providence as a diversion. Rex finds he is able to shut down the entire HQ with his new powers. Providence takes Biowulf, Skalamander, and many other E. V. O. s left behind into custody; Rex, back to his old self, cures Captain Calan. Rex is warmly commended by White Knight and confidently observes that while Van Kleiss may be back and more powerful than ever, so is he, and the war is not over yet.