Steel City, Veiled Kingdom, Part 2: Going Underground

Jerimin Icarii is one button press away from everything he ever wanted.

Before the judges of the galaxy’s most prestigious scientific institute, he places a rabbit on a miniature teleportal.

His notes are written on napkins.

Of course they are.

Jerimin presses the button.

At the second teleportal, the rabbit yawns.

Jerimin has not impressed the scientific establishment.

He has terrified it.

The institute wants what Jerimin can do.

It does not want Jerimin.

Still, it opens its doors.

So Jerimin goes home.

Not to the shining steel city.

Underground.

There, the Queen waits in her true shape: enormous, skull-faced, four-eyed, monstrous.

The monster beneath the mountain makes him feel like he belongs.

Somewhere along the way, they dare to call each other friends.

But their friendship began with a bargain.

Now she reminds him:

“You will earn what has been given.”

What she asks of him grows stranger.

She tells him what to do.

She never tells him why.

But how can Jerimin refuse the only person who has ever made him feel wanted?

STEEL CITY, VEILED KINGDOM, PART 2: GOING UNDERGROUND continues a maximalist science-fantasy odyssey of a genius the world doesn’t want, a monster who does, and success with teeth.

You’ll cheer when Jerimin proves them wrong—and dread what his victory has set in motion.