Golden Son

Welcome back, my Goodmen, to Part 2 of the Red Rising series! If you’re looking for a dystopian Sci-Fi with a dash of Roman culture set in solar system, then you’ve come to the right place! Sequels usually have a rep for lagging between the beginning and finale of a trilogy – however, that is NOT the case for Pierce Brown’s work, which leaves you guessing every moment what’s going to happen next! The scope is broadened and stakes are raised! Foreshadowing is on point as well… though it sneaks up on you at the end – so let’s get to it! *SPOILERS AHEAD!*

Following Darrow’s ascension within the Institute as Head Primus, he has recently been adopted into the ranks of the Augustus family… or rather, he’s walked straight into a lion’s den! Nero, the head of the Augustus household, and the Archgovernor of Mars (whom Darrow serves) is directly responsible for the murder of Eo. The Jackal is a contending heir as the son of Nero, and it just so happens that Darrow caused him to cut off his own hand in the battle royale of the Institute. As if matters weren’t complicated enough, Virginia (aka “Mustang”) was Darrow’s love interest in the arena, and she is not only a fellow Augustus, but the twin sister of the Jackal… her and Darrow’s current relationship is estranged, especially since she has decided to join the Sovereign’s Court on Luna.

As a Peerless Scarred, an elite among the Golds, Darrow now trains in tactical astral combat against none other than Karnus, Cassius’ older brother in the Bellona family, who have sworn a blood oath against him. Darrow has all but won this harrowing endeavor, with seven ships of his own against the last remainder of Karnus’ battlecrafts in hiding among the asteroids. In a sickening turn of events, Karnus brings out an invisible destroyer which rips Darrow’s leading ship in half. During the evacuation, Darrow throws himself to cover Theodora, an elderly Pink who has become a trusted social adviser to him, and leads the others who are still alive to retreat into escape pods. Unfortunately, there’s not enough room for the remaining Grays who have come along, and a fight ensues to determine who gets to live…

As the last survivors flee the destruction, Darrow is disgusted and infuriated at the death toll of lower Colors floating in space, simply for the sake of a “practice battle.” Swearing that he will not allow Karnus to get away with this slaughter, he makes his way towards the torpedo shell that he straps himself into. He plans to launch himself directly through the windows of Karnus’ spacecraft, even if it kills himself in the process. Right before the torpedo launches, the proctors of the Academy shut down his controls, and he is forced to concede defeat – allowing Karnus the victory.

Roque attempts to comfort Darrow in the aftermath, stating that he shouldn’t sulk, because he won 2nd place. Darrow is exasperated, and tells him it’s not about winning – it’s about the hundreds of people who died! Roque struggles to understand, believing these people died knowing the risks, and that their deaths served the greater good of the Society. He wishes Darrow wouldn’t push his friends away, and let them in, as opposed to treating them like enemies. Darrow’s thoughts sum it up perfectly – “If he only knew.” Darrow is not a Gold, like the rest of them – not truly. He was born a Red, and works as an undercover agent for the Sons of Ares to bring down the Golds’ tyrannical reign, his goal to wither away their power from the inside out.

The night gets worse. When Darrow goes to find peace in the quiet of the garden at night, he is cornered by seven Bellona cousins, led by Karnus. Seven to one, just as Darrow’s ships outnumbered Karnus’ one. There is no one else around. The Bellona know it is illegal to kill him, and that if they do murder him, it will spark a war between the Augustus and Bellona… so instead, they beat him mercilessly, cut his hair off, and then collectively piss on him.

Nero Augustus is not happy with this turn of events. So much so, that he listens to his Politico, an effeminate snake of a man known as Pliny. Pliny spins lies of Darrow’s character, resulting in Nero’s decision to sell Darrow off to the highest bidder of lesser Gold families. Though when confronted with Darrow’s truth, Nero still refuses to budge. He cannot abide the humiliation and loss that Darrow suffered to the Bellona, and will not allow the Augustus name to be tarnished. Without the Augustus’ family protection, Darrow is certain that he will be hunted by the Bellona family, and die within a matter of days…

Before the trading is to begin, Victra au Julii offers him a way out. The offer is laced with banter and unrequited seduction. She wonders why Darrow won’t trust her, but he trusts his friend Tactus – to which he responds that Tactus is no friend. Darrow spent half his fortune to purchase an exquisite violin for Tactus, when he discovered that the first broke… only to find that Tactus sold the violin for drugs and prostitutes. Regardless, he agrees to Julii’s offer, and she arranges a meeting in a tavern between him and the Jackal!

After the initial back-and-forth of insults, the Jackal reveals several key points of information: he secretly controls 1/3rd of the media; Octavia au Lune dabbles in the crime industry, and is considering promoting Cassius to Olympic Knight; the real reason Pliny hates the Jackal and Darrow is because he’s groomed Leto to be the chosen heir of Augustus, and Pliny controls Leto; Nero tasked Pliny with eradicating the Sons of Ares, and Pliny is failing; the Jackal plans to win back power and favor by working together with Darrow to eliminate the Sons of Ares!

To stay under cover, Darrow agrees to the plan. The Jackal agrees to purchase Darrow’s trade contract, as well as retrieve Sevro and the Howlers from their station on Pluto. He also offers to provide information of Mustang’s new relationship, to which Darrow stiffly declines. Their conversation is interrupted by a dazzling Pink, whom Darrow is stunned to recognize – Evey, a girl grown into a woman, who was under Mickey’s care (and abuse) which Darrow ensured would never happen again. The Jackal bullies her into “entertaining” Darrow for the night, and as they retreat, he asks her why she’s here, wondering about the Sons of Ares, but she quickly informs him that she’s planted a bomb (under Harmony’s direction) to take out the Jackal! In a fit of urgency, Darrow flies back on Gravboots to save his new ally, much to the chagrin of his Ares counterparts.

Darrow meets up with Mickey (the Purple who made him a Gold), Evey, and Harmony to deliver the news. He wants to know who’s in charge of the new violent trends, and Harmony informs him that Dancer, his original recruiter, is dead. Harmony is now running the show under Ares’ direction, and both she and Evey abuse Mickey now. Evey also believes that the Golds must suffer pain, as they have caused the Pinks to suffer (Cupid’s kiss – a device implanted in Pinks that cause constant pain unless they obey in pleasuring their masters.)

Darrow demands to see Ares, and Harmony dismisses Evey and Mickey. She informs him that it is impossible to speak with Ares, but confirms that due to Darrow’s failure of the original plan (infiltrating the Golds and gaining power) he must instead use his opportunity of being “sold” at the mass gathering of Gold families to blow up the Sovereign, Bellona’s, Augustus’s, etc. with a bomb. Darrow thinks this is unbelievable, but then Harmony reveals exclusive footage of his wife Eo’s death… where she whispers her last words to her sister instead of him. With the technology to amplify the sound, Darrow is able to hear his wife’s message… that she was with child, and to hide the crib. Upon this revelation, Darrow breaks, grieving that his wife chose martyrdom instead of a life with him and a family – grieving that he failed not only his wife, but also his unborn child… Grief turns to resolve, and he agrees to bomb the Gold’s gala.

In the moments before the bombing, Darrow reaches out to Roque for solace, and is surprised to find that his dear poetic friend has decided to rebel against Augustus and his own political parents by taking out a loan to purchase Darrow’s contract. Roque offers a kind story of “finding home,” a place where you find light when all else is dark. In an effort to spare his friend’s life from the bomb, Darrow tranquilizes Roque before he can get to the gala. Roque sees it coming, but is unable to stop it, feeling confused and betrayed.

When attending the gala, Darrow wears a social mask, knowing that he is about to murder everyone attending. Politics are the tense undercurrent of the occasion, but Darrow seeks out Karnus, knowing that neither have to pretend to like each other, and the honesty is refreshing. They share wine, and when questioned, Karnus confesses that the reason he wants to kill Darrow boils down to pride, not revenge. The only thing men have in this life is their shout into the wind – that, and women. This is when he points out Mustang… who has arrived on the arm of Cassius.

Darrow quietly slips into the nearby woods where the grief of his failure overwhelms him yet again. He nearly sets off the bomb right then and there, but deep down, he knows it’s wrong, and questions Ares’ direction… He thinks of Eo and her dream, and realizes that he must stay true to that dream instead of betraying her ideals and himself. He knows that sporadic bombs will not bring down the Gold’s tyrannic reign, but rather the original plan of deteriorating them from the inside out. He returns to the gala with renewed purpose – to start a Civil War!

Darrow ignores all social precedents, strutting up to the Bellona Family table, walking across all their plates, and challenging Cassius to a duel… by kicking wine into his lap. Challenge accepted! The Sovereign approves of the duel, sanctioning it to the death! Nero Augustus demands to know Darrow’s reasoning, but Darrow plays it up for honor and power, gaining Nero’s blessing. Next is Mustang, and it’s clear they’re both disappointed in whom the other has become…

The duel begins, and after feigning weakness, enough to boost Cassius’ confidence and draw him in, Darrow reveals the real reason why he hasn’t been using a razor publicly in the past two years… He’s trained with the legendary retired Olympic Knight, Lorn au Arcos! The tables turn, and Darrow makes short work of Cassius as a spectacle for all to see, taunting the Bellona Family and the Sovereign. Just before he delivers a death blow, the Sovereign illegally changes the rules of combat, giving Cassius the chance to yield and spare his life. This causes a political uproar among the other families, displaying the Sovereign’s favoritism, as well as her claim that her words are greater than the law!

Darrow realizes in this moment, only he has the power to defy her, and takes his chance, lopping off Cassius’ sword arm – just as he is about to finish the job, Mustang jumps in between him and Cassius, stilling his blade, and they recognize each other once more in truth as they have always been… However, this doesn’t stop the outrage and bloodbath that ensues between the Gold families, now out of the Sovereign’s control! Separated in the fray, Mustang calls for Darrow to protect her father, but Leto falls in the confusion of battle. Darrow is the only one to notice the Jackal conceal a stylus that could have been the only reason for Leto’s last moment of faltering.

During the escape of Augustus, Darrow, the Jackal, Pliny, Victra, Tactus, the Tellamanuses, and kin witness a family getting slaughtered, including the infants. Tactus is disgusted with the murder of innocent youth, and saved Darrow’s life in the fray. When they are near their retreating point, the new Rage Knight and a hundred Obsidian Praetorians drop from the sky to intervene. What was thought to be their demise turns into an ironic reunion. The Rage Knight reveals himself as Fichtner, and delivers the message that the Sovereign demands the families return to their ordained quarters for the gala. When Nero and the Jackal speak to him, he simply knocks them out with a StunFist, and asks that Darrow come with him.

In Darrow’s meeting with the Sovereign, he meets Aja (one of the Furies, and the Sovereign’s sister, an Olympic Knight as well) who is protective of Lysander, the Sovereign’s grandson, as well as Lorn’s. Lysander looks up to Darrow, and when the Sovereign asks him to join their legion, Darrow refuses. Lysander convinces him to reconsider, so Darrow and the Sovereign play a game of truth with hideous creatures modeled after pit-vipers and scorpions. Octavia au Lune, the Sovereign, suspects that Nero Augustus is Ares, to which Darrow is able to answer truthfully “no.” When Mustang enters the room, Darrow puts together the pieces of the night’s events, and asks Octavia if she orchestrated the gala to allow the Bellonas to assassinate Mustang’s father. Octavia says “no” and the stinger of the lie-detecting creature plunges into her arm. Mustang is infuriated, but Octavia explains that logically it’s the best move for the Society.

After retiring to his bedchambers in the Sovereign’s domain, Mustang sends Darrow a holo in the middle of the night, warning him to take cover. Sevro and the Howlers break in, ready to stand by Darrow’s side while carrying a bounty the Sovereign will not take lightly – Lysander! They go to the Augustus quarters to find that most of the inhabitants of the home have been slaughtered by Octavia’s command, though it was disguised to look as though the Bellona are responsible. Darrow and the Howlers find Aja who is watching over a lagoon where Augustus and the others are hiding under water with limited oxygen, awaiting their retreat airship. Darrow bargains with Lysander’s life to allow those aligned with House Augustus to escape.

His ploy works, but Aja delivers a near fatal blow to Quinn, one of the Howlers, and Roque’s love interest. The Jackal scoops her up, and he and Darrow fly up to the ship, still retaining Lysander as a bargaining chip. The Jackal is apparently the best prepared to handle the medical emergency on deck as they retreat, since there are no Yellows aboard. Roque is devastated, as is Sevro (who is quieter about it – except when he nearly castrates Tactus for insulting Quinn.) Augustus regroups in the meeting room, ignoring Pliny’s pleas for peace despite Octavia’s assassination attempt. He is set on war, but civil with Lysander, and Tactus offers to take the boy to the passenger hold. Moments later, the escape hatch opens, and Tactus has betrayed them all by flying Lysander back to the Sovereign!

As boarding ships of the Sovereign bring wrath down to bear on Augustus’ ship within minutes, Darrow and Sevro follow through on Darrow’s original plan in the beginning – human torpedo shells to shoot through the windows of a battleship! The plan works, but many more people get sucked into space! Sevro and Darrow are able to cling to the ship’s bridge long enough for the pressure lock to be engaged, and they are safely inside. After accessing the intercom, Darrow rouses the lower Colors of the ship to rebel against the Sovereign’s Golds, though the greatest warrior among them is an Obsidian Stained who annihilates all who cross his path. This Stained presents himself to Darrow as a new servant, introducing himself as Ragnar. Ragnar is impressed with Darrow’s feat of power in conquering the ship, and believes Darrow is a “god.”

Darrow instructs Ragnar to help save his friends’ ship in the hangar, and then is met with a sharp-tongued Blue whom he appoints as the new Captain of the ship, Pax. Her name is Orion, and she navigates a successful retreat from the remaining armada. Sevro and Darrow proceed to the hangar to ensure their friends’ safety… but as Roque walks aboard, he carries a lifeless Quinn. The Jackal was not able to save her, and Roque blames Darrow.

Sevro runs, unable to face her death. Darrow follows, offering what comfort he can. However, Sevro in his grief confronts Darrow about who he really is. Darrow falters, trying to keep up appearances, but Sevro corners him, demanding to know the truth and stating that trust should go both ways. Darrow reveals his link to Ares, and Sevro offers him a secret holo bearing a message from Ares. He and Dancer are still alive, but Harmony has detracted from their movement and ideals. He’s proud of Darrow’s actions and path that he chose to take. Ares assures Darrow that they will be reunited soon. When Darrow realizes that Sevro has known of his true identity and still been loyal to him, he falls into a sobbing heap, grateful for having a real friend for the first time in years… someone to bear the burden with.

Victra guides Darrow back to his quarters, though her guard drops and she is vulnerable with him once more, betraying her affection for him. Darrow tries to dismiss her, but she asks if he thinks he’s better than her? If he thinks she’s wicked. Startled, he tries another route, accepting her as a potential sister, nurturing the bud of a new friendship. That night, Darrow is unable to sleep, and when he goes to find food, he finds Mustang instead. They have their first real conversation in years, where she explains (angrily) that everything she did with the Sovereign and Cassius was an attempt to protect her family and Darrow! She never loved Cassius, but was using him to her own means, and when she saw Darrow at the gala, she was disgusted with herself. Darrow wipes away her tears and reassures her that she is not a wicked person – and internally he knows he loves her, but is afraid to break her heart with all of his lies. Mustang tells him that he cannot trust the Jackal, she’s aware of their arrangement, and invites Darrow to team up with her instead.

At a meeting to determine the future of Mars and House Augustus, Mustang and Darrow team up against Pliny’s whimpering for surrender, convincing Nero that their only options are to win or die. Afterwards, the Telamanuses pledge their allegiance to Darrow, saying they do not hold him responsible for Pax’s death – in fact, they’re honored that he named his ship after Pax. Darrow tries his luck, and asks them for a favor, to which Kavax tests him… and Sophocles the fox finds jellybeans in Darrow’s pocket! A good omen, though one cleverly orchestrated by Daxo (Pax’s older brother). Roque also seeks out Darrow, though he refuses to speak of Quinn. Instead, he confronts Darrow about drugging him at the gala, knowing there must be some reason Darrow wanted this war. Darrow apologizes and tries to explain he was protecting Roque, but Roque is hurt more by the lack of trust, and leaves before the conversation can continue.

When Darrow arrives at Lorn’s estate, he attempts to enlist his mentor’s help in the war against the Sovereign. Lorn declines, explaining that Nero Augustus is just as much a monster as the Sovereign. Aja’s forces come to ambush them with Tactus. Lorn offers Darrow a chance of escape on his magnificent Griffin, but Darrow knew this would happen when planting the seeds in Pliny’s ears. Darrow has set up his own counter-strike via the Howlers, thereby forcing Lorn to choose a side, since Aja now believes Lorn has committed treason. As Aja retreats from the effects of Darrow’s planted bomb, Roque screams for justice against Quinn’s killer, and Lorn realizes the danger his grandchildren are in!

Lorn and Darrow rush to the panic room to find Tactus standing with his razor before the defenseless women and children. Tactus does not want to do this, but has been ordered to, stating that he’s been told by family and the Sovereign that he could never measure up in Darrow’s shadow. Darrow reasons with him, inviting him to join them instead, offering forgiveness. Tactus drops his weapon and embraces Darrow, sobbing for what he’s done, and allows the children to escape. Darrow’s spirit lifts in hope, seeing that even the spirit of a true Gold can change. Eo’s dream is possible! Lorn, however, is not so forgiving… and murders Tactus.

When Darrow and Lorn return to the ship, the Telamanuses greet them with success of seizing an enemy fleet. Mustang arrives with news of her father and the Jackal’s capture. Before the next war meeting, she and Darrow find Roque grieving over Tactus’ death – which he also blames Darrow for in addition to Aja’s escape. Roque reveals that Tactus cancelled his sale of the violin Darrow bought for him, and was practicing in secret to surprise them with a sonata… At the meeting, they agree to reclaim Augustus and Mars. Victra’s loyalty is questioned once again, but Roque vouches for her, and Darrow speaks about friendship and trust, hoping to earn Roque’s forgiveness. Later that night, Mustang visits him again, frustrated that he speaks of friendship, but refuses to let her come too close. His emotions wrestle within, but when he looks up, she is gone.

On the flight to rescue Nero and the Jackal, Lorn warns Darrow about Ragnar, seeing him only as a creature and a weapon. Darrow meets with Ragnar alone, asking what he wants in life. Ragnar only knows servitude, and clings to the notion that the Golds are gods. Darrow sets Ragnar free, granting him the right to choose. Ragnar recoils in fear, believing his homeland will be punished for this shame. Darrow reveals to Ragnar the roots of his heritage as a Red and the potential to follow him in a revolution that will grant all people freedom from the Golds. He then leaves to give Ragnar time to ponder this, trusting him with his secret.

They arrive on Pliny’s new ship. Ragnar nods to Darrow, silently proving he is with him. They rescue the Jackal and Sevro grasps an intercom to sing to Pliny of his oncoming doom. Darrow drills like a Helldiver into the conference room, and with Lorn’s protection he struts over to Pliny and has him executed. He then announces his intent to conquer Mars with an Iron Rain! As they ride the skies before the oncoming battle, Darrow and Roque finally seem to make amends – and even Lorn believes he may have been wrong for killing Tactus. Mustang remains distant. Darrow shares his doubts with Sevro about whether Ares is real before they descend. Sevro responds with a howl, and a mix of Colors howl back in response – waving standards of wolves and slingblades… unity in spite of Color. That is real.

Darrow and his vanguard are launched from their ship to the carnage raging below. They meet up with Mustang’s forces as they charge the capital city of Agea. Roque calls in from the communicator, urgently stating that he just received news that the Sovereign is not on Luna, but secretly stationed in Agea! Darrow says he knows (because he put a tracker on Aja before she retreated.) Roque is furious for being left out of the plans without trust once more, so he hangs up the signal. Darrow, Mustang, Sevro, Ragnar, and the Howlers travel underground, coming up through a riverbed on the other side of the city walls… only to be caught in an EMP trap laid by the Bellona! Darrow’s team of suits become useless, dragging them back under mud and water, leaving them helpless under the metal’s weight and limited oxygen!

Darrow uses his razor to cut his way out, nearly having to sacrifice an arm in the process. He frees Ragnar next, and together they rapidly sneak and ambush the Bellona with their backs turned (as they’re casually slaughtering Darrow’s comrades trapped along the riverbank.) They use the stolen Gravboots to return to their friends in the depths of the river, saving Sevro and the few remainders of the Howlers. Mustang is nowhere to be found, and Darrow silently hopes she has continued with the mission unharmed. Sevro is devastatingly sobered with the realities of war. Darrow gives Ragnar the choice to wield a razor and lead the other Obsidians into battle – much to the horror and dismay of other Golds (particularly Thistle, and even Ragnar at first.) When the Howlers ask what Darrow means by this, Darrow clarifies that in the Institute, he bled for those who followed him – rebuking the idea of slavery in lieu of free followers by choice… why does this concept surprise them now in the real world? Sevro gathers other razors and tosses them to more Obsidians.

The Obsidians surge ahead as Darrow and the Howlers follow behind. Sevro flies on the one pair of (weakened) Gravboots to report that Ragnar has broken through the city gates, and slain an Olympic Knight! Sevro tries to lift them over a secluded part of the wall in secret, but he’s only able to get Darrow up before his Boots sputter, and the he falls to the Howlers on the wrong side. A thunderous boom resonates, proving Mustang has disabled the shields! Darrow jumps alone into the Citadel’s gardens, despite Sevro’s alarmed protests that he’ll die! But he can’t risk the Sovereign’s escape into the shuttle which is about to take off! The ramp is closing as he charges through and lands in the bay… among Karnus, Aja, Fitchner, and the Sovereign.

Octavia commands Aja to kill him, but Fichtner intervenes, stating that Darrow would better serve as a prisoner. Octavia then tells Fitchner to kill him. Karnus shoves Fitchner aside and rushes to kill Darrow, but Darrow decapitates him instead. Aja beats him bloody and senseless, but leaves the kill to Fitchner as the Sovereign commanded. Fitchner is clearly torn, but Darrow is accepting his own death, hoping that he made Eo proud. He just wishes he could see Mustang and tell her the truth about himself. As Darrow fades, Fitchner’s face comes into his vision, and he whispers to Darrow that he’s a fool… Fitchner had the situation under control… and that he is Ares! This shocks Darrow out of his mind-fog, and Fitchner shoots his pulse-fist back at the Golds, tossing a grenade along with it. The Sovereign is enraged at his treason! Darrow falls from the ship, and slips into unconsciousness.

He awakes to having Mustang sleeping at his wounded side. He’s haunted by the memories of war, and Mustang informs him of the aftermath. Octavia escaped, Augustus has conquered Mars and will give a chance for Reformers to speak, Lorn and the Julii have aligned their houses with Telemanus and Augustus against the Sovereign. Civil War is inevitable. Sevro is spending more time with his father, Fitchner. Darrow mourns for all who died. Knowing how close he came to death, he finally opens himself up to Mustang, drawing her close and making love to her.

On his first day off in ages, Darrow spends time with the Howlers and Mustang. He seeks out Roque to mend things between them, but Sevro interrupts, telling him it’s urgent. Darrow tries to stay, but Roque bids him leave – stating that friendships take moments to make but years to repair. This gives Darrow some strange hope, and Sevro pulls him aside to inform him that the Jackal has kidnapped Harmony, Evey, and Mickey!

Darrow arrives bearing gifts for the Jackal with Victra. In the midst of pleasantries, “the Sons of Ares” (aka a disguised Sevro and others) burst through and reclaim the prisoners. Darrow makes a show of fighting back, and then they escape. Darrow feigns outrage and vows revenge, though he’s pinned the blame on one of the Jackal’s loyal (and dead) subjects as a traitor.

Darrow returns to meet with Dancer, Fitchner, and Sevro. Fitchner tells the story of how he became Ares, falling in love with a Red when he was wounded, and wanting to have a family. A Purple modified his wife’s fallopian tubes to be compatible in bearing a Gold son – but the Purple was later caught and ratted them out. While Fitchner was away from the home, she was arrested and put to death. Fitchner believes the Reds are the answer to mending Society, due to their love of family and inner courage. He then shares that Augustus plans on adopting Darrow, and will most likely encourage him and Mustang to wed. Fitchner tells Darrow that their goal is to defeat Octavia, replace her with Augustus, and then they will arrange an assassination a year or so from then to make Darrow the new Sovereign! Darrow is reeling from this notion, and states that he must return to his home and family first. He cannot continue lying to Mustang. She needs to know who he truly is before he can commit to this. Fitchner is completely opposed to this, but Sevro simply states that if she tries to betray them, then he’ll put her down himself.

Darrow returns to the mines, and ensures that the segment in which he once lived will be well-provided for going forward. Mustang comes with him, and at first is enthralled with the way Reds dance and celebrate among themselves. When Darrow leads her to his old home, she senses something is amiss, and he gives her the holo that will reveal his transformation. He invites her to come inside after she’s watched it, but will understand if she leaves. When going inside, he sees his mother, who recognizes him despite his Gold body, and they share an intimate moment of reunion. He catches up on the status of the family, and she questions his goals and the potential fallout after. A child comes downstairs, and Darrow activates his GhostCloak – his mother assures him that no matter what, they will still find joy, and he leaves… Mustang has fled.

Darrow goes into the tunnels, mind racing, and hails Mustang from his DataPad – he discovers too late that she’s directly behind him with a gun leveled at his head. At first, she thinks he will kill her. Then she begins demanding answers, grief-stricken by his lies and his potential to destroy her family and millions of other lives. Darrow reminds her of their shared dream, a place where there are no Colors, but only mankind. He assures her that he loves her, and that she is his hope, much like Eo. Without her, everything is pointless, and he tells her to go ahead and shoot him if she is unable to recognize their dream for a better future.

Mustang leaves him, and within the following days, Darrow attends a celebration thrown by Augustus in his honor. Augustus offers to adopt him, and shares his ideals of preserving mankind for eternity – via the order of the Color system. When it comes time for the ceremony, Roque has asked to present Darrow with the crowning Mask of honor. He carries the box, and in those moments before everyone, he whispers to Darrow that he would have died for him… and then stings him with a paralytic poison. Chaos ensues, resulting in the death of Lorn, and Victra is shot! The Jackal shows his true colors in betraying them all! Aja flies down with Cassius to claim Darrow as their prize, and the Jackal murders his own father. Roque rebukes Darrow, saying they will never be brothers – and shows Darrow what’s inside the box… Darrow’s dream is annihilated when he looks and sees the head of Ares!

It seems Darrow’s greatest strength is also his greatest weakness… his faith in humanity.

“The darkest hour is just before the dawn…” Morning Star is the third installment in this gripping saga, so stay tuned in the weeks to come! As always, feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comments section, and I hope to see you all again soon!

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