It's 1937. The world has been through a devastating depression
and sits on the brink of the greatest war humanity has ever known. Meanwhile, on
a small chain of islands in the South Pacific a great scientist toils over his discovery:
technology 30-years in the making known only as Sigma Technology. Dr. Erik Chanikov
has discovered a method to combine two normal animals (animals that you would find
in nature) into completely new creatures which have the strengths of both and the
weaknesses of neither.
This is only the first step towards Dr. Chanikov's final goal: combining genetic
material at the molecular level to overcome the inherent genetic flaws that makes
humanity vulnerable to age, suffering, and disease. However, Dr. Chanikov does not
yet realize that the very people that claim to be his allies will instead attempt
to circumvent his work.
Upton Julius, a wealthy American industrialist, has been the sole backer of Dr.
Chanikov's work, as well as his friend through the long years it has taken to develop
the Sigma Technology. Being a great believer in philanthropy, Upton has always been
a source of support and friendship for Dr. Chanikov.
However, in recent years Upton's goals have changed and his once kind and benevolent
manner has faded. For reasons known only to his most trusted allies, Upton has begun
to look at Sigma not as an opportunity to better humanity, but as a tool for increasing
his power.
Obsessed with his scientific pursuits, Dr. Chanikov failed to notice this change
in Upton's personal agenda. All the while, Upton began collecting a motley crew
to help enforce his will: the brutish whaler, Whitey Hooten, the sinister ornithologist,
Velika La Pette, and the deranged veterinarian, Dr. Otis Ganglion.
Together, they are formulating a plan to use Sigma to take over the world, but they
are still missing one key element.
Upton's misdealing has not gone completely unnoticed, however. Dr. Lucy Willing,
Chanikov's assistant (and brilliant scientist in her own right) has seen the clues
and suspects Upton's treachery. Not knowing the full scope of Upton's plans, she
prepares a mobile laboratory capable of hiding out almost anywhere within the vast
island chain where their experiments have been taking place. She only intends to
use this as a last resort. If the worst should happen, both she and Dr. Chanikov
will have a safe hiding place. Until then, though, she plans on covertly monitoring
Upton's operation and learning everything she can about his plans.
Every bomb has a fuse, which in this case is one Rex Chance, freelance war correspondent
and adventurer down on his luck. A desperate letter and a call from the past will
drop him smack into the middle of the struggle over the Sigma Technology, setting
in motion events that could lead to the end of the world as we know it.
Will Upton find the key to unlocking the power of the Sigma Technology? Not if Rex
Chance has any say about it!
