The Secret of the Genessans

Llewellyn 709, the "Strap-man" whose body emits deadly PSI radiation contained by golden straps, recounts the events following the JAMES COOK's departure from Genessos. The JAMES COOK, carrying a Terranaut delegation including Cantos, a Genessan, aims to seek forgiveness from cosmic civilizations for the actions of the Kaiser Force. However, Llewellyn 709 senses something amiss, particularly regarding Frost, Max von Valdec's representative, and the Super-Drivers Isis 31 and Thor 51.

Upon boarding, Isis 31 and Thor 51 are seemingly ill, and the JAMES COOK's Drivers find their powers diminished. Scanner Cloud collapses, experiencing visions of Merlin II urging a return to Genessos to investigate the Tafelberg (Table Mountain) and contact Lineasker, the Hermit of the Mountain. Llewellyn 709 recalls his own earlier exploration of Genessos, where he encountered Quasimodo, a Guardian of the Heritage who attempted to steal his memories.

Cantos reveals that Genessos faces a new crisis: a plague called "the Swinging" is causing widespread death and chaos. He downplays the severity, but Llewellyn 709 suspects a deeper secret. Jana experiences a Banshee attack, revealing a "sucking Moloch" drawing energy from Space II. Cantos initially resists returning to Genessos, but Thor 51 insists on accompanying them, backed by Frost.

On Genessos, Cantos leads the group to witness the effects of the Swinging, where creatures are dying. He explains that the plague disrupts the connection to Space II. Quasimodo is also dying. Cantos collapses, seemingly afflicted by the Swinging, but Thor 51 reveals it's a PSI shock from contact with other Genessans. Jana and Llewellyn 709 attempt to help Cantos, but are overwhelmed by a PSI attack, rescued by Thor 51.

Cantos reveals the existence of an Entity in Space II, a soul conglomerate of deceased Genessans that is now acting as a ravenous Moloch. The group travels to the Guardians of the Heritage, encountering Modo and Lineasker. Lineasker explains that the Entity is disturbed and destroying Genessans indiscriminately. Thor 51 offers to help, but Lineasker is wary.

The group journeys to the Tafelberg, facing increasing PSI interference. Thor 51 attempts to intervene with Lineasker's ritual, disrupting it and causing both of them to seemingly vanish in a burst of energy. Llewellyn 709, Jana, and Cantos are swept away into a surreal landscape, a silver lake with a black sun. They experience terrifying visions and are repeatedly rescued by Thor 51.

Cantos reveals that the Entity is drawing everything into other spaces and that they must penetrate its core to stop it. Llewellyn 709 must lead the Lodge, Thor 51 and Jana will bundle energies, Lineasker will steer, and Cantos will be the "needle," sacrificing himself to inoculate the Entity. They enter the Tafelberg, form a Lodge, and Llewellyn 709 drives Cantos into the Entity.

Llewellyn 709 finds himself in the Nowhere, a space between spaces, connected to Jana, Thor 51, and Lineasker. He discovers that Cantos has become part of the Entity, acting as its voice. The Entity reveals that it is aware of the chaos on Genessos and that it will return to its origin, stopping the suction. Llewellyn 709 learns about the supercivilizations and the nature of the spaces.

The Entity, through Cantos, explains that they can halt the suction by penetrating to its core. Llewellyn 709 leads the Lodge, and Cantos sacrifices himself to inoculate the Entity. The Entity, now with Cantos as its voice, agrees to return to its origin, stopping the suction. The group returns to the Tafelberg, where they find Lineasker and a replica of Cantos, the voice of the Entity. Genessos is saved, but Cantos is lost. The group departs on Cantos's spaceship, heading to Hephaistos, their next destination.