Timeline

1 Полководцы

Darrow, a twenty-year-old Aureate warrior aboard the starship Hand of Death, leads a seven-ship fleet through an asteroid field in pursuit of his rival, Karnus Bellona. Despite his crew's warnings of an ambush, Darrow embraces the trap as part of his own counter-strategy, driven by his secret allegiance to the Sons of Ares and his desire to claim a fleet for their cause. The chapter establishes the tense military setting, Darrow's internal conflict between his public role and hidden revolutionary purpose, and the crew's dynamic as they prepare for the final confrontation with the Bellona heir.

2 Промах

Darrow's fleet wins a simulated battle against Karnus, but a hidden enemy fighter rams his flagship, destroying it. He escapes in an evacuation pod with a few crew members, including his injured pink servant Theodora, while many others perish. Consumed by rage, Darrow attempts to launch a suicide attack on Karnus's ship but is stopped when the Curators disable his controls.

3 Кровь и моча

Darrow returns to the Academy after losing the Institute's final game, having sacrificed 833 lives to deny House Bellona a fleet. Shunned by peers and haunted by guilt, he retreats to a garden where he is ambushed by seven Bellona relatives led by Karnus. They beat him savagely, scalp him, and urinate on his broken body, leaving him alive only to suffer the humiliation of defeat and the knowledge that his enemies will one day finish what they started.

4 Падение

In the chapter "Падение," Darrow stands humiliated before Lord Governor Augustus, who coldly informs him that his services will be auctioned off in three days due to political fallout from his rivalry with the Bellonas. Augustus plans to use suicide bombers from the lower Colors to sow discord among the Sons of Ares and other factions on Mars, a brutal strategy that Lorn's successor Leto opposes on moral grounds. As Pliney mocks him and strips away his privileges, Darrow realizes he has lost Augustus's favor and is now expendable, his reputation and protection gone.

5 Ужин

As Darrow's shuttle departs Augustus's flagship, he confronts his impending death and isolation: his fellow lancers place bets on his survival without protection, and even his old friend Tactus betrays him by launching his escape pod early. The chapter reveals the political stakes—his contract expires in three days at the summit on Luna, leaving him vulnerable to Julia Bellona's blood vengeance for killing her son Julian. Amidst the loneliness, Darrow reflects on losing Mustang's love and rejects the safety of politics for the sword, while the sight of Luna's approaching majesty underscores both his terror and fragile resolve that "everything will be all right."

6 Икар

Darrow arrives at the Citadel on Luna, unsettled by its isolation, weak gravity, and the looming Earth above. He is assigned a humiliating closet-like room, while Rоc attends a conference with the Sovereign. Victra visits him on her terrace, warning that Pliny and the Bellonas are actively hunting him; she offers a data chip leading to a secret meeting in the Lost City. Darrow accepts, and they depart in a disguised shuttle with a team of elite Gray "bloodhounds," cloaked and armed, as the chapter ends with the terse call: "Icarus has launched."

7 Нелюбимый сын

Darrow descends into the Moon's lowest slums to meet the Jackal, who reveals he controls 30% of the Society's media and intends to weaponize it. The Jackal discloses that Pliny has installed Leto as heir to their father, sidelining both himself and Darrow, and proposes an alliance with Darrow to dismantle Pliny's influence by backing a criminal syndicate's coup against Octavia au Lune. The chapter's tone is tense and conspiratorial, set against the grim, overcrowded underbelly of the city where Darrow's grief for Eo resurfaces amid the Jackal's cold machinations.

8 Альянс

In the chapter "Alliance," Darrow meets with Adrius au Augustus (the Jackal) in a Lost City tavern, where the two form a pact to destroy the Sons of Ares together, with Darrow as the Jackal's sword and the Jackal as the scepter. The Jackal reveals his plan to use Darrow's charisma to gain public favor while he eliminates the Sons through syndicate assassins, positioning himself as savior. When the Sons of Ares launch coordinated bombings across Luna, Darrow's former ally Evey—now working for the rebels—attempts to assassinate the Jackal with a hidden bomb, but the Jackal's bodyguard (the Stained) sacrifices himself to save him, leaving Darrow to confront the consequences of his double game.

9 Темная сторона

Darrow survives a devastating explosion at the Midnight Lounge that kills hundreds, then tracks the perpetrators to a hidden Sons of Ares laboratory where he confronts his former allies. He discovers that his old comrade Dancer is dead, the gentle Evi has become a ruthless terrorist who orchestrated the massacre, and the bitter Harmony has assumed leadership. When Harmony reveals Ares's plan to use Darrow as a suicide bomber to assassinate the Society's leadership at an upcoming summit, Darrow refuses, arguing that mass murder only perpetuates the cycle of violence his wife Eo died to end.

10 Удар

Darrow, shattered by the revelation that his wife Eo was pregnant when she died, descends into grief and rage, realizing the Golds killed not only her but their unborn child and his future as a husband and father. Harmony's words ignite his resolve to become a monster for the cause, and he recommits to Ares. Meanwhile, he distances himself from his friends—especially Roque—knowing the coming attack will kill them all. On the night of the summit’s closing ceremony, Darrow betrays Roque by drugging him, crossing a final moral threshold and severing the last tie to the life he once wanted.

11 Алый

Darrow walks among the elite Golds at a grand lunar ceremony, feigning camaraderie while secretly planning to detonate a bomb that will kill two thousand of the Society's most powerful figures. As he navigates political maneuvering, personal betrayals, and the sight of Mustang with his rival Cassius, his resolve falters; memories of Eo and the true meaning of her sacrifice force him to reject Ares's plan of mass murder. Instead, he chooses to ignite a civil war among the Golds themselves, recognizing that only internal conflict can truly dismantle their oppressive system.

12 Гибкая ива

Darrow storms the Bellona table at a formal ceremony, publicly accusing them of treason and challenging Cassius to a duel to the death to avenge past insults and ignite war between the houses. Augustus blesses the duel after Darrow swears fealty, and the fight begins on the snowy grounds under the Sovereign's watch. Darrow, trained by Lorn au Arcos, dominates Cassius with the "flexible willow" style, severing his arm before the Sovereign halts the duel; chaos erupts as Bellona and Augustus forces clash, leaving Darrow allied uneasily with the Jackal amid the bloodshed.

13 Бешеные псы

Darrow and the Augustus forces abandon the tower, leaving Virginia behind as they descend through a blood-soaked forest where rival houses massacre each other, including children. They reach the hangars only to find their ships gone, then confront the Olympian Knight Fitchner—now the Rage Knight—who arrives with Obsidian enforcers to place them under house arrest on Octavia's orders. Darrow surrenders to protect his allies, realizing the Sovereign has stripped their power while the game has turned deadly serious.

14 Верховная правительница

In the Sovereign's cloud-high chamber, Darrow faces Octavia au Lune after defying her order to spare Cassius. She tells an allegorical tale of rebellion and tests his loyalty, offering him command of her legions if he joins her. When Darrow demands Cassius's head under the law, Octavia proposes a high-stakes game whose outcome will decide both their fates.

15 Правда

In the chapter "Truth," Darrow is forced into a deadly game of truth with Sovereign Octavia au Lune using genetically engineered scorpion-oracles that inject venom if lies are detected. As the questions escalate from military secrets to personal betrayals, Darrow navigates a minefield of half-truths while learning Octavia's complicity in the Bellona massacre and her manipulation of those around her. The game culminates when Darrow exposes Octavia's lie about allowing the Bellona to attack, causing the oracle to sting her as Mustang enters the room.

16 Игра

In the chapter, Octavia severs the tail of Mustang's oracle in a brutal display of power, exposing her willingness to lie and harm the creatures despite earlier promises. This act shatters Mustang's trust, forcing her to confront the political necessity of her father's death to prevent rebellion and maintain control over the empire. The emotional tone is one of betrayal and reluctant acceptance as Mustang, torn between loyalty to her father and the greater good, ultimately concedes to Octavia's ruthless logic, marking a pivotal shift in her allegiance.

17 Приносящий бурю

Darrow is escorted to his lavish new quarters in the citadel, where Fitchner congratulates him on his "victory" and leaves him with a Pink companion. Alone, Darrow grapples with guilt over betraying his friends and the Sons of Ares, feeling trapped in a "golden cage" as he watches the lunar storm outside. His despair is shattered when Sevro and the Howlers burst through the window during the storm, revealing that Mustang orchestrated their rescue mission. The chapter ends with Darrow discovering a mysterious, moving package in Sevro's bag, setting up an unexpected twist in their escape plan.

18 Кровавые пятна

Darrow and his Howlers infiltrate the Augustan villa to rescue their allies from Aja's forces, discovering the slaughter of servants and guards. When cornered by Aja's Praetors, Darrow uses the captured heir Lysander as leverage to force a ceasefire, allowing the surviving Augustans to escape aboard a waiting ship. The chapter ends in tragedy as Aja murders Quinn in front of Darrow, leaving him powerless to intervene.

19 «Аист»

In the chaos aboard the escaping "Aist" shuttle, Darrow and his allies rescue Quinn from Aja's brutal attack, but she suffers severe brain trauma and seizures. While the crew scrambles to stabilize her, tensions rise as Augustus confronts the betrayal and prepares for war with Octavia. The chapter ends with the devastating revelation that Tactus has betrayed them by kidnapping Lysander and escaping through the cargo bay, leaving the group vulnerable to pursuit.

20 Проходчик

Darrow realizes Tactus's betrayal and that his attempt to reform the monster has failed. As the damaged ship flees Luna's atmosphere under fire, Augustus and the crew face certain death or capture. Darrow rejects surrender and orders the pilot to launch him and Sevro in bio-suits toward the enemy flagship Vanguard, betting that only audacity can save them. The chapter closes on their terrifying launch through space, Darrow embracing the reckless, primal courage of a Helldiver as he hurtles toward the bridge.

21 Подношение меченого

Darrow and Sevro seize the bridge of the Vanguard after Darrow rams through the hull, killing dozens of crew as the ship depressurizes. While the Blues watch in horror, Darrow and Sevro slaughter the Gold and Gray officers who resist, then Darrow broadcasts an offer to the crew: join him or die when the ship is scuttled. As enemy Golds attempt to retake the bridge, a monstrous Obsidian called Ragnar the Stained slaughters the boarding party and offers Darrow his allegiance, declaring him a Sunborn god and pledging to rescue Darrow’s friends aboard the shuttle.

22 Огненный цветок

After the giant departs, Darrow seizes the captured flagship and, ignoring the squabbling Blue officers, appoints the blunt, low-born dockworker Orion as captain. Orion immediately threads the massive vessel through the surrounding loyalist armada, carving a path toward Augustus’s waiting fleet while the ship’s guns shred pursuing assault craft. In the hangar, the cost of victory lands: Quinn’s body is carried past a shattered Sevro, and Darrow, alone with Mustang, feels the first cold weight of the widening rift between himself and those he loves.

23 Доверие

In the ship's public showers, Darrow finally reveals his true identity to Sevro, who has long suspected the truth. Sevro shows Darrow a recorded message from Ares confirming his allegiance and support, along with a message from Dancer assuring him that his family is safe. This revelation lifts an enormous weight from Darrow's shoulders, cementing their friendship. Later, Darrow moves into the lavish quarters of the former Lord of Dust and encounters Victra in the corridors, where their flirtation deepens but Darrow gently rebuffs her advances, calling her 'sister.' Unable to sleep, Darrow wanders the ship and finds Mustang alone in the mess hall.

24 Яичница с беконом

In the chapter "Яичница с беконом," Darrow and Mustang share a late-night breakfast where their conversation moves from light banter to raw emotional confrontation. Mustang reveals the painful truth behind her relationship with Cassius, explaining that she manipulated him to protect her family and that her actions were driven by loyalty and fear rather than love. The scene shifts when the Jackal appears in Darrow's quarters, prompting a tense renegotiation of their alliance as they plot to eliminate Plinius and ignite a larger war, while Darrow grapples with his feelings for Mustang and the dangerous path ahead.

25 Преторы

In the war room of the dreadnought Invictus, Nero Augustus convenes his remaining loyal praetors to confront the grim reality that the Sovereign believes his forces are broken and scattered. While most advisors urge continued retreat until reinforcements arrive from Neptune, Darrow counters with a bold plan: seize the Galilean moons’ shipyards and kidnap their heirs to demonstrate irresistible power and force their allegiance. The chapter crackles with tension as Mustang’s irreverent entrance and Darrow’s audacious proposal fracture the council’s fear-driven consensus, shifting the emotional tone from despair to dangerous resolve.

26 Кукольник

In a tense war council aboard Augustus's flagship, Darrow unveils a two-pronged plan: seize the shipyards of Ganymede and kidnap students from the Society's elite academies to ransom them. The proposal ignites fierce debate, culminating in a blistering confrontation between Augustus and his daughter Mustang, who defends her loyalty and exposes the hypocrisy of the assembled nobles. Augustus ultimately endorses Darrow's strategy, sidelining the scheming politician Plinius and assigning Mustang the academy raids while he personally leads the Ganymede strike, cementing Darrow's rising influence even as Augustus privately warns him against any democratic leanings.

27 Желейное драже

Darrow reunites with the Telemanus giants, who offer him their enduring friendship and military support in memory of Pax, their fallen son. Their massive fox, Sophocles, performs a "magical" trick that the superstitious Kavax interprets as a divine omen, prompting the family to pledge immediate aid. Later, Darrow sets course for Europa and attempts to reconcile with Roque, who remains deeply hurt by Darrow's betrayal and refusal to trust him with the truth about his plans.

28 Сыны шторма

Darrow visits his former mentor Lorn au Arcos on a storm-lashed island fortress on Europa, seeking ships and men to liberate Mars. Lorn refuses, revealing the brutal history of the Society and warning that Darrow serves the same tyrants he claims to fight. When Lorn betrays him to Praetorian forces led by Aja au Grimus, Darrow activates his hidden troops and forces his old teacher to choose sides in the war.

29 Гнев старика

Darrow springs his pre-planned trap on Aja’s Praetorians, detonating mines that annihilate most of the elite killers while he and Lorn watch from the ridge. When the survivors flee, Darrow’s Howlers pursue them into the castle, where they discover the hidden children; Tactus, now a Praetorian, has already slaughtered three guards and stands poised to kill the rest. Darrow offers Tactus forgiveness and a place back among the Sons of Ares; Tactus drops his razor, but the moment he is disarmed Lorn stabs him fatally beneath the arm, leaving Darrow cradling his dying friend as the chapter closes on grief, betrayal, and the cost of mercy.

30 Тучи сгущаются

Darrow stands on Pax's bridge watching his growing armada—new white ships bearing House Lorn's purple griffins alongside captured Bellona vessels—preparing for the assault on Mars. He rewards the Telemanus father and son with three captured ships for their losses, then praises the Obsidian Ragnar for seizing command after his unit was ambushed by Bellona blade dancers, an act that visibly moves the stoic Obsidian. Orion warns Darrow he has overstepped by suggesting Ragnar could lead missions where Golds cannot go, prompting a tense exchange about survival and monstrosity before a shuttle from Virginia arrives.

31 Переворот

In the docking bay of a massive warship, Virginia au Augustus arrives with grim news: Pliny has launched a coup, murdered her aunt and cousins, imprisoned her brother, and seized control of the Augustus fleet. She recounts her narrow escape from an ambush orchestrated by Pliny and the Bellona, which cost ten thousand lives, and reveals that Pliny now seeks both her hand and Darrow's fleet. As the group processes the betrayal, Darrow orders the damaged ship rigged as a decoy to mislead their pursuers, while Sefro's macabre humor and Lorn's paternal concern underscore the fragile alliance forming amid the chaos.

32 Умри молодым

In the medical bay, Darrow, Mustang, and Roque mourn the dying Tactus, whose secret attempt to relearn the violin for Darrow reveals his lingering loyalty. Tensions flare as Roque accuses Darrow of sacrificing friends for strategy, and Mustang urges reconciliation. At the war council, Mustang reveals her father Augustus’s failed raid on Ganymede shipyards, where he was captured by Bellona forces. The group debates Victra’s loyalty; Lorn and others demand she be confined, but Darrow publicly affirms his trust in her, choosing friendship over suspicion. The chapter ends with the grim realization that rescuing Augustus is essential to prevent total defeat.

33 Танец

Darrow dreams of Eo before Mustang arrives at his door seeking connection. She challenges his self-imposed isolation, questioning why he limits himself to being merely a warrior when he claims others deserve freedom to choose their paths. As she probes his past and their complicated bond, Darrow refuses to let her stay, choosing solitude over the risk of deeper entanglement.

34 Братья по крови

On a hijacked supply barge bound for the Gold fleet at the asteroid-belt station Hildas, Darrow and his mixed-color war party hide among crates while he tries to convert the Obsidian Ragnar. Darrow first clashes with Lorn over the old knight’s rigid belief that people—and especially Obsidians—cannot change, then confronts Ragnar in the freezer, cutting their blood-bond and demanding the Obsidian choose freedom for himself. The chapter ends on a note of tense hope and moral urgency as Darrow leaves Ragnar to decide whether to join the rising or remain a slave to the Golds.

35 Чаепитие

Darrow and his allies infiltrate the captured flagship Invictus, freeing loyal Aureates and confronting the traitor Pliny in the command deck. After a dramatic entrance via thermodrill, Darrow publicly humiliates Pliny, who is swiftly executed by his own former supporters. The chapter closes with Darrow declaring his intent to summon the Iron Rain on Mars, reaffirming the power of loyalty over fear.

36 Бог войны

As Darrow prepares to launch the Iron Rain on Mars, he rallies his massive armada of Gold, Gray, and Obsidian forces with a blood ritual and rousing speech, framing the assault as the dawn of a new era. He grapples with the weight of leadership, haunted by memories of his humble origins and the fear that he is becoming the very tyrant he seeks to overthrow, while his inner circle—Sevro, Ragnar, Lorn, and others—prepare for the coming battle with their own doubts and loyalties. The chapter ends on a tense note as Darrow steels himself for the assault on the capital city of Agea, knowing the fate of the rebellion and his own soul hang in the balance.

37 Война

In the massive hangar of Darrow's ship, thousands of soldiers from all Colors assemble for war as Orion and Roque prepare the fleet for battle. Darrow grapples with doubt about Ares' existence and the morality of their cause, while Sevro urges him to embrace god-like leadership and kill Augustus to claim true power. Mustang coordinates the assault on Mars, but tensions rise as Darrow refuses to murder Augustus, revealing a rift between his vision of freedom and his allies' ruthless pragmatism.

38 Железный дождь

Darrow and his allies launch into the Iron Rain assault on Mars, descending through a silent, lethal space battle toward the planet's surface. Amid the chaos of orbital combat and atmospheric descent, he grapples with profound fear—of failure, death, and exposure—while drawing strength from memories of Eo and the camaraderie of his friends. Upon landing, the group discovers that the Sovereign herself is trapped within the city of Agea, transforming their objective into a decisive strike against the heart of enemy power.

39 У стен Эгеи

Darrow's forces breach Aegia's defenses via a river tunnel prepared by the Sons of Ares, splitting their team so Mustang can disable the city's shield while Darrow hunts for Octavia. Emerging from the water, they encounter a Brown girl who triggers an ambush by Bellona forces, revealing the trap. The chapter's tone shifts from strategic resolve to sudden dread as the assault's success hinges on whether Mustang survives and the Sons' plan holds.

40 На дне

An electromagnetic pulse bomb detonates, plunging Darrow and his forces into the river where their powered armor becomes dead weight. Darrow severs his own arm to free himself from the sinking suit, then rescues Ragnar; together they crawl ashore and launch a surprise counterattack that slaughters the Bellona execution squads. Amid the corpses they tally catastrophic losses—Skelly, Thistle, and most of their Obsidians are dead—yet Darrow rallies the survivors, including a devastated Sevro, to press the assault before the Sovereign can escape.

41 Ахиллес

Darrow refuses to mourn the dead as his decimated force splits up. He arms Ragnar and the Obsidians with razors, defying Gold law, then leads his remaining Howlers on a grueling fifteen-kilometer dash through the city to reach Octavia before she escapes. When Mustang finally drops the city’s protective dome, Darrow abandons his friends and sprints alone into the citadel’s landing yard, fighting through Octavia’s guard to leap aboard her rising shuttle and confront the Sovereign face-to-face.

42 Как умирают золотые

Darrow, bloodied and cornered aboard Octavia’s shuttle, attempts to seize the Sovereign hostage with a grenade, but she counters with a cloaking field and orders his execution. As Aja and the Praetors close in, Darrow slays Karnus and another before collapsing; Fitchner, revealed as Ares, betrays the Sovereign, detonates an ultrasonic grenade, and snatches the dying Reaper from the open hatch. The chapter closes on Darrow’s fading consciousness, carried to safety by the wolf howl of his true ally.

43 Море

Waking beside Virginia (Mustang) in a seaside room, Darrow is torn between the fragile peace of her presence and the brutal memories of battle and loss that intrude on his recovery. Their conversation reveals the shifting political landscape—Roc’s growing fleet, the new triumvirate of Martian houses, and the looming civil war—while Darrow wrestles with guilt, grief, and the fear that he is becoming something unrecognizable. The chapter culminates in an intense, cathartic intimacy that momentarily dissolves the barriers between them, offering a brief sanctuary before the war resumes.

44 Поэт

In the villa's sunlit corridors and gardens, Darrow reunites with his friends over breakfast banter and laughter, the group's playful teasing momentarily masking the weight of recent losses. The mood shifts when Darrow seeks out Roque by the deer feeder, where their conversation turns raw: Roque confronts Darrow for treating him as a tool rather than a true friend, exposing the emotional distance Darrow has kept since the Institute. Their reconciliation is interrupted by Sevro's urgent news that the Jackal has captured Darrow's allies—the Red, Pink, and Violet—pulling the group back toward the war's grim demands.

45 Проходчики

In the snowy mountain city of Attica, Darrow reunites with Victra and the Jackal, who now controls the politically vital stronghold. After exchanging gifts that affirm their alliance, the group is suddenly attacked by Sons of Ares operatives—revealed to be Darrow's own allies in disguise—who extract security codes from the Jackal before escaping. The Jackal reveals he had captured Sons members, including Harmony, and suspects betrayal by his own security chief Sun-hwa, while Darrow maintains his cover and vows to hunt down the "terrorists" to protect their shared cause against the Sovereign.

46 Братство

Darrow reunites with Dancer in an Ares safehouse, discovering that the Sons of Ares splintered after Harmony’s massacre of senators; Dancer confirms Darrow’s family survives in the mines. Mickey, traumatized by Jackal’s torture, is rescued and reaffirms his loyalty, while Fitchner finally reveals he is Ares and explains his half-Red son Sevro’s origin. The chapter ends with Darrow demanding transparency and insisting on returning to Lykos with Mustang before accepting Augustus’s adoption, testing whether love can bridge the color divide.

47 На свободе

Returning to the grim, decaying Kotelok crater after four years, the narrator confronts his past by seeking out the once-feared but now broken Strashila Dan. The visit to the neglected garden—where he once loved Eo—reveals only weeds, litter, and the bitter knowledge that her body was removed long ago. Standing at her empty grave as the sun sets, he accepts that neither the place nor his memories are as perfect as he once believed, yet this disillusionment strengthens his resolve to move forward rather than remain trapped by the past.

48 Мэр

Darrow, posing as Lord Andromedus, confronts Mayor Timoni Podginus at the mining colony. Podginus grovels and tries to impress him with gifts and excuses for declining helium-3 production, while Darrow coldly threatens quarantine and gas attacks before ordering a feast for the Reds instead. Alone with Mustang, Darrow watches the celebration from above, reflecting on his lost innocence and the Reds' impending disillusionment when the Sons of Ares reveal the truth of their oppression.

49 Зачем нам петь

Darrow returns to his childhood home in the Lambda mining village with Mustang, who departs after viewing a recording of his true identity. He reunites with his mother, who has aged dramatically after a stroke, and reveals his transformation and the truth about the Golds. Their conversation explores grief, family changes, and Darrow's revolutionary purpose, ending with his mother affirming that the dead wish the living to find joy again.

50 Бездна

Darrow confesses his true identity as a Red to Mustang in the Martian mines, revealing the surgical transformation that made him Gold and his mission to overthrow the Society. As she holds him at gunpoint, torn between love and loyalty to her family, Ragnar intervenes by disarming himself and declaring his allegiance to Darrow's cause rather than vengeance. The chapter culminates in Darrow's desperate plea for Mustang to choose between perpetuating her father's empire or embracing a future where Reds and Golds can transcend their prescribed roles.

51 Золотой наследник

In the chapter's climax, Darrow's triumph parade and adoption as heir to Augustus are shattered when the Jackal orchestrates a massacre at the victory feast. The Jackal reveals his betrayal by murdering his father Augustus, while his allies slaughter Lorn, Victra, and other supporters; the poisoned Darrow is immobilized and forced to witness the carnage. The chapter ends with the revelation that the Jackal has killed Fitchner (Ares), whose severed head is presented to Darrow, extinguishing the last hope for revolution as the traitors flee.