After suffering a childhood of extreme mental and physical abuse at the hands of his unhinged and ultra-violent father, Jens Pulver rose to great heights in the underground world of mixed martial arts fighting. Guided by such legendary trainers as Bob Shamrock and Pat Miletich, Pulver defeated the likes of Alfonso Alcarez, Joao Roque and Caol Uno, eventually attaining the ultimate aim of his gruelling ascent - a world title in the sport. For Pulver, eternally trapped in the nightmare of his childhood, vitory was his only chance of salvation and his fists his only means of escape.

When you live in a volcano, ride to school in a helicopter, and regularly see your dad on the news with the caption EVIL GENIUS underneath his picture, it takes a lot to rattle you. Until you get a message that says: We have your father. Deliver the NOVA in 24 hours or we will kill him. What's a NOVA, you ask? It's a nuclear bomb capable of turning the city into a radioactive mushroom cloud, and ever since Fiona's dad built it, it's caused nothing but grief. But telling him to stop building weapons is like telling Michelangelo to stop painting. And that's why thirteen-year-old Fiona has a flamethrower strapped to her arm. After all, who'd mess with a girl who can throw fireballs? Apparently, these guys. Big mistake.

Nick Hoffman has unsettling thoughts when some cryptic messages show up in his mail box followed shortly thereafter by the discovery of a corpse.