The stage is set under a darkening sky. The wind is calm, almost too calm, and an eerie quietness makes every sound from crunching leaves under foot to the gentle whir of the motors in Happy’s suit seem a lot louder than normal. An ocean seems to hang in the air, as if the clouds are holding back their contents until the pressure is just high enough, so as to make sure everything gets completely soaked with the initial deluge of rain.

The game of chess which until now has been completely dominated by one side is drawing to a close. Ten thousand drones form the defensive barrier of pawns between the players on the board and Steve, with his two remaining Knights, is now just a few squares from the front lines of the opposing team. Assumed to be off the board with no way back, here he is