For centuries, the planet Zero Zero has been quarantined by the Empire, after experimental nano-technology went horribly out of control there. All life on the planet was transformed into something alien and dangerous. But Commander John Silence and his crew are compelled to return to Zero Zero in desperate hope of finding a way to combat the current nano-plague unleashed upon humanity by the AI's of Shub. What they find on Zero Zero will shake all their notions of reality. On Golgotha, the Royal Wedding proceeds apparently as planned, but the secret society called Blue Block has their own agenda for the king to be. Robert Campbell was a groom once before at a ceremony that ended in tragedy, and he may be about to relive that horror, if Blue Block has their way.