Maximum's new invention, the fractal (shape-changing) biot is part of a new plot to capture the Phantom. Meanwhile, Professor Archer finds out about Kit's dual identity.
A new member joins the team - a superhacker kid named Sparks, and just in time to ""skate"" the Integrated Cyber Environment and meet the mysterious entity known only as Cairo.
The story behind the rock star, Vaingloria, is revealed during an adventure involving kidnapped teens.
Maximum Inc's latest innovation is a virtual theme park featuring the rock star Vaingloria. But when three people seem to be taken over by a strange psychic force, their combined might may be too much for Metropia, so the police decide they need the Phantom's help - and offer him absolution if he solves the case. And the liason the police choose to work with the Phantom? Why, Sagan, of course
Rebecca's further experimentation with downloading human consciousness into biot bodies leads her to try a daring move: using Graft as a test case, she attempts to effectively ""clone"" her security chief into dozens of biot bodies. But when the Phantom grabs one of the new Graft-biots he gets more than he expected, as he's able to watch Graft's personal memories and see how this former hero became indentured to Maximum Inc.
When the Egyptian Queen Nia returns to defeat the Phantom, she brings along ace marksman Gunnar to assist. However, while they hunt him in the Ghost Jungle, Gunnar cannot pass up the chance to hunt the rare, supposedly nonexistent Shadow Panther. Meanwhile, Max, Jr. remains blissfully trapped in VR - and Rebecca schemes to coax him out of his reverie by giving Baudelaire the boot...
Rebecca launches what may be the first physical attack in her bid to begin the Maximum Era by destroying Dykstra Platform, home of Sean 1. Meanwhile, Max finally is lured out of VR and Pavlova cannot take working for Dr. Jak anymore, exercising her free will to resign. Vaingloria joins the Maximum security force as Sagan is knocked into a coma.
Having been convinced by his friend Guran to go to Africa, his ancestral home, Kit finds deeper truth than even he imagined in the Phantom's fight for justice through the ages. Meanwhile, the truth behind Max Madison, Sr.'s original plan and the cause of the train wreck are revealed and lead to a shocking conclusion -- and the beginning of the Maximum Era.
Kit and his friends return to his lair and find the mysterious message left by Kit's father, as the Madisons scheme to escape the dome with the assistance of Gorda (who may or may not be helping...). However, when Kit has to choose between the life of a person he loves and the life of Metropia itself, how does he decide?
Kit's continuing search for a way to save his father leads to some interesting revelations about Max Madison Sr., Mr. Cairo, and the 23rd Phantom, and puts Cairo in the worst danger he's ever encountered. Meanwhile, the Madisons and Gorda continue wreaking havoc while Rebecca attempts to put a ""positive spin"" on their scheming.