The almighty forge was in the lower barracks of the Lunar Fort, at the back of the armoury. It looked like a scene straight out of a Victorian text book, at the peak of the Industrial Revolution, except for the fact all the kilns and equipment were manned by Golems instead of men…

Tommy looked at the smouldering fires and listened to the clanging of weapons across in the armoury, feeling uneasy under the red glares of the working Golems, each of which stared at him as he passed.

Goldar turned in front of him and gave him a snide grin; “And now,” he said, “You will become one of the Emperor’s subjects.”

Scorpina had stopped a short distance away, guarding the exit.

“Warm the poker,” the Winged warrior ordered.

Tommy turned, watching a Golem take a long, metal rod and shove its head in the flames of one of furnaces. His brow furrowed as he turned back to Goldar, “What is this?” he asked cagily.

Goldar’s mouth was twisted into an equally twisted smile; he rolled up his sleeve and revealed his shoulder to the boy, a shoulder where the blue fur didn’t grow across a ‘Z’ shaped patch. “We are all branded in the Emperor’s army, shown to be part of his flock.”

Tommy took a step back, then turned to Scorpina; she too revealed her shoulder to him, one scorched by a livid pink ‘Z’.

“It is a mark to ensure our loyalty, to remind us of who we are…” Goldar continued, “And it’s a mark to show up traitors and unlawful absconders to his Highness. If you switch sides and he finds you with his mark, he has every reason to destroy you…”

“Isn’t it all a bit primitive?” Tommy sneered.

Goldar’s smirk only widened, “It is… but the original ways are always the best. And the most effective.”

In a flash, the Titanian reached out and grabbed the human boy, wrenching his head back by pulling his long hair; Tommy yelled, cringing in pain.

“Do it!” Goldar shouted.

Tommy was helpless in Goldar’s iron grip, and could do nothing but watch wide-eyed as a Golem paced across to him with a burning iron rod, so hot that its tip glowed red. He saw the Z-shaped shape carved on its end...[unfinished]