An exceptionally powerful Vortigaunt from the Nihilanth's formidable army is captured by the Combine in the heat of battle in the heart of Xen. He awakens to find that, over the course of the past few years, he has been used as a living battery to power something sinister on Earth... With the Nihilanth gone, and his own powers diminished, where will the Archetype go? Who will he find? And why is he really here?