An ancient burial chamber lies buried near the ruins of the oldest city in the world. Its discovery remains a secret, guarded by a US intelligence agency. Unlocking its power could save the world from a cosmic catastrophe once predicted by an ancient civilization. But what if someone wants the world to spiral into chaos? What if someone's been waiting, patiently, for a disaster that could plummet humanity back to a simpler, pre-technological time? And what if they don't care how many billions have to die to achieve their aim? A prequel for older readers to the best-selling young-adult sci-fi adventure series, The Joshua Files. WHO WILL WIN THE STRUGGLE TO CONTROL THE FUTURE? THE DESCENDANT After meeting a fellow molecular geneticist at Mexico City airport, Jackson Bennett is passed a secret message. Moments later, his colleague is 'disappeared'. With the help of archaeologist, Dr. Marie-Carmen Valencia, Jackson must solve a puzzle which begins with an enigmatic DNA code and ends with a long-forgotten, ancient burial chamber in Iraq. The two young scientists are dragged into a race to unlock human powers so ancient that the memory of them exists only in the human genome. Written while author M.G. Harris was recuperating from a ski injury, the fictional world of The Descendantbecame the foundation of a best-selling, teen action-adventure series, The Joshua Files, which has been translated into 17 languages. From The Descendant to the finale, Apocalypse Moon, this is a journey through a twisty plot involving codes, genetics, ancient history, government conspiracies, time-travel, parallel realities and a dystopian future. First published after The Joshua Files concluded in 2012, The Descendant can be read as a standalone, before or after the five-part series. The story mainly takes places chronologically between the events of Invisible City (book 1) and Ice Shock (book 2), and includes characters who appear in the latter books of the series. Praise for The Joshua Files. "As thrilling as a rollercoaster ride, this fantastical world of spies, spirits, ancient prophecies and hidden cities tests Josh to his limits and he comes to understand the conflicting demands of friendship, family, loyalty and duty." The BookTrust "A very well crafted saga . . . these files are well worth diving into." The Bookbag