Due to a medical disability, young Brayn's life is in tatters. An addiction leaves him prone to seizures, his pilot's license issuspended, attempts to find new employment end in ruin, and the long future ahead looms bleak and unpromising. Hoping for a few credits to help him through his dark time, he accompanies his mentor on an illicit operation to salvage valuable components from a demolished outpost under quarantine by the Unity Fleet. The deadline is tight. Danger and death lurk in the shadows. Fleet patrols stand ready to pulverize intruders, no questions asked. Then a tragedy leaves Brayn facing his bleak future by himselfagain, and he loses any hope he might have had. But an unexpected discovery in the ruins turns everything around. The young kavax again has purpose, but can he survive long enoughto see it through?

Revived after decades of hibernation, she wakes in a time no longer her own. Injured, captive, her only allies are enemies from the past. Her Creator’s rebellion against the Brethren’s oppressive rule a distant memory, young Crystal Maiden stands alone as the last of her kind. Compelled to continue the fight, she must first learn how to co-exist with those who, for her, were enemies mere days ago. Then somehow overpower their captors. Afterward, she and Scrounger, who rescued her from hibernation, might repair their crippled nodeship and escape. But their captors turn out to be former allies of the rebellion. Their plight is dire, as they, too, face annihilation at the whims of the Brethren. Now, Crystal stands at a crossroads. Ally herself with these new, potentially powerful friends and continue her Creator’s rebellion—likely doomed to be a short-lived effort. Or return with Scrounger and trust her rescuer’s influence with the Brethren is strong enough to protect her—and turn her back on the very reason for her existence. The Brethren, however, have learned of her revival. Their response will force Crystal’s hand... and threaten the millions of human lives trapped in Brethren Space...