Vex was born into servitude, collared and trained into submission by the Xen'dari Empire. An unexpected turn of events offers him the chance for freedom, but Trexen were taught to fear it, and themselves. Without the Xen'dari collar around his neck, or a Master to tell him what to do and how to do it, Vex is faced with having to make his own choices while fighting against the instinctual, carnal nature of his Trexen heritage. Cris is the last of her kind, enslaved by a man who uses her charms to subdue the crowds of his tavern and heal the wounds of his gang. When Vex steps into her world and kidnaps her into freedom, she must decide if she will accept it or run from it, and him. Together, they will search for a grasp of freedom, an acceptance of themselves, and an understanding of each other.

The events in this Side Story take place after STAR TRACERS book 2: Whispers From Exile.