Ianka has spent years blocking out her sister's mind and the obsession with finding their parents who had been swept into space by the Tokkel. Finally, Vida has located them and summoned Ianka to help her launch the search.

Ianka heads to the mother ship and meets those who will help her gather a group to go out and seek the star and moon base where Vida saw their parents. To her surprise, Vida has found a mate in one of the Nine and is recovering from her childhood frailty with amazing speed. Ianka is the warrior and she will track their parents.

Derion is assigned to her as her escort around the ship, but while their friendship meets all the strictures of the Nine protocols, Ianka is a temptation that he dares not give in to.