Yule's done what was asked of him, so soon he'll be free and able to travel the universe, or return to his ancestral home, Earth. He should be ecstatic, but what fun will there be in discovering what lies beyond the remote outpost if his best friend, the station's Artificial Intelligence sentinel Tyd, can't come with him? Tyd's taught Yule so much, has kept him sane during his service, and Yule can't imagine life without his friend.
He also doesn't know how much longer he can go without some kind of physical contact. Projected images of women on his wall and fantasy encounters just can't satisfy him anymore. But Christmas is coming—although Yule neither knows what it is nor cares—and Tyd has arranged a very special gift. One that will change everything.