Paul and Professor Stanford's archaeological expedition are exploring the ruins of Altair in an effort to understand how the people who built them vanished altogether. Protected from various dangers by their deadly guardian angel the Stepanerk, they make some decidedly unexpected discoveries. Until Paul is reminded of his original quest, that is, when a bounty hunter asks for his help tracking down his lost father – who's wanted for murder. spaceport... Later, they are rescued from a gang of thugs by a Stepanerk, a member of a sentient alien species. An encounter that will prove invaluable to Paul when he decides to go and look for his father...