Sentenced to ten years hard labor on a prison planet means the end of Nia's protected existence as the emperor's 'pet'. But her welcome among her own people isn't assured, and the man assigned as her bond holder makes his disgust of her all too clear. Can Nia convince her peers that she has valuable information that might prevent the eradication of their telepathic race or will their distrust of her cause them to miss the opportunity to soar?