Thirty years ago, Robert St. Claire established a portal to another planet in a far distant galaxy.  His scientific achievement was kept secret by a group called the Conclave who wanted to reap the benefits of this new world, Tarnos, without sharing with the rest of the world. 
Wanting to test a social, educational and genetics based experiment, twenty five children were sent thought to Tarnos.
Only three survived.  
​​​​​​​Now with the Gate failing, those children, now adults, are returning to earth. Can Robert help them establish normal lives, blending with other humans or are they destined to spend the rest of their lives as objects for others to study? And will the sciences they bring back be beneficial or destroy the world as he knows it?