Jack has finally arrived on Rove City, after spending three months on a ship overflowing with other refugees from Jord. The only problem is, Rove City was not expecting them, and is not prepared to manage the influx of people fleeing the destruction of their home. In addition, Jack is still struggling with the affects of the Stalk's intrusion into her mind—rather than decreasing, the symptoms seem to have gotten worse throughout the journey.

To compound all this, when Jack seeks out the family she left behind years ago, she learns that her mother is dead and her sister has been imprisoned for crimes against the queen. And when Ace asks Jack to testify to finish bringing down the Solv Company, Jack starts to think that her only option is to leave Rove City again, this time forever.

As Jack tries to navigate this new world on board Rove City, manage the worsening symptoms of the Stalk's influence, and figure out what's going on with her sister, she begins to realize that though the Stalk might be gone, there are much, much worse things to take its place.