A Deadly Adversary. A Clash of Interests. A Colony at Stake.

Bound by a vow of vengeance against the murderous and psychopathic Dr. Hayashibara, Xerx and his crew head to the distant orbital colony of Tophanavar, following a fortuitous message from his cousin on her whereabouts. A charity Gestalt tournament becomes the cover for his crew's investigation into the colony's seedy dives to find his prey, who has left a trail of occupied hospital beds in her wake.

Meanwhile, Paige, the captain of the Shadow Star, is wracked with guilt when her newest job may rob the Reckless's neophyte captain of his quarry. But in the depths of the colony, all is not as it seems. The cagey doctor is a master of deception, leaving one of Xerx's crewmates ill and the enraged captain desperate for a revenge that may tear apart cherished relationships.

Can Xerx trust his friends, uncover the doctor's true plans, and save a thriving colony?