On the planet Hera, the city of Hope was once bustling and prosperous. No more. A mysterious and deadly plague has decimated the population. Almost all traces of technology have vanished. Anarchy has erupted as powerful minorities within the tottering government intrigue against each other to tip the balance of power.To make matters worse, unknown to the inhabitants of Hera, a vicious colony of alien predators - the Frill - have established themselves on the planet.For Vel - at age sixteen already a seasoned con man who seeks his fortune in the streets - none of this matters. His only concern is his own survival. Up to now he has relied upon his cunning and wit. But a death that hits close to home forces Vel into a reckless confrontation with one of the leaders of the ruling elite.Targeted as an outlaw and hunted by the secret police, Vel must go underground to avoid capture. Here he meets a soldier from a mysterious separatist movement.Can he trust her?More important, does he have a choice?Forced to choose sides in a conflict that may very well decide Hope's future, Vel stumbles upon a startling secret...a secret so profound that it will change everything he thought he knew about Hope. And about himself. Read Less