Decades later, conflict arises between the Parthenon (an all-female group of clones) and the Council of Human Interests, or Hugh. Myrmidon Executor Solace is ordered to find Idris and convince him to join the Parthenon. Idris is working as a salvager on the spaceship Vulture God. The crew also includes Olli, a disabled human who moves with the help of a device called the Scorpion, as well as Kittering, the crew's accountant and a member of the Hannilambra species. Solace helps save Idris from a kidnapping attempt and temporarily joins the crew.
