The fifth in the "Children of Power" series, this book follows the students of Smith Valley who choose not to complete their term. Events in the rest of the galaxies call Kechana, Kae, and Hope away from school to represent what they believe at home.

Hope returns for the second half of her term at Smith Valley only to find that Kae has not. When she asks why, the campus AI informs her that student records are confidential and refuses to tell her anything. So Hope calls home for the first time since she ran away... and learns that her family doesn't know where Kae is either.

Other students are leaving as well: all of them high-profile people who were recalled with no warning and little explanation. When Kechana is asked to return to her former position as dolphin liaison by the same employers who suspended her before, Hope insists on going with her. Kechana thinks the timing is a coincidence. Hope thinks there's a conspiracy at work.

When Kae shows up at Kechana's home on Alandia, injured and looking for help, Hope realizes they all have secrets. Posing as Kechana's girlfriend has gotten back the partner Kechana lost, but Hope can't let Kae leave alone. With more questions than answers, she joins her brother on a mission to Earth while Roris' sister Coral helps Kechana negotiate with the dolphins.

None of them know what will happen, but they all have a decision to make: to continue as they are, or to try to change the course of events they can't possibly understand.