Malik closes the front hatch and feels the motion of freedom as the Pathfinder escapes the burdens of gravity. Within the ship's bounds resides the seeds of blackmail, people he knows must be delivered to safeguard the lives of his master's family. He soon realizes that the simple solutions envisioned to satisfy this demand will prove inadequate. Malik will raise his response, his tormentors will be blinded by arrogance, and a storm they never anticipated will crash upon them...