The Federation begins sending experimental robots to Mendel; robots that have the ability to withstand the planet's elements better than any previously sent. They have orders to persuade the mutant settlers to comply with Federation orders and any mutants who do not will be hunted and destroyed. Even without the threat of robots, Corree's future is still uncertain. After making it back home to Mendel, she is again abducted and sent to the Federation home planet for study. Remembering past experiences on the science station where she was created, Corree has a pretty good idea what that means. Even with all the mutant abilities at her disposal, she doesn't know how she can escape this time.