After the End of All Things, The Ten Colony Council enslaved all of the Third Class Citizens (the Smarts who helped destroy the world) in order to protect the more upright members of the dwindling population. Jade Doe is one of these Thirds, learning to control her inherent Knowledge so that she can redeem herself by aiding the society in which she lives. When she learns of a deadly secret, however, she must make a decision: Should she risk her life, her friends, and her very soul in order to bring freedom to all of what's left of mankind? Or should she do as she's always been told and devote her life to the voracious, violent, virtuous First whom she must serve until the day she dies?