In the conclusion of Arc 1 of the Nexus Series, Gwenhywfach, the traitorous leader of Clan Cador kidnaps Alex out of the quantum tubula as she returns from Earth-reality to Terra. Captured and held aboard the Black Orchid, Cador's great clan ship, Alex is spirited away across the Milky Way Galaxy, stretching the soul bond Lauren and Alex share to its limit as the distance between them grows. Lauren and the companions race to retrieve their Queen, but their efforts are hindered by a Terran Council, who do not believe Lauren can assume the role of Ruler. To save Alex and protect Terra, they must discover new technologies and recover old ones: allowing them to solve the equation V=D/T. All to overtake the Black Orchid and defeat the traitor once and for all.