Charlie Perkins's life seems to be looking up. He is healing well from his lethal gun battle with his nemeses, Glen Ritchey and Chip Lakin, and he has convinced National Security Agency brass that his enhanced brain functions and psionic abilities are legitimate. Why then would he even contemplate the new summons from the alien probe that has dropped down on him like a bad toothache? Curiosity is stronger than his good sense and Charlie can't help but obey the probe's command to "re-enter the unit". He survives his second visit to the probe with only a short stay in the hospital as a result, and it is the opinion of his psychologist and physician that Charlie's abilities are even stronger than they were before. He can't wait to get to work consulting for the U.S. intelligence community. Even before his security clearance comes through, Charlie discovers a spy trying to infiltrate Holloman Air Force Base and when he brings the case to the attention of the FBI in Tucson, Arizona, he inadvertently assists the investigating agent in another completely separate case The NSA sets Charlie and his best friend, Captain Pete Webber up in a house at Holloman Air Force Base in an effort to insulate Charlie from harm. Charlie falls hard for a local girl who just about makes his life perfect. Charlie is brought in to consult on a variety of potential terrorist acts until a mole at NSA divulges his existence to the Russian FSB who immediately takes action to try to bring Charlie to Moscow. After several attempts have failed to abduct Charlie, the order goes out: successfully abduct him or permanently deprive the U.S. of his services. Charlie is shot down on the street in Las Vegas, Nevada. Quick thinking by his friend, Pete Webber, gives Charlie a remote chance to survive but even if he does, his life will never be the same.