Howie Bernsen is a shy, intelligent boy who lives on an interplanetary merchant ship out on the fringe. Misunderstood with few or no friends, he spends his days talking to a computer and exploring the ship. His life is changed forever when he stumbles across a strange object in a ventilation duct... and is thrust into a high stakes game of interstellar political intrigue, where there will be nasty surprises in store for everyone...