Traumatized by the global war that killed their home planet, the surviving people of Baas--an 8-limbed, all-female species--adopt a prehistoric girl (Clover) while on Earth collecting plants for their new planet. Traveling in a dimension they call "Slow Time," the Baasians return to Earth every few centuries, adopting other outcast humans. But a major increase in human technology disrupts their latest visit and they struggle to stay hidden. Stranded in Forest Park, Portland, OR, the desperate landing party must rely on their latest adoptee, homeless former science teacher Charlie Schwitters, to help them stay hidden and understand modern human society. As a staunch defender of evolutionary theory, Charlie is overjoyed to meet Clover--who quickly falls in love with him But the mission is undermined after the landing party's leader, Toochla, uses her plasma weapon on two punks who attacked Charlie. The punks' unusual wounds attract the attention of Homeland Security, and the agents who are sent to investigate have more than just national security on their agenda