Erik and Jia are balancing the needs of the UTC, their team, and their own future. Will they be able to provide peace for Erik's team without bringing down the UTC, causing pain to the very people they died to protect? Humans can strive to understand alien technology, but there's always a price. Mistakes happen. Can those sacrificing to build their version of humanity's future complete their effort? Or will the ticking of the clock on their extended lives produce the stress necessary to figure out a plan to stop Erik and Jia? He will have vengeance, no matter the cost; she will dig for the truth, no matter the risk.