Twenty-five years after the Luytens were driven away from Centaur, Alex and the rest of the colony are rebuilding and preparing for the eventual return of the aliens. It may not be today, but it is sure to happen.An illness plagues people that were recreated begging the question of if the Luytens had ever seen such a thing before. Wally invents a new technology that opens up interstellar travel, but people are hesitant to go ask the hostile aliens for help. Alex must push down his own feelings and lead his people to salvation or die trying.More problems are discovered at the colony. The water supply is contaminated and a problem with Wally's new technology leads to the loss of a life. With so much going wrong, it makes Alex long for the days when the only thing he had to fear were aliens. He must find a way for the colony, including Melanie and their children, to persevere!