Lies are exposed. The facade is shattered. All promises of peace are broken. War is inevitable; survival is unlikely. But we fight! Beverly Surimoto is a Phoenix leader and dedicated to the fight. Though born deaf, she was also born with the gift of psychic empathy and can sense deception in a person the way some smell flowers. It's natural; an asset in her position of trust. Something tortures Victor's mind, threatening his sanity and stealing his control. His brethren sought to subjugate Earth, but he willingly betrayed them to save Michael Tanner. Victor's life is forfeit, and now he is amongst Humans. Revolutionaries. In Victor, Beverly senses no deception. No hate. His mind is overwhelmed by confusion, pain... and fear. She shouldn't consort with "the enemy." She has the unique ability to calm his soul, and she can't deny that act of comfort. The enemy's mask has been ripped away. Earth has been plunged into a war it isn't prepared to fight... and ill-equipped to win. There may be allies beyond the edge of Earth's system, but will the messenger sent on behalf of all Humanity reach his destination in time?