As punishment for defending her sanctuary of exile from a hellish beast, Mela Hemera is pursued by the monster’s forebearer, the Gorgon. She is hunted through the fearsome wilds and inhospitable human settlements of the colony world Pallas, 1,000 light-years from home.

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The narrative unfolds through dual timelines, unraveling the intricate tapestry of Mela’s past aboard the SCC Atrytone and her current flight from the Gorgon, weaving together the threads of her tumultuous journey. On the Atrytone, Mela fell prey to the charismatic scholar, Leif, enthralled by his strength in the face of the Captain’s authoritarian control of their vessel. Under the oppressive rule of the Captain Harper, the crew was stripped of basic human rights in the name of efficiency, pushing them beyond human limits. Only Leif offered hope for liberation from Harper’s tyranny.

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As Mela confronts the ghosts of her past aboard the Atrytone, she grapples with the consequences of her actions on Pallas. Her failure to eradicate Polemarch Asker’s cruelty has left a legacy of corruption and strife on the colony world.

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To endure the Gorgon’s chase, Mela must confront the sins of her past aboard the Atrytone and face the malformed Pallas society that she inadvertently helped create.