Laneff Farris ambrov Sat'htine, a renSime – an oddity in a Farris family – and worse yet, a disjunct renSime – will be presented by Mairis to give a speech about her research, heralding a New Era. She believes she can find the way to tell Sime from Gen before birth – children would not face changeover in a situation where they might Kill. No child would be scarred by the shock of changeover or establishment, the long years of childhood anxiety would never happen – if she can get the funding.

His name is Yuan, and he is offering her refuge from the Tecton where an adult junct is under a death sentence. Yuan heads the Neo-Distect – a secret enclave where Laneff can be matched to a Donor who will provide satisfying junct-style transfers but not die in the process. The Neo-Distect gives her a laboratory and all the support she could ask for to continue her research. She knows she will live only a few more months...