With a spike drill ahead our Phoenix Pham find themselves with some time on their hands. In this volume, Nona has a heart to heart with Dr. Kyle Reed, Micah and Claire reminisce about Alix, and the crew find in a sticky situation.

The Phoenix Pham have some questions about what Marcus saw when Kamryn Nelli arrived to the "Liberation Day" Party. How does one dive into someone's memories? Well, it's time for some patented "Claire's Dreamscapades". What are our heroes hoping to find? Will Claire be able to direct the dreams to see what they want? Also, why is HAL talking in that creepy, quiet voice now?

The Phoenix Pham have brought HAL-201 back online and fixed Hartwig 9. After some housekeeping they turn their sights to the items they have in their hold: a mindseed, some nameless crystallizing liquid, and a telekinetic device. It's time to bring back Dr. Kyle Reed himself. Who is this man? How will he respond to being brought back in a robotic body? And will our heroes learn that sometimes dead...is better?

The Phoenix Pham just returned to the Calvin Estate where they find Lynn Bradshaw-Calvin and the Phoenix safe and sound. Having survived two separate apocalypses, a revolution, and the death of a friend our heroes look towards Hartwig 9, Dr. Kyle Reed, and Eriko Watanabe. What does Eriko want with the party? Will they be able to bring back the long dead Dr. Kyle Reed? And, why do I feel like this VI is going to vent me into space?

We find our heroes in the heart of Ellison trying to uncover the data that was sent from a burning Asimov 1. What will Nona find when she plugs the server farm into her compad? Were they able to arrive before Deacon found the base and its contents? And will we finally learn why six was afraid of seven?

Eli West takes the stage, the crowd goes silent, and our heroes brace for whatever comes next. And he's just...talking? No gun fire? No explosion? Nothing to ruin this perfectly nice dinner? That can't be true right? Surely something has been planned and this night will turn sideways. I can't just be a nice ice cream party...can it?

The Phoenix Pham are faced with the next chapter of their adventure: Eriko Watanabe and Liberation Day. Is Eriko ready to meet? Are our heroes ready to meet her? And how will the party handle the cocktail hour amongst the rich and powerful of Orsiame? Will they make asses of themselves? Probably!

Having overthrown the Chancellorship and stopped the Shibboleth it's time for our heroes to get some much needed R and R. How do they spend the few days in the fallout of a revolution? Will Marcus's stomach finally be stable again? No...probably not.