Humankind has settled it's first home around an alien star. The colonists of Gliese 832(c) have found themselves in a complicated relationship with the machines meant to serve them: alternatively collaborating, competing, and ignoring the situation. Technology meant to assist the colony has made it possible to expand human capabilities so that artificial and natural intelligence can contribute equally. Elise was one of the original generation of colonists on the alien world. Now a grandmother, an encounter with a group of sick runaways causes her to question her settled environment. Her pursuit of understanding leads her on an adventure entangling her with both one of the youngest people in the new world and an old enemy.