As the 21st century draws to close a growing group of rebels plot to declare the human planets independant from Milieu and end a thirty year association. They are helped by the insane Fury who seeks to rule the galaxy itself.
A key figure in Fury's scheme is Dorothea Macdonald. Possessed of extraordinary metapyshic powers she wants only a quiet life and hides away on the planet Caladonia. She rejects Fury's overtunes and the monster that vows to destroy her.
When the Milieu, too, discovers that one day she will rule Caladonia and meets Jack the Bodiless realising that his mind is the only one that approaches hers in its power. Together they offer the only hope of defeating the rebels.
And all the while Fury plots to kill them both and seize the Milieu for itself . . .