On the night of his graduation from the Betelgeuse Flight Academy, Reth Reilly finally managed to corner the flamboyant Xan Anders. But what he hoped would be a tender moment that might lead to something more was interrupted when Xan slipped away. Seven months later, Reth is surprised to find all the old feelings still remain when he runs into Xan again, this time when the flyboy is assigned to Reth's own ship, the USS Appomattox, for the Kressl ore run.

Though he tries to avoid Xan, their brief encounter earlier still stands out in both their minds, and it takes a rendezvous on the simdeck to bring this star-crossed pair together again.