In a future earth, Patrick Harvey, newly promoted Class One Empath, dreams of the independence his position brings and the apartment he's saving for. His first solo assignment is treating John Doe 439, a man found outside the city, battered, traumatized, and apparently mute. Despite a strong taboo against Empaths forging romantic relationships, Patrick realizes he feels a strong attraction to his patient. Soon he learns the man is a high-level Psychic Talent named Jac. Then Jac reveals that there are abusive people hunting him for his gifts, and Patrick's uncomplicated world explodes. Jac needs to meet up with his companions and flee the city before anyone else can find him-but it may be too late. Word of Jac's talents has leaked to Central Government in Chicago. If Jac wants to retain his freedom, he needs to run-now. And if Patrick wants to explore a relationship his society tells him he can't have, he'll have to exchange the safe fetters of his job for the uncertainty of liberty.