After a spectacular fumble on his first day as a soldier of his homeship The Provider, Pip is inadvertently captured by an Ophidian named Mel, who's in a desperate pinch and needs something to use as a shield. Now a human amongst aliens, Pip finds himself reluctantly learning more about his own existence and life than he's ever wanted to. Warship? Colonialism? Bonds?? What's a "bond," anyway? Could that be why he feels so drawn to Mel? Mel, who-while he seems constantly anxious to ensure Pip has everything he needs, also avoids him like the freaking plague?
19 parts