Fen Dathrod is a proud young man bullied in Prison School to the point of deep self-doubt. He's been troubled by noticing oddities around him -- something is off on Dactoes -- anomalies in the unpredictable, cruel or cowed behavior of his schoolmates. To make matters worse, he's the last of a Clan held in utter contempt and lowered to bottom status for reasons that just don't add up. Fen is a mass of contradictions, keenly bright but awkward, insatiably curious but reluctant to take action, passionate about uncovering secrets but terrorized by what these secrets might reveal. He's certainly an unlikely candidate to take on any CHALLENGE, leave alone one that might determine what will happen on a planet held in numbing thrall. Then there's the spunky and intriguing Charin, a beauty who hardly wants to be seen with Fen -- quite another challenge indeed. How will he pull it off? WILL he pull it off? Bit by bit circumstances force Fen into decisions that he has to follow, joined by a motley crew of oddball rejects in this desperate mission, a mission to uncover the truth -- and turn frightening secrets into a chance for freedom. The surprises on the way will keep you turning pages. R.E. Korns was raised in the aviation community of Dayton, Ohio (home to the Wright Brothers), so looking to the stars and to life on distant planets came naturally to him. He gathered a large collection of sci fi books and eventually learned to pilot a private plane. His architect father and musical mother gave him a love for science, music and engineering skills that led to his becoming one of the first practitioners in the early days of computer graphics for architects. Building on this experience he became a top-level "Information Architect" at General Electric, TRW, Atari, Warner and IBM. He is currently a sought-after computer consultant with expertise in a wide variety of skills. R.E. Korns enjoys singing and is an accomplished public speaker. He is known for his affable personality and ability to inspire others to pursue their dreams. This book is one of his.