In twenty-four fifty-three Kalen MacKenna, son of Russell and Alannah MacKenna, and great grandson of Shawn MacKenna is convicted of the brutal murders his wife and father. After his conviction, in a surprise move, the judge orders Kalen placed in cold-stasis instead of imposing the death penalty. When Kalen awakens twenty-five colonial periods later he finds a world changed beyond anything he could have imagined. The world he is reentering now has a largely female population. He discovers that the birth of a male child though not rare is a welcomed event. While he recovers from the effects of Cold-stasis Kalen studies other changes to his world. The mesa-cities are now now built up and populated including his home mesa of Tyree. Shortly before his release an attempt is made on his life. The attempt leaves Kalen in a coma and close to death. When he recovers and is returned to his cell he attempts to contact his friends, but receives a cold reception. Finally he makes contact with his best friends mother only to have her cut their conversation short Upon his release, a second attempt is made on his life. Now, Kalen finds himself alone in the midst of a life and death struggle. He travels to Mesa Tyree only to discover his footsteps are being dogged the whole way. He dodges his pursuers and makes contact with Carla Hobbes his best friends mother. His enemies discover his location and he must escape. On the run once again he heads for the southern mountains where he stumbles across a mysterious woman injured and semi-conscious. He takes her to a home built for him by his best friend Cal and settles in to try and unravel this mystery. Slowly he realizes he is in a struggle he must win or face his own death and the destruction of the Arrisian male population. Along the way he will discover a piece of family history never reveled to him. A family willing to risk all to help him, and old wounds of these forgotten friends he must heal. He will also find people who believe him guilty of murder and still want revenge, and prophecy made months before his birth foretelling the events of his life. But on a world as technologically advanced as his, where man controls the very environment of his world, who would pay attention to a prophecy?Especially one made by a woman who didn't believe it herself.