KeithStonerhadbeeninastateofsuspendedanimationforeighteenyears.ItwaseighteenyearsearlierthatStonerhadbeenanAmericanmemberofajointU.S.-Sovietventuretocaptureanalienship,butwhentheSovietshadtopullout,Stonerwillfullypersistedanditwasthen,duringthattimeonthestrangeshipthatStonerfellintothestrangestatethatwasneitherhere,northere.JoCamerata,theambitiousyoungstudentwhofellinlovewithStonerisnowheadofVanguardIndustries,whichhasrecoveredthealienship.Asaresult,hercompanynowcontrolsthevastnewtechnologyandthefortuneitreapsin-aswellascontrolofKeithStoner.WhatCameratadoesn'tknow,however,isthatsomeoneelsehasbeenawake,someonewhodwellsdeepwithinthelabyrinthsofStoner'smind.