Eight-year-old Jimmy Donaldson has no idea that the man who rescued him from his brutal foster parents is an alien from another galaxy. All he knows is that he wants to be reunited with his sister, Cassia. Unfortunately, such is not to be the case. The alien, Kaanig Dammen Altair, supreme ruler of the galaxy of Valtor, has other plans for both James and his sister before he will allow them to reunite.Kaanig Altair, having taken personal responsibility for what has happened because of a promise made to the children's dying father, takes Jimmy under his wing, raising the boy as a member of his own family. Jimmy is given every consideration and all the military training and education one would expect of a future H'San warrior. Jimmy is quick to demonstrate unusual acrobatic fighting skills such as never has been seen before in an imperial. Cassia, meanwhile, is still on Earth – Zarak - and confined to a mental institution, having been blamed for the supposed murder of her brother.Due to his exemplary training, Jimmy is more mature than most boys his age. When he later meets the lovely Jaada Gellon, he falls hard for her, vowing to join with her when the Altair finally allows it.Jaada, meanwhile, has problems of her own. Her uncommon beauty invites unwanted attention from others that puts her in danger at various levels. When the Altair is forced to protect her, for Jimmy's sake, he soon finds his hands full when Jimmy, too, suddenly finds himself the target of violent men who feel threatened by the young man's incredible talents and position in the galaxy.Only when Jimmy and Jaada have demonstrated their loyalty and lasting affection for one another will Dammen allow them to permanently join, the problem being that neither may survive long enough for that to happen.