The story opens with the introduction of Captain Otian and his crew, forced to land on the backwater planet of Oltaran because of a blown star drive with no funds to replace it. Enter Hankura, who needs passage for himself and his family to Velran to help their son who's been in a catatonic state since his psionic powers started dawning. No other starship will take them because their children are both dawning psi-paths. Otian and his crew are leery but agree to take the chance in exchange for funds to repair their ship.
Once he decided to go to Velran, Hankura applied to the Velran Genetic Institute for a research grant to discover how the psionic gene works and to determine if it could be genetically engineered by the Tregans into their "vat" soldiers.
Meanwhile, their friend Delmran from Hankura's childhood with whom they served on the Searching Star arrives on Velran to become Security Chief of the Federation Embassy there. In reality, the embassy is a thinly disguised front for covert operations of the Federation Intelligence Agency. Delmran took the job because there is a large contingent of Tregan upper echelon taking refuge on Velran, including Emperor Reinid. Delmran has vowed revenge after what the Tregans had done to them at Zevus Mar.
On arrival, Delmran meet Lishad, a covert agent for the Federation operating as the Emperor's mistress. As soon as he shakes her hand there is an instant attraction which Lishad tries to deny, so Delmran backs off. But, Lishad is not unaffected as she tries to make him believe and trying to hide her feelings makes Delmran believe she is a double agent. He confronts her in a heated exchange and she kisses him, tells him she loves him and stalks off. He finds her at her flat and his apology takes most of the night.
Reinid sends a contingent of Tregans to capture Hankura in a stolen prison shuttle. Hankura and Otian's crew are force to fight for their lives. Hankura is mortally wounded and his son Jamerin is dying from injuries from the attack on Otian's ship. As Chelle heals them, they are launched into a spiritual journey that takes them to the brink of death where they see some of the friends lost at Zevus Mar who have crossed to the other side. Hankura is tempted to cross over, but they are all called back by daughter Lara.
Not only is Hankura is healed, but Jamerin is healed as well. Now there is even more reason to take the children for training on Velran. They are both stronger psions that Hankura and Chelle have ever known. They feel it is imperative for them to be trained at their early age in proper use and discipline of their power. The Wholaskan Mesgar is just the alien who is strong enough and wise enough to do it properly. While they are being trained, Hankura will pursue his research and Chelle her medical internship to become a full fledged physician.
Despite Hankura's ambiguous feelings about the Path of Insight religion, which he discusses with Mesgar, he has complete faith in the old Master's ability to train his children. Jamerin and Lara now 5 and 3 take to the Wholaskan immediately.
As Delmran and Lishaad get together for dinner with Hankura and Chelle, Hankura alludes to Delmran that he is aware that the Security Chief is using Hankura and his pursuit of psi factor as bait in his covert operation. The Aledan is willing because he hates the Tregans every bit as much as Delmran.
After Delmran leaves Lishaad at her flat, she finds Reinid there waiting for her report and for her to please him. While not explicitly explored, Reinid has pretty sadistic sexual appetites and take perverse pleasure in abusing Lishaad. She hates Reinid and is traumatized by this especially brutal episode with him---so much so she skips a lunch date with Delmran.
When Delmran discovers Reinid's visit on a surveillance report, he furious with himself for leaving her there alone. He leaves his office immediately, going to her flat and letting himself in. She is sleeping when he arrives and he is outraged a at the welts on her back from Reinid's beating. When Lishaad awakes she is frightened at first not realizing it's Delmran, but throws herself into his arms sobbing when she does. He decides to pull her from duty and coms Hankura and Chelle to come check Lishaad's injuries. Chelle heals her and discovers Lishaad has been injected with a bio-chip that has prevented her from resisting Reinid's carnal demands.
While Reinid arranges to have Delmran killed, Delmran and Lishaad take the lifemate pledge. Hankura goes about his research. Delmran and Lishaad volunteer for in vitro fertilization for Hankura's study and Lishaad is impregnated. The secret of psi factor genetics is too dangerous to be shared.
The attempt on Delmran's life is made, an interesting birthing procedure is introduced and Jamerin is the promised one who will free Aledan psions from the government restrictions and social prejudices against them. But I am saving that story for the fifth and final book of The Aledan Series.
Psi Factor
$1.99 at Amazon.com
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