Outskirts never die... After narrowly escaping death, Holly is back on the streets in a quest to find the elusive pico. Discovering what's on the quantum drive-the same one the zealot had been willing to die for-is priority number one. Forgiving the kid has proven to be easier than she'd thought, but the cranky outskirt is another story. It doesn't take Holly long to discover that Tandor's crew hasn't been obliterated, and are actively seeking retribution. They're recruiting Northerners, but she's found one who's willing to spill. It's a good thing, too, since things are starting to get strange. On the hunt, she stumbles on an old man dressed in a burial cloth and witnesses a seeker wandering the streets where it shouldn't be. After a friend gets caught up in the fray, Holly's hand is forced. She has to act quickly to procure the information she needs. But what she learns is harrowing. The outskirts aren't just taking over the city-they're infecting people with Plush, and the quantum drive may hold the only key. The only problem is, it might be too late...