At twenty-eight, Theo Stewart must choose between family and dreams; at eighty, he'll discover that some decisions haunt you across lifetimes.

In 2034, twenty-eight-year-old Theo Stewart intends to fulfill his mother’s dreams for him to settle down and live a quiet life after his father’s untimely death chasing adventures in space. But when he learns an algorithm he developed as a hobbyist for the SETI program has attracted NASA’s attention, his future seems suddenly uncertain. Theo is thrust into the hot seat as he and his new brilliant and beautiful NASA friend race against time, adversaries, and twisted intentions to prove that microscopic aliens have invaded Earth’s water in search of a new home, but maybe not for nefarious reasons. Before the world becomes ideologically divided and water scarcity ensues, causing mass panic and casualties, can Theo prove it is a peaceful interstellar response to our own plea for attention — the Golden Record, a message from Earth, that was jetted into deep space on the Voyager 1 spacecraft on September 5, 1977? And when the invasion hits mainstream media and escape vectors are closing fast, will Theo sacrifice his relationship with his family to follow his heart to distant adventures, or remain rooted in his earthly commitments?

In 2086, Theo's past choices cast long shadows. Sagell is a prestigious robotic caretaker for Theo, a widower with early dementia. As a specially trained humanoid, Sagell followed her expected path, but dreams of living deep in the solar system with her beloved human, Kendra, who serves as a tour guide on the moon. To help Theo repair his lingering regrets in his final years, she attempts to reunite him with his son, Seth, who exchanges letters with her explaining the demise of his relationship with his father during his youth. When Seth presents her with the chance to implant herself with his deceased grandmother’s digitized memory to provide his father comfort, will she make the ultimate sacrifice and replace her identity to extend Theo’s life, or will she rebel against her privileged place in a trusting family to pursue her secret ambitions?