Six young people--each born with a disfiguring and crippling defect--possess the power to access the underlying string structure of the universe and thus violate the most trusted laws of physics. They must master their personal fears and escape pursuit by those who wish to command their powers. As they discover one another, they grow in power and sophistication, becoming, in the end, more fully human.
The story takes place in the near future, centered in the spectacular Southwest--the deserts, cities and canyons of New Mexico; a Prince's yacht in the Gulf of Bahrain; Bolivia–the cities, the Indian village of Ozumito in the mountains of the Altiplano, a terrorist fortress hidden in the ancient mines of Ozumito; an artificial cavern carved in the ice of Antarctica; the remote and uninhabited Malden island in the South Pacific; and in a a home-made satellite orbiting the Earth.
Two years after defeating the clandestine army of General Jakes, the members of the Sextet have settled into using their unique powers to support a routine existence. Gina enriches herself using her persuasive powers to gain international renown at the poker table. Bolton–having given up on the search for others with special talents–fritters away his time amusing himself controlling toy cars and flying machines with his mind. Alandra uses Lee's power to teleport around the world so she can use her power of decomposition to collect pretty mineral specimens. George builds an international reputation as a great chemist.
Only Ember is not using her unique power, convinced it must have been gift for some higher purpose. She studies Aikido and other means of non-violent defense, hoping to learn to control her anger that unleashes her awesome thermodynamic power. Unwilling to risk interacting with ordinary people, she ashamedly yearns for the camaraderie of the days her Sextet friends were working together fighting the General.
Ember's yearning is unexpectedly answered when a gigantic rock appears in the sky and crushes Gina's new mansion. There's no mistaking the significance of this rock from the sky. The General has escaped. He has found someone with Lee's telekinetic power to use as a weapon for world domination. He intends to eliminate the Sextet, the only people with the power to defeat him.
The members of the Sextet, always searching, discover they are not alone in possessing the power to manipulate reality. Frightened, yet unable to use their powers because they cannot locate the General, the now Septet goes into hiding. They move constantly to avoid the General's weapon, which can strike any known location. As they battle the General with the clever use of their powers, Ember is shocked once again, but relieved, and comes to accept the moral necessity of opposing certain evils with deadly force.
Inspired by the ingeniousness of Gina's three-part plan, Ember is determined to find ways the Septet can work together to preempt evil, do good, while at the same time selfishly relieving her own loneliness.
This is a sequel to First Stringers, but can be read on its own.
