On the cut-throat streets of Tarkis, orphaned teens like Rath end upjailed ... or dead. So when the shadowy Janus Group offersRatha chance to earn riches beyond his wildest dreams, heseizes it. But the Janus Group is as ruthless as the elite assassins it controls.Rath willhave to survive their grueling, off-world training, andfulfill all fifty kills in his contractbeforea single centcomes his way.And ending so many lives comes with a price Rath can't anticipate. It'llcertainly cost him what's left of his innocence. It maywellcost him his life."

Rath just assassinated a senator, and completed his final mission for the Janus Group. Now every Interstellar Police officer on Alberon is searching for him. If they don't find him, one of his fellowcontractorscertainly will ... and the most feared criminal organization in the galaxy has severe punishments for employees who break therules. Rath's only hope is to find the rogue contractorwho helped him escapea company deathtrap after his final mission. United, the two assassins might justgetfree from the Janus Groupand get what they're owed. But first they'll need to survive."

Rath's short-lived rebellion has gone horribly wrong. The Senate lies shattered, devastated by a surprise attack. The Federacy sits at the mercy of General Yo-Tsai, a brutal dictator who now controls a super-weapon. Above the planet Tarkis, Rath drifts helplessly in orbit, watching as the Jokuan invasion fleet descends on his homeworld. His girlfriend has been captured, he's running out of air, and he's just a single man against an entire army. But he's also the galaxy's most dangerous assassin ... and he's very, very pissed.

After he's found guilty of murder, Rath is saved from a death sentence by a mysterious new ally. His newfound friends have a daring plan to rekindle an old revolution, and they want his help. If it all works, Rath could clear his conscience at last, and pay his debt to society. But starting a rebellion will put him squarely in the sights of Beauceron and Paisen as they rush to prevent the looming war. And even Rath's best-laid plans can go astray ...