The Swarm (Paperback) | Released: 01 Apr 2021

A couple of years after their return from the System, ABQT (Anton, Bhakti, Qiang and Thekla) move to Ukar, a new settlement at the edge of human-explored space. They shun the limelight, content to live quiet lives together.As the years pass, ABQT realise that the Visitor has not let them go. A series of events leaves them in no doubt that the Visitor still has an interest in their lives. ABQT's leova returned a few weeks after the Kookaburra left the System. Next, Thekla and Bhakti fall pregnant, have children, a pair of boys. A couple of years later, the two women fall pregnant again, with two girls. The children are improbable; Bhakti was older, Anton and Qiang are sterile.When the children (Jake, Narmada, little Thekla and Yun) reach puberty, they each develop the same kaihl mark as one of their parents. Shortly after that, the children also develop leova.Some in human-space have watched ABQT for years. They greedily covet the possibility of gate technology, convinced that ABQT may have covertly brought gate technology to human space. When surveillance confirms their suspicions, it precipitates a series of events.ABQT's children discover that the Visitor has given them a task. Like their parents, the task is unclear. ABQT and their children learn much more about gate technology and their capabilities. They discover the Swarm, a place akin to the System, where people use kaihl and gate technology. Still, there are many differences between the Swarm and the System.A sociopath fixated with controlling gate technology for his own selfish ends attempts to capture ABQT and their children. ABQT and their children avoid capture and flee to the Swarm. Narmada persuades Ben to escape with her at the eleventh hour. When the children's task is revealed, the humans are astonished. They must rescue everyone aboard the Bumblebee, a human colonist ship before the vessel fails catastrophically.The rescue occurs, but achieving it required assistance from those in the Swarm. The rescued humans suddenly find themselves in the Swarm, among many peoples with kaihl. The rescued humans soon discover there is a price to be paid for their miraculous rescue. They can return to the Milky Way, but with no knowledge of their rescue or the Swarm. Or they can remain in the Swarm forever. Should they stay, humans will join the many people already in the Swarm. The Swarm peoples make the humans an offer that leaves them utterly astonished.When the rescued humans earn kaihl, they struggle with the insights provided by their leova, as ABQT did many years before. Several of the rescued humans are offered many kaihl at tarbarlar. ABQT and their children notice the stand-outs. It doesn't take long before the lives of ABQT, their children and the stand-outs become irrevocably entwined. ABQT wonder whether this is a coincidence or because of the Visitor.Back in human-space, an investigator, Zala, instrumental in revealing ABQT's abilities and possession of gate technology, receives a message from Ben, her son. Zala must unmask those in human space responsible for the loss of the Bumblebee. Still, doing so is dangerous; Zala is in mortal peril from those whose lives will be destroyed.Finally, the Visitor's purpose is revealed. The Visitor has manipulated events, for themselves and many others, from the moment the Kookaburra arrived in the System. At last, ABQT understand why.