The silent invaders

A Darruui of the highest caste has been transformed into a flawless human soldier, complete with synthetic skin, altered eyes, and a fabricated biography. As the starship Lucky Lady glides toward Earth, he practices walking in a gravity that feels too light, rehearsing the life of Major Abner Harris while the alien mind behind the mask remembers a world of red mist, twin moons, and an entirely different physiology.

Now, with Earth’s blue sphere looming outside his cabin window, he prepares to step onto the planet he has only studied from afar. The first weeks of his covert mission will test whether his perfect disguise can hold up under everyday human scrutiny—and whether he can keep his true self hidden long enough to fulfill the purpose for which he was sent.