In a future where Earth faces dire threats, a man named Conroy finds himself involuntarily conscripted to work in a radiation chamber aboard a space station, Earth Satellite V2-ZF. He is chained with other convicts, all of whom have opted for a quick death in space rather than life imprisonment. Conroy, however, has no memory of being a criminal; he recalls only a night of heavy drinking that led to his recruitment by space station recruiters. As he grapples with the reality of his situation, he witnesses the devastating effects of radiation on the men who have worked in the jetroom before him. Determined to escape, he recalls his engineering background and manages to open a door, leading to a chaotic rebellion among the convicts. In the ensuing confusion, he escapes into the satellite's corridors, where he must evade guards while contemplating his next move. Conroy disguises himself as a tourist, hoping to blend in and avoid capture. While navigating the station, he unexpectedly encounters Janet, his former fiancée, who is now working with her father, Commissioner Merrill, on a top-secret investigation. Their reunion is bittersweet, as Conroy struggles with his past and the choices that led him to this moment. As tensions rise, Conroy learns of a potential saboteur aboard the station, threatening to use its weapons against Earth. In a twist of fate, he discovers that Commissioner Merrill himself has succumbed to madness and is preparing to launch a bomb at Washington. Conroy confronts Merrill, leading to a physical struggle that ultimately ends with Merrill incapacitated. With the immediate threat neutralized, Conroy reassures Janet that her father will recover and that the scandal will be hushed up. He also learns that the inhumane practice of using convicts for dangerous work will be replaced by robots, clearing his name in the process. The story concludes with a sense of hope as Conroy and Janet contemplate their future together, ready to make up for lost time.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1996 · Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller, Adventure