Which reality matters? Is it the virtual reality of a turbulent, dangerous city that exists only in the starship's computer? Or is it the stark reality of a starship, traveling at relativistic velocity through the void of interstellar space? US Navy Captain Jederman and his crew of five must find answers to these questions before a series of assaults, from the virtual city of Arcadia and on the starship, itself, overwhelm them. Who outside their crew is sentient and worthy of respect? Who afflicted the crew members with disreputable histories and assailed them with dangerous compulsions? How does one handle a past that never happened? Captain Jederman must find answers to questions that no sane person on Earth would ever be forced to ask. And time is running out...