LH-201 is the smallest of the feral lurca hounds kept caged at the Imperial complex in Mount Tantiss. The young clone Omega feels a kinship to the runt of the pack, which she nicknames Batcher, sharing her rations and providing medical care when the creature is wounded during a patrol. But her compassion makes Batcher a liability in the eyes of the Empire. Because LH-201 is seen as weak, she is scheduled for termination, and it’s up to Omega to save her life.