When they arrive at Com-Mine Station, a ship, Bright Beauty, piloted by the pirate Angus Thermopyle, flees, and Starmaster follows.

Symptoms of gap-sickness vary wildly; in Morn, it manifests itself as an uncontrollable urge to engage self-destruct, and is triggered by exposure to 'heavy g'.

Morn leaves the station aboard Succorso's ship, depriving the authorities of the evidence they would need to execute Angus.

Donaldson explains one of the intents in writing this first book, which was originally to be only a stand-alone novella, was to present the three classic archetypes of victim, villain & hero and then have them exchange roles.

Then as the story develops over the course of the series, Morn is elevated to hero, Nick becomes the villain and Angus becomes a victim of sorts.