Despising his weak leadership, Aaron flees to N'Ark where he gets drunk in a bar and is badly beaten in a fight he chose. Gravely damaged, his hand a crippled claw, he wakes in a hospital where his real faults and strengths are explained to him by Karen Dandlege, by his son Chase, and by his personal psychologist, Felicity Stromburg. Through this Aaron realizes his problem is that he cares too much, if there is such a thing. He loves too much. He even loves Melna, his distant and too cool wife. After absorbing a second Zisst, Aaron begins emitting that love, which makes meeting his two sons, Chet and Bret, for the first time in close to forever a bit strange. Coming to a realization of his strengths instead of his weaknesses, Aaron arrives upon a plan.