In an age where Earth has been forsaken, three distinct individuals awaken on the tidally locked world of Heliora: Miro, the Outsider; Theron, the Rebel; and Elena, the Diplomat. As they explore their enigmatic environment, they encounter a diverse array of intelligent beings with shared ancestry to humanity, each inhabiting unique ecosystems and societies.On Heliora's dark side, a prosperous civilization flourishes under synthetic light and a carefully controlled climate. In stark contrast, the light side is a harsh, desolate wasteland where survival is a relentless battle. This disparity fuels tension and strife between the inhabitants of these polarized realms.As Miro, Theron, and Elena delve deeper into the planet's history and customs, they become entangled in local conflicts and power struggles. They uncover a ploy by a malevolent alien world that is disseminating information, inciting rebellion among the oppressed laborers. The hostile planet seeks to weaken Heliora by exploiting its social divisions, with ambitions of invading and dominating the vulnerable world. During all of this, a desert messiah figure has emerged, and has built a fanatical following in the deserts of Solaris. They evade observation by Linkers by hiding in select pockets throughout the desert, originally appearing to be several separate groups, the movement is much bigger than expected.