Except Varnell. Gib's people are immune to the mind control and can deprogram its victims with just their voices. But the Varnell are exiles, treated like the con artists and criminals they've become, not likely to volunteer for a dangerous mission to save all the worlds who've oppressed them for centuries. But Charlie, Laranna and Gib have convince them, and fast. Because the Zha'-Rath haven't given up. They need a living world teeming with intelligent beings to infest and use to feed their larvae. And that world is Earth.