It doesn’t remember when it was created. It is free from the constraints of morality and ethics. Its mission is to search the galaxy for pockets of intelligent life in order to sustain the life energy of its masters. Its action algorithm is flawless. But one day, a powerful artificial intelligence called the Collector finds itself in the Solar System. What could possibly go wrong? However, Earth civilization is far too different from everything else the Collector has encountered over millions of years of searching. And even its children—kidnapped right out of flying airplanes—are capable of delivering an unpleasant surprise to another superintellect.