other characters: Nova, Fred Roach, Mrs. Roach

The Sterlings settle into a new agricultural town called Tarka. For their safety they use the crystal they stole from Commander Kroll to change their names to the Hardins. Trace Hardin (Sterling) has a lackadaisical attitude towards school, his grades suffer, and he gets a yellow slip - meaning he is drafted into the Zone Troopers. Trace learns that being a Zone Trooper is for life, unless he can figure out some way of escape.

After the Sterlings are shipwrecked on an island, they find a paradise resort. What nobody knows is that the resort is a cover for using its guests to make a youth sustaining liquid called Koloma. But, June and the kids must save Hal, when Scarla, the director of the resort, tries to seduce him and use him in the liquid making process.

Now living in Centrex City, Trace and Gina participate in a talent contest at school where they play a ""new"" form of music called Rock and Roll. They are seen by an agent scouting new talent who then makes them famous. The religious organization called the C.A.I. (Church of Artificial Intelligence) sees them as rebelious icons and fights to quiet them by contacting Praetor for help. Praetor, not wanting to be bothered by something so insignificant, sends Kroll.

While wandering in the Seplicer Mountains deep in the Forbidden Zone, the Sterlings are captured by a wild group called the Motorpigs. Hal must challenge the leader to a motor duel in order to escape.

other characters: Randy

While traveling through the dead forest of Animula, the Sterlings encounter a half man-half beast, named Virago, with incredible powers. Virago takes June to be his companion. Assisted by another forest resident named Akin, Hal and the kids try to rescue her.

other characters: Thell