She would be called an outcast no matter what planet she came from. Kyrina's population of felinoids had a historic caste of psionics, priests and healers. But that was centuries before, and to see a true psionic blossom out of practically nothing was almost unheard of.

Ija-Djon was such a psionic. Gifted with a brilliant mind as well as strong abilities, she knew from the start that she was different, and that difference would kill her if she wasn't careful. What her grandmother never had to say, but told her anyway, was that her line had been among those priests, her great-great grandfather had been a court mage, their lineage could be traced for many hundreds of years and almost every three generations without fail, a true telepath was born.

Kyrina was a highly advanced world when the Federation approached it. Though they didn't have starships or portal technology, they did have strong cybernetics, electronics and a brilliant textile development which the Federation was after. Their 'snug' technology could literally be sprayed on - to anyone, barring those with allergies to the chemicals. It formed a seal which kept the wearer warm, or cool, protected them from minor scrapes and bites, full solar radiation, and many other things. This was a huge boon to the space industry, which could use such a thing to protect their extra-vehicular workers.

So Ija was born into a world which knew that the stars were filled with life, that had a steady flow of news and entertainment, and still maintained its own culture.

Until the Vocorr stepped in. They had claimed that because Kyrina had been of so much use to the Federation they had delayed the action. Kyrinese folk were already too used to the Federation's