In Rain of Reflections' introductory chapter, "Set Free," the world's population has stopped having children—a sudden, inexplicable infertility that a research program is working to reverse. Wilona is a scientist on that program who has been growing increasingly uncomfortable with the methods being used. When she decides to act on those doubts, her target is the lastborn child: a live subject held in captivity who represents both the subject of the experiments and the last hope for the human species. Powerful forces within the organization intend to stop her.