The miracle is Roxanne Shirah Merkrates, a medical officer in United Systems Military Service. Roxy is a koltiri Physician, one of a race of legendary telempathic healers. Sent on a mercy mission to one of the stricken planets, she is captured by slavers. Her knowledge and abilities could halt the spread of the disease and save Pyr's life, but Roxanne has plans of her own, and they don't include saving a rogue pirate captain's life.
In the end, though, pirate and physician risk betraying everything they believe in, for the sake of a bond deeper than any they ever dreamed of.