being a chemist has never been too exciting for cali van winkle, but in the independent city-state cochtonia, it comes with unique challenges... cali and genetically modified "icon" eve whitehead compete as team damned and beautiful for the opportunity of easier lives in their tightly controlled society, but their assignment is garbage--literally. the women must find practical uses for cochtonia's putrid sewage lagoon, the wastebin, a remote area where garbage and hog waste overruns everything. it's a disgusting task until cali and eve discover something very rare living near the wastebin: virile males. suddenly their assignment isn't so rancid, and the very thought of experiencing true love becomes their motivation, but there's far more to crisper males, remmer and layal, than they're willing to admit. after all, the males are genetically modified erotic escorts. when the men and women are separated by a strange chain of events, the women must focus on winning the competition and gaining the status that will allow them to be with their men--if they can find them.