Jiya is the oldest daughter of the autocratic President of one of three major countries (Maianas) on the planet of Lariest. Her refusal to allow her father to control her life and choose her career path ends up with her running away from the Presidential Compound, being disowned, and forced to take menial jobs, since her father has blocked her from more lucrative professions and the military. She is driving a hover cab when the QSD Reynolds lands at the spaceport and hers is one of several cabs dispatched. Reynolds effectively kidnaps her and offers her a position aboard his ship. Eventually, she accepts, and, later, when Reynolds wants to establish trade relations with at least one of the three major nations, he insists she accompany him to trade talks between Marianus, Toller, Malawi, and the Reynolds, which are being held at her father's Presidential Compound, against her strident objections. As she predicted, her father deals in bad faith, imprisoning both her and Reynolds, insisting she has committed treason. Once they escape, her father threatens to execute her and Reynolds if they ever return.
On her return to Lariest she is surprised to learn that Marianus is now ruled by two queens, her sisters, Reea and Lory. Their father was deposed for deliberately attempting to foment war between Toller and Malowi. He is currently being held in prison, for a life sentence, in "posh" cell.
When the Reynolds eventually returns to Federation space, Jaya returns with it, meeting Queen Bethany Anne, and later, her two children. She and Gabriel enter into an on-again-off-again relationship, with Jaya eventually becoming pregnant, giving birth to twins, a son and a daughter.