Moya's crew arrives at a Scarran Border Station, where the freighter holding Aeryn is docked for inspection. Scorpius masquerades as a Scarran Captain with Crichton, Rygel, and Chiana as spies working for him. Sikozu discovers that Aeryn's ship is due to leave for Katratzi, a Scarran base, in barely half an arn - insufficient time to stage a rescue.

To keep the freighter at the station, Rygel feigns symptoms of the deadly disease known as Hynerian dermaphollica, forcing Trayso, the Kalish medical officer, to impose a lockdown. When Trayso starts to doubt the authenticity of the disease, Noranti poses as a medical expert and gives Rygel the real thing. As she races to concoct a cure for it, innocent bystanders succumb to the ravages of the deadly disease.

On board the freighter, Aeryn is kept under sedation by the sadistic nurse, Vreena. Crichton manages to infiltrate the freighter by pretending to want sex with Vreena, but is thrown out before he can rescue Aeryn.

Sikozu plans to cut the power on the station so that a rescue can be mounted. Meanwhile, Jenek captures Noranti and brings her in to examine Aeryn, concerned that she may succumb to dermaphollica.

As the rescue plan gets underway, Jenek decides to secure the safety of Aeryn's foetus by transplanting it into Chiana, who is immune because she's a Nebari. Noranti tries to stall, but the operation is about to go ahead when the lights go out and Crichton bursts in.

Aeryn is rescued, and all escape back to Moya, bar Scorpius, who is captured by the Scarrans. The crew would be happy to leave him behind, but for Harvey, who reappears in Crichton's head and convinces him he must return for the half-breed.