While seeking Moya, the crew lands on a barren, rocky planet, their stomachs turned by a "restorative" given out by Noranti. Rygel stumbles into a nearby cave full of crates marked with the symbols of the Tarkan Freedom Fighters. D'Argo, Crichton and Noranti enter the cave and see Rygel set off a trap which leaves him covered in an unbreakable amber-like substance. Simultaneously, the cave entrance seals up, dividing the crew.

Two goons appear and open fire, safe from answering fire due to their automatic energy shield belts. Crichton, D'Argo and Noranti beat a retreat, leaving Rygel to be taken into the depths of the cave.

Rygel comes face to face with Raa'Keel, the Tarkan leader, who sends men out to kill the intruders, but underestimates Crichton's wits. Laying an ambush, Crichton and D'Argo obtain two shield belts of their own and storm Raa'Keel's inner chamber. They are captured by a ring of amber traps. Raa'Keel reveals that he and his men are not Tarkan freedom fighters at all � they are here to steal from them.

On the surface above, Chiana and Sikozu work together to try to activate D'Argo's ship. Eventually, through luck, bickering, and bodily effluents, they power up Lo'La's weaponry and blow a huge hole in the blocked cave entrance. In the ensuing confusion, Crichton and D'Argo overpower one of their captors, but he drops the amber-encased Rygel into a lava pit.

Using his shield belt to protect him as he enters the lava pit, Crichton tries to recover Rygel, but is prevented by the return of Raa'Keel. As Rygel sinks, protected from the lava but suffocating in the amber, Crichton battles the lava-resistant Tarkan, and finally triumphs with Chiana's help.

Rygel is fished out, the real Tarkan freedom fighters arrive, and the crew are able to depart before they are poisoned by Noranti's restorative.