The Enterprise comes in contact with an alien vessel transporting stargazers to observe a spectacular stellar event. They are Borothan pilgrims who have come to see the Great Plume of Agosoria, a phenomenon their religion associates with the beginning of the universe. Archer invites them aboard the ship to witness it, not realizing that the Suliban agent Silik is among them. Archer quickly realizes that Silik is engaged in a nefarious time-traveling mission and must stop him before he can tamper with the course of history.

The fascination with human behavior and culture expressed by Dr. Phlox in his letter to a peer is contrasted by his dissenting view of the crew's treatment of a dying alien race.