When Talyn draws dangerously close to a sun because he is being pulled by some mysterious force, Talyn's crew learn that a creature named Mu-Quillus is responsible. Stark then makes a pact with a spirit of a dead alien woman and puts the whole of Talyn's crew at risk.

When Crichton is accused of sharing wormhole stabilizing technology with a race known as the Charrids by the Ancient who calls himself Jack. Crichton and the rest of Talyn's crew must seek out an old acquaintance who really is the guilty one.