Trapped in the mysterious and mind-bending greenspace and on the run from the deadly Lady, Aneela, and her father Khlyen struggle to stay one step ahead of the Lady, while keeping a wounded Dutch alive with a story that he promises will save her life: the tale of Dutch and Johnny's first mission in the Quad. He tells the story of the time when, down to their last few Joy, Dutch and John accepted a simple cargo transportation gig to the armpit of the galaxy and how this led to them facing off with a deadly assassin.

Johnny manipulates D'avin into helping him find a green pool while Zeph faces possible death.