The girl in the container is Melfina, who wakes up from suspended animation. Escaping from the Kei Pirates in a drop-ship, Gene, Jim, Hilda, and Melfina go into space. They then take Hilda's spaceship Horus to Blue Heaven, an outlaw hangout. A Corbonite named Swanzo is enlisted to repair and resupply Horus. While Jim takes Melfina shopping, Gene and Hilda go to a bar and get into an altercation with McCoy and his lackeys. As a result, they are attacked that night in their bedroom.