The boarding party finds their way to the bridge. D'Argo complains that there's nothing to salvage, but Crichton notices that the communications system was recently reactivated.

Suddenly, a woman leaps out of hiding and tries to escape the bridge. Aeryn and D'Argo take aim at her, but Crichton stays their fire.

The stowaway looks at them and identifies them as, "Officer Sun and the escaped prisoners." Aeryn recognizes her as a member of Crais' crew.

Aeryn demands the woman's name, division and assignment. She identifies herself as Gilina Renes, Technical Support, Maintenance Provost.

Crichton tells Aeryn to lighten up on Gilina, but the Peacekeeper reminds him that the Tech is from Crais' ship. She knows their identity, and is duty bound to lie to them about Crais' mission and current whereabouts.

Rygel doesn't believe Pilot's report of the boarding party's findings. Pilot suggests that he go over to the Zelbinion to confirm the news for himself, but Rygel refuses, saying "never again." Zhaan tells him that he needs to confront his demons, "or they will chase you from the shadows to the pyre."

Gilina tells Crichton and Aeryn that Crais dispatched a team to the Zelbinion for a technical survey before continuing his pursuit of the escaped prisoners. Two days into the survey, another ship arrived and attacked. Only Gilina survived.

D'Argo returns from his search of the ship with evidence that the attackers were the Sheyangs, "opportunistic foragers."

Aeryn asks whether the survey team learned the fate of the Zelbinion. Gilina tells her that the ship's data spools were missing when she came aboard.

Although she considers Aeryn a traitor, Gilina insists that her fellow Sebacean deserves to know what happened to the Zelbinion -- a cultural treasure -- and promises that she isn't withholding the truth.

Rygel explores another part of the Zelbinion. He starts when he hears D'Argo and the others. They pass him by.

As Crichton's group continues their exploration, they find themselves in an enormous chamber.

Crichton comments that it's too bad that the Peacekeepers don't put their knowledge to more noble use. Aeryn retorts that they maintain order and harmony.

Rygel floats up behind her and adds, "As well as assassinations, torture, kidnapping." He spits in Gilina's face, then tells Crichton, "I've barely got used to sharing my accommodations with one of these abominations. Dispel the thought of two!"

As Rygel explores the ship, he imagines he sees Captain Durka, his torturer. The apparition greets him. "Hello, Rygel. Welcome home."

D'Argo reports that his examination of the Zelbinion confirms Gilina's story. The ship has been gutted.

When Gilina comes across the body of a member of her unit, Aeryn recognizes him as a former member of her command. Gilina tells her that the unit was demoted after Aeryn's defection -- they can only be reinstated upon Aeryn's death.

Pilot asks Zhaan to check the scanners. She identifies what seems to be a ship just on the limits of scanning range. Pilot asks whether it might be a Sheyang vessel.

At the news of the Sheyangs' arrival, Aeryn accuses Gilina of betraying her comrades to the enemy to save her own life, but she insists that she hid while the Sheyangs filled their ship with salvage materials.

Moreover, Gilina overheard the Sheyangs planning to return for the Zelbinion's defense shield. Although the shield is inoperable, it is the least damaged part of the ship.

D'Argo returns to Moya, where Zhaan tells him that the Sheyangs are aiming their plasma disruptor at them.

She proposes trying to leave without incident, but D'Argo claims this is impossible -- the Sheyangs flee from shows of strength but attack without mercy at the first sign of weakness.

Gilina reports that they might be able to repair the defense grid, but it will take her eight arns -- too much time. D'Argo notes that the Sheyangs can fire at any moment.

Teurac, the Sheyang commander, savors the chance to capture a Leviathan. His second, Lomus, orders the crew to prepare to attack.

As the Sheyang weapons power up, D'Argo begins ranting and swearing in Luxan. After Zhaan tells Pilot to transmit these ravings to the Sheyang vessel, Teurac calls off their attack -- who wants to go against a raging Luxan warrior?

Aboard the Zelbinion, Crichton agrees to help Gilina repair the defense screen, cutting the labor time in half. They get to work.

Zhaan tells D'Argo that he must continue his ruse with the Sheyangs. He protests that lying to an enemy offends his warrior's sensibilities.

The defense screen repairs prove more difficult than anticipated. Gilina tells Crichton that she only agreed to make the effort so Aeryn wouldn't execute her for failing to try.

He promises her that they aren't killers. When she reminds him that he killed Captain Crais' brother, Crichton protests that it was an accident.

Teurac insists he has salvage rights to the Zelbinion. D'Argo promises that the Sheyangs may continue their salvage operation as soon as his "soldiers" are back aboard Moya.

Lomus urges Teurac to call D'Argo's bluff. D'Argo -- prompted from off-screen by Zhaan -- becomes even more belligerent.

Teurac continues to delay his attack, but warns D'Argo that "you are trying my patience."

As Crichton and Gilina continue their work, they become aware of an attraction growing between them.

Rygel has a more miserable time reliving his torture at Durka's hands. When Zhaan finds him under a console on Moya's bridge, he tells her he was meant to die there, and that the spirits brought him back to finish the job.

She tells Rygel that he must confront Durka. She instructs him to find Durka's corpse, that "it will set you free."

Teurac has no intention of attacking a Luxan warrior. Lomus is less prudent -- he knocks out Teurac and orders the ship's crew to destroy Moya.

Crichton and Gilina scramble to finish the defense screen. They power up the screen just as the Sheyang vessel opens fire.

The energy of the attack dissipates against the Zelbinion's energy field. The field holds, and both Moya and the Zelbinion come through the attack unscathed.

An infuriated Lomus orders another attack on Moya. Teurac regains consciousness and retakes his ship.

Rygel continues his nightmarish recollections.

Pilot identifies gaps in the defense screen that leave the ships vulnerable. Gilina explains that the screen includes two identical systems and that they only had time to repair and activate one of them.

Crichton proposes installing the remaining system on Moya. Gilina reminds them of her oath not to compromise Peacekeeper technology with the enemy, but agrees for Crichton's sake.

Lomus offers to redeem his failed mutiny and botched attack by leading a mission to retake the Zelbinion, "with no prisoners taken."

Crichton and Gilina remove the second defense screen. Gilina loses her balance and ends up in Crichton's arms.

She takes his head in her hands and kisses him on the forehead. Crichton responds with a more passionate kiss.

Aeryn walks in and interrupts the tender moment. Taken aback, she picks up a component of the defense system and begins carrying it to the maintenance bay.

Crichton runs after her. She doesn't want to talk about what happened, but Crichton forces the issue.

Aeryn confesses an initial interest in the human, but claims -- unconvincingly -- that the attraction has passed. Having cleared the air, they go their separate ways.

Rygel finds Durka's body -- as it turns out, his tormentor took his own life. "You lose," Rygel tells the corpse, then spits in its face.

Lomus leads a squadron of Sheyang fighters against the Zelbinion.

Gilina tells Crichton to hold two polarized panels apart when she deactivates the defense array. If they touch, the resulting explosion would vaporize the cabin.

Lomus makes it through a gap in the defense screen. All the other fighters are destroyed in the attempt.

Gilina deactivates the array. Crichton struggles to keep the panels from touching.

D'Argo tells Aeryn that a Sheyang craft made it through the screen. She races to find him and comes face to face with Lomus.

When Aeryn orders him to lie down on the deck, Lomus spits a fireball at her.

Crichton orders Gilina to escape to Moya. She refuses to abandon ship, telling him, "If you die here, John, I die too."

Lomus blocks Aeryn's route back to Crichton. When Aeryn warns Crichton that Lomus is approaching, he tells her that they're defenseless until Gilina finishes her modifications and the panels depolarize.

Crichton sees Lomus at the door to their cabin. The Sheyang begins burning his way through the door.

When Lomus enters, Crichton tries to reason with him, but Lomus attacks. Crichton tells him that if they panels touch, they'll all die.

Unfazed, the Sheyang readies another fireball. -- but Aeryn drops from the ceiling and shoots him. Lomus explodes.

Back aboard Moya, Crichton proposes letting Gilina call in Crais to scare off the Sheyangs while Moya escapes. Zhaan and D'Argo aren't willing to trust Gilina, but Aeryn vouches for her.

Gilina knows what happened to Aeryn. If she reveals her own contact with the prisoners, she will face death, or, even worse, banishment.

The Sheyangs pick up a distress call beamed at Crais' carrier, and the Peacekeepers return at maximum speed. A crewman tells Teurac that the life signal from Lomus is no longer active.

Teurac informs D'Argo that the Sheyangs are withdrawing. He praises the Luxan, telling him, "You had nothing, but you used it well."

He also leaves D'Argo with a warning: "I make it a point to someday kill my clever opponents."

Gilina prepares to leave. She offers Aeryn her hand. They shake, and exchange wary smiles.

A bittersweet parting

Crichton joins Aeryn on the bridge. He tries to talk to her about loss, but she can't accept that he understands her feelings.

He tells her how he might feel if he returned home to find everyone dead, and likens it Aeryn's experience on the Zelbinion.

"I stand corrected," Aeryn tells him. She walks off the bridge, leaving Crichton alone with his thoughts and the loss of Gilina.