Aeryn remains behind to care for Zhaan.

Chiana has prepared for the mission by donning a tight gray outfit that draws stares from both D’Argo and Crichton. She plans to catch the eye of Temmon, an old friend from the camp.

At the mining camp, D’Argo questions Chiana about Temmon, and she reluctantly reveals that he’s the one she stole from. She intends to get him to forgive him by telling him about her brother’s death.

Neither Crichton nor D’Argo think this is much of a plan.

A klaxon sounds, indicating that the camp -- or at least, someone in it -- is under attack. Sure enough, Chiana and the others soon find her old friend Temmon with a gaping hole in him. He asks Chiana to end his misery, and she tearfully grants his request.

The local authority -- a fellow named B'Soog -- closes the mines until the kiva threat is over.

He compliments Chiana on her fast and gutsy action, and says he's surprised to see her again. He hasn’t forgiven her for her past transgressions on the camp, but is still obviously attracted to her.

When she begs for food for her shipmates, he agrees to feed everyone but Chiana. "You used up my charity," he tells her.

Chiana still has some friends in the camp, though. A miner named Altana takes her in and offers her a meal.

As they eat, Altana and Chiana catch up on old times. Many of the people Chiana knew are gone – they’ve given up the hardscrabble miner’s existence or been killed by the kiva.

Just three days from retirement

Altana is also leaving soon. She finally hit it rich, finding a vein of Negeltie crystals near the Budong’s second liver.

There’s just one problem. B’Soog has closed the mines and Altana is worried he’ll jump her claim.

Back on Moya, Zhaan’s condition worsens, and the pollen she is giving off is beginning to numb Moya’s inner hull.

Rygel is less than pleased with the miners' largesse of mushrooms and lichens -- B’Soog doesn’t give out meat without payment, and Moya’s crew has nothing he wants.

D’Argo and Crichton are willing to work for more food. Rygel isn’t, but as he’s complaining he spies some men playing a gambling game.

Crichton brings food to Zhaan. She’s too hungry for plants to help her, though – she needs animal protein to recover.

Grabbing Crichton, she explains that her buds are a defense mechanism for her weakened state. They paralyze and kill threatening animals, providing both protection and food to her.

Zhaan wants meat. Now.

While playing a game of deemo, Rygel is shocked to find his opponent cheating. He quickly learns that this is an accepted part of the game, but the Hynerian is so hungry that his own carefully honed cheating skills are nearly useless.

What’s worse, he doesn’t have the crystals to pay for his losses. Rygel tries to conceal this with bluster, but the gambler warns him that he'll pay one way or another.

Chiana tries to seduce B’Soog to get him to reopen the mines. Unfortunately, D’Argo interrupts to demand meat for Zhaan. B’Soog again points out that they have nothing he wants -- except possibly Chiana.

"No!" D’Argo shouts.

"Does he make all your decisions for you?" B’Soog asks. "That’s not the Chiana I used to know."

D’Argo leaps on him, throwing him down and bellowing, "Now give me what I need!" B’Soog tells the Luxan that he has hidden the meat in the mine, where it will never be found if B’Soog is killed.

Chiana tells D’Argo to let B’Soog go. She’s willing to give him a night with her if it’ll save Zhaan’s life.

That isn’t a good enough deal for B’Soog. He wants to trade a life for a life – if he helps them, Chiana is his for life.

Touchy personal issues

As they walk out, Chiana tears into D’Argo for interfering. "I will not allow you to stay here with him," D’Argo says, sparking a fight.

Chiana tells him she doesn’t need another brother minding her – and D’argo tells her that he doesn’t want to be her brother. They quickly drop the matter, but Chiana now has an idea that might help.

She tells D’Argo about Altana’s find. Perhaps if D’Argo can accompany her down into the mine and protect her from the kiva, Altana can retrieve more than enough crystal to buy food.

Aeryn’s tanning salon

Aeryn has rigged up sun lamps to help the comatose Zhaan. The idea backfires.

Zhaan begins releasing large spores, and sits up. In a menacing voice, she asks Aeryn, "Why did you try to kill me?"

As Crichton walks around the mining camp, looking for ideas, he spots Chiana trying to negotiate with B’Soog. The lawman tells her he has made his offer – take it or leave it.

Crichton is horrified to learn that D’Argo has gone into the mines. "I’m going to go get him," he announces.

Zhaan’s spores are overwhelming Moya’s filtration systems. They’re already affecting the Leviathan’s central nervous system, dulling her senses.

If the levels continue to increase, Moya could be permanently blinded. Aeryn offers to take Zhaan off the ship in a transport pod so that Pilot can flush the systems.

She goes to get Zhaan from her quarters – and finds the Delvian gone.

The noble, selfless Dominar in action

As he searches for D’Argo, Crichton finds Rygel in the mines. The gambler threw him in so he could gather payment for his losses.

Crichton moves on to continue the search. He hears snuffling, and sees a monstrous figure rushing towards him.

The human runs back towards Rygel, who briefly apologizes to Crichton and lifts his chair to safety. Crichton leaps for the chair, hanging from it as the kiva – a hairy creature with far too many teeth – snaps at his toes.

The chair can’t support so much weight. Rygel threatens to bite Crichton’s fingers if he won’t let go, and carries out the threat when Crichton refuses.

A high-pitched whistling noise sounds, and the kiva leaves. Rygel keeps biting, though, until Crichton bites him back to get his attention.

Then Crichton head-butts Rygel. "What was that for?" demands the aggrieved Hynerian.

"I ain’t your lunch," says Crichton.

"The dentix tasted better," Rygel complains.

"You tasted worse," Crichton says.

Crichton orders Rygel to go back to the transport pod – unless he’d prefer being eaten by the kiva.

Spores, but no spoor

Back in space, Zhaan continues to distribute spores, although Moya’s senses are so dull that she can’t track the hungry Delvian. Eventually, the spore levels are so high that the Leviathan has to decompress. Aeryn hasn’t found Zhaan yet, and reluctantly gives the order to seal the command chamber and empty out the ship.

"Oh Zhaan," Aeryn says. "Forgive us."

Altana and D’Argo are making progress with the crystals. As they rest, he comments that Altana’s take-no-prisoners personality reminds him of Chiana.

"She’s a wild one," Altana says, "but she’s got a heart of gold."

"Her loyalties are certainly flexible," D’Argo comments.

Altana disagrees. "She’ll do whatever it takes to get meat for your friend."

That’s what worries D’Argo. She also stole from her old lover Temmon, which makes it hard to trust her.

Altana asks, "Are you and Chiana together?" When D’Argo tells her no, she says, "No? Or not yet?"

"That’s up to her," D’Argo says.

The kiva attacks. It knocks D’argo out and savages Altana, but the shrill whistle calls it off again.

Getting nowhere but covering lots of ground

Having failed to find D'Argo, Crichton returns to the camp.

The klaxon sounds. B’Soog steps out of the caverns, saying that he drove the kiva off as it was attacking D’Argo and Altana.

D’Argo stumbles out, pushing a mining cart with Altana’s body. He’s hurt, but he’ll survive.

B’Soog announces that he will go back into the mines and hunt the creature. Chiana’s certain he’s actually planning to take Altana’s crystals for himself.

Telling Chiana to stay with D’Argo, Crichton goes into the mines to deal with B’Soog.

Hard feelings

Moya is slowly repressurizing. As Aeryn waits, Zhaan floats down from a hiding place near the ceiling and strikes her.

"You tried to kill me, suffocate me," she says. "You’ve always hated me."

Aeryn does her best to get through Zhaan’s paranoia. "You trained your mind to control your thoughts," she says, "do it now."

"I can’t . . . help me," Zhaan says. Aeryn agrees, and knocks her senseless.

"Pilot," Aeryn says, "get the transport primed."

Crichton follows B’Soog to his meat locker. "Nice stash you got here," he comments.

B’Soog sounds his whistle, calling the kiva. "Over the years we have developed a mutually beneficial relationship," he said.

Hearing Chiana – who has followed Crichton, of course – he goes to deal with her, leaving Crichton and the kiva to get better acquainted.

Crichton tries to sweet-talk the beast, and gets knocked across the cavern. Abandoning the friendly approach, he kicks the rearing kiva in the crotch, somersaults over its back, and runs out of the cavern.

He shuts the spiked door of the meat locker, locking the kiva in. Then he opens the door, closing it again as it leaps at him, killing it with the spikes.

Personal development through anger management

Armed with a pistol, Chiana gets the drop on B’Soog in a tunnel.

"You’re a thief and a trelk, but not a killer," he tells her.

"I’m evolving as an individual," she replies.

He can’t believe she would shoot him in cold blood. "You’re right," she admits, "I can’t do it."

With a scream, she shoots at the wall behind him. The acidic fluids of the Budong pour on B’Soog’s gun hand, dissolving it.

Chiana walks away, disturbed and elated.

Carolina-style BBQ kiva

Zhaan has finished her fourth plate of kiva meat and wants more. As Crichton and D’Argo excuse themselves, Zhaan apologizes to Aeryn for her savagery.

"I’m sorry for what I said," she says.

Aeryn hands her another hunk of meat, saying "Here. Eat, don’t talk."

D’Argo goes to see Chiana. He understands her feelings of loss.

"It’s not a big thing," she protests.

"You don’t have to put on an act for me," D’Argo tells her.

"I do what I have to do to survive," she says. She can’t let her guard down when she’s not safe.

D’Argo assures sure she is safe.

"Am I?" she asks. He kisses her, and leaves.