Synopsis
After Scorpius sabotages Crichton's escape plan, Staleek places Moya's crew under "protective" guard. Once alone, Scorpius reveals he’s only pretending to be a Scarran spy, claiming his real agenda is the destruction of the Scarrans, using wormhole technology as the means.
As Crichton won't give up his wormhole knowledge, Scorpius has had to formulate a different plan to halt the Scarran invasion. He explains that the plant Crystherium Utilia promotes Scarran brain development, and so is essential to the existence of the Scarran Ruling Caste.
The Scarran base at Katratzi is the only known source in this sector of the galaxy, and destroying it would put a halt to Scarran advancement for many cycles.
Crichton has no interest in helping Scorpius with his plans, and seeks to accept Commandant Grayza's earlier offer of protection and escape aboard her Command Carrier, but is prevented by hundreds of weapons trained on the Carrier. Then, when the Scarrans disarm Crichton's nuclear bomb and break the stalemate, Crichton has no option but to follow Scorpius’ plan.
Crichton, Aeryn, D’Argo, Chiana, Scorpius and Sikozu enter the Rabrokator, a drilling elevator, while Rygel and Noranti go in search of Stark. Once down in the Crystherium cavern, Crichton and the crew are unable to destroy the flowers, and are trapped by Scarran guards. They are saved when Sikozu reveals her true position as a genetically modified member of the Kalish underground, able to emit radiation lethal to Scarrans.
Meanwhile, Grayza is preparing to fire upon Katratzi in a last, fatal, gesture of honour, but is prevented by Braca, who relieves her of command in order to save his crew.
The crew members pile back into the lift, and drill their way to the surface, but are pinned down by enemy fire. Seeing only one way out, Crichton bows to Scorpius' plan and drops his rearmed nuclear bomb down the shaft, back into the cavern. The resulting explosion causes enough carnage for them all to escape.
Back on board Moya, the crew, now including Stark once again, celebrate, but Crichton feels less upbeat, berating himself for the lives he took.
