In the infirmary of Bastion Station, your favorite space hero gets an update on the efforts to protect his fellow Zozians from the diseases that have been floating around the rest of humanity while they’ve been separated for the last thousand years. As it turns out, enough Zozians have gotten their immune systems ready that Doctor Taylor is happy to report that Zik and the crew of the station will be able to leave quarantine soon. Zik also gets an update on Tanaka’s condition, which has stabilized following his surgery.

Taking his leave with Amelia, Zik inquires as to the reason the Doctor seemed annoyed with her.  Amelia discloses that she’s been having a hard time sleeping on the space station, because it’s so quiet compared to her tent on the Zernabian prison planet, and because she’s getting nightmares about all her friends dying in the factory explosion.

Zik sympathizes, and says that he’s noticed the difficulty the Zernabians have been having adjusting to all that’s happened. That he’s been keeping things fun during quarantine hasn’t gone unnoticed by Amelia, and while she’s grateful, she just can’t sleep.

To cheer her up, Zik lets her know that the Temerity is being prepped for launch, and that if she wants to copilot with him, she’s welcome. An excited Amelia heads off to get suited up, while Zik boards the elevator to the bridge of Bastion Station.

Defender Zik checks in with the engineers on his new ship, The Temerity, so see if they can take her out for a spin.  Chief Engineer Dakaasin lets Zik know that all systems are ready to go! Sten is always obsessed with doing calibrations to optimize weapon performance, so he’s tinkering with the Point Defense System, and will be working on the big Vakarian cannons next. Zik wants to go on a journey, so it’s time to get the sleek spaceship ready to fly!

As Zik heads to the bridge, he decides to take a detour into the infirmary.  Dr. Lucien Taylor has been working closely with doctors and hospitals across Zoz to help everyone on Zoz get their immune systems ready for contact with the rest of the galaxy! No one wants a repeat of what happened when Europeans and North Americans started mingling for the first time in the 1500s.

But when Zik gets to the infirmary, he sees Amelia in her pajamas apologizing to the doctor for something. What’s going on?

Defender Zik finishes plugging the giant hole in the hull of the Kodiak by filling in the gaps between the tables with the Hull Putty™ compound.  A curious Amelia asks about the Putty, and follows it up with a pointed question about how many times she’ll have to see Zik nearly die trying to save the day.  Zik assures her that there’ll be just one more time.

Amelia observes that Zik really handed Morren’s butt to him during their fight.  Zik assures her that the villain is probably dead by now, because of the broken visor.  A crack like that isn’t going to be easily reparable in the limited time someone has to live after getting spaced!

Stopping Zik from walking for a moment, Amelia lets him know how much she appreciates Zik jumping to her aid and beating back the murderous Morren.  She was off to a great start with that fork, though! I bet she could’ve taken him.

The tender moment causes Zik to remind himself to keep it cool. As much as Amelia makes his heart race when she looks at him like that, Zik remembers the promise he made to Trent to not pursue her. Still, it couldn’t hurt to enjoy the moment, right? It’s so easy to get lost in those beautiful eyes…

Thinking quickly, Zik dons his breather mask and turns back to the ship.  The force of the wind could easily blow him too far away to get back on board in time, so he hustles to deploy his EVR system.

Back on board, he sees that Amelia is stuck in the doorway, holding on for dear life! Morren broke off her breather, so if she gets spaced, she’s a goner!  Zik plugs the giant hole with the only thing at hand – two tables!

As the wind diminishes, Amelia regains her footing.  Zik asks her to hand him the Hull Putty™ canister so he can plug the remaining holes between the tables.  Amelia, like Trent, has never been in space before, and this kind of battle is all new to her, so she’s understandably confused as to why there was a sudden explosion.  Zik deduces that someone blew up the Jairian Hull Breacher vessel that was attached and plugging the hole with its breaching dock, and he guesses that a rookie mistake like that is sure to anger his buddy Captain James Anchor!

Trent Quickdraw has lived up to his name! As he fires on the Jairian breacher ship attached to the Kodiak, there’s a huge explosion! Defender Zik and Morren, in the galley right next to the breacher, are blown off their feet!

Worse still, that breacher was the only thing plugging the hole in the Kodiak’s hull that it made when it attached itself! Zik and Morren are quickly blown into space, and both of them forget their battle in a desperate scramble to fix their face masks.

Inside, at the doorway of the galley, Amelia grabs on for dear life as the air swoops out of the giant hole in the hull!

The gallant Defender Zik and the malodorous Morren Mallor are duking it out in the mess hall of the Kodiak! As a dazed Amelia watches from the doorway, your favorite space hero fends off Morren’s knife attacks and swings back with the club he found! Who will prevail?!

Defender Zik helps a shocked Amelia to her feet. The vile Jairian thug Morren has just assaulted her! But as Zik helps her to the infirmary, he hears a groan from the mess hall — Morren is already getting back to his feet! Realizing that the thug must be on performance enhancing drugs, Zik turns back, and recognizes Amelia’s assailant!

It’s the same Morren from Zik’s first encounter with the Jairians, during the incident at Baker Mine. Morren reveals that among the Jairians, Zik is hated, and referred to as the Butcher of Baker Mine! Donning his helmet, Morren vows revenge!

The vile Jairian invader Morren Mallor continues his sexual assault on Amelia, who fights back as well as she’s able to after regaining consciousness.  She desperately reaches around for something to use as a weapon – and finds her fork!

Scooping up the fork, she lunges at Morren’s face. Her fork finds its mark in Morren’s eye! He howls in pain!

Just then, Zik walks into the mess hall and sees that a Jairian is attacking Amelia.  The club he picked up from the last Jairians he encountered comes in handy, and he gives Morren a mighty wallop in the back of the head!

In the galley of the Kodiak, Amelia regains consciousness after hitting her head. But the Jairian in the hall junction outside heard her!

The Jairian investigates – and likes what he sees! He removes his mask, revealing himself to be Morren Mallor! This is the same Jairian that led the attack on Baker Mine!

Morren explains that him and his comrades do whatever they want, and he wants Amelia! He starts to tear at Amelia’s clothing, and she cries out…

…a cry heard by a nearby Zik!

Oblivious to the chaos outside the ship, Amelia finds herself in the galley wondering what all the noises are.  She sneaks a bite of pineapple before heading back to the infirmary to see Vera.

But that last second bite causes a fateful delay! The Jairian breacher attaches itself to the hull just outside the galley and cuts through the metal plating! The circular hatch created is flung inward explosively, and Amelia whacks her head on a cupboard trying to get out of the way!

The Jairian boarding party rushes into the ship, and poor Amelia is out cold on the floor!