While the Rake is docked in Underside, Tasha visits her mother at her bar, The Fallen Friend, but is otherwise bored. A pair of Lapis enter, causing a moment of excitement since the doe is very pretty, but the arrival is quickly overshadowed by the arrival of Captain Gent, a big black Rhian, and his first and second mates – including Tasha's current favorite bit of eye-candy, Jentz.

The captain orders drinks for his crew, and then goes over to the Lapis' table when the female accuses him of selling her cargo and making up a story to cover it. Before Tasha can talk to Jentz, however, the Lapi doe dispatches the first mate and stabs Gent through the brain while her companion holds Jentz down against the table.

A fight breaks out between the doe and the rest of Gent's crew, while Tasha tries to bully the other Lapi into letting go of Jentz and paying for damages, with little luck. By the time the fight is over, the doe's shirt is torn to reveal a shiny brass armor breastplate, and Tasha's interest shifts to her.

Taking her outside to talk, Tasha learns a bit about Amazonia and makes a blunt pass at Calligenia, who gives her some Tears of Morpheus to calm her down. The doe needs a fast airship to get to Abi Dhabi and recover the cargo that Gent sold off, and agrees to visit the Rake, so long as Tasha carries her because of her fear of heights.

Arrangements are made to depart at dawn, and Calli extorts Jentz into bringing her half of the money Gent got for selling her cargo.