The Andromeda is orbiting the planet Verus, where, it is said, no one ever tells a lie. In fact, Rommie reports, they have serious penalties for doing so. The thought of never being able to tell a lie makes Harper nervous – he wonders how the Verusites manage to live. Rommie says that they are reported to be a logical and passionless people.

Dylan is on Sinti, at a strategic defense summit. Harper thinks that this is just a glorified vacation.

Beka is on Verus, testifying on behalf of an old friend, Abel Ladrone. She tries to claim that Abel is an honest person, but the Verusites' lie detectors frequently interrupt her. In frustration, Beka pulls her gun, and, with Tyr's help, breaks Abel free by force. The three of them flee on the Maru, and return to the Andromeda.

Andromeda is hailed, from Verus, by Marshall Orak, who demands Abel's return, threatening to attack the Andromeda. He says that Abel is wanted for many crimes, including the theft of technology from TechnoCorp.

Harper and Rommie identify TechnoCorp as a giant conglomerate, and a major high-tech weapons manufacturer. They are even rumoured to have weapons that can take out the Andromeda.

The Verusites launch a number of ships.

Harper confronts Beka, questioning her wisdom in breaking Abel out of detention. Abel claims that what he did was for the greater good, but Harper doesn't buy it. Beka sticks to her guns, however, and Harper reluctantly agrees to support her.

Abel asks Harper about a custom-made tool he is working on. Harper is only too happy to brag about it, but takes the opportunity to rig it to give Abel a small shock.

In the corridor, Trance confronts Beka about her judgement and putting them all in danger. Beka insists that Abel is an old friend, and she had to back him up.

Abel tells Beka that the genetic material that he stole can be used to cure a wide variety of diseases.

Harper and Rommie are having a hard time getting information on the activities of TechnoCorp and Verus, or the nature of Abel's crimes. Harper is concerned about Beka, but Tyr and Rommie think that she can handle herself.

Beka and Abel reminisce about some of the cons they worked together. Beka insists, however, that she has "gone straight", and does not do that any more. She threatens Abel, if he is conning her.

The Verusites send a group of officials to the Andromeda, saying that they are willing to hear Abel's case. Beka does not like it, but Rommie discovers that TechnoCorp is preparing an attack fleet, so it seems to be their only choice. Beka insists that she promised to keep Abel safe, so she takes him and leaves in the Maru.

Once away from the Andromeda, Beka demands an explanation of Abel. He explains that the cure that he stole can also be crafted into devastating weapons. He has memorized some of the information, and encoded some of it in molecular memory, which he has concealed in his internal organs. The only way to be reliably certain that he no longer has the information is to kill him.

Beka and Abel kiss.

The Verusite delegation – Marshall Orak and his aide, Lieutenant Lyra – arrive on the Andromeda. Lyra is a beautiful blonde, and Harper falls in love.

The Verusites claim that Able stole destructive technology, and has already made plans to sell it. Rommie informs them that Abel has left the ship.

Lyra starts to demonstrate an interest in Harper, but just as things start to go somewhere, Andromeda interrupts, asking Harper for a status report on his research.

Tyr and Rommie leave in a slipfighter, looking for the Maru. They are worried about TechnoCorp, as it is rumoured that they keep the best weapons for themselves.

Beka and Abel are getting hot and heavy, when they are interrupted by the Maru's alarm – hostile vessels are approaching. A TechnoCorp slipfighter docks with the Maru, and troops force their way onboard. Beka traps one in an airlock and spaces him, and she and Abel engage the others in a firefight through the ship. The TechnoCorp armour is very good, but just when things are looking bad, Tyr and Rommie arrive to swing the odds. They dispatch the rest of the TechnoCorp troops, and head back to the Andromeda.

Back on the ship, Beka insists that she is sure that Abel is legit, but Rommie reveals that, according to a test that Harper has run on his DNA, he is not Abel Ladrone.

Harper and Lyra are getting along well, and Harper is trying to find out how she (and the rest of the Verusites) can tell when someone is lying, but she is not telling. Harper insists that lying, or at least having the option, can be useful. Lyra is just about to kiss Harper when Beka interrupts, angry that Harper stole a sample of Abel's DNA, and did not trust her. Harper insists that he was doing it to protect Beka, and Beka protests that she is sure it is really Abel, based on things that he knows. Rommie says that there is a theory that a person's memory can be derived from their DNA, so this does not guarantee his identity.

As a fleet of TechnoCorp ships arrive, Beka and Abel once again launch in the Maru. Beka suggests a plan that Dylan told them about, from his High Guard training: Using the plasma discharges from the ship, reflected off a nearby ship, to make "plasma phantoms", or false energy signatures. She and Harper prepare to do this with the Andromeda and the Maru.

The TechnoCorp ships approach, firing. Both the Andromeda and Maru are taking damage, but they need the fleet to be close to them for the plan to work.

Abel is concerned. He indicates that he is willing to make a deal and surrender to TechnoCorp, rather than allow Beka to die. Beka is not willing to listen to this.

Harper activates the Andromeda's plasma discharges, and the plan works. The Verusites disapprove of the deception.

At this time, Dylan arrives on a slipfighter, landing at the same time as the Maru.

As the Maru lands, Beka demands an explanation from Abel. Abel says that his DNA was altered by an experimental compound that was tested on him while he was in prison. When Beka asks why he didn't tell her earlier, he claims that he did not want her pity, and says that he is in love with her.

Harper tells Beka that Dylan has made a deal with TechnoCorp, which upsets Beka.

Back in Command, Dylan asks the Verusites to be their character witnesses, and reassure TechnoCorp that the Andromeda crew was not part of Abel's smuggling operation. He acknowledges, however, that TechnoCorp wants Abel dead.

Beka admits to Tyr that she is in love with Abel, but never thought he would feel the same way.

Dylan confronts Beka, and insists that Abel has to go to Verus. While they are talking, Abel arrives and pulls a gun on them. When the Verusites arrive, Abel starts shooting. Dylan returns fire, killing him.

The Verusites leave, convinced that no one else was involved with Abel's crimes. Harper promises Lyra that he will come to visit her when he can.

Beka is sitting on the Maru when Abel walks in. He explains that he and Harper used the genetic technology to make a "golem" that looked like him, had his DNA signature, and fooled the Verusites. Beka had to believe it was really him in order to fool the Verusites. Dylan says that the information that Abel has provided is enough to initiate an investigation into TechnoCorp's activities.

Beka hits Abel, knocking him down, and Dylan and Harper beat a hasty retreat. Abel begs forgiveness, and Beka's anger melts. She kisses him goodbye.

Harper is trying to get in touch with Lyra, but it seems that the contact information she left him was incorrect.