Having been responsible for the (unavoidable) destruction of a very expensive piece of Federation equipment - the robotic mutineer Mr Adam ("The Tin Messiah") - Grimes' punishment is to transport a hibernating Shaara princess from Droomoor to Brooum. When the spaceship Adder begins leaking deuterium the temperature rises, causing their passenger to wake. Grimes finds himself caught up in another life and death struggle when the princess, having torn open her silk cocoon, uses her telepathic powers to try and destroy Adder and her crew.