After their encounter with the image of Losira, Kirk, McCoy, Sulu and Joe Reinhart find they are unable to beam back to the Enterprise, because they are infected with the disease that had killed off the Kalandans. The Klingon, Mox, has noticed the energy surge that heralded the original appearance of Losira, and heads towards the planet, as do a group of Petraw (headed by Tasm who had also noticed the energy surge). The Petraw are collectors of technology, and they are able to intercept the coded messages that the Enterprise is sending back to Starfleet and come up with an antidote for the virus affecting the team from the Enterprise. When the Klingons arrive at the planet they attack the Enterprise, but the Petraw (who are masquerading as Kalandans) show themselves and destroy the Klingons and their ship (the ‘Ong). Kirk has doubts about the Petraw/Kalandans, but agrees to work with them in investigating the Kalandan base. They discover what appears to be a portal that allows instantaneous transport over immense distances, and they get a Starfleet computer hooked up to it, but before they can test it fully, two Klingon ships approach to investigate what has happened to the ‘Ong. Meanwhile, one of the Petraw (Luz) instigates a plan to use the portal to return home with the main controller of the portal, but is discovered just before she gets through. The Petraw leader, Tasm, tries to stop her, but the two of them fall through the portal and Kirk jumps through after them. Without the controller, there is no way to go after them, and Spock orders the Kalandans’ base destroyed, to prevent its technology falling into the hands of the Klingons. [Timeline: Stardate 5726.4]
[Continuing from Book Seven of Seven: What Lay Beyond] Kirk finds himself on the Petraw’s homeworld, along with Tasm and Luz. He gets imprisoned, but escapes and rescues Luz who is going to be executed for disobeying Tasm. The two hide out for some time, but Kirk finally convinces Luz that her only hope is to recapture the gateway technology and escape from the planet. They discover that the Petraw, led by Tasm, have created a new gateway, and are about to test it. Unfortunately, Luz and Kirk get caught, and are taken to the birthing chamber, to be sentenced by the matriarchs (whom Tasm expects to join), but Kirk engineers an escape, and he and Luz escape through the gateway to Starfleet Academy. Kirk has the gateway destroyed by his overloaded phaser.