In a Venus mining colony, Tacklin, Marty, and O'Brien prepare for a routine mission when O'Brien falls ill with suspected Venderin fever. As cases surge, corporate giant Marcus Rhinehart and Dr. Fielding clash over treatment priorities. Tyson, O'Brien's unstable replacement, joins the miners on a treacherous descent, battling geological hazards and Tyson's deteriorating mental state. Rhinehart, now afflicted, takes a morally questionable risk to find a cure, forcing a confrontation with Dr. Fielding over the consequences of human consumption and the potential cosmic repercussions of their choices. This gripping tale blurs the line between ingenuity and hubris, questioning humanity's role in the universe.
