Vash, the town of Jeneora Rock, and the Nebraskas reach a three-way truce, but their brief moment of peace is shattered by yet another assailant. He seems to be after the plant as well, but something more sinister seems to be at play.

Vash and Wolfwood work together to stop Livio, an assassin who has lost his sense of self. The chaos is further accelerated by an attack by the Bad Lads Gang. While this is happening, someone sabotages the Sandsteamer, sending it on a crash course with Hopeland, Wolfwood's home town.