Moll and L'ak are transferred from the Locherer to the Discovery, but L'ak is in bad condition after his injury on the ISS Enterprise. Dr. Culber has little knowledge about Breen physiology and uses an old refrigeration unit to trigger his supposed regenerative capabilities. A Breen dreadnought is en route to Federation Headquarters. Admiral Vance wants the Discovery to run away with the prisoners, but Burnham convinces him it would be better to negotiate. She suspects that the erigah is not about killing L'ak. She talks to L'ak, who admits that he is the scion of the Breen Imperium and that his uncle, Primarch Ruhn, needs him alive to legitimize his claim to power. The huge Breen ship arrives, and Ruhn demands the immediate extradition of the prisoners. President T'Rina ostensibly asks for one hour to complete the paperwork. Burnham seeks Rayner's advice on the Breen and learns that his homeworld Kellerun was ravaged by Primarch Tahal. Using his knowledge about the Breen factions, the Federation sets up a ruse. T'Rina claims she has a better offer from Ruhn's rival Tahal. She proposes a third option, to leave L'ak in the Federation's custody so the status quo can be preserved. In the meantime, however, L'ak has given himself an overdose of his medication and Moll uses the opportunity to break out. The Discovery is on lockdown now, and there is no place for her to go. Book persuades her to return to sickbay, where L'ak is dying. Even the Primarch can't save him. Ruhn announces to open fire. But Moll offers to provide him with the plans of the Progenitor technology. She may also hope to use it to bring L'ak back to life. Assuming that they still have an edge, the Federation releases Moll in order to avert the bloodshed, although the Breen will likely kill her once they have what they want. Forming a telepathic link with a Betazoid piece of metal found on Halem'no, Book sees plasma storms. This reveals the current location of an ancient library in the Badlands where a manuscript called Labyrinths of the Mind by Marina Derex is presumably stored.

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