Rommie, Beka and Trance are having a bit of girlish fun, when suddenly the Andromeda's viewscreen shows a massive field of debris heading their way. Pieces of the debris move towards the ship, and particles stick to Andromeda’s hull. Other parts of the debris begin to take a human shape, that of a Biosentient Contact Unit, or humanoid robot, by the name of HG-966HXCN5.

When HG boards the ship without permission, the strange visitor alarms Dylan and the crew. The robot assures the crew that he means them no harm. He explains that he was sent by the Consensus of Parts, a culture of machines that inhabits different star systems. The biosentient tells the Andromeda crew that they are to meet with the Consensus' Directing Intelligence Unit. Dylan thinks this meeting would help his mission of uniting the Commonwealth.

The crew keeps a close eye on HG as they head for the Consensus of Parts. HG states that he needs to interface with Andromeda, in order to direct her to the Consensus of Parts. As a precaution, Rommie sets up a firewall preventing HG from getting too much data from Andromeda's system. Dylan decides to have Trance and Harper.

keep HG occupied by giving him a tour of the ship as Andromeda heads into Slipstream. While on the tour, HG stares about in wonder and has many questions about the various objects on Andromeda. Suddenly, Andromeda receives a transmission from Direct Intelligence Unit VX1583. VX, a more sophisticated unit than HG, tells HG that his mission is complete and the robot must now destroy itself, or deconsensus. If he does not, HG will put the Andromeda ship and crew in danger. HG has no choice but to disassemble himself. As he does, he gives a piece of himself to each crew member and tells them what he has learned from each of them.

VX gives Dylan an ultimatum, either join the Consensus or be destroyed. Interference with Andromeda’s internal system alarms the crew. Rommie’s voice begins to change, sounding like HG. He begs the crew to help him become a part of the ship. The robot’s "gifts" have infiltrated Rommie’s system, weakening her. VX gives Dylan three minutes to make a decision. Dylan will not surrender the ship, and VX begins to attack. Rommie tries to persuade HG to leave her system. They decide to take him to a junkyard where he can join with other outcast parts and become one great machine. HG's voice begins speaking with the other parts and asks the machines to join him and defeat the Consensus of Parts. The machines begin to respond, and create a machine larger than the Consensus. The Consensus approaches Andromeda and meets HG’s newly created unit. The Consensus is no match, and is defeated.