A teenage girl, Cee]( /actor/sophie-thatcher) (portrayed by Sophie Thatcher), along with her father Damon (played by Jay Duplass), embarks on an adventurous journey to a remote alien moon with the objective of striking it rich. They have secured a valuable contract to extract a substantial deposit of elusive gems hidden deep within the moon's treacherous and toxic forest. However, there's a pressing condition: they must return to the orbiter within three cycles (days), or risk being stranded indefinitely as the final transport back to Earth will leave without them.
As they begin their descent in a transport module, complications arise, resulting in an off-course landing. Despite the setbacks, Damon pushes forward, much to the growing concern of Cee, who is increasingly anxious about potentially missing their return shuttle. When Damon finally strikes gold by extracting a precious gemstone, it appears they have enough to ensure their survival, yet his ambition drives him to pursue the mother lode, which could yield a fortune in gems.
In the midst of their quest, they encounter others in the wilderness, leading to a desperate struggle for survival. During this time, Damon crosses paths with Ezra (played by Pedro Pascal), another gem-seeker who has his own designs on their haul. Tensions mount as Ezra demands Damon relinquish the keys to the transport pod. Damon reveals the location of the mother lode—dubbed the queen's lair—promising to share the riches, leading to a scheme where they aim to keep everything for themselves, severing ties with the contract-holding company.
An ambush is meticulously set up by Damon with Cee, resulting in a confrontation with Ezra and his partner. In the chaos, shots are fired, leaving Damon critically wounded and Cee narrowly escaping when Ezra attempts to finish the job. Stranded with a damaged pod, Cee faces the prospect of being hunted as Ezra pursues her, further complicating their already dire situation.
As they navigate their plight, Cee is faced with a moral dilemma—they must journey toward the mother lode while navigating various hostile encounters. They come across a group of nomads led by Oruf (played by Andre Royo), who demand an exchange of gems for crucial medical supplies. A chaotic escape follows, with Cee and Ezra parting ways at different times, yet fate draws them back together as they each renounce any illusions of betrayal.
They soon find themselves amidst another crew of gem hunters, but the situation becomes dire as they negotiate for passage off the planet. Ezra drives the hard bargain, but risks are involved as extracting gems can turn deadly. After several attempts, a moment of defiance leads to confrontation with the ship's captain and crew. Despite being injured, Ezra urges Cee to leave him behind, but she refuses to abandon him.
Together, they strategize through the dangers and manage to evade their pursuers, ultimately finding their way back to the orbiter. Their incredible journey underscores not just the peril of their mission, but also the evolving nature of trust and survival against the backdrop of ruthless ambition and the unforgiving environment of the alien moon.
