Harley loves to eat. He loves women. He loves his sidekick and cook, Muffin Sam. Most of all he loves his restaurant, which has travelled down more space lanes than most freighters. But when a space monster drifts into his corner of the galaxy, Harley's loves must take a back seat while he wrestles with a creature that has destroyed a fleet of the Federation's best fighter ships armed with nukes. His allies are Muffin Sam; John Moonbow, an introverted space cartographer; the Great and Rotund Ruby, a travelling salesperson; and Rosemary, Ruby's lover and part-time rebel. Harley knows he is facing an impossible task, but what choice does he have? The beast has taken over his restaurant.