Reuth Bryan Diaso is an author who enjoys writing the old way: with a pen and paper, rather than with allowing his neural to transcribe all of his thoughts and dreams. Reuth is dying from genetic damage caused by consuming microorganism that he used to get high one time as a young person. He travels to a planet called Ardabaab to live out his last few weeks, and finish a book he had been writing in peace.

As he is writing, he meets a young girl who calls herself Fish. Fish is curious about what Reuth is doing, asking him why he decides to write the hard way. Reuth tries to explain it to her, and eventually just allows her to try it herself. But instead of writing, Fish draws very detailed and impressive pictures. Because of this, Reuth begins teaching her about storytelling and about writing. Eventually Reuth asks if Fish will illustrate his book, and she happily agrees. Reuth and Fish become good friends, but Fish's worried mother comes looking for her and quickly takes her away from Reuth who is, to her, a stranger.

For some time after Fish's mother takes her away, Reuth is unable to continue writing, as he feels sad and uninspired. He thinks of his daughter and of his wife, who had both passed away. He looks at the drawings that Fish had left behind, and decides to go tell the mother about them. He finds out where they live easily through the "We" database, and arrives at their house. At first, Fish's mother, Havair Heurex, is hostile, believing that he is their to bother her daughter. But eventually Reuth explains that he only wanted to let her know that Fish is a talented illustrator, and that she should not keep her from drawing.

At this, Havair realizes that Reuth is not a bad stranger, and allows him inside for tea. They talk, and Havair reveals that she had researched Reuth and found out that he was dying. When Reuth leaves, he asks her not to tell Fish, whose real name is Dolandra. She told Reuth her name was Fish because she loves the sea and sea creatures.

Later, Fish returns to Reuth, and they are able to finish more of the book. But eventually, Reuth passes away. Fish discovers him as she comes to visit again, and he is lying under a tree covered in ants. Fish and her mother bury Reuth in the sea, as they believe he would have liked.