Tavi makes his living as a cab driver for the flocks of alien tourists whose visits to New York City support America's economy. His margins are slim and his flying cab is always on the verge of breaking down. One day he picks up an alien cephalopod for a routine ride from the spaceport to NYC, but halfway through the ride the alien, high on something, opens the cab door and throws itself out. Despite his fears that he will have his licence revoked, Tavi does the right thing and reports the incident, only to find that the Tourist Bureau intends to cover the incident up. America is now so reliant on intergalactic tourism they can't afford to lose any business. The Bureau replaces Tavi's cab to buy his silence, and Tavi uncomfortably accepts the deal. However, a relative of the dead alien soon shows up, asking for information. It has figured out that the Bureau is covering something up, and has brought backup in the form of a ship that could destroy the Earth. A terrified representative from the Bureau tells Tavi to go along with the alien, but not to implicate the Bureau. Tavi feels the need to tell the truth, and does. The alien accepts this story and accepts his family member's death as a natural outcome of tourism on a primitive place like earth. The intergalactic tourist industry on earth spikes soon afterwards as aliens rush in - after all, where else can such a risky and adventurous tourist experience be found nowadays?