After having retrieved the son of super-rich caliph of Iksaladam from his kidnapper, the vile Quatuor Mortis, Valerian and Laureline find themselves, quite by accident, on the Shimballil asteroid. This space-California seems to be a magnet for the rich and beautiful. Our space-travelers meet all kinds of characters there, from the much-celebrated psychologist, Dr. Scharz-Metterklume, to film producer Ty Koün, who hires Laureline for a steamy episode of "kinosaga."