Envoy witnesses the powering up of the Engine of Behemoth, and can feel the return of Earth Magic – as well as her own magical powers. She takes some of the damaged cast-off components from the Engines, in the hopes of studying them and perhaps being able to make more spare parts, and then bids farewell to the Svartifin, ducking into one of the many pocket universes where she feels that there will soon be a portal to the newly awakened world of Abaddon.

In the pocket reality, she finds a city populated by humans, where a technological fair is being held. She is greeted with awe and surprise by the people, who are uncertain what to make of her. A scientist prepares to embark on a journey through dimensions with an invention of his, and when he asks for volunteers to join his historic ride, Envoy steps forward. He, not being one to argue with an "angel," (though as taken aback by anyone as to what to make of this) goes along with it. The device works, perhaps better than he could have imagined, and they end up being transported to a Forbidden Zone in the deserts of Abaddon. The human inventor, Mr. Thorndike the Third, plans to return to his world, though Envoy tries (and fails) to explain to him that in this time frame, his home world no longer exists, and that there is no going back. He seems convinced that his machine can travel through time as well as space, but in the meantime, he follows Envoy as she makes contact with an Imperial scout pilot (a Naga), and gets passage to Imperial lands.