On Fortunatis, Envoy goes exploring, and finds a pool in the middle of a "crystal forest". She surmises that the sounds emitted by the pool indicate sapience, and tries to establish communications with the entity. The "crystal-liquid" construct absorbs Envoy's physical form, and she finds herself in a state of altered consciousness, communicating with some sort of alien artificial intelligence. One of the intelligences identifies itself as "Deus ex Machina". Envoy asks some questions about the Forbidden Zones and about magic, and requests that her body be restored. When it is, Wynona and Kurot rush her away from the scene and back to the Gateway, to flee Fortunatis.