The Happy Maid arrives at the Rephidim Docks, and Nekara indicates to Alptraum and Autumn-Storm that they should leave quickly, lest anybody on the crew change their minds about turning them in. The reason for Nekara's haste becomes more evident, as one of the crewmen discovers that the captain is dead – but even as he cries this out, Alptraum and his companions are already making haste across the docks, and disappear into the morning crowd – though Alptraum tells Nekara somewhat bitterly that next time it would be appreciated if she would tell him a little sooner when she has messed something up.

They check out the Shiny Shoppe, but find it guarded, and then head to Little Babel, where Nekara makes contact with members of a gang known as "The Body of the Sisters," and arranges for a place for Alptraum to stay, so that he can use his dream abilities to try to locate Srinala.