Kensington, having freed Zoltan from the snares of the Progenitor, hacks his way through to a black organ at the heart of the bug-brain creature, using knowledge gained from memories of an ancient Vartan, Doctor Shreega, who was the monster's first victim so long ago. Zoltan rescues Wynona and the cheetahs, and they all board the bug-ship that had brought the prisoners here in the first place.

The Naga Green Lancer, Malachite, tries to figure out the controls of the craft, but Kensington takes over as pilot – again making use of memories that are not his to understand this alien technology. The bug-ship escapes, while Zoltan tends to the wounds of one of the cheetahs, and to Wynona … and weeps bitterly at the full realization that his reconciliation with his father was nothing but a lie created by the alien monster. Wynona was lost in dreams as well, it appears, and is heartbroken to find out that she is once again without her magic.

The city outside the palace is in chaos, seeming to fall apart without the Progenitor to control its insectoid machines and servants. Kensington takes advantage of the damage to fly through a rift in the Life Dome, and onward to safety, while Zoltan converses with the human in the group. She introduces herself as Riddle Smith, and indicates that the cheetahs are Silent Ones, and that the Naga is a Knight … and that they are all allies by necessity.

Kensington and Zoltan spot an airship – a zeppelin – and Riddle identifies it as being with the Expedition – her particular group. Using a shiny borrowed from Zoltan, the Green Lancer signals the ship with reflections of light, and negotiates the right to land. The bug-ship, after all, is fast, but hasn't the range to make the trip to the Pit of Himar.

On board the bridge of the zeppelin, Kensington and Zoltan meet the ship's commander, Captain Tremaine. The crew of the ship consists of a mix of Jupani and humans. Riddle is reintroduced as Ambassador Smith, who happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time when the Confederates struck. Kensington and Zoltan relate something of their experiences and of Sinai, while the two humans fill the avians in on just a little bit of how things are on Abaddon. At last, the two avian adventurers retire to some bunks to rest up from their ordeal.