Overview

Calorra, now her mother's enemy, has exiled Quinn and Thalcu to an alternate dimension and has taken Qorlec for herself, ending the centuries old war with the callous slaughter of many innocents. Meanwhile, Varzo and Mercy are likewise exiled by Calorra to a barren planet, where they are trapped and helpless to escape. As Quinn reconciles with Thalcu and searches for a way back to her own world, Zita searches desperately for Quinn and her lost friends, becoming exiled by Calorra herself in the process.  

--  

"There you are, Zita," said Calorra fondly. 

And there you are, my little mass murderer, Zita thought.  

-  

Thalcu stared at Quinn, unbelieving. "As if you didn't marry the help!" She froze angrily when Quinn pointed a threatening silver finger at her.  

"Don't insult Ckyla," Quinn warned, brown eyes fierce with anger and wet with unshed tears. "Neither of us had a choice."  

"The hell you didn't," snarled Thalcu and hated herself when the tears started to her own eyes.  

"How would you know?" Quinn demanded hotly. "You weren't there! I told you before: they told me you were dead. If I knew you were alive . . ." She waved a silver hand in disgust. "It doesn't matter. You dumped me on Anarchy and then you married Zycun because you missed your pretty dresses and fancy shoes. You made your choice. And now you stand there crying, as if I'm supposed to, what? Just melt at your feet and forget it all?"  

-  

"She exiled us and left us all to die! Sending Quinn off to Rokna knows where! That little shit," said Varzo darkly. "And after we busted our asses tryin' to save her from Zyvector. This is how she repays us? By trappin' us here for years?"  

Zita hesitated, and Varzo could see her searching silently for some way to defend Quinn's daughter. "Calorra's very confused, Varzo," she said at last.  

Varzo shook her head. "No. I think Calorra knows exactly what she's doing. You just don't wanna admit it. Why? It's not like you raised her. I was there when she was born. Guess I don't blame you. She can put on a real 'sweet and innocent' act. Even I couldn't see it for a long time, her hatred and resentment, all that arguing Quinn and Ckyla did in front of her." She glanced around the room. "Bein' exiled to a dead planet will open your eyes to a lotta things." 

"It's not like that," said Zita, sounding almost helpless. "Calorra's not pretending. She's convinced she's doing the right thing—" 

"Aren't most people with too much power?" said Mercy quietly. 

--

"I . . . I don't know," Rose stammered. Much as she was furious at Calorra for sending Quinn to another dimension, Calorra was still her granddaughter. It was difficult to truly hate her. "What does it matter to you?" she snapped at the robot head.  

"Though I once kidnapped and physically harmed you, Calima forgave me and accepted me into her ranks," answered the head. "It seems a pity that I would be allowed a chance at redemption while Calorra, who has suffered so much more greatly than I, would simply have her life cast away."