As Zoë Castillo takes the Vactrax to Newport, we move briefly away to another world entirely. In the winter-bound Northlands of Arcadia, a hardened and older April Ryan is tracking a band of Azadi soldiers. She is accompanied by her fellow Rebels, the wise Chawan; young, impatient Brynn, and the Irhadian Artisan, Na'ane. As Na'ane raises a magical cloud of poisonous vapour, April and the others ambush and kill the Azadi, who are unsteady on the ice. The Rebels' conversation in the aftermath reveals that these Azadi are coming further and further north. The focus of the Rebels is on their supply route, and thus they are headed to Marcuria for medicines and food. April quietly says that it is probably much changed since she was last there, but leads the way.