Dr. Couplet does not want to leave her life's work on the doomed galaxy Trialviron, but Chris and Alex talk sense into her. They leave The Poet's Pocket in the nick of time. All the residents of Trialviron have transported to the Galaxy Zeberron, except one: Duneedon. He quickly traps Chris, Alex, and Lynne in a last-ditch effort to return to Earth. Before he is transported, though, Emperor Tritan sends a power surge that destroys Duneedon–and all the transporter equipment. It appears Alex, Chris, and Lynne are about to die as the countdown to Trialviron's destruction nears zero.
