The next morning, Katara woke up with a slight headache. It could have been worse, she knew it, but she knew what would help: a morning bath. She got up slowly, petting a sleeping Zhin before walking over toward the baths, a towel in hand. She made a bee line toward the co-ed baths, taking a quick dive deep in the water, and cleaning thoroughly. It was early enough that she thought she wouldn't bother anyone, and after a wash she went straight to the hot springs, towel wrapped around her chest and down to her knees.

She settled down, breathing deeply, closing her eyes a moment. After everything, it was good to just sit, relax, take everything in. There was still so much uncertainty, and there was definitely some pain, but she needed to stay focused, needed to be what was needed, especially now. How was Billy doing, was Matt recovering from his foray with darkness? There was still so much going on, and she needed to keep focused on training and the next step with the Outsiders.

She sat quietly, breathing in, breathing out. She couldn't be overwhelmed or things would be worse. There were reasons, after all, she still kept her head high: there was still so many things to do.

Cargn, having been part of the crew for far longer than anyone else, knew a lot of useful secrets the ship held.

For example, it was a little known fact that the Sensoriums were the best place in the ship to perform psychic research, as psychic energy flowed more freely within their walls.

"Stacy," he said, walking into one of the Sensoriums, "Initiate program 788-291-Primaris."

The room changed, becoming a featureless white room, and the tall robed figure of Cargn placed the blue wooden box in his hands on the ground in front of him. He knelt down, opening the box and retrieving the crystalline sphere that was the Map, obtained during the previous mission.

He lifted the Map up, allowing it to float in mid-air thanks to the invisible force field provided by Stacy.

"Establish a psycholine and begin monitoring any changes. Make sure to record all the data as well."

Numerous holographic screens suddenly appeared, surrounding Cargn, each one displaying a dizzying array of data. Satisfied his preparations were complete, he placed his hands on either side of the Map, and began to concentrate, establishing a psychic connection between himself and the sphere before him.

Lines of energy, like miniature bolts of lightning, jumped from the sphere to Cargn's fingertips, causing him to wince slightly. Blood began to slowly drip from his nose, but he paid no attention to that.

The serious look on his face as he delved into the secrets of the Map mirrored his conviction as he pressed on despite the pain. He knew that this one task would bring him one major step forward towards his own goals. He would not allow himself to fail in this.

To Buffy Anne Summers, it seemed like the only reason she'd been podpopped in the first place was to have been placed in GLaDOS right away, forced to run mazes and the like. It was an experience that had somewhat reminded Buffy of her eighteenth birthday, when Giles had secretly sedated her powers away so that she'd have to fight a vampire all on her lonesome. The Cruciamentum, the Council of Watchers had called it.

Okay, so it wasn't that unfortunate of an experience, but still. Forced testing does not a happy Slayer make.

She brushed back her hair and stared up at the statues in the art hall. As much as she did not want to be, she was mystified by them. Buffy hadn't run across them before, but she was quickly figuring out that they depicted the scenes from one's life. At the moment, it was showing Buffy when she was powerless and running away from some thugs, on the night of her Cruciamentum.

Because that's something I definitely wanted to be reminded of, she thought dryly.

Finally, though, the Slayer forced herself to turn away from the statues. Enough taunting. I need food. Or something.