-----[Planet: Neodomus] [Location: Jaspae’s Capital Castle]----- 5 minutes after time warp

	As two points in time collided together, reality split apart. A violent, yet imperceptible, cosmic ripple expanded from the epicenter and reached into dimensions beyond. The resulting reverberations tore through the air like a lightning bolt, causing a cacophony to ensue as the echo bounced off the lofty halls of the marble castle. A woman dressed in a light, flowing gown glided along the bright sunlit corridor, oblivious to the noise, yet highly aware that something was not right. She slowed her pace, and she looked around her in confusion. She could not recall how she got there or where she was going; it felt as though she had appeared all at once –just poofed into existence. Even more disturbingly, she couldn’t recall who she was. Her mouth hung agape as she warily circled around the immense hallway. A few terrifying moments of confusion passed before her memories came slamming back into realization. 

	Maya crumpled to her knees. Swirling images of blood, tortured faces, and carnage infiltrated her mind. Just mere moments ago, she had been aboard the Leviathan. The nightmare was fragmented, but she recalled seeing her fellow Archons dying right in front of her. One by one, the light left their eyes. Then, as if by some twisted joke, the deceased were brought back as undead warriors and turned against those remaining of their own. The Archons had failed, and in the final waning moments of battle Maya faced the inevitability of oblivion. Soaked in viscera, only some of which was hers, Maya crawled across the crimson-coated floor of the ship while death played at her heels. Her vision slowly faded to black. The last thing she remembered was reaching towards her dearly beloved –Paul, the Archon of Time. 

A guttural scream flowed from her lungs and collapsed into ragged sobs. Her whole body shook. The memories, in tandem with the physical exhaustion from the time jump, cracked her morale. She pounded her fist on the smooth marble floor of the castle she grew up in. She was alive, sure. But her friends were either dead or lost. 

“No, no, no,” she moaned as she doubled over on her side. Realizing what Paul had done, she clutched her sides as a wave of nausea overcame her. Even for a seasoned Archon, the extent of power that Paul would have had to exert in order to send her back a few months in time was critically dangerous. She was in hysterics. [i]I have to know that he is alive and okay. A time warp of that magnitude…I wouldn’t be surprised if his brain turned into mush or exploded altogether. I have to find him.[/i] 

 Maya must have screamed again because a royal guard came charging around the corner. His heavy armor clanged obnoxiously with each rapid footstep. Concern donned his brow. His mouth shouted words. They didn’t make sense. Maya stared at him. His mouth kept moving. She looked at the floor.

“No, I am fine,” she replied solemnly, “Leave and tell no one of this.” The guard contemplated for a second before obediently leaving her alone. 

[i][color=00aeef]Maya, get up off the floor. You can’t do this here.[/color] [/i] A familiar voice warned her. 

[i]Yes, Andromeda,[/i] Maya acknowledged. 

As much as the distressed Water Archon wanted to lie on the floor forever, she knew that Andromeda was right. She was back on her home planet in the castle that she grew up in. Following the untimely death of her parents, she was bequeathed the throne. One might think that this would be a safe place for her; however, a malicious group of rich aristocrats, known as the Council of Nobles, was after her head and crown. If history was going to repeat itself, she only had a few days before the Nobles would try to discreetly assassinate her. She shuddered as she recalled being tied to an anchor and dropped into the watery depths.

[i]I have to get off of this planet. Immediately.[/i]Maya thought as she climbed to her feet and headed towards her private quarters. Determined to reunite with her fellow Archons, she wiped away the tears and held her chin high. It was time to start round two.