Molly and Steed projected to the portal opening of the staircase. Carefully, they climbed the tree and jumped through the portal onto the balcony. From the balcony they stared at a red bird on a limb of the tree. They watched the clouds appear to be dancing images in the sky. And for a second they thought they heard Luke’s voice in the wind saying good-bye to them.

Feeling a degree of uneasiness Molly and Steed turned and looked at the dripping red color as they stepped onto the flat between stairs. They began climbing the golden steps back toward the birthing ponds as Jason had told them they should do. They hadn't gone far, when they stopped. Their thoughts became somewhat muddled and confused. They couldn't focus and they couldn't concentrate.

Molly cried out, "What is happening?"

Steed reached out to her as both their souls began to float and then began flying, moving as though they were under someone else's control. They began to fly faster than they thought possible and quickly they reached the top of the stairs. Then the stairs vanished and they fell onto green grasses near the pier.

Steed screamed, "Who brought us here?" He hoped that Jason would answer but there was no answer. Steed whispered to Molly, "This seems different somehow."

Molly and Steed walked the path and reached the birthing ponds. Molly said, "The last time we were here there were so many people. Now it seems abandoned."

They walked through one of the gates they knew should lead to a birthing pond. They weren't sure which one they should use or even if it mattered. They opened the gate and walked through. There was a spoon shape in the hard, cracked, dry ground. There was no water in the pond. Steed whispered, "My God, what if they are all like this."

"Did Jason say specifically that we needed to wash in the birthing ponds again?"

Steed said, "It is the mud that prevents us from becoming trapped on earth. He only said that we had to return to the Ether of the birthing ponds. Still, I would feel better if we could use the mud again."

Molly said, "That is why that strange girl covered me in mud. You and Jason could have told me."

Steed and Molly checked all the birthing ponds. Each one was as dry as the previous. They decided to return to the golden stairway. After they walked the path back to the pier and stairway, they looked at the large ocean of water. The ocean of water began to look smaller.

Steed shook his head, "This is weird."

Suddenly they saw a ship coming toward the pier. Molly said, "Should we rush into the stairway, or should we hide?"

"Look at the ocean of water! Every second it is looking more like a river. We have got to create mud in the birthing ponds and cover ourselves. I feel certain of it. We need to hide."

Quickly they hid in the bushes as the ship came up to dock. They watched as 30 souls burdened by odd irons and chains were led off the ship. They saw Ellen and Fitzgerald among the number. They heard them crying, "Please don't send us to Saturn."

One of the gatekeepers laughed, "But you were found plotting with those who are trying to figure some manner to escape being trapped on planet earth. We are going to free you from planet earth."

Ellen screamed, "You are not going to free us. You are going to send us to Saturn and from Saturn you will return us to earth. We promise to spy for you! If you will just not send us to Saturn, we promise to do whatever you want."

As in a blink, the ship, the gatekeepers, and the captives vanished. Steed asked Molly, "Do you know what just happened?"

"Not really."

"Someone altered time so that the 30 captured would escape being found out."

"What if it was Lucifer responding to Ellen's offer to spy?"

"That is not a pleasant thought. I hope that is not what happened."

Suddenly, Fitzgerald appeared. "That was a close one. Jason wanted me to show you where the cave is that you can use to make sure you are protected from becoming trapped on earth. Follow me."

Not totally sure if they could trust Fitzgerald, they did as he asked and he did lead them to a cave. After they used the mud in the cave and then cleaned it off, they returned to the pier. Again they saw what appeared as an ocean of water and not the river. Steed figured that was a sign that the mud worked. Then the portal to the stairway appeared. Steed, Molly, and Fitgerald entered the stairway.

Molly asked, "Where is Ellen?"

"You heard her. She was willing to spy. Jason saved her, but he can't trust her. It breaks my heart, but I do understand." Fitzgerald said, "Jason has a project for you two. It has to do with Ellen and Rus."

Molly shined with happiness. "I'm going to get to see my Rus."

Fitgerald said, "Rus is in a place in time where he has been before. He is naturally inclined not to repeat history to any degree. From what Jason and I saw from your previous outing to earth, you two are especially good at whispering thoughts to people. Before, Rus went scuba diving while Ellen was in a plane and they both accidentally crossed through a time portal similar to this staircase. They went back in time to Atlantis. Jason wants Ellen and Rus to meet before their previous accidental trip back in time."

Steed said, "You and Jason were watching us."

"I mostly was watching you for Jason. I was so impressed I did make sure Jason saw you two in action a couple of times."

Molly said, "You said Jason wants Ellen and Rus to meet, but then what?"

"It just all depends."