As the gang heads out it looks nice enough, and several characters are taking some time off to hear an interesting lecture by naturalist Frederick O’neill. O’neill has an interesting theory, given the conditions in which the original colonists arrived, and the subsequent decline of sophisticated data-gathering technology, it is foolish to assume that the people of Chariot have fully accounted for all native life forms on the planet. In addition, the presence of oxygen (vital for sophisticated metabolic systems), as well as the elevated radiation levels, suggests that Chariot may be home to some truly advanced life… perhaps intelligent enough to evade the slower blimps and zeppelins of Chariot. The speech ends for lunch, during which several other characters are met, including Jack Trenchau and Ken Niles who carry on a brief conversation about the state of prosthetics on Chariot.

Meanwhile, another zeppelin passes the Higher Aspiration and briefly exchanges a communiqué… but her soot-covered hull already confirms Kyr’s worst fear, a volcano in the deathlands has erupted and a massive ash storm is heading for them. Kyr becomes all business and starts ordering preparations for securing the zeppelin for an ash storm. Recalling that he lost his previous crew in an ash storm, the gang goes for elevated alert status, not long afterward a wave of black appears on the horizon and soon Higher Aspiration is enveloped completely. While performing a routine check of the upper gasbags, Midgeta is surprised to discover that the dorsal observation deck hatch is wide open. While securing it, he notes that the hatch, the ladder, and the area around the hatch are scarred with unusual, claw-like, marks. Midgeta reports his finding (you can hear the theme music from “Alien” in the background can’t ya), and Kyr orders a discreet level-by-level check… nothing.

Dinner is decent and uneventful enough, but Ken Niles does not show up. Later, Catherine goes to check on his cabin to see if he is not feeling well. He certainly is not… he’s DEAD! Not just dead, but practically wallpapering the cabin itself, again funny marks on the door. Things are starting to creep everybody out, and Kyr orders the crew to break out the small arms (though still attempt to maintain secrecy with the passengers… “no sir that’s not blood, it’s, um, ketchup, yea, cleaning up for room service”!). Unfortunally, secrecy goes out the window… along with several internal organs of victim #2 via a series of serrated tears in the hull of Aspiration near the observation deck. This time it is Frederick O’neil who finds the body and happily postulates that his theory of advanced life is verified… some matter of flying predator must have entered the ship under cover of the ash storm (oh joy)! As he goes off to his cabin to “record this historic moment” Stavos calls Kyr to the bridge… it seems that there is a blimp on their tail. This is far, far, to close to home for Kyr and he orders the crew to full alert. Determined to stay away from the blimp until the ash cloud passes… he hands the hunt for the “creature” to Stavos (along with the skeleton key to the passenger cabins). Then he maintains the helm.

Stavos investigates the cabins of the slain passengers, finding only a fine tool kit for the maintence of prosthetics in Ken’s cabin. When he hears nothing at Jack’s cabin he quickly enters. Though he finds nothing incriminating, he is surprised to find a smaller version of a prosthetic care kit, and concludes that there may be more (or less as the case may be) under Jack’s glove than expected. Passing by Frederick’s cabin he hears nothing, enters, and nearly slips on the pool of the naturalist’s blood that now covers the floor. A quick investigation reveals little and he soon backs out. As he reaches the end of the hallway he runs into Jack who is in a nightshirt and is explaining that he thought he heard something. Stavos asks him why he was out as is told that Jack wanted to go to the chapel, and pray for deliverance from whatever horror was on the ship since there was little the crew could do to protect them. A bit miffed, Stavos escorts Jack back to his cabin, asking offhand what religion he is anyway, Jack explains that he shares the same beliefs as their medic Catherine.

Stavos points out that, according to the Church of Ayre he could just have stayed in his cabin and not risk his life investigating a noise…

… and then he FINALLY makes the connection…

… which is quickly followed by the sound of a mechanism engaging, Stavos whirls around to see 4 sharp spring-loaded blades pop out of Jack’s prosthetic hand, Jack stabs at the same time Stavos fires. The uproar soon attracts everyone else and the two wounded men are subdued and taken care of, Stavos with some quick bandaging and Jack with Midgeta smashing his prosthetic arm with a fire axe (then working on Jack’s head until he loses consciousness).

When a patrol from Wallacia appears shortly after the cloud passes, the crew makes a brief stand against the pursuing blimp… which never emerges. What was it? Did it really exist?, the characters have had way too much mystery and decide to let that particular fact go…