AEHU/Plot/Plot Sketch Chapter 10

"Intermission II"

AI FATE forcefully ejects Robo from its system, causing Belthasar and Ashtear to realize that FATE is trying to keep its activities private. Belthasar is unsettled by the content of the records seized by FATE and asks the AI directly why it summoned those episodes from the historical record. FATE diverts the conversation by reporting that the time of Magus' arrival in 2400AG is approaching.

Belthasar sends Robo on an adventure outside Chronopolis to intercept Magus when he arrives at a location predicted by AI FATE, so that Robo can sneak Magus discreetly into the facility. FATE's prediction is spot on. Magus gates in and Robo notes the time gate creation ability Magus has developed since they last met. Magus reports that he's been trying to investigate the Dream Devourer since he saw it at the end of Crimson Echoes, but is unable to re-enter the Darkness Beyond Time. Robo is surprised that Magus has finally given in and asked for help, and he comes to the realization that FATE is truly a superior AI for its predictive ability.

Back at Chronopolis Belthasar meets with Magus privately and explains the game plan: Magus must go to 606AG and seek out Raqh, and may find out what conditions are necessary to access the Darkness Beyond Time by shadowing him. Magus vows to destroy the Dream Devourer and free Schala with his newfound powers but Belthasar doesn't say anything in response; Robo wonders if Belthasar is keeping something from Magus. Magus agrees to check out 606AG and gates himself out.

Belthasar wants to return to observing events in 606AG under the guise of testing AI FATE's predictive capability, seeing as FATE is behaving again. Robo switches from HiROM to LoROM, which is better able to access Chronopolis' historical mainframe and access the medieval records.