The flight to Bajor was uneventful. Dylan left Harper and Rhade in orbit aboard the *Andromeda* and had Beka, Trance, Rommie, and Olma accompany him to the surface in the *Maru.* Although it had a breathable atmosphere, Bajor was largely desert. The complex of tents and prefab buildings surrounding the orb was near one of the few bodies of water on the planet.
"The collectors believe Bajor was once a thriving world with a humanoid race," Olma explained as the makeshift complex came into sight, "but all of that changed when the Orb of Ages appeared."
"So this thing could be a planet-killer," Beka said. "Would have been nice to know that up front."
"You restored the Commonwealth," Olma replied, "and survived the Magog World Ship. One would think the Orb of Ages wouldn't be that much of a challenge."
Trance said, "Dylan, I think we should land on the south side."
"Why?" Dylan asked.
"Just a feeling."
Dylan frowned. "Ok. Beka, you heard the lady."
"South side it is." Beka steered her ship towards a landing.
After Olma talked with the head of the collectors, she lead Dylan and the others into the central tent. The orb was one meter wide and floating one meter above a flat rock, the orange pattern of the Route of Ages twisting inside it. Collectors in blue lab coats manned consoles near the Orb, monitoring instruments surrounding it.
"Rommie?" Dylan prompted.
Rommie cautiously approached the orb and extended her hand. "I'm picking Tyr's High Guard nanobots," she said. "They're indicating injury. It may be that for him only a few seconds have passed since-" She broke off. "Dylan-"
"Dylan?" Trance said. "We're not alone."