The scene is at the dam, overlooking the water.  A small wooden boat docks and three figures debark from it - two Zooves in heavy looking plate armor, and a young woman who looks like she could either be Khin, Demonic, or possibly even a Curator;  it’s hard to tell because she’s wearing a heavy, hooded cloak and has her head down.

The girl is groggy and the Zooves have to help her up and lead her along.  Another noticeable thing about her is a large medallion hanging off a necklace she’s wearing, with what looks like a large red gemstone in it.  Also present here, are The Matron and Melusine.  The Matron is accompanied by several of her flock, and Melusine has a couple of basilisks with her.

Much of their conversation will be paraphrased for brevity; the two present Crones are hesitant to speak at first, so the hooded girl does so first.  Or...least that’s what you think at first, till you look closer at the gemstone on her necklace.  It appears to pulse when she speaks, and you come to realize its actually the gemstone speaking in a feminine voice, not the one wearing it.  The gemstone greets the Crones, mentioning that they are as beautiful as the last time they met.

The two Crones soften a bit after that, addressing the speaking gem as ‘Goddess’ and inquiring on just what the three guests with it are.  The gem responds that the Zooves are members of a race she’s become quite fond of, and the one wearing her is serving as her current Avatar.  She adds that members of her Avatar’s race are for some reason great conduits for the task, and that ‘this one’ fits her physical needs quite well.

The Goddess gets right to the point - she has returned at long last with the intent of taking the city entirely under her control.  She mentions that while her sisters slumber, they cannot interfere with her quest to do so.  The catch with this is that while they still persist, she cannot assume control of their domains either.  So she asks the Crones to do two things for her.  First off - resume operation of the power plant in this sector, as it’ll help facilitate the restoration of the sector’s facilities, and two - divert all forces to destroying Aine’s core soon as possible.  “Luckily for us, the constructs in this sector lit it up like a Christmas tree! Fufufu”

The Matron asks, what of the Guardians?  The Goddess retorts that while they were her creations, they are sworn to Aine’s sake, and not hers, and will likely attack indiscriminately at any who would approach Aine’s core.  “No need to sweat it though - I could always make more of them later once Danu is killed too.  So just put them down like the mad dogs they are.”

The hooded figure turns to the Matron.  “If you are short of numbers, I will increase the threshold on the spawning of your kind.  Get this facility operational and staffed soon as possible.  Send your flock and any additional forces southbound toward Six Flags.  That will be the starting point of the conquest south toward Aina.”  The Matron and her flock kneel in submission, and then flutter off.

This exchange seems to upset Melusine, who starts to shout and hiss back at the hooded figure.  Melusine argues that it is absolutely insane that after several millennia away from this place, the first thing the Goddess would want is to start a civil war within the city.  Things have NOT gone well the Crones or their followers since the city’s collapse, and they don’t even have the proper numbers or strength to fight the Guardians, let alone the other foreign invaders who recently slew Baba Yaga.  And to top that all off, to think that The Morrigan would be as brazen as to kill her own kin, why, she must be insane after so long away fro-

“Stop breathing” says the stone.  Melusine immediately goes limp and falls to the ground, not even struggling or gasping.  The hooded figure looks to the basilisks.  “Kill.  Each other.”  The Basilisks start to do exactly that.  “I have no use for subordinates who would question my absolute command.  I WILL have obedience, or death.”

“Raven’s Guard, bring me her head,” the hooded figure says, pointing at Melusine’s body.  The Zooves draw their blades and march forward to fetch it.  By this point, one Basilisk is left standing amongst the masses.  “I will repurpose her spark...and make an example for the rest of the lot.”