The Maximals take the final statue from the dungeon, and return to the ship. The much-needed rest they require is going to be very brief, however, for, while they were combating the medusa below, Clockwork received a strange transmission. In a dark elven language, the message is another warning sent by the high priest of Threshtar. The priest says that Threshtar is now waiting for them in his temple at the training grounds of his elite knights. The Maximals, and only the Maximals, are to meet with him, and he will speak with their commander first. The date of the encounter is set for midnight of the following night, and exact coordinates are provided. This at least gives the Maximals enough time to regroup before they return to Falleen. Discussing the problem of controlling their prisoners, they decide that security anti-transformation manacles should be constructed, and Scythe and Shadowraith work on a design. Constructing the first pair, they put them on Moryth, thus freeing up their bridge R-Chamber for its actual purpose, the healing of the wounded.
The Maximals then return to Falleen, with a wagon filled with statuary...and the royal-turned-adventurer, Nicollette, the true countess, in tow. When King Lorimar arrives to greet them, they explain the story of the mix-up and the real kidnapping. When they explain the presence of the medusa, the king retrieves the royal mage to cast her recovery magic on the three statues. One of the men is in fact a Falleen guard, who was taken prisoner during his attempt to stop the kidnapping. The other is an adventuring thief who attempted to enter the dungeon and failed. And, the girl is the Dame Laura, lady in waiting to the countess, and very much confused by the entire situation.
The Maximals are invited to stay for dinner. In addition, Lorimar states, since they got to the bottom of this mystery, he is in their debt, and will offer them special items if they have any particular wishes. After discussion, they arrive at the idea of a kind of portable dungeon: an easier way of locking down their Predacon adversaries.
Night falls, and it is time for the Maximals to return to the east, and face the Predacon commander. Before leaving Falleen, Paladyne has the Maximals visit the temple of Rayenelle, to get a goddess' blessing put upon the party.
The Maximals land at a safe distance from the coordinates, and venture forward toward the knights' training grounds. It being a starless night, Shadowraith sticks to scouting from the skies, using his dark coloration to his advantage. The other Maximals are escorted through the gates of the complex, one at a time, in order, with the commander in the front. When Skystrike steps out of line, a sharp jab with a pike is her warning. The temple to Threshtar is beautifully carved, more modern than any design the Maximals have so far encountered. The guards at the entrance are all carrying plasma cannons, custom-built, and take no pains to hide them as they herd the Maximals in.
Rift is the first to be allowed to the inner sanctum. It is pitch black within, and the Predacon commander barely speaks to him before challenging him to combat. He simply teleports back to the outside, not wanting to really handle the situation this way. However, the guards have itchy trigger-fingers. They order Rift to stick to the perscribed line-up, and when he refuses, combat ensues. Meanwhile, Paladyne, next in line, simply enters the temple sanctum, followed by Scythe and Hulk.
Outside, Shadowraith spots a guard on the temple roof, and decides that means there may be a secret entrance. His first shot, however, fails to dispatch the guard. Not seeing his assailant, the guard calls for backup.
Within the inner sanctum, Threshtar examines his next opponent. Seeing that Paladyne is prepared to fight him one on one, he raises the lights, and terrorizes into his black knight robot mode. Scythe tries to use this chance to sneak off a venom dart, and the Predacon blocks it with a wing, then blows Scythe completely away with an attached gun. Leveling his sword at Paladyne, he introduces himself as the former Blackblade of the Predacon house of Dark Dragon, now called Threshtar, and prepared to fight him in a duel. Paladyne accepts, but asks for a moment of silent prayer...
While outside the sanctum a combat rages. Skystrike and Rift are outnumbered two to one by the guards, and, these guards all being plasma-armed, they are seriously outgunned. They put up a good fight, but are dispatched, both of them going off-line.
This registers in Shadowraith's personal scanners, and as guards pour out onto the roof to inspect, he feels he has not a moment to lose. He dives down to the front entrance, and dispatches the two guards standing there. However, he is merely just quick enough to witness the final moments of his two comrades.
Still inside the inner sanctum, the honor combat begins. Threshtar is the first to strike, but also the first to feel real injury, as he and Paladyne trade blows. However, this sword combat is short-lived, as Hulk breaks into the fray himself, trying to truck the Predacon with blows from his club. In addition, Scythe struggles to attack: though wounded, he bites the Predacon on the ankle, which does not damage him. Threshtar is no longer willing to play fair. He spears Scythe through and tosses him aside, then summons extra guards in an attempt to take care of the other Maximals. As the guards fire to cover him, he leaves, saying he will only stand for a fair fight, and will have to best the Maximals another time.