"Sorry, I didn't think there'd be so many of them and that they were that powerful," Zhi'an said.

"My sensors suggest that there was also complex machinery involved," said Kryten.  "It was active while the magnetic field was still moving in this direction... I suppose we're heading into the magnetic field now, a plasma arc not being available?"

"How big is the field? Will you be able to follow without having to get in its area of effect?" Zhi'an asked.

"I am shielded to a degree," said Kryten.  "Just try and keep me at least five meters from the source of the field."

Zhi'an flew back to the locals on the platform.

"Do you guys have any power sources without magnetic fields? My fried is a robot."

That seemed to invoke a certain amount of amusement among them.

"Not until we land," said the older man, maintaining his dignity as best he could.  "I am generating these magnetic fields, and they are the only thing holding this platform and your ship in the air."

"So, I guess she just needs to keep her distance from you for now then?" Zhi'an asked.

"That may be necessary, yes," he said.  "I don't think it should be too hard... Phantasma, can you handle this much area?"

The cloaked woman smiled.  "Oh, yes," she said.  "I can cloak all of us easily."

"She has some shielding, but she'll have to avoid being at the centre," Zhi'an said. "So, if I may ask a quesition: why is everyone so calm about this?"

"I'm calm because I have to be," said the man.  "You've missed everyone else quietly being excited.  Do we really need to analyze this now?"

"Sorry," Zhi'an said, landing on the platform and signaling for Kryten to come over.

Kryten approached, cautiously; as if waiting for this, Phantasma raised a hand and gestured, and everyone... went away.  Platform, riders, even the ship seemed to fade away, becoming clouds and mist!  Zhi'an had faded as well, but she still felt the same.

Rotary-wing vehicles were approaching noisily in the distance; they'd surely arrive soon.  The platform (and Zhi'an's ship) began to fly off towards the outskirts of the city; Zhi'an could only tell this because she's been watching as mist overwrote the appearance of the vehicles.

"This certainly feels more advanced than normal technology for the planet," Zhi'an said to her friend.

"Are you sure that it's technology?" asked Kryten.  "This seems closer to the kinds of things that you can do..."

"Maybe, I don't get what is with the people on this planet. Do you think they all have super powers?" Zhi'an asked.

"I think the cities would look different if they did," said Kryten.  "We clearly have a lot to learn, however."

The misty fliers appeared to be approaching some kind of warehouse district on the edge of town.

"Yes, I should also try and find some sort of political leader to speak to," Zhi'an said.

"You may want to learn more about the locals before you do so," said Kryten.  "That can be dangerous."

"True, I've never done a first contact before," Zhi'an said.

"I don't think these are the usual circumstances for it," said Kryten.  "This is, you realize, the second time already that you've fallen in with a group that's avoiding the local authorities."

"Yes, it is," Zhi'an said. "These ones seem different at least."

"We should still carefully consider their agenda, however," said Kryten.  They were landing in a very large warehouse; the roof opened to let them lower the ship inside it.

"Yes, once we land and their leader is willing to talk more," Zhi'an said.

It appeared that they had landed, and set the ship down.  They were looking up at roughly the area Kryten and Zhi'an were, waiting for them.

Zhi'an walked over.

"Before we begin, you guys aren't trying to take over the world like the Next Men or whatever they were called, right?"