1. Frenemies

Jacques travels to New Pav to meet with the Pav administrator Da Azzma Hizz and finalize a trade agreement—human autofactories in exchange for processed elements. The encounter is tense due to lingering Pav resentment over their original homeworld's destruction, though the agreement proceeds. Jacques then reconnects with Ferb, who reveals he is building a vessel to explore above the galactic plane, and the two acknowledge the emotional toll the Pav catastrophe has taken on all involved.

Jacques transfers into a manny and lands on New Pav for a diplomatic meeting with Da Azzma Hizz, the second planetary administrator since Hazjiar's passing. The Pav military escort is cold and armed, and the meeting takes place in a tent rather than indoors. Azzma presents the agreed tonnages of elements as payment for two human-owned autofactories; Jacques confirms the transaction and notes that the Bellerophon will collect the ingots within the year. The conversation reveals that prevailing Pav opinion has shifted to viewing humans as enemies rather than saviors, contrary to Hazjiar's recorded views. Azzma acknowledges they are outnumbered but understand discretion. Jacques mentions the ongoing restoration of Old Pav, which Azzma declines, preferring to visit in their own time. After the exchange, Jacques returns to VR at a comms station. Bored with his current ski chalet environment, he contacts Ferb and visits the Pav Reclamation Project administration center. Ferb arrives and they discuss how the Pav catastrophe has haunted all who were involved—Jacques, Ferb, Phineas, and Claude—driving them to distant pursuits. Ferb reveals he is secretly building a massive cargo vessel filled with stripped-down SCUT relays to launch toward galactic north and explore above the galactic plane, dropping relays along the way. The conversation suggests that both may be running from their shared trauma. Ferb abruptly departs, leaving Jacques alone with his thoughts.