"Huh? Oh... Marigold. Well..."

Midas and the others look at Jones, hoping for a reassuring answer.

"Slone figured out her connection to us and...tossed her back into her reality..."

Skye and TnTina look pretty upset about the situation, considering they've just lost a close ally and friend. Jules sighs sadly, hugging her arms. Midas seemed surprised and moderately upset too.

"I see..."

"However Slone mentioned the reality coordinates and I went to go find with the rift device I 'borrowed' off her."

"Did you bring her back? And if so, where is she now?" Jules asks.

"Actually, she told me that she didn't want to come back."

Midas and the others look quite surprised at this. Marigold wanted to stay where she was?

"She told me that even if Slone was the cause, she's finally returned back to the reality she belongs in. She knew she'd probably never be able to see us again, but she'd always remember the good times we all had together."

Midas hums. Marigold did have a point. She's been missing from her reality for so long it wouldn't surprise him if the Agency in that world fell to Shadow. For all they know the aliens could've arrived in her world too.

"But she mentioned that maybe one day we could all figure out a way to travel between her reality and ours. Then we'll never be separated."

"Well...as long as she's happy." Skye smiles sadly.

Midas clenches his fists, gripping on to the sceptre.

"Jones would mind accompanying me? You too Jules."

"Where are we going?"

"To pay Doctor Slone a 'visit'."

------------------

Meanwhile...

"I'm surprised. None of my guards figured out the truth. And yet Jones of all people uncovered your true identity." Slone mutters, loading a pistol. "It's a shame Joey. I was starting to feel like you'd be a great addition to I.O's ranks."

Joey glares at Slone, tied up with rope and handcuffs on their wrists. They knew they had failed their mission, but even in death they wouldn't be telling Slone anything.

"I know I've failed the Kymera, but our Mothership is coming directly above this base. And soon it'll be nothing but floating debris. Whatever you're planning is doomed to failure Doctor."

Slone grunts, getting fed up with the alien.

"Enough! You are of no use to me anymore. So shut it and let me dispose of you with no further distractions."

Unfortunately for Slone, one final distraction comes her way as footsteps make their way down to her location.

"Oh my god, you've got to be joking..." She mutters, turning around to find Jones, Midas and Jules behind her. "You have a lot of fucking nerve to come down here you three!"

"You gotta lot of nerve being alive, bitch." Jules spits back, letting Jones and Midas approach her.

"Well Slone? How's this for a pitiful coward?" Jones smirks, folding his arms.

"Ugh! Why do you continue to pester me?! Why are you constantly coming down here to seek my approval?" Slone questions, glaring at the blond. "You want your job back or something?!"

"Nah, it's not about me getting my job back. Never was. I don't want it back anyway."

"Then what DO you want you imbecile?"

"To prove a point to you Doctor." Midas cuts in, taking Jones' hand. "He's not a idiot or a coward. You may not see the hero within him, but I do."

"And if he hadn't gained that courage to do the right thing, Midas would still be stuck on the Mothership and I'd still be a gold statue." Jules adds.

"And in the end I managed to save the people that love and care about who I am. I'm not the coward you terrorised all those years ago anymore." Jones finishes. "All I want to do is help protect the island I call home. Is it that hard for you to understand Slone..?"

Slone sighs in frustration and fixes her glasses.

"They're pieces of code John... they're not worth anything."

"Pieces of code or not, they're my family. And I'll do anything to help protect them and their home..."

A rumble in the earth could be faintly heard and felt in the underground base, alerting everyone. Joey chuckles in their chains.

"Mark my words Doctor. You have no idea what's hiding in our Mothership. Whether your plan works or not, if anything, you're only going to make things on the island worse..."

"Enough out of you!"

Slone points the pistol at Joey, pulling the trigger and shooting a bullet through their head and killing them. She puts the weapon away and turns back to the others.

"What's happening?" Jules says, gripping onto her brother's arm.

"I'm unsure. It's like something is causing tremors in the ground."

"Joey mentioned that the Mothership was inching closer to my current location." Slone hums, folding her arms.

Debris from the ceiling begins falling, seemingly about to collapse on the four of them. They had to get out.

"They must be preparing to abduct this place." Midas figures. "We have to leave, now."

Before either can make a move the ceiling above them collapses, sending a mixture of rocks, earth and heavy I.O tech tumbling on top of the group. Jones covers his face, coughing repeatedly from the dust. He could see Midas and Jules had barely managed to escape.

*cough*

"Oh man."

*cough*

"These aliens are crazy."

He turns to run to the surface, only to hear a strained voice from behind.

"Aah- Shit."

The lower half of Slone's body was stuck under some rocks, holding her down. She struggles to break free but it's no use. The rocks don't budge.

"Slone..! Are you... okay?"

"Ugh. No! What does it look like idiot?!"

Jones was at a loss on what to do. He had two choices;

Abandon Slone there and leave her to possibly get abducted.

Or...

Get her out of the rubble and carry her to safety.

The abduction beam came with anti-gravity affects, so any fall damage wasn't possible.

He eventually settles on a choice.

"Agh. Hang on ma'am! I'll get you outta here."

Jones begins pushing the rocks away, using all his strength. As much as he and Slone hated each other, he didn't want to be heartless and leave someone to die. Even if that person was the one who despises him more than anyone in the world.

"Almost there! Just one more rock!"

Slone was in pure disbelief. Why was he helping her?

Jones pushes the final rock off of Slone and takes her hand. Wrapping her other arm around his neck he notices an opening made in the wall and heads towards it.

"Hold on tight Slone. I'm gonna jump!"

"Are you crazy?! Jones don't you dare-"

He doesn't listen and jumps anyway. They thankfully land safely just outside the anti-gravity zone with no injuries present. Midas and Jules are there to greet him, but are confused about why he brought Slone with him.

"Get your filthy hands off me." Slone says, letting go of Jones.

"You're welcome?"

Midas glares at Slone who simply glares back.

"Maybe a fucking thank you would be nice. The man saved your life, be more grateful Slone." He scoffs, folding his arms.

"I didn't need his help. I don't need any of you helping me. My guards and I will handle things from here." Slone spits back at him.

Gold begins spreading up Midas' arms. His anger was seeping through and his patience wearing thin.

"I'm this close to turning you into gold and tossing your statue into the ocean."

"Oh please, you don't have the balls."

"Want to fucking bet?"

"Okay that's enough you two!"

Jones separates them, stopping their increasingly heated argument. He then turns to Midas.

"Look dude I know we hate her with a burning passion, but I think her plan is the only way we're gonna win this thing."

"Maybe so Jonesy. But after everything she did to you, I just can't trust this woman."

Slone step next to Jones.

"I'm afraid I have to side with the Looper on this one. How could you just...risk your life to save me?" She questions. "You despise me, and I despise you. How is saving me once gonna fix anything between us?"

Jones sighs, turning to his ex-boss.

"Look I don't like you and vise versa. But whatever your plan is, there's no denying that we need it to be a success. In other words, we need you."

"What are you proposing?"

He holds out his hand for Slone to take.

"A truce. Until the Mothership is destroyed, we won't go after your guards and we'll even assist with your plan." He explains. "And in return, you don't send any guards out to kill us. ...aaand maybe see if you have a spare rift device we could keep."

Slone raises a hand up to Jones', looking very unsure about the idea of a truce with I.O's No.1 enemy and the agent that 'betrayed' them all. Ultimately, she sighs and shakes his hand.

"Very well John. You have a deal. As for the rift device... I'll think about it."

Midas offers his hand as well. Reluctantly, she takes it. He leans next to her, whispering a dark warning.

"Don't try anything funny Doctor, for I'm always watching."

She rolls her eyes as she lets go.

"Alright boys. Since we only have a matter of days left, I might as well inform you of my plan."

"I betcha it has a catchy title!"

"Y-Yes Jones. It's called...