"This is the tree, right?" Itzel said as she placed a hand on the bark. "It's the only one that's out of place like Mag said." The fighter stepped around the roots that protruded from the dirt while using the trunk to balance herself. With a bit of a push, the tree toppled over before crashing into the swamp water with a splash.

"Looks like you found it," Enidri remarked as she shielded Eva from the stray splashes of swamp water.

A metallic door was embedded horizontally inside the remainder of the trunk. Itzel put two hands on one of the shut panels and pushed with all her might. "Urgh! Help me Janus! Push the other way!"

The physicist stood on the opposite side of the escape and pushed in the other direction. Despite their combined efforts, the seal remained shut.

"There's a pad over here!" Sheila said as she kneeled next to a small device protruding from one of the roots. "This must be what my Father was talking about."

"Then ask him how to open this thing up!" Enidri barked.

The young hunter reached for the radio. "Father! We're at the exit!"

"Good. Now I want to hear everyone else. Pass the radio around."

Sheila held the device between Janus and Itzel. "Say something," she mouthed in silence.

"We're here, Mag!" Janus shouted.

"If you think you're going to get away with this, Mag, you're dead wrong!" the fighter yelled into the radio. "If Gurk doesn't get you, you can bet we will!"

"Nice to hear Itzel's voice again," Mag said, on the verge of laughing. "And I know there's one more intruder with you. Put her on the radio! And make it quick. I don't want Gurk getting the jump on me."

Itzel let go of the door and shook her fist. Janus held her back as they watched Sheila put the radio in front of Enidri's face.

"I'm here too, Mag. You can give us the passcode. Gurk kept his end of the bargain. Now you've got to keep yours. That is... if you really care about your daughter reaching safety!"

"Those mind games won't work on me," Mag said over the radio. "Sheila. Are you by the input panel?"

"Yes, Father. I'm looking at it now."

"Good. Now, the code should be easy. You know your birthday, right?"

The young hunter nodded her head as she pressed the buttons on the panel. "Of course."

"Good. Sheila. Please be safe. Do whatever it takes to survive. That's the reason why I'm staying behind; to make sure you're able to live."

"Thank you, Father." Sheila emerged from her crouching position. With tear-drenched eyes she watched the sliding doors separate. A large metal platform emerged. "I'll... do exactly as you say."

"Goodbye, Sheila. These radios don't reach past the Eco-Dome. So, this will be the last time we'll talk to each other. I know time's tight... but I just want you to know... I love you."

The young hunter's hand trembled as she kept her finger on the speaking button of the radio. "I know. And I love you too."

"That's all I needed to hear."

Sheila dropped the radio to the ground. The young hunter got to her knees and plunged her hands into the soft dirt. "I'm sorry, Father!" she cried. Sheila sobbed as she clenched fistfuls of soil in her hands.

"You can mourn once we're out of here!" Enidri grabbed the back of Sheila's jacket and stood her upright. Janus and Itzel stood side by side, leaving a bit of room for the others.

The swordswoman stood on the platform while Eva rested against her shoulder. With her other hand she pulled Sheila up onto the exit. "Come on, Sheila. Try to keep your composure."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," the young hunter pleaded.

"Try not to move too much," Janus said. "There's not much room on this on this platform and you might get hurt if you keep a limb sticking out as it descends.

"Right." Sheila sniffled a bit before setting her upright. The entire group huddled together, leaving just enough space for the platform to descend safely. The sound of metallic grinding overcame the destruction of the Eco-Dome. Their platform then slowly lowered, bringing the group below the surface.

As they descended, the metal panels closed tight, stopping a metal beam from crashing on the group. Everyone beneath buckled their knees and turned their heads away from the crash.

"Close call," Enidri said as she patted Eva on her back. The duckling squawked softly as she nestled her head against the swordswoman's shoulder. Countless lights lit up the narrow elevator shaft. The further they went down, the faster the lift descended.

"You know where this goes, Sheila?" Janus asked.

"Don't know. If I had to guess, probably somewhere in the desert, but not too far from here. Never been down one of these escape shafts before and my Father never had to use them."

"At least we got backup coming," Enidri said. "If we can get a carrier in time, we could go back in there and help Gurk out."

Sheila turned around and grabbed Janus' arm. He looked at the hunter with shock as he backed away as much as the tight space would let him. "Huh? What's the matter?" he asked startled.

"If you are able to get a ride back inside the Eco-Dome, you have to help my Father too!"

Itzel stepped between the two, freeing Janus' wrist from Sheila's hold. "Gurk's our priority. Remember, he's innocent! If saving Gurk means that Mag has to go, then that's the plan."

"But Itzel! He needs to be brought to justice! D-Don't you think that's a more fitting punishment for all that he's done? Even Enforcers are trained to go in and minimize casualties! Including those that are hostile!"

"Good thing we're not Enforcers, kid," Enidri replied. "Not our job to uphold some kind ethical code. As far as I'm concerned it's a matter of self-defense."

Defeated, Sheila turned away to face the wall of the elevator. She buried her face in her hand and continued to sob. Enidri watched the young hunter cry, shifting her angered face to one of empathy. Itzel noticed the swordswoman's sudden shift in expression.

"Don't tell me you're considering what she said!" Itzel remarked, taking no effort to hide her words from Sheila.

"I get where's she coming from. Having a father locked is better than having no father," she said quietly. "She's just a spoiled brat. Not like she had much of a say in all this."

"Seems like you've gone soft after our team up back in Labrisson!" Itzel said with a stomp of her foot. "You would have been itching to use that Ion Blade on its full setting against a creep like Mag!"

"Yeah. But I also would have kept my rear home instead of flying hours across the desert to rescue you and your friends!"

Itzel crossed her arms, turned her head and huffed.

"Listen. I'm just saying there might be a way for everyone to win. Gurk is rescued. Mag gets what's coming to him. And Sheila keeps her dad. And all you and Janus have to do is worry about making sure the big guys gets out of there in one piece." Enidri extended her hand that wasn't holding Eva. "How does that sound?"

"Fine!" Itzel snapped as she took the swordswoman's hand and gave it a firm shake.

"Good." Enidri then turned to Sheila. Her eyes widened.

"T-Thank you..." she muttered.

"Of course. I... lost my father a while back. I know how it feels," Enidri said with a tinge of sorrow.

"I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago. But I will say, my services aren't free. You and your family is loaded. I'm sure you could afford to spare a few credits, right?" Enidri said while raising an eyebrow. She pressed a few buttons on her screen and spun it so it faced Sheila. "I'm not asking for much. But spare what you can and I'll see what I can do."

"Oh, right. Right." Sheila fumbled with her panel while both Janus and Itzel gave Enidri cold glares.

"What?" Enidri said to the others. "I told you; I'm trying to make a scenario where everyone wins."