Amanda berates herself for not being able to look out for Malek. In an effort to save him, she sets out on a search with Herman, apart from XAT operations. Meanwhile, the injured Joseph and Malek take refuge in an abandoned church, where Joseph's long-standing target of pursuit shows up.

XAT agents begin to fall ill, one after another. Then one day, in response to a massive emergence of Amalgams in the city, the agents themselves start turning into Amalgams. A fierce battle breaks out within the XAT ranks who have turned into Amalgams and those who have not, when at last, Joseph regains consciousness.