Before Chirico and Ypsilon can renew their battle, a new force enters the fray: the Balarant! As Balarant spaceships fire on the Teltain in orbit, fighters streak by over Zophie's fortress and bombard it with explosives. Everyone is forced to flee as best they can. Gotho and the others escape into underground tunnels, Chirico and Fyana drive off in a transport, and Ypsilon's unit slips away into the desert.

Fyana feels herself beginning to weaken, the first sign that her last jijirium bath is beginning to wear off. She leans on Chirico, hoping for the best. Later, their truck gets stuck in a sand dune, and when Chirico investigates the area for tools, he comes across a dead Balarant soldier clutching a map which shows the location of a supply base that may have some jijirium. Suddenly, Zophie appears and fires on them, determined to revenge herself on Chirico. He manages to overpower her, and leaves her alive and furious.

That night, as Chirico helps Fyana through her growing unease, Zophie radios their position to a Balarant AT patrol. The two drive frantically away, but their truck is demolished by Zophie, leaving them vulnerable to the Balarant. Reduced only to their Scopedogs, Chirico and Fyana fight back - but she has now weakened even more, and Chirico barely manages to take out the last enemy AT after Fyana's Scopedog is damaged. He steps out of his own AT to get her aid, but Zophie has hijacked one of the Fatties, and destroys Chirico's Scopedog! Now on foot, he evades her as best he can, but she finally gets the drop on him. A blast rings out...and Zophie's AT explodes! Fyana has managed one more shot, but now her strength fails her completely and she collapses.

Chirico has no choice but to travel on foot to the Balarant supply station, carrying Fyana on his back as their air supply dwindles. Zophie keeps pace, her fury driving her past the point of self-preservation. Content to let her follow, Chirico begins a long march across the burning Sunsa desert...

This episode recounts events from Stage 3: Deadworld Sunsa.

"The last thing I rember is escaping the jungles of Kummen with Fyana. There's no doubt about that. But right after that, something grabbed us. Where am I? Why am I here? When I cam to, I discovered we were on board a warship. Just the two of us.

"Who was trying to rip open the old wounds I'd finally closed? It was horrible. We didn't know the true intentions of whoever had brought us here. But it was clear they held no good will toward me.

"The sudden Balarant attack was what saved my soul. But then, I always ended up running away into a battle like this. Only in battle...the only place I feel at home...is in battle.

"We abandoned the ship. I think our mysterious overseer had forecast that as well. I wondered what else he had scripted for us.

"Yes, Ypsilon. I guess I really can call you a soulmate of mine. You and I are both killing machines."