Baza had to turn back, in part to get to his cousin and warn him about Professor Quaris's allegiances. The rest of the party pressed forward, only to enter a trap room where Sgt. Kurz and his mercs take potshots at the party from a safe distance. After trying and failing to close the gap, the party splits the attention of Kurz, with Klade distracting him by reading Quaris's journal out loud as others sneak around to the opposite side of the chamber. Skratch successfully charges the mercs, but to prevent Skratch from being followed-up on, Klade enters the room to finish off the merc. However, Kurz runs back in and plants a crossbow bolt directly into Klade's heart. The others are too late to get to him. In grief and anger, the others tear down Kurz once and for all. Pel takes Klade into her arms, but gently Klade reaches through the veil of death to remind Skratch that this is not the end--and Skratch moves inexorably toward the lab...