Defender Zik slides down from the rim of the crater to check on Gordon’s condition and formulate a plan.  Mizhakwan has applied a tourniquet to Gordon’s missing arm, but she insists that they need to get him to a proper infirmary as soon as possible. But they still can’t call the Temerity back because of the comms jamming!

To help get a strategy going, Zik asks Zoot to display a tactical map. Zoot creates a hologram showing the approximate location of the snipers and their firing arcs overlayed on the crater terrain.  The hostages are on the central peak of the crater, covered by all three Jairian snipers, whereas the Temerity team is in a hollow to one side.

Zik reasons that the best way to get to the hostages is to try to take out the nearest sniper first, so that they can approach the peak safely. He assigns that task to Trent Quickdraw who begins looking for his target immediately. Then, as Zik and Dak discuss what to do next, Mikigaazo sees an opportunity to pitch in!  His crystalline body inside the Miki-bot is immune to bullets, so he offers to fly up and rescue the hostages himself! Zik tries to stop him, but it’s too late!

Hey Defenders! I know the hologram in panel 2 is a bit tough to read, so here it is a bit larger.  It’ll look better when it gets printed in the third Defender Zik book, which will be made available after the next exciting episode! That’s right, book three will have four episodes in it!

A battered Zik tries to get up, groaning from his painful experience in the singularity machine. Tanaka leaps to help him up, making sure his friend is okay.  Always aware of danger, Zik asks about the gorillaurs, but Misha has bolted from the lab out of a side door. They’ll have to be careful when they leave!

But as they venture outside, Tanaka hears the gorillaurs beating a hasty retreat up the mountain. Their terror at the infernal singularity machine has overcome any avenge to protect their maker! Zik expresses his relief at not having to face such formidable creatures again in his current state.

As the pair of them trek back through the jungle towards the landing zone, Tanaka asks about what it was like within the singularity.  Zik says that it was confusing; a mass of images swam before him, but he thinks it was mostly images from the future. He even saw an older version of his mother! But Tanaka is confused at that, since Zik’s mother perished in an avalanche. Maybe there are other universes that Zik was able to glimpse into!

Then Tanaka feels he must confess that he was tempted to join Wagner in the singularity. He thanks Zik for setting him straight, and promises to lift himself out of his depression and keep acting to better the future. Zik thanks Tanaka right back for having shut down the machine in time. Tanaka was quite the hero today!

Defender Zik helps a shocked Amelia to her feet. The vile Jairian thug Morren has just assaulted her! But as Zik helps her to the infirmary, he hears a groan from the mess hall — Morren is already getting back to his feet! Realizing that the thug must be on performance enhancing drugs, Zik turns back, and recognizes Amelia’s assailant!

It’s the same Morren from Zik’s first encounter with the Jairians, during the incident at Baker Mine. Morren reveals that among the Jairians, Zik is hated, and referred to as the Butcher of Baker Mine! Donning his helmet, Morren vows revenge!

Zik hands Ryan one of the elevator cables, and everyone prepares to lift the elevator. On the count of three they all haul, and it finally lifts! Ryan’s extra strength has helped tip the balance! Poor Craig is hauled out from under the elevator cabin, and the mine workers begin doing first aid to try and save his life. Upstairs, Zik thanks Ryan and shakes his hand. What a close call!