Carl wakes to messages from Elle and Imani confirming that the robot rooms have a hidden downward tunnel that seems to connect to another track. Because the robots do not wake until the monsters enter withdrawal, Carl hopes the route could become an escape path for stranded crawlers. Donut then realizes that the temporary intelligence buffs from resting and showering finally give her enough spell points to read Minion Army, a mass-charm spell with a five-minute cast time, a long cooldown, and only a small initial chance to convert intelligent enemies. Carl warns Donut not to use it recklessly.

When Carl, Donut, and Katia leave the saferoom, they find the transit station overrun by dozens of level 17 babababoons in stage two of withdrawal. The mobs are stronger, irrational, and now able to enter areas that should have been safe. Carl infers that the spread of DT-afflicted monsters means the transit terminals are no longer secure. To keep the mobs away from the Nightmare Express, the group moves out and fights.

During the battle, Donut uses Second Chance on a dead babababoon and attacks with split magic missiles while riding Mongo, though Carl notes mounted combat still needs work. Carl tests his upgraded gauntlet and his engineered Banger Spheres, killing multiple mobs efficiently. Katia, despite obvious fear, discovers she can shift the metal within her altered body in combat, turning her own structure into a weapon and defense. After the platform is cleared, Carl concludes they will probably face many more withdrawal-stage monsters from now on.

The group boards the Nightmare and travels toward the switching station, hitting more babababoons that have wandered onto the tracks. Carl reviews incoming messages and sees widespread reports that stage-two withdrawal mobs are appearing elsewhere, confirming the problem is systemic. Elle and Imani still have not reported back, while Bautista is nearing Terminus Station.

At the switching station, Carl inspects the Station Repair portal more closely and discovers it is a two-way pass-through portal rather than a one-way dump into the Abyss. He hears track switches activating beyond it and watches a red steam engine emerge from the portal and disappear down another tunnel, proving that returned engine cars cycle through a zombie-filled train yard and re-enter the rail network. Carl also learns that auxiliary tracks branch into that system, though the far-side switch settings limit control. He captures an image of the yard, notices infected zombie monsters there, and returns to find Fire Brandy talking with Donut and Katia before preparing to head back.