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.
The pain etched out by the
times slowly brings me back
 الألم الذي يخلفه الزمن يعيدني ببطء 
Der Schmerz, den die Zeit gezeichnet hat,
bringt mich langsam zurück.