The crew splits up to search Floor 8 before moving on. However, there seemed to be a purposeful lack of everything. There was no longer any ammunition, weapons or even food or water to be found. As the rest of the team splits up, Ziya took this time to approach Drake. While facing him, she looks sternly in his eyes and says "Next time you literally jump out in the crossfire like that, I'm killing you myself!".

"Look" Drake says, "I get it. You have more Respawns, so you think it'd make more sense if you-".

Suddenly, Drake was interrupted by Ziya slapping him across the face. "It's not only about resources, you idiot!" She shouts. "Like I told you before, I'm helping you out! I'm doing this for you! Trying to get yourself killed is the opposite of what I'm fighting for!".

Drake takes a deep breath, then says "I know... and I'm sorry. However, you can't be the only one doing all of the protection. Who's going to be there to protect you?".

"There's Chris..." Ziya says firmly.

"Yeah, well-" Drake begins to say.

"We also have those other four... canon fodder teammates" Ziya continues.

"Yeah, but-" Drake tries to say.

"You don't need to worry about trying to protect me" Ziya argues.

"Yes I do!" Drake yells. Ziya freezes, then Drake continues to say "I... I still haven't gotten my memory back... but I still feel... compelled to do this. If not for you, I'm doing this for me. Every now and then, I want to be able to do at least something! I've been useless this entire time, so for once, let me help!".

"You really wanna help?" Ziya asks as she stares directly into Drake's eyes with a stern look.

"Yes" Drake promptly replies.

Ziya slaps Drake again, then yells "Then stay behind cover and stop dying on me!".

"Ow... geez, alright!" Drake says as he rubs his face. Drake then asks himself "Was I really always friends with someone like that?".

After the team comes back together from their search, turning up empty handed, they begin to move on to Floor 7. When they arrive there, they find a floor that looked much like the first floor. There were no concrete barriers or pits. There were just a much bigger pile of debris, consisting of chunks of concrete and rebar. The size of this pile of rubble covered the entire floor, making it much harder to move around than it was before. However, while the debris made it hard to move, it also made it easier to hide from the turret mounted on this floor's ceiling. The team was easily able to avoid the fire from the turret. However, they encountered yet another problem while trying to get close enough to take the turret down. As the team was moving from cover to cover, Ziya and Judy made it up to the next pile of debris to hide behind. However, there wasn't enough space there for more than two people at a time to hide there, so Chris and Drake chose another pile of rock to hide behind. Chris ran ahead, and Drake followed close by at a nearby pile of rock, close enough to still be able to see and talk to Ziya and Judy. They were trying to outrun the turret. What they did not expect, was a sudden blast. As Chris ran past a certain spot in the pile of debris, an explosive went off, killing Chris instantly. Drake tried to stop before the explosion reached him, but the explosion also sent chunks of rebar flying. One of which pierced right through Drake's chest, leaving him barely alive. Drake tried to take cover while bleeding heavily, as to not be shot by the turret. When he pulled the rebar out of his chest, the bleeding sped up and didn't stop. Both Chris and Drake died, and it took them a little while to revive. When they did get up, Chris quickly pulled out his rifle and aimed at the sensor on the turret. Quickly taking out the turret, Chris then shouts to the rest of the team "They've planted proximity triggered explosives! We'll need to take the high ground from here on out! Make sure not to step by any unusual crevices or holes!".

"Are you guys okay!?" Ziya asks.

"Yeah!" Drake yells back. "Just... extreme amounts of pain! I'll live, I guess!".

"So, generally agreed that we start skipping the searching for supplies step from now on?" Judy asks.

"That would... probably be for the best, yeah!" Chris answers.

The crew quickly moves on to the next floor. Floor 6 was just like Floor 7. Lots of concrete and rebar debris, a turret, but many more explosives. The explosives were more unavoidable at this point, and the team took a toll. Chris died twice, as did Drake and Gerald. Judy and Ziya managed to avoid dying, but the rest died once. They began to get used to the routine of getting close to the turret, taking out the turret, then fleeing to the next floor. They were getting hopeful, until they reached Floor 5. As the team approached the top of the stairs, they saw another repeat that made them begin to lose their newfound hope. It was a smaller version of those ghost towns they once had troubles moving through. Although the floor was a lot smaller than it was when they first encountered the ghost towns, there were now much taller buildings with three or four levels. At the top of some of the buildings was a turret, sparingly spread out. Although they couldn't see very many turrets, they knew there were more deeper in the town. As far as they were concerned, one was bad enough. "This is almost nostalgic" Gerald says as he places his hands on his hips and takes a deep breath. "... in some sort of strange, twisted way".

"This is going to be fun..." Ziya says sarcastically.

"Look on the bright side" Chris says. "It could be worse!".

"How is that a bright side?" Judy asks.

"I mean..." Chris says, "maybe there won't be mines this time? A-also, there's a lot of buildings, alleys and corners! That gives us cover from the turrets!".

"I... wait, he's right" Gerald says. "Maybe it's not that bad after all...".

"You might want to discuss a strategy when the turrets aren't aiming at us!" Drake says as he points at one of the turrets. One of the turrets, On the top of a nearby building, was slowly turning. The turrets slowly turned to survey the area, and one was about to come to a point where it would catch sight of the team. "Run!" Drake yells.

The team sprints towards the nearby town, trying to outrun the turret. Gerald's three friends didn't make it out before all being shot down. Ziya, Drake, Chris, Judy and Gerald were the only ones who made it behind cover without being shot. Peeking around the corner, Ziya looked ahead down the road of this town, going down the center of town. At the end of this short road was a tall building and a turret on the top. "Tch" Ziya says, "looks like we'll have to slip through the alleys after all. The roads are being guarded as well".

"We'll wait for the other three to get up" Gerald says, "then we move".

After the other three revive, the team makes a dash to the nearest alleyway on their left. However, as soon as they turn the corner, there was another turret. However, the turret looked a little different. It had two red cylindrical tanks on both of its sides, and what looked like an exhaust pipe instead of guns. "Shit shit shit, wrong turn!" Chris yells as he quickly tries to turn around. A loud fwoosh could be heard as a wall of flame is shot out from the turret. Gerald picks up his revolver and frantically shoots at the turret while the others get burned.

"No no no no no!" Gerald yells in panic as he shoots at the turret. Eventually, one of his bullets hits one of the red tanks, and the turret explodes. "Flamethrowers now!?" Gerald panics as the others slowly revive. "What kind of weird business are they running here!?".

As Chris gets up, he says in a hoarse voice "There's gotta be a law against that! There's no way flamethrowers are still legal".

"Who cares about legality!?" Judy panics as she gets up. "That shit hurt!".

"I don't think legality is a term that can affect Pyramid" Ziya says. "Need I remind you of the people who run this place?".

"Yeah, we get it" Gerald says. "Anything bad can be illegal, unless they're the ones doing it... this is why I avoid politics like it's the plague. That, and being a black market ring supplier and gang leader doesn't exactly fit well with... politics". When Gerald finished speaking, he noticed everyone besides his three friends were staring at him. "What?" He asks. "We're all in here for a reason... that was mine".

"Wait, so you supplied for the black market?" Judy asks.

"One of the black markets, yeah" Gerald says. "... you do know there are several black markets, right?".

"Did you have any ties with the government during your... trades?" Judy asks.

"Not until I was arrested by them for taking part in the black market, no" Gerald says. "If you want my guess, they probably wouldn't cut off their own supply. That's probably why they wanted me. I refused to supply for "political campaigns", as they would put it".

"I'm kind of interested in hearing more about this" Judy says.

"No" Gerald says. "This is all you get to know. Now, if you don't mind, I kind of need you guys to get your shit together so we can finally get the hell out of here".

The team rushes down the alley, and finds the doorway to enter the building they were hiding behind. They spend a while catching their breaths inside of one of the rooms, where they were safe. After a while, they sit down as Ziya says "I think we should take this time to rest. This is going to be more than we can handle in our condition".

"Agreed" Judy says. "I'm tired from the last floors anyways".

"We'll need some time to think of a plan anyways" Chris says. "The floors changed up entirely too much from the previous floors. We'll need a new approach if we're going to get out of here without being drained of every last one of our lives".

"Yes, but rest first" Gerald says. "Not that I care particularly about your lives, but I also am depending on your assistance not only to get past these floors, but also to see how you plan on breaking out of here. So, if you want to plan efficiently, make sure your heads are on straight".

"Can do..." Drake says as he starts to lay down. "I'm exhausted".

The rest of the team slowly goes to sleep, one by one. Eventually, it was now just Ziya and Gerald who were awake and trying to find sleep. After Gerald noticed that Ziya was still awake, he turns to her and asks "Can't sleep? That's like the opposite of what I've told you. What's keeping you from sleeping this time?".

"That's no business of yours" Ziya says.

"It's your followers, isn't it?" Gerald asks as he lays down and looks up at the ceiling.

"Followers?" Ziya asks. "I don't know what you think of this team, but they're not my followers!".

"Well, you're the one spearheading this operation, aren't you?" Gerald asks. "You're the one leading us out of this place, and we're the ones following. Whether you like it or not, one way or another, you're still a leader".

"Yeah, well..." Ziya says as she's trying to find an argument to what he said.

"If you want my advice..." Gerald says, "from one leader to another, keep 'em stupid".

"Wha-?" Ziya asks.

"It's easier to lead idiots into doing what you want them to do" Gerald says. "It's not so easy when you leave them room to think for themselves".

"I'll... keep that in mind" Ziya says in a very confused tone.