Ether Drift Theory.Æon and fellow agent and friend Lindze infiltrate a secret base called the Habitat, a place where mutants and artificial lifeforms live in a stable environment, surrounded by a sea of liquid which induces paralysis in any lifeform exposed to it. Lindze and Æon are there both to rescue Lindze's boyfriend and to destroy the facility. Soon after they arrive, Trevor and one of his human experiments arrive, destroying Æon's ship in the process, though the experiment is quickly subdued by a swarm of metal-sensitive wasps. It turns out that Lindze's lover, a scientist named Bargeld, is sick from an artificial disease and has developed a way of changing the composition of the paralyzing fluid around the base, allowing all the people trapped there to swim to safety. Through her actions, Æon destabilizes the environment, much to Trevor's anger, and everyone must work to get out before the paralyzing sea floods the base and traps them all. Bargeld dies before he can escape, and he also leaves behind the 'key' to his device for changing the sea. Æon rushes back to find it as Lindze and Trevor escape. Æon finds the key, but is trapped by the paralyzing fluid and ends up floating in the sea as the base disintegrates. In a final cruel twist, the 'key' nearly slips into the device as it drifts, but just misses and leaves everyone to their fate, Æon included.