The tunnels of Hydron's lair lead to connective rooms, and those rooms lead to other rooms. The rooms themselves are all dimly lit and nearly identical, so it becomes quite easy for the Maximal travelers to get lost in the maze. Snowshriek, very eager, scouts ahead, and finds a room with a set of control panels. While he is there, he is spoken to by the voice of the Predacon who lives within the dungeon, who inquires him as to the nature of his allies. Lying as he always does, Hydron claims that the Maximals will never escape.
Much to Paladyne's surprise, Victoria uses a healing prayer, and her power effects him, closing the wounds dealt to him by the snake priest. The other Maximals rest, and their human and elf companions do the same, to regain their prayer powers. Then, they press on, into the myriad identical rooms of the Lair. Snowshriek rejoins the group, and leads them back into the control room. From here, the Maximals discover that Hydron has most likely been opening and closing doors behind them as they walk through the dungeon, trying to confuse them further. Shadowraith hacks into the control panel, offering to remain in that room and open the doors so the Maximals can press on. Some of the rooms are pitch dark, and others are filled with venomous snakes. A giant snake hanging from the ceiling of one such room promises to be a dangerous encounter, but the Maximals manage to sneak through without awakening it.
After a lengthy journey, the travelers encounter another control room…and spot the motion of a cloaked shape in the darkness. The creature, invisible, moves suddenly, and the Maximals give chase. With Shadowraith manipulating the doors, they manage to trap the figure. Though it is invisible and difficult to attack, Lucian's powers do the trick: the priest casts a spell that makes invisible creatures easy to see. This is indeed Hydron, the Predacon former second-in-command, and his capture, once he is spotted, is a simple matter. Though his multiple heads attack out at Paladyne, that doesn't stop the knight from clamping manacles down on him. The Predacon protests, of course. He states that there is no back exit to the lair, but, of course, is lying. He then admits that he can lead the Maximals to a back exit, but that it will take far too long for them to reach the surface, and their weaker companions will die. This also, however, is untrue. After the Predacon opens the back tunnel, the energon radiation from the outside forces him to stasis, and the Maximals drag him along. It does, however, take an entire week to reach the end of the tunnel. By the time the Maximals are nearing light again, Victoria is particularly weakened, not having the ability to create food, as Lucian does, and refusing to eat an offering which Threshtar provides.
The end of the tunnel is no respite. For at the end of the tunnel lies, not the light of day, but the Black Temple of the Predacon leader himself. The Maximals approach a locked black door, and are addressed by Zerine, over radio. She taunts them, until Threshtar is aware of their presence. They tell him that they have captured his errant subordinate. For that, he allows them to pass through, if they do not linger. Stepping in through the sealed door, the Maximals find themselves on the bridge of the Predacon ship: sideways, from where it crashed, nose-first, into the dirt. Threshtar sits, in dragon mode, upon the seat of a throne where it used to be a back. He hurries the Maximals along through his tipped-up domain, and they escape amid a throng of priests who stand paying homage to the ship. Now built-around by new structures, the Black Temple will most likely never fly again. Lucian, for his loyal service, remains behind, with the Predacon warrior. Treshtar offers the Maximals his challenge, as before, if any wish to do battle with him in honor combat, he will not decline.
The Maximals return to their ship, and Clockwork and Trenek are very happy to see them all right. Victoria has some much-needed rest, and the Maximals debate Threshtar's proposition, long into the night. Finally, they decide, that Paladyne will accept the Predacon leader's offer, and duel him, for the right to take him in and bring him to justice.