On the ground, Vali sees Ernie and Malakas, but not Volcanoman. The three of them run away from the trucks, roll down an embankment, and hide in some bushes. They can hear DF officers speaking to Volcanoman. A drone appears, shoots down a net, and captures Volcanoman, lifting him into the drone. Vali hears the DF officers remark that Volcanoman did not have a chip. This confirms that she and Malakas are still in danger despite having removed their counterfeit chips. Vali realizes that it is too dangerous to walk into the nearby DF camp to check if the woman Vali saw was really Mami.

Vali, Ernie, and Malakas continue walking toward the Verde Valley. Vali cuts open a cactus to help with hydration, but there is hardly anything inside. She gives it to Ernie, but he spits it out because it tastes bad. Ernie then feels sick and collapses. Malakas finds a better cactus and opens it up to get some juice, which they pour into Ernie’s mouth, reviving him. They rest beneath some bushes and Vali tells Ernie he needs to keep going so they can make it to California and try to figure out where Mami is and how to save her.