Max, in full cat-burglar mode, climbs to the roof of a building, and then uses a crowbar to remove a protective grate from a window. We see (but Max does not) that someone is behind her, watching. Max enters the window, and for some reason, it was in the top of a dome, even though the outside of the building wasn't at all curved. Anyway, Max uses a rope to shimmy down from the ceiling of an opulent room, similar to Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible. We see the object that Max is going to so much trouble to steal: a baseball used to hit a record-setting home run. It's under a glass dome atop a brass platform, so Max uses a screwdriver to remove the screws holding the glass in place. The aforementioned unseen observer watches from above. Just then, another rope drops, and Alec comes shimmying down. Max is not happy to see him, and explains that she's trying to steal the ball so that she can make back the money she lent him. But who would buy the ball, if it's obviously stolen? I guess there are collectors out there who would. Alec says that he wants to pay her back, and Max advises him to get a job. They bicker and fill in the backstory of why Alec owes Max money in the first place. Alec wants Max to let him finish the job. Max points out that the ball is worth way more than what he owes her. As soon as Max removes the glass dome, Alec grabs the ball. They struggle over possession of the ball, which is difficult, since they are both hanging in mid-air. They start swinging back and forth while exchanging threats. Alec wants to split the money, but Max isn't having it. Finally, Max kicks Alec's arm, causing him to drop the ball on the floor, which sets off an alarm. But Alec's rope hitting the floor earlier didn't set off the alarm? There was a very distinct "whump" noise when Alec dropped his rope. The ball rolls away, and Max and Alec skedaddle. Alec asks Max for a ride home.

Alec and Max reach a checkpoint, and Alec asks to get off the motorcycle. Seems that Alec doesn't have a sector pass, so he's going to get through "the old sneak-and-creep Manticore way." They bicker some more, because they love each other so much. That's my theory, anyway. Forget Rafer. Max should hook up with Alec. Unless that's considered incest or something. Max gets through the checkpoint with her Jam Pony messenger ID, which Alec notes. The guard goes back into his booth to watch a sporting event and drink some liquor. He hears a rattling outside, and goes to investigate. A shadowy figure walks away from the booth. The guard asks for ID, and follows the figure, who doesn't respond. The guard investigates a nearby junkyard, where the shadowy figure was last seen. The shadowy figure, who looks an awful lot like Joshua, attacks the guard, slashing his face, and finally ripping out the guard's tongue. Ouch.