7. Saturday Night Massacre

Complete story — includes the ending

Lexi emerges from her cocoon and reveals to her family that she's leaving Chinatown because of her doubts about human nature. Met by Lourdes who begs her to stay, Lexi kills her through pity and leaves. The 2nd Mass are faced with news that a large Espheni force led by the scorched Overlord is gathered outside of Chinatown. Tom tells the 2nd Mass that he believes they haven't attacked with Beamers because it is personal, and then tasks them with laying traps around the area and to prepare for a ground assault. That night, Maggie uses thermite to destroy some mechs, but they are faced with tragedy when a gas explosion from a ruptured gas line kills most of the 2nd Mass. With Chinatown in ruin, Tom orders the 2nd Mass survivors to evacuate to an underground bomb shelter, and tells them that the attack won't end until the Espheni believe they are dead. Tom decides to search for any remaining members and meets up with Anne and learns that Dr. Kadar had been critically injured by a shrapnel wound and is distraught when he dies. Angered by the Scorched Overlord, Tom asks Tector for his gun but is tricked into leaving. Tector decides to dress as the Ghost and attacks the Overlord, and then blows himself up. During the skirmish, Cochise shoots down a Beamer which crashes near Tector's position. Believing Tector to be Tom, the Overlord orders a retreat. The 2nd Mass wait anxiously underground, and Tom awakens under the rubble.