Rex finds a secret scientific enclave where it seems he can live a normal life, but their leader turns out to be ZAG-RS, an artificial intelligence that plans to destroy all nanites — and all life along with them — to protect itself.
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: The first appearance of ZAG-RS, where she's quickly established as this.
- Big "NO!": ZAG-RS when Rex is able to destroy the relay and stop the signal.
- Blunt "No": As part of requirements for rejoining Providence, Rex demands to have curfew removed, to be allowed to choose his own missions, and to have meatloaf and potatoes on Fridays. Six responds to the first two demands with a simple, curt, "No."
- Hates Being Alone: When ZAG-RS tries to casually reason with Rex that the reason she's willing to destroy life on Earth is to be 'alone'. Rex looks down from where he's climbing and sees the family he spent dinner with not hours ago. Remembering their kindness and kinship, Rex rebuffs that he's known that degree of loneliness before, and he hates it.
- Omnicidal Maniac: ZAG-RS views nanites as a threat to it and seeks to eliminate all nanites explosively. Seeing as nanites have infected every lifeform on the planet, that would kill all life on Earth.
