Original subtitles

[Zero] Previously on Prisoner Zero...

[Del] You cannot go lower than the fourth deck.

It might not even have air.

Mom! Dad!

The Imperium turned on us.

Don't you dare mention my family.

She's the one who disgraced your father.

She stole this ship single-handedly from under Daddy's nose.

We're not friends, believe me.

Don't worry, Guardian. This won't be for long.

Oh, Bowi. No.

But he can't be.

[shatters]

Zero, if Praetor is on the fizzle again,

shouldn't we get Del to sort it?

I've not had any luck talking to him.

Bowi's death isn't something he's going to recover from soon.

If at all.

[beeps]

Oh, not again!

Bad news. Praetor's been rerouted through all the ship's systems.

The Imperium-installed systems, right?

The ones on the top four decks?

When are we ever that lucky?

This has gone down into the uncharted regions of the ship,

somewhere between decks 18 and 34.

-[Zero] How do we get him back? -No idea.

This is Del's area of expertise.

And Bowi's.

[sighs]

So, what about our passengers, Boy Wonder and his pet robot?

-Android. -You say potato.

What about them?

The boy seems to know about AIs.

It was him who hacked Praetor in the first place and started all this.

Maybe he can help find Praetor.

His name is Tag, Gem.

And he's been sulking in the hold and won't come out.

-For two whole days. -Then let's get rid of him.

And why would we do that?

'Cause he tried to sell us out to Vykar?

He's just lost, confused.

I understand that very well.

Now, if we need him to help track down Praetor's mainframe,

a little adventure into the unexplored depths of Rogue

might be just what Tag needs to come out of his shell.

[purring]

I gather the ship has new owners.

I shall enjoy meeting them.

[snarls]

Praetor unit re-established and... Where is this?

My home. Welcome.

You, my little artificial intelligence, are bait.

You see, I require a couple of your crew

as toys to add to my collection!

[Zero] A decade ago, the Imperium created the Bioweve,

a digital nightmare they wired into our brains.

They locked me away, stole my memories, left me with nothing.

Then one day, I was rescued and taken aboard the Rogue.

Now my friends and I are going to shut down the Bioweve

and free humanity.

Because I am Prisoner Zero.

[theme music playing]

[Tag] We've gotta go find Dad, give him this ship back.

Vykar and the Faculty will have to reinstate him then, right?

There, enough Bioweve energy in you now to take down Zero, Del Rev

and especially that annoying Gem girl.

[fires]

-Whoa! -[rumbles]

Guardian, no.

Overreacting much?

-It's just us, Tag. -Yeah, so I see.

Thanks for stopping Guardian from trying to kill us

after he tried to kill us.

He's programmed to protect me.

You're aboard the Rogue now. Our guest.

You don't need protection.

But right now, we could use someone like you.

-You could? -Yeah.

I need people to go on a hunt into unexplored parts of the ship.

If my dad was still in charge, they wouldn't be unexplored.

If Daddy Anaton was still in charge, Zero would be--

Anyway. Moving on. Tag, we could do with your help.

And Guardian's too. Assuming we can all play nice.

I don't do nice.

So we noticed, when you were selling us out to Kai and Barqel.

Meh. Nothing better to do.

Come on, Guardian. Let's go for a walk with these guys.

What are we looking for?

Your dad's tame AI.

[chuckles] Praetor?

So you can't fly the ship without him?

[laughs] Oh, that's great. That's really great.

Still need an Anaton to run this ship!

Please, please, please, can I be the one to eject him into space,

or jump him into the sun or--

-Gem! -Well...

So, where are we going?

When the Imperium began patching their technology onto the Rogue--

-The Imperator. -What?

When Tag's dad ran the ship, that's what it was called.

I see. Well, it's called the Rogue now.

-Why? -That's what it says on the side.

Zero can read the language of the ancients.

Big whoo. It's the Imperator to me, and always will be.

It's not your dad's ship anymore.

Hey, Gem. Tact.

No, no, it's fine.

I mean, it's not like she isn't responsible

for it not being my dad's ship.

Now, hold on.

And it's not like she isn't responsible

for my dad being taken away by the Faculty,

and locked in prison on Dymok.

Yeah? Really? That's my fault, is it?

-Not the Imperium's? -Guys--

And remember this, the Imperium took away my parents, too.

And unlike yours, mine aren't findable.

They're gone!

Uh, I'm sorry.

[peppy music plays]

[thud]

[music stops]

Deck Five.

The furthest we've gone is Deck Four.

And I think today we're going a lot further than that.

[footsteps approach rapidly]

[growls]

Looking at the bridge, and from what we're seeing down here,

some of Rogue's previous owners were definitely larger than us.

[Gem] So, big people with big feet.

It's going to be quite a long walk, Tag. Hope you can keep up.

Guardian? What's up?

[sighs] Wish you could talk, pal, and tell us.

One day I'll find a way to make that happen.

Let's go on. But carefully.

Um, Zero? Are you there?

[Tag] That's crazy.

-Well, they're not here now. -They might be.

It's so dark, it's hard to see.

That's a clever use of BAM tech.

Can't do it for too long. It tires me out.

Keep practicing. You'll get there.

Come on. Let's see where Zero and your robot have got to.

Well, that's odd.

Where are the others?

Guardian, can you scan for Tag, please?

We are, as they say, not alone.

[Gem] Zero?

Zero?

Shh! Don't be dumb. What if someone hears us?

Kinda think we want someone to hear us,

and Zero's the only guy down here.

-You hope. -I'm pretty sure.

"Pretty sure"?

Yeah, I like "pretty sure",

because that's so much more comforting than just "sure".

-"Sure" would have been good. -Then I'm sure.

No, you're not.

You worry about the most silly things.

Even if there is someone else down here,

which I'm 'pretty sure' there isn't, what's the problem?

-[door opens] -Argh!

Tag?

We're not here to hurt you.

[snarls]

Tag?

Tag! Where are you?

-[trapdoor opening] -Whoa!

[gasps]

Zero!

One way in, no way out.

Agh!

On the other hand...

[crumbles]

Sorry, guys. Guess I'm the smallest person to ever get in here.

Well, this is a sticky situation.

[sighs]

Not a time for jokes, Gem.

-[grunts] -[vibrates]

[electricity crackling]

Definitely not a time for jokes.

Great.

[gruff voice] It would be safer not to move.

[gasps]

So I realized. Who are you?

Human child, if I wanted you to know that,

I would be in the room with you.

They are fascinating creatures, no?

They cannot see.

They just sense vibrations.

So the more you move, speak, breathe,

the faster they will find you.

And their good points?

I'm not sure they have any.

Other than getting rid of unwelcome guests.

[Zero] He had to go somewhere.

If you could speak, I wonder what Tag would have you say.

He's a good kid, you know.

I don't even know for sure you understand everything I'm saying.

Or care.

But I know you've been programmed to protect him.

Please try to show him that staying with us

is the best protection he can get.

[electricity crackling]

[creature screeches]

[exhales] Getting tired.

A heroic rescue by Zero would be really handy right now.

[sighs] Stupid comms. Stupid ship!

Stupid Tag, frankly, for going along with all of this.

[Gem] Go away! Seriously, just go away!

[sighs]

Gem. Tag to the rescue.

Hang on, Gem!

Tag? Is that you?

No, it's a figment of your imagination.

Tag Anaton, white knight

and all-round rescuer of damsels in distress.

When I get out there, you are so getting punched.

-[grunts] -[electricity crackling]

So, we either walk aimlessly for hours

or we could go through that inviting door and see if they're inside.

Hello!

Have you met my new friends?

They don't look like friends.

Tag!

Wow.

This, if I'm not mistaken, is, or once was

a secondary bridge.

Interesting.

[growling]

[electronic pulse]

Guardian?

Hello?

Guardian!

He looked dangerously protective, which wouldn't do at all.

Hello. Who are you?

And what have you done to my friends?

What I always do. Seek. Locate. Collect.

I'm a collector, a hoarder, a magpie for living ephemera.

For what?

Unique and beautiful things.

Things like you!

[groans]

Whoa.

A couple of seconds' more warning would have been nice, by the way.

Nice? I thought you didn't do "nice".

[explodes]

Tag!

Absorb it, Gem.

[exploding]

[thud]

[laughs] I don't even get a thank you?

Oh, right. Yeah, thanks. Now come on!

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah!

No closer, human children.

Who are you?

Well, that's better than, "Argh, help me! It's a monster!"

Which is what I usually got from the previous crews.

I don't scare that easily.

[roars]

Hm. You're right. Impressive.

Recognize him?

That's a model of Zero.

[Praetor] That is Zero.

Praetor? What's happening to you?

I've been away too long from my power source on the bridge.

Ship's AIs were not designed for this.

The poor little hologram is drifting away.

Soon he'll be just an electronic memory without form.

-Then even that will have gone. -That's horrible!

Oh, yes, yes.

You and your sentimental attachments to lifeless technology.

Guardian!

Ever wondered what happened to the many different species

that at one time or other thought they owned this ship over the millennia?

Just needed one of each.

Got to catch them all.

Those aren't toys.

Those are real people, shrunken down.

How?

You killed the others. Why?

I had no choice. I...

I lost a deal.

A bet, if you prefer.

[somber music playing]

It was towards the end of the Dark Times,

when the victors of the Dark Wars settled their differences in less

violent ways.

But I lost a game too many and was set a forfeit .

Take this ship from its current owners,

and keep them and any future crews in stasis,

so that no-one else could discover the secrets it contains.

Your Imperium will fall, swept away, believe me,

and the Dark Times will return.

This one, he should never have been freed.

That's why I need him in my box.

He is unique.

And I need you.

Me? Why me?

Punishment. You let him go, stole this ship single-handedly.

You're far too dangerous to stay here unchecked.

Tissue compression is...uncomfortable,

but it will be soon over.

And what about me? Are you saying I'm not important?

I'm Tag Anaton. My father--

Irrelevant.

You, your android, your family and entire Imperium,

utterly insignificant to me.

Guardian. You killed him.

You cannot kill what was never truly alive, human child.

How many times?

[snarls]

Oh, please! Do it!

Maybe I tire of this, tire of my forfeit,

my debt to the Dark Times.

Perhaps I tire of unending existence.

[electronic buzzing]

Are they all dead? Your "toys"?

All the previous crews?

And Zero?

Not yet. But he has not got long.

This is a pretty advanced matter creator, made to look old.

Huh. Impressive.

So what? We need to get Zero back.

This is brilliant!

Probably how he built his spiders, and all of this.

And, yes, if I can rebuild Guardian's head quickly enough...

The specs for an Imperium-built Child Protection Android

are not contained within this database.

What about Zero?

You see, girl? The Imperium boy doesn't care about your friend Zero.

Oh, for some VR! That, I understand.

Tag Anaton, son of Cav Anaton,

is this what you seek?

Praetor, you are a genius.

Gem, third button from the back. Aim at Zero and depress it.

-Are you sure? -Of course he is not.

And why should you trust him?

He does not care about Zero, just his dead android over there.

[sighs] Trust me.

Thank you, Tag. And Gem.

You.

They called you the Darkening.

The Doomsmith.

The Dark Times foretold your coming.

[snarls]

We'll deal with you later.

I just downloaded Praetor's specs.

[powering up]

Hopefully that's enough.

Okay, guys. Here goes.

Well! Hello, Guardian 2.0.

Hello, Zero. Gem.

-You can talk now? -Hello, Tag Anaton.

Must be something to do with downloading Praetor's specs.

He put a bit of himself in the head.

Then let's hope he hasn't still got Praetor's Imperium subroutines

running through him.

That's the last thing we need.

Good call.

Tag, can you give your friend an overhaul?

Make sure he's not suddenly working for Vykar.

Yeah, yeah, sure. Sure.

I can't believe you can talk to me.

I'm glad you decided to stick around.

For now. Don't count on it being long-term. I still don't--

Whoa! I wasn't asking you to, okay? I was just saying--

Yeah, well, don't.

I'm not interested in your vendetta against the Imperium

or hunting for some Master Transmitter.

I just want to find my mom and dad.

Okay, okay. Just make yourself comfortable.

Mm... Why?

It might be fun having you around, even if it is just for a while.

Oh. Okay. Yeah.

What do you think, Guardian?

Stay here with these losers, or go back to General Vykar?

Or strike out on our own?

I think you should see who deserves your loyalty

and offers the best chance of resolving your problems.

In other words, wait and see, huh?

I think that is essentially what I said, yes.

Maybe you're right.

Let's see where this Zero guy takes us.

[theme music playing]