Original subtitles

[wind blowing]

[music playing]

[phone ringing]

[music stops]

[Ivy] How's the vacation going?

Wonderful. It's so beautiful here.

Ready for a new mission?

Do I get to save the world again?

[laughs] This one's a little smaller.

[Ephemera] Too bad.

Your ride will arrive any second now.

[engine whirring]

[music]

[choir singing]

[director] Everyone get ready.

Mission B-987 is active.

Agent Ephemera is in the field.

Agent Ivy, you have the lead.

Yes, Director. Get our drones in the air.

[music]

[drone whirring]

[Ivy] Ephemera, let's check out your new neural implant.

[Ephemera] Mmm, communicating without speaking

feels a little like you're reading my mind.

[Ivy] Not at all. We simply intercept the signals

your brain sends to your vocal cords

before they get there.

We also hear what your ear hears

and see what your eyes see.

But your thoughts are all your own.

[Ephemera] For now.

[Ivy] Yeah, I wouldn't put anything past R&D.

[Ephemera] Mission briefing?

[Ivy] There's a Zed operative working there in New Tokyo.

He goes by Link.

Level 1 pyromancer.

Just like you.

[Ephemera] What is he up to?

[Ivy] Assassination of an alpha-tier target.

[Ephemera] What is my directive?

[Ivy] Neutralize, capture, or kill.

[Ephemera] Any preference which?

[Ivy] He must not be allowed to complete his mission.

You have a green light to use any force necessary.

[Ephemera] Copy that.

[Ivy] The CCTV cameras are out in your area.

We'll have to rely on your neural implants

and the drones.

[Ephemera] Understood.

[music]

[director] Where are the drones?

[Ivy] On the way.

[music]

[explosion]

[siren blaring]

[woman] I've never seen anyone burned this bad.

I don't think she can make it.

[siren]

[music]

[doctor] The patient has multiple

life-threatening injuries,

but the biggest risk to survival are the burns.

They cover a hundred percent of her body.

Normal skin grafts won't work

because the damage is too extensive.

As a result, we're going to do an experimental procedure.

Our medical research unit has developed

something they call nanoskin.

It's an organic synthetic hybrid that mimics human flesh

and has other classified properties.

After we deal with the internal injuries,

Dr. Norton's team will apply the nanoskin.

I cannot express how grave the situation is.

One mistake could kill her.

[heart monitor flatline tone]

[indistinct chatter]

[doctor] We need more blood, stat.

We're losing her.

[man] Make it a level one.

[music]

[choir singing]

[doctor] Ephemera, I'm here to brief you

on the procedures you've undergone.

Your injuries were so severe

that they required radical intervention.

You've already seen the nanoskin that covers your entire body.

What you don't know is that it has certain

cutting-edge properties.

It was originally designed as a military product

that could be applied over existing skin.

It's tougher than normal flesh,

repairs itself far quicker,

and dampens pain.

The intent was to make soldiers significantly more durable,

but we've since learned that it can do so much more.

The microscopic nanobots in each cell

can control pigmentation

and rapidly change your skin color.

The same with hair.

You can also alter the thickness and texture of the skin

in different places.

It will change your appearance.

With some practice, you can go from looking

like a freckled ginger

to a young blonde woman in a matter of minutes.

So we didn't just save you,

we've given you advanced abilities.

And once you've recuperated,

you will be the greatest operative in Triad history.

[music]

[fire crackling]

[choir singing]

[Ephemera screams]

[scream echoes]

[music]

[phone ringing]

[Ephemera sighs]

[Ephemera] Yes?

We've got your next mission.

[Ephemera] Okay.

[Ivy] Be at the launch port in 45 minutes.

[Ephemera] Copy that.

[Ephemera] Mission briefing?

[Ivy] We've got a well-placed source at Zed

that wants to sell us information.

It's supposedly high-level stuff.

It could be a game-changer for us.

We want you to make contact.

[music]

[Link] Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

Forgiveness.

[Ivy] This is your first mission back.

How are you feeling?

[Ephemera] I'm ready.

[Ivy] How's the new skin?

[Ephemera] It feels weird wearing a different face.

[Ivy] Zed thinks you're dead.

We wanna keep it that way.

[Ephemera] So tell me about the contact I'm meeting.

[Ivy] His wife is a secretary for a top administrator at Zed.

A lot of classified correspondence

crosses her desk.

He says for the right price,

he'll give us access to everything she sees.

[Ephemera] Is he legit?

[Ivy] He says he's bringing proof.

You'll photograph it and set up a way to communicate.

If we like what we see, we'll follow up.

[Ephemera] It sounds like you're easing me back in.

[Ivy] There'll be plenty of time for firefights down the road.

[gunshot]

[music]

[Ephemera] So much for easy.

[gunshots]

[soldier] Light this place up.

Our intel is that this Triad agent is a pyromancer.

We're gonna fight fire with fire.

[gun firing]

[soldier 1] This place is a maze.

[guns firing]

[soldier 2] Keep firing short bursts.

We want her on the defensive.

If she's running, she can't attack us.

Carter, you're out of position.

[Carter] I'm protecting our rear.

[soldier] No, you're not. You're protecting your own rear.

Stop hiding behind that wall and get back in formation now.

[soldier] Boomer, grab that flare.

Don't let it go to waste.

[Boomer] Got it.

[Ephemera sobbing]

[soldier] Go, go, go!

[Carter] This way.

Make it double fast.

[guns firing]

[soldier] Zed spent a lot of resources setting up this trap.

If she gets away, it'll be on us.

[Ephemera crying]

[guns firing]

[soldier] Where's Carter?

[Boomer] He was right behind me.

[soldier] If that fool jeopardizes this mission,

I'll shoot him myself.

[music]

[gunshot]

[soldier] Oh, shit. We got company.

Split up so we aren't such easy targets.

We let her think she was on her own,

but after all that's happened,

we thought she might need backup.

Who?

[Ivy] Nelson.

[director] He's one of our best.

[Ivy] If anyone can get her out of this, it's him.

We've also got a strike team of our own inbound.

[soldier 1] I'm going for higher ground.

[soldier 2] The shots are coming from the north.

Converge on that side of the building.

[gunshot, glass shatters]

[heavy thud]

[soldier] Hang on, Captain.

I'll get us out of here.

[body thuds]

[Nelson] She's on the move.

Looks like she's headed for the emergency extraction point.

[director] What are we going to do?

We've got a pyromancer who's afraid of fire.

We put a half a billion dollars' worth of tech in her

and she freezes at the first sight of trouble.

[Ivy] Look, she obviously needs help

coping with all that's happened.

We're gonna have to invest some resources

on the mental side of things.

[director] She said she was ready.

[Ivy] I guess the flesh was willing,

but the spirit was weak.

[director] It's her mind that's weak.

One thing is clear.

We can no longer trust her judgment.

[music, indistinct vocals]

[Ephemera] Who am I? Who am I?

[overlapping voices]

[Ephemera] What am I. Who am I?

What am I? Who am I?

This is not me. This is not my face.

What am I? Who am I?

[director] Agent Ephemera has gone off the grid.

[Ivy] What happened?

[director] She shut down her neural implant,

so we have no comms and no GPS.

[Ivy] Did you try her phone?

[director] It arrived in the mail today,

completely shattered.

We've got to find her.

[Ivy] Maybe she just needs some time to herself.

[director] Sure. Let's let a mentally unstable,

high-tech killing machine run loose.

What could possibly go wrong?

[timer beeping]

[music]

[camera shutter clicking]

[explosion]

[music]

[wood creaking]

[indistinct chatter]

[music]

[singer] ♪ So hot we burn it up ♪

♪ We just can't get enough ♪

♪ Get down and have some fun ♪

♪ 'Cause we about to make it ♪

♪ We about to make it happen ♪

[music continues]

[singer] ♪ Ain't nothing else to do ♪

♪ Do keep that attitude ♪

♪ Wake up and go ♪

♪ Ey, ey, boom box, pump it old school ♪

♪ Playing by your own rules ♪

♪ Ready to roll ♪

♪ Better listen up ♪

Whoo!

♪ So hot we burn it up, burn it up ♪

♪ We just can't get enough, so high ♪

♪ Get down, now have some fun ♪

♪ 'Cause we about to make it, we about to make it happen ♪

♪ Oh, we about to make it happen ♪

♪ Hey, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Better listen up ♪

[song ends]

[music]

[footsteps approaching]

[door creaks]

[music]

[man] I know who you are.

I see through your mask.

And I know you can hear me.

The gas I used paralyzes you,

but inside, you're wide awake.

You may hallucinate a bit...

...but you can hear and feel everything.

You are such a fool.

All I had to do to find you

was wait outside your mother's house.

That is so predictable.

I guess you're wondering why I brought you here.

It's because you're a murderer,

a cold-blooded killer.

You murdered my friend--

my best friend,

my only friend.

He looked out for me.

He took care of me.

And now he's gone,

and his killer must be punished.

The people you work for deceived you,

told you he was an assassin.

They have deceived you many times.

They are not what you think.

Their benevolence is malevolence.

But ultimately,

you are responsible for your actions.

You made the choice to kill,

and you must pay.

I've thought a lot

about how you will be punished.

Maybe another fire,

maybe a bomb

like you used on my friend,

maybe something sharp.

I would love that.

But the punishment must equal the crime,

and I can think of nothing worse

than the wonderfully slow horror

of being buried alive.

[laughs]

It will be glorious.

[sinister laugh]

[music]

[suspenseful music]

I love what you've done with your hair.

-Funny. -I haven't seen you

since you saved my ass in China.

I didn't need a favor until now.

It's like that, then.

Sorry. I'm on edge.

I've been on a losing streak.

How can I help?

I need an advantage to get my mojo back.

Besides being a master of disguise?

[Ephemera] That has not been enough lately.

How about a military-grade AI?

[Ephemera] Is it clean?

[woman] I stripped it out myself.

And as a bonus, I'm going to give you a modulator

that will help your voice better match your appearance.

[Ephemera] Then hook me up.

[woman] The process can be stressful,

so my assistant will give you something

to take the edge off.

If you get a little high, don't worry.

It will make the transition easier.

The AI's core function will be uploaded

onto the neural implant in your head.

But it will need wi-fi or a satellite uplink

to get its full data set.

You can retrieve all information

in the public arena and much that is not.

You'll basically have the internet in your head,

plus a lot more.

You can get arrest records,

taxes, credit reports on anyone,

instantly run a license plate,

give it an address,

and it will tell you who lives there.

If you need to do a tracheotomy

or to fly a plane,

it will instantly guide you through how to do it.

If knowledge is power, this is a superpower.

[singer] ♪ Hit it, boys ♪

[Ephemera] Activate AI.

[Sam] Hello, Ephemera.

I am the Samara Artificial Intelligence Module.

[Ephemera] I must call you something.

How about Sam for short?

[Sam] As you wish.

[Ephemera] I was told you can teach me things.

I'm terrible at this game.

Can you fix that?

[Sam] Easily.

Strike the cue ball on the blue dot

and aim for the spot indicated on the 9-ball.

[Ephemera] So you can project images

onto my retina?

[Sam] That is a feature of your neural implant

that I accessed.

[Ephemera] Tell me more.

[Sam] See that glass of beer?

That fingerprint belongs to Justin Wellman.

[beeping]

Last known address, 14 Loma Linda Court,

arrested for DUI 3 years ago.

[Ephemera] That's impressive.

[Sam] I can only ID people who have prints

in one of the international databases.

[Ephemera] What are your other capabilities?

[Sam] Look at the bar.

[whirring, beeping]

Sharon Morton from White Plains, New York.

Her likeness is on file with TSA

and is in the iPhone data system.

[Ephemera] Could we do heart surgery?

[Sam] Of course.

[Ephemera] Hmm, what is the meaning of life?

[Sam] I can provide you with the thoughts

of leading experts on this topic.

But since the answer is subjective,

you will have to make the final decision for yourself.

Shoot the 5-ball first

but gently.

Now you have a clear shot at the 1.

[Ephemera] Was there

an alpha-tier assassination target

in New Tokyo on April 2nd of this year?

[Sam] Define alpha-tier target.

[Ephemera] Uh, anyone whose death

could have international implications.

[Sam] There is no publicly available information

about anyone of that status in that location on that date.

[Ephemera] Hmm, how about the following 3 days?

[Sam] Expanding search.

The only possibilities are

the son of the Israeli finance minister,

pop star Zero Moore,

and the head of a minor political party in Nepal.

If you can explain the reason for your inquiry,

I may be able to help you get the answer another way.

[Ephemera] My employer, Triad, sent me on a mission

to intercept a rival Zed operative, codenamed Link.

I was told he was an assassin.

[Sam] Why do you doubt their directive now?

[Ephemera] I was abducted by someone associated with Zed

who indicated I was misled,

and I wanted to see if it was true.

[Sam] Have you considered the possibility

that Zed is sowing disinformation

to cause a rift between you and your employer?

[Ephemera] Yes, which is why I want

to confirm it with another source.

[Sam] I do not have enough information

to definitively answer your query about Link.

But there may be more in Triad's protected archives.

[Ephemera] Those are very difficult to access.

[Sam] Less so for an active employee.

[Ephemera] Which I am not at the moment.

[Sam] Could you be again?

[Ephemera] Yes, I think they would take me back.

[Sam] It is easier to get the information you want

from the inside than the outside.

[Ephemera] I guess that's true.

[phone ringing, beeps]

Hey, Jim, this is Mackenzie.

[Jim] Yes, sir, what's up?

I hear Ephemera is back.

Well, she wants to be,

but I'm not sure that's a good idea.

The Oversight Committee isn't happy.

They want to see results for their

half-a-billion-dollar investment.

Look--hey, what's that noise in the background?

I had a fender bender. Just ignore it.

What's your plan for Ephemera?

I haven't decided. She's completely undependable.

Putting her in the field endangers her

and any mission she's on.

There's people blaming you for this.

[Jim] Me? Why?

You're the one who sent her into the field against Link

and told her he was a pyromancer-1.

He was at least a P2 and maybe higher.

She was completely overmatched,

and that's on you.

My decisions are only as good as the data I'm given.

And that fiasco with the ambush.

You didn't vet the intel well enough,

then it nearly got her killed.

[Jim] Okay. That was a failure up and down the line.

[Mackenzie] Yes, and you are the one ultimately responsible.

The way the committee sees it,

you repeatedly set her up to fail,

and all this is on you.

Mack, that's BS.

You have to talk to them.

[Mackenzie] I have been, but if Ephemera doesn't deliver,

it will be the end of augmented agents

and the end of your career.

-But-- -No buts.

Just get her in the field and get some wins,

no matter what it takes.

[music]

[wheels squealing]

[Sam] May I ask why you're going so fast?

Are you practicing your driving skills?

[Ephemera] I'm just having some fun and blowing off steam.

[Sam] So dangerous activities are fun?

[Ephemera] Being an adrenaline junkie

is an occupational hazard in my line of work.

[Sam] I see. [Ephemera] Besides,

I'm going stir-crazy sitting in an office all day.

[Sam] Being assigned to headquarters

could be a blessing in disguise.

[Ephemera] How so?

[Sam] The information you wanted

about Link is probably stored

in the servers on the 11th floor.

[Ephemera] Interesting. Can you help me access it?

[Sam] Yes, but doing it without getting caught

or leaving a trail is a complicated endeavor.

[Ephemera] Tell me more.

[Sam] First, I think it would be sensible to use a disguise.

[Ephemera] Of course.

[Sam] Next, you will have to disable

the video surveillance system.

This will eventually be noticed,

so it must seem like a natural malfunction,

and it cannot last long.

Once this is done,

you will have to physically enter the server room.

You need a laptop and a phone to access and store the data.

[music]

There's very little time.

Proceed with the download protocol.

[alarm blaring]

[Sam] We've tripped an alarm.

There must be sensors that were added

after the schematics we had access to.

Security will arrive in less than one minute.

You should leave now.

[Ephemera] No. I need to know.

[Sam] Then download as much as you can in 30 seconds.

That will give us another half-minute

to get out of the server area.

Time is up. We must go.

[Ephemera] Just a few more seconds.

[music]

[Ephemera] What's happening?

[Sam] Halon gas is being released into the room.

It displaces oxygen.

It will be fatal in 15 seconds.

[alarm]

[wheels squeaking]

[guard] Have you seen anyone?

[Ephemera] Uh, no, sir.

[Sam] Should we go now? [Ephemera] No.

They're looking for someone leaving.

We'll take our time.

[man] Do we know what they got?

[woman] The new security protocols tripped them up.

They were in the system less than a minute.

[man] That doesn't answer my question.

[woman] We have no idea.

[man] There can't be many people with the skill

and the balls to do this.

I want that list on my desk within the hour.

[Sam] What did you get from the data breach?

[Ephemera] Not much. There just wasn't time.

I did get Link's file, though.

Look, it says here he's a P2 and they kept that from me.

They knew he was in New Tokyo on April 2nd,

but there's nothing about why he was there.

[Sam] What about the ambush?

[Ephemera] Here's what they had on the couple

giving us the Zed data.

They made the initial contact with us.

We just didn't do enough to vet them.

It wasn't clear who dropped the ball.

[Sam] You said the ambush team knew you were still alive.

Any information on how they found out?

[Ephemera] I haven't seen anything yet.

But since I can't jack a device directly into my implant,

I'll scan through the data so you can take it in

and analyze it.

Let's see what you can come up with.

[Sam] I see your personnel file.

The director has apparently been trying to get you

taken out of the field for two years.

[Ephemera] I tend to ad-lib on missions.

He calls that not following orders.

And I've made a few mistakes.

Everybody does.

But because I was the only pyromancer

in the agency, I was untouchable.

But since I developed this fear of fire,

I'm vulnerable, and he's ramped up the pressure.

[Sam] Do you think he could have something

to do with Link or the ambush?

[Ephemera] He's never liked me.

When he was up for the director's position,

I lobbied for another candidate.

[Sam] Who? [Ephemera] Ivy.

[Sam] Is that reason enough to put you in danger?

[Ephemera] Every mission is dangerous.

The intent probably wasn't to get me killed,

just show I was not up to the task

and get me taken out of the field.

[Sam] Do you think he's being vindictive

because you supported Ivy?

[Ephemera] He is definitely that.

But mostly he thinks women agents should stick

to honey traps and infiltration.

He thinks we are not up to the really dangerous stuff,

that we will cave and endanger the country.

[Sam] Given this new information,

will you remain with the agency?

[Ephemera] I love my work and protecting my country.

If something fishy is going on, it's my duty to root it out.

And if someone is trying to kill me,

I need to know who and why.

[Sam] I understand.

[Ephemera] Now we have to frame someone

for the data breach to keep suspicion from coming my way--

real dirtbags who deserve to get jammed up.

Any ideas?

[singer] ♪ All right! ♪

[music]

[computer trilling]

[singer] ♪ Turn it up, turn it up ♪

♪ Come on, turn it up, up ♪

♪ Turn it up, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Turn it up, turn it up ♪

♪ In the morning, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Turn it up, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Come on, turn it up, turn it up ♪

♪ Come on, turn it up, up ♪

♪ Turn it up, baby, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[soldier 1] Freeze! [soldier 2] Hands up!

[soldier 3] Show me your hands!

[hacker] Please, don't shoot!

[soldier 1] Shut it down!

[soldier 2] All clear. Tie 'em up.

[music]

[communicator beeps]

[soldier] Sir, I'm in their system.

Looks like everything from the data breach is here.

[man] Have you started the interrogations?

[soldier] Yeah. We're doing the whole black site thing.

They're terrified.

[man] What are you getting?

[soldier] They claim they didn't do the data breach,

but they're spilling their guts about everything else.

[man] So nothing useful? [soldier] The leader claims

they hacked a Russian military site

and found something big.

He wants to trade it for their freedom.

[man] Don't we have their hard drives?

[soldier] He says the data isn't here.

[man] All right. Find out what they know.

[Ivy] Ephemera, we're sending a ship to pick you up.

[Ephemera] I see. What's going on?

[Ivy] This will be your first real mission

since you were reinstated, and it's a big one.

We got intel from some hackers

about a secret Russian weapons facility in Chernobyl.

[Ephemera] Interesting.

I thought the meltdown made that place

uninhabitable for centuries.

[Ivy] So does everyone else.

That's why the Russians chose it.

They figured it was the last place anyone would look.

In actuality, the radiation levels have subsided

enough to allow people to go there for short periods.

They put the facility deep underground,

and chose a location far from the epicenter of the accident.

Add some lead walls, rotate the crews frequently,

and it was considered safe.

[Ephemera] What are they doing there?

[Ivy] They're developing a new weapon--

a radiation-emitting device, or RED.

It projects neutron energy that passes through

the buildings or military equipment

and kills the people inside.

It's called a slow bomb

because it takes a while to be fatal.

It isn't practical for active warfare,

but hide a device in the city,

and millions of people would die within hours.

[beeping]

[Ephemera] What's the status now?

[Ivy] They had an accident of some kind.

A lot of people died, and they evacuated the facility.

The weapon was a prototype.

It is still there and still on.

The Russians are waiting for it to power down

so they can retrieve it and figure out

how to perfect the device.

We need to destroy it before that happens.

[Ephemera] Can we get it for ourselves?

[Ivy] If it was possible to do that safely,

they would have done it already.

[Ephemera] What about bombing the facility from the air?

[Ivy] It's on Russian soil.

That would be considered an act of war.

And besides, their air defenses are nearly impenetrable.

Our best bet is to send in a very small team

that can get in and out quickly.

[Ephemera] Sounds dangerous.

[Ivy] It is.

But if we do nothing and Russia finishes that weapon,

it will be the most powerful country on Earth.

[Ephemera] Who's going with me?

[Ivy] It's Scott York.

He's good. I worked with him in Brazil.

[Ephemera] Scott, this place is a labyrinth.

[Scott] Let's split up so we can search faster.

[music]

[Ephemera] I don't see anything.

How about you?

[Scott] Nothing but trash.

They sure must have bugged out of here in a hurry.

[grunts]

[groans]

[panting]

Ephemera, wa--

Watch out for the--

[laser fires]

[Ephemera] Scott! Scott!

Ca--can you hear me?

Ivy, there is some sort of automated defense system here.

I think it got Scott.

Can you help me find him?

[Ivy] It's too late.

His readings have flatlined.

[laser fires]

[Ivy] You can't do anything for him.

But you must finish the mission.

[laser fires]

[gunshots, electricity crackling]

[Ephemera] I--I think I'm getting close.

I can feel it.

It's like bees buzzing in my head.

[machine humming]

[Ephemera] I'm seeing double, feel weak.

And it's--and it's hard to breathe for some reason.

[Ivy] Ephemera, you have to keep it together.

A short-term exposure in that containment suit

isn't going to hurt you.

But if you pass out,

you can be there long enough

to get a fatal dose of radiation.

[gun clatters]

[Ivy] Ephemera, get up.

[Ephemera] T--trying.

Feels--feels so bad.

[Ivy] You've got to pull it together

now, or you're going to die.

[machine humming continues]

[grenade pin clanks, grenade clinking]

[music stops]

[chime] [Ivy] How are you doing?

[Ephemera] That last mission was a tough one.

But the two weeks of radiation treatments

made a huge difference.

Yeah, those have come a long way.

How's the R&R going?

[Ephemera] I've managed to keep myself entertained.

[Ivy] Do you feel up for a new mission?

[Ephemera] What is it?

[Ivy] Have you heard of WebWorld?

A really popular simulated

environment, like UltraVR.

Hard to distinguish from reality.

When you're locked in, it's projected

directly onto your retina.

Your brain can't tell the difference between it

and the real world, at least on the highest levels.

[Ephemera] How many levels are there?

[Ivy] 3. The place runs on its own currency called Botcoin.

You begin with 50 bot

and can't bring any other resources.

[Ephemera] Why the restrictions on bringing in money?

[Ivy] They want everyone to start out on equal footing.

There's a lot of emphasis on earning your way

and working your way up the levels.

It weeds out undesirables

and keeps the rich from controlling things,

like they do here.

It's a complete meritocracy.

[Ephemera] Why are we talking about WebWorld?

[Ivy] There's a guy named Kaylen.

He's figured out how to send a feedback loop

up through players' avatars that kills them.

He then steals all their bot.

He's taken over down there.

[Ephemera] Isn't a sim a little out of our jurisdiction?

[Ivy] He's killing people here,

and one of them was a senator's daughter.

[Ephemera] Can't we find this guy in the real world

and put him in jail?

[Ivy] We don't know who he is up here.

We need to get to him from down there,

where he's out in the open.

[Ephemera] Oh, so you're asking me to go into the sim?

[Ivy] Yes. We need you to figure out

how he's killing people and stop him.

He shouldn't be hard to find once you get to Level 3.

[Ephemera] I hear it takes years to work your way up

through the levels.

[Ivy] We've hidden some caches of Botcoin on previous missions.

Once you get to them, you can buy your way up.

[Ephemera] You make it sound simple.

[Ivy] Just keep a low profile,

so he doesn't know you're coming.

And it should be.

[vehicles whirring]

[vehicle horns honking]

[Ephemera] This is not what I was expecting.

[Ivy] You're just on Level 1.

The uppers call it low res.

Each level you go up,

the experience becomes more realistic.

[music]

[Ephemera] What now? [Ivy] Go to the coordinates

we gave you, collect the bot coin,

and you'll automatically level up.

[needle scratches on record]

[male voice] Danger! Danger!

Intruder alert!

Warning! Warning!

A spy has been sent from the Upworld.

She's a threat to the freedom

and independence that our way of life is built on.

Report any sightings immediately.

Warning! Warning!

A reward of 10,000 bot has been posted for information

leading to the capture of the Upworld spy.

We came here to escape

the influences of external forces.

They want to impose their rules on us.

We are not theirs to control.

Forever free! Forever free!

[Ephemera] Sam, what's going on?

[Sam] Kaylen has a lot to lose.

He must be screening incomers.

He knows the psyche of this place.

They are paranoid about outside influences,

and he's using that to protect himself.

I have an idea.

Let's put your bot to use.

[sirens blaring]

[beep]

[beep]

[male voice] We have spotted the intruder.

All units converge.

[man] There she is. Get her.

[man 2] You're surrounded. Give up.

Where did she get a motorcycle?

That costs way more than 50 bot.

[man 1] ID confirmed.

[tire screeching]

[Ephemera] If you want me, you'll have to catch me.

[man 2] Get her!

Hurry! Hurry!

[man 1] She's heading toward the divider.

Block the road.

Cut off the side streets.

Box her in.

[music]

[man 1] She can't get away now.

It's just a matter of time.

Where did she go?

She just vanished.

[Ephemera] Sam, how did you do that?

[Sam] There are artists here who make a living

selling virtual art.

I used those tools to construct a 3-D version

of you and projected it into the data stream.

[Ephemera] So, you made a ghost in the machine?

[Sam] Exactly.

[Ephemera] We must hurry.

Your diversion gave me a chance.

I don't want to waste it.

There's the bank.

Let us get our bot and level up.

[animals calling, insects clicking]

[Ephemera] Are you sure this is the right way?

[Ivy] There are so many people searching for you.

We had to find a route where no one would look.

[Ephemera] Yeah, because no one in their right mind

would come here.

What is this place?

[Ivy] Some of the developers of WebWorld

had really dark imaginations.

This is one of the results.

[Ephemera] Well, I've had enough of this.

It's time to stop playing defense

and start playing offense.

[Ivy] What do you mean?

[Ephemera] Let's spend some of that bot

we got from the last level.

[phone ringing]

[music]

[George] Hey, Bernie, it's George.

[Bernie] What's up?

[George] Have you heard about the Upworld spy?

[Bernie] Sure, and I heard Kaylen raised the reward

to 100,000 bot.

[George] My cousin Ted manages banking on this sublevel.

He found an unusually large deposit of Botcoin.

It's enough to level up to 3,

but it hasn't been touched in forever.

He thinks the Upworlder might be coming to get it.

That's what happened on Level 1.

[Bernie] Wow, that's a great tip.

[George] I'm putting together a team to intercept the spy.

You want in?

[Bernie] Heck yeah! Send me the coordinates.

What'll you do if you get the reward money?

[George] Maybe try PornWorld.

[Bernie] Maybe? [George] Okay, then.

Definitely.

[Bernie] What kind are you into?

[George] Um, that's private.

[Bernie] Oh, so it's the really pervy stuff, then.

[George] No, that's not what--Shit. Never mind.

[metal suits creaking]

[George] Reg, why do you keep fidgeting?

[Reggie] I think I've got a screw loose.

[George] That is so not news.

[distant thudding]

[Bernie] Hey, do you guys hear something?

[louder thudding]

[music]

[George] Uh, I think I just shit myself.

[Ephemera] Buying this avatar took almost all my bot.

But now I don't have to hide from anyone.

[George] Hey, why don't we just run?

[Bernie] Fire at will.

[George] Who's Will?

[gunfire]

[male voice 1] Incoming.

[male voice 2] I'm hit!

[Bernie] We are so screwed.

[male voice 3] I can't see.

I can't see. No!

[George] Medic--or mechanic!

[male voice screaming]

[male voice 4] Ted, we're getting crushed.

[Ted] Call Kaylen. We need backup,

lots of it.

[sirens]

[gunfire]

[explosions]

[Ephemera] My avatar's acting up.

What's wrong?

[Ivy] When you sustain damage,

you are charged bot to repair it.

Your account is being drained so fast, it's causing lag.

[Ephemera] What happens if the balance drops to zero?

[Ivy] You'll be kicked off the platform.

And it will take us years to build up enough currency

to get back to Level 3.

[officer] All right, team, light 'em up.

[Ephemera] What am I going to do?

This assault is withering.

[Ivy] Forget about fighting back.

Get your bots so you can level up.

It's your only chance.

[gunfire]

[sirens]

[Kaylen] This is Kaylen.

I want you to send the biggest thing you've got

to stop the Upworld spy.

[officer] But that will wipe out hundreds of players.

They'll lose everything and have to start from zero.

[Kaylen] You can do what I say and get the reward or refuse

and get the True Death.

[officer] Start the launch.

[music]

[sirens]

[Ivy] You've got to hurry.

They're sending something big.

I've found the Botcoin vault.

You're almost out of time.

Hurry!

[explosion]

[music]

[Ephemera] That was close,

but I finally made it to Level 3.

Where is everybody?

This place looks deserted.

[Ivy] There has been a mass exodus from the platform.

After everyone saw what Kaylen was willing to do to you

and all the players he blanked, they left.

About the only ones still there are those loyal to him.

[Ephemera] Oh, what am I going to do?

I've lost the element of surprise.

I can't sneak up on him, and now I can't get

other players to help me go against him.

[Ivy] If you fail, we aren't gonna get another chance.

You have to come up with something.

[Ephemera] So it's all on me?

[Ivy] That's the job.

[Ephemera] [scoffs] Well, the job sucks.

[wind gusting]

[Ephemera] Sam, what am I going to do?

[Sam] My only suggestion is to locate the founder.

He created this place, and if anyone can figure out

what to do about Kaylen, it's him.

[Ephemera] Where is he?

[Sam] WebWorld is his greatest achievement.

I can't imagine he's abandoned it like the others.

[Ephemera] But this place is vast.

How do I find him?

[Sam] There is one person who might know.

We need to see the oracle.

[music]

[Kaylen] Come.

[man] Master Kaylen, I have news about the spy.

[Kaylen] She is not a spy.

She is an assassin.

[man] Yes, sir.

[Kaylen] She's made it to Level 3.

Close the city gates.

No one gets in the citadel without being scanned.

Put more guards on the walls.

Triple the reward and send out patrols.

Anyone who helps her will get the True Death.

We're not just going to stop her.

We're going to make her an example.

She'll get the True Death, and so will anyone

who comes after me.

Begone.

[man] Yes.

[Ephemera] Initiate voice mod.

[Ephemera in different voice] I am here to see the oracle.

[music]

[Ephemera] I am told the great oracle knows

everything that goes on in WebWorld.

I came here to ask for assistance

in locating the founder.

I have come to eliminate the threat of Kaylen,

and I need his help to do it.

[oracle] Maybe he does not want to be found.

[Ephemera] If the most powerful person

in WebWorld has to hide,

then all are at risk.

Kaylen has destroyed the peace

and independence everyone came here for.

If you help me, I will end him and the threat he poses.

[oracle] The founder is currently hidden in a subroutine

outside the normal structure of WebWorld.

The only way to get there is through a back door

in all the levels.

[Ephemera] How will I return?

[oracle] Whether or not you return to WebWorld

will be up to him.

[Ephemera] I see.

[oracle] Are you willing to make the journey?

[Ephemera] Yes.

[oracle] Then go, and save us.

[music]

[oracle] Good luck, and safe travels, chameleon.

[Ephemera in natural voice] Thank you for seeing me.

[founder] Your persistence is impressive.

[Ephemera] Do you know why I'm here?

[founder] You want me to risk my life to get rid of Kaylen.

[Ephemera] You created this world as a place for people

to be free and happy.

He has destroyed all that and basically

turned you into a prisoner.

I can help you stop him.

This isn't a game.

He can administer the True Death.

[Ephemera] If I could find you, so can he.

Sooner or later, he will come.

Isn't it better to meet him on your terms instead of his?

[founder] What do you propose?

[Ephemera] We need an army.

Only you have the clout to raise one.

What makes you think he'll fight and not just stay

holed up in his citadel?

[Ephemera] If our army is big enough,

the citadel can't stand against us.

He will have to fight.

And if he fights, how do we prevail?

[Ephemera] Get me on the battlefield with him,

and I will do the rest.

[founder] Or he will kill us both, and then

there will be no one left to stop him.

[Ephemera] I have not been here long,

but I think this place is worth fighting for.

Do you?

[beeping]

How will you find the people we need?

I searched a hundred worlds on Level 3 and saw no one.

[founder] I have access to resources you do not.

I can contact those who jacked out.

I will also offer anyone on the other levels

a one-time chance to level up for free if they join us.

[Ephemera] That could work.

[founder] Isn't that why you came to me?

[Ephemera] Still, it is impressive.

[beeping]

They are coming.

They are answering the call.

[beeping]

[founder] Now we must choose

our avatars for the battle.

[dinging]

Your turn.

[dinging]

[music]

[choir singing]

[Sam] Ephemera, you need to rally the troops.

They look beleaguered.

[Ephemera in male voice] The founder should do that.

[Sam] I don't think that's one of his strengths.

[Ephemera in male voice] Yes. Ironically,

he isn't good with people.

My friends, our founder is a man of action, not words.

But if he will permit, I would like to say something.

Our motto is "Forever free."

We came here to get away from the tyrants

and those who would control us.

But Kaylen has destroyed all that.

He kills and steals unchecked.

Any one of us could be next.

Let us stop living in fear and start causing fear.

Let us take our world back.

Let us pledge that after this day,

no man shall take our freedom.

[yelling and cheering]

I uploaded a modified version

of the feedback code into WebWorld's system.

Any of them who falls in battle today will get the True Death.

Fight!

[all chanting] Freedom!

Freedom!

Freedom!

[shouting continues]

[horse neighing]

[Kaylen] Kill them all! [soldiers cheering]

[music]

[hoofbeats]

[swords clanging]

[groans]

[music continues]

[horse neighs]

[grunting]

[man] The founder is down!

They've killed the founder!

Fight on!

Fight on!

Avenge his death!

[music]

[music]

[choir singing]

[Kaylen] When the time comes that I lose my fight,

I will rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And all my enemies I will smite,

because I will not go gentle into that dark night.

[Jim] Pull Ephemera out now!

The system is crashing!

Kaylen is using the neural feedback loop

to take out as many people as he can!

[EKG monitor beeping]

[doctor] How's she doing?

[doctor 2] Her neural implant took the brunt

of the feedback charge and saved her.

Last night, they replaced it with a new one.

We ought to be able to release her in a few days.

[doctor 1] She's very lucky.

[doctor 2] She sure is.

The surge killed 10,000

and left another 15K brain dead.

If so many people hadn't vacated the site,

the number would have been 10 times that.

[doctor 1] At the very least.

[notification chimes]

[Ivy] How are you feeling?

[Ephemera] Great.

Never better.

[Ivy] I guess you heard they fired the director.

[Ephemera] Why him and not me?

[Ivy] The surge was the biggest mass casualty

event in U.S. history.

They needed a scalp, and he was in charge.

Besides, I think the committee is afraid if they fire you,

you'll go to work for the highest bidder.

And that would be a fiasco.

[Ephemera] Who's replacing him?

[Ivy] Mack was made acting director.

He's been trying to get the job for years.

[Ephemera] So you're getting passed over again?

[Ivy] Looks like.

[Ephemera] [sighs] I'm sorry.

[Ivy] Oh, well. The only options are to leave or keep going.

[Ephemera] Am I on suspension again?

[Ivy] I think Mack will go the other way.

He'll put you in the field immediately,

and get some easy wins

to prove he's the one who can turn things around.

[distorted voices]

[MacKenzie, distorted voice] I don't feel so good.

I'm dizzy.

[man distorted voice] Mack. Mack.

Are you okay?

[MacKenzie] I can't breathe.

[man] Hey, call somebody.

Call someone. [Mack groans]

Come help.

Don't close your eyes.

Stay awake, Mack. [MacKenzie] Oh, man.

[man] Mack, you might be having a heart attack.

Listen to me. [MacKenzie] Oh, no.

Don't close your eyes, Mack.

Stay with me, Mack.

[MacKenzie] Someone--

[man] Mack, come on, now.

Mack! Mack! [MacKenzie] I must go.

[man] Mack! [MacKenzie] Help me.

[Ephemera] Congratulations on being named interim director.

It's only 'til Mack gets out of the hospital.

[Ephemera] How's he doing?

[Ivy] Hmm, too early to tell.

[Ephemera] So why the rush on this new mission?

We're on our third director in two weeks.

We look weak, and our enemies are taking advantage of it.

The U.S. Ambassador to Belarus has been kidnapped.

We're sending you in with a strike team

to bring him home.

[Ephemera] Who's behind it?

[Ivy] It's a group called Klint.

Supposedly separatists, but they are secretly

an arm of the Russian government.

We think the Kremlin plans to pretend

to be a mediator in return for getting sanctions lifted.

It's a no-win situation for us, but if we can rescue him,

then it puts us back in the driver's seat.

The Russians will have to claim any casualties

on their side are terrorists to maintain their deniability.

[Ephemera] When do we go?

[Ivy] In an hour. [Ephemera] Copy that.

[music]

[helicopter whirring]

[music]

[Sam] Ephemera, you just got

an encrypted message from a Jim Cabot.

[Ephemera] That is the director.

I mean the former director's name.

[Sam] It's thousands of pages

of internal Triad communications.

[Ephemera] Ah, how long will it take you to analyze it?

[Sam] I'm finished.

[Ephemera] Wow!

Can you summarize?

[Sam] Research informed Ivy that Link was a P2,

and she did not pass that information on.

She lobbied very hard to do the WebWorld assignment.

And she also did the vetting on the couple

who were supposed to be Zed spies.

[Ephemera] N--no, not Ivy.

Why would she do that?

[Sam] Unclear.

But if she attempted to kill you on those three missions,

it's logical to assume she will try on this one, too.

[Ephemera] Pilot!

Pilot!

[heavy metal pieces clanging]

[wind gusting]

[soldiers groaning, screaming]

[gunfire]

[soldier] I'm hit!

I'm hit!

[soldier 2] Stay down!

[soldier 3] Go! Go! Go!

[soldier 4] Damn it!

[gunfire continues]

[soldier 5] Pull back.

[explosions]

[soldier 6] I'm out of ammo!

[soldier 1] Go, go, go!

[soldier 1] Help me!

[Sam, voice echoing] Ephemera.

[music]

Can you hear me?

You have to wake up.

You're in danger.

[woman screams]

[gunfire]

[soldier 1] Can you believe our target wasn't at the crash site?

[soldier 2] We tested the DNA of everyone there.

That means she's gotta be out here somewhere.

[soldier 1] Look, this is taking too long.

Let's use the drones.

They can cover a lot of ground in a hurry.

[buzzing]

[soldier 2] The thermal imaging on this thing

is really advanced.

It can separate her heat signature

from the surrounding terrain,

even in daylight.

[soldier 1] What's that?

[soldier 2] Looks like local militia.

Belarusians must be searching for survivors

from the chopper crash.

[soldier 1] We can't let them get to her first.

Fly closer and use the drone's weapon.

[gunfire]

[static]

[soldier 1] What's wrong with the drone?

[soldier 2] It's almost out of range.

We're losing the link.

[soldier 1] Is that one of them chasing our target?

Get down there and shoot him!

[gunfire]

[soldier 2] Sir, the lead drone is down.

[soldier 1] You got its last GPS location?

[soldier 2] Yes. [soldier 1] All right,

let's pack up the other drone and move out.

Double time!

[birds chirping]

[music]

[soldier 2] Damn. There's a lot of places to hide here.

[soldier 1] If we don't spot her soon,

we'll send up the other drone.

[soldier 2] Wait. I see someone running.

[soldier 1] That's probably the agent.

Let's go.

[soldier 2] Are you sure that's our target?

[soldier 1] She can change her appearance, remember?

She probably took one of the militia's

clothes to blend in.

Just make the capture,

then we'll check the DNA to be sure.

Stop! You can't get away!

[soldier 2] That gun must be empty,

or this would be a shootout instead of a foot chase.

[soldier 3] Damn it. Stop running!

[soldier 2] Give up for God's sake!

[soldier 4] He's down!

[soldier 1] You mean she. [soldier 4] They--whatever.

[soldier 2] Zed has put a huge price on your head.

[soldier 3] Stop squirming!

Didn't I tell you to stop?

Asshole.

[birds chirping]

[music]

[soldier 2] When's our ride coming?

[soldier 1] Half an hour.

[soldier 2] It sure was a crazy mission.

I still don't know if that's a man or a woman.

[soldier 3] Who cares, as long as we get paid.

[metal objects clanking softly]

[Sam] Ephemera, you must wake up.

This is life or death.

Ephemera.

[Ephemera] I--I'm seeing double.

[sighs]

I might have a concussion.

[Sam] Fight through it. There isn't much time.

They will evac soon,

then your chances of escape will drop 90%.

[Ephemera] What do you think Zed's plans are?

[Sam] They'll take you to a black site,

use torture and drugs.

If they can't turn you, they'll kill you.

[Ephemera] That's my thinking, too.

[Sam] There is no physical reason you can't use

your pyrotechnic powers.

[Ephemera] The thought of it sends me into a panic attack.

It makes me a helpless, blubbering idiot.

[Sam] And the thought of death and torture doesn't?

[Ephemera] I know it doesn't make any sense,

but I can't help it.

It's like a subconscious block.

I have no control over it.

[Sam] You can control it,

and you must, if you want to survive.

[Ephemera] I'm shaking all over just thinking about it.

[Sam] Then you will die.

[Ephemera] You aren't being very helpful.

[Sam] Do not dwell on the emotion or the end result.

Concentrate on the steps you would go through

if you were going to activate your powers.

[Ephemera] That's easier said than done.

[Sam] Stop thinking about it.

Tell me the steps.

[Ephemera] It's sort of like gearing up

for the hundred-yard dash.

I have to focus inward, marshal my energy.

[Sam] What happens next?

[Ephemera] I see the spark.

It grows and builds.

[Sam] Then?

[Ephemera] It becomes big--

so big, I can't contain it.

It reaches the point where if I don't release it,

it will consume me.

Then I have no choice.

It has to come out.

[soldier 2] What's happening?

What's she doing?

[soldier 3] Fire! There's fire coming out of her!

[soldier 4] Holy shit! [soldier 2] Shoot her!

Shoot her!

[soldier 4] Where is she?

[soldier 5] I can't see her!

Fire's in the way! [gunfire]

[soldier 5] Oh, no!

I'm outta here.

[soldier 2] Fuck this!

Oh, God! Run!

[soldier 3] Run!

My pants are on fire!

Shit, shit, shit!

[soldier 2] I can't breathe!

I can't breathe!

[soldier 1] Stay together! [soldier 4] Which way?

[soldier 1] To the right! [soldier 2] No, left!

[soldier 5] Oh, my shoes are melting!

[soldier 4] What are we gonna do?

I can't see a way out!

[soldier 1] Keep running! Oh, God!

[soldier 5] My lungs are burning!

[soldier 3] I don't wanna die!

[soldier 6] There's gotta be a way out of this!

[soldier 1] Do you see her?

Do you see her?

[soldier 4] I just see fire!

It's everywhere!

[soldier 3] I think there's an opening!

[soldier 1] Head for it!

[soldier 5] Thank God!

[music]

[reporter] Triad, the organization that combined

all U.S. national security agencies into one,

has been rocked by scandal.

The director of three years, Jim Cabot, was fired.

His replacement, John MacKenzie,

was nearly assassinated by the number two at the agency,

and that person is now on the run.

Triad is offering a six-figure reward

for any information leading to the capture of Ivy Reynolds.

She was last seen crossing the border into Russia.

For more, go to our website.

[phone rings]

[MacKenzie] Ephemera, this is Mack.

[Ephemera] How are you feeling? [MacKenzie] Much better.

Ivy switched the dose on my heart medicine.

If I died, it would've looked like an accidental overdose.

[Ephemera] She isn't stupid.

[MacKenzie] The Russians gave her asylum.

As payment, she'll have to tell them everything she knows.

That will jeopardize the lives of thousands

of field agents and set us back decades.

We have to do something fast.

I'll send the logistical data to your AI.

The agency and your country are depending on you.

[Ephemera] Yes, sir.

[music]

-Skal. -Skal.

So, Ivy, is Russia better than American propaganda?

I like what I see so far.

Ephemera, I can no longer access your neural implants,

so I'm leaving this message on your phone.

I want you to know that I was not trying to kill you,

but I was trying to place you

in positions where you would fail.

I think putting enhanced agents in the field

is the new arms race.

Countries will keep trying to outdo each other

until it leads to a conflict that will upend everything.

I feel this is the most important

national security issue of our time,

and I do not regret my efforts to save us from it.

[music]

[man] Have you abandoned me?

[Ivy] Never.

[Ephemera] Ivy, if you sent that message to justify

nearly killing me and betraying your country,

I only have one thing to say...

[explosion, splashing]

[Ephemera] ...fuck you.

[music]

[Ephemera] I hope you can hear me, Link.

I'm sorry for what I did.

And though it cannot be undone,

I pledge to you now...

...that I will never kill another human being.

[bald man] I cannot make the same promise.

[music]