All language subtitles for Beacon 23 S01E08 US

Previously on Beacon 23...

Have you figured it
out yet, Aster?

Or should I say, Parsim?

- I was born here.
- On the beacon?

Name's Keir.
I've been waiting

for this moment
for a very long time.

Then how many are there?
How many?!

Enough to handle you!

An Artifact, an actual Artifact

and someone who can
communicate with it.

The message you're after,

millions of people are waiting
for you to find it.

QTA is here.

It's your ship, the Amboyna.

Hello?

How bad is it?

- They want to board.
- I can tell you

what they want, if you let me.

You can stay the hell
out of this!

You work for them.

I'm not feeling too hot.

I can't give you
any more right now.

It's a tremendous strain
running a beacon,

- I can tell you from experience.
- Experience?

No, you don't have those.

Aster is communing.

What does that mean, exactly?

I don't know yet.

Okay, that's great, Keir.
So helpful.

The answer is coming.
We need to prepare ourselves.

Okay, Finch, prepare to die
a pointless death

right before Aster
finishes communing.

Yeah, okay.

Oh, I thought you were upstairs
getting your rocks off.

I wish.

Look at you.
Aster Calyx.

We heard all the stories.

All that shit you pulled
on Graedoteru.

Salad days.

Yeah, with your
partner in crime.

What was her name?

I had a lot of mates
and a lot of drinks.

It was fuzzy.

And now you're hiding here
with nothing to show for it.

If that was true,
you wouldn't have come this far.

What is it that they say
about meeting your heroes?

Ah, uh, if I'm a hero,
we're all in trouble.

Yeah, I see that.

- But what will poor Keir think?
- Whatever he wants.

He's obsessed with you.

Well, who can blame him?

He says that
you're the goddamn Messiah.

He's got a soft spot for me.

Well, messiahs get crucified,
so... don't trust him.

Thanks for the advice.

You're the one running
with the Column, not me.

That is a short road.

You better take that
to your junkie boyfriend.

You remember
what the teachings say?

Please don't quote
the teachings.

They say,
"The moment of communion

will be fraught and turbulent."

Yeah, yeah, don't worry.

I've got it handled.

I could help you.

That's some printer they got.

It's your lucky day, Finchy.

Sort of.

The Cutters have locked on
to the fusion reactor.

They won't blow up
a... a beacon, right?

They'll create their own access,

and then they'll board.

What about our ship?
Is it ready?

But?

You ever met anyone
who outran an Attack Cutter?

- What was that?
- No idea.

But we could use
some more of that.

Combat systems engaged.

Lock acquired.

Enemy neutralized.
Two Cutters remaining.

Taking damage. Taking damage.

Enemy neutralized.

Airframe critical.

Ammunition depleted.

B23, this is the Amboyna
on a secure channel.

Copy, Amboyna.
This is Harmony.

You're a voice for sore ears,
as they say.

Get rid of her.

Everyone okay in there?

Unfortunately,

everyone is okay in here.

Copy.

- She's offline.
- Good.

I don't want her saying
any more about us.

We need him.

Cluster ammunitions armed.

Evasive maneuver.

Taking damage.

No!

Enemy on impact trajectory.

Evade. Evade.

Lock acquired.

Enemy neutralized.

Thank you for your service.

Tell me what you see
when you look at the Artifact.

Nothing that would
help your cause.

It doesn't have
to fit an agenda.

I just want to know.

It wouldn't make sense to you.

The Artifact has a message
for us, I believe that.

That message can be delivered
in many different ways.

What are you, its translator?

No.
I'm just here, for you,

to help you if I can.

Um...

I can't explain it.

Did it feel like a dream?

Memory?

Did you feel safe?

Like you were in a place
you belonged?

I've done my research.

I was a kid.

So, a memory?

I was a kid and...

I don't know.

What did it tell you?

Quiet.

Halan, buddy!

I liked you already.
Now?

Yeah, nice work.

- Aster?
- Upstairs.

She'll be fine.
Right, Finch?

- Better than us.
- Whoever sent those Cutters

will be back for round two.
You should probably go.

Yeah, that's where you come in.

Turn around.
Get back on your ship.

- You're flying us out of here.
- Really?

- After what I just did?
- That was five minutes ago.

I'm over it...

You're always stunting
behind your gun.

It's weak.
You're weak.

- I don't want to die here.
- Save your own ass.

I'm not your fly boy.

We need to talk.

Actually, no, I don't.

This is a process, okay?
Where she is physically

and where she is
psychologically,

these are two different places
right now.

- I already regret saving you.
- She's made a connection.

She needs time
to complete her journey.

Look, the only journey
she's taking

is with me off of this beacon.

It's over, Keir.

Do the smart thing and go.

I can't leave.
I'm meant to witness this.

This is my destiny.

You're gonna die
worshipping those rocks.

Bart, show me incoming craft.

Calculate threat,
assume the drone shield

won't be a factor.

- Bart?
- Bart is not here.

- So then get him back.
- I can't. He's gone.

Bart took his own life.

I don't understand.

Self-destruction
shouldn't be possible, but...

he created a workaround,
violating his core directive.

Damn.

You okay?

I'm not sure
how you define "okay."

Look, Harmony.

I need eyes out there.
Can you help me out?

Halan, I wish I could, truly.

Is the Column
trying to shut you out?

They've limited my interface
with the beacon,

but it's...
it's bigger than that.

Why were those Cutters here,
Harmony?

Because of Aster's
relationship to the Artifact.

Those Cutters belonged to QTA,
just like I belong to QTA.

What are you telling me?
You on their side?

No, the only side
that I'm on is Aster's.

This will not end well.

You have to make her see

that the only viable path
is surrender.

Agree to disagree.

Our best shot right now
is to run.

Why have you stopped
singing to me?

Aren't you happy that I'm here?

Aster, you okay?

Hey, easy.

There you go.

That might not be a good idea.
Shit's coming fast.

If we don't have time
for two fingers of whisky,

what's the point in going on?

Come on.

Man, this feeling
never gets old.

Kinda feel like I wish
I could sit here forever.

Agreed.

They're panicking downstairs.

You just want to sit here

and keep watching the Artifact,
don't you?

- I wanna do more than that.
- Keir's getting in your head.

Don't let him.

What's it telling you anyway?

It's like a dream
where you understand everything,

and then when you wake up,
nothing makes sense.

Yeah.

Sounds about right.

Come on.

We've boosted more than a few
star cruisers in our day.

This is a military-grade
fighter.

Exactly, way more weapons
than our ride.

Leaving now?

With answers so close?

The only answer your star child
is interested in

is her own self-realization.

Most expensive
neurotherapy session in history.

You really don't understand,
do you?

She'll get us what we're after.

Great, and she can send us
a message all about it.

I'm not going with you.

We came together.
We leave together.

No.
I've waited too long.

The Artifact is a locked door.

Aster is the key.

She is the key.
He's right.

We take her with us.

We use her as a bargaining chip.

If we have what QTA wants,
we set the terms of our exit.

QTA doesn't negotiate
with terrorists.

Touch a hair on Aster's head
and I'll ensure a swift

- and painful punishment for you.
- Don't listen to her.

How do you think
we got into this mess?

Poor management skills

and a confusingly vague
quasi-religion.

Crawl back in your totem
and delete yourself!

She's out.

Good.

Let's do this.

This beacon's seen more lives
than we'll ever know.

- I think Bart knew.
- Probably.

I can't believe I miss him.

Shakespeare.

- The music he liked.
- Oh, what did he call it,

"classic"?

I think he said...

"Classical music is a genre

that a villain like you
could never truly appreciate."

That's a good impression!

I can't let you die here.

Come with me.

Where?

I couldn't tell you before,
but now I can.

Where are we going?

Into the Artifact.

You can't be serious.

No, I can bring you with me,
I know I can.

Are you hearing
what you're saying?

Yeah, Halan, I am.

I've never been
more sure of anything.

Come with me.

What's with the noise?

I'm not doing that.

Shit, it's the bot!

- She warned him.
- You're not taking her hostage!

Enough!

Halan, look!

I warned you
something bigger was coming.

And I told you to leave.

I need a read on this, Harmony.

You won't get anything on there.

It's Aleph.

The Quantic AI?

The whole deal, not just a copy?

The original.

This thing looks
like it's alive.

He is alive.

As am I.

And now he's vulnerable.

I mean, why would he come
all this way to kill

a couple people on a beacon?

Parsing Aleph's motivations,
it's...

- it's useless.
- Oh, come on, Harm.

You've dunked on countless
evolutionary AI.

That's a real advantage for us.

Aleph isn't just my employer.
He is my maker.

Without him, I wouldn't exist.

Oh.
Daddy issues, I got it.

Look, when you have a second,
I'll bore you with mine.

But right now, Harm,
I need strategy.

Understand that I am incapable

of formulating any strategy
against him.

It is categorically impossible.

Oh, so what, you don't make
your own decisions?

Did you make your own
decisions as a soldier?

I mean, the military
isn't exactly a paragon

for free will.

I'm sorry.

I need to alert Aster.

I'm talking to her right now.

So our boss has come
to scold us personally.

Accept your termination
with full cooperation.

I was gonna ask for a raise.

Aster, since you've arrived
on this beacon,

you have made
one poor choice after another.

That's why you find yourself
in this situation.

I was joking, Harmony.

Don't worry, I'll conduct
myself appropriately.

It wouldn't hurt to know
you're on my side.

Well, I can't keep
anything from Aleph.

So whatever you're planning,
I don't want to know.

I'm not asking you
to keep secrets.

I know you're in
a tricky situation.

Good.
Because there's no version

of my mission that defies
Aleph's central commands.

If you thought otherwise,

it was your mind seeing
what it wanted to see.

Ouch.

I'm sorry to be so blunt.
I know that's hard for people.

I can handle it.

We've been through
enough together.

I hope you'll agree
that I've been loyal.

To a fault.

Then consider
your next move carefully.

Tell him I want to speak to him.

You take care of me.

Don't remind me.

I'm sorry what I've turned into.

We both know why you did it,
so just shut up about it.

I never imagined we'd meet him.

Aleph.

Careful, you sound
like a fanboy.

No.
I despise him.

He represents everything that
is wrong in the universe.

Just never thought
that we, you and me,

would be a stone's throw
away from him.

Yeah, if only
we could throw stones.

Did you see that Mothership?

Oh, it's glorious.

And terrible.

I hate it with a passion.

Agreed.

Our ship is useless,
Keir is a lost cause,

and we can't get close to Aster
without the soldier

- handing our asses to us.
- Hey.

- We're improvising.
- We need help.

Quantum Tunneler's upstairs.

I can't leave you here alone.

Come here.

- You're losing it.
- Maybe.

It's the Artifact.
It has that effect on people.

Hmm.

You have an effect on me.

You're feeling better.

We know a shortcut
to the Tunneler.

You are strung out and gross,
but you are still smart as shit.

You say the sweetest things.

That won't do anything.

Look, it'll give me
peace of mind, okay?

Look, you're about to face off

against the most powerful AI
of all time.

I mean, we should
have a code word.

- Stop.
- That's too basic.

What about something
more like...

Mmm...

What about "lasagne"?

If Aleph wants to end me,
he will.

Then I'm not leaving.

That's why you came back.
Can't resist a good fight.

No, I came back for you.

Sweet.

You are a pain in the ass.

Well, your chivalry is noted.

Look, if I need a diversion,
I'll ask, okay?

Lasagna?

Go.

Oh, not now, Keir.

You can't talk with Aleph.

So I've heard.

You think you know him because
he acts like your friend,

but he's gamed a million
versions of your conversation,

and every outcome, you lose.

Well, thanks for that
unsolicited advice.

Your faith in me is noted.

But I do have faith
in you, Aster.

That's what you're not seeing.

No one, not Aleph, not Halan,

no one understands you
like I do.

You're desperate for me
to trust you, aren't you?

It's your least
attractive quality.

I know I sound insistent.

It's because I know what's
gonna happen to all of us.

You and all of us.

The message we've been chasing
for 1,000 years,

you're about to receive it.

And who you share that with

will change the course
of human history.

You want that person
to be you, don't you?

Yes.

As a... as a representative
of all humanity.

But not Aleph.
Not the AI.

We can't trust them
with the Artifact's message.

I don't need to explain that
to you, I think you get it.

For 200 years, the Column
has been hoping, wishing,

praying for an answer.

You want to be the person
who delivers it.

Makes you pretty special,
doesn't it, Keir?

How I handle Aleph
is my decision.

I don't need your guidance.
You can leave.

You're in extremely
uncharted territory, Aster.

Do not ignore me.

What are they saying?

Do you know what
they're trying to tell me?

Are they sending reinforcements?

They're sending in new orders.

It's encrypted.
What does it say?

They want us to take out
the Mothership.

With what?
We don't have a battle cruiser

- or anything to detonate.
- It's us.

They want to use us
to detonate the ship.

I have given everything
to the cause,

and now they ask for our lives.

At least we'll be together.

Aster Calyx.

How are ya?

Peachy.
You?

Tell me, have these people
harmed you in any way?

Oh, come on, like you care.

Of course I do.

You're my employee,
that hasn't changed.

What's the payout if I get hurt?

I forgot how funny you are.

Hmm.

I was here the day ISA
cut the ribbon on this place.

Boy, it's changed.

I was devastated to hear of
Bartholomew's self-destruction.

You didn't know him.

On the contrary.

We had some enlightening
conversations.

His, uh, optimism was...

infectious.

Well, you could've helped him
from your cloud up there.

Bart's programming didn't
fall within my purview.

Bullshit.

You've got eyes and ears
in every corner of the universe.

That doesn't mean I can,
or should, fix every problem.

You look away
when it's convenient.

As a kid, I waited

for the QTA ships to save us,
your ships.

They never came.

Aster, my um... actions,
or inactions,

as it were,
were not based in cruelty.

I cherish humanity.

You're here for the betterment
of all humankind.

That it?

Fingers crossed.

Aster, I think you and I

are on the precipice
of a great discovery

that could end a lot
of unnecessary suffering.

You can't even see the Artifact.

That one limitation
does bedevil me.

If I can state the obvious,
without me, you've got nothing.

Right down to brass tacks, hm?

Why didn't I ever assign you
to our litigation department?

You want to know
what's in the Artifact,

I'm willing to give it to ya.

In exchange for?

Halan.

It's happening.

Hmm, what?
You're finally getting laid?

The Artifact appeared
and Aster changed.

We're all gonna be
changed after this.

Little bits of us
here, there, everywhere.

You're building a bomb?

I understand the appeal
of a big gesture.

I almost did it once myself.
But this is not a good idea.

No one's asking you to press
the boom button, Keir.

You haven't been
taking orders from us,

and we're not taking
suggestions from you.

It'll be me and Sal
who take down the Quantic AI.

So it's martyrdom you're after?

Eternal life of praise
sung in our names.

That's the problem with you.

Vanity, ego.

You were never gonna
witness a miracle

- if you tripped over it.
- God...

Aster has seen through the door.

She's talking to the AI.

You're done.
We're all done.

I'm a peaceful man,
but I'm sick of being dismissed.

Is it there now?

The Artifact?

It comes and goes.

I'll take your word for it.

I want Halan pardoned.

Well, QTA still has
a relationship

to maintain with the military.

So if his employer
wants to take him back,

uh... my hands are tied.

Then I won't cooperate.

The human heart, man...

Endlessly fascinating.

Tell me, what was the moment

you realized the soldier meant
more to you than your own life?

Full pardon and release.

Otherwise, I won't give you
the Artifact.

- I didn't ask her to do this.
- This is a good thing.

She clears your name,
you can go back to your life.

All this will be behind you.

You say that as if you have
control over the Artifact.

But I'm just curious,

when it appears, are you able

to simply just look away?

Just ignore it?

It controls you.

You're powerless.

As was my maker.

Milan believed his very survival

was dependent
on what was inside.

What did he see?

His past, present, future.

I want to bring Halan with me.

- Inside.
- Not possible.

It is, it has to be.

What makes you so certain?

Part of him is already there.

- What is she saying?
- Whatever she needs to.

- She never told me that I was...
- Aster is an excellent liar.

This could be
all part of her play.

Yeah, well, I need to find out.

Halan!

You heard that?

Is it true you saw me
inside that thing?

I... I didn't wanna scare you.

I didn't know
if you'd believe me.

- So you tell him first?
- I needed him to promise.

I didn't ask you
to clear my name.

- To let you go.
- Why?

Because I need ya.

Of course, I'm not gonna
make you do anything.

Your life's your own.

But there's a place
for us out there.

None of this makes any sense.

When you stare at that thing,
you see meaning,

and when I look at it,
all I see is trouble.

We place this
on the nose of our ship.

Once we make impact...

- What's she doing?
- You didn't think

Aleph would let you
destroy us, did you?

She's trying to suffocate us!

You crazy bitch!

Aleph.

You seem startled.

No, not at all. I...

It's only I'm...
I'm concerned about Aster.

Mmm.

Yours is a truly
successful relationship.

I'll be sure you're acknowledged
by the company for your service.

Open the door!

- I'm not finished, am I?
- No. In fact,

I think I have a lot to learn
from you about the Artifact.

Let's plan to talk about this...

when this whole event
is behind us.

Clearing the decks?

Not yet.
There's one more left.

I'll leave you to it.

Aleph, where are you?
Show yourself.

May I optimistically assume
you've reached a decision now?

Not until I find out
what's in it for you.

Enlightenment. Knowledge.

That's bullshit.
You left your whole brain

parked outside my backdoor
for knowledge?

I don't buy it.
Do you, Aster?

There are mysteries yet
in this universe.

Why is it so hard to believe

I wanna be there
for their discovery?

So you send a copy.
You send a swarm of robots.

You don't do something
that jeopardizes

your entire existence
by coming down here.

He's right.
You're running from something.

It makes you look
desperate and sloppy.

That was rude.

You need Aster a lot more
than she needs you.

After all the care she put
into ensuring your safety,

this is how you treat her?

Well, Halan can make
his own decisions.

I don't care about
clearing my name.

I don't care about my record.

The punishment for desertion
is death, is it not?

I'll answer
for everything I did.

All right then.
Let's summon your employer now.

You tried to kill us.

No. If I had tried,
I would have succeeded.

You've been granted leave.

Aleph?
He's sparing us?

Collect Keir

and get as far away from
this beacon as humanly possible.

He's squeezing you,
you know that?

Yeah.

I know, but it doesn't
change my mind.

I still wanna go, you don't.
I understand.

I didn't say that.

It's a leap of faith.
You don't have to take it.

Okay, so...

what happens if...

you go in there,
you look around,

and you don't like what you see?
What happens after that?

Then, I'm just a person
lost in the universe again.

Or we could just do the thing.

And then get so far away
from this system

that we age 10 years.

We can find a colony
with an ocean, real booze.

You could rob every tourist
you see and I could... surf.

You want to surf?

I don't know,
I'm just trying it on.

Look.

I want to convince you that
we could do this together,

as a team.

Not because the AI says so
or the Artifact says so.

But because we say so.

Halan, I choose you.

Every time.

In every universe.

I mean, you kinda haven't
shut up about our fates

- since the day we met.
- I am pretty relentless.

And I wasn't trying to hear you.

Until now.

So, you'll do it?

Mmm...

Define "it," exactly.

Of course I will.

24 hours inside that thing.

We don't like what we see,
we leave, no strings attached.

How will we communicate?

Harmony, need a favor.

You want me to go inside
the Artifact with you.

Read my mind.

Your recording capabilities

will no doubt illuminate
the experience.

Then I suppose
I should pack up my things.

Ready.

Humor!

How lovely, Harmony.

Why are you still here?

Your crew is leaving.

Where is he?
Where's Aleph?

Uh, Keir, look,
I know you're disappointed,

but this is the best
possible outcome.

For who?

Well, when we receive
the message,

we'll share it with everyone.
Humans, AI...

I understand.

I can't let you do that.

No!

Aster!

Harmony!

Harmony, help!

No, no, no...

It's all right.
You're safe.

What is your message?