All language subtitles for The.Dresden.Sun.2026e3

[low-pitched rumbling]

[rumbling increases]

[static]

[electronical growling]

[female collective 1]
Counselor Brightmore.

Greetings, Collective.

[male collective 7]
Status, Dr. Corliss.

-Doctor.
-[clears throat]

Design is stable.

We're able to contain
quantum data

through di-entangling it
into superposition.

Functional, but the prototype
still has issues.

If we want to succeed
at each setting,

we're going to need
major changes.

[female collective 1]
Dr. Corliss,

we have a time commitment

regarding field applications.

[male collective 6]
The Dreamcatcher must be ready.

There's just no way to compress
and translate this level of data

without quantum
computational capabilities
and warping gravitational mass.

[male collective 2]
Why is this an issue?

Collective, we need something
with highly powerful
energy isotope

to accomplish what you ask.

Something that goes
well beyond the requirements

of highly functioning AI.

[male collective 8]
We know of a way.

Brightmore, please apprise her
once we adjourn.

My pleasure, Collective.

[male collective 6]
Dr. Corliss, finish the project

within the time frame
we agreed to,

or consequences will apply.

-I just need--
-[male collective 6]
You will be given

the resources you require.

[female collective 4]
Can you abide
by the original agreement?

Yes, Collective.

[male collective 8]
Meeting adjourned.

-[low-pitched whirring]
-[buzzes]

[suspenseful music]

[whistles softly]

Consequences, doctor.

Feel free to take in the view.

-[thunder crackling]
-[siren blares in the distance]

[automated voice on PA]
Citizens of Silencia.

-[helicopter blades whirring]
-Special curfew is in effect

-due to...
[continues indistinctly]
-[rain splattering]

ETA?

Five minutes.

[engine revving]

[automated voice on PA]
Citizens of Silencia.

Special curfew is in effect...

[continues indistinctly]

...no fireweapon discharges
past 10:00 p.m.

-Soliciting is
strictly prohibited.
-[engine revving]

[music continues]

[door creaks]

[door closes]

[guard 1]
It's late.

Yeah, my computer
crashed at home.

I've got some schematics
that I need to finish.

Check in at the front desk.

-[guard 2] ID, handprint.
-Yeah. [sighs softly]

-[beeping and whirring]
-[guard 2] Where you headed?

Lower 15th, R&D.

[guard 2]
It's a classified wing.

-Yeah, I'm cleared.
-[radio buzzes]

B-Team. Have a Ross Vilmore
headed your way.

-Yeah, I know.
-[radio buzzes]

What's the, uh...

Section 34.

Thirty-four. Standby,

just double-checking
your clearance.

Do you mind if I snag
some of that coffee?

Sure.

[music continues]

[beeping]

Uh, you got any creamer?

Do I look like a barista?

[rain spattering]

[keyboard clacking]

[beeping and whirring]

I know that, uh,
Bob, he keeps some

in his special drawer
in the bottom.

Okay, ICE is in. We're ghosted.

Visual, sensor, thermal, sound.

Good.

[Ross]
Hero! There we go.

-[radio buzzes]
-[guard 2] Copy that.

Okay, you're cleared. Lift four.

Yes. Thank you for the coffee.

-[engine whirring]
-[clacks]

[doors rattling]

[music continues]

-[static crackling]
-[whirring and beeping]

[guard 3]
Clear.

[fan rumbling slowly]

[zipper opens]

We're in the outer passageway.

Copy.

[soft beep]

Three levels down. South side.

[zipper closes]

[high-pitched whirring]

[music increases]

[soft beeping]

[beeping increases]

Triad 35B
by BT Security Concepts.

It is pricey.

-[loud beep]
-C4?

Mm-mm. Knockout gas.

-[beep]
-[grunts] Probably more
on each floor.

Finders keepers.

-[beeps]
-[automated voice]
Access granted.

-[beeps]
-[door opens]

-[whirrs]
-[keyboard clacking]

[beeping and whirring]

[keyboard clacking]

[music continues]

[beeps]

-[whirring]
-[door opens]

-Okay, we're clear. ETA?
-[crackling]

Three minutes,
about to head into the vents
above your sector.

-[thud]
-Sweet cut.

[sighs softly]

[beeping and whirring]

[guard]
Hey! [grunts]

-[grunting and groaning]
-[thudding]

-[electricity crackling]
-[shouts]

[breathes loudly]

-Amateur, huh?
-The most important thing is...

He's alive.

You got it.

[light tense music]

[Ross]
I'm at the target. ETA?

[Crilenger]
Copy that. ETA, one minute.

[creaking]

[footsteps approaching]

Handprint and access card.

[Ross]
Mm-hmm.

[beeping and whirring]

Your turn.

How'd you get that?

-[beeping and whirring]
-These scanners
are easy to hack.

Mm-hmm. Did you make it?

Shut up.

-[zipper closes]
-Key card, Z.

-[beeping and whirring]
-[door opens]

[whooshing]

[music increases]

Oh, you didn't say anything
about two.

Well, one's a display model.
Needed to delete all the files,

then upload a virus
and steal everything.
That was the deal.

That was not our deal.

Look, like I said,
steal everything.

And who cares?
We got the sphere.

Right? Come on!

Did you wipe
the security cameras,

the card swipes,
and the security logs?

Yeah, but we only
have five minutes
before the system reboots.

Oh, fuck!

What?

I left the flash drive
in the office.

Well, go fucking get it, then.
Let's go. Fast!

[Ross softly]
Dang it.

[door locks]

-[siren blaring]
-[beeping]

[whirring]

[door closes]

[automated voice]
Intruder alert.

Lockdown in progress.

That fucking Judas!

-[whirring]
-...authorized.

-Z, cover!
-[blaring continues]

[gunshots]

[glass shattering]

[whirring and creaking]

[ominous music]

[doors rattling]

[breathing heavily]

-[beeps]
-[thud]

[hissing]

[guard shouts]
Ambush!

-[beeping and whirring]
-[thudding]

[Z exhales]

-[gunshots]
-[crackling]

[music increases]

-[rain spattering]
-[automated voice on PA]
Economic disparity

has led a surge in violent crime

-and property theft.
-[siren blaring in the distance]

Aurora LTD...
[continues indistinctly]

-[clanking]
-[Ross grunts]

Fuck.

-[indistinct shouting on TV]
-[cell phone buzzing
and ringing]

-[beep]
-[gunshots on video game]

[Malik]
Good news only.

-[rain spattering]
-Yeah, I did what you said.

-So you have it?
-Yeah, I got the chip.

What about the mercs?
Crilenger and Z.

Well, they're trapped inside.

So you didn't fuck it up.

-What about the money?
-Good things come

to he who does not piss me off.

[beeps]

Are you fucking serious,
you asshole?

[thunder rumbling
in the distance]

[automated voice on PA
speaks indistinctly]

[reporter]
A major break-in
at Peredor Corporation's

research and development
facility last night

has led to a frenzy
in the trade lines.

Stockbrokers desperately
sell off Peredor's shares

-based on rumors
of stolen trade secrets.
-[indistinct chatter]

Many had purchased futures
on a promising new breakthrough

Peredor hoped to deliver
to the market

by the fourth quarter
of next year.

Police authorities on the scene
were denied access
to the building,

and Peredor has yet
to press any charges.

According to their
public relations bureau,

the investigation
is being conducted in-house

by a private security team.

You know how much money
I'm about to lose?

[Megan] It's a good time
to buy right now.
It is going cheap.

You're right. I mean,
I bought a ton of Peredor
before this dog shit.

Okay, do you want a Xanax?

I already had two this morning.

[Megan]
Crunching numbers, Ethan?

[indistinct chatter continues]

Earth to Ethan.

Barrington Tran
Security Concepts

made quite a lot of money
off of that contract

for those new AI drones.

-I mean, I bought a ton of that,
didn't you?
-Yep.

Sad how many kids
have to be killed
by those things, though, huh?

[clicks tongue]
Trade 'em as you see 'em, pal.

-What is this?
-[paper rustling]

That is confidential, good sir.

Christ. Seriously?

-[Harrison] Yo--
-Market didn't close.

-[Harrison] Just about--
-Get back on the floor and make

-some fucking money!
-Right away.

[Harrison]
Got it.

[Megan softly]
Go.

[Kerry]
You get all P&L reports

for every portfolio
up to quarter four?

[clicks tongue] Yes, I did.

-Good shit.
-Kerry, I am surprised.

Is that a compliment?

Fuck no.

FYI, board meeting. High noon.

Oh, and Wellman wants
to see you after.

[phone ringing in the distance]

It's always nice
to see you, Kerry.

[Kerry]
Nice drawing, asshole.

I think he likes me.

Aside from all the boo-hooing
about the situation on Peredor,

they run a tight ship.
They'll bounce back.

Put that fucking phone down!

We have healthy projections
in many sectors.

But let's make this very clear.

This is where we place our focus
over the next quarter.

[clears throat]
This is from Wellman.

Yeah, Harrison.
Straight from God Himself.
Can I finish now?

Sorry.

Anyway, Peredor Corporation,

Sakura Biotech,
and Tranceworld Media.

Don't trade against them.
And do not, I repeat,

do not short their shit. Okay?

No credit default swaps,
no naked shorts, nothing.

But what if we get some huge...
[chuckles] buyer?

Straight from fucking God!

What about C & Earth?

Fuck 'em.

[suspenseful music]

It's kinda strange
Kerry's asking us
to compartmentalize investments.

It's strategic.

-Yeah. [softly] Strategic.
-[phone ringing]

Well, I'll see you
around, Megan.

All right.

Welcome, Ethan.
Would you like my assistant
to get you an espresso,

bottled water, cream soda?

[Ethan]
No, thank you.

We read your reports.
Did you find any irregularities?

Not that I know of.

Do you like working here, Ethan?

There's a lot of people
in the world
who don't have jobs.

Guess I'm not
in a position to complain.

Is there something
wrong with my work?

No! On the contrary,
you're great at dissecting
the numbers.

But... we've been running
the show here for a long time,

and it's more than just numbers.

Uh, we set the stage

for how value
is perceived in the world.

You could say that the...

[chuckles softly]

...the economy
is a marionette doll

and we own the strings.

Of course.

-What do you want from me?
-Well, we're a little concerned
about exposure.

Like?

Market manipulation.

Right. As a matter of fact,
if anything like that

were going on here
at Mutual One and word got out,

that would be a serious problem.

Oh, yes. Of course.

These are the new figures
for next quarter.

Read them over.
Highlight anything unusual.

Make sure
the projections add up.

I can do that.

-When do you need them by?
-Friday.

We'd also like to keep
this matter private.

Just between us, okay?

-Yes, sir.
-Good. If you have
any questions,

Kerry will address them for you.

I will ask Kerry
all of my questions.

You can go now.

[light suspenseful music]

[door closes]

Can't stand that fucking guy.

[woman on advertisement]
Cold. Beer so cold...

[indistinct chatter
on advertisements]

[engine whirring]

[beeping]

[shouting indistinctly]

[electronic music playing]

...like this one. I have
the perfect client for these.

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, look at this beast!

Rail pistol.

Gorgeous.

Take off a lot of heads
with that one.

Crilenger!

Relax, boys.

Aren't you worse for the wear?

Still dashing, though.

Something off the menu?

The tiramisu? To die for.

Tiramisu is overrated.

Still using shock tips.

Never kills anybody.

Guy's a closet pacifist.

[laughter]

So, how'd it go?

How do you think?

The insider breached
the agreement.

Why is this... my problem?

You're the fixer.

It's your responsibility
to vet these things.

C... I adore you.

But I warned you
from the get-go, the risks.

That's why I offered
the insurance, but you said...

[mockingly] "No, no, no!"

[laughs]

You take 15%.
That's insurance enough.

-[Taa in normal voice]
We done here?
-[music continues playing]

Really not into crying
over spilled lattes,

but I do know a good therapist.

[laughter]

-[thud]
-[groans]

-[grunts]
-[groans]

-[bone crunches]
-[screams]

-[gunshot]
-[clinking]

[panting]

I can hack your fucking data
in a heartbeat.

I know a lot of folks
that would love to have access

to those bank accounts
and your colorful home videos.

Take it easy, for Christ's sake.

Had no idea the corporate rat
was gonna be a problem.

Who ordered the fix?

If I break my confidentiality,

you know what'll happen
to my reputation.

Your reputation
is dropping fast.

Fine. Can we just
let go, please?

Let's figure this out,
like adults.

[music continues playing]

If you were anybody else,

I'd personally remove your nuts
with a vegetable peeler.

Christ,
you never lose your cool.

This is different,
they breached the agreement.

Have Ren take a look
at that hand.

[Crilenger]
Give me a name, Taa.

You know I can't do that.

But I can give you a lead

and a way to make
more money on this

without upsetting
the order of things.

I'm listening.

The item the insider bagged.
Worth 50 times more

than whatever your cut
was gonna be.

-What is it?
-Some kind of bizarre
quantum processor.

Opens the door to power.
Everlasting life. Whatever.

You'd think they were talking
about the holy fucking grail.

Apparently, a scientist
wants it. Pretty bad.

-Who's the scientist?
-[Taa] A peculiar name.

Dresden Corliss.

I'll give you a location
and contact info on the buyer,
but that's it.

I just want 5%
paid in the usual.

-Sure.
-Good.

Small warning,
though, sweetheart.

People who call this in...

[sing-songy]
...not ones to fuck with.

[music continues playing]

[in normal voice] Hey.

I have a lot of overhead
runnin' this joint.

Who's gonna cover
the medical bill?

Don't you have insurance?

[indistinct chatter]

[light inspirational music]

[Dresden]
What is consciousness?

Is it primarily an electrical
and biochemical function

of the neuronal
wiring of the brain

sending funny little signals
to the body?

"Eat. Move your arm. Duck!

There's a Frisbee coming
towards your head!"
[chuckles softly]

Adaptation.

Survival.

A genetic composition
telling us to do this,

and then we choose
within those environmental
and biological precepts.

That's a facet of it.

But what is... this thing
we call consciousness?

In ancient Sanskrit,
this is called manas...
or the mind.

The philosophy breaks it
into two primary ideas.

Kama-manas, or desire,

such as survival, instinct,

food, sex, ego,

satisfying the state
of neuroplasticity

that the brain has adapted to.

Then, there's Buddhi-manas.

-[music continues]
-Reason, logic...

...cognitive processing,

empathic perspectives,

compassion!

Perhaps telepathy.

Our findings have revealed,

on a quantum level,

that consciousness,
or the enlightened mind,

is as much
a byproduct of the brain

as it is an individual
interdimensional construct

of quantum energy,

evolving and veering into
and out of organic material.

What if we could prove
that consciousness...

...or the soul,
if you wanna call it that...

...decouples on a quantum level

and reasserts itself

in different form
beyond the body?

Perhaps a new form...

-...like reincarnation.
-[music continues]

We have figured out
how to make the monocle

extract memories, dreams,
energy from the brain.

But what if it could go further?

As they say,

energy is neither
created nor destroyed,

it simply transfers.

And aren't we all just energy

interacting and dancing together

from one dimension to another?

From one cosmological
ecosystem to another?

[chuckles softly]

Possibly.

Maybe.

[light melancholic music]

-[soft sloshing]
-[pop]

[soft pouring]

[exhales deeply]

[loudly gulps, exhales]

[beeps]

[inaudible chatter]

[music continues]

[sniffles]

-[automated voice] Caller ID,
Counselor Brightmore.
-[beeping]

[Brightmore]
Doctor, how's
the retrofit coming?

[sighing] Uh, we're,
uh, we're working on it.

The blueprint design you gave us

is really challenging
to work with,

um, but it's...

Exactly what
you were hoping for.

It's remarkable.

The engineering,
I-- I've never seen
anything like it.

When will we be able to see
the actual component?

There was a minor delay,
but you are getting the item.

A courier will drop it off
soon enough.

-They stressed the timeline.
-The Collective's aware.

Use the account
we gave you to pay for it.

You okay? You look spent.

[scoffs] I'm fine, really.

-I saw the news about Peredor.
-We had nothing to do with that.

-[suspenseful music]
-I'm not an idiot.

Nobody said you were.

Even if that's the case,
and I'm not saying it is...

...couldn't that backfire on us?

Try not to worry about it.

-Closing out.
-[beeps]

-[sighs]
-[alarm blaring]

-[automated voice] Attention...
[continues indistinctly]
-[thunder rumbling]

[rain spattering]

[keyboard clacking]

What the hell?

[soft scratching]

[automated voice speaking
indistinctly in the distance]

[softly] "I found something.

It's high exposure. [sniffs]
We must discuss."

[chiming]

[chiming]

[exhales deeply]

-[sniffs]
-[whooshing]

[light ominous music]

[inaudible chatter]

[music increases]

-[camera shutter clicks]
-[gunshot echoes]

[whooshing]

[gasps and mumbles]

[grunts softly]

[thunder rumbling]

[rain spattering]

[light suspenseful music]

[sirens blaring in the distance]

[policeman on megaphone]
This is Silencia
Police Department.

Put your weapons down,
get on the ground, now!

[automated voice on PA]
Citizens of Silencia.

Special curfew is in effect
due to police quarantine zone.

No firearm discharges
past 10:00 p.m.

Soliciting is
strictly prohibited,

excluding all class 48--

-[Ross] Don't turn on
the lights.
-[thuds, glass shattering]

Jesus fucking Christ, man!

-Oh, my God.
-Ross, what the fuck
are you doing in my apartment?

You scared the fucking shit
out of me, man!

Well, you left the door open.

You heard of knocking?

You ever heard
of locking, brother?

-[clattering]
-Shit.

[rain spattering]

-Leave it, man!
-Sorry.

I'm in a lot
of trouble here, man,
and I really need your help.

Where've you been?

It's been a fucking year, man.

I don't get a call.

"Hey, Ethan, how you been?"

Yeah, well, I-- it's--

it's been hard
since Mom died, yeah?

I got lost in work.

You disappeared on me, man.

Can you please
just shut the fuck up?

Just shut up
and just hear me out,
just for a sec, bro?

[sniffs, exhales]

Do you know Peredor?

Yes, I know Peredor.
I watch the news.

So, uh, I'm Assistant
Director of Concepts

for Classified Projects.
I work with, uh, DARPA, DOD.

And then, it was
about nine months ago,

they brought in
some really weird
fucking shit, man.

What kind of stuff?

[suspenseful music]

It's not from this world, Ethan.

What, like a meteorite?

[chuckling] No,
not a f-- not a meteorite.

It's from some craft
that they recovered.

See, what the DOD do is they...
lift out parts from them

and they farm them out
to little companies like me
to reverse engineer the shit.

They don't tell us much
about it, just that we're
not meant to speak about it.

You know,
"Figure out how it works,

make it applicable,
just somehow," right?

That was you
that robbed Peredor.

Yeah. And I wasn't alone either.

Some guy named Malik
just calls me out of the blue.

Covert ops pro.

He works the dark market.

So, he got in touch
with this fixer, right?

And then,
they rigged the whole thing.

[ominous sting]

See, the plan was,
was to steal our prototype

-because it is so powerful...
-[inaudible chatter]

...that we actually
nicknamed it "The Sun."

-[inaudible]
-It processes quantum energy,

and I'm not
just talking information,

I'm talking time and space.

The applications
for this thing, they are unreal.

Like, I'm talking
fucking biblical, mate.

See, the plan was
to steal the thing

and then frame the mercs
for the robbery.

Since when were you
a goddamn thief?

-It's worth
fucking millions, man!
-Oh, that makes it good.

And besides, who gives a shit?
How do you think
Peredor got so big, man?

-They've been stealing secrets
for fucking years!
-That is not the point, Ross.

Don't you fucking judge me, bro!

Don't you judge me.
You sit at that fucking job

pissing and moaning about
how much you hate corporations,

and instead you doodle
in some shitty little
fucking sketchbook, yeah?

You got a gift, brother,
and you're wasting it.

You're gonna end up
like your fucking father

-with a bullet in your fucking--
-[shouts] Hey!

[softly] Do not.

You do not.

[sighs]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

[sirens blaring in the distance]

Yeah?

I'm just... I'm fucking on edge
right now, man.

[automated voice on PA]
Citizens of Silencia.

Special curfew is in effect
due to police quarantine zone.

-[tense sting]
-No firearm discharges
past 10:00 p.m.

Soliciting is
strictly prohibited

excluding all class 48A

-permit holders.
-So, what do you want with me?

So, I need to meet Malik
for the exchange.

So, if you can just
drive me there, be a look out.

-Come on, man!
-You owe me, man.

My family, we took you in
when you had nothing, bro.

That's not fair.

I just, I never ask
anything of you, man.

[light melancholic music]

Please?

-All right.
-[chuckling] Yeah.

I will help you
with your little, uh...

...spy shit.

Thank you.

I'll give you a cut if you want.

Oh, I don't care
about the money.

Just always looking out, bro.
Always looking out.

[music increases]

Yeah.

Uh, there's, uh,
there's beers in the fridge,

if you want another one.

We can go jet over
to your contact

after I have
my meeting tomorrow.

Sounds good?

-Yeah.
-Get some sleep.

[Ross]
Oy, Ethan.

I know you think I'm a dick
for doing this, but...

...you know.

You know I love you, yeah?

Like, really.

Yes.

Me too.

Good night.

[sirens blaring in the distance]

[paper rustling]

[ominous music]

[thudding]

[Kerry groans]
Fuck me!

-Fuck!
-[automated voice] Nice shot!

-[laughing]
-Oh.

Oh, that had to hurt.

[Kerry groans]

Ethan! Hey!

Come on in, man!

[breathing loudly]

Ethan. Welcome!

[exhales loudly] Kerry,
could you get him a...
cream soda, would you?

And get me a, you know, an F-25.

-Thank you, Kerry.
-[Wellman exhales] Well...

Well, it's too bad
you're not, uh, suited up.

-We could use
some fresh blood in here.
-[clattering]

Oh, no, I'm,
I'm not good at, at this.

Ah. By the way,
this is Barrington Tran.

Chairman of B&T
Security Concepts.

We do this once a week.

-It's a pleasure to meet you.
-[Barrington] Mm.

Um...

...this is private stuff, so--

Ah, he won't spill our secrets.

-[soda can opens]
-[exhales deeply]

All right.

Uh, well,
after a lot of digging...

...the profit margins
aren't adding up legitimately.

Legitimately?

-How do I say this? Uh--
-[Wellman] Fraud.

Well, yeah.

Unfortunately.

-[light intriguing music]
-A shell company we own

is artificially
lowering stock value

with put options
for Peredor Corporation,

Sakura Biotech,
and Tranceworld Media.

They plan on buying
everything up for cheap
next Monday.

Which means Mutual One
will take majority holdings

over all of those companies
under one umbrella.

[sighs] That is a problem.

Yes, and I'm just trying
to protect you.

[Wellman]
Oh, no, marvelous work.
Did you, uh,

-send a full report to Kerry?
-I did, yes.

Good. You know what?

I'm having a get-together
at the château this weekend.

Come on by.

I appreciate that,
but I have a lot of--

[Wellman]
Ah, don't make me beg!

-Okay.
-Good.

Get in touch with my,
uh, assistant.

-Get the deets.
-Um, I was also wondering

if I might, uh...
head home early today.

-I have some personal issues
I need to deal with.
-[Wellman] Ah.

The man who... saved
our asses from the scammers?

You take two days off.

-[chuckles]
-Thank you.

[Wellman breathes deeply]

[sighs]

How difficult is this
gonna be to cover up?

Not hard.

Aren't you concerned
about shaking the boat too much?

What boat are we talking about?

C & Earth.

I'm tired... of those
fucking ghosts stories

about the Collective.

Heard they had
something to do with the heist.

Peredor come up
with any suspects
in the break-in?

Not yet. C & Earth's name
did come up, though.

Check it out.

C & Earth can't sneak
into our territory

without consequences.

What about Ethan?

Oh, he's taken care of. Relax.

Gentlemen...
[sighs] come Monday...

[laughs] we're gonna have
majority share of Peredor,

Sakura Biotech,

and Tranceworld International.

And it's giving me
a goddamn boner!

-[thudding]
-[shouts]

-[automated voice]
New high score.
-[laughter]

-[clatters]
-Fuck me!

-[groaning continues]
-[system voice] This is
an ice attack.

[laughter continues]

[birds chirping]

[suspenseful music]

[keyboard clacking]

[chiming]

Heard you have
a clusterfuck on your hands.

Nothing that can't be un-fucked.

Still no sphere.

You know
how the Collective feels

-about these kinds of things.
-Have I ever not delivered?

Remember, we have
other business on the agenda.

So fix it.

This is a warning, Malik.

[beeping]

You got a jam
on the skies, right?

-[beeping]
-Copy that.

No satellite coverage.

We're in the shadows.

Good.

[engine rumbling]

-[Ross] Just drop me off here.
-[birds chirping]

[seat belt clicks]

-[softly] Okay.
-[groans]

[grunts]

Uh, use these.

[Ethan]
I can't see shit.

The, uh, focus is
on the top, right here.

-Ah.
-Yeah, yeah, yeah.

-It's gonna be fine.
Two Musketeers.
-This seems like a bad idea.

-Let's go.
-See you in a sec.

[sighs]

[birds chirping]

[seat belt clicks]

[grunts softly]

So...

...I believe
in a block universe.

Like... [stutters softly]
there's a reason for everything.

Electric particles...
dancing in some parabola.

Stardust collecting
in an avalanche

manifesting
this godforsaken rock.

Cause...

...and effect.

Which leads me to a question.

About actions, Ross.

What ar--
what are you talking about?

Crilenger and Z
managed to fly the coop.

No, that's impossible.

Crilenger's kinda special.

Not a good loose end to have.

Do you wanna keep
pontificating about karma,

-or should we...
-Let's fucking see it.

-Money first.
-Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

I mean, I have
to justify the expense.

The deal was to frame the mercs
and deliver the item.

Why pay for both
when I only get one?

Because I did
everything that you asked!

-Half, Ross.
-That is bullshit!

[Malik]
No!

It's math.

Give him the goddamn box, Ross.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

[sniffs] No.

I'm sorry.

I'm just fucking sorry
I hired a sales prick

to do an ops job.

Let's fucking see it.

Money.

Agent Claymore.
The case, please.

[clicks]

Wh-- uh-uh!

[inhales sharply] No touching.

[clicking]

-[Malik sniffs]
-[keyboard clacking]

[ominous music]

Looks good.

[inhales loudly] All right.

Can I go?

Absolutely.

[music increases]

[chuckles]

[gunshot]

[gasps]

[soft splashing]

-[weakly] Mom.
-[gun cocks]

[gunshot]

[gasps loudly and groans]

-[shakily] No.
-Boss, we've got a problem.

It's a, uh, display model.

-[Malik] What?
-A good one. Fooled the program.
I went to double-check...

-[shouts] He's fucking dead!
-...and, uh--

You said straight up
that the scan would work!

-I know. But the program...
[continues indistinctly]
-[Malik] Uh, shut the fuck up!

[breathes shakily]

[shouting]

[gunshot]

[softly]
Don't let that happen again.

[softly] Yes, sir. I'm sorry.

[engine starts]

-[engine revving]
-[tires screeching]

[gunshots]

[whispers] Shit.
[loudly] You get the make?

A4.

Find out who owns it.

-Clean up the mess.
-[Morris] Will do.

[melancholic music]

[birds squawking]

[sniffles softly]

[automated voice on PA]
Silencia Police
Department parking...

[Ethan]
And then, they, uh...

-[siren blaring in the distance]
-[horns honking]

[shakily] then they shot him.

What'd you say
the name of the assailant was?

-The what?
-You mentioned
your friend was meeting someone.

His name was Malik.

[detective]
Wait here a minute.
I'm gonna make a few calls.

-Fill out that form.
I'll be right back.
-[softly] All right.

[door opens]

[door closes]

[soft scratching]

[paper rustles]

-[clatters]
-[suspenseful music]

[door opens]

[door closes]

You okay?

Yeah, um...

...do you have another pen?

This one's out of ink.

Sure.

Thank you.

So... I checked with dispatch,

several other patrols.

No reports of the type
of activity you're describing.

Okay, but I'm,
I'm telling you what happened.

[softly] Off the record.

That name you mentioned? Malik.

Not a nice guy.

If you could give me
just a little insight,

I could alleviate
a lot of your problems.

Wha-- what do you mean,
"insight"?

Did your friend have
some kind of device?

Special kinda processor, maybe?

No, not, not,
not that I know of.

You're sure about that?

Yes.

[music continues]

All right.
File those reports then.

[siren blaring]

[automated voice on PA]
Silencia Police
Department parking...

-Hey, pal.
-...is reserved
for SPD employees only.

-[speaks indistinctly]
-Any violation of SPD parking

-will be met with deadly force.
-Get in.

-[grunting]
-No exceptions.

Thank you for choosing
Silencia Police Department

for your safety and security.

[engine revving]

Hey, don't fucking touch me,
asshole!

-[thud]
-[Ethan groans]

Breathe slow.

Nice and slow.

It'll come back.

[breathes deeply and loudly]

-[thud]
-[Ethan groans] Fuck!

Yeah. Those ones really suck.

What do you want? [panting]

[Malik]
Just wanna know where it is.

-What?
-[grunting]

-[groans]
-[Malik] Tell us
where your little buddy

-stashed his shit.
-I don't know! [panting]

He just wanted me to drive him
to your goddamn meeting, okay?

[exhales deeply]

[softly and shakily] Please.

-[grunts]
-[thud]

[Ethan crying]

-[sobs]
-[music continues]

You killed my best friend.

Your f--

That guy was a fucking rat.

What difference
does it make? Hmm?

Even if I tell you...
[shakily breathes]

...you'll just kill me anyway.

Yeah. No. You're right, but...

...but, you see...

...I'll kill ya...

...after we put you in the pit.

We'll get the intel
out of you first...

...and then you'll beg
for a quick death.

Go fuck yourself.

Saucy little motherfucker.

[engines rumbling]

[music continues]

[birds chirping]

-[engine rumbling loudly]
-[tires screeching]

The motherfucking monk.

[tires screeching]

Don't move.

[dramatic music]

[gunshots]

Move.

-[crackling]
-[thudding]

[thudding]

[Malik]
Get him!

[shouting]
Is that Zen enough for ya?

Couldn't hack it in the agency,

and ya can't hack it out here!

Just never had the stomach
for it, did ya?

-[gunshots continue]
-[gun clicks]

[music continues]

[gunshots]

[grunts]

[panting]

-[grunts]
-[guns clatter]

[shouts]

-[gunshot]
-[gasps]

-[groaning]
-[thudding]

[gunshots]

-[gunshot]
-[screams]

-[grunting]
-[groaning]

-[thudding]
-[yelling]

[grunts]

-[gun cocks]
-[exhales]

[grunting and groaning continue]

-[gunshot]
-[yells]

[high-pitched ringing]

[grunting]

-[Malik] Oh, yeah.
-[grunting]

-[gun cocks]
-[shouts] Hey!

[gunshot]

[shouts] Z, no!

[gun cocks]

Stop!

-[gunshot]
-Goddamn it, Z!

-[breathes shakily]
-What the fuck did I say?

[panting]
I ran out of shock tips.

Who cares? The guy is
a piece of... [screams] shit!

[panting]

-[Z exhales softly]
-You're missing the point.

[siren blaring in the distance]

He almost killed you.

Do you wanna be like him?

-[gun rattles]
-[softly] No.

Sorry.

Don't be.

Thank you for saving my life.

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'll make it.
What happened to Mason?

He took off.

Oh, he's a sitting duck.

He's probably heading
to the last place
he should be going.

-[sighs]
-[Crilenger groans]

-[grunts, sighs]
-[rattling]

[siren blaring in the distance]

-[suspenseful music]
-[whirring]

-All right, Doc.
-[beeps]

Javelin, you sent a team
out to his apartment, right?

-Yep. Searching it now.
-[soft rattling]

Oh, found him.

He's about three clicks away
on G Street,

-heading... north.
-[keyboard clacking]

[sighs] Where does he work?

Mutual One Investments.

Jack Wellman.

Familiar?

Hoity-toity prick.

Took out his rivals for him
a few years back

during that shit show
in The Centrals.

[grunts]

So, if we don't get
the kid at his pad...

...go to Mutual One.

[gulps and sighs]

[somber music]

-[explosions]
-[helicopter blades whirring]

[fire crackling in the distance]

No witnesses.

[Crilenger]
I won't.

Do it,
or you put us all at risk.

I'm done.

[helicopter blades whirring]

-[gunshot]
-[grunts]

[exhales loudly]

[gun rattles]

-[siren blaring in the distance]
-[Z] When's the last time
you even saw Malik?

Ten years, maybe?

You wanna talk about it?

No, not really.

You know...

...part of the reason I wanted
to work with you was because...

...you listened...

...when nobody else would.

I understand that,
I just don't feel
like going there right now.

Door's always open.

-Thank you.
-Mm.

[inhales deeply]

-[grunts]
-I still say this is a bad idea.

-We should just cut our losses.
-It's not his fault.

-Yeah, but that friend of his
fucked us over.
-[car door closes]

-[Crilenger] Hey, hold up.
-[horn honks in the distance]

I wouldn't go up there
if I were you.

-Why?
-Well, for starters,

you're gonna get spotted
the moment you walk

past that camera right there,
and upstairs,

you've got at least two
or three of Malik's goons

who've already trashed the place

just waiting
to put you in a pit.

-Great.
-[engines rumbling]

What do you want from me?

Just five minutes of your time.

Yeah?

What, in your car?

You're gonna offer me
some candy too?
[chuckles softly]

No one's forcing you here.

Five minutes?

Yeah.

Then I can go after?

If that's what you choose.

[Z grunts]

[sighs]

[Crilenger]
In the back.

[rattling]

-[Crilenger sighs loudly]
-[car door closes]

Your phone? [sniffs]

-[grunts softly]
-[horns honking in the distance]

-Hey, hey!
I didn't agree to that.
-You might as well tattoo,

"X marks the spot"
on your forehead.

And no electronic purchases
for a while either, okay?

This is Z.

Hi.

I'm guessing you two
were in on that heist thing?

-And it would've gone fine
if your friend--
-Zephyr.

Look, I don't know
what I'm doing.

-Okay?
-You know what
we're looking for, right?

What assurances do I get?

We do the deal together.

We protect you.

We just want what we're owed.

You can have 5% off the top.

I don't care about the money.

With all the shit
you've been dragged into,

you'd be doing yourself
a disservice

if you didn't take
some kind of restitution.

[soft rustling]

[horns honking in the distance]

The Ruzeta Grid?

I'm sorry.
What is the Ruzeta Grid?

It's a very long drive.

-There's one rule.
-What's that?

No killing.

[sarcastically] Bummer.

Haven't done that in years.

Wake up, coffee,
then have my usual.

Eggs, bacon, and murder.

[beeping and whirring]

-[suspenseful music]
-Fuck, I lost him!

He must have trashed his cell.

Lil' fuckin' prick.

[siren blaring in the distance]

[cell phone ringing]

Talk to me, Shades.

-Nothing here, chief.
-[soft rustling]

[gentle music]

Ugh. You know I hate going
to these things, Asha.

Don't worry. You look beautiful.

[chuckles] So do you.

Oh, God, I feel gross.

-Oh, no! You look gorgeous.
-[sighs]

Ugh.

[exhales deeply]

You have that look.

What look?

You're spinning.

[chuckles softly]
I'm not spinning.

Regardless
how much theory means, proof,

-what's out there,
where we all go--
-It's important.

[Asha]
So are you.

Just don't let it own you.

[Dresden whispers]
Okay.

[sighs]

-[indistinct chatter]
-[glasses clinking]

[light tense music]

[clinks]

[Brightmore]
Lady of the hour.

-[laughs]
-Of the century.

Oh.

You know, I'm not
so sure about this.

About what?

I've heard some things
about the Collective.

They play in the dark market.

[gentle piano music playing]

You got your funding, right?

-[chuckling] Yeah.
-[Brightmore] Smile.

It's not every day
that somebody figures out

how to capture consciousness
on a flash drive,

let alone have the resources
to do whatever they want.

I know C & Earth
wants its Dreamcatcher.

This concept,

stealing human energy
from consciousness?

[softly] Yeah.

[Dresden]
It's savage!

The mere thought of an afterlife
goes well beyond any dominion

C & Earth wants control over.

The monocle was designed
to show that we're--

we're not just raw flesh
and random thoughts

reacting by neurons
and survival.

I don't give a shit, doctor.

Whatever makes the money roll.

Money? Oh.

[clicks tongue]
What happens to it
when you're dead?

It is that thought form
that is literally fucking
the planet right now.

-Honey, it's okay.
-No, Asha.

[scoffs] I got this.

You guys...
you just take and take and take

until guess what?

-What?
-[Dresden] There's nothing left.

Look around.
All of this... gone.

And for what? Some irrational
addiction to power?

[Brightmore chuckles]
You've signed
the contract, Dresden.

We didn't force you.

Have a drink.
You look like you need it.

[scoffs] Asshole.

Brightmore, we're not naive.

Just stay within the terms
that you agreed to.

Okay?

[footsteps receding]

[chuckles]

[ominous music]

[engine rumbling]

I made a mistake.

It's okay.

We'll deal with it.

Just focus on your goals.
Your discovery is important.

It'll change things.

I sold out.

You needed resources.

[sighing] Right.

I love it out here.

Maybe tomorrow
we can do the walk
to Crystal Creek Falls.

-Have a picnic?
-It's really hard for me
to take time off work right now.

I know.

But we just really haven't had
a lot of time together lately.

-Wow.
-Yeah.

You know, I'll call the lab.

Or maybe I can take
a half-day off.

I love you.

I love you too.

[music continues]

-[crashing]
-[glass shattering]

-[somber music]
-[hissing]

[Dresden breathing heavily]

[yells] No! Asha!

[yelling and crying]
Oh, God, no!

Asha! Asha!

Asha!

[sobbing]

[sniffles]

[whirring and beeping]

[footsteps approaching]

[researcher]
Doctor?

Yeah?

The monocle took
to the new update...

...thanks to the schematics
C & Earth sent us.

We used a different algorithm

to rebuild the communication
threads for the retrofit.

There's no risk of overload?

No. We made sure
there was enough ventilation,

so whatever excess power
the sphere produces

gets diverted away
from the primary lens diopter.

-[light tense music]
-[exhales softly]
Call Brightmore.

Tell him we're ready.

[Dresden panting,
coughs, retches]

[toilet flushes]

-[low-pitched rumbling]
-[ominous sting]

-[clicking]
-[glass shattering]

-[woman echoes] Dresden.
-[gasps]

[breathing heavily]

[rattling]

-[light melancholic music]
-[whirring and beeping]

[whispers]
We'll talk soon, my love.

-[ominous music]
-Can I help you?

Excuse me, sir,
you're not allowed to-- [grunts]

[man]
Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

[door opens]

Jack!

Malik?

-[door closes]
-What? I mean, no cream soda?

Who the fuck
do you think you are?

-[clacks]
-[Wellman] Goddamn it, Malik.

-[thud]
-[groans]

[breathing sharply]

[groaning] Oh, God!

This isn't your territory.

No shit.

Hey, nice new golf trophies!

Congratulations!

You know
this cunt cheats, right?

Yeah.

Places a backup ball
in his sleeve.

I mean, for a game that's all
about controlling your balls,

you just can't do it straight,
can you, Jack?

What do you want?

I'm looking for someone.

-Who?
-[Malik] Ethan Mason.

-Our employee? Leave him alone.
-[music continues]

Mm, sorry, can't do that.

Uh, well, he's
too valuable to the group

-to just--
-Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack.

I do not have time
for this shit.

All right.

We just need him for...
[sighs] 48 hours. Hmm?

I'll even write you a check...

...for 50K.

And we'll even
hand him over to you...

...personally.

Alive.

Of course.

[paper rustles]

Better not bounce.

-How's your dick?
-[Kerry] Fuck you.

[door opens]

I'll see you later,
motherfucker.

-[door closes]
-That son of a bitch.

You find out who the fuck
he's working for.

-Okay?
-[thud]

[inaudible chatter]

[whooshing]

[ominous sting]

[gunshot]

[whooshing]

-[gunshot echoes]
-[gasps and grunts]

-[inaudible chatter on PC]
-[Ethan sighs]

-[Z] Is that from--
-From Corliss's lecture.

[Ethan grunts]

Yeah, some concepts she designed
about particle transference.

Uh, how much further?

About 50 clicks.

[somber, suspenseful music]

[grunts]

You know, I was wondering...

...you guys don't kill anybody?
I mean, you are mercs, right?

Crilenger's got a different...

...philosophy to all that.

Why do you work for Wellman?

Good with... numbers
and patterns, I guess.

It's just a job.

Just a job.

[clicks tongue] Okay.

I found some fraud
in the company.

How surprising.

[Ethan]
And they know about it.

I told them.

That was dumb.

They're the ones
that asked me to look.

And you're getting worked,
office boy.

You know,
I don't even like offices.

It's funny, though,
my dad didn't seem to mind.

The guy was obsessed with money.

Keeping up
with the Joneses. [laughs]

-Always stressed.
-[music continues]

Took it out on us
all the time too.

Then he did some deal.

Lost a bunch of money
for a mutual fund company,

and the SEC
threatened jail time.

He get convicted?

[Ethan]
No.

He killed himself.

[exhales shakily] That's brutal.

Yeah. My mom got
real depressed after that.

OD'd on some benzos
shortly after.

I was about 12...
or something at the time.

Both parents.

[Ethan]
Yeah.

[whispers] Fuck.

[Ethan]
But it got me thinking.

Why was he so miserable?

'Cause it wasn't
just his choices.

Have you heard of the term
"structural violence"?

No.

Negative externalities
of society.

Right? It could be
workplace stress

or, um, it could be...
poverty or pollution.

It affects everything.

In reality, our decisions
are defined by what is available

or by what we perceive
as available.

Even though
my father was the one
to pull the trigger...

...if the incentives
were different in any way,

his decision might've changed

-and he might
still be here today.
-[music continues]

It's actually why I got
into architectural engineering.

Better living through design.

[Ethan]
Exactly!

Free energy.

Smart production.

Stress-free aesthetics.

We could live in a world
of zero marginal cost

if we just changed
how we designed
our way of building things.

It's better
than fucking up the planet.

You hear that, Z?
We have another idealist.

[Z]
Mm-hmm.

No, it's just logical.

Yeah.

As if the corps
will ever let that happen.

Change is coming.

Did you slip something
into Crilenger's coffee?

[chuckles]

It's stupid, yeah.

"If you do not change direction,

you end up where you're heading.

If I let go of what I am,

I might become what I might be."

Lao Tzu.

I know why
you're working for Wellman.

Yeah? Why?

Fear.

[music continues]

I'm sorry about Ross.

He was a good guy.

His family took me in after...

-He was just a little bit--
-Greedy.

Yeah, that's kinda par
for the course.

Yeah.

[clears throat]
So... [clears throat] your turn.

My turn?

What, why the no-kill policy?

Yeah.

-Maybe another time.
-[Ethan] Oh!

Well, that's not fair.

So, are we on an op?

No, we're not on an op.

We're cleaning up a mess.

-Well, that's a shame.
-[upbeat suspenseful music]

Kinda felt like we were
a team there for a second.

You know, I think I'm gonna
put on some talk radio.

I think
that's a fucking good idea.

-[keyboard clacking]
-[Morris] Okay, uh,

I managed to track
Ross's location

from the time you called him

and searched the vicinity.

-[keyboard clacking]
-[chiming]

Looks like the dog
wants to bury a bone.

This is about
the time we lost him,

but, I mean, there's nothing.

Zoom in on the taxi ID number
next to the plate.

[chiming]

It's, uh, 7:34 a.m.

So, what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna hack into their system
and find the routing assignment.

Attaboy.

-[whirring and beeping]
-[Morris] Oh, shit.

It's the RZ, there's no
satellite images out there.

Go back to Mason's apartment.

[music continues]

[chimes]

Crilenger's car. Next one.

[chimes]

Fuck, it's ghosted.

Doesn't matter.

We know where they're going.

[sniffs] Offering 100K.

Two males, one female,
one salvage. A hard case.

Approximately 30 minutes away
from your sector,

driving a black armored coupé.
Sending coordinates now.

-[snaps finger]
-[suspenseful music]

[wind blowing]

[engine rumbling]

[whirring]

I can't see shit.

I'm working on it, Z.

-[thudding and rumbling]
-Jesus!

Is it always like this out here?

It's just debris.

-[whirring and beeping]
-All right.

Z, three clicks, nine o'clock.

I fucking hate this place.

-[ominous music]
-[male collective 8]
Malik's becoming a liability.

Termination and/or incarceration

of the associates
was not authorized.

It was something he demanded
as part of the deal.

[female collective 3]
These actions have elevated

unnecessary exposure.
Mutual One and Peredor

have already implicated
our involvement.

[male collective 8]
The operation would've been
more expedient

if he wasn't playing games

with the crew he assembled
through the fixer.

They are close
to the recovery of the sphere?

-They are.
-[female collective 1]
Malik must be focused

on the final phase.

Please remove him
from the current assignment.

We trust the freelancers
will complete the transaction.

My pleasure, Collective.

What about Mutual One's
employee, Ethan Mason?

[male collective 8]
We have a unique opportunity

with Mr. Mason.

Are you suggesting
a test subject?

[female collective 5]
Indeed.

I'll look into it.

[engine rumbling]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[beeping]

[wind blowing]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[Z]
Fuck, it's cold!

[car doors close]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

What the hell
happened here, anyway?

-Pop version or the truth?
-[high-pitched ringing]

-[distorted whooshing]
-Truth?

Some quantum engineers
were brought in years ago

by DARPA to try to create
a multidimensional shift
in the region.

-[somber, ominous music]
-The idea was to do

some kind of
interdimensional surveillance

-using the fusion power.
-[high-pitched ringing]

-[distorted whooshing]
-But a rift happened.

Instead of being able
to spy in other dimensions,

-it affected the subatomic
structure of the area...
-[distorted whooshing]

...affecting the ecosystem.

Physics is different,
law is different.

The fragment that got through
affected the physics.

Climate,
weather affected mostly,

but also communication.

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

They abandoned the project...

...and put a cover story on it.

-Wouldn't that affect
the rest of the world?
-[distorted whooshing]

You'd think so.

They managed to keep it
isolated for now, but who knows?

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

A lot of strange shit
happens here.

-I'm guessing
this used to be a mining town?
-[distorted whooshing]

Yeah.

-Sacred burial ground
before that.
-[high-pitched ringing]

-[distorted whooshing]
-Before the dipshits
of DARPA fucked that up.

The locals like
to call it "Frankenland."

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[music continues]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[wind blowing]

[distorted whooshing]

[buzzing]

-[loud bang]
-You guys okay?

-[softly] Yeah.
-[distorted whooshing]

[distorted whooshing]

[whirring and buzzing]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[dropping]

[distorted whooshing]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

-[soft sloshing]
-[soft buzzing]

[distorted whooshing]

-[Crilenger] You guys okay?
-[Z softly] Yeah.

-[panting and grunting]
-[zips]

[Ethan]
I can't see anything.

[Crilenger grunting]
Hang on. [sniffs]

-[soft clattering]
-[sighs]

[exhales loudly] Okay.

[softly] All right.

Twenty-five meters,
twelve o'clock.

[exhales, sniffs]

[Crilenger breathing loudly]

[buzzing and whirring]

[suspenseful music]

Strange stuff.

It's here.

I'll dig.

[thud]

[engines rumbling]

[ominous music]

[engines revving]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[distorted whooshing]

[gun cocks]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[Ethan grunts]

[blows, grunts]

[suspenseful music]

Key.

Please?

-[clicking]
-[whirring]

-[clack]
-[clicking]

-C! [grunts]
-[shouts] What?

-[gunshots]
-[gasps]

[panting]

-[grunting]
-[Ethan] Z!

[Z]
Fuck!

[cell phone ringing]

-[beeps]
-Kind of in the middle.

[Brightmore]
Call it off.

-What the fuck?
-Start prepping the next phase.

But we're this close
to pulling it off!

Collective's orders.

[clattering]

[groaning] It hurts!

Ethan,
there's first aid in the bag.

There's an injection.
You can use it in the wound

to seal it up and disinfect it.

-Here, take this.
-[gun rattles]

-Remember what I told you.
-[Z breathes loudly]

[dramatic music]

-[Ethan whispers]
Let me take this off.
-[groaning]

[panting]

-[Z grunts]
-You ready?

Not really.

-[shouts] Fuck!
-[softly] Yeah.

-[distorted whooshing]
-[gunshots]

[music increases]

-[thudding]
-[distorted whooshing]

[high-pitched ringing]

[distorted whooshing]

[distorted whooshing]

[engine starts]

[distorted whooshing]

[engine rumbling]

-How you feeling?
-[breathes heavily] Better.

-[softly] Thanks.
-No, thank you.

If it weren't for you,
we'd be toast by now.

Keep your eyes peeled
and hand on the trigger.

Yes, ma'am.

[engines rumbling]

[dramatic music]

[distorted whooshing]

[engines revving]

-[high-pitched ringing]
-[distorted whooshing]

[soft sloshing]

[engine rumbling]

[music continues]

-[gunshot]
-[thudding]

At least the money
is still good.

Not everything's about
the money, Brokowski.

Abort the mission.

[on radio] I repeat, abort...

...the mission.

[clicks tongue] Oh, God.

I miss the tropics.

[breathing heavily]

[sighs]

What took you so long?

[pants]

[tense music]

Kerry, relax. Have a cream soda.

No, thanks. FYI,

Malik's contracted
with C & Earth.

See? I told you.

Relax, Tran.
Jesus Christ, what else?

They stole Peredor's tech.

The whole thing
was a bit of a fuck-up.

C & Earth hired Malik.
Malik got some insider
and hired a fixer

to assemble a couple of mercs.

They're delivering it
to someone at Aurora Limited.

It's one
of C & Earth's subsidiaries.

Who are the mercs?

Crilenger and Zephyr Gates.

The monk. [chuckles softly]

Let me guess, Malik was gonna
frame him for the job.

Something like that.

Crilenger's a unique brand.

Wasn't he agency?

Oh, yeah, counterintelligence.

He was the brightest star
they ever had.

[chuckles]
Sorry the son of a bitch quit.

What's the plan?

Recover the tech.

What about Malik?

Zero his ass.

[woman on advertisement]
The Grinder,

this hard and hot
fiery thick one...

-[continues indistinctly]
-[engine rumbling]

[Z]
I used to do meth
in a place like this.

By the way...

...you never did tell me
why the no-killing policy.

Yeah, C, why don't you tell him?

[woman on advertisement
continues indistinctly]

[Crilenger]
Used to be agency.

Last time, our team went to,

to a village
on a search-and-destroy.

Killed a lot of kids
and families in the process.

Territory seized.

There was a woman...
who survived.

[somber music]

We were told...

...no witnesses.
Our task was to clean...

...the area.

I wanted to help her.

And then, someone from our crew
shot her right there.

It was Malik.

Oh, shit.

I quit after that.

[inhales deeply]
I made the decision

never to... kill...
anybody again.

Most mercs are like Malik.

I figured,
someone in this business,
so long as it exists...

...can do it
without all the insanity.

See?

That wasn't so hard.

[sighing] Yeah.

-[grunts]
-So, how did you two
start working together?

I was a... grunt
in The Centrals.

And after discharge...

...got all fucked up
on drugs and shit.

Ended up homeless.

Crilenger helped clean me up.

Oh, fuck!

[Crilenger]
What?

I forgot I have a thing

I need to go to tomorrow night.

[exhales] What thing?

[helicopter blades whirring
in the distance]

Thing at my boss's house.

Oh, that's a fucking great idea.

Oh, yeah, thank you!
That's nice!

I don't wanna walk into work
on Monday morning

and have my boss go,
"Hey, Ethan,

you don't have a job anymore."

[gunshots on video game]

["Serenade No. 13 in G Major,
K. 525" by Mozart playing]

[crickets chirping]

[Kerry whispers]
What the fuck?

[footsteps on rooftop]

-[music increases]
-[gunshots]

[blade rings]

[music continues]

[blade rings]

[blade rings]

-[ominous sting]
-[sword ringing echoes]

[suspenseful music]

[engine rumbling]

[indistinct chatter]

[glasses clinking]

-Thank you.
-[glass clinks]

Do you know
where I can find Mr. Wellman?

That goddamn Collective.

Uh, C & Earth's in
over their heads.

Tran and Kerry sent out a team

to take care of Malik
at Rubicon.

If you didn't do this
for Peredor,

this close
to a hostile takeover--

Pac-Man defense.
Speaking of which,
what happened?

We're sending every boot we have
to that lab at Aurora.

We'll recover what was stolen,

then we're gonna burn it
to the fucking ground.

Ethan! I'm glad
you could make it.

Join us!

Folks, this is Ethan Mason,

our financial analyst.

Saving us a whole lot
of trouble.

I was just doing my job.

Ethan, Kay Chancellor,

Chairman of the Board
for Peredor Corporation.

Hitomi Brazcel,
CEO of Sakura International.

You've got Senator Brigman,
and Tran, of course,
you already know.

I hear you're
very talented, Mr. Mason.

It's definitely a pleasure
to make your acquaintance.

It's a pleasure
to meet you as well.

Just like his father, Jack.

Modest.

You knew my father?

Briefly. Y-- you know what?

I have an incredible
single malt.

Are you a Scotch man?

Why not?

Stellar 50.

Isn't that expensive?

-[soft popping]
-Very.

[soft pouring]

Thank you.

What about you?

I already... got mine.

To success.

[clinks]

[indistinct chatter
in the distance]

[coughing]

[chuckles] Good.

-And strong.
-Mm.

But it's very smooth, yeah.

You said that you,
you worked with my father?

Well, he worked
with an affiliate of ours
many years ago, I...

...I hope I didn't offend.

Not at all.

A tragedy.

I really don't think
it was his fault.

-[beeps]
-Welcome back to everyone's
favorite Z dating show.

Listen, uh, I believe
with your beauty, your talent,

mixed with my superior genetics,

we will create
the ultimate apex progeny.

What would you do if a mage
was attacking her?

-[beeps]
-Rumor has it
Mutual One made a major play

and will begin purchasing
majority shares in Peredor,

Sakura Biotech,
and Tranceworld Media
on Tuesday,

making their portfolio
the largest in the world.

-Back to you, Kevin.
-[beeps]

[ominous music]

I thought you guys
were trying to--

Mm, not exactly.

-You designed it.
-Not me.

-But that's ill--
-Illegal? I know.

[softly] I know.

I don't feel great.

It's been so long
since I thought about Alan.

-[glass clatters]
-Boy, was he naive,

but... highly instrumental.

What?

Oh, your dad.

Amazing how the press bought
that fake suicide of his.

Man, we made a lot
of money off that one.

[clattering and thudding]

[waves crashing]

[engine rumbling]

[grunting]

-[beeping]
-[softly] Get him.

[woman sighs]

[engine starts]

[music continues]

[both panting]

[gun cocks]

-[gunshots]
-[both groan]

[thudding]

-[beeping]
-[Z grunts, softly] Hey.

He's ten sheets
to a fucking hurricane.

[Crilenger]
Hurry, we have
to get him back in the car.

-[ominous music]
-[snorting]

Don't leave me, Master.

[moans softly]

[music increases]

[spits] Jesus Christ!

[Malik]
Yeah, what a fuck job
that guy, huh?

[loud crunching]

Whatever C & Earth's paying you,
I'll double it right now.

How did you not see
this coming, anyway?

[Wellman]
We did.

Do you think Peredor
is gonna sit back

and let C & Earth
steal its tech?

It's war, Malik.

Yeah, well, it's a war
you guys can't win.

C & Earth's taken over.

W-- who the fuck
do you think you are,
coming into my place?

Your place?

What, you think
you earned all of this?

That's funny.

[chuckles] Look, I-- I've got...

...an account
nobody knows about.

I'll give it to you.

You know, Jack...

...guys like you,
you get away with everything.

Whereas guys like us
pretty much clean up your shit

while you sit back
on your private jet.

Yeah, and what makes you
any different?

-[Malik] The difference?
-Uh-huh.

[music increases]

I have no illusions
about what I am.

But you?

You pretend to be something
that you're not.

See, I think it's cosmic destiny

that C & Earth hired us
for this gig.

I lost a lot of comrades
all those years back

during that clusterfuck
in The Centrals

you and your friends
sent us on. You guys...

...you guys made out
like bandits.

We lost legs, lives.

Some even lost their minds.

So, check it out.
I had this idea

to give real weight
and significance

to any time some prick
wants to start
a conflict in the world

for their own self-interest.

It's a policy, if you will.

That you guys...

...are the first in line.

Because, I mean, if it's
so fucking important to you,

you should be leading
the charge.

Fully armed.

Taking the risk.

Am I right?

[music continues]

[grunts]

[mimicking Wellman] "Yes, Malik.

You are right."

[in normal voice]
Look... [sighs]

[clicks tongue]
I'm gonna give you a chance...

...to kill me.

[snaps finger]

-[gun rattles]
-[Wellman shakily] Please,

don't do this.

Don't be a whiny little bitch.
Have some self-respect.

Come on, cock it.

-[rattling]
-Here you go, go on.

-[exhales shakily]
-Calm down, it's okay.

Pull that back.

[exhales sharply]

-[Wellman grunts]
-[Malik] There you go!

Now, you are locked and loaded.

Ready to rock and roll.

[breathing heavily]

Well, come on, man.

What are you waiting for?

This is your golden opportunity.

-[exhales shakily]
-[gun clicks]

Bummer.

Could've guessed it, right?

-[gun cocks]
-[shouting] The fucking game

was rigged all along!

[music continues]

[softly]
Have a nice death, Jack.

[Wellman]
Fuck you.

[Malik]
Flush this piece of shit.

[grunting]

[music increases]

[panting and grunting]

[engine starts]

[hissing]

[engine rumbling]

-[engine rumbling]
-[Ethan groans]

[groans loudly]

You okay back there?

Yeah.

Brutal headache.

What happened?

[Z]
Your boss slipped you a roofie.

Almost had you cliff diving.

Probably trying
to tie up any loose ends

from whatever scheme you dug up.

That piece of shit!

Well, thank you for saving me.

-Again.
-[Z] No worries.

It's what you do for your team.

We're a team?

-Relax.
-Oh, shh.

Yeah.

Cool.

[dramatic music]

Shit, we have company.

[tires screeching]

[gun cocking]

[whirring]

-They have a cutter.
-They got a what?

[whirring]

-[tires screeching]
-[whooshing]

[muffled gunshots]

-[cutter whirring]
-[whooshing]

-[tires screeching]
-[loud explosion]

[fire whooshing]

-[tires screeching]
-[engine rumbling]

[Ethan groans and pants]

[suspenseful music]

[shouting] Let's go, people!

Move. Move.

Move.

[Dresden]
I just don't understand
all this security.

[Brightmore]
There's people out there
who wanna steal it.

-This is crazy.
-Collective's orders.

-[beeping and whirring]
-Well, what am I supposed to do?

Just fit the device and test it.

On who, exactly?

Let me worry about that.

-[sighs]
-[beeps]

-They're here.
-[Brightmore] Good.
Just whatever you do,

wait till the deal is done.

-Copy.
-One more thing,

our test subject.

Ethan Mason. Yeah, I know.

I'll get
your little guinea pig for ya.

[engine rumbling]

[beeping]

I wanna punch that cunt
straight in the asshole.

[music continues]

[engine rumbling]

It'll be extraordinary to see

the doctor's invention
in action.

The only action
we're interested in
is credits, lady.

And could you
leave that, please?

[rattling]

[clatters]

[bleeping and whirring]

Dr. Corliss?

Yes?

[mysterious music]

I was expecting
only one courier.

It's a little
more complicated than that.

You can say that again.

My friend was murdered
'cause of this thing.

[scoffs]
What are you talking about?

[Ethan]
It was stolen from Peredor.

So you're thieves?

-I'm not.
-Only the good stuff.

[scoffs]
The fucking asshole lied to me.

-[gun cocks]
-All right, motherfuckers,

-in position!
-[all] Yes, sir!

[shouts] 50K bonus
for every shitbag Peredor bony!

-[all] Yeah!
-[cheering]

[light dramatic music]

[guns cocking]

You act so surprised.

It's easy to look the other way

when you got
this kind of funding.

My thoughts exactly.

That's rich, coming from a merc.

What about our scratch?

Well, could I at least see
if it works first?

Sure.

Ethan.

[clicking]

[light suspenseful music]

What do you even know
about that sphere, anyway?

Only that they sent us
the schematics
a couple of weeks ago.

They said it was coming
from a private vendor.

A private vendor?

[laughs] Christ.

What are you hoping
to achieve with this thing?

There are three settings.

The first implants and extracts
memories from the brain.

The other is something
that C & Earth wanted.

It basically siphons off
human energy and consciousness

and then stores it
to be used for consumption.

For consumption?

Are you fucking kidding me?

It wasn't my idea.

It was part of the deal
with C & Earth.

I would never have gotten
this level of funding...

...if I hadn't played ball
with the Collective.

What do they wanna do with it?

Well, C & Earth wants
to figure out a way
to achieve immortality.

Not like copying
a personality engram

and then putting it
on a hard drive.

Real immortality.

[thudding]

[ominous music]

[gunshots]

[gasps]

[softly] Beautiful.

Javelin, Morris, with me.

[gunshots continue]

Now, you said there were
three settings on this.

-Well, hopefully...
-[music continues]

...it opens
a dimensional portal in the mind

to what we call "the afterlife."

It'll prove
the existence of a soul.

You tested this?

Not with this upgrade.

We couldn't get
the second and third settings

to function properly.

We needed something
more powerful.

So C & Earth
just basically wants
to kill people

and take their energy
and make it their own.

Well, that's not
how they said it would work.

And they told us...
that they would be using it

on death row inmates
and the terminally ill.

-Oh, wow.
-[chuckles]

You actually believe that?

Look, I have a, a wife who died.

And this is my only chance

to maybe...

[voice breaking]
talk to her again.

Or just know that she's okay.

[scoffs] You just don't get it!

I mean, the mere...

...implication of an afterlife
is game-changing!

I get it.

I understand.

And I don't disagree.

[music continues]

But at what cost, doctor?

We can't let her have it.

-We're under contract, Z.
-No, there's no fucking way.

This thing could seriously be
an issue for all of us.

I agree.

Please don't do this.

We have to, Z.

[scoffs softly]

Now, look, there are other ways
to achieve things, Dresden.

I think you should
seriously reconsider
your business with C & Earth.

You understand the stakes here.

I have worked so hard on this.

And I'm not about
to just throw it all away

when we barely know
anything about it yet.

[exhales deeply]

The ethics can be
dealt with later.

I did my research for good,

regardless of what
C & Earth intended.

So be it.

[beeping]

[scoffs softly]

[music continues]

[soft buzzing]

[machine whirring]

[electricity crackling]

[clicking]

[gunshots]

[clanking]

[whirring]

-[sharp explosion]
-[hissing]

-[loud explosion]
-[screams]

[glass shattering]

The scratch.

[beeping and whirring]

Okay. Okay.

I need the wiring details.

[softly] Yeah.

[soft tapping]

Done.

[music continues]

-[alarm blaring]
-[automated voice]
Perimeter breached.

-What is that?
-Code five.

Peredor. Uh, uh, pleasure
doing business with you, doctor.

Ethan, Zephyr,
it is time for us to go.

Perimeter breached. Code five.

I really hope it was worth it.

I didn't know.

Perimeter breached. Code five.

[gunshots]

[man on radio]
Boss, we have hostiles
in the perimeter.

Lure them down
to our point of fire.

[alarm blaring continues]

-Clear.
-[automated voice] You are now
at Laboratory 22,

sector three.

[automated voice]
Perimeter breached. Code five.

[music continues]

[gunshots]

[Crilenger]
Ethan! Go!

-[guns cocking]
-[gunshots]

-Go, go, go, go, go. go!
-[gun cocks]

[gunshots]

Morris, with me.

[grunts]

-[gasps and groans]
-[thuds]

-[softly] Up.
-[groans]

-[thudding]
-Back the fuck up.

-Put it down.
-In the chair, kid.

-[alarm blaring continues]
-[music continues]

Morris, you know
what you gotta do?

-[Morris] Oh, yeah.
-Okay, so do it.

I'm gonna go take care
of that lanky prick.

Have fun.

[gunshots]

[grunts]

[yelling]

-[beeping]
-[buzzes]

[mysterious music]

-[beeping]
-[machine whirring]

-[loud heart beating]
-[energy crackling]

[whooshing and whirring]

[ethereal, mysterious music]

[grunting echoes]

[whirring increases]

[yelling echoes]

[buzzing and whirring]

[electricity crackling]

-[whooshing]
-[clacks echoing]

[buzzing]

[Asha and Ethan echoing]
Dresden...

[melancholic music]

...it's me.

[Ethan]
We never did get to go
on that hike.

[echoing softly] Asha.

I miss you.

[crying] I miss you so much.

It's okay.

You need to live
for the present now.

[sobs] But I think
about you every day.

[sniffles]

[Ethan and Asha echoing]
I know.

[Ethan]
We'll meet again.

[Ethan and Asha echoing]
It's inevitable.

Where are you?

[Asha echoing]
In a peaceful place.

Where all thought,
all form originates.

[soft whooshing]

I won't be here much longer.

Another journey awaits.

I've already concluded
my contract
with the previous one.

-[echoing] Contract?
-[music continues]

You will understand
in time, Dresden.

Listen to me.

What you've done here,
this technology...

...it's not meant
to be used like this.

The beings who designed
the power of the sphere

are much older
than your species.

Much wiser.

Your world is not ready.

In time, people will learn
to use wisdom

with this discovery.

But the people who want
to use it now
are very dangerous.

They are attempting to use it
as a means to prolong
their lifespan,

for which it is not designed.

They do not understand
the consequences
of using this device.

What consequences?

They will ruin lives with it.

They will imprison minds
with it.

[music continues]

What am I supposed to do?

You must destroy it.

I will.

I love you.

[exhales sharply]

I will always love you.

[whispers] I love you too.

-I have to go now.
-[crying] No, please!

[sobs] Please stay!

Goodbye, my dearest.

-[wind blowing]
-[soft beeping]

-[electricity crackling]
-[low-pitched whirring]

[light suspenseful music]

[loudly] Hey, hey. You okay?

[shouting] What the f-- fuck?

-[alarm blaring continues]
-[gunshots]

-[gun cocks]
-[gunshot]

[groans]

-[high-pitched whirring]
-[clacking]

[low-pitched rumbling]

[whirring and rumbling]

What-- [gasps]

-[bone crunches]
-[flesh squelching]

[ominous music]

-[thudding]
-[squelching]

[thudding]

[gunshots]

[Crilenger]
Z.

-Go! [panting]
-[gunshots]

-[thudding]
-[buzzing]

[electricity crackling]

-[buzzes]
-[panting]

[shattering]

[hissing]

-[gunshots]
-[groaning]

-[Crilenger panting] All right.
-[Z groans]

-[Crilenger] You're
gonna be okay?
-[groaning] Yes! Go.

[dramatic music]

[panting]

-[gunshots]
-[yells]

[shouts] Come on!
Stick your head
out for me, monk!

[heavily breathes, shouts]
They're here! Come on!

-[beeping]
-[automated voice]
Access unrecognized.

Hurry!

[growling]

[gunshots]

[clattering]

[chuckling] Oh!

There you go!

[panting]

[clattering]

[breathes deeply]

-[grunting]
-[thuds]

-[grunting]
-[groaning]

-[music continues]
-[grunts]

You have a choice, Malik.

-[grunts]
-[groans]

-[grunts]
-[thud]

-[thudding]
-[groans]

-[grunts]
-[choking]

[grunting]

[grunts]

-[coughs and breathes heavily]
-[panting]

Enough!

[exhales loudly]

-[grunts]
-[groans]

-[clicks]
-[grunts]

I'm gonna enjoy
watching you die, monk.

[exhales deeply]

-[grunts]
-[scrapes]

-[grunting and groaning]
-[thudding]

-[yells]
-[grunts]

-[thudding]
-[groaning]

[grunts, shouts] Come on, do it!

Fucking do it!

Just fucking do it. Finish me.

Fucking finish me!

[light melancholic music]

Your hatred is
your prison, Malik.

Yeah. And you're
a righteous pain in the ass.

-[exhales deeply]
-[knife clicks and clatters]

You're a slave
to the corporation.

You're just gonna end up
a fucking tool

they'll use and throw away.

We did not sign up for this.

I'll see you around.

[footsteps receding]

[rattling]

-[exhales sharply]
-[knife clatters]

[footsteps receding]

-My car's over there.
-[crickets chirping]

[suspenseful music]

-[whooshing]
-[gasps loudly]

-[grunts]
-[thudding]

[growling]

-[grunts]
-[thudding]

-[growling]
-[screams]

-[thudding]
-[dramatic music]

[grunts]

-[yells]
-[thuds]

-[grunting]
-[yells]

[gunshots]

-Come on. Go, go, go.
-[whimpers]

-[growling]
-[engine rumbling]

[Z shouts]
Get in the car!

[panting]

-[gunshots]
-[growling]

[Crilenger]
Let's go!

[tires screeching]

[engine rumbling]

[helicopter blades whirring]

-[loud explosion]
-[crashing]

[mysterious music]

[reporter]
Mutual One Investments
and Barrington Tran Security

are under investigation
for extortion, fraud,
and murder.

Charges include
rigging the market to gain
controlling interest

in Sakura Biotech, Peredor,
and Tranceworld Media.

Jack Wellman, CEO of Mutual One,
has been reported dead

-of an apparent suicide...
-[indistinct muttering]

...rumored to be in connection
with the crimes.

And earlier today,
Sakura Biotech,

Peredor, Tranceworld Media,

and Mutual One Investments

were bought up
by C & Earth Corporation

in a hostile takeover bid
early this morning,

making C & Earth the largest
conglomerate in the world.

-[ominous music]
-[Brightmore] Managed to save
the components from the monocle.

We'll be able
to replicate the prototype.

Peredor's board and Mutual One
made their concession.

[male collective 8]
The Dreamcatcher experiment
yielded positive results.

Even our interpreters fared well
killing their opponents.

Yes. The mercs were no match
for their strength
nor their abilities.

[female collective 3]
It's important we continue
to keep an eye on Ethan Mason.

Tracked and monitored.

You're sure you don't
wanna remove the mercs
and Dresden Corliss?

[male collective 7]
We do not wanna provoke
any conflict

during this transition.

Very well. By the way,

we selected
test subjects at Area 93.

The next phase
is already underway.

Two towns.
Sulen Community and Bigsby.

[male collective 8]
Excellent.
Please keep us informed

of any new developments.

My pleasure, Collective.

-[low-pitched whirring]
-[buzzes]

-[light suspenseful music]
-[waves crashing]

-[whooshing, whirring,
and buzzing]
-[crackling]

Found this in the car.

Great designs.

Definitely do
the engineer thing.

I quit my job.

[sirens blaring in the distance]

How's Dresden?

She'll be all right.

We... managed to work a deal
to keep her safe.

That's good.

So, what are you all
about to do next?

Off to steal more shit?

No.

Z and I agree
we're done with that.

But there's probably someone
out there who needs our help...

...given the circumstances
recently.

I'm glad to hear it.

[music continues]

What do you see out there?

I see a lot of things.

[static]

[rock music]

♪ Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick
Stuck in their brains again ♪

♪ Like a twisted nail, outdone ♪

♪ We're crawling around alone ♪

♪ Found a cosmic rail, oh, no ♪

♪ They're pushing
Their trains again ♪

♪ Born into their mind
She says ♪

♪ She's strolling around alone ♪

♪ Hero, walking around ♪

♪ Hero, let's go! ♪

♪ Hero, moping around ♪

♪ Zero, straight down ♪

♪ "Oh, no," they go ♪

♪ They know zero ♪

♪ "Oh, no," they go ♪

♪ Too much information ♪

♪ Yeah, overload ♪

♪ Hearts alone ♪

♪ Too much information ♪

♪ Yeah, hearts explode ♪

♪ Broken bones ♪

[indistinct muttering echoes]

♪ Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick
Trapped in their head again ♪

♪ Like a crooked lens
Look, see ♪

♪ They're forging those bets
The same ♪

♪ Like a tortured wretch
Oh, no ♪

♪ They see those crowds around ♪

♪ Shouting all the gore ♪

♪ Here comes ♪

♪ That fated fame event ♪

♪ Hero, walking around ♪

♪ Hero, let's go! ♪

♪ Hero, moping around ♪

♪ Zero, straight down ♪

♪ "Oh, no," they go ♪

♪ They know zero ♪

♪ "Oh, no," they go ♪

♪ Too much information ♪

♪ Yeah, overload... ♪

[music fades]

-[static]
-[crackling]

[distorted chatter]

[static and chatter increase]