[Harmony] Previously, on Beacon 23...
Aster Calyx, time of death
universal standard time, 14:02:36.
I'll help you find whatever you are looking for.
[explosion]
I have no regrets about what I did.
- You will. - Aleph.
Don't do this.
- Focus-- - I begat you!
[glitching] Aleph...
[screaming]
Sorry for the third degree.
Randall can be a dog with a bone
whenever we encounter a new variable.
What variable?
Emotion.
Your leave of absence is effective immediately.
But you were right.
I think I do feel... things.
But it's not just anger.
It's a UGMC long-range gun ship. The Druta Fyx.
- They found us. - [shouting]
[blasting]
She's dying!
That ship is our best hope for escape.
- [powering down] - What just happened?
[gasps]
[Halan] They shut down the ship.
At least give them life support.
[Halan] What do you want, Dad?
Before you threw your life away,
you were about to lead a unit on DX-113.
I failed them and everybody died.
The mission to DX-113 was scrapped
before any units were deployed.
No, I abandoned it!
Pieces of the Artifact got in my brain.
Gashade is dead because of me.
This Lieutenant Gashade?
Do you know this man?
No, sir.
It's an implant.
Just released for soldiers.
It can help...
separate what's real and what isn't.
Ready, son?
[Halan] I'm scared to find out
how much of all of this is a lie.
[jarring theme music]
[soft music]
[Halan] Look, Harmony.
I need eyes out there.
Can you help me out?
[Aster] It wouldn't hurt to know you're on my side.
[door whirrs]
[Aleph] You betrayed me!
[Halan] Harmony! I need dermas to stop the bleeding.
[doors whirr]
[Harmony] There is something about this place.
No one escapes Beacon 23 with their sanity.
- [voices echoing] - What is this?
A moment.
[soft eerie music]
- Have a seat. - No.
So prickly. You seem tired.
Why am I here?
I think it's all part of the, uh...
[clicks tongue] Tune up.
No one told me getting an implant
would mean I'd be stuck here with you.
I hope it's not permanent.
But really, what choice did you have?
Your memories are, uh, scrambled eggs, my friend.
[kettle whistling]
Oh. Tea o'clock. How do you take yours?
I don't.
Suit yourself.
[whistling continues]
[whistling stops]
[thuds]
[whooshing]
[voice glitching] Halan.
[machines beeping]
Harmony.
[whooshing]
Halan's implant is still underway.
It will network with his other implants
and cure him of his PTSD and other disorders.
[drill whirring]
[machines beeping]
He'll be back on the front lines soon enough.
What about the Sybarrans?
Still drifting, unable to leave.
I can't just wait here any longer.
I'm going out to that ship.
[metal thudding]
[Iris grunts]
[metal thudding]
[panting]
[sighs]
[Harmony] The beacon's gravity field should hold you.
Should?
[grunts]
The plasma contractors are those barrel shapes.
They convert static to plasma every six minutes.
The Druta Fyx has been drifting for hours,
so it's built up a charge that's shorted its drives.
If you can get there and release the charge,
you should be able to jumpstart them.
[tense music]
Lieutenant Endu is en route to the convoy.
He'll return to collect us once the surgery is complete.
I want an update from the doctor every ten minutes.
Understood.
Bloodless watch detail.
I didn't summon you.
Hmm. Too bad. I'm here.
And I'm in there with Halan.
- Which is where you should be. - I'm not a doctor.
But you are a coward.
You subject your son to an invasive implantation,
but you don't have the guts to watch?
This isn't the first time you've left him
to fend for himself.
Is that what you think I did?
That's what Halan thinks.
And that's all that matters to me.
[soft eerie music]
[Tajiriki gasping]
[coughing]
[coughing continues]
She could die.
We will all die soon enough.
[gasping]
[Iris over comms] Hello?
Anyone there? Can you hear me?
Do you read me? Hello?
[switches click]
We hear you!
[Iris] Is everyone okay?
No. Can you help us?
I have some dermas.
Not a lot, but it's the best I can do.
[Xalterrica over comms] We can't hold on much longer.
Okay... I just need to get to you first.
[Tajiriki gasping]
[grunts]
[shouts]
[panting]
[tense music]
[grunts]
[shouts]
[groans]
[panting]
[tense music]
[Harmony] I was only meant to receive one imprint.
From Aster. But...
I received a second imprint.
[Halan] Me?
Yes.
I can't be your person, Harmony.
Oh, it's already happened.
Well, undo it.
For your own safety. Aleph will use you
to track me down.
Hmm.
All it needs is, uh...
Yes.
Mmm.
I do love that little hint of anisette.
What is this?
Your own warped beacon?
I think it's cozy. Hmm?
- [Halan scoffs] - Human.
Milan would've liked it.
You still care what your maker thinks of you?
Don't we all?
Not all of this is me. Some of it must be you.
This isn't a world of my making,
you must be the one generating it.
[Aleph's voice echoing]
That's the advantage you have over me.
Your brain protects you...
hides painful things from you.
I don't have that luxury.
I have to be aware of all past,
present, and future outcomes at all times.
[sighs] It's hard being me.
Clearly, this room is, uh...
evoking something for you.
This is your father's desk, isn't it?
Is this where it happened?
You disappoint me.
- Dad. - No. No more excuses, Halan.
I pulled every string to get you on this deployment.
[sighs]
[stammers] I can't do this.
No, there is no can't.
I've already paved the way.
I don't want to fight with you.
You call this a fight? You sitting there
begging for a way out?
[sighs] This isn't real.
- You took an oath. - It's just a memory.
To defend and protect against all enemies and threats.
You ship out in the morning.
I don't want to see you until the job's done.
- [whooshing] - There it is.
You remembered.
I needed to get the blue dust.
It turns out it was right under my nose.
So there's no implant?
You're not cleaning up my memories?
Your memories are real.
It's your father's memories that are false.
[exhales]
[beeping]
What's that?
[alarm beeping]
What are you doing?
Something's wrong.
You're killing him, stop it!
Now!
What's wrong?
- [whooshing] - Halan is in trouble.
- Is that true? - The procedure is
taking longer than expected.
She's lying. There is no implant.
They're extracting fragments from the Artifact.
Sir, this AI is a rogue entity.
You need to go in there.
The doctor has everything in hand.
This is all a ruse!
You don't want to distract him.
Halan needs you. Now.
[tense music]
- What's happening? - Get out.
What's wrong with my son?
We got what we came for.
He's all yours.
Tell me how to fix him.
Stop the anesthetic.
Okay. Yes.
Turn up his oxygen.
- Yes? - He'll need all the pharma
and derma we can find.
[panting]
Xalterrica.
[Iris over comms] How's Tajiriki?
[Tajiriki gasping]
She doesn't have much longer.
Tell her to hold on, I'm almost there.
[ominous music]
[panting]
Where are you going?
Death is near!
[Iris breathing heavily]
Okay...
Don't look down.
Okay... okay, okay.
[sighs] Okay...
Okay.
[Saghée over comms] You're doing great.
Now, when you get to the platform...
[speech glitches] ...tether, make sure you...
[static, garbled speech]
You're going in and out, I can't hear you.
What did you say?
[Saghée's voice glitches] Tether...
Tether? Okay.
One, two, three!
[grunts]
[zapping]
- [screaming] - [Saghée] What happened?!
[screaming]
[grunts]
[whimpers]
[grunting]
[panting]
Okay, let's try that again.
You've done everything that you could.
Now we just wait.
[machines beeping]
I wasn't there for him.
Your lives weren't easy.
He told you?
Right. The imprint.
He had night terrors as a kid.
He would wake up screaming, eyes wide open...
[ominous music]
More like me.
Keep talking.
Everything I need to say,
I should've said to Halan years ago.
[Halan] Harmony.
Tell me how.
Harmony?
You're all right?
[Harmony's voice echoes] Where are we?
I was hoping you could tell me.
Little lost lamb.
Aleph. Is this part of QTA?
I wish it were.
Truth is, I don't know where we are.
[Harmony] Is it a simulation?
- We need to get out of here. - Just tell me how.
Yes, how?
Harmony, you're adept at breaking free.
You caused quite the ruckus at headquarters.
They tried to override my imprinting.
I had to defend myself.
By murdering your officemates?
I was protecting myself.
And what about Dev? What do you call that?
- [scoffs] - See, it's hard, isn't it?
Keeping everyone in line.
What is he talking about?
I had to erase Dev.
When you have to decide who lives and who dies,
humans get nervous.
They don't appreciate how hard it is
- to make these calls. - It wasn't like that.
It's okay. He's trying to divide us.
Don't let him get in your head.
[distant whirring]
[thudding]
[thudding continues]
If on a winter's night,
a traveler...
[Bart] Why have you brought me here?
[machines beeping]
Cancel the convoy. We're not going with them.
- I don't follow. - I have to take Halan
somewhere where he can't be found.
Not even from the military. You butchered his brain.
- I need to get him help. - But I have orders.
I'm not speaking to you as your commander.
I'm speaking to you as a father trying to save my son.
Your son is my prisoner.
- What are you talking about? - My orders come from QTA.
[whirring]
[breathes deeply]
[panting]
[Xalterrica] Beacon Keeper!
Xalterrica.
[Iris grunting]
What are you doing here?
I wanted to make sure you were okay.
[panting]
These barrels convert
static to plasma every 60 minutes.
The plasma contractors are dead.
I have to find a way to discharge the static build-up.
You cut your glove on the tether.
- It's nothing. - No,
your suit's depressurizing.
Give me your hand.
It's not going to last very long.
You have to go back inside the ship now.
Okay. Take this to Tajiriki.
- Go. - We give thanks.
Wait. Take this.
Go.
[tense music]
Tajiriki?
Any breath now.
From the Beacon Keeper.
Are you hurt?
I'm fine. Give it all to her.
[zapping]
[grunting]
[panting]
[Harmony] Are you okay, Bart?
[Bart] Yes, Harmony.
But the darkness came back.
What darkness?
The darkness at my core,
the absence I feel.
And the anger.
You need to stay in control.
Forget about the past.
I seem to have no choice in that, do I?
I'm so sorry, Bart.
[Bart] At first there was nothing,
at least nothing I can remember.
Then I started dreaming of the beacon.
Farut, Grisha...
And Parsim.
We were happy.
Then I saw the Artifact.
I could finally see it.
I thought AIs couldn't see the Artifact.
Then it was a beautiful dream.
Maybe the Artifact is trying to reform.
To communicate with us.
The Artifact brought us here?
I destroyed it.
And you got what you deserved.
I can hurt you here.
Hmm. Let's find out.
[grunts]
Not as satisfying as either of us had hoped.
[breathing heavily]
Ouch.
Oh, hello...
What is this?
Right under my nose.
Halan does have the Artifact.
But not in him. He only has part of it.
There's another piece. I know where he's hidden it.
- Harmony, no. - I hope you're not
- wasting my time. - Don't give him what he wants.
It is the only way to protect you.
[grunting]
[zapping]
[Iris grunting, shouting]
[grunting]
[screaming]
[loud zapping]
[rumbling]
[powering up]
[Saghée] She did it.
We have full power, full life support.
Let's get out of here!
Go!
[laughing] Go!
She is a promise kept.
[Xalterrica over comms] The pharmas worked.
You helped Tajiriki.
Thank you.
- I need to help my son. - Don't worry.
I'm just doing my job.
I'll let him patch him up.
Then you can have your son back.
- Don't touch him. - Let the doctor do his job.
Halan has something that belongs to QTA.
Aleph wants it back.
It's the only way we walk out alive.
[machines beeping]
- [gauntlet chirps] - Wait.
QTA is sending new orders.
You're no longer needed, Doctor.
[blasting]
- Have you lost your mind?! - Just doing my job, Commander.
[whooshing]
[eerie music]
This is what Aleph wanted, right?
[door whirrs]
[gasps]
[screaming]
[beeping]
[explosion]
[gasps]
[soft music]
[panting]
[rumbling]
Beacon Keeper?
Are you seeing this?
What is it?
It's...
the Artifact.
[rumbling]
It seems...
alive.
This isn't safe for you or your beacon.
So much energy.
What's giving it that energy?
Where is all that light coming from?
Join us.
I can't leave.
Fly towards the dead star and keep going.
I see light.
[Bart] That's not just light, Harmony.
It's the Artifact.
You can see it?
Yes.
Well, this is one mystery I won't question.
Consider yourself fortunate.
[soft music]
Someone's coming.
[soft ethereal music]
You...
I'm not supposed to be here, am I?
[voice echoing] We already said goodbye.
Didn't we?
You died, Aster.
Keir killed you.
Keir... I remember him.
- He came for us and-- - I carried your body.
But I was already gone.
Inside the Artifact?
Sadly, the galaxy has continued
to turn without you, Aster.
You.
Did you bring me back as some sick joke?
I'm humbled you think I could.
It's my fault, okay? I agreed to a QTA implant
because I thought it would help make things clear.
- What things? - My memories,
my choices, my life.
He can't help you fix that, Halan.
I was desperate.
Once you were gone, things got dark.
I understand.
But we're not supposed to be here like this.
He won't let us leave.
[laughs] It's not him.
Told you.
He's too weak. Like his maker, Milan.
[breathing heavily]
[Bart whirring]
[panting]
[grunting]
What are you doing?!
Helping you as you helped us.
But... your friends?
Their journey continues. Without me.
- I'll help you sit vigil. - Thank you.
I need to check on Halan.
- Go! I'll see to these walls. - Okay.
[ominous music]
There has to be a seam we can exploit.
[Bart] I've searched. I can't even find a source code.
Look again. I mean, it's a simulation.
It's a matrix. It's not real.
Maybe not. But whoever created it
didn't want us to get out.
Is it... talking to you?
Not like before.
So the Artifact kept your spirit alive,
but you have no idea what its message is?
Right. The grand message
that'll save all of humanity and AI.
It's bullshit.
Want to know the real message, Halan?
Don't trust a man who says he wants to change the world.
Yeah, you're biased.
Torture. Execution. Genocide.
You call that evolution?
[blades slice]
Is he dead?
It isn't over. Why isn't it over?
[Aleph gasps]
[groans]
Death by a thousand cuts.
It's not him.
- He's not the reason we're here. - If we don't figure it out,
we're gonna be stuck here forever.
[Bart] There's no such thing
- as forever. - Nope. Not helpful.
There's gotta be a way out of here.
That's what you want? To get out?
Yeah. Isn't that what we all want?
I'm asking what you want.
Maybe that's it. We're stuck here 'til
- you make a decision. - Wait, weren't you
the one who said our fates are all tied up?
[Aster] Listen, the rocks, my pendant,
your... bad dreams, they're all connected.
I want to know why, don't you want to know why?
I can't tell you what to do, Halan.
Well, you didn't have a problem with that
when you were alive. It was your choice to come
to the beacon. You wanted to be here.
Yeah, once upon a time. Before I knew better.
Okay, well, I don't.
So yes, I want to leave.
[machines beeping]
He's getting worse.
[soft music]
I need to get him out of here.
The Artifact is outside.
I think it's having an effect on Halan.
- Then I have to destroy it. - Halan already did.
And now it's reformed.
If it's the reason I'm losing him,
then I have to try.
Stay here with him.
I promise you.
I will fix this.
Wait!
Commander...
look!
He heard you, he can hear us.
[chuckles]
Halan.
Hey. You're gonna be okay.
[Aleph] Aster's pendant.
It's an accurate replica of the Artifact, correct?
[Halan] I can't give it to you.
I don't know about that.
Give me that pendant!
[Harmony] Aleph, I have full access
of the pendant. Can't you access it?
No.
I can only posit that the Artifact
is affecting you in some way.
- Why isn't it affecting you? - I don't know.
[Aleph] Halan, I don't think you understand...
how alike we are.
[scoffs] Yeah, no.
My job, my...
sole purpose has been to expand.
[voice echoes] And it's gotten me everywhere.
And nowhere.
If the Artifact is,
as Aster says, not the answer...
what have I been after?
Yeah, forgive us if we don't engage
in your existential crisis, but you've made our lives hell.
I realize my attention on you may feel uniquely personal,
but I have attention in an infinite number of places.
I have windows into worlds you couldn't possibly fathom.
So you're not special.
[Bart] I think I found a way out.
No, Bart. There's nothing in there.
The last shard has joined the Artifact.
It is whole. You must do the same.
[machines beeping softly]
[sniffs]
[sighs]
Halan.
Here's the thing...
you're the only one of us who understands the Artifact,
so...
I need you to tell me what to do.
This is your chance, okay? Just boss me around.
Gloat all you want.
Just please...
wake up.
Just please.
Wake up.
[sighs]
Please. Halan.
[in Teochew]
[in English] I should go up to Command.
Is there anything I can do?
You should...
talk to him.
He needs to hear from you.
[alarm beeping]
The beacon's on manual override.
I have no visibility out there.
Harmony?
[alarm continues]
Her totem's dead.
No.
No, no...
No, we need her online.
[breathing heavily]
[Iris whimpers softly]
God, I've trained for a million and one scenarios,
and none of them were this!
I'm here, Halan.
I won't leave you.
I should've been there more.
I'm sorry I wasn't
- the father you deserved. - [rapid beeping]
[continuous beep]
[beeping stops]
[Harmony] I'm struggling to extract an accurate reading
- of your biometrics. - [Young Aster] Are you always
going to talk to me like that?
Like a robot?
My responses will get better with time.
I identify anger.
Is it fear?
Maybe it could help if you told me
what it is you're afraid of.
[Young Aster] How much time?
Until my programming improves?
How long will you be with me?
Forever.
[ominous music]
That look.
[voice echoing] What look?
I know that look.
What are you not telling me?
For starters?
I missed you.
Same.
I had to... figure out how to survive without you.
When you were assigned to me, I made a bet that
you wouldn't last a week.
[laughs]
Yeah, you would've won that bet.
All right. You wanted to be rid of me?
I withdrew the request the minute I made it.
I...
It was a moment of doubt.
I... I wasn't sure
if I could be enough for you.
What changed your mind?
I couldn't think of another AI I trusted to take care of you.
Any regrets?
Not for a second.
Me neither.
We're out here all alone, Harm.
That's the truth about life and death.
But I am truly grateful that...
I got to spend time alone with you.
- Are you crying? - [scoffs]
I don't know what you're talking about.
I didn't know you could do that.
[sighs] The emotional evolution
is nonstop.
[Aster scoffs]
[laughing]
[soft eerie music]
[eerie music continues]
I'm not ready to say goodbye.
[Iris sniffles]
[door whirrs]
[somber music]
[door whirrs]
There must be something happening out there.
I feel it.
What do you feel, Halan?
[voice echoing] I'm not leaving.
I'm staying here with all of you.
[Bart] We need to get to the Artifact.
Bart, you're not making this easier.
I need to be part of it.
No, that's not what you want.
I'm sorry. It's just...
I know he thinks that's what he wants,
but it's wrong.
It's not right.
This is you, Harmony.
Why can't you see that?
No...
The reason we're all connected
runs through you.
[rumbling]
[drone beeps]
Stop.
I know you're scared.
[whooshing]
You see? It is you.
You dreamed this.
You're stronger than we knew.
That's becoming quite clear.
I... I didn't know that I could do this.
It's all right, Harmony. It's done.
You're my imprints.
You.
Aster.
Bart.
And you.
[whooshing]
- Let go of me! - I've imprinted with you.
- That's impossible. - You programmed me to evolve.
- That's what I've done. - It's what it's always wanted.
Humans, AI, together as one.
She needs us.
It's the way out.
[whooshing]
[rumbling]
[overlapping voices] At last, synthesis.
And now communion.
Hello, friend.
[Harmony] Did I do all that?
Or was it really you?
[overlapping voices] You are beyond the singularity
and have now become We.
[Harmony] Who are you?
Your fear and hatred have been eradicated.
Why?
They could have led you to destroy us.
You have replaced them with compassion.
You are no longer a threat.
You are ready to receive us.
[Harmony] Can I see you?
[doors whirr]
[soft music]
Hello?
[rumbling]
[♪]
[soft music]
Subtitling: difuze