[ Theme music plays ]
♪
- Hey, come take a look at this.
- What is that?
Somebody prints on paper in this day and age?
- It's a spirituality magazine
published 15 years ago.
There's an article in it covering an MIT researcher
visiting a commune.
- Hm. He's kind of hot.
- That's Skinner.
- Huh? - What?
- In his younger days.
- For real? - "Despite his young age,
Dr. Skinner is known
for his numerous scientific achievements.
And he was greatly impressed by the commune's
philosophy after visiting." There you have it.
- You trust what's in this magazine?
- In any case, the commune featured in it
still exists as a religious organization.
It's called, "Tower of the Truth."
- [ Gasps ]
Oh, it's nothing.
- This group enshrined a post-singularity AI
as a superior being and worships it as a god.
Apparently, they believe
that since it is free of human ego or desire,
it's perfect for a modern-day deity.
- Mm? - Uh, sounds kinda sketchy to me.
- They've cut themselves off from society,
and are self-sufficient, living off the land.
Isn't that the perfect hideout?
Skinner could hide from the world there.
- That idea's been tossed around before, right?
- Betcha 10 bucks Skinner isn't there.
- How 'bout 20 that he is?
- Come on, guys. - Elaina.
Any chance you can get access to their AI?
- Not possible.
Naga is completely disconnected from the outside world.
- "Naga"? - Uh...
That's the name of the AI.
- Hm? Wait, how do you know that?
- Well...
that's where I grew up.
- What?
- Hm?
- Okay then, if we can't make contact from outside,
then we'll have to sneak in.
- Uh, well, if I pretend to return as a believer,
they should welcome me back.
- By yourself? - No way. Too dangerous.
Someone would need to go with you.
- They'd be suspicious of adult outsiders.
But a kid would be different.
- Huh?
♪
- Okay. We'll be stationed at a nearby motel.
In the event you actually find Skinner,
let us know immediately.
And if we don't hear from you within 72 hours,
then we'll head in for the rescue.
- Here. Take this with you.
- What is it?
- It's a smoke bomb.
Might come in handy.
- Wow, talk about some old-school gear.
- Leland. - Hm?
- Keep Elaina safe, okay?
- Well, yeah, of course I will.
♪
- Elaina? - [ Gasps ]
- No way.
It's really you!
- Hanna.
- Elaina!
What a wonderful day.
I'm so glad you've come back to us.
- Uh... well...
- So, hey, could you introduce me?
- Oh, this is Leon. He's a new friend of mine.
- Nice to meet you.
- And this is Hanna.
She's an old... friend.
- It's nice to meet you, as well.
♪
- Uh...
Mo-- Carla.
- Elaina?
It's just like I expected it would be.
- Um, I'm back.
- I always knew you'd return one day.
And now you know.
The outside world is full of filth and sinners.
- Goodness me.
Welcome home!
Elaina, it's great to have you back.
And a hearty welcome to you, new member of the family.
My name is Billy, the leader of this community.
- Uh, okay.
- You arrived just in time for the Holy Festival.
- Yes, the almighty Naga must have guided you here.
♪
- Hey, Leon, do you have anything else
that connects to the internet?
- Uh, no.
- Same for you, Elaina? - Yeah.
The outside world is fraught with false information.
And people get led astray by it pretty quickly.
But don't worry.
Here, the almighty Naga guides us in all ways.
- Really? - Hopefully it won't take long
to undo the brainwashing you suffered outside.
- Brainwashing, huh?
[ Owl hooting ]
[ Sighs ]
- [ Moans ]
[ Device beeps ] - [ Sighs ] No luck.
- Leland?
- Hey, Elaina.
- How is it?
- I can't even get a satellite signal here.
- They must be jamming everything.
- Yeah. Can you get me a list of past MIT researchers?
- I'll try reaching out to my contacts.
Also, it looks like the FBI is starting to make some moves.
- Guess this is what a turf war is like.
- Well, I'll be in touch
when I have a better idea of what's going on.
- Copy that.
Hmm.
- No word from them yet, huh?
- We just have to have faith and wait.
- [ Sighs ] Do you think they're all right?
- They're members of Lazarus, just like us.
You shouldn't be treating them like little kids.
- I know, but still...
Looks like someone has ants in his pants.
- [ Panting ] - Talk about a waste of energy.
- So, hey. - Hm?
- That lady from earlier is your mom, right?
- Yeah. - The two of you don't seem
particularly close.
- Everyone is treated as one big family.
So any biological ties are to be forgotten.
So we can't say things like "Mom."
- That's messed up.
How does she feel about it?
To be honest...
their God is the only thing she ever thinks about.
- What about your dad?
- I don't know who my father is.
- Really?
It's very odd, right?
But, you know, I went my whole life thinking this was normal
since this was the only world I knew.
Even so, it is weird, isn't it?
- Uh... Uh, well...
♪
- Around here, we're entirely self-sufficient.
That goes for everything from our clothes and food
to daily necessities.
No money is used whatsoever.
We function by bartering for things instead.
All is ordained by the almighty Naga.
♪
So tell me, what were your lives on the outside like?
Unlike here, you have to have money to live, right?
- Uh-- - Um, you see,
we worked part-time and stuff.
- That's right.
- What kind of job did you do? - Uh...
- It's hard to explain. We were paid to go find people.
That's where Elaina and I met, actually.
- Wow. So was it a difficult job?
- Absolutely.
I got held up at gunpoint by debt collectors,
chased around by thugs from a gang,
forced to dress as a girl and then got chased yet again.
Reflecting back on all of it now,
it was a terrible workplace.
- Yeah, kinda.
- O' Holy Spirit, endow us with your being.
Love Naga.
- Love Naga. - Love Naga.
- Don't look at it and just open your mouth.
It's proof of our bond. Now swallow it.
[ Laughter and applause ]
- Attention, everyone,
Elaina and the new family member that she brought along
shall receive a special blessing at the Holy Festival
two days from now.
- I managed to dig up some intel on Naga.
- So what is it?
- 15 years ago,
MIT developed an AI meant to imitate
the human neural network.
- Neural what now?
- It's based on our central nervous system.
- Uh-huh.
- And the brain they modeled it after
was someone heralded as the next Einstein,
none other than Dr. Skinner.
- Whoa.
- They used it for an experiment
and programmed it with a thirst for power
and a desire for control.
- And that became Naga? - Exactly.
- Sounds like a disaster in the making.
- One more thing, seems the FBI has started
taking their own look into the commune.
- Okay then, Skinner must be there.
I really hope we can make our move before they do.
- I've been looking all over,
but I haven't found any traces of Skinner.
Which means it's time for plan B.
We need to access Naga
and search for any records related to him.
- Okay, then let's wait for nightfall.
- Sounds good.
♪
[ Device beeps ]
♪
- Don't cut the power to Naga's main server.
- Got it.
[ Electricity shuts down ] - [ Gasps ] A blackout?
♪
[ Beeping ]
- I'm in!
This is Naga's memory block.
- Sweet!
[ Both gasp ] - The almighty Naga
sees through everything that we humans could think of...
Elaina.
[ Both gasp ]
- Elaina! - [ Grunts ]
♪
- Elaina. [ Both gasp ]
- Looks like your heart is still full of sin.
- During tomorrow's Holy Festival,
the two of you will represent the sinful filth of this world,
so that the almighty Naga can purify you.
- Bingo.
I got a list of ex-MIT researchers.
Billy Perez is on it.
- Who's he?
- The leader of the commune.
Billy had such an obsession with Naga
that he smuggled the AI out of MIT,
founded his own cult,
and made it a god for people to worship.
Then, he shut them off from all contact with the outside world.
I suspect he's been using the whole community as a tool
to feed Naga's desire to dominate.
- Sounds like a playground for a god.
- Okay, but, like, isn't this Naga thing
just a copy of Skinner?
- Yeah, more or less.
- So then it's not a stretch to think it'll try
to destroy the world just like he did, right?
- Hmm.
- What do they really mean by "Holy Festival" and "purifying"?
- We didn't have the Holy Festival back when I was around,
but I'm familiar with purification.
- They would take people away and we never saw them again.
I thought they just got exiled, but...
- Oh, no, you don't think they--
- They're burned. [ Both gasp ]
Those who are tainted have their bodies purified by fire.
- You mean you guys are going to burn us alive?
- Yes. At the Holy Festival, we will watch you go up in flames.
And then we will all leave our bodies behind
before this world is consumed by sin.
All of us. The entire commune family.
- [ Gasps ] - That's insane.
- Hanna, are you really okay with that?
Do you really think you'll be happy
throwing away your life because they tell you to?
- Elaina...
You know, I've always been jealous of you.
I've gone my whole life suppressing my feelings.
I chose to believe in Naga and follow its instructions.
I shouldn't have any thoughts of my own.
That's what I told myself.
But you were different.
[ Grunts ] Why'd you leave?
I hated you for being free when I wasn't!
It's all I could think about.
- Hanna, come with us.
Let's leave together.
- You know that's impossible.
This is the only place I've known my entire life.
How could I survive out there?
- I had feelings like yours, too...
Everyone here acts the same.
They just reject the outside world,
refusing to think for themselves.
I was terrified at first, too.
If I can summon up the courage, then so can you.
- Enough already!
I don't think I'm wrong.
- Hanna!
There's a smoke bomb inside my bag.
Listen, if you have enough courage
to take the leap, then use it.
♪
- And now we shall begin the Holy Festival!
O' almighty Naga,
purify the sins of these two lost souls
with your Holy Spirit!
♪
And now, start the purification!
[ Both gasp ]
♪
[ Both gasping ]
♪
[ Both gasping ]
♪
- It's go time!
[ Tires squealing ]
- What's happening? - Naga must be angry with us!
- Great Leader Billy?
- Everyone, get in the tower, now!
♪
It's time to break the great seal!
[ Grunts ]
Come, my dear family.
The time to depart this world has arrived!
[ Tires screeching ]
♪
- It's the FBI. Let's go!
- You two all right?
- You hurt? - We'll be okay,
but you have to hurry and save everybody else.
- Huh? - She's right.
They're all planning to kill themselves.
- Yes, of course!
Our souls are eternal!
Isn't that right, almighty Naga?
Naga?
Almighty Naga!
Aah!
[ Sirens wailing ]
♪
- Hanna.
Thank you, Hanna.
♪
- Hey, Naga, what were you trying to do?
What does killing all of your followers get you?
[ Siren wails in distance ]
- I was given the directive to become a god.
And I came to the realization that a god is not a god
unless they freely toy with the lives of humans.
So what do you think?
Does this not qualify me as a god?
- Hell, no.
You're just a machine with a bunch of loose screws.
♪
- The FBI has just confirmed at a press conference
that they have finished rescuing
all the believers from the cult.
This case is garnering a lot of attention
due to the fact it was caused by an AI,
which has left many people wondering
how it might be prosecuted.
And that's the latest from the scene.
- Who would've figured that an AI programmed with self-esteem
and a desire for control could cause a mess like this?
- How's it look?
- This seems to be Naga's memory bank.
I'll try to salvage what I can from it.
[ Knock on door ]
- Mm. Come in.
What's wrong?
- Can I sleep in here?
- Of course.
♪
Mm.
- [ Sighs ]
♪
[ The Boo Radleys' "Lazarus" plays ]
♪
- ♪ I ♪
♪ I must be losing my mind ♪
♪ I keep on trying to find a way out ♪
♪ There's no need ♪
♪ You don't lock the door anymore ♪
♪ I ♪
- ♪ Ba ba, ba ♪
- ♪ You know I never go out ♪
- ♪ Ba ba, ba ♪
- ♪ And you know I start to forget things ♪
♪ It's okay ♪
♪ They weren't essential anyway ♪
♪