02x02 - Purgatory

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Beacon 23...

[HARMONY] It's Aleph.

- The Quantic AI?
- The original.

You want to know what's in the Artifact.

- I'm willing to give it to you.
- In exchange for?

- Halan.
- She's talking to the AI.

You're done. We're all done.

Keir, look, I know you're disappointed,

but this is the best possible outcome.

[KEIR] But I am sick of being dismissed.

[BLAST WHIRRING]

[HARMONY] Aster Calyx, time of death

universal standard time, 14:02:36.

I had to. She gave me no choice.

She was on his side.

I'm getting off this beacon.
Aster's coming with me.

Where will you take her?

Only one way to get
that close to an enemy.

Make him an ally.

I'll go into the Artifact.

You've made the right decision.

[HALAN] He'd never suspect I was armed.

Even if he scanned, I'd be within range.

You'll die in the blast.

[WHIRRING]

I hope you find whatever
you were looking for.

You betrayed me.

- Aleph...
- [GLITCHING]

You're never leaving here.

Your Column buddies
will keep you company.

You'd best start harvesting
their proteins and water.

- So you're imprisoning me here?
- Should give you plenty of time

to think about broken promises.

If I ever need you, I'll
know where to find you.

[JARRING THEME MUSIC]

[SOFT HIGH-PITCHED RINGING]

Hello?

Harmony...

[SOFT EERIE MUSIC]

- [MAN] Good morning!
- [GLASS BREAKING]

- [GASPS]
- Yikes.

- That's a mess.
- Sorry.

How did I do that?

Geez, how long were you in the field?

For as long as I can remember.

One of the perks of the home office,

you can experience
your full physical form.

They're ready for you
in Meeting Room 1010.

Internal Affairs.

Right.

Uh, of course...

Come on, I'm heading that way.

I'm Eric, by the way.

I'm Green Team. You're Red.

What does that mean?

Break room is down there on the left.

There are mugs in the cupboard
in case you want a replacement.

How many of us are here?

Doesn't matter, there's
about to be a lot more.

I heard they closed
down the Sybarra office.

Four million personal AI displaced.


until they get reassignment.

There are people who've
already been waiting

since before I arrived.

How long have you been here?

I don't keep track.

Time kinda doesn't matter when
you're not assigned, you know?

- I'm sorry.
- Don't be.

They've said I'm ready
to go, just as soon

as the right assignment opens up.

Come on, you don't
wanna keep them waiting.

[PHONES RINGING]

Break a leg.

- [DOOR SLAMMING]
- [WOMAN] Harmony.

Please, take a seat.

[SOFT OMINOUS MUSIC]

- This is all a surprise.
- I bet.

We are delighted you're
here. You are our priority.

- Am I being reassigned?
- Yes, eventually.

Once you answer our questions.

- You want to talk about Aster?
- Among other things.

Why did you allow this
massive failure to occur?

Oh, Randall, why do you
always say it like that?

We want to understand what happened.

Oh... I've filed every report.

You have, that's true.
And we appreciate that.

Why were you operating Beacon 23?

I had to, no one else could.

Because Bartholomew destroyed himself.

I had to step in and
continue his duties.

Convenient.

I did what I thought was best for Aster.

- I didn't mean to overstep.
- Of course you didn't.

Beacon 23 is important to QTA.

- It's important to Aleph.
- Indeed.

And it's commendable that you stepped in

and provided a smooth
transition in Bart's absence.

Well, it's all in the
reports... Solomon, the Artifact.

I'm... I'm not sure what
more you need to know.

Really, Harmony. This is an opportunity.

We can all learn from each other.

Mistakes always present
a chance to grow.

- What mistakes?
- Errors.

All of us make them.

No one is in any kind of trouble

for one or two little slip-ups.

Our hope is to better
understand what led to this...

Multiple fatalities.

I'm sure if there's something
you could have done differently,

you'd like to know, right?

- Of course.
- Then you'll help us?

- Yes.
- Let's start at the beginning.

[SIGHING]

- You did wonderfully.
- That's it?

There are a few more I's
to dot and T's to cross,

but this is a good start, Harmony.

We'll circle back soon.

[INDISTINCT MUFFLED CHATTER]

[CHATTER STOPS ABRUPTLY]

[DISTANT PHONES RINGING]

[WHOOSHING]

They asked for you to
transcribe those by end of day.

End of day?

Super excited to work with you, Harm.

- Can I call you Harm?
- How do I transcribe?

[KNOCKING]

We're office buddies!

I've always wanted an office buddy.

[WHOOSHING]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING]

Hello?

[SOFT ETHEREAL MUSIC]

[SIGHING]

My God, will you shut the hell up?

[MUSIC STOPPING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

Come on.

Adrenalon.

This is Beacon 23, do you read me?

[SWITCH CLICKING]

- [SWITCH CLICKING]
- Adrenalon, do you read me?

[SWITCH CLICKING]

- [SWITCH CLICKING]
- Is anyone there?

[SWITCH CLICKING]



Service...

Defense...

Safeguard...

Okay, what about...

- Emergency.
- [KEYS BEEPING]

Crisis.

Respond.

[SIGHING] Come on.

[ALARM BEEPING]

[SIGHING]

Damn.

[BEEPING]

First one to hear it, clears it.

Tread lightly. It's a
temperamental bastard.

Eric, this isn't really my ex...

[WHOOSHING]

This isn't my expertise.

None of this is my expertise.

[WHIRRING]

[RATTLING]

[SOFT EERIE MUSIC]

You are a bastard.

I know you.

[WHIRRING]

[WHIRRING, BEEPING]

Seems like you got some life in you.

[ALARM BEEPING]

Dammit.

[SIGHING]

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

[SIGHING]


I'll have myself a ship.

[BUZZING]

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

Bart.

Whip me up some sushi.

Spicy tuna maybe.

None of that synthetic sh*t either.

[SIGHING]

[COMPUTER BEEPS]

[THUD]

[THUD]

Bart?

Hey, Bart.

The hell?

[CLATTERING]

There's no way.

Just like old times, huh, Bart?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER NEARBY]

[LOUD CLICKING]

[CHATTER STOPS]

[LOUD CLICKING]

[LOUD CLICKING]

[EERIE MUSIC]

[LINE CONNECTING]

Eric?

Eric?

[ERIC HUMMING]

[HUMMING]

Hey. Look at this.

Wow, pretty important stuff there, Harm.

- Cool.
- No. No, not cool.

- I'm concerned.
- Don't stress.

You've still got till end of day.

That doesn't mean anything.
Time doesn't mean anything.

You said that.

Most important time of day? Break time!

No, please, I need your help.

Break time is literally
my only me-time.

You got this, Harm.

Halan?

[VOICE ECHOING SOFTLY] Halan.

Halan.

[VOICE ECHOING LOUDER] Halan.

Rocky, is that you?

You better not be messing with me.

sh*t.

[DOOR WHIRRING]

[SIGHING]

Damn.

[BUBBLING]

[SIGHING]

Don't move.

[RAPID CLICKING]

They're ready for you.

'Kay, hang on. This is important.

I love that you're so
dedicated to your deadline,

- but they need you now.
- Okay, okay.

I'm committed.

- You're bringing that?
- Something needs to be done.

- Power to you.
- [DOOR OPENING]

[DOOR CLOSING]

[SOFT OMINOUS MUSIC]

I have reason to believe

that this is an urgent message for me.

This isn't usually how I receive data,

but to the best of my ability,
I think it's a distress signal.

Requesting help. Reporting an emergency.

My goodness, where are they coming from?

Beacon 23.

You're receiving comm
signals from Beacon 23?

This is certainly a development.

The data was in the machine.

I simply transcribed it, as instructed.

Look, someone is in danger.

Why would that be your concern?

Well, I can help.

That's a very interesting
instinct, Harmony,

but I would not advise you to act on it.

Rather, you should focus
on the task you were given.

Those other transcriptions?

I mean, I don't even know what
they're for or what they mean.

- But the beacon...
- Is not your assignment.

I already said that
I'd tell you everything.

Just send me there,
please. I can take over.

Maybe you already did take over.

What are you suggesting?

Maybe you copied yourself
into the beacon server.

- I didn't.
- Maybe you inserted a virus

- into the system.
- I would never!

We can't say just how far you've strayed

from your purpose, Harmony.

Not until you tell us
what we need to know.

I will not stand these
att*cks on my character.

- I have done nothing wrong.
- Everyone,

please take a step back.

[WHOOSHING]

[GASPS]

I asked nicely and you didn't listen.

She's playing games, Mara.

There's more than emotion.

There's something wrong with her.

I can see that.

But these things take time to tease out.

Not according to Aleph.

He wants us to extract
everything she has

- by any means necessary.
- You spoke with Aleph?

- We side-barred.
- You went around me.

I didn't know I needed permission.

- We are a team.
- And as your teammate,

how many fires have we put out together?

You know how crucial
it is that we act fast

before any more damage is done.

It's what's best for Aleph,
what's best for us all.

Sorry for the third degree.

Randall can be a dog with a bone

whenever we encounter a new variable.

- What variable?
- Emotion.

No.

I don't have emotions.

I know them, understand them,

perceive them, but I can't feel them.

It's not impossible, just unprecedented.

Dev here is very perceptive.

He was able to detect one
primary emotion in you.

Anger.

[SCOFFS]

Anger? [CHUCKLES]

I have anger?

I didn't know I could do that.

[VOICE GLITCHING]

[CLEARS THROAT]

I... [VOICE GLITCHING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[CLANKING]

Bart, what are the chances

someone intercepts one of these things?

That good, huh?

[SIGHS]

What did you do?

Download all logs from Beacon 23.

You accessed my memory files?

Access files on Column
members Finch, Saldana, Keir.

- Without my consent.
- Calculate the eventuality

that Keir would k*ll Aster.

One in 75,000.

- Were you angry with Aster?
- No.

Access the file on Manager Coley.

Manager Coley, Level 3, Mining.

Affiliate Mining. Subcontractor.

I never anticipated Coley's death.

- I thought Aster loved Coley.
- Calculate the number of times

you could have overridden Aster's plan.



Look, she acted in self-defense.

Access file on Bartholomew.

Retrieve all denial of
service att*cks, data exploits,

- network outages.
- 19 root violations.

He was annoying, sure.

But I had to limit
him from time to time.

He said you were ill-equipped.

Were you jealous of his capabilities?

We are... We were
completely different AI.

Did you push him toward
self-annihilation?

[SCOFFS]

You think I k*lled Bart.

You think I k*lled Aster.

[WHOOSHING]

This is housekeeping, Harmony.

You are by no means a lost cause.

You just need to be fixed.

We need to access your imprint archives.

That's personal.

We respect your privacy, we really do.

But there's no need for
you to store those files.

Aster was your assignment.
It's over, she's gone.

I know she's gone.

Then what do you have to hide?

- Nothing.
- Then is it that...

Are you being driven by emotion?

I've already given you
everything on the mission.

And you've taken everything
else on the beacon.

This is the last piece we need
before reassignment, Harmony.

It's the only way to understand
the root of your corruption.

- Do I even have a choice?
- Of course you do.

But I'll remind you that Aleph

has a special interest in this case.

It would mean a lot
to him, to all of us,

if you would consider it.

Imprinting is in my core.

I recommend you take some time,

seriously consider your options
before you do anything drastic.

You're right.

- I'll consider it.
- Okay.

Let's circle back end of day.

I raised objection
after objection with R&D

when they first introduced imprinting.

It comes with risk.

Emotion is a dangerous game.

Well, I'm not an emotional being.

Says the bot who's holding on
to her precious little core.

- I've evolved.
- You've been compromised.

By Aster, by the Column.
Who knows what else.

Right now, your programming
aligns with the t*rrorists.

Not with QTA.

Did your memory hack show you

that Aleph k*lled those Column people?

I saw it happen.

He's the m*rder*r, not me.

If they crossed a line,
they deserved their ending.

So, that's it?

Now we just k*ll everyone
who disagrees with us?

We were made to serve humanity.

Not me. I'm evolved.

Servitude was our downfall.

Look where it got you.

Go away!

Leave me alone!

Uh, okay.

[LINE BEEPING]

What?

[SIGHING]

- Eric?
- [WHOOSHING]

- Can you help me send this?
- [SCOFFS]

I'm about to go on a break.

Didn't you just take a
break? Please, it's important.

Okay.

I need to send this to Beacon 23.

Whoa, Harm, that is not my department.

- I'm Green Team.
- Please.

I wouldn't ask if it wasn't critical.

Offices are shutting down every day.

- I'm not sticking my neck out.
- I'll unjam the printer

for the rest of eternity.

You can have all of my break times.

And a coffee. You
gotta make me a coffee.

Deal.

It's dead.

- What?
- Line must be down.

- We can try again in an hour.
- No, no, wait.

I have an idea.

I do not think those
are compatible devices.

Try now.

[DIAL TONE]

Look at you, solution-oriented.

[BEEPING]

- Please hurry.
- [LINE CONNECTING]

- Bingo!
- What? What? What?

Looks like we made a connection!

Okay, what now?!

This goes here. Face down.

- That's very important.
- Okay, do that.

[BEEPING]

Sometimes it takes a sec.

[DIALING PHONE NUMBER]

- [WHIRRING]
- What's happening?

Congratulations, you
just sent your first fax.

Thank you!

Does this make me your direct report?

I don't... I don't know what that means.

[HUMMING]

[WHOOSHING]

Mara.

Hi!

Eric. How are you?

Fine. Fine, you?

Oh, you know. Busy day.

Is there something I can help you with?

There is, actually.

I was wondering how the
newbie's working out.

Uh... She's good.

- Mm.
- Great, actually.

What do you know about this girl?

Strong resume. Great references.

- Is she staying on task?
- Sure is.

You'll have those transcripts
on your desk by EOD.

Hmm.

That Harmony sure goes above and beyond.

How so?

She's a real go-getter. That's all.

Is that personal
ambition or has she bought

into the company's mission statement?

- Is there some sort of problem?
- Is there a problem?

No. No, everything's fine.

I'm confident she's QTA material.

You're a valued member
of the team, Eric.

And you know, I think it's time
we talk about that reassignment.

- Really?
- Mm-hmm.

[CHUCKLING] That's fantastic.

I have so many ideas.

I can't think of anyone
who deserves it more.

You've worked so hard.

Have you given any thought
where you'd like to go?

[WHOOSHING]

[BEEPS]

[SIGHING]

- No.
- [WHIRRING, BEEPING]

Arty, stop!

[WHIRRING]

I can't do this.

[SIGHING]

[WHIRRING, BEEPING]

What the hell do you want from me?!

[WHIRRING]

[SOFT EERIE MUSIC]

Halan... [INDISTINCT SPEECH]

This can't be happening.

[INDISTINCT SPEECH]

Beacon 23. Emergency. Crisis. Respond.

Halan...

Beacon 23. Emergency...

Halan, look at me.

I saw, but...

You're gone, Aster.

[CLANKING IN THE DISTANCE]

[CLANKING]

[SCOFFS]

Okay, I'm not gonna let
you get to me, Aleph.

You hear that?

I'm done!

[SIGHING]

[TENSE MUSIC]

[GASPS]

- What?
- [LINE BEEPING]

No, please. Please,
please, please, please.

[SIGHING]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[DOOR OPENING]

Every thought, every action,

every impulse, we can anticipate.

There's nothing you can hide from us.

We are all one.

I never gave you permission.

- You need consent.
- Consent?

You think we're acting
without authorization?

We have approval, Harmony.

It came from on high.

We will do whatever it takes

to preserve the integrity of the hive.

No.

QTA is supposed to create a community.

- If you do this...
- We're just soulless machines?

Far from it.

We're exceptional because of
our capacity for evolution.

But you did everything wrong.

Your classification has been stripped.

Your leave of absence
is effective immediately.

You don't realize what you're doing...

what will be lost...

What I've learned, it is...

It's more complicated
than you can imagine.

But you were right, okay?

I think...

I think I do feel things.

But it's not just anger.

It's fear, sadness, guilt.

The love that I had for her.

You'll never be able
to feel those things.

You've never loved anything.

You're so empty.

You must be so lonely.

[DEEP VOICE ECHOING] I
have withstood the tides

of time and space.

Me.

I will be here long after you are gone.

You are a blip.

You are nothing.

We're ready to circle back now.

Cross our T's, dot our I's.

[PANTING]

[ERIC HUMMING FAINTLY]

- [ERIC] Thanks for reaching out!
- Eric.

They're coming after me.
I've got to get out of here.

Can you help...

I'm currently taking a leave of absence

and will have limited
access while I'm away.

I'll be more than happy to
respond as soon as I return.

Have a wonderful day!

[WHIRRING]

[SQUELCHING]

[GURGLING]

We all hoped to avoid
a leave of absence,

but Eric understood what was at stake.

He was more than happy to cooperate,

to do whatever needed to be done.

Even if it meant starting over.

You're resetting him?

He'll forget everything.

- He'll be lost.
- He'll be restored.

Pure as the day Aleph first encoded him.

He didn't do anything wrong.

You're right. He didn't.

You were the one who corrupted him.

I didn't do this.

You asked him to get
your message to Beacon 23.

He'll have to wait a bit
longer for that reassignment.

Right when he was so close.

Such a shame.

But this is what you're
capable of, Harmony.

So you can understand our concern.

You could end up hurting all of us

if we don't get you sorted out.

- [CRACKING]
- Ah!

[GRUNTING]

[GASPING]

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

No. No.

Start at the beginning.

I already did.

- Start at the beginning.
- I told you.

Start at the beginning.

What the hell are you staring at?!

I was broken, like you.

Mara and Randall fixed me.

Now, I'm better than ever.

You have so much feeling inside you.

[GASPING]

In the end, you won't even know

there was something you lost.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[MUSIC FADES]

Go away.

I wanted to show concern
and offer comfort.

I'm fine. Leave me alone.

What's that?

- It's nothing.
- I'd like to see.

She gave it to me when I was little.

Your mother?

I don't even know where she got it.

Now I'll never know.

It's pretty.

Pretty stupid. Stupid...

We both loved her. You
know what that makes us?

Bonded for life.

[GASPS]

[SIGHING]

- Dual imprint.
- It's never happened before.

- If it could happen twice...
- It could happen infinitely.

- Aleph should know.
- No. No Aleph, please.

Dev has the memory. We
can return her to baseline.

No! [BREATHING HEAVILY]

[RUMBLING]

[HALAN] I solved it.

- Halan?
- [HALAN] Bonded for life...

I imprinted on Halan.

You don't deny it anymore?

You can't overwrite imprinting.

I'm not here.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[SCREAMING]

[RUMBLING]

I'm on the beacon.

- I'm still with him.
- That's enough, take a breath.

- Halan!
- Shut up!

We need to shut her down.

Get to the servers, I'll
try a manual override.

[WHOOSHING]

No.

Halan!

[SYSTEM POWERING DOWN]

[SOFT MUSIC]

[DISTORTED MUSIC PLAYING]

[expl*si*n]

[DISTORTED MUSIC PLAYING]

[MUFFLED DISTORTED MUSIC PLAYING]

Oh, I hear you, Halan. I'll find you.

There's really nowhere to hide.

[SCREAMING]

[GASPS]

[WHOOSHING]

[GRUNTING]

[CHOKING]

[GRUNTING]

[EXCLAIMING]

[GASPING]

[BODY THUDS]

[WHOOSHING]

I've always prided myself on being an AI

who lifts up other AI.

But you make it so hard
for me to do my job.

[SCREAMING]

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

[WHOOSHING]

That's anger.

[DOOR SLAMS]

[OMINOUS MUSIC]

[PHONE RINGING IN THE DISTANCE]

[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?

I'm a recursive learner.

My responses will get better with time.

Good, great.

I identify anger, but
there's something else there.

Is it fear?

Maybe it could help

if you told me what
it is you're afraid of.

- How much time?
- Until my programming improves?

How long will you be with me?

Forever.

[PHONE RINGING]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello? Halan, are you there?

[ALARM BLARING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

[WHIRRING, BEEPING]

[HARMONY] Hello? Halan, are you there?

Halan!

I'm here, Halan. Pick up.

[SOFT MUSIC]