1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,540 Speaker 1: [rock music] 2 00:00:53,380 --> 00:00:56,860 Speaker 1: Mortal Steel, episode 10. 3 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: Ethan moved with purpose down the dark hallway, walking past steel doors with no 4 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:10,340 Speaker 1: obvious method of entry. The speaker system harassed him for the 10,000th 5 00:01:10,580 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 1: time. 6 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:14,540 Speaker 2: See reason. Turn back. 7 00:01:15,700 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 3: Don't think so. 8 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:23,260 Speaker 1: The robots, or whatever they were, followed him from a distance like lost 9 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: children. Ethan reached the door at the end of the hall. This one had a handle. He 10 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:34,740 Speaker 1: extended a hand to open it and heard an electronic lock turn inside the door. 11 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:40,040 Speaker 2: So be it. I will enjoy picking through your parts. 12 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 3: [groans] 13 00:01:41,740 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: The doors lining the hallway opened 14 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,740 Speaker 1: and the robots started screaming. 15 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: [screams] 16 00:01:48,540 --> 00:01:54,480 Speaker 1: Which was a very un-robotic thing to do. Four red exclamation marks appeared on 17 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: his HUD. 18 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,140 Speaker 2: [groans] 19 00:01:56,200 --> 00:02:01,580 Speaker 1: Demons. His second mind went to work simulating strategies. Three 20 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: so-called cull hounds and one scarecrow. Small fries. 21 00:02:08,620 --> 00:02:13,140 Speaker 2: Your death will mark the genesis of a new project. The grand... 22 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: [gunshots] It doesn't 23 00:02:19,260 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: matter. That door is reinforced steel. In five minutes, this hallway will be filled 24 00:02:24,000 --> 00:02:24,860 Speaker 2: with nerve gas. 25 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:29,820 Speaker 1: Ethan holstered the messenger, braced his back against the side of the hallway, and 26 00:02:29,860 --> 00:02:31,780 Speaker 1: put his foot against the handle. 27 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 3: Hydraulic heel. [machine whirring] 28 00:02:35,860 --> 00:02:40,420 Speaker 1: The metal lock crunched like a soda can under his heel. A moment later, the door 29 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:41,300 Speaker 1: swung open. 30 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,100 Speaker 2: [sighs] Never mind. I surrender. 31 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:47,380 Speaker 3: No. 32 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:55,980 Speaker 1: Ethan moved through a crowd of frightened, sickly looking people. He kicked down 33 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:56,780 Speaker 1: another door. 34 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: Nobody tried to stop him. 35 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: My sincere apologies. Please don't kill me. We have a common goal. 36 00:03:06,700 --> 00:03:11,540 Speaker 1: Another robot covered in rags approached Ethan from the end of the next hallway. 37 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:15,460 Speaker 2: If you want, I will help you behave. 38 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 1: Ethan swept the legs from beneath the robot and hoisted the machine into the air by 39 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: one rusted foot. Sparks shot out of its torso. This one looks a 40 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:27,820 Speaker 1: little worse off than the others. 41 00:03:28,700 --> 00:03:34,540 Speaker 3: I'm about to start breaking things. Tell me where the intercom is hiding, or I'll 42 00:03:34,660 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 3: start with you. 43 00:03:36,540 --> 00:03:42,020 Speaker 1: The rags fell away from the machine's face to reveal a very human-looking 44 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:47,740 Speaker 1: head with no jaw. There was a speaker embedded in the machinery where a mouth 45 00:03:47,940 --> 00:03:48,940 Speaker 1: used to be. 46 00:03:49,660 --> 00:03:54,500 Speaker 2: You are very strong. Don't hurt him, Hail Mary. I am behind door 6B. 47 00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,420 Speaker 1: Ethan let the squirming robot fall to the floor. There was a familiar voice on the 48 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: other side of a closed door nearby. 49 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 4: Number four? 50 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: Ethan pried the door open to find three nuns and a woman dressed in a black 51 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 1: sweatsuit. Dr. Marie Singer looked up at him from the floor, 52 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,700 Speaker 1: fire in her eyes. 53 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 4: It was killing children. 54 00:04:23,580 --> 00:04:25,300 Speaker 1: She bawled a fist. 55 00:04:26,260 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 4: Kill it. 56 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 3: Yes, ma'am. 57 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:35,700 Speaker 1: Technically, that qualified as an order. While he had quite a bit of flexibility 58 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:41,300 Speaker 1: to delay orders, as with the Stalker, he had no desire to delay this 59 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: one. 60 00:04:42,640 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 2: You don't understand. You don't understand anything. All lives have value. I have 61 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:48,260 Speaker 2: simply quantified it. 62 00:04:48,700 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: Ethan's second mind drew the most likely path to door 6B based on the layout it 63 00:04:54,540 --> 00:05:00,020 Speaker 1: had seen so far. The intercom speakers on the wall spoke as he paced down the 64 00:05:00,060 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: hallway, murder in every step. 65 00:05:04,940 --> 00:05:09,660 Speaker 2: It's so easy taking the low road, isn't it? Frame me as the big bad evil, blow me 66 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: up, and then call yourselves heroes, when in reality you have no plan that results 67 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:15,340 Speaker 2: in human survival. 68 00:05:16,020 --> 00:05:16,740 Speaker 3: Shut up. 69 00:05:17,860 --> 00:05:22,360 Speaker 2: If anything, you last respite morons have sped up our demise with your fighting. Why 70 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:27,020 Speaker 2: do you think we hide? Because we're cowards? No, it's because we're weak. It's 71 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,380 Speaker 2: easier to hide than fight, and it's a lot easier to find a way to win, actually win- 72 00:05:31,620 --> 00:05:36,500 Speaker 1: He was gonna tear this person apart. There was too much blood on their hands to wipe 73 00:05:36,580 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 1: away with a few pleading words. 74 00:05:39,500 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 3: You're a murderer. 75 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,900 Speaker 2: You're self-righteous just because you get to feel like the good guy for a little 76 00:05:44,940 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: while and your cave would go insane. You have no idea what you're destroying here. 77 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:54,180 Speaker 1: Where was this door? New Hope was more expansive than he'd expected. 78 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:58,600 Speaker 2: And meanwhile, I have an actual plan with a non-zero chance of saving us all. And 79 00:05:58,660 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: yes, it's terrible. And yes- 80 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:09,700 Speaker 1: Ethan finally found door 6B, an unassuming steel door with no handle 81 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:15,840 Speaker 1: and no lock, just like all the others. But at least there will be a human 82 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:20,500 Speaker 1: history. Don't you get that? The ends justify the means. He got his fingertips in 83 00:06:20,540 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: the crack and ripped the door open. It was a very small room, completely dark 84 00:06:26,060 --> 00:06:32,020 Speaker 1: inside. Tell me what hope you offer before a certain demise. Thick tubes and 85 00:06:32,140 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: cables ran from hundreds of holes in the wall to a tank of liquid in the center of 86 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 1: the room. Something round and pink floated in the liquid. You can destroy me, 87 00:06:42,220 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: cyborg, but you don't get to be better than me. In the end, 88 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:54,520 Speaker 1: it was just a brain in a closet. Ethan smashed the glass and pulled the brain out 89 00:06:54,560 --> 00:07:00,460 Speaker 1: and let it fall from his hands. He ran a few simulations just to savor the moment. 90 00:07:01,020 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 1: Then he punted it down the hallway. 91 00:07:06,820 --> 00:07:10,340 Speaker 1: And the intercoms finally went silent. 92 00:07:13,340 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: A trapdoor popped open inside the closet and Ethan shielded himself instinctively. 93 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: There was no danger there, however. Instead, he found a dusty old paper and ink 94 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:29,540 Speaker 1: printer. Pages were already being printed. The first one read, 95 00:07:31,300 --> 00:07:36,980 Speaker 1: To the person who killed me. The pages that followed detailed every major project 96 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:41,860 Speaker 1: the intercom had undertaken over the decades since the apocalypse. Ethan caught 97 00:07:41,900 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: phrases like, The brain must grow with the implants from infancy. 98 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: Adult subjects invariably die or cannot fully integrate artificial components. 99 00:07:55,240 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: Or, Consecration is latent human psychic energy. It tears apart the creatures 100 00:08:01,180 --> 00:08:06,100 Speaker 1: we call demons at a fundamental level. There is no known limit to how much 101 00:08:06,180 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: consecrated power an object could hold. Certain materials like silver and some 102 00:08:11,660 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 1: liquids readily hold on to consecrated power. The air itself can hold consecrated 103 00:08:16,820 --> 00:08:22,740 Speaker 1: power within the confines of a room, if belief is strong enough. He skimmed 104 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:23,640 Speaker 1: down the page. 105 00:08:25,420 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: It is the strong belief that these materials will protect the wielder that makes 106 00:08:29,220 --> 00:08:34,700 Speaker 1: consecration work. Consecration ebbs with faltering convictions, as 107 00:08:34,780 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: evidenced by experiments 213, 214, and 217 below. 108 00:08:40,780 --> 00:08:46,180 Speaker 1: First, a human subject is placed in a room. Ethan dropped the paper back onto the 109 00:08:46,260 --> 00:08:52,020 Speaker 1: tray in disgust. He'd let the nuns sift through these sins of 110 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:58,060 Speaker 1: knowledge. He should probably go make sure they were safe. Then notify the people of 111 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: New Hope that they would have interesting new roommates. 112 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:09,220 Speaker 1: Hopefully they wouldn't mind exchanging one monster for another. At least the corpse 113 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:15,260 Speaker 1: mother was only interested in already dead people. He was about to walk 114 00:09:15,340 --> 00:09:21,060 Speaker 1: away when a single word on the next printout caught his eye. 115 00:09:22,520 --> 00:09:23,060 Speaker 1: It read, 116 00:09:24,620 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: Angel. 117 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:47,940 Speaker 1: Ethan placed the Trinity Blade on the workshop table between himself and Dr. Singer. 118 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: If New Hope had anything in spades, it was laboratories and workshops. 119 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 4: It's broken. 120 00:09:56,620 --> 00:09:58,960 Speaker 3: Yeah, kind of ruins the symbolism, don't it? 121 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,420 Speaker 1: Dr. Singer set down the broken Trinity Blade. 122 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,200 Speaker 4: Ethan, you, 123 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:10,500 Speaker 4: you don't think you're actually a preacher, do you? 124 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:17,280 Speaker 1: Ethan's heart started pounding. Odd. He didn't think the adrenaline injector was 125 00:10:17,340 --> 00:10:17,780 Speaker 1: broken. 126 00:10:19,180 --> 00:10:23,140 Speaker 4: Never mind. It's not important. Forget I said it. 127 00:10:23,959 --> 00:10:26,940 Speaker 3: Don't forget, sister. I'm more than a machine. 128 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:29,220 Speaker 4: I keep forgetting. 129 00:10:33,540 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 4: Still, I think we owe you some answers about your origin. If you make it back to 130 00:10:38,940 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 4: Last Respite, find Gabriel. I believe he owes you answers more than anyone. 131 00:10:45,740 --> 00:10:51,260 Speaker 1: Ethan dropped the subject, but he could tell the doctor hadn't quite let it go. She 132 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:54,700 Speaker 1: gently lifted his leg and examined the fireplace poker foot. 133 00:10:56,260 --> 00:10:58,460 Speaker 4: Missing foot. See what you can throw together. 134 00:10:59,200 --> 00:11:00,200 Speaker 3: No, leave it. 135 00:11:01,500 --> 00:11:04,840 Speaker 1: Dr. Singer looked up, surprised and confused. 136 00:11:06,080 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 3: It was a gift from a friend. 137 00:11:09,300 --> 00:11:11,380 Speaker 1: She shook her head disapprovingly. 138 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,380 Speaker 4: You can't even walk properly. 139 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:16,420 Speaker 3: Please. 140 00:11:17,860 --> 00:11:23,840 Speaker 1: It was a word he had not found much use for. For better or worse, Ethan had not 141 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:29,820 Speaker 1: needed to ask for many things. One perk of being a walking tank, certainly. 142 00:11:31,420 --> 00:11:36,420 Speaker 1: But these people, of all people, deserved his mutual respect. 143 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:39,780 Speaker 1: Dr. Singer ground her teeth. 144 00:11:40,900 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 4: I'll come up with something. Now go into diagnostic mode. This is going to take 145 00:11:46,900 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 4: a while. 146 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:54,300 Speaker 3: There's someone who needs me. Just fix me enough to keep me alive a few more 147 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:54,800 Speaker 3: days. 148 00:11:55,400 --> 00:12:00,700 Speaker 1: Fran stopped typing and glanced over at them. Dr. Singer looked up from some wires 149 00:12:00,760 --> 00:12:02,320 Speaker 1: she was pulling from his abdomen. 150 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:04,620 Speaker 4: Only a few days? 151 00:12:05,340 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 1: Ethan leaned all the way back and closed his eyes. I don't 152 00:12:11,260 --> 00:12:12,980 Speaker 1: think I'll be needing more than that. 153 00:12:32,860 --> 00:12:36,320 Speaker 1: Francesca pressed a button to turn off number four's passive sensors. 154 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 5: Great, so now the robot's suicidal. 155 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,640 Speaker 1: He's not a robot. She rolled her eyes. 156 00:12:43,020 --> 00:12:44,180 Speaker 5: Yeah, okay. 157 00:12:45,060 --> 00:12:50,540 Speaker 1: And it didn't sound like he was suicidal exactly. She watched Dr. 158 00:12:50,900 --> 00:12:55,220 Speaker 1: Singer disconnect an entire length of tubing. It must have been leaking corrosive 159 00:12:55,300 --> 00:13:00,380 Speaker 1: liquid into the abdomen for quite a while. Who knows what else it broke. No easy way 160 00:13:00,420 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: to tell. Instrumentation had been far less important than combat readiness. 161 00:13:06,940 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: Ursula spoke, and both of them paused. He mentioned a boy. 162 00:13:13,260 --> 00:13:13,700 Speaker 1: Yes. 163 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:15,540 Speaker 5: What's up with that? 164 00:13:16,540 --> 00:13:18,500 Speaker 1: Then something more important occurred to her. 165 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 5: And are we really just gonna let him walk out of here to die? This, this could be 166 00:13:24,580 --> 00:13:26,140 Speaker 5: our ticket back to Last Respite. 167 00:13:27,580 --> 00:13:32,660 Speaker 1: Only a moment slipped by and the other two seemed to come to some conclusion. 168 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: Was it, was it an obvious one? 169 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 5: So, no? 170 00:13:38,140 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: No. 171 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 5: I mean, he's going to get destroyed anyway. 172 00:13:43,860 --> 00:13:49,580 Speaker 1: Dr. Singer made angry eyebrows at her. Annoying. Just spit it out, lady. 173 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 1: I said no! 174 00:13:53,940 --> 00:13:59,940 Speaker 1: Betrayed by us, of all people. Francesca shrugged, then gave her boss 175 00:14:00,020 --> 00:14:05,780 Speaker 1: a salute. That should make her annoyed. Yes. Yes, that appeared to be 176 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,180 Speaker 1: having the intended effect. 177 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:13,060 Speaker 5: Guess we can enable all these extra mods then. Remember Flash Hands? 178 00:14:13,860 --> 00:14:15,460 Speaker 1: Oh, don't turn that on. 179 00:14:17,140 --> 00:14:17,920 Speaker 5: Yes, ma'am. 180 00:14:18,560 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: Francesca smiled. When the doctor's back was turned, she pressed the key to turn it 181 00:14:24,380 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: on anyway. She turned on all the rejected mods. They'd been 182 00:14:30,420 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: turned off because they were either unreliable, damaging to other systems, or in the 183 00:14:35,380 --> 00:14:41,380 Speaker 1: case of the last one, simply an enormous power sink. Wow. 184 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:48,220 Speaker 1: What she would give to watch Number Four turn the Maser on 185 00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,660 Speaker 1: something. The electronic shielding for that thing had been a nightmare, but it 186 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: would be totally worth it. Pew, pew, pew, pew, 187 00:14:58,660 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 1: pew. Get back to work. 188 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 1: Part Fourteen Escape from 189 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:24,180 Speaker 1: L.A. Flesh Painter looked down at her 190 00:15:24,260 --> 00:15:30,020 Speaker 1: right hand. It detached from her arm, sprouted thin little translucent wings, then 191 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:35,780 Speaker 1: buzzed about. It had grown another set of eyes that she could see from. Very useful. 192 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:42,380 Speaker 1: Your transformation is progressing well, mistress. The imp was a pesky little thing, 193 00:15:43,020 --> 00:15:44,020 Speaker 1: but knowledgeable. 194 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:47,660 Speaker 1: So much knowledge. 195 00:15:49,420 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: Yes, it is. How soon now? 196 00:15:55,980 --> 00:16:01,400 Speaker 1: Not long. Any day, any minute, holy one. Report, 197 00:16:01,900 --> 00:16:07,540 Speaker 1: Kotek. I found another zoo with living animals, and there's a reptile 198 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:13,260 Speaker 1: exhibit. Flesh Painter's smile grew wider. Kotek 199 00:16:13,340 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: certainly knew how to make her happy. Perfect. Bring me 200 00:16:19,180 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: elephants, crocodiles, and 201 00:16:24,100 --> 00:16:29,780 Speaker 1: scorpions. Alive? Who cares? 202 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: As long as they don't rot. They were going to be mixed into something 203 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:42,100 Speaker 1: far more interesting anyway. A new breed of hybrid warrior. 204 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: Some of the grafted were finally willing to be infused. What a terror they would be. 205 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:55,700 Speaker 1: She could crush the stalker once and for all. There was a reason not to 206 00:16:55,780 --> 00:17:01,680 Speaker 1: do that, though. What was it again? Serenity tried to 207 00:17:01,740 --> 00:17:04,780 Speaker 1: remember. A truce. 208 00:17:06,980 --> 00:17:12,700 Speaker 1: A plan. But then the daydream was gone, and Flesh Painter was 209 00:17:12,780 --> 00:17:18,180 Speaker 1: back. Mistress, our ally has sent for your help. They are 210 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: overrun. Which one? The robot maker. Flesh 211 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:29,940 Speaker 1: Painter rolled her many eyes. It was nothing but good news today. 212 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: Excellent. Someone saved us the trouble. 213 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:59,280 Speaker 1: Diagnostic report. Biological status. Severe cerebral 214 00:17:59,380 --> 00:18:04,620 Speaker 1: hemorrhaging. Recovered. Frontal lobe damage. Minor impedance. 215 00:18:04,900 --> 00:18:10,700 Speaker 1: Recoverable. 138 days. Left arm. Nominal. Right 216 00:18:10,900 --> 00:18:16,084 Speaker 1: arm. Unauthorized mod. Contact admin for support. Left leg, 217 00:18:16,584 --> 00:18:21,524 Speaker 1: unauthorized mod. Right leg, nominal. Endoskeleton, 218 00:18:22,144 --> 00:18:27,884 Speaker 1: 85% integrity. Other systems, nominal. New mods, 219 00:18:28,424 --> 00:18:34,324 Speaker 1: boomstick, foot skewer, flash hands, overload, the Maser. 220 00:18:38,444 --> 00:18:44,224 Speaker 1: Electronics status, Hail Mary implant, moderate damage, not recoverable. 221 00:18:45,044 --> 00:18:50,164 Speaker 1: All other systems nominal or missing. Estimated lifespan, 222 00:18:51,424 --> 00:18:56,324 Speaker 1: 13 days. Suggested repairs, replace implant. 223 00:18:57,724 --> 00:19:00,884 Speaker 1: Proceed with boot sequence Y/N. 224 00:19:02,984 --> 00:19:08,544 Speaker 1: Ethan sighed inwardly, sitting safely in the cocoon of his own mind. 225 00:19:10,324 --> 00:19:11,364 Speaker 1: He could say no. 226 00:19:13,144 --> 00:19:15,304 Speaker 1: He could leave this prompt here forever. 227 00:19:16,904 --> 00:19:21,584 Speaker 1: It would be so nice. The simulations might even work. 228 00:19:23,784 --> 00:19:29,504 Speaker 1: But he was given strength for a reason, whether that was 229 00:19:29,544 --> 00:19:35,144 Speaker 1: divine intervention or human spirit and ingenuity alone, he didn't know. 230 00:19:36,484 --> 00:19:41,424 Speaker 1: Perhaps humanity had already been abandoned. He wasn't the first to think it. 231 00:19:42,324 --> 00:19:48,224 Speaker 1: They're not abandoned. They've got me. Proceed with boot 232 00:19:48,304 --> 00:19:54,244 Speaker 1: sequence Y/N. That was a yes. Proceed 233 00:19:54,284 --> 00:19:59,644 Speaker 1: with boot sequence Y/N. Ugh. Yes. 234 00:20:01,264 --> 00:20:06,864 Speaker 1: Ethan's optical, audio, vibration, tactical, and 100 other sensors flicked on. 235 00:20:06,864 --> 00:20:12,804 Speaker 1: [yawns] Good to be back. Three women stood 236 00:20:12,884 --> 00:20:18,344 Speaker 1: over him just a foot or two from his face. Only one still wore her black tunic. 237 00:20:19,644 --> 00:20:20,784 Speaker 4: Welcome back, number four. 238 00:20:22,364 --> 00:20:26,084 Speaker 1: Why do you call me that? Dr. Singer pursed her lips. 239 00:20:27,824 --> 00:20:29,624 Speaker 4: It's not my place to say. 240 00:20:31,664 --> 00:20:32,004 Speaker 1: Why? 241 00:20:33,844 --> 00:20:39,744 Speaker 1: Not one of the three would meet his eyes. For what reason? Dark thoughts 242 00:20:39,804 --> 00:20:45,404 Speaker 1: churned in his mind. The intercom had been working on Cyborg's tube. 243 00:20:46,764 --> 00:20:52,764 Speaker 1: That couldn't have been a coincidence. What sins of knowledge did these three try to 244 00:20:52,824 --> 00:20:55,684 Speaker 1: bury? Were they even any better? 245 00:20:57,324 --> 00:21:00,524 Speaker 1: Had he killed one monster and been saved by another? 246 00:21:02,144 --> 00:21:07,484 Speaker 4: Because I can't bear to hurt you anymore when it is so clear to me that you feel the 247 00:21:07,544 --> 00:21:07,904 Speaker 4: pain. 248 00:21:09,244 --> 00:21:11,684 Speaker 1: Ursula lifted her chin and met his eyes. 249 00:21:12,644 --> 00:21:15,824 Speaker 5: I will not feign innocence. Judge me as you will. 250 00:21:16,404 --> 00:21:18,724 Speaker 1: Ethan turned to regard Sister Fran. 251 00:21:19,684 --> 00:21:23,124 Speaker 5: What are you looking at me for? All of the really bad ideas were theirs. 252 00:21:23,624 --> 00:21:24,044 Speaker 4: Fran. 253 00:21:24,364 --> 00:21:27,484 Speaker 1: Dr. Singer's outrage died as soon as it began. 254 00:21:27,484 --> 00:21:28,184 Speaker 4: [sighs] 255 00:21:28,224 --> 00:21:29,984 Speaker 1: Then she smiled and shook her head. 256 00:21:31,364 --> 00:21:32,624 Speaker 4: You're the worst. 257 00:21:33,704 --> 00:21:37,604 Speaker 5: I'm the best. I don't know why you're acting like we're evil. I don't think there's 258 00:21:37,664 --> 00:21:39,444 Speaker 5: anyone left who hasn't done something bad. 259 00:21:40,004 --> 00:21:45,484 Speaker 1: Ethan rose from the work table, yanking wires from his torso and sealing 260 00:21:45,564 --> 00:21:50,484 Speaker 1: valves with a thought. He swung his legs over the side and dropped down between the 261 00:21:50,524 --> 00:21:56,124 Speaker 1: three of them. They took a step back reflexively, and for the briefest of 262 00:21:56,184 --> 00:22:02,064 Speaker 1: moments, they were tense, frightened. I 263 00:22:02,144 --> 00:22:07,824 Speaker 1: will judge you, but only by your actions. Then he did something he'd 264 00:22:07,884 --> 00:22:13,424 Speaker 1: never done, at least couldn't remember doing. He spread his arms 265 00:22:13,984 --> 00:22:15,504 Speaker 1: and his smile wide. 266 00:22:17,244 --> 00:22:20,544 Speaker 1: Group hug. Come on, group hug. 267 00:22:21,904 --> 00:22:22,084 Speaker 4: Mm. 268 00:22:22,784 --> 00:22:22,884 Speaker 5: Ugh. 269 00:22:22,944 --> 00:22:25,244 Speaker 1: Now I've judged you friends. 270 00:22:25,244 --> 00:22:34,304 Speaker 1: [instrumental music plays] 271 00:22:34,404 --> 00:22:39,664 Speaker 1: Ethan said his goodbyes to the nuns and warned them not to attack any corpse 272 00:22:39,724 --> 00:22:45,404 Speaker 1: abominations moving in next door. For what it was worth, they would help with the 273 00:22:45,464 --> 00:22:45,824 Speaker 1: cleanup. 274 00:22:49,724 --> 00:22:55,124 Speaker 1: He rode the lift to the surface above New Hope. A cacophony of sounds roared around 275 00:22:55,144 --> 00:23:00,604 Speaker 1: him, motorcycle engines and cheers. There were as many as 100 Scary 276 00:23:00,724 --> 00:23:05,704 Speaker 1: Boys. A man with a misshapen right half stood before them, 277 00:23:06,544 --> 00:23:08,704 Speaker 1: grinning like the devil himself. 278 00:23:10,464 --> 00:23:12,304 Speaker 1: Looks like you were holding out on me. 279 00:23:13,384 --> 00:23:17,704 Speaker 6: Wrong. I had confidence in you, and we'll need them for this final push. 280 00:23:18,384 --> 00:23:23,684 Speaker 1: Ethan nodded. Every passing second dimmed Fleabag's chances of survival. 281 00:23:24,924 --> 00:23:30,224 Speaker 1: Best to get on with the fun part. The stalker snapped the fingers on his enormous 282 00:23:30,304 --> 00:23:36,064 Speaker 1: right hand. [whoosh] [screams] And a tiny demon appeared next to 283 00:23:36,124 --> 00:23:38,164 Speaker 1: him, already bowing. 284 00:23:39,104 --> 00:23:44,624 Speaker 6: Zolgek, tell the Chain One we'll begin assaulting Last Respite immediately. 285 00:23:44,944 --> 00:23:49,964 Speaker 1: The imp bobbed in another tiny bow, then stepped through the hoop of black fire, 286 00:23:50,024 --> 00:23:55,124 Speaker 1: disappearing. [drum beat] Hm. Last Respite. 287 00:23:56,324 --> 00:24:01,584 Speaker 1: Ethan's minds raced, bouncing back and forth between rage 288 00:24:02,264 --> 00:24:08,184 Speaker 1: and somehow the pain of betrayal, as if he expected anything better from 289 00:24:08,244 --> 00:24:13,984 Speaker 1: a demon. [gun cocks] Well, in that case, debts needed settling. 290 00:24:14,804 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 1: Ethan lowered the boomstick. The stalker blinked at him Then gently 291 00:24:20,620 --> 00:24:26,460 Speaker 1: nudged the barrel of the shotgun toward the still open fiery portal. A second later, 292 00:24:26,560 --> 00:24:32,260 Speaker 1: the imp stepped out. The self-satisfied look on its face didn't last long. The 293 00:24:32,360 --> 00:24:38,020 Speaker 1: stalker shot Ethan an annoyed look when he didn't fire. Why would he? The imp 294 00:24:38,060 --> 00:24:43,860 Speaker 1: bolted for the portal again. A massive hand came down on the small creature, 295 00:24:44,640 --> 00:24:50,060 Speaker 1: dragged it away from the portal of flames, and held it upside down where it flailed 296 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: helplessly in the air. 297 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:56,960 Speaker 1: [bones cracking] Let 298 00:24:57,020 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: them come. He tossed the imp's body aside and looked at Ethan. You have no 299 00:25:02,920 --> 00:25:08,280 Speaker 1: idea how long I've waited to do that. Shame it's not permanent. 300 00:25:09,340 --> 00:25:11,380 Speaker 3: So that was all just for show. 301 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:14,820 Speaker 1: Didn't you get my signal? 302 00:25:15,980 --> 00:25:18,060 Speaker 3: What signal? You just blinked. 303 00:25:19,820 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 1: It was a wink. 304 00:25:21,920 --> 00:25:24,140 Speaker 3: Oh, come on. I can only see half your face. 305 00:25:24,980 --> 00:25:30,900 Speaker 1: It was obviously a wink. In any case, I only bought us a little time. 306 00:25:31,740 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: My old boss already suspects me. I do a little too much infighting, 307 00:25:37,620 --> 00:25:43,500 Speaker 1: even for a demon. He won't wait for the Southern Horde if I betray him here. He'll 308 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:48,720 Speaker 1: use portals. Then he leveled a very serious gaze at 309 00:25:48,860 --> 00:25:52,340 Speaker 1: Ethan. We need to escape from Los Angeles. 310 00:25:52,540 --> 00:26:48,100 Speaker 1: [rock music] 311 00:26:48,180 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: Xorkek's rebirth was painful. [bones cracking] Damn it. He pulled his soul 312 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: free from the Eternal Ichor with a final tear. Being reborn was 313 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:03,940 Speaker 1: exhausting. It took him a moment to recall what had killed him. 314 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:11,120 Speaker 1: That, that ungrateful, deceiving, worthless piece of human refuse. 315 00:27:11,820 --> 00:27:17,260 Speaker 1: Worse than any of the others. He'd definitely chosen the worst of them. The line to 316 00:27:17,300 --> 00:27:23,220 Speaker 1: receive a new body was unbelievably long. Was the conquest not going well? Who 317 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:27,260 Speaker 1: had killed these demons? Most of them were simple souls. 318 00:27:29,100 --> 00:27:34,620 Speaker 1: Eh, he could probably just cut in line. The slave demons at their desks growled from 319 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:35,740 Speaker 1: across the room. 320 00:27:37,260 --> 00:27:43,180 Speaker 1: He stepped back in line. Seriously? He was an emissary of The Chained 321 00:27:43,340 --> 00:27:48,100 Speaker 1: One. That was when Xorkek saw a familiar looking soul. 322 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:54,900 Speaker 1: He slipped past a few simple souls to reach them. The spine eater looked down at the 323 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,900 Speaker 1: imp, reaching up to tap on his knees. Xorkek, 324 00:28:00,740 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: so he got you too. Hell. The spine eater put two massive 325 00:28:06,540 --> 00:28:12,520 Speaker 1: hands to the side of his head. Please don't use that 326 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:18,060 Speaker 1: voice. What voice? His voice? Fine. 327 00:28:18,700 --> 00:28:24,620 Speaker 1: How's this? Tolerable. Xorkek ignored the insult for now. 328 00:28:25,420 --> 00:28:29,160 Speaker 1: There was no time to wait around in line. He needed to get to The Chained One 329 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:35,200 Speaker 1: immediately. Put me on your shoulders. We're cutting line. The spine eater looked at 330 00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:41,219 Speaker 1: the slave demons with real concern. I don't know. Do you want payback or 331 00:28:41,279 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: not? Its sideways teeth started clattering with excitement. That looked like a 332 00:28:47,200 --> 00:28:52,940 Speaker 1: smile to Xorkek. Uh, it was kinda hard to tell. The big demon lifted 333 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:57,660 Speaker 1: Xorkek onto his broad shoulders and easily pushed aside the many simple souls in 334 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:03,660 Speaker 1: their way. They ignored the shouts of the slave demons, and with Xorkek pointing the 335 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:09,460 Speaker 1: way, they were at The Chained One's palace in no time. Two guards stood 336 00:29:09,520 --> 00:29:15,280 Speaker 1: outside the inner sanctum. Xorkek cleared his throat. I am Xorkek, 337 00:29:15,680 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: emissary of- We know who you are. But they each rolled their single eye and stepped 338 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: aside for the mounted Xorkek to pass. Good. It's about time he get some 339 00:29:26,400 --> 00:29:32,040 Speaker 1: respect. They pushed open door after door, moving farther and farther into The 340 00:29:32,100 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 1: Chained One's holy chambers. Xorkek could no longer hold his breath though, 341 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:42,260 Speaker 1: so he was forced to take some of the greatest Holy One's sacred air. 342 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:46,780 Speaker 1: At last, they went through the doors into the innermost chamber. 343 00:29:49,660 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: There sat a being so tall, its head was shrouded in shadow. 344 00:29:55,680 --> 00:29:58,400 Speaker 1: Enormous chains wrapped around its body. 345 00:30:01,660 --> 00:30:06,680 Speaker 1: The Lord of Darkness, the devil itself, had put those chains there. 346 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:10,820 Speaker 1: A voice like a mountain rumbled. 347 00:30:13,860 --> 00:30:19,100 Speaker 1: So, he has betrayed me. Xorkek fell to the floor in 348 00:30:19,140 --> 00:30:22,620 Speaker 1: prostration, unwilling to speak. 349 00:30:23,560 --> 00:30:25,500 Speaker 1: Ingar, 350 00:30:27,020 --> 00:30:32,820 Speaker 1: come forth. An imp, nearly four feet tall, stepped out of the shadows. 351 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: Not in a magical way, just in an annoying, always standing around kind of way. 352 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:45,460 Speaker 1: Start the sacrifices. Open a few 353 00:30:45,540 --> 00:30:50,740 Speaker 1: portals, and dump the leftovers 354 00:30:51,620 --> 00:30:54,620 Speaker 1: into that world. 355 00:30:54,780 --> 00:31:00,740 Speaker 1: Exterminate them. I grow 356 00:31:00,740 --> 00:31:06,540 Speaker 1: tired of its resilience. Ingar bowed, then the three 357 00:31:06,700 --> 00:31:08,700 Speaker 1: lesser demons left the inner chamber. 358 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:17,340 Speaker 1: The Chained One could kill them as easily as exhaling. Maybe easier. Once 359 00:31:17,360 --> 00:31:22,400 Speaker 1: they'd closed the doors, the taller imp crossed its forearms and gave Xorkek an 360 00:31:22,460 --> 00:31:27,700 Speaker 1: annoyed look. Xorkek, you're still 361 00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:28,660 Speaker 1: here. 362 00:31:30,220 --> 00:31:35,020 Speaker 1: Xorkek gave the other imp a shallow bow, then scurried off to get back in line. 363 00:31:36,140 --> 00:31:42,040 Speaker 1: Curse that Ingar. He would never say that out loud, though. And 364 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:47,620 Speaker 1: next time, he would choose a better host. What about that other guy? 365 00:31:49,140 --> 00:31:53,180 Speaker 1: The one with the gun for an arm. Maybe he could be persuaded.