1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,000 Speaker 1: [rock music] 2 00:00:07,060 --> 00:00:51,900 Speaker 1: Mortal 3 00:00:52,180 --> 00:00:58,020 Speaker 1: Steel. Prologue: Unmaking. Six 4 00:00:58,120 --> 00:00:58,780 Speaker 1: months ago. 5 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:06,100 Speaker 1: Gabriel Kline waited for the people on the other end of the video call to die. 6 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:11,420 Speaker 1: Everyone still with him in the conference room averted their eyes, but not Gabriel. 7 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:17,760 Speaker 1: Gabriel stared directly into the eyes of a doomed man. Professor 8 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: Saitama did not turn away from the camera as people piled furniture against the 9 00:01:22,580 --> 00:01:24,340 Speaker 1: doors in the video behind him. 10 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: We are releasing everything we worked on. Please do not 11 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:33,460 Speaker 2: judge us harshly for what you find. 12 00:01:33,460 --> 00:01:38,380 Speaker 1: "It is not my judgment you should fear." 13 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:44,400 Speaker 1: Something collided with the doors in Saitama's conference room, causing their 14 00:01:44,460 --> 00:01:49,660 Speaker 1: makeshift furniture barricade to shudder. People screamed and spoke hurriedly in 15 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:54,980 Speaker 1: Japanese. Saitama's gaze did not waver, though, and neither did Gabriel's. 16 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: He would not miss a moment of this magnificent man's life. 17 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: Should I beg forgiveness then? 18 00:02:03,460 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: "It couldn't hurt, old friend." Someone started sobbing next 19 00:02:09,479 --> 00:02:14,620 Speaker 1: to Gabriel, and he put his hand out for them to hold. Marie gripped the hand 20 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: tightly, as if she could prevent the Japanese team's fate simply by holding on tight 21 00:02:20,020 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: enough. Something hit the door again hard enough to scatter the barricade. People 22 00:02:25,340 --> 00:02:31,300 Speaker 1: hurried to rebuild it, but it was futile. A long, pale snout pushed 23 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: through the buckling barricade. More people braced the door itself. An inhuman 24 00:02:37,060 --> 00:02:42,840 Speaker 1: hand with sagging pale skin and only three fingers slid through the opening 25 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 1: crack. Still the Japanese team braced the door with as many people as could fit 26 00:02:47,780 --> 00:02:53,580 Speaker 1: around it. The creature raked its dagger claws across the women and men bracing the 27 00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:59,260 Speaker 1: door until none could hold it any longer. Tears streamed down Gabriel's 28 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: face, but still he watched as the demons tore the door from its hinges and 29 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:10,780 Speaker 1: ripped into the people on the video feed. Nightmarish creatures with impossible 30 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:16,580 Speaker 1: proportions, like tall dogs with reverse joints, sagging skin, and 31 00:03:16,660 --> 00:03:22,340 Speaker 1: no hair. Professor Saitama stared forward into the camera, chin held high, 32 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: awaiting his fate. 33 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: Arigato, Gabriel. 34 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:33,340 Speaker 1: Mercifully, the other man cut the video feed just as the massacre began. Gabriel 35 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 1: Kline stared at the black screen where his friend's face had been just moments 36 00:03:37,700 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 1: before. A living, breathing, wonderful man and his dedicated team of 37 00:03:43,500 --> 00:03:49,220 Speaker 1: selfless heroes, torn apart for the crime of existing. Gabriel 38 00:03:49,260 --> 00:03:54,380 Speaker 1: placed a hand on the black screen and bowed his head, letting the warm tears patter 39 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:59,900 Speaker 1: down onto his robes. "Arigato, Saitama." 40 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:07,420 Speaker 1: Pastor Ethan Cutter was wheeled down the hallway of the Advanced Clinic, the only 41 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: such building in Last Respite, one of the three remaining human strongholds in the 42 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:18,019 Speaker 1: old Los Angeles area. It differed from the other clinics in Last Respite. Those were 43 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:23,340 Speaker 1: hot, cramped buildings packed with people too sick to cure, too injured to heal. 44 00:04:24,060 --> 00:04:28,920 Speaker 1: If you went to a clinic, you usually went there to die. The Advanced Clinic, in 45 00:04:28,980 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: stark contrast, was the pinnacle of human achievement. It was the place you went to 46 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:38,940 Speaker 1: become something greater. But like the other clinics, it was a place you usually 47 00:04:38,980 --> 00:04:44,780 Speaker 1: went to die. Ethan told himself he was prepared to die. He'd told everyone else 48 00:04:44,860 --> 00:04:49,540 Speaker 1: that at every step along the way. But as they prepped him for surgery, he found that 49 00:04:49,580 --> 00:04:54,300 Speaker 1: he was actually terrified. Maybe it wasn't too late to back out. 50 00:04:55,740 --> 00:05:00,580 Speaker 1: Dr. Marie Singer glanced at a rapidly beeping machine. "Your heart rate's rising." 51 00:05:00,580 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: "What can I expect here, Doc?" She smiled reassuringly and 52 00:05:06,540 --> 00:05:11,900 Speaker 1: held his hand as they wheeled his gurney into the operating room. "Oh, this'll be 53 00:05:11,980 --> 00:05:17,860 Speaker 1: easier than any of your training until now. This step is on us. We'll take good care 54 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:23,460 Speaker 1: of you." Just like they'd taken care of the first three candidates before him, 55 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:29,940 Speaker 1: the ones that had died on the operating room floor. He wasn't supposed to know about 56 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:35,180 Speaker 1: that, but people talked. Dr. Singer glanced at his vitals again and frowned. 57 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:41,840 Speaker 1: "Ethan. Can I call you Ethan?" "Yes." "Ethan, you 58 00:05:41,900 --> 00:05:47,900 Speaker 1: need to calm down." "I just need to know what to expect." She pursed 59 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:53,180 Speaker 1: her lips, clearly uncomfortable with talking about the next step. Ethan knew in the 60 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:58,700 Speaker 1: abstract what was happening, of course. He'd signed up for it, after all. But he 61 00:05:58,780 --> 00:06:04,276 Speaker 1: needed to know. If he knew, he could face it. All of which was 62 00:06:04,296 --> 00:06:09,296 Speaker 1: ridiculous, of course, because he'd be unconscious for it. Somehow it still mattered 63 00:06:09,336 --> 00:06:14,976 Speaker 1: to him. The doors to the operating room slammed closed with finality. There was the 64 00:06:15,036 --> 00:06:20,876 Speaker 1: sound of an air seal, and then all of them were bathed in an antiseptic mist. Dr. 65 00:06:21,216 --> 00:06:27,036 Speaker 1: Singer waited until the mist stopped to speak. We're going to make you into 66 00:06:27,116 --> 00:06:32,676 Speaker 1: something better. You will still be you, just more. 67 00:06:33,356 --> 00:06:39,196 Speaker 1: In order to do that, first we have to unmake you. There is no better 68 00:06:39,256 --> 00:06:44,696 Speaker 1: word for this. The first two-thirds of the operation will be removing body parts and 69 00:06:44,756 --> 00:06:49,936 Speaker 1: keeping you stable. It's a delicate balance between working fast enough to keep you 70 00:06:50,016 --> 00:06:55,956 Speaker 1: alive and working slow enough to not make any errors. Ethan turned away from 71 00:06:56,016 --> 00:07:01,436 Speaker 1: the surgeon and stared straight up at the ceiling. That was all he needed to hear. A 72 00:07:01,636 --> 00:07:06,976 Speaker 1: mission. He gave that mission a singular focus. Hmm. 73 00:07:08,176 --> 00:07:14,176 Speaker 1: Heart rate's falling. She leaned over him and placed an oxygen mask on his face. Dr. 74 00:07:14,456 --> 00:07:19,156 Speaker 1: Singer held his hand again and squeezed tight. She dropped the reassuring smile, 75 00:07:19,616 --> 00:07:24,956 Speaker 1: which must have been effective on children, and gave him a serious, humorless gaze 76 00:07:25,036 --> 00:07:30,976 Speaker 1: instead, searching his face with those intelligent dark brown eyes. Ethan 77 00:07:31,036 --> 00:07:36,316 Speaker 1: felt the anesthesia start to kick in. Will you fight for me, Ethan? 78 00:07:37,376 --> 00:07:42,656 Speaker 1: For all of us? Yes. I will fight. 79 00:07:43,976 --> 00:07:48,496 Speaker 1: And then the world faded into nothing, and his fight began. 80 00:07:51,736 --> 00:07:56,436 Speaker 1: Part one. The Messenger. Six months later. 81 00:07:58,276 --> 00:08:04,256 Speaker 1: Pastor Ethan Cutter, ordained minister and cyborg, waited 82 00:08:04,336 --> 00:08:10,276 Speaker 1: outside the Archbishop's office door, his face four and two-quarter inches from 83 00:08:10,336 --> 00:08:15,976 Speaker 1: the wood. The wood was an old-world hardwood with a synthetic lacquer. It had an 84 00:08:16,036 --> 00:08:21,196 Speaker 1: approximate breaching strength of zero point four tons. Ethan shook his head to 85 00:08:21,236 --> 00:08:26,916 Speaker 1: clear the simulations for suggested breaching points. Just a moment. Just a 86 00:08:26,976 --> 00:08:32,796 Speaker 1: moment. An elderly man in ornate red robes opened the door and smiled up at 87 00:08:32,896 --> 00:08:38,516 Speaker 1: Ethan. Sorry for the wait. It's a chore just to get up at my age. He 88 00:08:38,596 --> 00:08:43,096 Speaker 1: turned and walked back into his office, leaving the door open for Ethan to follow 89 00:08:43,136 --> 00:08:48,276 Speaker 1: him. I don't suppose you have that problem, though, do you? Negative. 90 00:08:49,236 --> 00:08:54,796 Speaker 1: Ethan winced at his own words. No, sir. Archbishop 91 00:08:54,856 --> 00:09:00,476 Speaker 1: Gabriel Klein collapsed into his large office chair behind his desk and gave Ethan a 92 00:09:00,536 --> 00:09:05,316 Speaker 1: look of undisguised exhaustion. Do you even sleep? 93 00:09:06,776 --> 00:09:11,576 Speaker 1: Ethan moved into the room, ignoring the fourteen yellow warning marks that flashed 94 00:09:11,616 --> 00:09:16,776 Speaker 1: around the room on his HUD, warning him of potential dangers like hidden weapons or 95 00:09:16,856 --> 00:09:22,716 Speaker 1: secret entrances. Sometimes. Not like I used to. The 96 00:09:22,776 --> 00:09:27,516 Speaker 1: Archbishop motioned for him to have a seat. Ethan didn't know how to tell the man 97 00:09:27,576 --> 00:09:32,516 Speaker 1: that he didn't need to, that his titanium joints experienced no strain from 98 00:09:32,616 --> 00:09:37,816 Speaker 1: standing, that even if he did feel discomfort, he could simply turn it off. 99 00:09:39,176 --> 00:09:45,176 Speaker 1: Please, sit. Yes, sir. Ethan sat down without even considering 100 00:09:45,236 --> 00:09:50,816 Speaker 1: it. That unnerved him. Had he chosen to sit? More 101 00:09:50,856 --> 00:09:53,676 Speaker 1: importantly, could he have chosen not to? 102 00:09:55,256 --> 00:10:01,076 Speaker 1: Yes, he could still choose. The Archbishop folded his hands and watched 103 00:10:01,096 --> 00:10:07,016 Speaker 1: him carefully. His skin showed early signs of melanoma, most of it benign, but the 104 00:10:07,096 --> 00:10:12,336 Speaker 1: spot on his neck was ninety-four percent likely to be malignant and growing. The 105 00:10:12,396 --> 00:10:17,816 Speaker 1: outlook, considering his age and other cursory data, was not good. You have skin 106 00:10:17,896 --> 00:10:23,776 Speaker 1: cancer. The Archbishop's eyebrows went up. Then he spun in his office chair and 107 00:10:23,896 --> 00:10:29,776 Speaker 1: looked out the window behind him. It wasn't a real window. Windows were defensive 108 00:10:29,836 --> 00:10:35,216 Speaker 1: weak points. It was a real-time video feed of the view from the other side of the 109 00:10:35,296 --> 00:10:40,216 Speaker 1: four-foot concrete and steel wall, and that served the purpose for his thoughtful 110 00:10:40,356 --> 00:10:45,016 Speaker 1: stare. I'll consider myself lucky to die of skin cancer. 111 00:10:46,376 --> 00:10:50,496 Speaker 1: The electronic part of Ethan's mind didn't really know what to do with statements 112 00:10:50,556 --> 00:10:56,036 Speaker 1: like that. It started searching for old movie and TV quotes and feeding him 113 00:10:56,136 --> 00:11:02,116 Speaker 1: ideas. It liked those one-liners for some reason. He shoved the unwanted information 114 00:11:02,176 --> 00:11:07,716 Speaker 1: away. He did that a lot lately. This was something he could handle himself. 115 00:11:08,936 --> 00:11:14,296 Speaker 1: What's wrong? Archbishop Klein looked over his shoulder and gave him a weak smile. 116 00:11:15,376 --> 00:11:21,136 Speaker 1: We're living on borrowed time, Cutter. All of us. When the strongholds in 117 00:11:21,196 --> 00:11:26,816 Speaker 1: Mexico finally fall, they'll circle back north to clean us up. And that's all it 118 00:11:26,856 --> 00:11:32,536 Speaker 1: will be. Cleanup. Ethan let the words hang dramatically 119 00:11:32,576 --> 00:11:38,476 Speaker 1: between them for just a moment. There was more here. Klein wasn't the type to 120 00:11:38,516 --> 00:11:43,976 Speaker 1: lay down and die. Unless... Unless we do something 121 00:11:45,156 --> 00:11:50,796 Speaker 1: drastic. Archbishop Klein turned all the way around and met Ethan's eyes. 122 00:11:51,256 --> 00:11:57,216 Speaker 1: He started to speak, but hesitated. I'm not ready to reveal the full extent 123 00:11:57,276 --> 00:12:03,116 Speaker 1: of that plan. I would probably be killed if I did. Not even to me? 124 00:12:04,136 --> 00:12:05,376 Speaker 1: Klein let out a short, 125 00:12:07,376 --> 00:12:13,284 Speaker 1: Especially to you. Four months ago, Pastor Ethan Cutter had awoken from his coma 126 00:12:13,704 --> 00:12:18,804 Speaker 1: just hours before they started disassembling him. They'd given up on his recovery 127 00:12:19,064 --> 00:12:23,724 Speaker 1: and were repurposing the parts for the next candidate. Despite his miraculous 128 00:12:23,764 --> 00:12:29,604 Speaker 1: recovery and the ultimate success of the Hail Mary project, they had not warmed much 129 00:12:29,664 --> 00:12:34,844 Speaker 1: toward him since then. In truth, the leadership of the advanced clinic had 130 00:12:34,884 --> 00:12:40,604 Speaker 1: considered dismantling him four separate times. He wasn't supposed to know that, 131 00:12:41,424 --> 00:12:46,804 Speaker 1: but keeping his second mind from rifling through unprotected data was like keeping a 132 00:12:46,864 --> 00:12:52,424 Speaker 1: hungry dog from its food. "But you don't need to know my entire 133 00:12:52,484 --> 00:12:58,484 Speaker 1: plan to do your part in it." Archbishop Klein absentmindedly touched the spot on his 134 00:12:58,564 --> 00:13:03,524 Speaker 1: neck, then abruptly stood and straightened his robe, straightened his back, 135 00:13:04,284 --> 00:13:09,844 Speaker 1: lifted his chin, and narrowed his eyes. "I'm letting you out of your 136 00:13:09,944 --> 00:13:15,204 Speaker 1: cage, Ethan. Are you ready to kill some goddamn 137 00:13:15,304 --> 00:13:21,184 Speaker 1: demons?" Both halves of Pastor Ethan Cutter's mind were in complete 138 00:13:21,264 --> 00:13:26,864 Speaker 1: alignment on his answer. For the first time since he woke, all of him 139 00:13:26,944 --> 00:13:32,464 Speaker 1: wanted the same thing. "Yes, sir." "Good. 140 00:13:33,124 --> 00:13:39,124 Speaker 1: Now go." The archbishop nodded once and waved in dismissal. Ethan spun his right 141 00:13:39,184 --> 00:13:44,364 Speaker 1: hand like a drill bit, then clenched the fist and stepped into the hallway. He 142 00:13:44,424 --> 00:13:49,924 Speaker 1: looked back over his shoulder at the archbishop. "I'll give 'em heaven." 143 00:13:54,504 --> 00:14:00,324 Speaker 1: The conference room was standing room only today. Gabriel didn't often leave 144 00:14:00,364 --> 00:14:06,144 Speaker 1: his post at the advanced clinic. They had teleconferencing, after all. But this 145 00:14:06,244 --> 00:14:12,144 Speaker 1: emergency meeting necessitated the leaders of the Last Respite Holy Military Base 146 00:14:12,224 --> 00:14:17,464 Speaker 1: meet in person. Somehow, the practice of meetings had survived the 147 00:14:17,524 --> 00:14:23,024 Speaker 1: apocalypse. Figures. Meetings, like cockroaches, could never 148 00:14:23,104 --> 00:14:23,984 Speaker 1: truly die. 149 00:14:25,584 --> 00:14:30,824 Speaker 1: Archbishop Lucius, Chair of Public Communications, was standing and 150 00:14:31,124 --> 00:14:36,824 Speaker 1: screaming, like usual. He pointed an accusing finger at the seated Gabriel. 151 00:14:36,824 --> 00:14:42,584 Speaker 1: "You let it out?" "He has access to only thirty 152 00:14:42,704 --> 00:14:48,004 Speaker 1: percent of the designed weapon systems." "It's an abomination. 153 00:14:48,664 --> 00:14:54,544 Speaker 1: Who knows what the Japanese hid in that tech?" Gabriel ignored both lines 154 00:14:54,604 --> 00:14:59,844 Speaker 1: of argument. This wasn't about public safety or blasphemy or 155 00:14:59,944 --> 00:15:05,604 Speaker 1: espionage. What would the now deceased Japanese research team hide anyway? 156 00:15:06,164 --> 00:15:10,584 Speaker 1: Professor Saitama had been honorable and faithful to their shared cause until the 157 00:15:10,644 --> 00:15:16,564 Speaker 1: very end. Gabriel felt that it was sometimes better to let a friend stab 158 00:15:16,624 --> 00:15:22,624 Speaker 1: you in the back, to fully trust some people and simply hope for 159 00:15:22,664 --> 00:15:28,364 Speaker 1: the best rather than live in paranoia. Lucius was not one of those 160 00:15:28,444 --> 00:15:33,544 Speaker 1: people. "He hasn't hurt anyone." "Yet. 161 00:15:34,484 --> 00:15:40,484 Speaker 1: What about that incident at the firing range?" Gabriel ground his teeth. 162 00:15:40,484 --> 00:15:46,064 Speaker 1: "If the bar for technology is perfection, we will never 163 00:15:46,224 --> 00:15:51,344 Speaker 1: make another advance. Perhaps we should fight the demons with 164 00:15:51,424 --> 00:15:56,864 Speaker 1: reliable sharpened sticks, Lucius." "Don't mock me." 165 00:15:57,004 --> 00:16:02,604 Speaker 1: "Gentlemen, please." Bishop Erica Long, 166 00:16:02,984 --> 00:16:07,604 Speaker 1: ever the mediator, raised her hands between them. The rest of the room was 167 00:16:07,704 --> 00:16:12,564 Speaker 1: remarkably quiet. The other factions in the church seemed content to let these two 168 00:16:12,724 --> 00:16:18,484 Speaker 1: duke it out. Erica leveled a serious gaze at Gabriel. "You 169 00:16:18,564 --> 00:16:24,264 Speaker 1: released an experimental and dangerous prototype into an 170 00:16:24,324 --> 00:16:29,524 Speaker 1: encampment of civilians. We at least deserve an explanation." 171 00:16:30,564 --> 00:16:36,244 Speaker 1: Gabriel ignored the self-satisfied look on Lucius' face. He took a deep 172 00:16:36,304 --> 00:16:41,884 Speaker 1: breath. How to convincingly reveal just the tip of the plan. 173 00:16:41,884 --> 00:16:47,664 Speaker 1: "There is a possessed in the outskirts known as Stalker, a 174 00:16:47,764 --> 00:16:53,464 Speaker 1: former priest." A wave of uncomfortable muttering went through the assembly. 175 00:16:54,224 --> 00:17:00,104 Speaker 1: This was a sore topic. The rebel priest had been well-liked until he'd 176 00:17:00,184 --> 00:17:05,104 Speaker 1: taken a demon into his heart and set himself up as a leader in the outskirts 177 00:17:05,404 --> 00:17:10,724 Speaker 1: surrounding Last Respite. Old Los Angeles had been a populous place thirty years 178 00:17:10,784 --> 00:17:16,324 Speaker 1: ago. Not everyone could fit inside this fortification. Not even close. 179 00:17:16,344 --> 00:17:21,824 Speaker 1: "I've sent Pastor Cutter to find him, and if he can, 180 00:17:22,784 --> 00:17:28,744 Speaker 1: kill him." "What?" Lucius slammed his hands on the table, and 181 00:17:28,804 --> 00:17:33,804 Speaker 1: the room fell into disorder as people fought to speak. Bishop Erica was unable to 182 00:17:33,844 --> 00:17:39,384 Speaker 1: bring order to the room. Gabriel ignored the lobbed insults and waited, seated 183 00:17:39,464 --> 00:17:45,464 Speaker 1: patiently in his chair until the room calmed enough to speak again. "The 184 00:17:45,584 --> 00:17:51,244 Speaker 1: Stalker has a psychic link back to the southern demonic horde. He's feeding 185 00:17:51,304 --> 00:17:57,184 Speaker 1: information to them. If we intend to survive the year, we need to sever that line of 186 00:17:57,244 --> 00:18:03,064 Speaker 1: communication." Lucius' face was a deep red. He was about to start 187 00:18:03,124 --> 00:18:08,864 Speaker 1: another tirade when Erica spoke first. "You should have spoken to us first, 188 00:18:09,004 --> 00:18:14,792 Speaker 1: Gabriel." Gabriel tried his best to look apologetic. If he had 189 00:18:14,911 --> 00:18:19,252 Speaker 1: spoken to them first, it would have taken a week to drag every leader into the same 190 00:18:19,412 --> 00:18:24,732 Speaker 1: room, assuming that they would even approve his mission. He'd accomplished the same 191 00:18:24,812 --> 00:18:29,352 Speaker 1: outcome here, and much quicker, if a little more heated. 192 00:18:30,772 --> 00:18:35,852 Speaker 1: But I agree with the strategy. You can't be serious, Erica. 193 00:18:36,892 --> 00:18:42,412 Speaker 1: It's worth the attempt, Lucius. Besides, if he fails, the Hail Mary 194 00:18:42,472 --> 00:18:47,972 Speaker 1: prototype will be destroyed in the process. Lucius seemed mollified by that. 195 00:18:48,492 --> 00:18:53,712 Speaker 1: He was a hothead, but not an idiot. Either way, he would gain something. He wanted 196 00:18:53,752 --> 00:18:59,592 Speaker 1: to see the cyborg project killed. Bishop Erica Long turned to Gabriel again, and she 197 00:18:59,652 --> 00:19:05,572 Speaker 1: raised her voice as if to speak for the entire room. Let's see what your 198 00:19:05,652 --> 00:19:11,152 Speaker 1: pet project can do. It walks a dangerous line with blasphemy, though. 199 00:19:13,852 --> 00:19:18,752 Speaker 1: But it's either this or we ask New Hope or Crucifer for help. 200 00:19:20,392 --> 00:19:25,932 Speaker 1: Lucius' face darkened at the mention of the rival denominations, only a 201 00:19:26,032 --> 00:19:31,752 Speaker 1: shade lighter than the demons themselves in his eyes. And just like that, he was 202 00:19:31,852 --> 00:19:36,732 Speaker 1: sold on the plan. Do you have the detonator, Gabriel? 203 00:19:37,772 --> 00:19:43,392 Speaker 1: Gabriel nodded once. Give it to me. He hesitated, but 204 00:19:43,552 --> 00:19:49,072 Speaker 1: knew he'd lose this one. He'd already used up all his political capital on this 205 00:19:49,152 --> 00:19:54,312 Speaker 1: earlier stunt. So he fished the detonator remote out of his pants pocket from 206 00:19:54,352 --> 00:19:59,832 Speaker 1: beneath his robes and put it in Bishop Erica's outstretched hand. If he goes 207 00:19:59,912 --> 00:20:05,672 Speaker 1: rogue or doesn't report in or lays a single hand on an innocent, 208 00:20:06,392 --> 00:20:12,312 Speaker 1: I will slag him. Unfortunately, she had the power to do that. 209 00:20:13,092 --> 00:20:18,991 Speaker 1: They could monitor everything he saw and did through his eyes, unbeknownst 210 00:20:19,051 --> 00:20:24,392 Speaker 1: to him. Gabriel would just have to hope that the cyborg didn't have another 211 00:20:24,512 --> 00:20:30,352 Speaker 1: accident. He looked around the room. Every one of his peers had 212 00:20:30,392 --> 00:20:36,172 Speaker 1: the same look of resolve on their faces. This was the outcome they all 213 00:20:36,252 --> 00:20:37,012 Speaker 1: expected. 214 00:20:38,592 --> 00:20:39,592 Speaker 1: I understand. 215 00:20:48,932 --> 00:20:54,032 Speaker 1: Pastor Cutter stood in the armory amidst the hum of activity. For reasons he didn't 216 00:20:54,092 --> 00:20:59,412 Speaker 1: understand, he was given only thirty minutes to prepare for this mission. Given its 217 00:20:59,512 --> 00:21:04,572 Speaker 1: apparent importance, that didn't make much sense. But he found it physically 218 00:21:04,632 --> 00:21:10,492 Speaker 1: difficult to question orders. So he waited patiently as women prodded and adjusted 219 00:21:10,532 --> 00:21:16,032 Speaker 1: the thousands of parts that made up his new body. They were all women, wearing 220 00:21:16,112 --> 00:21:21,272 Speaker 1: identical black and white robes with simple headdresses. Nuns. 221 00:21:22,292 --> 00:21:27,592 Speaker 1: Half a dozen hands pulled on him, filling internal containers with unidentified 222 00:21:27,692 --> 00:21:33,432 Speaker 1: liquids, running last-minute diagnostics. Meanwhile, the 223 00:21:33,512 --> 00:21:37,632 Speaker 1: table in front of him was being covered with a selection of external equipment. 224 00:21:38,112 --> 00:21:42,692 Speaker 1: There was no way he could carry it all, so he was already making a mental inventory 225 00:21:42,732 --> 00:21:47,892 Speaker 1: of the pieces he knew he wanted. Without asking, that inventory was being tracked in 226 00:21:47,952 --> 00:21:53,352 Speaker 1: a list on his HUD. Even after four months living with the second mind bolted on, 227 00:21:53,872 --> 00:21:59,512 Speaker 1: its capabilities, however mundane, still surprised him. It seemed like the 228 00:21:59,572 --> 00:22:05,292 Speaker 1: Japanese had thought of everything. Ethan picked up the first item on the list, 229 00:22:05,752 --> 00:22:11,532 Speaker 1: marked high priority. It was a comically large handgun, jet 230 00:22:11,592 --> 00:22:17,492 Speaker 1: black with silver ornamentation. Silver crosses marked the sides of the gun's grip 231 00:22:17,552 --> 00:22:23,472 Speaker 1: with another thin silver cross on the top for iron sights. He turned it around in 232 00:22:23,512 --> 00:22:29,492 Speaker 1: his right hand. The weight felt right. Just six months ago, he'd have 233 00:22:29,532 --> 00:22:35,052 Speaker 1: to fire this weapon from a seated position just to stay upright from the recoil. The 234 00:22:35,092 --> 00:22:40,772 Speaker 1: nun still laying equipment on the table paused when she saw him pick up the gun. You 235 00:22:40,812 --> 00:22:46,192 Speaker 1: like that? That's my personal handiwork. It fires custom silver lead 236 00:22:46,352 --> 00:22:52,192 Speaker 1: ammunition. You could take down a T-Rex with that. Does it have a name? A 237 00:22:52,272 --> 00:22:58,072 Speaker 1: name? It's just a gun. Ethan narrowed his eyes. Not in 238 00:22:58,172 --> 00:22:59,252 Speaker 1: my hands. 239 00:23:02,452 --> 00:23:07,852 Speaker 1: All right. What's its name then? Ethan responded without hesitation. 240 00:23:09,092 --> 00:23:14,832 Speaker 1: The Messenger. Even though it was his first time holding the weapon, he 241 00:23:14,892 --> 00:23:20,212 Speaker 1: placed it in his hip holster with practiced precision. The gun was so long it 242 00:23:20,352 --> 00:23:25,372 Speaker 1: spanned from his hip almost down to his knee. What's your name? 243 00:23:26,432 --> 00:23:32,152 Speaker 1: Sister Fran. Nice to meet you, Sister Fran. Oh, we've met before, 244 00:23:32,732 --> 00:23:38,592 Speaker 1: number four. We have? Of course. You were asleep, 245 00:23:39,032 --> 00:23:43,632 Speaker 1: but we've been there since the beginning. Who do you think keeps you running? It's 246 00:23:43,732 --> 00:23:44,072 Speaker 1: us. 247 00:23:45,692 --> 00:23:50,532 Speaker 1: Ethan looked around at the nuns working around him. People staring at computer 248 00:23:50,632 --> 00:23:55,532 Speaker 1: screens with cables running directly into his body. People muttering to each other 249 00:23:55,592 --> 00:24:00,532 Speaker 1: in hushed, serious conversations as they pointed at numbers on a larger screen above 250 00:24:00,552 --> 00:24:06,392 Speaker 1: him. He recognized one of the nuns. The surgeon, Marie. The last person 251 00:24:06,452 --> 00:24:11,792 Speaker 1: he saw before the anesthesia kicked in. He turned his focus back to Sister Fran. 252 00:24:12,972 --> 00:24:18,916 Speaker 1: Thank you "You're welcome. Try not to get too beat up. Every bullet hole is 253 00:24:18,996 --> 00:24:24,656 Speaker 1: more work for us. Now hold still." She smiled gently and lifted his left 254 00:24:24,776 --> 00:24:30,496 Speaker 1: arm. A valve opened in his wrist and Sister Fran began carefully pouring liquid into 255 00:24:30,536 --> 00:24:35,916 Speaker 1: the hole, her face a mask of focus. Perhaps this was holy water. 256 00:24:36,576 --> 00:24:40,796 Speaker 1: It would be good to have some on hand in case he actually found the possessed man 257 00:24:40,856 --> 00:24:46,096 Speaker 1: today. It was a solid defense against psychic intrusion and could ward off lesser 258 00:24:46,156 --> 00:24:51,876 Speaker 1: demonic creatures. "Is this the holy water?" "Hmm? Water?" 259 00:24:51,996 --> 00:24:57,916 Speaker 1: "Yes. Did you bless the water?" Fran looked around at her 260 00:24:57,976 --> 00:25:03,576 Speaker 1: co-workers as if there were some mistake. "Sir, we blessed the 261 00:25:03,656 --> 00:25:08,536 Speaker 1: napalm." A wide grin spread across Ethan's face. 262 00:25:08,536 --> 00:25:14,116 Speaker 1: "I like you, Fran." A red light flashed above Ethan and the 263 00:25:14,176 --> 00:25:19,236 Speaker 1: nuns hurried over to him to start unplugging cables and sealing valves. Once they 264 00:25:19,256 --> 00:25:25,036 Speaker 1: were done, he looked like a regular human being again. Almost. "We're out of 265 00:25:25,116 --> 00:25:31,016 Speaker 1: time. You need to move." Ethan nodded. Two nuns started pushing open 266 00:25:31,076 --> 00:25:36,776 Speaker 1: the heavy steel door, leaning on the door with all their weight as they walked. The 267 00:25:36,856 --> 00:25:42,456 Speaker 1: other dozen or so nuns stood in a loose group around him, parting just enough so he 268 00:25:42,496 --> 00:25:47,876 Speaker 1: could leave. They stopped looking at monitors, stopped adjusting machines. 269 00:25:48,436 --> 00:25:53,476 Speaker 1: They had dark circles under their eyes. Each of them was covered in grease and 270 00:25:53,716 --> 00:25:59,416 Speaker 1: sweating through their heavy robes. And yet, they were all smiling. He might 271 00:25:59,556 --> 00:26:04,496 Speaker 1: never know the debt he owed these people. He didn't even know most of their names. 272 00:26:05,376 --> 00:26:11,236 Speaker 1: Sister Fran gave him a thumbs up. "God go with you." Then she rushed over to the 273 00:26:11,316 --> 00:26:16,736 Speaker 1: table, still loaded with equipment he couldn't reasonably carry, and handed him a 274 00:26:16,796 --> 00:26:22,676 Speaker 1: pair of grenades. "But, just in case, take these too." Ethan 275 00:26:22,736 --> 00:26:28,536 Speaker 1: gave the group a sharp nod of thanks, then started toward the doorway, bright with 276 00:26:28,656 --> 00:26:34,116 Speaker 1: light from the outside world. The forty-foot concrete walls surrounding Last 277 00:26:34,196 --> 00:26:40,096 Speaker 1: Respite came slowly into view as he walked out of the advanced clinic. What was left 278 00:26:40,156 --> 00:26:45,856 Speaker 1: of humanity withered and died outside those walls. The outskirts were a 279 00:26:45,936 --> 00:26:51,656 Speaker 1: lawless hellscape where the strong made the rules and the weak got trampled. 280 00:26:52,556 --> 00:26:58,516 Speaker 1: The apocalypse had come and gone here. This was just the fight to determine 281 00:26:58,596 --> 00:27:04,176 Speaker 1: who would rule over the rubble. Today, he was finally going to get a say in whether 282 00:27:04,236 --> 00:27:09,936 Speaker 1: that would be good, compassionate people, or literal demons. Truthfully, 283 00:27:10,336 --> 00:27:15,356 Speaker 1: he didn't know whether he was an instrument of God's will or not, but he was an 284 00:27:15,416 --> 00:27:20,776 Speaker 1: instrument of retribution. A lot of prayers had gone unanswered in the last thirty 285 00:27:20,876 --> 00:27:26,596 Speaker 1: years. Most of them he couldn't do anything about. But for those few who 286 00:27:26,756 --> 00:27:32,436 Speaker 1: prayed for retribution, well, they were about to get their 287 00:27:32,596 --> 00:27:34,256 Speaker 1: prayers answered.