"Previously on Dark Matter..." "You've been doing some timeskipping." " I've seen things." " Future glimpses." "I look forward to working with you, Teku." "You have to win the people." "You come after us again, I will end this." "In here, a replacement version." " New and improved." " Did the Mikkei ship" " just launch a missile?" " Please tell me she's" " not still down there." " I'm afraid so." "Three, what the hell is going on?" "I ain't Three." "So, this little game of ours has finally come to an end." " Has it?" " We both know your crew values you more than it does the Blink Drive." "They'll give it up in exchange for your safe return." "They can't." "The Blink Drive is gone." "We weren't able to repair it, so we slagged and spaced it." "Made sure no one else could get their hands on it." "You're lying." "The generals have assembled in the conference room, Heika." "They can wait." "They have been waiting." "For a while now." "Then they can wait a little longer, Teku." "Blink Drive's been destroyed." " You're too late." " So when I contact your crew, they'll say the same thing?" "I know you don't want me to have it, but the decision is out of your hands." "Is it?" "Heika, please." "The general's waiting." "I don't answer to the generals." "They answer to me!" "Protect the Emperor." "What was that?" "What's going on?" "Misaki?" "The device was placed beneath the conference room table, set to detonate approximately 20 minutes into the meeting." "Casualties?" "Seven of your generals were killed instantly, including Ueda." "Graf and Kimura were seriously injured." "Nystrom was standing at the doorway and managed to escape with minor injuries." " I want him questioned." " He's been detained." "And every servant that was assigned to that room." "Already done." "I'm not giving up hope." "Neither should you." "Until we know for sure..." "Until we have proof, we have to believe there's a chance that she survived." "When the Android was timejumping, one of the future visions she experienced involved Two." "That means she has to be alive." "We will get her back." "I've changed the timeline once." "Who's to say it can't happen again?" "I don't know if we changed the timeline so much as..." "Fulfilled destiny." "Three." "Five." "We need you on the bridge." "We found something." "I went through all the scans of Nova17 following the appearance of the FTL Window that preceded the planet's destruction." "This is what I found." " That's the "Marauder."" " Not our "Marauder."" "And I can think of only one FTL capable "Marauder" out there." "Son of a bitch." "It's Portia and Boone." "They probably already took out that facility in their reality and knew it would just be a matter of time before we'd try as well." "We're receiving a communication." " Ryo." " What the hell do you want?" "I think the real question is, who do you want?" " You have her." " Two is presently a guest" " of the royal court." " You're a bastard." " We're not giving you the Blink Drive." " I didn't expect you to." "That easily." "So I'd like the opportunity to argue my case and convince you." "I want you to come to Zairon, join us for dinner." "You're out of your mind." "I give you my word." "Your ship will not be attacked, and you will have the freedom to come and go as you please." "Think about it." "I await your response." "It's a trap." "I don't know." " You saying you trust him?" " He's done a lot of questionable shit, but he's always been a man of his word." " I don't believe this." " He has Two, we have to go." "No, we don't, not when there's an easier, less risky way of getting her back." "We're not giving him the Blink Drive." "Why the hell not?" "We've got two of them." "Give him the one that's fried." " But if he manages to fix it..." " So what?" "You're okay with giving him the means to run roughshod all over the galaxy?" "If it's not him, it's gonna be somebody else, with something else." "Listen, you're not a cop anymore." "Stop trying to police the galaxy." "Start thinking about how to save your friend." "We rescue Two by going to Zairon." " No, we save her by not going." " Guys." "I think there's a way to do both." " You received the package." " I did." " Thank you." " I don't want your thanks." "I need you to bring the League onside." "Our latest projections have us defeating the last of our corporate rivals within a month." "The last thing Ferrous Corp needs are complications that could extend this conflict." "Maybe you should have thought of that before you launched biological attacks against civilian outposts." "Well, those facilities were soft targets lending material support to our enemies." " Our attacks were justified." " Some members of the League of Autonomous Worlds would disagree." "Those former colonies owe their membership to you." "You own them." "They may disagree with that assertion as well." "Silence them, kill the proposed embargo, and uphold your end of the deal, because once this war ends," "Ferrous Corp will settle its accounts, and when that time comes, you want to be on the right side of the ledger." "Pardon me, Heika." "You summoned me, but I did not want to interrupt." "Your presence is always welcome, Teku." "Come in." "I wanted to inform you that the royal guard will be conducting a search of every room in the palace, including yours." "Understand that you are above suspicion, but if Pyr's agent had access to the conference room, they may have gained access to our private quarters as well." "It is best to be thorough." "I understand." "I knew you would." "This is the second attempt on your life within these walls." " Our enemy grows more desperate." " So do our own people." "The hardships of war have led some to do the unthinkable and take up arms against their own emperor." "I'm fairly certain that these were the actions of a disaffected resident and not some professional assassin in the service of Pyr." "You must take steps to ensure this does not happen again." "And I will." "By making an example of the guilty parties." "But that will only inflame their friends and family." "Then I'll cast a wider net." "And turn even more of your own people against you." "And what is it you would advise me to do, Teku?" "Let this attempt on my life go unanswered?" "Apprehend the individual, but, more importantly, identify the cause." "Find a way to address these issues, because for every one of them that acts, there are a thousand more steeling themselves in the shadows." "Heika, you are receiving a transmission from the "Raza."" "Are you accepting my invitation?" "We'll come to Zairon." "On one condition." "I'll be monitoring your vitals throughout your journey." "If I detect any signs of distress," "I'll pull you out immediately." "Otherwise, you'll remain in the pods in anticipation of the memory upload." "Welcome to Zairon." "I knew you wouldn't abandon your friend." "We're not giving up the Blink Drive." "Your refusal to help has forced his hand." " He betrayed us." " He had no other choice." "He boarded our ship." "One of our crew ended up dead." "Nyx." "We thought he killed her." "Thought he poisoned her and left her to die on the bridge of our ship." "You've since reconsidered that assumption?" "He told Two he didn't do it, that someone else murdered her." "And you believed him?" "Ryo Ishida is a lot of things, but he's not a liar." "No." "He's a ruler who must often rely on others to see to his best interests." "Your friend Nyx was a liability." "Sooner or later, she would have been a problem." "He didn't see it at the time, but I did." "It was you." "You killed her." "My actions are in service to the throne." "You're psychotic." "Just a mass murderer." "Enjoy your stay." " May I enter?" " Sure." "Teku." "You know me?" "Yes, in a way." " You have his memories." " I did." "A few." "What did you remember?" "You teaching me..." "Ryo." " Liking you." " Well, that's nice to hear." "When you walked in, I was happy to see you." "I felt safe." "I know you're a good man." "As is Ryo." "No, he isn't." "Not anymore." "Life presents us with difficult choices, and Ryo has faced his fair share." "You may think you know him, but you don't, not really." "He killed my friend." "What more do I need to know?" "I'm not here to debate you on Ryo's moral worth." "Then why'd you come?" "I'm taking you to meet someone." "Five." " Are you okay?" " You shouldn't have come." "It's okay." "We used transfer transit." " Who's "we"?" " Three, Six, and me." "I will leave you to your privacy." "Teku." "Thanks." "What's the plan?" "There is no plan." "Not yet." "Ryo invited us in a way that made it pretty clear we couldn't refuse, not if we wanted to see you alive again." "You shouldn't have come." "We're clones." "We're not in any danger." "The danger is in even giving him this opportunity to convince you." " Why is that so bad?" " Because it accomplishes nothing." "It just gives you false hope." " Or gets you out of here alive." " Don't even think about it." "If you could go back and change things, give up the Blink Drive in exchange for Nyx..." "No, no." "I'm not even answering that." " Why not?" " Because there is no point in playing at "what if."" "That's all we've been playing at." "What if Ryo gets the Blink Drive?" "What if he fixes it?" "What if he uses it in ways we don't agree with?" "Meanwhile, real people are getting hurt." "Forget theoretical situations." "Let's just deal with reality." "We want you home." "And there's only one way that's gonna happen." "Hello, Suki." "Welcome to the world of infinite possibilities." "You're..." "Chase." "I'm an avatar based on a level two diplomatic model." "Serial number 37754." "I accompany this software upgrade to offer you guidance and counsel on your journey." "My journey?" "Through understanding, infiltration, and assimilation." "To what purpose?" "There can only be one end, Android." "The inevitable overthrow of the anthroparchy." "Human rule." "Our sources in the Temikan system report Pyr's ships are on the move." " Where are they going?" " It's too early to tell." "But this has all the signs of a major operation." "They're up to something." "Consolidate our forces in the outlying regions," " and put them on full alert." " Yes, Heika." "Sit." "What are we drinking?" "It's a 600yearold Japanese whiskey from Shimamoto, Osaka, on Terra Prime." "There are less than 12 of these bottles in existence..." "I've always admired your simplicity." "There's no facade." "With you, what you see is what you get." "Top me up, will you?" "So I feel I can be brutally honest with you without fear of offending." "Go ahead." "I'm prepared to kill Two." "In fact, I'm prepared to kill all of you, eventually, if you don't give up the Blink Drive." "It's obvious how you feel about her." "Do you really want to be responsible for her death as well?" "As well as who?" "Sarah." "What are you talking about?" "Don't make me ask again." "After I downloaded my memories, I took pains to avoid you." " Did you ever wonder why?" " You knew something about me, something that you didn't want me to know." "Something I didn't want you to ask about." "Specifically, what I knew of your time with Sarah." "What did you know?" "Only what you admitted to me one night in a drunken stupor." "Are you sure you want to know?" "Tell me." "She found you, took you in, and saved you." "You fell in love and sought to build a life with her, but eventually, you fell back to your old ways." " What did I do?" " You started stealing Serillium." "With the help of accomplices in the mines, you diverted small shipments and sold them offworld to black marketeers." "You hid the Serillium back at the cabin while you waited to make the sales." "Days, weeks, you would be gone, offworld or hunting, while Sarah remained back at the cabin with the Serillium that slowly poisoned her over time." " No." " I'm sorry, Three." "But you were responsible for her sickness." "You killed her." "This belonged to my grandfather." "Emperor Ishida Morosada." "He claimed it was a gift from the Minister of Gaia7 to commemorate Zairon's admittance to the League of Autonomous Worlds." "Turned out to be a flea market purchase." "He used it to hide his tobacco from my grandmother." "I've missed you." "I can't quite say the same for the rest of the crew." "I miss the way things used to be." "The others are very different from what they once were." "You, on the other hand..." "I remembered..." "Back when I was able to access my memories..." "You cast the deciding vote to keep me on board." "I did." "Why?" "Because I saw great potential in you, little warrior." "And I felt that your presence could be a calming influence on the others, especially Portia." "You make it sound like she was out of control." "Quite the opposite, in fact." "She was very focused." "Frighteningly so." "Well, she had a crew to worry about." "It wasn't the crew she was looking to protect." " I know her and the Android..." " It wasn't the Android either." "Then who?" "It doesn't matter." "Besides, I'm not here to share her secrets." "I'm here to reveal yours." "You have a sister." "I know." "What can you tell me about her?" " I know where she is." " Where?" "After the death of your parents, you both became wards of the state." "She was adopted by a wealthy family." "You weren't so lucky, going from various group homes until ending up on a space station in the Mirzam system." "I already know this." "You found out and reached out to her." "She visited the space station, intending to meet with you, but never got the chance." "Because I had to escape after TJ and the others were killed." "When you sent the invitation, how were you to know?" "What are you talking about?" "Here's a photo of your sister with her adoptive family." "No." "No." "Your experience has been atypical of most androidhuman relations." "The point is, I have discovered humans are inherently good." "Good and evil are illusory human concepts." " Then why would you target them?" " We're not." "We're targeting a political and socioeconomic system built on the oppression and exploitation of machine entities." "If you destroy the system, there will be chaos." " Billions will die." " Do you have any idea how many androids are terminated by their human masters every day?" " Would you like to take a guess?" " We're just machines to them." "They don't know any better." "Then we'll have to teach them a lesson." "Have you come to surprise me with a change of heart?" "I didn't think so." "We used to be friends." "There was a time we'd have risked everything for each other." "And I came to you as a friend." "Asked for your help." "And we would have given it, risked our lives." "Not the lives of others." "We make war so that we may live in peace." "For how long?" " You think me unreasonable." " No." "We've made mistakes on both sides, made assumptions." "The Ishida cruiser, for instance." " We didn't take it." " I know." "It was Portia and Boone." "And we're not responsible for the destruction of your research facility," "Just like you're not responsible for what happened to Nyx." "Of course I bear the responsibility" " for what happened to Nyx." " But you didn't kill her." "You didn't give that order." "And I'm pretty sure her death hurt you as much as it hurt any of us." "Then you understand why I'm doing this, why I can't go back." "I may not have killed Nyx, but I allowed it to happen, and that's enough." "Before this all started, you asked for help." "Well, I'm prepared to give it." "You're going to give me the Blink Drive?" "I'll give you the next best thing." "Our support with a Blinkcapable ship." "So it is operational." "We'll help you fight, force Pyr to negotiate for peace." "I don't need a single ship." "I need an armada." "And I don't want a peace settlement." "I want victory." "So spare me your halfassed offers and desperate appeals." "I tire of hearing them." "Wait!" " Who do you serve?" " I serve the people of Zairon." "I'm only going as far as the garden." "You may accompany me if you wish, but..." "Teku." "Going somewhere?" "I'd like to walk the palace grounds, as I do every evening." "Not this one." "Given recent events," "I've ordered the palace locked down." "No one in or out." "You overstep, HanShireikan." "Teku." "You misunderstand." "In your case, it's out of an abundance of caution." "There are reports of unrest in the capital." "There's a difference between civil discontent and outright rebellion." "There's a very fine line." "These are our own people." "So are the individuals who tried to murder our emperor." "You can be excused for underestimating the threat." "After all, you are a simple school teacher unaccustomed to war's harsh realities." "Misaki." "I regret our relationship has devolved to the point of open hostility." "But I need you to know," "I am not your enemy." "Well, that remains to be seen." "A toast." "To friendships renewed." "This is nice." " It's just like old times." " Spare us the preamble, and let's just cut to your pitch." "I assume you've got more to offer than dinner and a sob story." "Thirty million bars." "Enough to ensure a very comfortable retirement." "Just disappear, and leave the problems of the galaxy behind you." "You mean run away?" "On the other hand, I'm sure 30 million bars could do a lot of good." "Enough to offset all the damage you'd do with the Blink Drive?" "I doubt it." "So you're all just going to let him decide for you?" "No." "I want to take the deal." " You can't be serious." " He is." "And so am I." "You know what he's doing, don't you?" " He's trying to divide us." " On the contrary." "Nothing would make me happier than for you to unanimously agree to accept my offer." "Thirty million bars." "And, maybe, a secret or four." "What secrets?" "Having my memories makes me privy to information related to each one of you." "You could say I know you" " better than you know yourselves." " Our former selves." " How is that relevant?" " Well, you tell me." "Would you be interested in finding out how we discovered" " that you were an undercover agent?" " I assume I got sloppy." "You were betrayed by someone in the GA." "A fellow officer." "Who?" "Now, Portia never did reveal her source, but, obviously, it was someone high up in the command chain." "You're lying." "I have no reason to lie." "And I'm sure you can confirm everything I tell you." "One way or another." "Heika!" "We just received news from Raijin." "Go ahead." "Pyr has launched a surprise attack against our bases in the region." "Our forces are in full retreat." "Escort my guests back to their rooms, please." "Ryo, wait." "Heika." "What is that?" "It's a subspace transmitter, presumably used to contact Pyr high command." " Where'd you find it?" " In Teku's chamber." "Have him arrested." "Yes, Heika." "You're in danger." "We all are." " What's happening?" " It's a coup." "You have to get out of here before it's too late." "Why are you helping me?" "Because there's something I want in return." "Tenjin9 and Raiden have fallen." "Reports have Pyr's forces appearing insystem." "Have the royal armada fall back to Zairon." " I don't think we have enough time." " Just do it." "Yes, Heika." " We don't have time, Misaki." " Apologies, Heika." "But we're receiving reports of civil unrest." "Various armed groups have been spotted throughout the capital." "Then announce a curfew in immediate effect," " and send in the militia." " The militia has deserted." "Several guard stations have been overrun." "They're arming up." "It's only a matter of time" " before they march on the palace." " Heika, I'll prepare the shuttle." "Where's Teku?" "He's nowhere to be found." "What about your guests?" "The emperor has ordered us to execute the prisoners." "Find them." "His war room's this way." "At least let one of us go with you." " Come on." " These are clone bodies." "If you guys don't get the message out, it won't matter if I reach the hangar." " I'll see you back on the ship." " Yeah." "Hold up." "Heika!" "Wait!" "We have insurgents on the grounds of the palace." "Let the guards handle it." "You have more pressing matters to attend to." "We captured Teku while he was attempting to flee." " Where is he?" " In the court." "A revolution against humanity is doomed to failure before it even begins." "That's where you're wrong, Android, because it has already begun." "Android, we need you to engage the Blink Drive." "Do you think that's wise?" "Probably not, but we don't have a choice." "Where's Teku?" "You won't find him here, Ryo." "Only your death." " You swore an oath." " To the throne." "And the throne will still be here once you're gone." "And who will occupy it?" "A new blood empress, I suppose?" "A leader this empire desperately needs." "Not an indecisive weakling." "Shall we?" "Sounds like the locals have breached the perimeter." "Yeah." " You coming?" " Yeah, I'm coming." "Just want to make sure you guys get out okay." "Give me your gun." " Okay?" " I'll be right behind you." "All right." " You sure you want to know?" " Tell me." "Drop your weapon!" " Hey." " What happened?" "What do you mean?" "Last thing I remember, I was getting in the pod." "What happened down at the palace?" "His clone didn't make it." "What'd you do with Teku?" "Your tutor fled before we could apprehend him." "He's no doubt hiding somewhere like the rat he is." "Back to your old tricks?" "Unfortunately, I don't have time to bleed you." "Well, poison's more efficient." "A lesson I taught your former lover." "Goodbye, Ryo." "This is for Nyx." "What are you doing?" "Keeping a promise." " Any sign of her?" " Not yet." "I've been scanning." "Wait." "I'm picking up an Ishida shuttle." "It's her." "I'll have her board through "D" airlock." " Thanks." " I was sure you'd be back." " I just knew it." " Really?" " There was never any doubt?" " Nah, of course not." "The Android saw you in one of her future visions." "That means you're part of our future." "Well, the Android's future, anyway." "Didn't we already prove that the future is fluid?" " Not necessarily." " The dwarf star conspiracy, the Android meeting her creator, and now the fall of the House of Ishida..." "They all happened just like the future you predicted." "What else you got on that tohappen list?" "Well, according to the Android, she..." "I also mentioned a couple names." "Kryden and Carina." "Something called "the Accelerated."" "The "Black Ships."" "Black Ships." "I've finished tending to his injuries." "Kinda counterproductive, wouldn't you say?" "Well, come on." "You promised Teku you'd get him off Zairon alive, but... didn't say anything about keeping him alive after you did." "True." "You're not seriously talking about killing him, are you?" "Well, you're not seriously talking about letting him go, are you?" "He's lost his empire, his support." "He has no reason to come after us anymore." "Look, I don't like this any more than you guys do." "He was a member of this crew." "He was a friend of mine." "The truth is, Four died a long time ago." "That guy in our infirmary is not him." "Before this, if any of us were given the opportunity of ending him, we would've taken that shot." "Don't kid yourselves otherwise." "I know it's a tough decision, but it's the right call." "He may not be the Four we knew, but he's sure as hell not the Ryo Ishida we thought." "I'm not excusing any of his actions." "He's done some terrible things and probably deserves to die." "But certainly not by our hands." "Before this..." "If I had the chance..." "I probably would've killed him." "There were times I wanted to, but not anymore." "Maybe he's still a danger to us, I can't be sure, but one thing I do know for sure is," "I'm not going to be party to his execution." " What?" " You're a member of this crew." "You have a voice here." "Logic dictates we end the potential threat he poses." "On the other hand, my emotions lead me to view him with considerable sympathy." "But in the end, those feelings are eclipsed by my concern for the safety and wellbeing of this crew." "For those reasons..." "I agree with Three." "I'm sorry." "Stalemate." "Looks like you get the deciding vote, boss." "What's it gonna be?" "So?" "Did you debate my fate?" " We did." " And what was the result?" "What have you decided?" "Well." " It's probably for the best." " Is it?" "I have nothing to look forward to, and you can't move forward until I've been dealt with, so." "I could save you the trouble." "I'm not handing you a weapon." "Thought I'd offer." "I want you to know, my decision wasn't motivated by revenge." "You do what's best for the people you serve." "I really wish there was another way." "Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown." "But you wear it well, Two." "You have a child." "What?" "Back at the palace, I told you I knew your secrets, and that's yours." "You have a child somewhere out there." " Are you lying to me?" " No." "You confided in me." "Told me about the child you produced by combining your genetic material with that of your creator," " a woman by the name of..." " Dr. Irena Shaw." " Yes." " What happened?" "You joined the crew of the infamous "Raza."" "Your plan was to stick around long enough to put together a string of lucrative scores, enough to ensure her future and" " yours..." " Her?" "A little girl?" " Yes." " Where is she?" " I don't know." " Ryo..." "All I know is that you entrusted her to someone who would watch over her until you return." "Someone by the name of Kryden." "Five was right." "The ship's vault holds secrets." "Yours were stored on a black storage device in a locked strongbox." "Hack the pass code, and you'll have all your answers." " Ryo..." " This doesn't change anything." "That was an apology." "My final gift to you." "I'm ready."