Killjoys (2015–…): Season 3, Episode 2 - A Skinner, Darkley - full transcript
John's search for Clara gets under some people's skin. Dutch and D'avin attempt to train a replacement nerd.
Previously on Killjoys...
- Aneela, she's your daughter?
- Yes.
Why do I look like her?
I don't know.
Cloaked Hullen ships.
Hiding here?
Not hiding, waiting.
That arm belongs to
a missing friend of mine.
So either the arm comes
with me or you both do.
Hackmods come to Rat City
to get away from The Factory.
So whatever Clara came for,
she didn't find it.
No Basics in, no Basics out.
Mod him.
I am the greatest man
who ever lived.
He's not a no-face.
He's a two-face.
Olli?
First you're gonna fix her.
Then you're gonna tell me
why you set us up.
And then I'm gonna kill you.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Wait.
All I ever did was
ask about her missing friend,
like I promised.
Everything you know about me,
do you really think
I'd betray a hackmod?
No.
- Go.
- Help her.
Talk to me.
If there's repo in town,
I have to warn people.
Yeah?
You warn them some weird
shit's going on in Rat City.
Play one of the best new FPS shooters,
search Steam for PROJECT WARLOCK
It's a feeling
irrepressible.
It's a hunger.
Insatiable.
What's wrong?
Your face.
Don't look at me like that.
I said don't look at me!
So how was your holocall
with Johnny last night?
Didn't happen.
Sent a message instead.
There's no one here.
Are we sure we have
the right coordinates?
Turin's intel said
a contact named Molly
would be here waiting for us.
We give her the code number,
she gives us the locater data
about the Hullen hives.
Hey, Dutch.
Oh, come on.
- That's Molly'?
- We need Johnny for this shit.
We can enter a code.
Maybe you gotta be faster.
Shit tits.
Maybe the zeroes are O's?
Error.
Repeated improper code entry.
Lockout in ten,
nine, eight, seven...
So you blew it up?
Little bit.
If you want to get technical.
Plus side, no one else
is getting that data.
You need a new brain.
You need a new face.
Not what I meant.
Look, if we can beat
the Hullen into submission,
my money's on you two.
But it's gonna take more than
soldiers to win this war.
We need our own scientists,
code crackers, engineers.
We need nerds.
We've got a nerd.
Johnny's on an emo walkabout.
Meanwhile,
we still don't know why
the Hullen left
a secret squad of ships here,
how to get inside them,
or where to find Aneela.
You two gonna solve all that
with your shitty cologne
and sexual tension?
I smell great.
Make a Warrant. Pick some nerds.
Take 'em for a spin,
see if they're field ready.
If you like 'em,
we tell them what's really
going on in the RAC.
Come on, let's go
traumatize some lab rats.
Yeah, this time,
try not to explode them.
- She'll pull through.
- Yeah?
Why isn't she waking up?
Fight probably
triggered sleep mode.
It's like a hackmod kill switch.
We all have one.
Why?
The whole point
of making hackmods
is to sell forced labor
with superhuman skills, right?
So?
So, how marketable
do you think we'd be
if we could use our tech
against our buyers?
No wonder you hate us Basics.
Some of you are
worse than others.
I get that.
Didn't always.
People in this bar,
we're all runaways.
Most of us got taken by repo,
had our tech stolen,
and we're still the lucky ones.
No one's here because
we think Rat City's
some kind of utopia,
but it's ours.
Which is why you and your girl
need to leave,
soon as she's able.
Don't track your dirt
in my door.
She's waking up.
Approaching Leith.
Thirty-six hours ago, a
secure research facility went dark.
Hopefully it's just
a downed commstack.
We need you to fix it.
Piece of cake.
Barely seems worth our time.
Ow.
We'll be out of
comm range down there.
These chips will be
your communicators
and trackers once inside.
Do not lose them.
What kind of guns do we get?
None.
You get none guns.
We do the bang-bang,
you do the tech.
Once you restore
external communications,
we can all go home.
Oh, when do you decide
which one of us
replaces Agent Jaqobis?
No one replaces John Jaqobis.
Thank you, Dutch.
Arriving at research facility.
Look, do well down there,
Turin will clear you
for special field work.
Screw up? Back to lab life.
This is your shot
to get to the field
like real Killjoys.
Don't waste it.
Strap in for landing.
How do you feel?
Like I got mule-kicked
by a jumper.
Or whatever the hells
that guy was.
They're called Skinners.
Some new kind of
illegal skin morphing tech.
Can make you look
like anyone you want,
for a price.
Who's behind it?
Look,
I get you're trying
to protect your people,
but so am I.
This green shit?
It's all over the zone
where I come from.
And if the people
who use it are here,
they got worse plans for you
than any Basic ever could.
Havigan.
Please.
A jumper I was repairing did
some courier work for them.
Said if I wanted in,
that was the place.
"Livio Surgical Spa:."
"Where reconstruction
meets rejuvenation."
I guess "We make skin suits"
wasn't catchy enough.
Well, if they've got
black-market productions
going on, they're not
just gonna let us
waltz in there
to the good stuff.
Well, lucky for us,
I know how to dance.
Welcome to Livio.
How may we serve you?
Not sure yet. Feeling stale.
Could use a little refresher,
a little zhoosh.
Well, it will be hard
to improve upon
your current perfection,
but we do like a challenge.
Hmm.
I enjoy a firm grip.
Same.
Ugh, gross.
Your scanner gloves
are pretty sweet, though.
ID captured, and we're in.
Buy me some time, pretty boy.
Will do.
RAC agents.
Anybody home?
Thermal reads say
nothing bigger than a mouse
on this floor.
Think we should be okay.
Depends on the mouse.
There should be crew here.
Somebody fired the maid.
I thought you said
the last communication
was only 36 hours ago?
- I did.
- Why so dusty?
Focus, everyone.
Find us the power room,
and reboot shit.
You had 48 hours
to complete this job.
It's now been 56.
I had an issue, Niko.
I see that.
An allergic reaction.
Did anybody see you?
- No.
- Hm.
Maybe.
The doorman on my way out.
Six years working for them,
they never learned my name.
I just...
I just wanted to know
what it was like.
To be her.
To be wanted.
I have other people to protect.
You really should have
thought of that
before taking a last joyride.
You knew the rules.
Clean her up.
My next client is waiting.
John.
I'm in the research level,
and shit is weird.
Like, creepy uncle spaceman
weird.
Oh.
Oh, great.
Slime shower.
Ugh.
Johnny?
You copy?
Johnny!
I know what you're thinking.
It's almost a crime
to take my money
when I'm already
working with all of this.
Mm, definitely.
We could man-up that jawline.
Say again?
Smooth the asymmetry.
Not much we can do
about the ear placement.
My ears are adorable
and can hear you.
I'm not gonna lie,
I would make sweet,
sweet love to him
and he would like it.
I am a sexy wolf man.
We can start your treatment
in a week.
Mm-mm, no-no, I was thinking
something more radical.
I was hoping that I could try
someone else's look on
for a night or two,
see how it fits.
If you have any freaky
little science tricks
that can make that happen,
I'm into it.
We got a body.
What the hells happened here?
Why is there no dust in here?
That's your takeaway? Really?
Maybe focus on
Corpsey McGuts over here.
The blast radius would
fill the room with frag,
but most of it's in him.
He was right on top of this
when it blew.
Either he was fixing it or...
Or he's the one who blew it up.
Damn it.
Where the hells is Zeph?
I'll find her.
Just get the power back.
Hey.
Hey, I have a gross suggestion.
We could...
fish parts out of
this guy's guts...
Don't do it, rookie.
Try to piece this system
back together again.
Just get the power back on.
And a mop, maybe.
Yoki?
What is your stupid Basic
doing with Niko?
Uh, looking for Clara,
your missing friend,
unlike you, you shitty bitch.
You're going to ruin everything.
I can't keep protecting you.
- What?
- Me?
I never asked you to,
you psychobox.
Listen to me. Niko scans
and IDs every client.
Once she figures out
who and what your boy is,
he is toast, and so am I
if she links him to me.
Please, forget him. Just run.
No, I'm not leaving.
You might be a worthless friend,
but I'm not.
Red door, end of the hall,
is a shortcut.
If you go straight there,
you can still make it out.
Routine system check.
- Pardon me a moment?
- Of course.
Hey, is that you?
Get out now.
Shit.
COMPUTER
VOICE: Contagion detected.
Quarantine protocol
is now in effect.
Power Room B contaminated.
Quick question.
Are we in Power Room B?
Begin purging in Power Room B.
Door! Move, now!
- Go!
- Five, four...
Move, move, move!
Three, two,
one.
What did you do?
The exits are all sealed.
Guys! I figured it out.
It's not dust, it's ash,
human ash...
Yeah.
Got that.
Okay, that was gross.
That was so gross.
There were all of
these skinned bodies,
just hanging there,
like a big prosciutto party
without the melon.
Anything else?
They were spraying
the bodies with
all of that green shit
that you're looking for.
Well, plasma,
it has healing properties.
Maybe they're
keeping the bodies fresh?
Or regrowing the skin?
No, no idea,
but I know who does.
Clara's friend
works for the skinners.
So I say we go punch her in the
face until answers come out.
- Wait, Yoki was at the clinic?
- Yeah, she helped me escape.
Okay, we gotta flip her somehow.
We gotta figure out what
this has to do with Clara.
Oh.
I almost forgot.
I brought you
a parting gift for that.
When I was trapped
in the beef locker,
I just wanted out,
so I sliced some evidence
and ran.
You brought me hands?
You brought me hands.
Don't get too excited.
Not a lot of skin left on some.
But can they still be ID'd?
I'm already on it.
You better get some sleep.
This is gonna take a while.
Let the dark science-ing
commence.
Nerd.
And what triggered
the quarantine?
Well, this is a Comm-3 facility.
Disease nerds.
One of their designer pathogens
must have got out of the lab,
triggered the emergency
sterilization system.
So shut it down.
Don't have clearance.
Can't request it
with the commstack offline.
That's why the engineer
blew up the generator.
Cutting off power
was the only way
to stop the sterilization.
Okay, let me get this straight.
Power on, we could burn.
Power off, we're all trapped.
Well, both those options
can kiss my ass.
Obviously,
Turin knows we're here.
I say we sit tight,
wait for an evac.
I can hear you
thinking that's stupid.
The pathogen must have
still been in the room
when we first got in.
We're already infected.
All of us.
Infected with what?
I don't know yet.
I mean, it shouldn't
even be possible this fast,
but based on body temp
and white blood count,
at current doubling rate,
we'll have around two hours
before our own viral loads
are high enough
for the system
to detect us as a threat.
And then the fire
can turn on us?
We'll be dead before Turin
even knows we're missing.
- Yep.
- No.
No? I don't accept those terms.
Uh, science doesn't
really work like that.
Make it.
Figure out an override
and get us home.
What about the mission?
We were sent to
restart the commstack.
- Missions adapt.
- Survive.
Okay.
Input prints and genetic scan.
Processed through
all available RAC databases.
And...
Boomshakalaka.
Let's see what these
poor bastards have in common.
All three have criminal records
for human trafficking,
hackmod trading...
Stop.
- Repeat the second one.
- Hackmod trading.
Outstanding warrants for
John Moosh, Torink,
and Abel Connaver,
leader of the Connaver gang.
Yeah.
I know who she was.
They're killing hackmod owners.
How do you know?
Because I recognize one,
Able Connaver.
She owned you and Yoki
for six years.
Are you high?
Because I've never had an owner.
I escaped
straight from The Factory.
What do you remember about that?
Waking up
with parts of me missing
in a surgical room.
And then I don't know.
I blacked out, I guess.
There were flashes
of a transport ship.
Me waking up with Alice.
And then finding you.
What year is it?
No. Don't do that.
What year?
10-5-6.
You're missing six years.
Look, whatever game it is
that you're playing,
it... I really don't
appreciate this shit.
Clara had a mod on her chest
that can't be removed.
It was one of a kind,
built from parts of a ship
that crashed on
a moon called Arkyn.
I've never even
heard of that moon.
Exactly, so
you definitely shouldn't
have that mod
in your chest, right?
Unless you're her.
We can settle this right now.
Clara, I'm so sorry...
Do not call me that.
You have her arm.
You have no memory.
Her best friend
is protecting you.
They skinned me?
Somebody skinned me?
Whose face is this? Get it off.
Whoa-whoa-whoa! Hey, hey.
Listen to me, listen, we don't
know if that will hurt you.
I don't care.
I do, okay?
I promise that we will
find out who did this,
and we will fix it.
So just...
Just stay with me, okay?
Now, you programmed Alice
to bring us together
because you trusted me
to figure this out.
So trust me now.
It's okay. It's okay.
Why can't I remember you?
I don't know.
But you said that Yoki
helped you escape the clinic.
So she wants to help you.
And now I'm gonna make her.
There's an exit door
in the shipping bay.
We should be able
to hack the locks.
- Good.
- And bad.
The only way to get there
is through here,
Service Corridor Seven.
Currently being doused
in corrosive decon mist.
It targets anything organic.
You know, like, uh, people.
Yeah, thanks for
dumbing that down.
- What's this at the end?
- The control panel.
If one person could
make it to the panel,
they could shut down the mist
in that section manually.
Everyone else
could safely follow.
How's someone supposed to
get there without melting?
Yeah...
You trust us?
No, I don't.
D'av?
If this fails
and I die horribly,
promise you'll eat all of them?
Way ahead of you, Dutch.
I figured I can survive
on nerd till winter.
Entering now.
You're sure this suit
will protect me, yes?
It's what the math says.
The math also says you only have
a few minutes until
the suit corrodes.
Just get to the panel
as fast as you can, Dutch.
Hm.
Whoa. Pulse ox falling, 94.
Yep, I think there's
a micro-tear in her suit.
Oxygen's leaching.
You said there'd be a blue wire.
- Shit. Um...
- "Um"?
Any lower than 80
and she'll start passing out.
If you can't do this,
tell me now
and I will pull her out.
We'll find another way.
There's no other way.
Guys?
No, no, we can do this.
Okay, you need to
find the processor,
remove it, and then
reverse-wire the flow
to the ODBC source admin.
What?
In English, jackass.
And you can't
reroute it that way,
it'll just loop the signal.
Well, if you have
a better methodology...
A chimp would have
a better methodology.
Talk her home. Now.
Dutch, do you see a...
A small chip in there somewhere?
Look for
something shiny, square,
the size of your thumbnail.
Yes.
Okay, pop it out.
Now, your gloves aren't lined,
so you're gonna feel
a bit of a shock.
Do not let go, okay?
I know you can do this.
We're gonna need a conductor.
Dutch, do you have a hairpin?
- Yes.
- What's it made of?
Gold.
Good.
Okay, now, I need
you to trust us.
When you're ready,
take a big breath,
and pull off your helmet.
- What?
- Pull off your helmet.
Grab the pin, and
stab it in the hole.
It'll short the whole system.
Got that?
Pull, grab, stab.
79. She's nearly hypoxic.
We're gonna lose her.
You don't know her.
She'll do it.
Pull, grab stab.
Okay, okay.
Gas cleanse stopped.
Yes.
Yes.
Vacuum purge commencing.
Dutch, give us a sign.
You're not sweating.
Thanks.
Dutch, we're coming at you.
You weren't
supposed to come back.
Sorry to screw up
your evil plan.
I'm rude like that.
Tell her.
Tell her.
When you first came here,
as Clara,
I told you everything
and you freaked out.
You started causing trouble.
And so Niko told me
that I had to
make you disappear.
So you did, just not
the way that she meant.
Why don't I remember?
Jammer.
Blocking all your memories
since the day we met
at The Factory.
You know what life
is like for hackmods.
We're either running
or we're owned,
but we are never equal,
we are never them.
So, what is this?
Some sort of
poetic identity theft?
You literally take the skin
off your owners' backs,
you impersonate them,
and you steal their money?
This isn't about money.
Hackmods are starting a colony
at the end of the J.
This buys us cryotransit,
and enough to start a good life.
Niko takes the rest
to keep funding the fight.
Oh, I'm sure.
I don't care
what you think, Basic.
I'm done. I got my papers.
I'm free.
I was gonna send for you
once I found a place for us,
but we can go now.
I'm not going anywhere with you.
Just take back
what you did to me.
I don't know how.
Oh, don't fake cry for me.
What's happening?
She's not crying.
Clara?
Clara? Clara, wake up.
Shit.
I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro.
Oops.
Nice try.
Bring the Killjoy.
He needs a touch-up.
I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro
I'm the pro, I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro
I'm the pro, I'm the prototype.
What is that?
What are you doing?
Shh.
You won't want me to slip.
Newsflash, lady:
I don't want any of this.
I'm not a hackmod owner,
and I'm broke as shit,
so what do you want from me?
Simple.
We could use a Killjoy skin.
That is
so deeply gross
to hear in words.
Look, I'm sorry
that someone took your damn leg,
but you don't get
to take a life in return.
Oh, I disagree.
You think this little toy
makes you understand us, Basic?
My owner was
the founder of this place.
I was a scientist.
I ran into some
financial difficulties
with the wrong people
back on my planet.
Buying my debt meant buying me.
Why hack a scientist?
Control.
He took my leg
so that I couldn't run
and replaced my eye
with a camera.
So he could record
all my research.
Quite clever, actually.
He was the first one I skinned.
I'm just gonna put the word
"therapy" out there for you,
just as a general tip.
Looks like you've given yourself
an upgrade on the leg.
Oh, I've earned it.
Are you feeling comfy?
Not even a little bit.
Great.
Then let's begin.
This might pinch a bit.
Whoa, whoa.
Take it easy.
It's just rebooting.
Where's John?
I think she took him.
I didn't know that
they were gonna follow me,
I swear.
We need to take that bitch down.
You know what the skinning
is about, right?
- Or do you just not care?
- I care.
But I'm not standing in the
way of hackmods getting free.
She's not killing
innocent people.
What about my friend?
If you want someone to blame,
blame The Factory
for starting all this.
Why?
They made us mods, not monsters.
That part's on you.
So you've never
had any diseases?
- Nope.
- Hormonal deficiencies?
Still no.
Do you have any strange rashes
in your moist area...
Whoa-kay. Offside.
Look, I'm not super clear
on geek mating rituals,
but whatever this is,
I'm not into it.
Super not.
"Moist areas."
Hey.
When we get back, we are calling
my slack-ass brother
and ordering his ass home.
Look, have you ever thought that
maybe John just
doesn't want to come home?
Well, then we're screwed.
Because if this shitshow
taught me anything,
there's only one Johnny.
That was phase one.
Loosens the skin up a bit.
Are you ready for phase two?
What does any of this
have to do with the Hullen?
Whom?
The bastards that need
the green shit to thrive.
Oh, you mean my secret
little ingredient?
They will do worse
than skin you if
they find out you're jacking
around with their plasma.
- Mm.
- How did you find it?
It was here
when they brought me.
Their R&D was investigating
its healing properties.
I was hoping I would
grow back my leg.
But no luck.
When I spray this
on freshly-skinned dermis,
it keeps it alive and supple
between the hosts.
I really couldn't
do it without it.
I've sent jumpers
all around the J
looking for this stuff,
smuggling it back home.
And do you know
what I've noticed?
That you have a narcissistic
personality disorder?
That whenever
there's green juice,
there's always
Killjoys guarding it.
Why is that?
Sorry, these lips
are technically still mine.
And I don't feel like using them
to kiss your ass before dying.
Once we have your skin,
and I have one of
my people wearing it,
I'll get all the answers
and all the green that I need.
Go!
Don't move.
I'm kidding.
I know you can't move.
Preparing paralytic agent.
Wait. I'm lost.
Okay?
Or is this where
you get your asses kicked?
Hmm, guess so.
Contamination
detected in dock area.
Eenie, meanie, miney, nerd.
Where the hells is Zeph now?
Damn it. On it.
Wait... Once the doors open,
the locks will reset.
We can't keep them
open that long.
We do not leave crew behind.
If I'm not back in time,
you need to leave.
Contamination detected
in Communications Room.
Countdown to quarantine purge.
Okay, fake fire doesn't burn.
Zeph! Stand down!
What the hells are you doing?
I'm doing my job and
completing the real mission
by restarting
the commstack, sir!
You're talking crazy. You're
gonna get us both Killed!
That's not
what the science says!
Science says we're all
infected with something!
It's messing with your head!
Maybe. Decontamination in...
Too late now, Zephyr. Commit.
Five, four...
You're right,
you're right, okay.
- Three...
- Zeph.
Two,
one.
Commstack online.
Yes.
Wakey wakey.
Well, that was a waste
of expensive tech.
It wasn't real?
So all of that was just
a VR training simulation?
That chip on you?
Wireless sim-jack.
- Linked us all into the gameplay.
- Nice tech.
We're a little low
on agents right now.
We can't risk losing
newbies in the field
before they're proven ready.
So I won, right?
We put you through three tests.
You failed.
Wait, what? No, I didn't.
The first was spatial.
Could you figure out how to
rebuild the generator
under pressure?
Next came communication.
Could you talk a layman like
Dutch through the corridor...
Yeah, and third
was staying on task
and completing the mission,
which is what I did.
Third was getting
everyone out alive.
Your refusal to adapt and obey
put your whole team at risk.
Go back to the lab, agent.
You're done here.
But... This isn't fair.
I knew they wouldn't die
because I knew it was a sim!
Shit ain't fair.
Lesson number four.
That one's free.
Now,
you other two,
welcome to the revolution.
Sorry I'm late.
I believe we have
an appointment?
You must be Olli.
Or is it Clara?
It's "Bitch, you have
got to be joking"
"if you think that
you're gonna take me"
"with that little shit-stick."
Hm. Let's find out.
I'm the pro, I'm the pro.
I'm the prototype.
Calibrating paralytic injection.
Motion detected.
Please stop moving.
- I don't want to!
- Please stop moving.
Recalibrating.
Recalibrating.
Think, you handsome genius.
Think!
Recalibrating.
My mod.
My sweet, sweet courtesy mod.
Okay,
please-please-please-please.
- Recalibrating.
- Come on, work for Papa.
Recalibrating.
Ah.
Yes.
Jake's on you, Niko,
'cause Johnny
ain't no basic, bitch.
Clara.
Do it.
Do you know why you can't?
I didn't say that I can't.
Because we both
want the same thing.
Skin suits?
Sorry.
Not into it.
At least I'm not
ashamed of what I am.
I am not ashamed of my mods.
Not your mods, being modded.
Knowing that someone
did this to you
and you couldn't stop them.
Shut up.
I love my body.
I would never go back
to just flesh and bones.
But that doesn't mean
we should forgive them.
If you really
want to help our kind,
prove it.
Let me go.
Hey.
You okay?
Basic, stay out of it.
This is not your call.
Oh, I know.
That's why I called them.
Repo's on its way, Niko.
You better move.
We're family.
We're supposed to
protect each other.
We are.
From you.
Thanks for seeing me.
How did you know it was a sim?
Whoever designed it's
obviously a gadget-head.
They were so busy whacking off
to the tech details,
they overlooked the bio cues.
Such as?
Okay, fine.
First,
all five of us were infected
with the same viral load
at the same time.
That's not how
pathogens work, man.
They infect
at differential rates,
based on body mass,
health, hydration...
Okay, I get it.
So he goofed on
factoring our sweater sizes.
Also,
D'avin didn't sweat.
Pardon?
He's obviously into you.
And you could have
died in that hall,
but his heart rate never rose.
Which, once I excluded
adrenal malfunction,
meant only one thing.
He knew you weren't
in actual danger.
And the whole thing was a test.
That was a massively stupid
risk to take.
Yep, kind of.
But I was right,
wasn't I?
Look, right now,
Turin's back there,
telling the boy-geeks
that there's a war coming.
Bigger than anything
seen in the Quad.
Holy shit.
Who's starting it?
I am.
The thing we're fighting,
it's organic.
And we're never gonna beat it
until we understand
its biology, so.
Turin may not
want you on his team,
but I need you.
Think you could
follow real-life orders?
I think I'd follow you anywhere.
Sorry.
Too honest.
Welcome to Team Awesome Force.
Weirdo.
Yoki helped me find it.
I think Niko'd appreciate
donating it to the cause.
Ooh.
Did you really call repo on her?
Do you really want to know?
I'll take care of that.
Drinks are on Olli.
You know, Niko
might have been nuts,
but she was a hell of a tracker.
Sent couriers all over the J,
charting green plasma sources.
Fills in the rest of
the spots of my map.
Well, at least something good
came out of this detour.
You asked me why
I hadn't gone home yet.
And I think I've been waiting
for you to have what I have.
What do you have
that I don't have, John Jaqobis?
A reason to stop running.
I mean, the Quad's
kind of shitty,
and eventually
some green-snot aliens
are probably gonna take it over,
but it's home.
It needs me.
And I want that for you.
Yeah, the fact that
we're all hackmods here
doesn't make it home.
No. No, but the fact that
they came to save your ass,
it's a hell of a start.
Just tell me
you don't want to stay.
Good luck with your war.
And if you need
some hackmod backup...
We will.
Then call me.
Pinky swear?
Pinky swear.
Whoa! Whoa.
Johnny.
I nearly shot you.
It wouldn't be the first time.
Look, I know
I've got a lot of...
Shut up, I don't care.
I'm sorry.
And what about you, Luce?
Do you miss me?
If ships could cry,
I would have rusted, John.
Aw. See?
Now, she cares.
Well, we've been busy,
hunting Hullen,
trying to figure out who
abandoned these
Black Root ships.
Oh, yeah, and Banyon,
new head bitch in charge.
We're gonna have to
get you past her.
Well, I've been a busy boy too.
Brought the rest of
the plasma map.
Johnny, it's everywhere.
How the hells are
we gonna fight them?
One step at a time.
Like always.
To Aneela.
May the bitch
never see us coming.
Oh, good.
You're awake.
Welcome to my ship.
Now come,
tell me everything.
- Aneela, she's your daughter?
- Yes.
Why do I look like her?
I don't know.
Cloaked Hullen ships.
Hiding here?
Not hiding, waiting.
That arm belongs to
a missing friend of mine.
So either the arm comes
with me or you both do.
Hackmods come to Rat City
to get away from The Factory.
So whatever Clara came for,
she didn't find it.
No Basics in, no Basics out.
Mod him.
I am the greatest man
who ever lived.
He's not a no-face.
He's a two-face.
Olli?
First you're gonna fix her.
Then you're gonna tell me
why you set us up.
And then I'm gonna kill you.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
Wait.
All I ever did was
ask about her missing friend,
like I promised.
Everything you know about me,
do you really think
I'd betray a hackmod?
No.
- Go.
- Help her.
Talk to me.
If there's repo in town,
I have to warn people.
Yeah?
You warn them some weird
shit's going on in Rat City.
Play one of the best new FPS shooters,
search Steam for PROJECT WARLOCK
It's a feeling
irrepressible.
It's a hunger.
Insatiable.
What's wrong?
Your face.
Don't look at me like that.
I said don't look at me!
So how was your holocall
with Johnny last night?
Didn't happen.
Sent a message instead.
There's no one here.
Are we sure we have
the right coordinates?
Turin's intel said
a contact named Molly
would be here waiting for us.
We give her the code number,
she gives us the locater data
about the Hullen hives.
Hey, Dutch.
Oh, come on.
- That's Molly'?
- We need Johnny for this shit.
We can enter a code.
Maybe you gotta be faster.
Shit tits.
Maybe the zeroes are O's?
Error.
Repeated improper code entry.
Lockout in ten,
nine, eight, seven...
So you blew it up?
Little bit.
If you want to get technical.
Plus side, no one else
is getting that data.
You need a new brain.
You need a new face.
Not what I meant.
Look, if we can beat
the Hullen into submission,
my money's on you two.
But it's gonna take more than
soldiers to win this war.
We need our own scientists,
code crackers, engineers.
We need nerds.
We've got a nerd.
Johnny's on an emo walkabout.
Meanwhile,
we still don't know why
the Hullen left
a secret squad of ships here,
how to get inside them,
or where to find Aneela.
You two gonna solve all that
with your shitty cologne
and sexual tension?
I smell great.
Make a Warrant. Pick some nerds.
Take 'em for a spin,
see if they're field ready.
If you like 'em,
we tell them what's really
going on in the RAC.
Come on, let's go
traumatize some lab rats.
Yeah, this time,
try not to explode them.
- She'll pull through.
- Yeah?
Why isn't she waking up?
Fight probably
triggered sleep mode.
It's like a hackmod kill switch.
We all have one.
Why?
The whole point
of making hackmods
is to sell forced labor
with superhuman skills, right?
So?
So, how marketable
do you think we'd be
if we could use our tech
against our buyers?
No wonder you hate us Basics.
Some of you are
worse than others.
I get that.
Didn't always.
People in this bar,
we're all runaways.
Most of us got taken by repo,
had our tech stolen,
and we're still the lucky ones.
No one's here because
we think Rat City's
some kind of utopia,
but it's ours.
Which is why you and your girl
need to leave,
soon as she's able.
Don't track your dirt
in my door.
She's waking up.
Approaching Leith.
Thirty-six hours ago, a
secure research facility went dark.
Hopefully it's just
a downed commstack.
We need you to fix it.
Piece of cake.
Barely seems worth our time.
Ow.
We'll be out of
comm range down there.
These chips will be
your communicators
and trackers once inside.
Do not lose them.
What kind of guns do we get?
None.
You get none guns.
We do the bang-bang,
you do the tech.
Once you restore
external communications,
we can all go home.
Oh, when do you decide
which one of us
replaces Agent Jaqobis?
No one replaces John Jaqobis.
Thank you, Dutch.
Arriving at research facility.
Look, do well down there,
Turin will clear you
for special field work.
Screw up? Back to lab life.
This is your shot
to get to the field
like real Killjoys.
Don't waste it.
Strap in for landing.
How do you feel?
Like I got mule-kicked
by a jumper.
Or whatever the hells
that guy was.
They're called Skinners.
Some new kind of
illegal skin morphing tech.
Can make you look
like anyone you want,
for a price.
Who's behind it?
Look,
I get you're trying
to protect your people,
but so am I.
This green shit?
It's all over the zone
where I come from.
And if the people
who use it are here,
they got worse plans for you
than any Basic ever could.
Havigan.
Please.
A jumper I was repairing did
some courier work for them.
Said if I wanted in,
that was the place.
"Livio Surgical Spa:."
"Where reconstruction
meets rejuvenation."
I guess "We make skin suits"
wasn't catchy enough.
Well, if they've got
black-market productions
going on, they're not
just gonna let us
waltz in there
to the good stuff.
Well, lucky for us,
I know how to dance.
Welcome to Livio.
How may we serve you?
Not sure yet. Feeling stale.
Could use a little refresher,
a little zhoosh.
Well, it will be hard
to improve upon
your current perfection,
but we do like a challenge.
Hmm.
I enjoy a firm grip.
Same.
Ugh, gross.
Your scanner gloves
are pretty sweet, though.
ID captured, and we're in.
Buy me some time, pretty boy.
Will do.
RAC agents.
Anybody home?
Thermal reads say
nothing bigger than a mouse
on this floor.
Think we should be okay.
Depends on the mouse.
There should be crew here.
Somebody fired the maid.
I thought you said
the last communication
was only 36 hours ago?
- I did.
- Why so dusty?
Focus, everyone.
Find us the power room,
and reboot shit.
You had 48 hours
to complete this job.
It's now been 56.
I had an issue, Niko.
I see that.
An allergic reaction.
Did anybody see you?
- No.
- Hm.
Maybe.
The doorman on my way out.
Six years working for them,
they never learned my name.
I just...
I just wanted to know
what it was like.
To be her.
To be wanted.
I have other people to protect.
You really should have
thought of that
before taking a last joyride.
You knew the rules.
Clean her up.
My next client is waiting.
John.
I'm in the research level,
and shit is weird.
Like, creepy uncle spaceman
weird.
Oh.
Oh, great.
Slime shower.
Ugh.
Johnny?
You copy?
Johnny!
I know what you're thinking.
It's almost a crime
to take my money
when I'm already
working with all of this.
Mm, definitely.
We could man-up that jawline.
Say again?
Smooth the asymmetry.
Not much we can do
about the ear placement.
My ears are adorable
and can hear you.
I'm not gonna lie,
I would make sweet,
sweet love to him
and he would like it.
I am a sexy wolf man.
We can start your treatment
in a week.
Mm-mm, no-no, I was thinking
something more radical.
I was hoping that I could try
someone else's look on
for a night or two,
see how it fits.
If you have any freaky
little science tricks
that can make that happen,
I'm into it.
We got a body.
What the hells happened here?
Why is there no dust in here?
That's your takeaway? Really?
Maybe focus on
Corpsey McGuts over here.
The blast radius would
fill the room with frag,
but most of it's in him.
He was right on top of this
when it blew.
Either he was fixing it or...
Or he's the one who blew it up.
Damn it.
Where the hells is Zeph?
I'll find her.
Just get the power back.
Hey.
Hey, I have a gross suggestion.
We could...
fish parts out of
this guy's guts...
Don't do it, rookie.
Try to piece this system
back together again.
Just get the power back on.
And a mop, maybe.
Yoki?
What is your stupid Basic
doing with Niko?
Uh, looking for Clara,
your missing friend,
unlike you, you shitty bitch.
You're going to ruin everything.
I can't keep protecting you.
- What?
- Me?
I never asked you to,
you psychobox.
Listen to me. Niko scans
and IDs every client.
Once she figures out
who and what your boy is,
he is toast, and so am I
if she links him to me.
Please, forget him. Just run.
No, I'm not leaving.
You might be a worthless friend,
but I'm not.
Red door, end of the hall,
is a shortcut.
If you go straight there,
you can still make it out.
Routine system check.
- Pardon me a moment?
- Of course.
Hey, is that you?
Get out now.
Shit.
COMPUTER
VOICE: Contagion detected.
Quarantine protocol
is now in effect.
Power Room B contaminated.
Quick question.
Are we in Power Room B?
Begin purging in Power Room B.
Door! Move, now!
- Go!
- Five, four...
Move, move, move!
Three, two,
one.
What did you do?
The exits are all sealed.
Guys! I figured it out.
It's not dust, it's ash,
human ash...
Yeah.
Got that.
Okay, that was gross.
That was so gross.
There were all of
these skinned bodies,
just hanging there,
like a big prosciutto party
without the melon.
Anything else?
They were spraying
the bodies with
all of that green shit
that you're looking for.
Well, plasma,
it has healing properties.
Maybe they're
keeping the bodies fresh?
Or regrowing the skin?
No, no idea,
but I know who does.
Clara's friend
works for the skinners.
So I say we go punch her in the
face until answers come out.
- Wait, Yoki was at the clinic?
- Yeah, she helped me escape.
Okay, we gotta flip her somehow.
We gotta figure out what
this has to do with Clara.
Oh.
I almost forgot.
I brought you
a parting gift for that.
When I was trapped
in the beef locker,
I just wanted out,
so I sliced some evidence
and ran.
You brought me hands?
You brought me hands.
Don't get too excited.
Not a lot of skin left on some.
But can they still be ID'd?
I'm already on it.
You better get some sleep.
This is gonna take a while.
Let the dark science-ing
commence.
Nerd.
And what triggered
the quarantine?
Well, this is a Comm-3 facility.
Disease nerds.
One of their designer pathogens
must have got out of the lab,
triggered the emergency
sterilization system.
So shut it down.
Don't have clearance.
Can't request it
with the commstack offline.
That's why the engineer
blew up the generator.
Cutting off power
was the only way
to stop the sterilization.
Okay, let me get this straight.
Power on, we could burn.
Power off, we're all trapped.
Well, both those options
can kiss my ass.
Obviously,
Turin knows we're here.
I say we sit tight,
wait for an evac.
I can hear you
thinking that's stupid.
The pathogen must have
still been in the room
when we first got in.
We're already infected.
All of us.
Infected with what?
I don't know yet.
I mean, it shouldn't
even be possible this fast,
but based on body temp
and white blood count,
at current doubling rate,
we'll have around two hours
before our own viral loads
are high enough
for the system
to detect us as a threat.
And then the fire
can turn on us?
We'll be dead before Turin
even knows we're missing.
- Yep.
- No.
No? I don't accept those terms.
Uh, science doesn't
really work like that.
Make it.
Figure out an override
and get us home.
What about the mission?
We were sent to
restart the commstack.
- Missions adapt.
- Survive.
Okay.
Input prints and genetic scan.
Processed through
all available RAC databases.
And...
Boomshakalaka.
Let's see what these
poor bastards have in common.
All three have criminal records
for human trafficking,
hackmod trading...
Stop.
- Repeat the second one.
- Hackmod trading.
Outstanding warrants for
John Moosh, Torink,
and Abel Connaver,
leader of the Connaver gang.
Yeah.
I know who she was.
They're killing hackmod owners.
How do you know?
Because I recognize one,
Able Connaver.
She owned you and Yoki
for six years.
Are you high?
Because I've never had an owner.
I escaped
straight from The Factory.
What do you remember about that?
Waking up
with parts of me missing
in a surgical room.
And then I don't know.
I blacked out, I guess.
There were flashes
of a transport ship.
Me waking up with Alice.
And then finding you.
What year is it?
No. Don't do that.
What year?
10-5-6.
You're missing six years.
Look, whatever game it is
that you're playing,
it... I really don't
appreciate this shit.
Clara had a mod on her chest
that can't be removed.
It was one of a kind,
built from parts of a ship
that crashed on
a moon called Arkyn.
I've never even
heard of that moon.
Exactly, so
you definitely shouldn't
have that mod
in your chest, right?
Unless you're her.
We can settle this right now.
Clara, I'm so sorry...
Do not call me that.
You have her arm.
You have no memory.
Her best friend
is protecting you.
They skinned me?
Somebody skinned me?
Whose face is this? Get it off.
Whoa-whoa-whoa! Hey, hey.
Listen to me, listen, we don't
know if that will hurt you.
I don't care.
I do, okay?
I promise that we will
find out who did this,
and we will fix it.
So just...
Just stay with me, okay?
Now, you programmed Alice
to bring us together
because you trusted me
to figure this out.
So trust me now.
It's okay. It's okay.
Why can't I remember you?
I don't know.
But you said that Yoki
helped you escape the clinic.
So she wants to help you.
And now I'm gonna make her.
There's an exit door
in the shipping bay.
We should be able
to hack the locks.
- Good.
- And bad.
The only way to get there
is through here,
Service Corridor Seven.
Currently being doused
in corrosive decon mist.
It targets anything organic.
You know, like, uh, people.
Yeah, thanks for
dumbing that down.
- What's this at the end?
- The control panel.
If one person could
make it to the panel,
they could shut down the mist
in that section manually.
Everyone else
could safely follow.
How's someone supposed to
get there without melting?
Yeah...
You trust us?
No, I don't.
D'av?
If this fails
and I die horribly,
promise you'll eat all of them?
Way ahead of you, Dutch.
I figured I can survive
on nerd till winter.
Entering now.
You're sure this suit
will protect me, yes?
It's what the math says.
The math also says you only have
a few minutes until
the suit corrodes.
Just get to the panel
as fast as you can, Dutch.
Hm.
Whoa. Pulse ox falling, 94.
Yep, I think there's
a micro-tear in her suit.
Oxygen's leaching.
You said there'd be a blue wire.
- Shit. Um...
- "Um"?
Any lower than 80
and she'll start passing out.
If you can't do this,
tell me now
and I will pull her out.
We'll find another way.
There's no other way.
Guys?
No, no, we can do this.
Okay, you need to
find the processor,
remove it, and then
reverse-wire the flow
to the ODBC source admin.
What?
In English, jackass.
And you can't
reroute it that way,
it'll just loop the signal.
Well, if you have
a better methodology...
A chimp would have
a better methodology.
Talk her home. Now.
Dutch, do you see a...
A small chip in there somewhere?
Look for
something shiny, square,
the size of your thumbnail.
Yes.
Okay, pop it out.
Now, your gloves aren't lined,
so you're gonna feel
a bit of a shock.
Do not let go, okay?
I know you can do this.
We're gonna need a conductor.
Dutch, do you have a hairpin?
- Yes.
- What's it made of?
Gold.
Good.
Okay, now, I need
you to trust us.
When you're ready,
take a big breath,
and pull off your helmet.
- What?
- Pull off your helmet.
Grab the pin, and
stab it in the hole.
It'll short the whole system.
Got that?
Pull, grab, stab.
79. She's nearly hypoxic.
We're gonna lose her.
You don't know her.
She'll do it.
Pull, grab stab.
Okay, okay.
Gas cleanse stopped.
Yes.
Yes.
Vacuum purge commencing.
Dutch, give us a sign.
You're not sweating.
Thanks.
Dutch, we're coming at you.
You weren't
supposed to come back.
Sorry to screw up
your evil plan.
I'm rude like that.
Tell her.
Tell her.
When you first came here,
as Clara,
I told you everything
and you freaked out.
You started causing trouble.
And so Niko told me
that I had to
make you disappear.
So you did, just not
the way that she meant.
Why don't I remember?
Jammer.
Blocking all your memories
since the day we met
at The Factory.
You know what life
is like for hackmods.
We're either running
or we're owned,
but we are never equal,
we are never them.
So, what is this?
Some sort of
poetic identity theft?
You literally take the skin
off your owners' backs,
you impersonate them,
and you steal their money?
This isn't about money.
Hackmods are starting a colony
at the end of the J.
This buys us cryotransit,
and enough to start a good life.
Niko takes the rest
to keep funding the fight.
Oh, I'm sure.
I don't care
what you think, Basic.
I'm done. I got my papers.
I'm free.
I was gonna send for you
once I found a place for us,
but we can go now.
I'm not going anywhere with you.
Just take back
what you did to me.
I don't know how.
Oh, don't fake cry for me.
What's happening?
She's not crying.
Clara?
Clara? Clara, wake up.
Shit.
I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro.
Oops.
Nice try.
Bring the Killjoy.
He needs a touch-up.
I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro
I'm the pro, I'm the prototype
I'm the pro, I'm the pro,
I'm the pro, I'm the pro
I'm the pro, I'm the prototype.
What is that?
What are you doing?
Shh.
You won't want me to slip.
Newsflash, lady:
I don't want any of this.
I'm not a hackmod owner,
and I'm broke as shit,
so what do you want from me?
Simple.
We could use a Killjoy skin.
That is
so deeply gross
to hear in words.
Look, I'm sorry
that someone took your damn leg,
but you don't get
to take a life in return.
Oh, I disagree.
You think this little toy
makes you understand us, Basic?
My owner was
the founder of this place.
I was a scientist.
I ran into some
financial difficulties
with the wrong people
back on my planet.
Buying my debt meant buying me.
Why hack a scientist?
Control.
He took my leg
so that I couldn't run
and replaced my eye
with a camera.
So he could record
all my research.
Quite clever, actually.
He was the first one I skinned.
I'm just gonna put the word
"therapy" out there for you,
just as a general tip.
Looks like you've given yourself
an upgrade on the leg.
Oh, I've earned it.
Are you feeling comfy?
Not even a little bit.
Great.
Then let's begin.
This might pinch a bit.
Whoa, whoa.
Take it easy.
It's just rebooting.
Where's John?
I think she took him.
I didn't know that
they were gonna follow me,
I swear.
We need to take that bitch down.
You know what the skinning
is about, right?
- Or do you just not care?
- I care.
But I'm not standing in the
way of hackmods getting free.
She's not killing
innocent people.
What about my friend?
If you want someone to blame,
blame The Factory
for starting all this.
Why?
They made us mods, not monsters.
That part's on you.
So you've never
had any diseases?
- Nope.
- Hormonal deficiencies?
Still no.
Do you have any strange rashes
in your moist area...
Whoa-kay. Offside.
Look, I'm not super clear
on geek mating rituals,
but whatever this is,
I'm not into it.
Super not.
"Moist areas."
Hey.
When we get back, we are calling
my slack-ass brother
and ordering his ass home.
Look, have you ever thought that
maybe John just
doesn't want to come home?
Well, then we're screwed.
Because if this shitshow
taught me anything,
there's only one Johnny.
That was phase one.
Loosens the skin up a bit.
Are you ready for phase two?
What does any of this
have to do with the Hullen?
Whom?
The bastards that need
the green shit to thrive.
Oh, you mean my secret
little ingredient?
They will do worse
than skin you if
they find out you're jacking
around with their plasma.
- Mm.
- How did you find it?
It was here
when they brought me.
Their R&D was investigating
its healing properties.
I was hoping I would
grow back my leg.
But no luck.
When I spray this
on freshly-skinned dermis,
it keeps it alive and supple
between the hosts.
I really couldn't
do it without it.
I've sent jumpers
all around the J
looking for this stuff,
smuggling it back home.
And do you know
what I've noticed?
That you have a narcissistic
personality disorder?
That whenever
there's green juice,
there's always
Killjoys guarding it.
Why is that?
Sorry, these lips
are technically still mine.
And I don't feel like using them
to kiss your ass before dying.
Once we have your skin,
and I have one of
my people wearing it,
I'll get all the answers
and all the green that I need.
Go!
Don't move.
I'm kidding.
I know you can't move.
Preparing paralytic agent.
Wait. I'm lost.
Okay?
Or is this where
you get your asses kicked?
Hmm, guess so.
Contamination
detected in dock area.
Eenie, meanie, miney, nerd.
Where the hells is Zeph now?
Damn it. On it.
Wait... Once the doors open,
the locks will reset.
We can't keep them
open that long.
We do not leave crew behind.
If I'm not back in time,
you need to leave.
Contamination detected
in Communications Room.
Countdown to quarantine purge.
Okay, fake fire doesn't burn.
Zeph! Stand down!
What the hells are you doing?
I'm doing my job and
completing the real mission
by restarting
the commstack, sir!
You're talking crazy. You're
gonna get us both Killed!
That's not
what the science says!
Science says we're all
infected with something!
It's messing with your head!
Maybe. Decontamination in...
Too late now, Zephyr. Commit.
Five, four...
You're right,
you're right, okay.
- Three...
- Zeph.
Two,
one.
Commstack online.
Yes.
Wakey wakey.
Well, that was a waste
of expensive tech.
It wasn't real?
So all of that was just
a VR training simulation?
That chip on you?
Wireless sim-jack.
- Linked us all into the gameplay.
- Nice tech.
We're a little low
on agents right now.
We can't risk losing
newbies in the field
before they're proven ready.
So I won, right?
We put you through three tests.
You failed.
Wait, what? No, I didn't.
The first was spatial.
Could you figure out how to
rebuild the generator
under pressure?
Next came communication.
Could you talk a layman like
Dutch through the corridor...
Yeah, and third
was staying on task
and completing the mission,
which is what I did.
Third was getting
everyone out alive.
Your refusal to adapt and obey
put your whole team at risk.
Go back to the lab, agent.
You're done here.
But... This isn't fair.
I knew they wouldn't die
because I knew it was a sim!
Shit ain't fair.
Lesson number four.
That one's free.
Now,
you other two,
welcome to the revolution.
Sorry I'm late.
I believe we have
an appointment?
You must be Olli.
Or is it Clara?
It's "Bitch, you have
got to be joking"
"if you think that
you're gonna take me"
"with that little shit-stick."
Hm. Let's find out.
I'm the pro, I'm the pro.
I'm the prototype.
Calibrating paralytic injection.
Motion detected.
Please stop moving.
- I don't want to!
- Please stop moving.
Recalibrating.
Recalibrating.
Think, you handsome genius.
Think!
Recalibrating.
My mod.
My sweet, sweet courtesy mod.
Okay,
please-please-please-please.
- Recalibrating.
- Come on, work for Papa.
Recalibrating.
Ah.
Yes.
Jake's on you, Niko,
'cause Johnny
ain't no basic, bitch.
Clara.
Do it.
Do you know why you can't?
I didn't say that I can't.
Because we both
want the same thing.
Skin suits?
Sorry.
Not into it.
At least I'm not
ashamed of what I am.
I am not ashamed of my mods.
Not your mods, being modded.
Knowing that someone
did this to you
and you couldn't stop them.
Shut up.
I love my body.
I would never go back
to just flesh and bones.
But that doesn't mean
we should forgive them.
If you really
want to help our kind,
prove it.
Let me go.
Hey.
You okay?
Basic, stay out of it.
This is not your call.
Oh, I know.
That's why I called them.
Repo's on its way, Niko.
You better move.
We're family.
We're supposed to
protect each other.
We are.
From you.
Thanks for seeing me.
How did you know it was a sim?
Whoever designed it's
obviously a gadget-head.
They were so busy whacking off
to the tech details,
they overlooked the bio cues.
Such as?
Okay, fine.
First,
all five of us were infected
with the same viral load
at the same time.
That's not how
pathogens work, man.
They infect
at differential rates,
based on body mass,
health, hydration...
Okay, I get it.
So he goofed on
factoring our sweater sizes.
Also,
D'avin didn't sweat.
Pardon?
He's obviously into you.
And you could have
died in that hall,
but his heart rate never rose.
Which, once I excluded
adrenal malfunction,
meant only one thing.
He knew you weren't
in actual danger.
And the whole thing was a test.
That was a massively stupid
risk to take.
Yep, kind of.
But I was right,
wasn't I?
Look, right now,
Turin's back there,
telling the boy-geeks
that there's a war coming.
Bigger than anything
seen in the Quad.
Holy shit.
Who's starting it?
I am.
The thing we're fighting,
it's organic.
And we're never gonna beat it
until we understand
its biology, so.
Turin may not
want you on his team,
but I need you.
Think you could
follow real-life orders?
I think I'd follow you anywhere.
Sorry.
Too honest.
Welcome to Team Awesome Force.
Weirdo.
Yoki helped me find it.
I think Niko'd appreciate
donating it to the cause.
Ooh.
Did you really call repo on her?
Do you really want to know?
I'll take care of that.
Drinks are on Olli.
You know, Niko
might have been nuts,
but she was a hell of a tracker.
Sent couriers all over the J,
charting green plasma sources.
Fills in the rest of
the spots of my map.
Well, at least something good
came out of this detour.
You asked me why
I hadn't gone home yet.
And I think I've been waiting
for you to have what I have.
What do you have
that I don't have, John Jaqobis?
A reason to stop running.
I mean, the Quad's
kind of shitty,
and eventually
some green-snot aliens
are probably gonna take it over,
but it's home.
It needs me.
And I want that for you.
Yeah, the fact that
we're all hackmods here
doesn't make it home.
No. No, but the fact that
they came to save your ass,
it's a hell of a start.
Just tell me
you don't want to stay.
Good luck with your war.
And if you need
some hackmod backup...
We will.
Then call me.
Pinky swear?
Pinky swear.
Whoa! Whoa.
Johnny.
I nearly shot you.
It wouldn't be the first time.
Look, I know
I've got a lot of...
Shut up, I don't care.
I'm sorry.
And what about you, Luce?
Do you miss me?
If ships could cry,
I would have rusted, John.
Aw. See?
Now, she cares.
Well, we've been busy,
hunting Hullen,
trying to figure out who
abandoned these
Black Root ships.
Oh, yeah, and Banyon,
new head bitch in charge.
We're gonna have to
get you past her.
Well, I've been a busy boy too.
Brought the rest of
the plasma map.
Johnny, it's everywhere.
How the hells are
we gonna fight them?
One step at a time.
Like always.
To Aneela.
May the bitch
never see us coming.
Oh, good.
You're awake.
Welcome to my ship.
Now come,
tell me everything.