03x04 - Dead Air

[bunniefuu]

man: Previously on Defiance...

I see a bright light.

It's a man... with a powerful flashlight.

man: Amanda, you're mine.

The man who r*ped me.

I was living in New York working as an entry clerk at E-Rep headquarters.

Why are you telling me all this?

I didn't want you to think you're alone.

We received a message from Datak and Stahma.

Good news, I hope.

They were successful in planting the shrill-infested weapons in the local armory.

The town's entire g*n supply was destroyed.

What does that madman want?

He wants us to blow up the St. Louis Arch.

Amanda: People of Defiance, our darkest hour has passed.

The lights are finally back on.

Thanks to our Omec friends, the mines are open, and the gulanite is flowing at a rapid pace.

Slowly but surely, we're getting back on our feet.

'Cause when we're up against the wall, when many of us had just about lost hope, we persevered, standing beside each other.

Always remember who we are.

We are free. We are proud.

We are Defiance.

I can't speak for the rest of you, Defiance, but I'm inspired.

Here's some old-world grunge going out to my man Alak Tarr, wherever you are.

I notice you didn't tell the town we were free, proud, and defenseless.

No need to start a panic.

Shrill destroyed every w*apon in our armory.

I don't know about you, but I'm feeling pretty damn panicked.

[rock music]

♪ ♪

I think I got something here.

Amanda, we've been going through the old E-Rep files.

I think I might have a line on where we can find some weapons.

[expl*si*n]

[crowd screaming]

[screams]

Rahm: My fellow Votans, I am Commander General Rahm Tak of the Votanis Collective.

Today's a special day.

Today is a day of celebration.

I have shown you mercy.

Hologram.

Rahm: I have come here today to liberate you.

You three, hey, check the Arch for casualties.

He's gotta be projecting from somewhere close.

You still have your homes.

You still have your lives.

But the continued survival of Defiance is in your hands.

I am an honest man.

Far more honest than your human mayor.

My spies have informed me that all the weapons in your armory have been rendered useless, a fact Amanda Rosewater has kept from you.

Nolan, shut this down!

Working on it.

Like all pink-meat humans, she's a liar.

I am coming to your town.

Votans of Defiance, I make you this promise: your life will be spared if you surrender, but for those of you who side with the humans, there will be no mercy.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Nolan: The Arch is only the first salvo.

Hitting back will require weapons and lots of them.

We may find them here.

Station Arrowhead. 300 miles north.

An EMC black site, built during the Pale Wars and been sealed up tight ever since the '20s.

How do we know it hasn't already been found, looted?

We don't, but look at the manifest.

a*t*matic weapons, expl*sives, medical, everything we could hope for.

And if we drove all night, we could be there by mid-morning.

This is heavy firepower.

Mm-hmm.

Worth rolling the dice.

I'm riding shotgun.

You heard the lady. Pack a bag.

Wheels up at sundown.

Not you, you're benched.

Come on.

Benched.

They blew up the Arch.

Don't care.

Nolan!

You're gonna stay here with Berlin.

You're gonna figure out who planted those expl*sives.

And you two, you're gonna work together on this.

You hear me?

[jazz music]

♪ ♪

You know how everyone says that Buddy Rich is the best drummer?

I like Gene Krupa better.

Krupa, yes. Sing, Sing, Sing.

Wonderful b*at.

A despicable species, the humans, but they do have rhythm.

General, sir.

Sir, I have an update on Defiance.

Datak and Stahma have destroyed the Arch.

Ha! Excellent!

And the hologram?

The entire town saw it.

Don't look so gloomy, Alak.

Thanks to your resourceful parents, you live to see another day.

Bebe: But, sir, there is one more thing.

Speak freely.

There are two Omec in Defiance.

One male, one female.

The Omec?

Like from back on Votan? Aren't they...

Quiet!

I've consulted with my Indogene brothers, and we're fairly certain that the male is Eksu Tsuroz T'evgin.

He's a prominent figure in Omec culture.

Scientist, inventor, politician, and w*r hero.

Well, why isn't this glorious renaissance man back home, dead, in space with the rest of the enchanters?

Our long-range scans indicate that he has a ship.

It's in orbit, hovering above Defiance.

A warship?

We're not sure.

Its power signature, however, is very low.

It's in need of repair.

They need gulanite. That's why they're in Defiance.

A fully functional Omec warship could destroy the entire Votanis Collective.

Eksu Tsuroz T'evgin needs to die.

Send word to Datak and Stahma.

Tell them I need it done immediately.

Stahma: What he's demanding is reckless.

We must refuse this order.

That's not an option, and you know it.

It's too soon after the Arch.

The entire town's on high alert.

Rahm Tak is going to get us caught.

It's a risk we have to take.

Stahma...

What?

Out with it.

I've given this a great deal of thought.

I don't believe Rahm Tak will ever release Alak alive.

How can you say that?

He married a human girl.

Rahm Tak won't let that go unpunished.

No, you're wrong. Rahm and I shared an oath.

I looked him in the eye.

Rahm Tak's eyes are empty!

Even if you're right, it changes nothing.

k*lling the Omec buys us time.

Time for what?

I don't know!

Time to... to-to think, to come up with some sort of counter-strategy.

What other choice do we have?

The Omec has to die.

I suppose you're right.

We have betrayed our neighbors, and so long as that madman has the power to expose us, we must obey his commands for our own survival, if not Alak's.

Is that poison?

I'll fill a hidden needle and inject the Omec during coitus.

Coitus?

It's a human word.

It means...

I know what it means.

T'evgin will suffer cardiac arrest, leaving no evidence of foul play.

Well, surely there's some other way.

My way is effective and safe.

Rest assured, love, I will think only of you.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Looks like it's been recently plowed.

According to this, underground access is in that barn.

[sniffs]

Ah, that barn smell. Heh.

You mean manure?

What ever happened to romance?

I k*lled it and ate it.

[groans]

Nolan, you okay?

[groans] Just a headache.

[groans]

♪ ♪

[grunting]

Leave the fingers.

Leave... leave... leave... Ah, ow!

Come with me.

I don't suppose I could hang on to my g*n?

No.

Come on, pal.

George isn't your pal.

Neither am I.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

It's amazing.

George: You look just like her.

Like who?

The girl from the movies.

What movies? What are you talking about?

No more talking.

♪ ♪

Niles?

Oh, nuts.

After our garrison left Defiance, Viceroy Mercado decided to lead us back to New York to provide aid and comfort, and it was futile.

Before we made Cincinnati, we were overrun by refugees streaming west.

They were b*rned and bloodied and sick.

They'd lost everything.

It was heartbreaking, truly.

Ooh, try the Camembert. Try it. It's divine.

We offered them what little comfort we could.

Of course, we shared their provisions.

Of course.

Yeah, that's right. Thanks, Paul.

Many of the refugees joined us as we headed north up to Arrowhead to resupply.

Well, I mean, obviously you made it here, but what happened to everyone else?

We hit raiders outside Detroit.

I escaped, but Mercado and the others... they weren't so lucky.

Doubt it was luck.

Nolan.

Come on, I wanna hear this.

I made my way here to Arrowhead alone, found the entrance, but I didn't know the passcode.

Would have d*ed from the elements had it not been for an angel who came to my rescue.

An angel named George.

I'm not really an angel.

That's a matter of opinion.

Pottinger: George here brought me inside, and he and his fellow Biomen kept Station Arrowhead humming along since the Pale Wars ended.

It's a remarkable place.

It's completely self-sustaining.

It was built as a refuge for the government elite in case the world went to hell.

There's a fully stocked seed vault, functional rain chamber.

There's even DNA samples of old-world animals.

Cows and goats, cats and dogs.

I had a dog once. He only had three legs.

I know, Georgie, I know, but he's in a much better place now.

Isn't he?

Mm.

This is the last of the stuff.

[groans]

Guilty conscience eating at you?

It's a headache.

[sighs]

It's nothing.

Look at this.

So? It's just part of a boom box.

The Arch was full of old radio junk.

Look at these burns and how the edges are blown out from the inside.

This radio was the casing for the b*mb.

Let's see if we can get a print off it.

[classical music]

So it's just you here underground?

With your four color-coordinated Biomen.

Your own little slice of heaven, if you ask me.

Pottinger: Nolan's sarcasm notwithstanding, yes, I have built quite the pleasant life for myself.

I read. I write.

I farm.

I've even been known to dabble in carpentry from time to time.

[laughs, coughs]

You all right?

[coughs]

I'm glad you're happy.

I appreciate that, Amanda, I do.

I've missed you.

I've missed you an awful lot.

[chuckles]

Well, before I start blubbing all over myself, let's get to it.

I can't imagine this is a social visit.

What you need? Food? Building materials?

g*ns.

Since the E-Rep fell apart, the Votanis Collective has been growing in strength.

They blew up the Arch.

Good Lord. It's gone completely?

Yes.

I can only imagine how deeply it affects you, Amanda.

Why did you let me prattle on about myself so much?

You were kind of on a roll.

[chuckles]

I'm afraid I do still rather enjoy the sound of my own voice.

Your request is granted.

Ringo, show our friends to the armory.

Yeah?

Let them take as many weapons as they can fit into their roller.

All right, then.

Niles, I can't thank you enough.

My pleasure. Oh, Amanda, Amanda.

Could I have a word in private?

I'm fine. Go.

Nolan doesn't trust me.

I don't trust anyone.

Do you wanna blow this?

I'm not leaving you alone with this guy.

I can handle him. I mean it.

Go.

I'll be back in ten minutes.

Pottinger: Very good.

[elevator dings]

[romantic music]

♪ ♪

[Amanda sighs]

Is this a conversation or a seduction?

Hopefully both.

I've been thinking about six months ago, when I left Defiance for New York, how you refused to join me.

You know I care about you...

No, no, no, no, no. It's-it's all right.

I completely understand.

There were so many distractions.

Protecting Defiance, rebuilding the E-Rep, fighting the V.C.

This period of solitude has... has clarified certain... primal sanities.

You and I are special.

We're bound together in a deep and fundamental manner.

But Eve could not truly join her Adam... until... the perfect Eden revealed itself.

And now it has.

Amanda, what would you say to the idea of staying on here permanently?

♪ Oh, I want the truth to be said ♪

[groans]

[Nolan sighs]

We getting the band back together?

[clears throat]

I didn't mean to intrude.

Surprising an Omec is a dangerous pursuit.

Forgive me.

I came for your culture lessons.

We never specified a time.

And that, I think, is a lie.

[chuckles]

Partially, yes.

My husband is in a mood, and I was anxious for some more pleasant company.

Something to take my mind off the Arch.

The Gateway Arch is a human monument.

Why should a Shanje such as yourself care about its destruction?

My son Alak ran the radio station from the top of the Arch.

It meant more to him than anything else.

I see.

Would you care for something to drink?

Haven't you done enough for Defiance?

I can't hide underground and watch my town burn.

You know that.

We're meant to be together. Yeah?

I belong to you, and you belong to me.

Amanda, you're mine.

[gasps]

What?

"You're mine," that's what my attacker said in New York...

Oh, I'm so sorry. Of course... Of course you told me all about that night. I'm so sorry, okay? It was just...

It was an unfortunate choice of words.

No, no, no. I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, you think you're over something, and then it just comes back at you in unexpected ways.

Uh, do you have any Scotch?

[bottles clink]

Real Scotch. That's bourbon. I checked earlier.

Of course you did. I'll be right back.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

So you have no idea whether your son is alive or not?

I can only pray to Rayetso for his safe return.

I, too, am no stranger to loss of family.

I'm sorry.

I have learned to find solace in our great works.

The most enduring are about finding meaning in loss.

I spent many long nights on my ship considering what the Indogene had done to us.

I could not help but wonder if we had not brought tragedy upon ourselves.

Death breeds death.

The greatest Omec opera was about that very thing.

Yes. [chuckles]

It's my favorite.

[humming tune]

♪ ♪

[T'evgin joins humming tune]

♪ ♪

[giggles]

Why have you really come here, my lovely little show-off?

I want the truth.

The entire truth.

Isn't it obvious?

[sensual music]

♪ ♪

[moaning]

[T'evgin snarling]

[panting]

Would you like to go again?

[chuckles]

[groans]

You took a nice sh*t there.

Turn your head to the light, so I can check your pupils.

[groans]

Do you know your name?

Yeah, Joshua Nolan.

Good. I'm Samir.

Do you remember what happened to you?

Oh, Bioman took a cheap sh*t.

You a medic?

I was a veterinarian... before New York got destroyed.

But now I work on humans and Sensoths and everything in between.

Any nausea?

No, no, I'm fine. Hard head.

Yeah, that cut on your head, how did you get that?

Long, complicated story.

[sighs]

Uh, that's locked, by the way.

[sighs]

How many Biomen on site?

Oh, just the Fab Four.

Yeah? You have people with you?

Used to.

30 of us from New York.

We managed to escape after the Great Terraforming Disaster.

Um, after a few months, we met up with Pottinger's soldiers on the road.

I mean, E-Rep, we thought they'd keep us safe.

Until Pottinger just went nuts.

I mean, he put a b*llet through his commanding officer's head and then declared himself in charge.

Some of us tried to stop him.

People d*ed.

After that, Pottinger knew that none of us trusted him, so to keep people in line, he forced me to wire a dead-man switch to his chest.

You're sh1tting me.

If Pottinger's heart stops b*ating, it triggers a b*mb.

What kind of a b*mb?

Uh, you remember Portland?

Yeah, I've seen the crater.

He wired himself to a singularity b*mb?

Yeah.

If he dies, this whole place gets sucked into a wormhole.

Nolan: We gotta get out of here now.

Put that down.

Where's Nolan?

In the armory.

Can you take me to him?

No.

George, why is that door padlocked?

[sighs] It's-it's private.

In the elevator, you said I reminded you of the girl in the movies.

Who is she? What did you mean?

[footsteps approaching]

Thank you, George. That'll be all.

I should stay.

I think she might try to hurt you.

Oh.

I don't think she's happy here.

You're very perceptive, George.

Your boss said something to me that reminded me of a bad thing that happened, so, yes, I'm not happy.

But it's nothing an old-world single malt can't fix.

I can wait outside the doors.

What is he, a Bioman or a jealous girlfriend?

Go see to the dishes, George.

I shan't ask you again.

Okay.

Rather like a Labrador, isn't he?

[chuckles]

So I've been thinking about your offer.

I'm willing to stay, but there's a price.

Go on.

I'll do anything to keep Defiance safe.

You offered us a roller filled with weapons, but that's not nearly enough.

I propose we send Nolan back with the weapons, he returns with a caravan to haul everything back to Defiance.

Everything?

Mm-hmm.

Every single w*apon in your armory, down to the last firecracker.

Defiance gets the g*ns, and you get me.

All right, jackass.

Open the door.

The screening room. Now!

Amanda, please.

[g*n cocks]

Open it, or I open you.

All right, all right.

Something you must know about me first.

I'm not well.

The abuse I suffered when I was... att*cked by Votans at my boarding school...

Shut up! Move!

Okay.

Okay.

How do you like it, hmm?

My special place.

Amanda: What is all this stuff?

This mask. This flashlight.

Now listen to me carefully.

When I love someone, I become completely and utterly enthralled with them, their tragedies, everything.

What's on these video chips?

Uh, just all the video diaries of...

Play this one with my name on it.

Now. Play it! Now!

Okay.

[sighs] Oh, damn.

[clears throat]

Such ethereal beauty.

[cries]

I can't believe I didn't see this.

Before me it was Connor.

Ah, we were school chums.

He protected me when the Votan att*cked.

He saved me.

I loved him.

And then what?

Then you followed him to New York?

Hmm, yes.

Connor didn't want to see me.

So sometimes I would follow people who were close to him, so they might lead me to him.

Like that night in Central Park when I was att*cked?

Yeah, yeah, I saw what happened, and I wanted to stop it, okay?

But I froze.

I was a coward.

But after your attacker left, I wanted to help you.

But how could I justify being there, Amanda?

In that moment, all my guilt, all my shame, my self-hatred, it just exploded into a rage.

But I chased after your attacker, and I caught him.

I bashed in his skull, and I rolled his body into the the river, for you.

Yet you kept his mask and flashlight?

They're replicas!

Amanda: Replicas? Bullshit!

Come on, Amanda.

Please put down the g*n.

That's it. Pass it to me.

Okay, if you sh*t me, the entire station would've exploded.

[g*nsh*t]

Ah!

[groaning]

[ominous music]

♪ ♪

Looks like we're all still here.

[grunts]

Let's move.

I'm right behind you.

You're not supposed to open the door.

Okay, he's, uh... he's really new here.

He doesn't know... [grunts]

[grunting]

[Nolan groans]

[pants]

[groaning]

[screaming]

[Ringo growling]

Nice thinking, doggie doctor.

[growls]

[g*nsh*t in distance]

Amanda. Come on!

Please, stop.

If you k*ll me, we will all die.

I wanna hear you say it.

Admit what you did!

Say it!

Please, Amanda... don't do this.

[g*nsh*t]

[screams]

Say it.

[screams]

[g*nsh*t]

[screams]

Say it.

I love you!

Say it!

[g*nsh*t]

[screams]

Say it!

[groans]

Amanda, no!

Samir!

I'm on it!

Keep him alive. Don't let him die.

Come on.

Hey. Hey.

He r*ped me.

Come on, come on. No, no, no, no, no.

[crying] It was him.

[alarm blaring]

He's dead.

[dramatic music]

♪ ♪

Nolan: We gotta get out of here.

Amanda, come on!

Hey! We gotta go! Come on!

♪ ♪

Faster! Faster! Come on!

Pretty.

♪ ♪

Ah, you're awake.

I made some pancakes.

I got the ingredients from the NeedWant bazaar.

Oh, thank you.

I hope you like them.

Oh.

[laughs]

Enjoy them while they're hot.

Oh, your needle.

I suppose we should discuss the poison.

Poison?

You're not the first Castithan concubine that has attempted to m*rder me.

Your people know nothing about my physiology, and that's exactly the way I like it.

I have lived for many, many centuries, and the longer my people live, the more difficult we are to k*ll.

So why do you want me dead?

Actually, I don't.

And I don't want to be k*lled, so I guess that puts us on the same page.

As the humans say.

So why the poison?

I lied earlier.

I know exactly where my son is.

The Votanis Collective have taken him hostage.

They ordered me to k*ll you, or his life would be forfeit.

What will you tell them?

The truth.

I have failed.

Will you try again?

Do I have any chance of success?

[chuckles] I'm afraid not.

What shall you do?

In my entire life, no man has ever made a meal for me.

I feel I should thank you.

[laughs]

[giggles]

You know whose badge that is.

Of course I do.

I miss him too.

I loved Tommy.

Shut up!

You don't k*ll what you love!

[gasps]

It wasn't me. It was the machine!

Is it a machine holding a Kn*fe to my neck right now?

[groaning]

[screaming]

[Kn*fe clatters]

[groans]

What the chup?

Nolan, I'm so sorry.

Don't.

If I hadn't k*lled Pottinger, we would have those weapons to fight the V.C.

Yeah, possible.

Also possible that k*lling Pottinger saved us from being m*rder*d by Biomen or, in your case, something much worse.

[kisses]

What's that for?

For being one of the good guys.

[groans]

Nolan? Nolan!

Nolan! He's bleeding!

Get me a stick!

[groaning]

Samir: The blood's coming from his head wound.

What caused it?

Some kind of Votan tech.

More specific!

I don't know!

You need to make an educated guess because whatever's inside this man's head is k*lling him.

[groaning]

What's wrong with you?

[gasping]

Help me.

Please.