03x11 - The Dwarf Star Conspiracy

[bunniefuu]

Previously on "Dark Matter"...

My name is Alexander Rook.

I own a company called
Dwarf Star Technologies

along with all of its subsidiaries,

patents, and prototypes,

including Rebecca.

Although Rebecca's biological
components are superior,

she must be constantly monitored.

The scientist gave up Nova-17

as the location of the
manufacturing facility.

If I'm right, we'll be heading off

a full-scale invasion.

What the hell?

Help me. Please.

What is this? Where are we?

They're coming. Please.

Who's coming?

It's too late. We're too late.

It's been two days. No
sign of any activities.

No ships in or out.

How much longer do you want to wait?

If what Victor showed
The Android is true,

Nova-17 is a Dwarf Star facility.

I don't want to take any chances.

Neither do I,

but we can't just sit out here forever.

You got somewhere to be?

Yeah. Out there,

helping in the fight
against Ferrous Corp.

I don't like them either, but
this w*r is bigger than us.

We have a working Blink Drive now.

Even with the Blink Drive,
we're more of an annoyance

- than a thr*at to them.
- We can make a difference.

Maybe not in the grand scheme of things,

but at least in the lives
of the innocent people

affected by this corporate w*r.

Hey, I thought you were going to try

- and grab some shut-eye.
- Ah, sleep's overrated.

Has The Android picked
up any life signs?

We're too far out. She's been working on

boosting the sensors,

but there's only so much she can do.

Sooner or later, we're
gonna have to go in

for a closer look.

Maybe we shouldn't be doing this.

- Hmm?
- What are you talking about?

Ever since we dropped
out in this system...

I don't know, I just...
get a bad feeling.

You care to be a bit more specific?

I can't. I can't explain it.

If this is about Sarah,

I'm sure you'll get a chance to...

It's not about Sarah, all right?

It's just... something
doesn't feel right.

Two, this is the bridge.

Yeah, go ahead.

There's something you should see.

There is something different about you.

New hairstyle?

No, actually. It's a new outfit.

Uh, yeah, I was kidding...

I noticed.

Recent events have inspired
me to adopt a fresh, new look.

- I love it.
- Thank you, Five.

- It's very nice.
- Looks great.

Yeah, looks great.

Don't tell me you called us up here

to check out your new look.

I did.

But, also, after boosting
long-range sensors,

I was able to discover a network
of unmanned security satellites

around Nova-17.

If we get close enough
that the "Marauder" can make

planet-fall, we will undoubtedly

- be detected and fired upon.
- Can we take them out?

Not without taking significant damage

to ourselves.

So that's it, then.

If we can't get
anywhere near the planet,

then what are we supposed to do?

What about Dr. Shaw's backdoor program?

What are you talking about?

She gave me a command
code she had embedded

in Dwarf Star's security protocol

- when she was working there.
- That was on Earth.

But if they're using the
same security program...

That's a big if.

Can we transmit the override command

- from out here?
- Negative.

The drone satellites
are currently dormant.

They need to be activated

before the override can take effect.

So the only way to see if it works

is to get close enough to
be screwed if it doesn't.

I can have the FTL drive

prepped and ready for
immediate activation

if things go poorly.

We should be able to
escape with minimal damage

if the override command should fail.

Assuming the engines aren't
the first thing to go,

which they pretty much
always are in this tub.

"Tub" seems a little harsh.

You said in the memory
that Victor showed you,

I was talking about
how this space could be

- the key to stopping an invasion.
- Invasion?

Invasion by who?

Come on, guys, I can't
be the only one to see

how crazy this is... Risking our lives

based on some kind of hunch?

Those satellites are
protecting something

down there... something big.

- I think it's worth the risk.
- Me too.

Six.

We've been detected.

Transmitting override command.

What's going on?

Command delivered.

Did it work?

Yes.

The satellite network has been disabled.

All right, let's gear up.

Excuse the intrusion.

What?

I'm concerned.

Yeah, so am I.

No one seems to give a rat's ass.

No. I'm concerned about you.

What are you talking about?

As you may recall, I possess the ability

to detect subtle changes

in human physiology at short range.

- Heart rate...
- Yep.

Respiration,

skin temperature, pupil dilation,

sweat production...

Is there gonna be a point soon?

I'm detecting something in
you I've never seen before...

Fear.

I didn't want to say anything
in front of the others.

I don't know what the
hell you're talking about.

It's getting worse the
closer we get to the planet.

You don't want to be here.

It's not the first time that
I disagree with a mission.

True,

but usually you respond with anger,

frustration,

resentment, and a
somewhat childish inability

to consider other viewpoints.

This is different.

Yeah, it's different because usually,

when we risk our asses, it's
based on something real...

Something we can trust.

You're implying that

the memory Victor showed
me is not reliable.

He puts his hands on your head,

and then he looks you in the
eye and he shows you a memory.

We're supposed to gamble
our lives based on that?

I thought you were over
your distrust of Victor...

and of androids in general.

In fact, you said if he
ever returned to the ship,

you would welcome him.

I know what I said.

I believe the information is reliable.

Two, when she was Portia,
very much wanted to find out

what was happening on that facility.

And you agreed.

That was Boone...

not me.

Hey.

So, uh...

what's going on?

What's going on where, Two?

Well...

Here, mostly.

My boobs?

Uh, yeah.

- Am I doing them wrong?
- No, it's not that.

Perhaps you could
offer me some guidance.

I noticed you're very adept at...

packaging yours.

Thanks. But I'm not looking

to offer fashion advice. It's just...

Well, it's a very
different look for you,

and I was wondering why.

Oh.

Well...

finally learning the
truth about my origin

has caused me to reconsider
who and what I am.

I learned I'm special, Two...

in a good way.

That was never in doubt.

That's very kind of you,
but I did have my doubts.

But now I know I was
designed for more...

To be more.

I guess that's something
we have in common.

It's true. We do.

So... the outfit...

I wanted something that incorporates

the two worlds that I embody...

Humanity and instrumentality,
functionality and sexuality,

polymer-coated
nano-fibers and... boobs.

Okay, stop saying that.

"Boobs"?

Okay. If this new look

makes you happy,
that's all that matters.

It's not so much this new
look, but the very fact

that I can choose a new
look that makes me happy.

Today it will be this.

Tomorrow it might be something else.

But the point is, I
now possess the autonomy

to decide my own fate.

What I wear is just a small part

of the endless possibilities open to me.

It opens up a whole new world.

Well... great.

It is great.

You've been a very good
friend to me, Two...

for longer than either
of us will ever know.

Thank you...

so much.

Always.

Boobs.

Boobs.

Boobs.

Boo...

The planet is mostly ocean,
with what appear to be

several abandoned deuterium
processing facilities

on the surface.

No sign of activity?

Negative.

But I am detecting an
anomalous energy signature

emanating from within.

What do you mean "anomalous"?

The computer is unable
to match the readings

to any known analytical models.

So, in other words, no idea.

I'm guessing that's our target.

It's worth checking out.

Send us the coordinates.

Understood.

"Raza," we're in.

Any more information about that anomaly?

It's located further within the facility,

but difficult to pinpoint.

All right, let's go.

Whole place is powered down.

It doesn't look like
anyone's been here in a while.

That's what I'm saying.

We're wasting our time.

Hold on.

I got something.

"Raza," we found something.
Looks like some kind of lab.

There are people inside these things.

Heart rate, respiration...

Body temperature?

This is all consistent with stasis.

Wait a minute.

What?

Nanites.

They're like me. Dwarf Star made them.

Okay. Well, there's only four
of them, so no big deal, right?

Uh, guys?

There are a few more of them over here.

The upload is coming in now.

You were correct in
your assumption, Two.

These scans are very
similar to your own.

They're bio-synthetic
organisms like yourself.

They've got them
listed by serial number.

There's hundreds, maybe more.

No need to panic.

As long as they're in stasis,
they're no thr*at, right?

He didn't build 'em to sleep forever.

Sooner or later, they're gonna wake up.

- The Dwarf Star conspiracy.
- What's that?

It's one of the things

Future Five warned The Android about

while she was time-jumping...
The Dwarf Star conspiracy.

We need to find out why Rook made them.

What are they for?

Isn't it obvious?

He's building his own private army.

I mean, we've all seen what she can do.

Imagine a thousand like her...

All loyal to one man.

Yeah, still, not much
of an army without ships.

Maybe he's building them, too.

Ah, he's rich, but he can't compete

with the big corporations on that scale.

Hang on a second.

It looks like they've set up

false identities for each of them...

Name, GA registration, place of birth...

even the names of their parents.

Which they never had.

And check out the ages.

Most are in their 20s or 30s,

but some are as young as five.

And as old as 65.

I... I don't get it. If
he's building an army,

why would he make some of them

look like children or old people?

Because they weren't designed to fight.

They were designed to infiltrate.

Okay, soldiers and
spies. That's even worse.

Point is...

I think we all know he didn't build them

to send them out to do charity work.

When they come out of those pods,

it's gonna be trouble for us all.

So what do you want
to do? k*ll them all?

What do you want to do?

You want to just walk away?

We're not going to do anything

until we know exactly what's going on.

Hopefully by then, it's not too late.

I'm detecting an FTL window.

It's a Mikkei destroyer.

They're just fired two
sh*ts across our bow.

- We're receiving a transmission.
- Yep, let me hear it.

This is Commander Tarkanian

of the Mikkei destroyer "Arashi."

Those were just warning sh*ts, "Raza."

We didn't come here to fight,
but we will if we have to.

- What do you want?
- We're investigating a tip

we received regarding
Dwarf Star Technologies.

Now, unless you want
to make an enemy

of the Mikkei Combine,

you will stand down
and agree to cooperate.

All right.

Okay, Android, stay alert.
We're gonna cooperate.

- Understood.
- You think that's a good idea?

Whoa, whoa. Easy.

All right, carefully place
your weapons on the floor,

put your hands behind your heads,

- and step back.
- Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

- I'm not gonna ask you again.
- Look...

we're cooperating like we said we would.

We're not handing over our weapons.

Damn straight.

I'm gonna give you exactly
three seconds to comply,

or this is gonna get ugly.

You don't want it to go down like that.

Trust me.

Lieutenant! Stand down.

- Sir?
- I said stand down.

Go with the other squads.
Continue to search the facility.

Are you sure that's wise, sir?

Why not?

We're all friends here, right?

Yeah, let's try to keep it that way.

I have to apologize
for Lieutenant Sajen.

She can be a little overzealous.

Now, where are the rest?

This way.

Looks like Dwarf Star has been busy.

- You know what they are?
- I have a pretty good idea.

- What are we looking at, Doc?
- It's confirmed.

They're all full-blown simulants.

- Simulants?
- Simulated humans.

- Illegal tech.
- Exactly.

They're illegal. So
you have enough evidence

to build a GA case against
Dwarf Star Technologies

and arrest Alexander Rook.

I'd love to...

if I knew where he was.

Rook's been missing for over a month.

What do we do with them, sir?
There's too many to transport.

I'll have to call it in to Central.

My guess is we'll keep
a few of them for study,

but the rest will have to be destroyed.

That's what I said.

Wait a second here. They
may have been manufactured

in a lab, but they're still people.

Technically, no, they're not.

They're flesh and blood.
They have their own minds.

According to my intel,

they're programmed to be loyal to Rook.

They're not machines.

Maybe they can be convinced.
If we give them a choice,

some of them may choose
to turn against him.

Is that a hunch,

or are you basing that on experience?

I'd say it stands to reason.

Sorry, not very convincing.

Sir, we found something. You
better come and see this.

I'm on my way.

It's in there, sir.

Never seen anything like it.

What the hell is that?

What are the odds this is
the source of the anomaly

- we detected from orbit?
- I'd say pretty good.

Three, what's wrong?

What is it?

I've been here before.

- That's impossible.
- I've been here before.

Something wrong?

I'm not sure.

Ah, ah, ah...

Hey, Three, it's okay.

Hey, hey...

He's having a seizure. He
needs medical attention.

We have to go back to our ship now.

Hey, hey...

I'm afraid I can't allow that.

Until I get to the bottom of this,

no one is going anywhere.

Hey!

Aah!

Where am I?

We found the station's old sick bay.

It's pretty bare bones,

but I guess it'll have to do for now.

- What happened?
- You collapsed.

- I did?
- When we were in

the other room, you said
you had been there before.

What did you mean by that?

I saw it in a dream.

In a dream? Really?

I know how that sounds. I'm not crazy.

Sir, we've completed our
sweep of the facility.

No unusual activity,
no other life signs.

We have to get out of here.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Take it easy.

Hey, what are you talking about?

- They're gonna come through.
- Who's coming through?

- Coming through what?
- These voices in my head.

I can't get them out. I
can't get them to stop.

Hey, look at me, look at me.
You need to take it easy, okay?

- You don't understand.
- Hey, hey...

- It's okay, I got you.
- You don't understand.

Six, we can't stop them.
We have to go now.

Three, calm down.

Okay, all right.

- We can't stop them.
- It's okay. It's okay.

- It's okay.
- We have to go.

- Six, Six...
- It's okay, it's okay.

It's all right.

- Was that really necessary?
- You heard him.

He's obviously suffering

from some kind of mental breakdown.

Hey.

Commander, what are you
planning on doing with us?

I'm only asking for a little patience.

A member of my crew
needs medical attention,

and I'm not just
talking about sedatives.

You can't keep us here forever.

Of course not.

Like I said, just until I find
out what the hell is going on.

And how do you plan on doing that?

Simple... we're going to
question one of the simulants.

You're gonna revive one of them?

Are you sure that's a good idea?

You were the one who told me
they could be reasoned with.

Yeah, they can also be dangerous.

And how would you know that?

We've encountered them before.

Interesting.

Care to provide details?

Don't worry. We'll take precautions.

Five.

- What are you doing?
- Nothing.

You're supposed to be helping
recalibrate the sensor array

in order to further investigate
the nature of the anomaly.

I was, but then I figured
there might be an easier way.

By hacking the facility's mainframe?

The override only gives us
access to security protocols,

but there's a lot more data down there

just waiting to be decoded.

Even though we agreed to step back

and let Mikkei run the investigation?

What they don't know
can't hurt them, right?

It's my understanding
that what people don't know

can hurt them... quite severely.

It's just an expression.

You gonna help me or not?

Okay.

You are not a human being...

at least not in the eyes of the law.

You have no rights,

which means that I can
do whatever is necessary

to extract the information
that I need from you.

What is that thing?

Ordinary t*rture is inefficient.

With this, we simply dial up

whatever specific pain is required.

Like, for example...

the sensation of having
one of your fingers cut off.

Or a needle pushed through your eye.

It's direct nerve stimulation.

No actual damage is done,

so his nanites can't
do anything about it.

Very effective.

- How's he doing?
- Hasn't made a peep.

I'm not surprised,

after the amount of sedative I gave him.

Strange thing is,

I can't seem to find
anything wrong with him.

Don't sh**t! Please, don't.

This is pointless. He's
not gonna tell you anything.

You don't know that.
We're just getting started.

- This isn't right.
- He's not a real person.

He was made in a lab. Get
that through your head.

Commander, this is Dr.
Aaron in the sick bay.

Boone's escaped. He's armed.

- What happened?
- Looks like your friend

really did want to get out of here.

All squads, this is
Tarkanian. Boone's escaped.

He's armed and extremely dangerous.

He'll most likely
head for their shuttle,

- so be ready.
- You can't k*ll him.

- If he att*cks any of our men...
- He's not thinking straight.

You saw it yourself.

We've been cooperating with you.

Use nonlethal force, if possible.

That's the best that I can do.

We're gonna go help look for him.

If we find him first,

less chance any of your men get hurt.

What about him?

Lock him up. I'm not done with him yet.

Three, come in.

Three, respond.

They didn't take his comm.
Why isn't he responding?

Like you said, he's
not thinking straight.

He's probably convinced
they're monitoring the channel.

- "Raza," do you read?
- Go ahead.

I'm gonna need you to hack

into the facility's main computer.

Uh, we kind of already did that.

- Sorry.
- Don't apologize.

I need you to use the internal sensors

to track Three's comm.

- Why? What's wrong?
- It's kind of a long story.

- Can you do it?
- It may take a few minutes,

but it should be possible.

All right, let us know
when you got something.

Inside.

Turn around.

I said, "Turn around."

Don't worry.

Your time will come.

Get out of my head.

Gah! Get out of my head!

Get out of my head!

Aah!

- Two, do you read me?
- Go ahead.

I have internal sensors online.

Three appears to be
very close to the anomaly

Why the hell would he go there?

- We're on our way.
- You should know...

the anomaly is growing in intensity.

It appears to be drawing power

from the facility's fusion reactor.

Please be careful.

Roger that.

Commander?

Lieutenant, we find him yet?

No, sir, but it's only a matter of time.

Well, let's make it quick.

This place is starting
to give me the creeps,

and I want to get out of
here as soon as possible.

Understood.

All squads, this is Lieutenant Sajen.

Commander Tarkanian has
been sh*t and k*lled.

It must've been the escaped prisoner.

He's obviously gone insane,
so don't take any chances.

When you see him, sh**t on sight.

Five?

Five?

Hey. Hey.

Three? Hey.

Hey.

Wake up. Hey.

Come on, man.

Guys, we found something.

Yeah, so did we. We found Three.

- Is he all right?
- I'm not sure.

But I think we got to get
him the hell out of here.

Okay, but before you do anything,

there's something you should know.

I found another list of simulants,

an earlier batch, a couple dozen.

They were activated months ago,

sent out to join all
the corporate armies.

They've been working their
way up the ranks ever since.

So it's already begun.

Yeah, they're setting the
stage for the next wave.

Actually, it's worse than you think.

You're not really Five, are you?

Of course not.

Your mind is too primitive
to grasp what we are,

too frightened of the truth...

so it seeks the comfort
of familiar images.

You're one of those aliens...

the ones I had inside me.

You're on the other side of that wall.

It's not a wall.

It's a gateway.

And once it's fully powered,

there will be nothing to
stop us from coming through.

That's what the simulants are for...

Host bodies, like I was.

Perceptive.

And here we thought he was just a brute.

He could be useful.

Without the nanite upgrades,
he'll wear out too quickly.

There are other ways he could serve us.

- You mean like Rook?
- Exactly.

We gave him technologies
that made him rich.

Everything he could possibly want.

No, thanks. I think I'll pass.

You're still harboring the illusion

that you can stop us.

Nothing can prevent
us from coming through.

Why do you want to come through anyway?

Grass is always greener
on the other side

of the interdimensional portal?

Our universe is dying.

We've watched the progress

of a billion years' worth of entropy

and fed off the slow disintegration

into the chaos of our world.

Now there's nothing left to sustain us.

This universe is younger.

We can feed off of it
for over a billion years.

You guys are, like, the
worst neighbors ever.

This is pointless.

He'll never agree to serve us.

True.

He's too ignorant.

Maybe.

He's too sentimental.

Wow. That's a first.

You still believe.

Deep down, you know that anything

humanity will ever accomplish

will one day turn to dust.

So you hide behind
the illusion of family,

friendship, love.

You can't accept the
truth because you are weak.

Cross through that portal.

Find out how weak we really are.

Three, can you hear me?

Three?

Oh, hey.

Welcome back.

We got to find a way
to shut that thing down.

- What is it?
- It's a gateway.

Put your weapons down!
Put your weapons down now!

Wait, hold on. Just wait a minute.

He k*lled Commander Tarkanian.

No, he didn't. It was Lieutenant Sajen.

What the hell are you talking about?

She's one of them, a simulant.

I have proof.

Dr. Aaron, report.

Dr. Aaron?

Sergeant Morse?

Sergeant, report.

This is Sergeant Morse. We
got two of the prisoners.

Boone?

And Varrick, yes, ma'am.

k*ll them.

Ma'am?

Boone k*lled Commander Tarkanian.

He's a psychopath.

The others can't be trusted.

It's the only way.

I told you. She's one of them.

They've infiltrated
all the corporations.

They're working their way up.

That's why she k*lled your commander...

To take his place.

All squads, this is Dr. Aaron.

Effective immediately, Lieutenant Sajen

has been relieved of her
duties for medical reasons.

I'm taking command of this mission.

Sergeant, release the prisoners.

Sergeant?

You heard the man.

Stand down.

Fall back to the lab.

Understood.

sh*t.

We've got a problem here.

She's not alone.

Time to fulfill your destiny.

Three, Six, we've got a new problem.

Looks like Sajen released the
other simulants in the lab.

That makes four total, for now.

sh*t.

Doctor, you've got to warn your men.

I'm not trained for this.

I'm not a combat officer.

Listen, I've seen what
these simulants can do.

They're dangerous.

Sergeant Morse, report.

Sergeant, come in.

You've got to do something, now.

You're right.

All remaining Mikkei crew,

fall back to the shuttle.

We'll return to the ship
and call for reinforcements.

Three, Six, get back to the "Marauder"

- and get the hell out of here.
- What about you?

The doctor and I will head
back to the Mikkei shuttle.

We'll meet you back on the "Raza."

- All right, roger that.
- We'll bring the whiskey.

Come forth, my brothers and sisters.

Sergeant, where's your squad?

- They're dead.
- What happened?

He came out of nowhere.

Took us by surprise.

- What the hell?
- We need to get out of here.

Move!

Can it get through the door?

I don't think so.

What the hell was that?

I don't know,

but we've encountered them before.

They seem to like taking
human bodies as hosts.

Oh, my God.

This is Dr. Aaron. Can anybody read me?

Sir! We're under att*ck!

Some kind of creatures!

Can you make it to the shuttle?

They're all around us!

Come in?

Do you read me? Anybody?

"Raza," this is the "Marauder."

Any word from Two?

Has the Mikkei shuttle launched?

Negative.

We're cut off from the shuttle.

There's no way out.

We need to get to the station's reactor.

- Why?
- It's supplying power

to the anomaly... We
need to shut it down.

The anomaly? We don't
even know what it is.

My crewman, Boone, when he came to,

he said it was a gateway.

He also said he could
hear voices in his head.

I think maybe he can.

He's had those things in him before.

We managed to get it out,
but what if it affected him?

Gave him some kind of
connection to the others?

You're both insane.

They are not native to this planet

or any planet that I've ever been to.

They're an alien life-form.

And you think they're
coming through the anomaly?

Yes! And we need to shut it down.

Keep more of them from making the trip.

Even if it's true, we wouldn't make it

100 meters before they'd be on us.

What about those simulants

that are lying helpless right now,

waiting to be taken?

You want an army of
those things out there,

disguised as humans?

You're right. We don't have a choice.

Let me call it in.

"Arashi," this is Dr. Aaron.

Emergency protocol alpha-one.

Authorization 274117.

You sure about this, Doctor?

- What are you doing?
- It's my call.

Execute.

What did you do?

I called in the nuclear strike.

Wha...

I'm sorry.

"Raza," this is the
"Marauder" on approach.

Did the Mikkei ship
just launch a m*ssile?

Affirmative.

Tactical nuclear device.

It appears to be targeting the platform.

What about the shuttle?

It hasn't launched.

We're going back.

You can't. You'd never make it.

Open a channel to the Mikkei ship.

I'm sorry, "Raza."
There's nothing we can do.

You can disarm the nuke before it hits.

We've still got a
crew member down there.

We've got people down
there, too, "Raza,"

but it was an executive
order... It's out of my hands.

If you don't disarm the
nuke, we'll have no choice

but to take it out ourselves.

They've severed the communication link.

Fire on the nuke, now.

Launching missiles.

- What was that?
- The Mikkei ship intercepted

our attempt to intercept
the nuclear device.

Please tell me she's
not still down there.

I'm afraid so.

Impact in five seconds.

She can't be dead.

I'm sorry, kid, but...

- I think I may have found something.
- What is it?

I was checking the sensor logs

from just prior to the expl*si*n.

It's difficult to be certain
because of the interference

caused by the anomaly as
it attained full power.

In fact, I had quite a time
extrapolating the relevant data

and had to resort to several
unusual algorithms in order...

Will you spit it out already?

I think there may have
been a small FTL window

in the planet's atmosphere

from just prior to the expl*si*n.

Was it Mikkei?

Negative.

Well, then who the hell was it?

Three, what happened?

Wait a minute.

How can we be in FTL?

Three, what the hell is going on?

We can be in FTL

because this ain't your "Marauder."

And I ain't Three.

Now, settle down.

Got a long ride ahead.