03x02 - It Doesn't Have to Be Like This

[bunniefuu]

Previously on Dark Matter...

With the Blink drive, you
just disappear from one place

and reappear somewhere else,
instantaneously.

Let my scientists study it.

It's far too powerful to
give to any m*llitary force.

She'll experience
the hidden memories

like a dream. But I feel it
necessary to point out

that the equipment is not
designed to be used this way.

I want you here with me
as my Empress.

Use nonlethal force only.
I'll get the Blink drive.

First, we take
back the Blink drive.

Then, we k*ll Ryo Ishida.

The House of Ishida
has an unbroken lineage

dating back over 400 years.

While other dynasties
and corporate overlords

have come and gone,
Ishida has remained.

Why do you think that is?

Ryo!

Yes, Sensei?

Am I boring you?

No, Sensei.

Then please answer the question.

You do know what
the question was, don't you?

No. I apologize.

So...

You're not interested in
your family's bloodline?

No! II mean, yes.
Of course. I...

It's just...

It's all in the past.

And what is that? The future?

Yes.

It's the specs for
the new research facility

my father is building.

Zairon's best scientists

will go there to
develop weapons, shields,

and engine technologies
for the fleet.

There's no star system
at these coordinates.

It's deep in the Lankar Nebula,

where our enemies
will never find it.

You know, Ryo, one day,
you'll be emperor,

and for all our sakes,
I hope by then you understand

there's more to holding
an empire together

than weapons and ships.

I got it.

I think I know where
he took the Blink Drive.

The coordinates
place the research facility

in the Lankar Nebula.

Difficult to access.

And even harder to find.
I think that's the whole idea.

Depending on how long we
intend to stay in the vicinity,

we'll have to divert
power to the shields.

Hang on a sec.

We don't even know for sure
the Blink Drive is there.

That station is
the most important

m*llitary research facility
in the entire Ishida Empire.

At least, that's the way
Four remembered it.

We know that he's trying
to replicate the technology

for his fleet. Anyway,
it's the only lead we have.

What kind of defenses
can we expect?

Impossible to say.

Ships? I doubt it.

The facility's obviously
designed to withstand

any radiation from the nebula.

And any ships that
are in the area,

they would just have
the same problem as us.

They wouldn't stay for long.

They're obviously
relying on stealth and secrecy.

Which gives us the advantage.

We take out their defenses,
board the station,

grab the device, and
get the hell out of there

before they have a chance to
call for reinforcements.

Smash and grab.
It's just my style.

And then what?

I mean, if we get the drive,

are we really
gonna go after Four?

He k*lled Nyx.

And you want revenge.

Isn't that what we do?

We did it for One.

Jace Corso wasn't
a member of this crew.

He wasn't one of us.

Four was.

Aw, hell, that
just makes it worse.

Going after the drive, I get.

But putting our lives on
the line to settle a score?

So what're you saying?

We just let him
get away with it?

He already did.

Nyx is dead.

And k*lling Four isn't
gonna bring her back.

Misaki.

Congratulations.

Growing up, you were always
strong and determined.

I'm not surprised
you landed well.

When I was in
training for the guard,

I scored my first victory
against a much bigger boy.

I celebrated with friends
after the match.

But on my way home,
he was waiting for me,

along with two others.

They held me down and
they b*at me until I cried.

I told no one.

I simply resumed my training.

And even though I had improved,

I learned my lesson and
never won another match.

Misaki, I...

Years later, after graduation...

I chose a night.

And this time, it was I
who waited for them

as they headed home.

Their three blades against mine.

That much bigger boy...
He'd grown even bigger.

I put out one of his eyes.

And then I hamstrung
the other two.

They didn't
report me, of course.

Instead, they claimed
they'd been set upon

by a g*ng of thieves.

Their dreams of serving
the royal guard had ended,

but at least their
dignity was intact.

One Eye, he eventually
did come after me.

They never found his body.

I look forward to
working with you, Teku.

Nearing the Ishida station.

All right, the Marauder's
prepped and ready to go.

They're returning fire.

Shields are holding.

You didn't really think it was
gonna be that easy, did ya?

Hit 'em again.
Target weapons only.

Targeting weapons.

This rate, Pier will
never know what hit them.

Emperor.

Forgive the intrusion.
What is it?

An emergency signal from
the Lankar research station.

They're under att*ck.

That's impossible.

We're receiving visual
telemetry from the station.

That's it.

Their weapons are down.

Open a channel.

Go ahead.

Ishida research facility,
this is the Raza.

Your weapons are down
and you're at our mercy.

Open your main shuttle bay
so we can board.

If you don't comply,
we will destroy you.

We know who you are, Raza.

And we know why you're here.

Destroy us, and you
lose your prize.

Transmission terminated.

Scan for compatible airlocks.

Understood.

By now, they've probably
already called for help.

We're on the clock here, boss.

We've still got time.

You don't know how far away
their closest ship is.

They could be here in minutes.
Not likely.

Come on!

Just admit it, you're
winging it on this one.

It's not a criticism.

Kinda like it.

But even if we find
a compatible airlock

for the Marauder to dock, how do
we get the inner doors open?

Trust me, kid,
that's the easy part.

Emperor.

Dr. Borsa, Dr. Hajek,
report your status.

We're under att*ck.
Weapons are down.

External sensors are damaged.

Other than that,
the station is intact.

They're after the
Blink Drive, aren't they?

Of course.

But how did they find us?

At the moment,
it's hardly relevant.

They've stopped f*ring.
They know they can't risk it.

How many outer airlocks on
the station like this one?

Four.

I want armed teams at
each one of them immediately.

Emperor, we don't have
enough manpower to...

Do it! Now!

Yes, Emperor.

Welcome aboard, Raza.

All right, we're docked.

Once we get through
the first line of defense,

they might get the bright idea
to double back for the Marauder.

I'll be ready.

We're in.

One of the other airlocks
has just been breached.

What about the Blink Drive?
Is it operational?

Well, is it?

Theoretically, yes.

But we don't yet fully
understand how to control it.

It certainly hasn't
been calibrated

for anything as large
as this station.

Well then, I suggest
you calibrate it quickly,

because you don't have time
to wait for reinforcements.

If you take the station back
to Zairon, you won't have to.

This is a clone body... I don't
care if it gets destroyed.

I doubt you feel the
same way about your own.

And make no mistake.

The people who are coming
won't hesitate to k*ll you

to get what they want.

I'm picking up some
unusual energy readings

emanating from the station.

Something to do with
the nebula, maybe?

I don't think so.

Wait a minute.

You don't think they would
try to use the drive, do you?

Guys, we've got a
slight problem here.

What's wrong?

II don't even know
how to describe it.

Did we make it back to Zairon?

Emperor, it's my duty to
inform you that we have failed.

We're still in the nebula?

No. Then where are we?

I don't know.

The nebula is gone.

So are the stars...
So's everything.

It's just empty, white...
nothing, all around us.

Has he been drinking?

What do you mean "nothing"?

I know it sounds crazy,
but I'm staring at it right now.

Blink Drive.

They used it and screwed up.

Sounds familiar.

This isn't some
alternate reality.

This is just...

nowhere.

Raza, do you read?

Raza, do you copy?

I told you, there's
nothing out there.

Not even the Raza.

The Blink Drive got us here.
My bet is it'll get us back.

Mission stays the same.

Go for the drive.

Roger that.

Near as I can tell,
we're in a pocket of null space,

not much larger than the
station,

possibly created
by the drive itself

as a result of
insufficient power

to attain our original
destination coordinates.

Like a buffer zone
between where we were

and where we were
supposed to go,

only in interdimensional space.

Can the Blink Drive get us back?

Possibly, but without
spatial reference points,

I would have no idea how to set
up the navigational computer.

Where do you suppose they went?

The most likely
place would be Zairon.

Then we have to go after them.

Even if we're right,

it would take us
six days to get there.

And there would be
an overwhelming force

waiting for us.
Well, we have to do something.

What?

I'm detecting
an anomalous energy signature.

It's coming from the position
recently vacated by the station.

Show me.

Have you ever seen
anything like this before?

No.

Normal Blink Drive operation

leaves very little in
the way of residual energy.

Nothing compared to this.

Maybe it wasn't a normal jump.

Maybe they didn't go
where they wanted to.

Maybe it's simply a malfunction

in the system array as a
result of continued exposure

within the nebula.

All right, I'll go down
and check the array.

In the meantime,
run that data through

every analytical model you have.

If it can tell us anything
about what happened

or where they went,
I wanna know.

Understood.

All right, Das,

how's it coming with that coil?

You called me Das.

You said you didn't
want me to call you Emily.

Y'got something else in mind?

I know this place.

Yeah, well, you've been
working here parttime

for the past three weeks.
I certainly hope so. Heh.

Hey, look...

I know this stuff is
complicated, but...

You got a good head
on your shoulders.

Not like those other kids
you hang out with.

This is one of my memories.

Want me to teach you?

I'm happy to do it.

Hell, I suppose I'd do it
just for the company.

But, if you're not
willin' to put the work in,

you really are just
wastin' your time.

So, what do you say
we get back to it?

Sit down, sit down.
Look at this.

Watch this.

Csquad, report.

Csquad, what's your status?

What's happening?

Nothing you need to
concern yourself with.

They've gotten past our
defenses, haven't they?

I told you we weren't
equipped for this.

I told you the Blink Drive
wasn't ready!

Watch your tone, Doctor!

This may be a clone body,

but when I transfer back,
the real emperor

will remember everything
that happened here.

What can we do?

They're going to k*ll us.

You're afraid.

As you should be.

But don't let it sway you
from the task at hand.

I'll buy you as
much time as I can.

You don't even have a w*apon.

It wouldn't make a difference.

Emperor, I'm afraid
we have another problem.

You remember how I told you
that this null space bubble

that we're in was not much
larger than the station?

Yes.

Well, I know that because I've
been sending out radar signals

to help define the
outer edges of the bubble.

So?

So it now appears
that it's shrinking...

Collapsing in on itself.

My God.

When we first arrived here,
it was over three kilometers

in diameter. It's now
less than two and half.

How much longer
until it breaches

the outer edges of the station?

If the current rate
of collapse continues,

less than 30 minutes.

Are you sure?

I've doublechecked the reading.

Whatever that
white wall out there is,

it's coming towards us.

Well, we've got to move.

Get the Blink Drive and get the
hell outta here before it hits.

Son of a bitch.

Two, Three.

Welcome.

Okay, try it now.

All right, watch.

Ha!

Like I told you, kid.

Antigravitational fields
and inertial dampeners...

The key to modern space travel.

What about FTL?

Well, that, too.

But it's a little above
my pay grade.

You know, there's only
so much I can teach you here.

You wanna learn for real,
get certified.

You need to go to
a good tech college.

I can't afford that.

Yeah, well, I...

I was thinkin'...

maybe I could help out
with the tuition.

Ilf you're interested.

Really?

Yeah.

YYou could pay me back byby
helping out around here.

Hell, II don't know.

Maybe even take over one day.

I never... never
had kids... of my own,

so, you know...

II don't know what to say.

Ilt ain't glamorous,
but it's an honest livin'.

Not like what your friends are
doin' out there on the street.

They're not so bad.

Hey, III'm not judging.

But sooner or later,

the system's gonna
catch up with them

and chew them up.

But you... you got
somethin' special.

You... got a spark.

And I...

I hate to see that go to waste.

Five, what's the
status of the sensor array?

Five, do you read me?

Five, come in.

Five, please respond.

Hey, yeah, yeah,
I'm here. Sorry.

Is everything all right?

Everything's fine.

What about the array?

Um, still working on it.
Just give me a few minutes.

We're here for the Blink Drive.

Where is it?

It's in a lab, in the
central hub of the station.

But I'm afraid this is as close
as you're going to get to it.

If we have to move through you,

don't think we'll hesitate.

Of course not.

But sh**ting me would
hardly make a difference.

I've initiated a full
lockdown of the station,

magnetically sealing
all bulkheads.

We already blew
through your airlock.

We can blow through
those doors, too.

Maybe.

But there are three more
sets just like this one

between here and the lab.

How much expl*sives
did you bring?

sh*t.

Now, do you have
any idea where we are?

What's happened to us?

You used the Blink Drive
with unexpected results.

It got us here,
and it can get us back.

So stand down and let
my scientists finish

recalibrating the drive.

When we return to Zairon,
you'll be released.

You have my word.

Like that's worth anything.

Emperor, can you hear me?

Go ahead.

The edge of the null space
bubble has reached

the outer limbs of the station.

What effect is it having?

It's annihilating
everything in its path.

What about decompression?

Ilt's not a vacuum.

It's just...
a wall of nothingness.

Guys, we've got
a new problem here.

The outer edges of the station

are being eaten away.

If it keeps coming,

pretty soon I'm gonna
have a big problem.

If we lose the Marauder,
there's no way off this station,

even if we get back
to normal space.

Emperor, what about
the other scientists?

What about them?

They're all in a hab pod on
the outer limb of the station.

They don't have much time.

You have to release the
lockdown so they can move out

and into the inner hub.

I'm sorry, Dr. Borsa.
I can't do that.

If I did that, there'd be
nothing to stop these intruders

from making their way to
the lab, sh**ting you both,

and taking the Blink Drive
for themselves.

Four.

Ryo.

It doesn't have to be like this.

Drop the lockdown,
let Six take the Marauder

into the central hub
docking bay.

We will get your people off.

No. We've calibrated

the drive to the
Marauder's engines before.

We can make this work.

It's our best chance
to get everyone out of here.

Then you would have the drive,
and I can't allow that.

They're your own people!

And their sacrifices
will be remembered!

You are one cold bastard,
you know that?

There's nothing we can do or say
to make you change your mind.

No, I'm afraid not.

Then you're no good
to us, are you?

sh*t. It was a clone.

Emperor, are you all right?

I'm afraid we had to dispose
of your emperor's clone.

You're the one who
att*cked the station.

Yes.

But I think we're a little
beyond that right now.

If we're gonna make it
outta here alive,

we need to work together.

Don't listen to her.

You heard what
I said about our shuttle.

It's the truth.

We've adapted the Blink Drive
to its engines before,

and we can do it again.

It's our best chance at getting
everyone off this station,

but we need your help.

We're running outta time,
Doctor. What's it gonna be?

You can't trust them.
It's a trick.

I need an answer.

Even if I wanted to help you,
I can't terminate the lockdown.

The Emperor used his
personal command code.

There's gotta be
something you can do,

some way to work around it.

I'm guessing you know
this station better than anyone.

How do I know I can trust you?

How 'bout this:

Do we have a clear path from
here to the habitation pod?

I believe so.

We've got expl*sives.

We'll head back,
blow the bulkhead door,

and get your colleagues
out of there.

In the meantime, you find
a way to end the lockdown

so we can get the shuttle
to the central hub.

We'll get everyone off
the station that way.

The Emperor initiated lockdown.

It can only be terminated
on his command!

The Emperor isn't here.
This could be our best chance!

You sure about this?

Four's right, we don't
have enough expl*sives

to blow through
three sets of doors.

Assuming that wasn't a bluff.

What if the lab is
right behind those doors?

I don't think we have enough
time to do this by force.

We have to get them to trust us.

Do we have a deal?

All right.

I'll try to give you the
most direct path to the hab.

You can't do this!

I'm not gonna let
those people die.

It is their duty and ours.

We're not soldiers!

You're a traitor!

And you're a fool.

The array checked out.
Everything's fine.

Whatever the anomaly is,
it's for real.

The most peculiar
thing is that it persists,

without any apparent source.
At least not in our spacetime.

Wait a minute.

What if when they went through,

they created a
kind of rip or tear

between here and
wherever they went?

That's what the anomaly is,
just one end of the tear.

An interesting theory.

If it's true, then as
long as the tear persists,

we may be able to use it
to trace where they went.

Exactly. I'm on my way back up.

Five, come in.

sh*t.

Not again.

Five?

We're receiving an incoming
subspace transmission.

Five, come in.

Android, it's good
to see you again.

Four.

Or should I call you
Emperor Ryo Ishida?

Just Ryo would be fine.

What do you want?

Straight to the point.
Excellent.

I know you att*cked
my research station.

Yes.

I sent in a transit clone
to assess the situation

but lost contact.

In fact, we lost all contact
with the station.

I'm not surprised.

Of course, this could be
due to any number of reasons,

but the most obvious is,
you k*lled everyone on board.

That would be one possibility.

And yet somehow I doubt it.
Care to enlighten me?

Why should I?

Maybe it would be best

if I talked to a
human crew member.

Let me speak with Two.

She's not available.

How about Nyx?

You want to speak to Nyx?

I know we didn't end
on the best of terms, but...

You k*lled her.

What're you talking about?

I found her body, Ryo.

After you came on board
and stole the Blink Drive.

That's it.

Hab pod is on the other side.

Might wanna step back for this.

Hey, wait a minute.

We're too late.

Protein bar?

sh**ting people really
works up an appetite.

This is not something
I wanna mess with.

What now?

No. No, this is good.
This is just what we need.

Six, come in.

Guys, I don't know how
much longer I can stay here.

That wall of whatever it is...

It's only a few meters away
from the Marauder.

Main power just
went out in the station.

The force field blocking the
shuttle bay should be down, too.

Roger that. I'm on my way.

Meet you on the inside.

Is he gone?

Who?

Who do you think? The old man.

He has a name, you know.

Whatever. Okay, come, sit.

What do you want, Lyra?

I came here to tell you
we're heading out...

All of us.

What're you talking about?

Remember that friend
I mentioned, T.J.?

The one on the station
in the Mirzam system?

Yeah. 'Kay.

He's got a sweet setup there,
and he's got room for more.

The place is full
of fat, rich tourists.

Easy marks.

He gives a percentage
to the maintenance staff,

and they let him bunk out
in the air vents.

Sounds amazing.

Anything's better
than this place.

We're leaving tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

Yeah, we bribed
a couple of crewmen

on a longrange freighter.
It's nine days in the hold,

but it'll get us there.

Well, II can't just leave.

Why not?

I... We...

BeBecause of the old guy?

His name is Baines.

'Kay, look...

I know you think
he's your friend

'cause he's teaching you
how to fix all this junk,

but you can't trust him.

Why not?

I saw him yesterday.
Out by the market.

He was looking a little sketchy,
so I decided to follow him.

Lyra... He went straight to

the GA detachment.

He was talking to the Sergeant.

Are you sure?

I saw it with my own eyes.

Now what's a guy like that
doing talking to the GA?

He's gonna rat us out!

No, you don't know that.

Yeah, well, we're not
gonna stick around

and take the chance.

The shuttle leaves at dawn.

Are you coming or not?

I'm sorry.

I had to give you a stimulant.

How did I get in here?

I found you passed out.

You were unresponsive.

I was in one of my memories.

Although it was
more like a dream.

Has this ever happened before?

I think maybe earlier today.

We should run a scan.

No, there's no time for that.
What about the anomaly?

We need to find the others.

I'm working on it.

What do you mean?

I've been sending
a modulated beam

of tachyons into the rift.

If it really is a
connection between here

and wherever they went,

they should be able
to detect it.

I'm monitoring for a response.

That's it?

For now, it's all we can do.

Puncture wounds
to the neck. He bled out.

So where's the k*ller?

That's not the
only thing that's missing.

The Blink Drive's gone.

Accessible parts of
the station are shrinking fast.

Whoever took the drive
couldn't have gone far.

Wait.

What the hell's that?

Hey!

That's far enough!

Come any closer,
and I'll throw it in!

You don't want to destroy it
any more than we do.

I think the Emperor would
rather see it destroyed

than fall back into your hands.

You willing to die for that?

An honorable death is better
than a dishonorable life.

Okay.

All right, let's get that
thing back to the Marauder.

So?

You appear to be suffering from
cascading synaptic failure

in several areas of your brain

associated with the processing
of longterm memory.

What's causing it?

Unknown.

But if I had to guess...

The mind probe.

We may have
used it one too many times.

I have persistently
warned everyone

of the dangers involved.
II know. It's not your fault.

It's gonna get worse, isn't it?

The fugue states
you've been experiencing

will most likely increase
in duration and frequency

until they become permanent.

Is there anything we can do?

That's it.

Okay. System's online.

Let's get the hell outta here.

Only one problem. What?

I've got no coordinates
to feed into the nav system.

What difference does it make?
Just put in anything.

Are you serious? Yeah.

Wait, hold on. What is that?

Some sort of radioactive pulse.

Probably just a side effect
of the collapsing bubble.

The modulation is
irregular but repeating.

You're right. It's not
a natural phenomenon.

So what, some kind of signal?

It's a way out.

Target the point of origin.

And if we're wrong,
we end up in a pulsar.

In about 30 seconds,
it's not gonna matter.

All right, here we go.

It worked! We're back.

Marauder,
this is the Raza. Do you read?

We read you loud and clear.
It's great to hear your voice.

I assume we have you
to thank for that signal?

A modulated tachyon pulse

used as an
interdimensional lifeline.

That's pretty brilliant.

Well, I am an android.

Anyway, I suggest we
postpone the celebration,

as there are several
Ishida cruisers

rapidly approaching
our position.

Roger that. Coming to you.

She collapsed for a third time

just before the
Marauder reappeared.

I believe the best
course of action

would be to attempt to recreate

the conditions that caused
the initial mind wipe,

with some modifications.

You gotta be kidding.

The memories
are effectively superseding

her conscious mind.
They need to be isolated...

Walled off as yours have been.

What about her new memories?

The ones that she made
after we came out of stasis?

I'll do my best to protect
and insulate all new memories.

But I can't guarantee success.

There is a significant chance
that she may lose some,

if not all of them.

And without a clean neural
imprint to work from,

they'll be inaccessible
for the rest of her life.

Did you explain this to her?

I did. Before she
lost consciousness.

She said if it was the only way,
we had to take the chance.

Goin' somewhere?

My friends are
getting on a shuttle.

I'm going with them.

Where to?

Off this rock.

Aw, Das...

Das...

Emily, look, II
understand you don't see

a future for yourself here...

I know you went to the GA.

What were you trying to do,
get my friends arrested

so they would stop being
a bad influence on me?

No, no, ththat's
not it at all. II...

It doesn't matter.

None of this is real anyway.

It's a dream.

Based on a memory.

See what I mean?

The Android's going through
with the procedure.

You were obviously kind to me.

I'm sorry if I hurt you, but
II can't change anything now.

Maybe not.

But you at least deserve
to know the truth.

What're you talking about?

I wasn't tryin'
to rat your friends out.

I was trying to get
information on your family.

I know what happened.

My parents were k*lled
iin an accident.

No, they didn't
tell you everything.

They didn't tell you
that you have a sister.

What? She was adopted

when you were still a baby.
A wealthy family. Influential.

She got lucky. What's her name?

How can I find her?

No, no, not yet!

Wait!

I'm so sorry. If we'd known...

You couldn't have done
anything different.

It had to be done.

It's just frustrating.

I was finally about to learn
something useful from my past.

You did learn something.

You know she's out there.

And, you know, one day,
you're gonna find her.

What about the Blink Drive?

Well...

The Android thinks
the Ishida scientist

tampered with it while
trying to figure it out.

We got lucky with the Marauder.

But until we know for sure
it's functioning properly,

there's no way I'm
hooking it up to the ship.

Well, at least Four
doesn't have it anymore.

So that's a good thing, right?

Misaki!

Heika, we have
news from the front.

The enemy has launched
a surprise att*ck...

You k*lled Nyx.

Yes.

After I ordered you
to use nonlethal force.

Why?!

Because she was a distraction.

Your feelings for her
were a weakness.

The people on that ship
were your friends,

your family even, for a time.

I understand that.

None of them can possibly
grasp what you must do now

to save the House of Ishida.

Not like I do.

Take my life if you will.

I offer it gladly,

knowing that what I did was
for the good of the Empire.

But know this:

One day, sooner or later,
you will have to deal with them.