Earth: Final Conflict

The light you're seeing is

the probe's way of delivering information back to its source.

Augur and I have designed a system to capture the images being transmitted.

By what method?

There're microscopic cameras mounted into the ends of these cables,

which have been calibrated to read the images being emitted.

Is this safe here?

I mean this thing was on its way to wiping out an entire town.

The only way to stop the killing was to bring it here and study it.

My associate is an expert in this field.

This is Rayna Armitraj. Rayna.

Hi! Will Boone.

Nice to meet you.

I haven't seen too many of those in lab.

I find that it calms me.

Jonathan's told me all about...

Well, he's told me all about both of you.

We're very fortunate to have you working here with us.

We were about to ah...

Can you explain how we are limiting the risk factor involved in drilling?

Of course.

We're not violating the integrity of the crystallized cap.

The holes we're drilling are less than a 3,000th of a millimeter in diameter.

Sounds like you had quite an adventure with our friend here.

You could say that.

So you were investigating some unexplained deaths in an Amish community?

And healthy body scan will appear all black, no color variations.

Yeah, we found a culprit.

It's extraordinary that this device was able to adjust a single butterfly

and replicate it thousands of times into little killer probes.

It's remarkably advanced technology.

It is remarkably deadly technology.

They're expecting us in the conference area.

Great talking to you. Nice to meet you.

Rayna is an impressive woman.

Thanks.

And beautiful too.

We met at Sorbonne when I was studying there last year.

Sorbonne, huh?

Students in Paris? Doesn't get much better than that.

She was on an exchange program for summer. We had to wait a year to be together.

She just got here a week ago.

You're not wasting any time, are you?

You know when something is right.

Yeah, I think you do, Sahjit.

Three years ago they came

forever altering the future of humanity.

Subtitled by Axarion

Based on the images we've pulled from the device

we believe it is an advanced probe sent here by the Taelons to assess our planet.

Assess? Nice word.

So it may have been laying dormant here for years.

Let's see what you've got.

We'll start with photographic images first.

These are from the probe's activities in the Amish town.

Can you determine if these images have been transmitted to Taelons?

Well we haven't been able to verify that yet.

If the Taelons received these images than

they know we're lying about the events that took place in the Amish town.

These next images represent the internal operations of the probe.

These renderings and text illustrate the procedure the probe used

to capture the butterfly and replicate it.

So we need to understand the text

to find out the purpose of the probe.

And to find out what information it is already delivered to the Taelons.

What do you think?

This symbol...

and this...

It looks to me like a language.

I know it sounds crazy, but the closest thing they resemble is the Taelons' own script.

Only simpler.

But nobody in the world understands their language.

Their world is inside the mind they gave you.

Da'an would like to meet with us.

Do you ever knock?

As the matter of fact...

No.

Da'an is hosting the unveiling of a Taelon museum of art

and wants us to coordinate all aspects of the event.

Fine. Just let me finish up here...

What are you doing?

I'm studying the Taelon language.

This is the painting that James Pike did in his cell.

You remember Pike?

Yes.

Pike died before we had a chance to question him on this painting.

The fact that the Companions

implanted him with the CVI changes nothing for me. This work still looks like ah

a work of a psychotic serial killer.

Is there a problem?

Oh. Of course not.

Why haven't you ever learn to read Taelon?

Da'an never requested that I do so.

Although I did make a cursory attempt when I was first implanted.

What happened?

Didn't go very well.

Are you making a progress?

Yeah, it's going well.

Right here. This group of characters does have a distinct look.

Boone's making some progress on the Taelon language.

These are Taelon equivalents or numbers.

We ran thousands of different permutations of there equations.

We may have found something.

There. If I didn't know better I'd swear those are directional coordinates.

No, no, I had the same theory.

I'm constructing a model based on these coordinates

to determine where the probe is sending it's data.

We believe the probes home is somewhere in that star system.

I need to know the exact location.

This information is vital to us.

Keep working.

The Taelon Synod is most proud to have your work featured at the opening of our gallery.

Please, view the work of this most gifted artist Tiana.

Its...

stillness is very moving.

Thank you.

I greatly anticipate the public's reaction to your art.

With this kind of inspired work

the opening of the gallery promises to be a momentous occasion.

I've reviewed the security plan. It's in order.

And the media plan?

There's always a great interest when you're making an appearance, Da'an.

This event is no exception.

Our coverage will be extensive.

I have a request.

Please, state it.

Will you teach me to read Taelon?

How will the knowledge of the Taelon language help you to serve Companions?

All implant have the same motivational imperative -

to serve the Companions.

But we all bring our own individual approach

as to how best to implement that imperative.

We have had this discussion.

I would offer that the command of the Taelon language

can only aid in my effectiveness.

I don't expect all implants to have the desire or the capability to learn Taelon.

This would be a highly difficult task.

Difficult but not impossible.

As you remember, one of your initial experimental implants, James Pike,

learned your language without the benefit of any Taelon tutor.

I will take your request into consideration.

Thank you.

Have you seen Rayna?

No. She peddling her hours again?

I can't find her.

Can't imagine why'd she want to get out of here.

My implant, William Boone, has expressed his desire

to learn the Taelon language.

I have not yet had to respond to such a request.

Ar'ral implanted one of the native people's of Australia

when he was posted as the Australian Companion.

This Aborigine wished to record the Taelon history on Earth

in our native language.

But he was not able to master Taelon.

One of our experimental implants

was partially successful in learning Taelon.

The Synod has observed that the CVI's motivational imperative

seems to eliminate an implant's justification for learning our language.

We do not fully understand why this is.

Yet Boone makes this request.

I have no explanation.

William Boone has presented the Synod

with a multitude of unique challenges since his implantation.

Many of his reflections have caused serious debate within the Synod.

I believe we have much to gain

from observing Boone's attempt to learn the Taelon language.

Than we shall observe with great attention.

It is extraordinary how you have been able to teach yourself

the rudiments of the Taelon language.

This is the first story that we learn.

That is correct.

You must avoid the inclination to read in a linear left to right manner.

Are there grammatical rules for Taelon like there are in Earth languages?

No, we feel what we read.

This feeling allows us to see and understand the worlds.

Use your implant, Boone.

You are amused by this story.

Yes.

Our planets are millions of light years apart in distance, but

not in spirit.

Please, elaborate.

You're familiar with our Earth animals, the tortoise and the hare?

Well, in one of our fables there's a race between the two.

The speedy hare gets so far out in front of cumbering tortoise

that the hare decides to take a nap anticipating the victory. And...

The slow and steady tortoise

overtakes the sleeping hare and wins the race.

Just as the dependable Ma'li

defeats the gifted but not disciplined La'sha.

Yes.

We've extrapolated this path for the probe.

So you've projected the probe's point of origin to be in a nebula

at the other end of the galaxy from Taelon.

I know it seems inconsistent but it's just a preliminary projection.

Has Boone confirmed your interpretation of the figures?

Lili and I confirmed it.

Fine.

And do you and Lili have a theory

as to why these transmissions can't be traced back to the Taelon planet?

Several actually.