Earth: Final Conflict

And on the very next page,

you have Jonathan Doors described as humanity's lone patriot!

Speculating that the Taelons are influencing members of the judiciary

through mind-altering viruses.

I know what's in my own web site.

There are 18 quotations from Mr. Doors in the last 2 weeks alone,

and you say you have absolutely no connection to him?

I told you I publish an independent electronic journal of opinion.

What, is that a crime now?

November 12th.

Your anonymous author advocates the theft of military hardware

for the coming species war.

Now some members of the judiciary would say that is a crime, Miss Hagar.

As is...

Sandoval!

What's going on here?

I had to question her quickly and discreetly.

She runs an anti-companion web site with direct communications with Doors!

Why don't you tell him that I asked to speak to my lawyer.

I told you!

If you wanna make this an official investigation, that's fine, Miss Hagar.

Make arrangements to take her to Washington.

How can you be sure?

A double-blind terminal that can't be traced?

3d, state-of-the-art graphics? Boone!

Doors is funding it.

Now.

If we can locate the web master or the server,

I'm sure we can trace it back to Doors himself.

Whoa, whoa... Hold on! Take it easy! Take it easy!

That's mine! You have no right.

Any bets whether this is what we're looking for?

A location of the terminal and a key to Jonathan Doors.

I said I want my lawyer.

I said take it easy.

Your patron hasn't yet been charged with any crime, Miss Hagar.

I'm sure Jonathan Doors would welcome the opportunity to clear his good...

Do you realize that?

Sandoval?

Sandoval!

911! Emergency medivac, my office, now!

Three years ago they came

forever altering the future of humanity.

Subtitled by Axarion

Give him 50 milligrams of halodroxine!

And I need a complete 3d cranial.

Secure the patient.

The patient is secured.

Halodroxine is ready, Doctor.

What is it?

If it's what I'm afraid of, his CVI is breaking down.

You said he was complaining of headaches?

Yeah, and there was bleeding from the ear as well.

Oh, why didn't he come to me sooner?

And lose a moment in service to the Companions?

A lot of good he's gonna do them dead.

Ready the ACVI injection.

Get me Da'an.

Agent Sandoval's implant is rapidly degenerating.

Request permission to administer the anti-cybervirus.

Proceed, Doctor.

The anti-cybervirus?

Well, I'll try to remove his CVI

before it overloads the synapses in his cerebral cortex and kills him.

How? You told me that it was impossible to remove.

Yeah, it probably is.

I've been working to develop a hybrid virus that will attack the CVI

before it can kill its host.

And it works?

In simulation, yes.

In a real, living person, I...

I wouldn't even speculate.

It could take almost 20 hours for the CVI to be completely eradicated.

Now, if he survives that without synaptic release,

I can implant him with a new CVI.

And if you don't put in a new CVI?

Well...

Once neurological pathways have been realigned by a CVI,

they won't go back.

You can't unfry an egg.

So, unless I re-implant him, the host is most likely going to die.

Excuse me.

How long before this happens to me?

I don't know.

The mind's so unpredictable, William.

We don't even know yet what causes these breakdowns.

It's working. It's starting to kill the virus.

If he survives, he'll be ready for re-implantation by tomorrow morning,

noon at the latest.

20 Earth hours?

The best estimate, yes.

What would be the result

if you attempted to implant a new CVI

prior to the 20-hour period?

Well, that's unclear, but the human brain's a very fragile instrument.

Is the anti-virus programmed to attack the CVI

currently implanted in Agent Sandoval's brain?

Well, yes, but in all my simulations,

the anti-viruses were allowed to run their full course

before we implanted the new CVI.

The halodroxine should be wearing off anytime now.

But he could reseize.

Some time alone with him, please.

Boone, remain.

I...

Where am I?

What happened to me?

Your CVI was breaking down. You had a seizure.

CVI?

You are putting the Companion ahead of me!

Your gift...

We must excise it

in order to replace it.

Your confusion will soon be remedied.

- Boone? - It's all right.

Don't try to talk.

You had ah...

a virus in your brain.

It was trying to kill you and now we're killing it.

Captain Boone?

Rest now.

The clarity that you long for will return when you're awaken.

His memory appears much impaired.

He speaks your name as if seeing you as you once were.

Probably just an effect of the drug,

but we won't know for certain until tomorrow.

Don't worry. I'm sure his memory will return.

I worry at just such a prospect.

Install the new implant at once.

Da'an, this could dramatically increase the likelihood of his death.

And Boone, tighten your security, please.

Under no circumstances must Agent Sandoval

be allowed to leave this facility.

I thought he was stabilized!

Do you want me to get to a nurse?

What's happened?

Whoa, whoa, Sandoval, easy!

Everybody back!

Do as he says.

You don't wanna do this.

You have no idea what I want.

You must remain calm, Agent Sandoval.

Don't, please, don't.

Make no mistake,

I will kill you.

Don't!

Sandoval, your skrill may not even be functional.

It's tied into your CVI.

You wanna take a risk on a Companion, Boone, huh?

Take it easy.

You, move, slowly.

Weapon up!

Take me to the shuttle.

No.

I swear...

I swear, Boone.

I will kill Da'an.

Think... Remember,

it's my duty to protect members of the Taelon Synod, at all costs.

All I want is my freedom, Boone.

I can't bargain for Da'an.

There's no need to take him.

I'll pilot the shuttle.

If you leave here, you will die.

You know that.

I have died, Boone.

Just like you.

Now, back up.

Back up!

Stay.

I want to work for the Companion! I'm proud to have been recruited.

Do you realize that?

Even if it costs you your marriage?

No!

Go! Go!

Subdue him!

The antivirus was introduced to the limbic system,

where the primary emotions are controlled:

love, anger, fear.

And that's where Sandoval's CVI was first attacked.

The seat of his motivational imperative.

Well, obviously there are extenuating circumstances, but, yes.

So, what now motivates our errant implant, Doctor?

Love? Fear?

Or anger?

Does the shuttle have a transponder?

You don't remember?

Turn it off!

And your global, Captain.

I see your memory's returning.

In all its glory.

Do you have other devices that could betray our position?

A simple radar.

We've already passed through 4 air traffic screens, minimum.

Suggest an evasion.

You bluffed your way out, didn't you? Your skrill won't fire.

An evasion, Captain.

There is a jamming device.

Use it.

You should be in a hospital bed, not fleeing across the country.