Beacon 23

Previously on Beacon 23.

Careful, your ship just crashed.

You're okay.

I just need the samples and access to any data.

If I gotta get rid of her, that's on you.

What are you gonna do, just space walk out of here? Hm?

-My ship crashed! -Or do you think I'm stupid? Hm?

The Crest isn't coming back for you.

When is ISA picking you up?

Aster, please--

I saved your life.

Attention, your entry to this beacon is unauthorized.

So, QTA, that's who you work for?

You're not here for a goddamn science project.

You're here to do steal whatever Solomon found.

Huh?

I can't be alone anymore.

You think he's okay?

Relative to what?

I want to get a look at whatever made him collapse.

I'll see what I can find.

I'm not sure Halan's condition will become clearer

no matter what we see.

Well, at least he's stable.

Well, his PTSD is under control,

but as for his stability,

I recommend keeping a weapon handy.

-Aster? -Mm-hmm?

Look at this.

The samples trigger it.

That's the only explanation there is.

What's happening? I'm confused.

Please, tell me what's happening.

You're dreaming, Bart.

You need to wake up.

My memory is not functioning.

It's disordered. That's all.

What's happening?

Murder most foul.

Wait! I remember this!

Bart, you were quoting Shakespeare.

It's how Solomon taught me to speak properly.

He said Shakespeare would cure me

of my "leaden mechanical drone."

Now, it's part of my reboot protocols.

Hm. How thoughtful of him.

And how are your reboot protocols?

Bartholomew?

Can you hear me?

How are your reboot protocols?

Fit as a fiddle, as the Bard might say.

Though the nightmare of being silenced again...

I'm sure it was trying.

Yes, but fear not, I am ready to resume control of my beacon!

Bart's ready to resume his duties.

Shall I restore his permissions?

I vote no.

Well, he's been jammed up all day, you sure?

Yeah, I think I deserve a few days

without hearing that guy's voice in my ear.

You heard him, Harm.

Got something for you.

The beacon security ring, finally.

Something wrong?

-You see this, right? -Yeah.

Tell me I'm not imagining it.

It's the same.

It's not a lie, Halan. It's all connected.

"May cause side effects."

If everyone knew it got you high,

no one would get anything done.

My God. Sit here all day.

How's your, uh... everything?

I don't know, I can barely feel it.

-Mm, boop! -Ow!

Shit, I'm sorry!

What was that?

- -Is that your real laugh?

I don't know! I don't know, you just...

-you look like a dartboard. -A what?

You know, one of them...

Okay, I think you've had enough of this GWB.

-No, no, no. -You know what, maybe you need

-to step away from this. -Make me.

How'd you get that?

Mm. That's, um...

That was from my mum.

She, uh...

she told me a story about what it meant.

How special it was.

Hm. That's nice, a reminder.

A reminder not to end up like her. Dead.

Alone.

With nothing.

That took a nasty turn.

Yeah, went pretty dark, sorry.

-Geez. -

You know what, get back into the GWB.

Yeah, come back, come back!

Deep breaths, deep breaths.

Deep breaths.

Get it. Mm.

So, Solomon-- Halan.

-Yeah. -Halan, right?

Mm-hmm.

How about that?

She said, smoothly changing the subject.

-What, that? -Mm.

Don't know.

You know, I always wondered, what was going on with this guy.

Did he get his ticket punched or...

-Did he make it back inside? -Who knows?

What do you think?

Think something different every day.

Today?

Today...

I think he got crushed.

-Ah... -Poor guy.

Poor guy, just a little help.

Mm.

First burial detail?

Yeah.

You did good.

I'm glad it's over.

Don't worry, it happens every once in a while.

Nothing to worry about. Bart? Lights.

Bart?

Uh, you said you didn't want to hear him.

-Oh, yeah. Still don't. -Ha.

-Hey, Harmony? -

Yes?

-Could use a little help. - Working on it.

You should put in for combat pay.

Uh, I intend to.

QTA are pretty good at setting things right.

Even with AWOL soldiers.

Oh, you mean the same people who sent Wreckers,

hacked the beacon, blew up your ship?

-No thanks, I'm good. -That's one theory.

Seriously, if that's how they treat their employees,

I don't want to know what they'd do to me.

Don't you want to know why you're having visions?

-Visions? -Yeah.

That's what we're calling them?

Kinda sound more like nightmares.

Listen, the rocks, my pendant, your... bad dreams.

They're all connected. I want to know why.

Don't you want to know why?

-Honestly? -Yeah.

I just want to get lost somewhere.

Somewhere with real atmosphere.

-Oxygen? -Yeah.

Yeah! White fluffy clouds.

-Rain. - Rain!

I just want to stand under the rain.

You know, when I first met you, I was convinced

you were a psychopath.

And I was convinced you were an innocent ISA employee.

And now?

Now?

Now, I'm not so sure who you are.

I should check on the lights.

-Hey, Halan? -Yeah?

Uh, wherever it is you want to go, I'll get you there.

You sure you'll be the one to decide?

I'll figure it out.

I'll hold you to it.

Oh.

-You got the lights on. -As best I can.

Everything below the living quarters is still blacked out.

I can't go near the GWB.

Hey, could you ask Aster to come down?

Sure. I'll check the breakers

on the Docking Level first.

Bart, I could really use your help here.

Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to change

your communication permissions.