23:17
What is happening, y'all? Welcome on back. So, got to go take down Webb. Hello, James. I wondered if you'd made it out alive. With the seven kinds of hell you raised, I practically walked out the front door. Happy to be of assistance. What do you want? Get to Webb, same as you. Webb's finished. Disgraced and on the run. What makes you think I care? Please, don't kid a kidder. Let's hear it. Simple. You know where he is. I have the means to get us there. And I don't? Nice try, James, but we both know you're about to burn all bridges.
Besides, I already know he's somewhere in the Antarctic Circle. So, unless you plan to join a whaling crew, I'm your best shot. A pinned location. We leave in 24 hours. Bring your trunks. Well, when one door closes, Oh, I was like, ah, I was like, those are windows, those are windows, those are a wall. Yeah, maybe look at the one door behind you, idiot. See you, Bond. Take it easy. You leaving, James? Read so. Well, hell of a thing you did. See you around. What's this? Vodka martini, shaken not stirred.
What's the difference? I want what I want, James. When you offered me a ride, I was expecting something a little more airborne. What can I say? I prefer comfort over speed. I certainly wouldn't mind your expense account. Sure it could be arranged. Who are you really? No tricks this time. You know who I am. I'm a thief. That's a job description. But we are what we do, James. Not to mention what we wear.
I don't buy all this. Oh? This is more than a job to you. You pretend to serve no cause, but you wouldn't risk so much for a simple paycheck. Not unless you have skin in the game. Leave it. It's not what you think. They died doing something they knew was right. And I'm going to finish it. You could have gotten to him anytime when he worked at Web HQ. Why didn't you? My client wanted to control him. I figured that was a fate worse than death. What changed? You did. You backed him to a corner and made him more volatile and dangerous. In any case, I suppose you did me a favor.
I'm very sorry. I don't need your pity. Just stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours. I've upset you. You know, I understand this whole no strings routine. The thing is those strings don't hold you back. They keep you up. Your career with MI6 might be over, but you have a bright future writing fortune cookies. Hm. I had enough. Is this normal? I don't mingle a lot with billionaires. Friend of mine runs a crypto vault out of an old nuclear bunker in the Hindu Kush.
I figure normal is a spectrum. Look at the camo wet suits would have been useful. Things are usually insulated. What exactly are we breaking into? Orbital Industries Fairbold R&D facility. All the greatest breakthroughs were developed right here. That includes the big brain in your basement. I knew about it, just not its exact location. What can I say? Sir Nicholas takes industrial espionage very seriously. People want to come here.
You better believe it. It's the ultimate golden ticket. So, what's wrong with a tropical island? Maybe the lease was cheap. Optic camouflage, self-heating smart fabric. I got Cable car station's up ahead. Steep climb. Sentries? Expect so. If I can reach that comms relay, I can jam the signal. Should give us an edge. You brought toys. Nifty. Here. Give me a boost. Why am I getting déjà vu? I said I was sorry. Did you?
Sure I did. Meet you at the gatehouse. She brings a submarine, thermal smart wear, jamming device. Where did she put the boat? Look at you go. Eyes on the bad guys, James. Oh, now this is where those penalty pull-ups pay off. So, you figured it out, by the way? Your client CIA. How's that? They advanced us, made MI6 top dog in the spy community. I bet the CIA would love to get back in the lead. Webb is the key, but they know he's too patriotic to defect. So, they hired you to dig up some dirt
on him. When I exposed him, he became a liability. Webb leaks our secrets, the CIA take a hit as well. This is all just damage control. Quite the theory. What was that? Climate change. So, how did I do? Yeah, no. Not even close. You thought I was onto something there? Cable car's leaving. New arrivals, mostly senior staff from London HQ. Hopefully, we'll be able to blend right in. Big operation.
Webb's rounding up his lieutenants before MI6 can put the thumbscrews on them. It's what I would have done. You don't say. Reach the lower platform. I see a way in. There are guards up ahead. Well, comms are down. We contain it quickly and they won't be able to reach the alarm. You take the one on the right. I'll take the one on the left. Deal. That wasn't necessary. Means to an end. That's your way, not mine. Eggs and omelets, James.
I'll meet you up top. We wait. HE'S RIGHT THERE. SO FAR, SO GOOD. NEXT STOP, cable car. It's not a ski resort. We'll need staff IDs to board. Find a couple of newcomers and relieve them of their ID bracelets. I had no idea spycraft involved so much petty theft. And what will you be doing? Laying low. I told you a lot of familiar faces inside. I can't risk someone blowing my cover. Call if you need assistance, though.
Fine. Sit tight. Norris and Vincent, you may pick up your ID bracelet at the HR counter. Norris and Vincent, Looks like I'm uh Let's see. Norris and Vincent. Lopez, Larson, check. Yeah, everyone's accounted for. Except this one engineer who threw a fit and refused to get on the cable car. Some type of anxiety attack. Don't worry. He's not about to do a runner. I'm monitoring his tracking chip on my phone. Last thing we need is an outbreak of mass hysteria.
Found a lead on an ID. I need access to an HR person's phone. Try a proximity hack. It worked wonders at the web gala. Very funny. Couldn't help it over here. Someone suffered a panic attack. I'm afraid I cannot disclose employees' private details without their consent. Please have a seat, sir, and wait for your number. I will normally work. Nigel, Gate House HR. We could use another couple of hands down here to sort out IDs.
Your rivals are getting restless. Yes, well, let Miriam know when she's out of her meeting. Yeah, it's Nigel. I have a hysterical engineer on my hands who refuses to go on the cable car. Permission to sedate? We all know panic is contagious. This isn't suspicious. He's just shadowing this dude. What's this? Remote hacking attempt detected. Defensive software engaged. Are these notifications even real? Well, the hack failed. They must have built an extra layer of encryption. No. Looks like I'm going to have to nick the phone.
You do like petty theft. appreciates your compliance. Really? Somerset David. Got you. Okay, get me up to speed here. How many ID bracelets have we signed off on? Um seven, I think. Uh no. McMillan makes eight. Did Morrison Vincent pick up her ID yet? Yep, just now. She was heading over to the lounge. Poor thing was so strung out on sleeping pills, she could barely see straight. 36 hours in transit will do that to you. I'll cross her off the list.
They could have processed us on the plane is all I'm saying. I've been waiting 45 minutes for my agreement. Somerset? Yeah. Who's this? Fellow traveler. Can we talk? Come on, mate. What's going on with you? What's going on with me? My god, why can't anyone else see what this is? Web is blackmailing the government and they must be planning an armed response. So, management brought us here as human shields when the boot next arrive, how do you think this is going to play out?
Try not to think about it. Why did they relocate you? Before I joined Robotics, I worked at a university research center doing circuit engineering on a quantum computing project. For some reason, they put me on the extraction list. Don't know why and don't care to find out. Hang on. Someone's coming. I'm missing an opportunity, so maybe I can get him to just hand over his bracelet. I don't need a little more. I'm here for my ID bracelet. I'm afraid you'll have to wait your turn. We have a lot of people to process.
I'll call your name in due time. Somehow I doubt that. My mistake. Sorry, I'm just trying to get past you. Well, someone has to check. Apparently, that's me. All alone. Oh, brilliant. Boys. I got to hit him with the one-two. Blind both eyes, I guess. All right, that's everything. So, it's just figuring out Norse and Vincent. Sleeping on the job. Come get up. We'll talk about this in your next appraisal. These are in the back. Good. There we go.
Meet me by the cable car. That's one way to do it. next appraisal. Think I think you were supposed to get some dialogue and then get him to just hand over the bracelet and escape instead. But knocking him out cold also works. Well done. Who do we get? I'm David Somerset, senior robotics engineer, and you are Nora St. Vincent. Web's private masseuse. You're kidding me. Yeah. Yeah, I am. Touché. After you. Scanning. David Somerset, robotics department. Security level one. Please proceed.
Scanning. Nora St. Vincent, nano mechanics department. Security level one. Please proceed. I need you to promise you won't make any moves before I do what I came here to do. For England, James? No games, Isla. Do we have a deal? Just don't fail. One way or another, Webb dies today. Now what? We need to get our bearings. That service robot looks friendly enough. What went wrong? Scanning ID. Greetings, David Somerset, senior test engineer, robotics department. Where is your tracking chip? I do not detect a signal.
Tracking chip? Company policy. You should have received the implants on the plane. Ah. Must have missed it. Spent most of the trip in the bathroom. Nervous flyer. Very well. I have notified legal. Someone will be in touch. Now, how may I assist you? Where can I find Hyperion? In the annals of Greek mythology. Smart-ass. What's your name? It is Wellington. Thank you for asking. No one ever bothers. Are you sentient? Alas, no. But I have passed a Turing test many times with flying colors. Where may I find Sir Nicholas Webb?
Sir Nicholas is located in the operations department command center. Great. Do I have access to operations? You do not. Your access is limited to the robotics department. Just my luck. Strange. Your face does not match the picture in our database. You are not David Somerset. Stay put while I notify Right. I'm going to operations. You should, too. You think Hyperion will be at the command center? If not, it's your best chance of locating it. You're in robotics, I'm in nanomechanics. I say we split up, double our chances.
Works for me. Cool if you have a break through. If? When? Oh, I'll take this. Pistol attachment. Fires a wireless electroshock projectile that will [__] an elephant and fry just about any electronic system. Might come in handy where you going? We've got those two. Mhm. Oh, [__] Um Can I restart? I didn't mean to waste one of the three rounds I have. I thought it was like an equip unequip type deal. Now what? to get our bearings. That service robot looks friendly enough.
Wouldn't run. Scanning ID. Greetings, David Somerset. Senior test engineer, robotics department. Where is your tracking chip? I do not detect a signal. Tracking chip? Company policy. You should have received the implants on the plane. Uh, must have missed it. Spent most of the trip in the bathroom. Nervous flyer. Very well. I have notified legal. Someone will be in touch. Now, how may I assist you? Where may I find Sir Nicholas Webb?
Sir Nicholas is located in the operations department command center. Great. Do I have access to operations? You do not. Your access is limited to the robotics department. Just my luck. Strange. Your face does not match the picture in our database. You are not David Somerset. Stay put while I notify Right. I'm going to operations. You should, too. You think Hyperion will be at the command center? If not, it's your best chance of locating it. You're in robotics, I'm in nanomechanics. I say we split up, double our chances.
Works for me. Call if you have a breakthrough. If. When. Oh, and take this. Pistol attachment. Fires a wireless electroshock projectile that will [__] an elephant and fry just about any electronic system. Might come in handy where you're going. We've got those, too. Mhm. All right, so I got three electro rounds, 10 regular rounds. Error. Please wait insufficient clearance. Uh, don't touch. Pardon for the inconvenience. Put the device down. Oddly comforting.
Some type of test equipment. It's synced to the door panel. All fixed. Insufficient clearance. Well, Bet Q would like this place. David Somerset. Seems I'm in the right place. Ah, good show. Hope you're feeling better. I'm Ferguson, head of department. Up on that big platform over there, I'll show you the ropes. So, you came in on the chopper this morning? That's right. Straight from London.
How's the weather? As if you need to ask. You've been away too long. Ain't that the truth. May I introduce the autonomous demolition unit, or wrecky among friends. It's designed for urban disaster areas, able to clear a path through wreckage in mere moments, allowing medical aid to arrive safer and faster. Here, grab the controls and take it for a spin. Sure. Let's get started. Issue a move command. Any direction you want. Good. Here comes the fun. Make Recky demolish those crates.
Just don't get in his way. Recky is equipped with a full array of detection sensors. As long as you have a heartbeat, you're perfectly safe. All right. I think you've got the hang of it. I'm curious. What exactly are the accusations against St. Nicholas? We're getting mixed messages down here. Oh, you know, high treason, fraud, conspiracy to commit murder. A slap on the wrist, that's all, really. Must be false. Something a troll farm cooked up. The stuff they can do with deep fakes these days.
Anyway, here we are. Our most promising creation. Tabula Rasa, general purpose android. It can master virtually any function or skill through mimetic machine learning. Caretaker, paramedic, teacher. Sky's the limit. It's quite strong when required and incredibly damage resistant. You know how to use a gun? Oh, I can do. I imagine law enforcement agencies will be lining up. Not an option, I'm afraid. Company policy. And the public just isn't ready for it.
The functionality is totally there, though. Okay, you can leave the weapon back in the rack. Don't want an accident, now, would we? Pity. It was starting to grow on me. Well, that's all the time I have, I'm afraid. We'll pick this up later. Have a good night. I suggest you try the piano. Advanced mimicry will knock your socks off. Yeah, we'll do. Thanks for your time. Good to have you on the team, Somerset. James, what's your status? Happily single, thank you very much.
I mean it personally, not mechanically. The utility area behind the research space connects every floor. Utility area. Got it. All right. Well, we have made it up into the Arctic compound base, whatever we want to call this. Either way, let's close out here. We will make our way on over to the command center in the next part, and I'll see you all then.
