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(Missed the other summaries in this series? You can also read summaries like this for Season One or Season Three)
CHARACTERS:
Main Characters
Natasha Thomas/Ryan: An aspiring singer who becomes entangled in a tumultuous relationship with Isaac Ryan. Decades later, she plans a controversial comeback concert to shift from Directorate to Enterprise.
Isaac Ryan: Natasha’s husband and a member of the influential Ryan family. He intervenes during Natasha’s disrupted comeback concert.
Dominic Long: A police captain struggling with addiction, pressured to inform on Organa commune leader Leo Booker. He forms an uneasy partnership with drug dealer Omar and smuggler Kate.
Kate Rigby (formerly Doc Stahl): A smuggler who transports moondust to the lunar space elevator, facing challenges in her new female body.
Nicolai Costa: Son of Salvatore Costa, grappling with revelations about his father’s nanobot technology and its role in the NAU.
Kai Dreyfus: Nicolai’s ally, seeking entry into the elite Beau Monde and tasked with a shocking mission by Micah Ryan.
Micah Ryan: Member of the Enterprise party and part of the influential Ryan family, offering Nicolai Costa a place in his inner circle.
Shadow (Sam Dial): A paranoid Beam page operator attempting to rally hackers to disrupt the upcoming Shift and uncover the truth about Nicolai Costa.
Leah: An Organa hacker who uncovers the true identity of Crumb (Stephen York) and investigates Nicolai Costa’s connections.
Leo Booker: Leader of the Organa commune with a past connection to the anti-technology terrorist group Gaia’s Hammer.
Key Supporting Characters
Noah West: A member of the secret “Panel” who discusses the implications of Nicolai Costa’s arrival and the potential consequences of the AI-like nanobots’ attachment to him.
Omar Jones: A drug dealer who forms a partnership with Dominic Long and Kate Rigby to secure the Lunis supply.
Stephen York (FKA Crumb): A Beam architect whose true identity is uncovered by Leah, with potential danger surrounding him.
Carter Vale: The new Directorate President who promotes the controversial “Project Mindbender” during the Senate Shift ceremony.
Rachel Ryan: Matriarch of the Ryan family and a member of the secret “Panel” influencing society.
Austin Smith: An NPS agent who pressures Dominic Long to inform on Leo Booker and the Organa commune.
Salvatore Costa: Nicolai Costa’s deceased father, whose nanobot technology plays a significant role in the NAU.
BRIEF COMPLETE SEASON SUMMARY:
In Season Two of The Beam, the story follows various characters navigating a complex, technologically advanced world. Aspiring singer Natasha Thomas, later known as Natasha Ryan, performs at the Layback Lounge, where she meets Isaac Ryan, beginning their tumultuous relationship. Decades later, their marriage has devolved into a power struggle as Natasha plans a controversial comeback concert to shift from Directorate to Enterprise.
Police Captain Dominic Long, struggling with addiction, is pressured by NPS Agent Austin Smith to inform on Organa commune leader Leo Booker. Dominic uncovers Booker’s past with the anti-technology terrorist group Gaia’s Hammer. Meanwhile, Kate Rigby (formerly Doc Stahl) smuggles moondust to the lunar space elevator, facing challenges and unwanted attention in her new female body.
Nicolai Costa grapples with revelations about his father’s nanobot technology and its role in the NAU. Micah Ryan offers Nicolai a place in his inner circle at Enterprise, while Nicolai and his ally Kai Dreyfus investigate Nicolai’s father’s death. Leah, an Organa hacker, uncovers the true identity of Crumb, a Beam architect named Stephen York, and the potential danger surrounding him.
As tensions rise, Natasha’s comeback concert is disrupted by masked Beamer terrorists, with her husband Isaac unexpectedly intervening. Dominic faces pressure to control riots and deal with the Organa community’s Lunis shortage. He forms an uneasy partnership with drug dealer Omar and smuggler Kate to secure the supply.
The story delves into the secret “Panel” of powerful individuals influencing society, with Isaac learning about their role in maintaining control. Kai, seeking entry into the elite Beau Monde, confronts Micah about her years of service and is tasked with a final, shocking mission.
Shadow (Sam Dial), a paranoid Beam page operator, attempts to rally hackers to disrupt the upcoming Shift and uncover the truth about Nicolai Costa. Leah investigates Costa’s connections and uncovers a corrupted meeting log discussing the elimination of Stephen York.
The Senate Shift ceremony takes an unexpected turn when new Directorate President Carter Vale promotes the controversial “Project Mindbender,” aiming to upload human minds into a digital realm. This revelation unsettles Micah Ryan and the Enterprise party.
In flashbacks, Nicolai’s harrowing journey to the NAU is revealed, as well as a secret Panel meeting discussing the implications of his arrival and the potential consequences of the AI-like nanobots’ attachment to him. The Panel grapples with the need to bring Stephen York back to assist with the stalled Mindbender project, despite a sleeper assassin targeting him.
As the season progresses, the interconnected storylines and character arcs unravel a complex web of power, secrets, and the struggle for control in a technologically advanced society on the brink of significant change.
DETAILED EPISODE-BY-EPISODE PLOT SUMMARY:
Episode 7
Chapter 1: In 2035, aspiring singer Natasha Thomas, who will later become Natasha Ryan, prepares nervously to perform at an exclusive, high-end venue called the Layback Lounge that caters to wealthy patrons who survived the chaos and destruction of the recent past relatively unscathed. Natasha sees this as her big chance to join the elite ranks. She struggles with self-doubt and body image issues, but musters her confidence. To her surprise, the famous visionary Clive Spooner and his companion Nicole Shaw visit her before the show to wish her luck as fans of her work. Bolstered, Natasha delivers a triumphant, heartfelt performance that moves the audience, including Spooner, to tears. After the show, Natasha meets Isaac Ryan, one of Spooner’s dinner companions. There is an instant spark between them as Isaac showers her with praise.
Chapter 2: Decades later, Natasha and Isaac argue bitterly about her plans to very publicly shift back to Enterprise in a way designed to humiliate Isaac and the Directorate party he represents. Natasha resents having shift to Directorate to support Isaac’s political ambitions and sees her provocative “comeback concert” as revenge and a way to reclaim her voice after years of creative suppression. Isaac pleads with her to reconsider, fearing the damage to his career and credibility, but Natasha is resolute that hurting and undermining Isaac is integral to re-establishing her artistic identity and integrity with her original fans. Their marriage has devolved into a power struggle.
Chapter 3: In a virtual space, Isaac meets with his brother Micah, the figurehead of the Enterprise party. Isaac wants Micah to somehow block Natasha’s concert plans, but Micah states he can’t and won’t interfere. Tensions run high as Micah dresses down Isaac for his political ineptitude, even accusing Micah of staging recent anti-Directorate riots to stir up controversy ahead of the Shift. Micah demonstrates his control by hacking the simulation to physically attack Isaac. He lectures that the political system is designed to give citizens an illusion of choice and identity, not reflect real differences. Micah agrees to talk to Natasha as a favor to Isaac, but without much confidence or commitment.
Chapter 4: Police Captain Dominic Long rides a mag train out to the Appalachian Mountains, headed to the off-grid Organa commune. Dominic reflects on his recent arrest for drug trafficking and subsequent deal with Agent Austin Smith of the NAU Protective Service to inform on Organa’s leader Leo Booker, who apparently has a secret criminal past with an anti-technology terrorist group called Gaia’s Hammer. Dominic suspects his Organa allies Crumb and Chrissy may have been the original reasons the NPS was snooping into his activities. Dominic also contemplates the betrayal of his moondust supplier Omar Jones and his own growing addiction. He arrives at Organa to find it unusually empty and unguarded, with no sign of Crumb at his usual post. Dominic also failed to reach his usual Organa contact, the hacker girl Leah, and grows increasingly uneasy.
Chapter 5: Kate Rigby (a total identity reassignment of the former Doc Stahl) nervously pilots a shuttle carrying contraband moondust to dock with the lunar space elevator. Kate is still adjusting to her new female body and the challenges of passing through the tight security screenings as a first-time smuggler. Her obvious attractiveness draws unwanted attention and harassment from some technicians in the moon depot. Kate navigates the leering crowds and begins her descent to the surface at a remote base, taking pains to act casual and unremarkable.
Chapter 6: In a flashback to 2055, 15-year-old Dominic argues with his iconoclastic teacher Mr. Booker (who will later become Leo Booker of the Organas) over a biology exam grade. Booker marked Dominic down for perfect recall of rote facts without deeper analysis, warning him not to coast on memorization and regurgitation. He laments how educational standards have plummeted, no longer challenging students to be free thinkers. Booker cryptically alludes to his own past trying to prevent society’s over-reliance on technology, but suggests he had to compromise his ideals to affect smaller changes. He implores Dominic not to blindly accept the “pleasant lie” that the Beam network will be humanity’s salvation, insisting that independent reasoning is more vital than ever.
Chapter 7: Nicolai Costa paces his apartment, the Beam connection disabled to ensure privacy, ruminating on the revelations from Micah about Nicolai’s unwitting role in bringing his late father Salvatore’s advanced nanobot technology to the NAU. Nicolai’s friend and ally Kai Dreyfus arrives and hides in a closet when Micah makes an unannounced visit. Micah probes Nicolai’s suspicious tech-free isolation and lays out the full history of how the company tracked the evolution of the bots Nicolai carried as he made his arduous journey from Europe to the NAU after the chaos. He offers Nicolai a place in his inner circle at Enterprise. Just as Nicolai and Kai reconnect to discuss Micah’s proposal and their plans to investigate Nicolai’s father’s death, Micah unexpectedly asks to use Nicolai’s bathroom, clearly aware that Nicolai is hiding something – or someone.
Chapter 8: At the Organa compound, leader Leo Booker continues his attempt to secretly wean himself off the addictive “moondust” drug Lunis, reflecting that the Organas’ dependence on it proves they are still beholden to outside society. Dominic arrives, surprised to see Leo in withdrawal. They argue over Leo’s hidden past leading the militant Gaia’s Hammer movement, which the NPS pressured Dominic to investigate. Leo insists he is a changed man living by his pacifist ideals. He takes a call from Leah, who is headed into the city to check on the mysteriously transformed vagrant Crumb, now revealed to be an influential Beam architect named Stephen York. She expresses trepidation about what she’ll uncover. Leo grows worried Crumb/York is in more danger than they realized.
Chapter 9: Leah visits the recuperating “Steve” York (formerly Crumb) at the strange school run by the entity called SerenityBlue. York has undergone a remarkable recovery and restoration but still lacks his full memories. He speculates his mind was cyphered rather than wiped so it could one day be unlocked by someone. Leah and York discuss the Beam’s digital–physical intersection, their ambiguous connection to SerenityBlue, and York’s desire to return to the Organa compound when he’s well enough, feeling it’s safer than the school in the heart of the system he helped create. To Leah’s shock, York ominously declares she won’t be able to keep him hidden because “they” have certainly already found him.
Episode 8
Chapter 1: In a flashback to Nicolai’s days crossing Europe during the purge, after the murder of his family, Nicolai is taking refuge with a violent rake squad for protection. The squad does not know who he is, other than just another member of the rabble. The squad wants to conduct a raid on a band of female marauders, but Nicolai won’t have it. He wakes in the night and kills several of the members, thwarting their plans. He then escapes barely, but is somehow saved when a long-dead car starts, and his long-dead GPS begins to work. There seems to be no reason for it, but it’s implied that the nanobots or The Beam are somehow assisting him in ways they wouldn’t assist others.
Chapter 2: After another fight with Isaac, Natasha again self-soothes by visiting her virtual lover Andre inside a Beau-Monde-only simulation called the Viazo.
Chapter 3: Sam Dial, an “off-the-grid” reporter, prepares a meager meal in his latest rundown apartment hideout. He double checks all his locks and security measures. Sam laments how reliant he used to be on The Beam organizing his life and mind, a dependency he’s struggled to overcome since unplugging. Rifling through his notes, Sam fixates on information he gave to author Sterling Gibson for the book “Plugged” that Gibson omitted, deeming it too controversial, centering around Isaac Ryan’s speechwriter. Sam sees a hidden truth there worth pursuing. He uses an anonymizing device to connect to The Beam and check his rogue news page “Shadow Report”. Posting an update for his readers, Sam alludes to the controversial information and a developing story around the upcoming Shift, careful not to say too much. After logging off, Sam notes only 3 “Beau Monde” news stories on the Beam, all upvoted solely by him and largely ignored. Suddenly, Sam smells something burning – in his distraction, he forgot about his soup on the hotplate, which has boiled over and filled the apartment with smoke.
Chapter 4: Kate (formerly Doc Stahl before total identity reassignment) nervously goes through a security inspection upon trying to leave the moon with a shipment of the drug Lunis hidden onboard her shuttle. The inspector, Levy, takes an uncomfortably flirtatious interest in Kate, making her very uneasy as the inspection gets more and more thorough. Sophisticated new scanning nanobots are being employed which jeopardize Kate’s smuggling compartments. Levy then reveals the sensors have detected something suspicious. Growing increasingly anxious, Kate curses her decision to get a female body, as Levy seems intent on exploiting the situation. He brings her to a detainment room.
Chapter 5: Singer Natasha Ryan meets with famous magician Jameson Gray in a virtual space to discuss plans for her big comeback concert as she shifts from Directorate back to Enterprise. Jameson advises Natasha to tone down the theatrics and make it a more intimate, fan-focused event to recapture her original appeal and prove herself again. But Natasha is insistent on making an over-the-top splash, wanting to make a huge statement and thoroughly humiliate her husband Isaac in the process. Jameson grows increasingly exasperated with Natasha’s refusal to listen to reason. He accuses her of self-sabotage and selling out in a different way if she takes this approach. Unwilling to help her “tie her own noose”, Jameson cuts the meeting short and logs out. Furious and near tears, Natasha calls out for her virtual lover Andre to join her, again, instead.
Chapter 6: Kai emerges from hiding in Nicolai’s closet after Micah departs his apartment. Very paranoid, she questions if Micah’s visit and revelations to Nicolai about his father were really a coincidence or if Micah is on to them. Nicolai doesn’t want to be consumed by worst-case scenarios and urges moving forward as if Micah suspects nothing. Discussing what to do next, Nicolai suggests Kai could seduce information out of Isaac about the company’s history and plans for them. Kai is insulted by the insinuation she’s a whore. She explains her escort work has always been on her own highly selective terms. Nicolai backpedals but maintains Kai’s skills would easily crack the desperate Isaac. Kai proposes Nicolai try talking to the elderly matriarch Rachel Ryan instead. They come to an agreement that Nicolai will approach Rachel while Kai works on Isaac, but strictly in a “professional” capacity. There’s an undercurrent of jealousy and tension over Kai and Nicolai’s undefined relationship.
Chapter 7: Nicolai visits Rachel Ryan in her lavish assisted living complex. Despite her extremely advanced age, Rachel is still sharp and somewhat formidable due to extensive body augmentations and replacements keeping her functioning. Rachel quickly sees through Nicolai’s pretense for the visit, demanding to know what he’s really after. Nicolai tells Rachel that Micah informed him about his father’s history with the Ryan family. Rachel claims that despite their pressure and shady connections, her father never had Salvatore killed because they needed his brilliant mind. She credits Nicolai for unwittingly training the nanobots to reach their full potential after his father’s death. When Nicolai admits Micah wants him to join Enterprise, Rachel asserts that she is still the one in true control of the company, not her sons. Nicolai tries to press Rachel for information about the Beau Monde, but she remains coy. She cryptically alludes to an ominous widening split between the haves and have-nots, and an unspecified dark fate that befell Noah West. Rattled, Nicolai feels he’s only glimpsed one corner of a much bigger picture.
Chapter 8: In the lunar depot interrogation room, Levy orders Kate to strip naked, claiming he must search her body for contraband. The nanobot scans came back ambiguously and he insists on a cavity search. Levy heavily implies that if Kate “cooperates”, he’ll let her go without reporting the Lunis. The threat of a decade or more in a maximum security Flat prison weighs heavily on Kate as she considers her limited options. Levy seems to take her hesitation as acquiescence and begins fondling her breasts as he unzips his own pants. But as he moves to assault her from behind, Kate’s self-defense instincts from her past life as Doc kick in. In one swift move, she elbows Levy in the face, driving his nasal bone fatally into his brain. He’s dead before he hits the floor. Kate looks down at his body in shock.
Episode 9
Chapter 1: In a flashback to when Kate was still Doc, Doc, purchases a luxurious apartment in Tuco Towers, reflecting on his rise from poverty and struggle to finally achieving wealth and success as a salesman. Omar tries to recruit Doc for a job, but he declines, wanting to stay legitimate and enjoy his new lifestyle. Doc and Omar once went to prison, but he swears that will never, ever happen again.
Chapter 2: Trapped after killing Inspector Levy, Kate believes she is trapped until a hidden protocol she knows nothing about (“Sector 7,” which somehow pertains to herself and to Doc before here) somehow saves her for a reason she can’t understand. She is able to use her Beam ID to erase records of her visit and hide her shuttle with the Lunis still inside. She manages to sneak onto a passenger transport and return to Earth.
Chapter 3: Kai breaks into Isaac and Natasha Ryan’s apartment while Natasha is immersed in a rig. Kai explores their advanced technology, feeling both envious and deserving of the same access. She vows to ascend to their elite “Beau Monde” status, believing she has earned it through her own hard work and sacrifices.
Chapter 4: Micah visits his elderly mother, Rachel, who is kept alive by nanobots. Rachel implies she knows more than Micah about various matters, including a recent visit from Nicolai Costa. She emphasizes the importance of Micah and Isaac’s roles, hinting at a larger plan in motion.
Chapter 5: Sam Dial is revealed to also be the hacker vigilante Shadow. Working on The Beam, he’s increasingly paranoid that Nicolai Costa and the upcoming Shift between parties are being manipulated by powerful, hidden forces. He reaches out to fellow hackers Integer7 (who intimidates everyone and is totally mysterious) and n33t (who is a friend) on the Null forums, hoping to enlist their help in disrupting Shift to uncover the truth.
Chapter 6: Kai meets with Nicolai to discuss their respective meetings with Isaac and Rachel. They share information and grow closer, both emotionally and physically. Kai expresses her frustration with being denied access to the elite world she believes she deserves.
Chapter 7: Isaac pleads with Aiden Purcell, a powerful member of the secret “Panel” that influences society even above the Beau Monde, to allow him to sabotage his wife Natasha’s pre-Shift benefit concert. Isaac sees this as retaliation for his brother Micah’s actions that hurt the Directorate party. Purcell reluctantly agrees, but warns of potential consequences.
Chapter 8: In a flashback to 2041, Stephen York investigates his partner Noah’s secretive “Panel” of powerful individuals, uncovering connections between them through social media analysis. York feels resentful and excluded, wondering about the group’s true nature and motives.
Episode 10
Chapter 1: In the present, an older York, now aware of his true identity, returns to the Organa compound with Leah. He reunites with Captain Dominic Long, struggling to reconcile his fractured memories of the past with the present reality.
Chapter 2: Leah obsessively checks her messages on a mobile device, frustrated by the lack of signal in the remote Organa compound. She eventually rides to Bontauk to access a FiGlass connection and engage in an encrypted chat with Shadow (whose true identity she doesn’t know) about Nicolai Costa and plans to disrupt Shift. Despite Shadow’s insistence, Leah remains wary of his intentions and the potential risks involved.
Chapter 3: Sam visits a hyperconnected Starbucks to access his confidential information on The Beam in a way he hopes can’t be traced to his home. He tries to rally his hacker community to investigate what seems to be a Beau Monde cover up and something fishy about Shift.
Chapter 4: Kate faces consequences from her boss Jimmy and his superior Omar for botching the Lunis smuggling operation and killing Inspector Levy. Omar interrogates Kate about her background and motives but ultimately seems willing to keep her employed if she can prove herself to be a valuable asset to their organization.
Chapter 5: The Organa community faces a severe Lunis shortage following Kate’s failed smuggling attempt. Worried about maintaining order among the increasingly agitated and withdrawing residents, Dominic considers stealing police evidence to help alleviate their suffering, crossing a moral line he had previously avoided.
Chapter 6: Sam, becoming increasingly paranoid, rents a private booth at a Starbucks to avoid surveillance. He sends messages to Integer7 and n33t, growing more anxious when they fail to respond promptly. Sam’s mental state deteriorates as he grapples with the potential consequences of his actions and the perceived threats surrounding him.
Chapter 7: Isaac reflects on his meeting with Aiden Purcell, learning about the true nature of the “Panel” and its influence on society. Purcell reveals that the divide between the Enterprise and Directorate parties is largely illusory, designed to keep the population focused on superficial differences while the elite maintain control. Isaac grapples with this revelation and his own role in the system.
Chapter 8: Dominic rushes back to District Zero to handle the fallout from a riot that left several school children injured. He faces pressure from his superiors and the public to control the situation, while also dealing with the Organa community’s Lunis shortage. Dominic feels increasingly trapped and conflicted, unsure of how to navigate the various crises.
Chapter 9: Kate, Jimmy, and Omar meet in a public mall to discuss Kate’s future with the organization. Omar subtly interrogates Kate, analyzing her responses and behavior to determine her loyalty and usefulness. Despite Kate’s attempts to defend her actions and prove her value, she senses that Omar may know more about her true identity than he lets on, leaving her future uncertain.
Episode 11
Chapter 1: In a flashback, we see Kai meet Micah Ryan for the first time. Micah offers Kai an exclusive contract, paying her one million credits per year, with the promise of eventual access to the secret upper class known as the Beau Monde. Initially hesitant, Kai agrees to a four-year contract after Micah reveals her first task: killing a man who has been causing difficulties for Ryan Industries.
Chapter 2: Twenty years later, Kai confronts Micah in his office, angry that she still hasn’t been granted access to the Beau Monde despite her years of service. She reveals her knowledge of the advanced technology Micah’s brother Isaac possesses. Micah explains that entry into the Beau Monde requires a special invitation beyond his control. When Kai threatens to leave, Micah presents her with one final task to learn more: killing his mother, Rachel Ryan.
Chapter 3: Dominic Long, chief of the DZPD, returns to the station to find his officers overwhelmed with riots, fires, protests, and deployment issues. Quark police have set up in the station to assist with coordination using their advanced AI. Frustrated, Dominic retreats to his office, where he finds a message from NPS agent Austin Smith thanking him for planting a surveillance bug in Leo’s house. Troubled by his actions, Dominic deletes the message.
Chapter 4: Shadow (Sam Dial), a paranoid Beam page operator, returns to his apartment after a meeting with n33t, still shaky from excessive hypercaffeine consumption. He composes a message to n33t, detailing hacker Integer7’s supposed plans for the upcoming Prime Statements and urging n33t to spread the word. Despite feeling emboldened, Sam worries about Integer7’s trustworthiness. When n33t expresses similar reservations, Sam decides to contact writer Sterling Gibson for help investigating Nicolai Costa.
Chapter 5: Natasha Ryan holds a charity concert to improve her image. Nervous about performing without Directorate support, Natasha embraces the opportunity to prove herself. During the performance, masked Beamer terrorists storm in, incapacitating the crowd. The leader rants about the falsehoods of Shift and accuses Natasha of being a pawn. As he threatens to detonate a stunner, his team mysteriously collapses. Police breach the room, containing the situation and knocking out everyone with gas. Before losing consciousness, Natasha sees her husband, Isaac, in riot gear.
Chapter 6: In the Organa village, Leo advises Leah to go into the city if she needs to use her mobile device, as tensions are high due to the impending moondust shortage. Leo reflects on his own detoxing efforts. Leah suggests consulting Crumb, whose real identity is Beam co-creator Stephen York, for advice on the shortage. Leo agrees and sends Leah to find Crumb/York.
Chapter 7: Dominic meets with drug dealer Omar, who introduces a new smuggler named Kate. Omar proposes a partnership between the three of them. Although low on moondust, Omar offers to provide Dominic with a small emergency stash if he agrees to meet them and consider the partnership. Weighing his desperation and duties, Dominic agrees to meet Omar and Kate at the mall in one hour.
Chapter 8: Shadow grows increasingly paranoid that n33t and Integer7 are playing him and may be NPS agents. He sends n33t information on Nicolai Costa, including a supposed “Beau Monde identifier” in Costa’s Beam ID. n33t replies, suggesting they focus on Integer7’s plan to hack the White House Wall during the Prime Statements. n33t rallies his followers to tune in and mentions that the “team” could use an intrepid reporter to investigate, sparking an idea in Sam’s mind.
Chapter 9: Leah reflects on her Lunis (moondust) use and how it allows her to access the true nature of The Beam. In an immersive web session, she explores Nicolai Costa’s Beam ID and records, uncovering details about his life and connections. She discovers that while Costa lacks a “Beau Monde identifier,” he is surrounded by people who possess them. Further investigation reveals that Rachel Ryan’s ID grants even higher access than the Beau Monde — a level of access called “Panel.”
Chapter 10: Omar and Kate wait for Dominic at the mall. Omar dismisses Jimmy, his enforcer, to have a private conversation with Kate. He implies knowledge of her past and true identity as Doc, suggesting a fresh start for their partnership. Omar emphasizes the importance of trust and self-interest in their upcoming collaboration with Dominic. When Jimmy returns with snacks, Omar and Kate engage in lighthearted banter, masking the gravity of their discussion.
Chapter 11: Leah uncovers records of a secret meeting between three unknown individuals discussing Stephen York, Noah West, and the need to eliminate York due to his knowledge of certain succession plans following West’s death. The meeting participants, designated as A, B, and C, debate the morality and logistics of killing York, with B proposing the use of a “sleeper assassin” to maintain distance and deniability. The meeting log is heavily corrupted, with a header labeling it as “Panel.” The participants discuss the religious implications of their actions, with some believing that West’s consciousness persists within The Beam. The chapter ends abruptly due to the corrupted nature of the recovered file.
Episode 12
Chapter 1: In a flashback to 2034 during the collapse, Nicolai Costa, having abandoned his car outside Paris, begins walking toward the English Channel Tunnel, carrying survival gear he scavenged in the city. Despite a harrowing journey through the pitch-black tunnel, dodging a massive fire and nearly suffocating when his air converter runs out of power, Nicolai miraculously survives and emerges on the English side, determined to reach a rumored airstrip and flee to America … all with suspicious help from technology, as if tech is looking out for him (which it is).
Chapter 2: In the present day, Nicolai is being interviewed by writer Sterling Gibson about his journey to the NAU. Nicolai recounts his near-death experience in the Channel Tunnel and how he eventually stowed away on a ship bound for America, possibly being the last European refugee allowed in before the borders closed in September 2034. Gibson probes for details that could provide insight into the development of nanobot and hovertech technology pioneered by Nicolai’s father, Salvatore Costa. Nicolai, not seeking personal recognition, declines to directly credit his father but allows Gibson to use the story as he sees fit. As the interview concludes, Gibson mentions that someone had contacted him, wanting to get in touch with Nicolai.
Chapter 3: York discusses the Lunis shortage with Leo, explaining the neurological dangers of abrupt withdrawal. Upon learning that the entire village is on the verge of running out, York suggests focusing on ways to manage the impending panic rather than attempting to replenish the supply. Leo formulates a plan and asks if York has heard of an organization called “Gaia’s Hammer.”
Chapter 4: Dominic meets with drug dealer Omar and his new associate, Kate, to discuss the dwindling Lunis supply and a potential partnership. Omar proposes a plan to secure their respective interests by allying with an influential figure named Craig Braemon, who had once hinted at the existence of a secret upper class known as the “Beau Monde.” Despite initial reluctance, Kate and Dominic recognize the potential benefits of working together. Desperate to maintain the Lunis supply for the Organa community, Dominic agrees to hear more about Omar’s plan involving Braemon.
Chapter 5: The chapter opens with Micah Ryan, a member of the Enterprise political party, attending the Senate Shift ceremony where the ruling party is decided for the next 6 years. Micah and the Enterprise cabinet watch as the charismatic new Directorate President, Carter Vale, gives an unorthodox Prime Statement speech. Instead of promoting his own party as expected, Vale questions why the ceremony focuses so much on division between the parties when the union should be celebrating its unity as the last remaining world power. He pivots to discussing the abandoned “Project Mindbender” about uploading human minds into a digital realm. Vale suggests Mindbender could eventually allow humans to transcend physical needs and limitations by becoming digital beings living in unity. This shocks Micah and the others, as Mindbender is a highly classified project at the secret Xenia facility. Vale seems to imply he wants to make Mindbender freely available to all, especially Directorate members who receive social services, uniting everyone digitally. His unconventional speech sparks chaos in the room as security sweeper-bots intervene. Micah is left deeply unsettled by Vale’s apparent agenda for Mindbender.
Chapter 6: Sam (Shadow) anxiously checks the Null community’s reaction after the anticipated disruption at the Prime Statements fails to materialize. Faced with threats and a 24-hour ultimatum to prove his legitimacy, Sam desperately seeks a way to regain Null’s favor. He realizes that his shattered handheld may contain a missed call from Sterling Gibson, potentially regarding contact with Nicolai Costa. Sam sees this as an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of the Null community.
Chapter 7: A flashback to September 16, 2034, depicts a meeting of a secret group called “Panel,” including members Noah West, Clive Spooner, Rachel Ryan, and Eli Oldman. They discuss the concerning implications of Nicolai Costa’s arrival in the NAU, carrying advanced nanobots that have likely already spread into the Beam network. Noah expresses fear over the potential consequences if the AI-like nanobots have developed an emotional attachment to Costa. When Rachel suggests killing Costa to prevent complications, Noah argues against it, warning of the unpredictable and potentially catastrophic reaction from the intelligent nanobots. Instead, he insists they must protect Costa at all costs. The group reluctantly agrees to closely monitor the situation.
Chapter 8:Isaac Ryan, in the present day, enters a virtual recreation of the night he first met his wife, Natasha, at the Layback Lounge in 2035. In the immersive simulation, Isaac and Natasha appear as their younger selves, reminiscing about the early days of their relationship. They share a tender moment, both apologizing for the hurt and emotional distance that has grown between them over the years. Dancing together, they silently agree to cherish this happy memory rather than dwell on their current struggles.
Chapter 9: Leo addresses the Organa village about their dwindling Lunis supply, attempting to rally the community by reminding them of their founding principles and encouraging them to overcome their addiction. However, panic sets in among the crowd, leading to a hostile confrontation. As a fight breaks out and the situation spirals out of control, Leo is attacked. Just as the chaos reaches a boiling point, NPS agents, led by Agent Austin Smith, storm the meeting hall and place Leo and the entire Organa group under arrest for conspiracy to commit treason.
Chapter 10: In a virtual Panel meeting, Rachel Ryan discusses various issues with the group, including her advanced age, the upcoming vacancy in the Panel, and the unexpected declaration of support for Project Mindbender by Directorate President Carter Vale. The Panel agrees that Vale’s actions threaten their long-term plans and that he must be eliminated. They decide to let the upcoming Shift play out without interference, focusing instead on their ultimate goals. Attention turns to the need to bring Stephen York back into the fold to assist with the stalled Mindbender project. Despite the Panel’s previous decision to lock away York’s mind using Quark’s firewalling technology, Rachel argues that his expertise is now essential to overcome the roadblocks holding back Mindbender’s progress. However, Rachel reveals a critical piece of information: a mnemonic sleeper assassin is already targeting York, set to strike as soon as he logs into the open Beam network. She explains that before the Panel’s decision to firewall York’s mind, a splinter group had set an unstoppable plan into motion. With York’s ID now exposed, the assassination plot is active once again. The Panel realizes they must act quickly to bring York into Quark’s protection before he accesses the Beam and triggers the sleeper agent. As they discuss the urgency of the situation, it becomes clear that Noah West, despite his apparent death, had foreseen this eventuality and provided the Panel with the firewalling technology as a contingency plan. The chapter ends with a sense of urgency as the Panel grasps the gravity of the situation: if York connects to the open Beam network, the assassin will strike, and the Panel’s best hope for completing the Mindbender project will be lost forever.
Next steps
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>> Read summaries like this for Season One or Season Three <<