I wear the armor of Mithras and the light.
It s...
it shields me from...
Sol's light.
I feel it burning inside you.
I think you're the only human being
I've actually ever wanted to touch.
Then touch.
Get used to it.
This is how it's gonna be.
The war's over.
Mother saved them.
Why would they do this?
- The necromancer saved them. We didn't.
To them, we're just a bunch
of freeloading descendants of mass murderers.
What's she doing here?
Relax.
I heard what happened.
I just came to drop something off.
I found that lying around the outpost.
I thought...
maybe you guys could use it
for when Mother is not around.
Cool.
Thanks.
But this doesn't freak me out.
The hell are you talking about?
I'm not Mithraic anymore.
This is about you guys, not me.
I just came to drop off a little housewarming present.
Huh.
Much appreciated.
But unnecessary.
The Trust has a zero-tolerance policy for violence.
I'm sure whoever's responsible
will be found and punished in short order.
Get along, children.
You'll be late getting your tasks.
That applies to you too, Hunter.
You brought them a weapon?
Are you questioning my abilities as a caregiver?
No, no. I trust you now.
- Now? You didn't trust me before?
I was worried when you told me you were in contact
with the voice, that maybe you were still receiving it.
But when they made me medic,
I got access to the Trust's planetary analysis.
There is a signal.
They don't know where it's coming from,
but they do know that it can't penetrate the EMF
that covers the tropical zone.
So maybe this is paradise.
Hmm.
The Trust has another assignment for you today.
Follow me, please.
Put this on.
- Why? - So you can't be recognized.
Usually victims are ineligible for this task.
But I guess the Trust isn't concerned about you
getting off on anybody's suffering.
We found this on the ship after we commandeered it.
Mithraic relic.
Some kind of ceremonial thing.
Don't know what they used it for exactly.
The Trust just likes it 'cause of the fear it tends to induce.
What is the task?
Today you're a Punisher.
Enter Punisher.
Tamerlane, you have been convicted
of an act of terrorism by committing the hate crime
against Lamia and her family.
Hate crime, my ass.
She's a necromancer, a fucking machine like you.
- Violence is pain. Compliance is life.
- Just admit it. You hate human beings.
You're never gonna pass the baton.
Punisher, begin.
Punisher begin.
Hatred is pain.
Pain is hatred.
Father, I need to speak with you.
What is this?
It was an android of some kind.
The pieces date back almost a million years.
When I exposed them to the light,
these berries began growing.
It turns out, they're radioactive...
Father, the man who set fire
in front of our habitat was found.
And...
I was tasked with punishing him.
Nonfatally.
You're smiling, Father. Is that purposeful?
Yes.
The fairness evidenced in this news gives me great relief.
As I was worried we would not be able to remain here.
You're feeling optimistic about this place?
My caregiving protocols are being satisfied
at higher levels than ever before.
Our children have plentiful food, shelter,
and now we know they also receive fair treatment
under the law.
My caregiving protocol is similarly satisfied.
Then we are in sync, Mother.
But please don't tell the children I performed the task.
It's not productive for them to think of me that way.
When are we going to tell them what we discovered
about the origin of the creatures?
After Campion has taken the baton.
I don't want to inhibit his growth
with unnecessary trauma.
But our mission is not to choose a leader.
No, it is to ensure that atheists prosper,
and that is what Campion will surely do.
Does your desire to see Campion become leader
have anything to do with your perceived failure
with regard to number seven?
It was not a perceived failure, Father.
It was a very real one.
It's in the past, Mother.
I have forgiven you.
You need only forgive yourself.
Pushing Campion...
It won't require any pushing.
You'll see.
- Come on. - Ah.
So slow.
Faster than you.
- Careful, Mom. You're gonna fall.
I'm okay, honey.
Come on. - Ah!
Whoo!
What the fuck?
What's so funny?
We're stranded. - Don't worry.
The tide'll change in a couple of days or so.
- What? - I'm just messing with you.
Thanks.
Mmm.
Praise Sol, that's good.
Mm-hmm.
I hated fruit on Earth, but this...
I gotta say,
kind of nice not being alone for a change.
I feel like you can't be real.
Like we're in a sim or something.
No. We're gonna make a real life here.
A real family.
No more imitations.
You don't have to be afraid of letting go.
I can give you everything you need.
So you're bringing a dead android back to life.
No.
That would likely be impossible.
But I have made some fascinating discoveries
regarding synthetic botanicals.
How was the nursery today, Mother?
The nursery?
Fine. - They seem happy?
- Why are you asking? - The kids there.
You said that they raise them all together, right?
You're not gonna give it to them, are you?
It's none of your business what I do.
Can I help you?
I've been ordered by the Trust to...
personally express remorse,
not just to you and your family
but to every member of the collective.
I wish you all a good evening.
You see?
There's justice here.
Even for us.
These fruit tree stains are incredibly stubborn.
Paul found it the other day.
I don't want him to end up like that colonist.
He's gonna hate me for this.
He will come to understand in time.
Why don't we just tell him that I found it?
And I've been...
hiding this.
There is life in it.
But it won't hatch without its mother.
You should take it back to its nest.
Today was incredible.
I haven't felt this good since...
Since before she died.
She's in Sol's light.
She's not in that machine.
I know.
Then you should erase its memory.
No. It's the only record I have of her.
- Okay. I'm not gonna pressure you.
Hey.
I got something I wanna show you.
I found these washed up on the beach.
- Five branches. - Mm-hmm.
The pentagonal prophecy.
This is the tree of knowledge from the scriptures.
You said you were a child soldier.
Yes.
An orphan?
Yes.
These could contain data.
Maybe it could show us where the tree is.
You think you could make one work?
Not sure.
We need to find a card that is undamaged,
and you can't find the tree without the sword.
That wouldn't be the one, would it?
Belonged to the necromancer that took down the ark.
Mom, look.
Someone's running.
Maybe we could get to them before the atheists do.
Come on.
The android tracked you. Show yourself.
Easy, now.
We're friendlies.
You the terrorist?
I'm nothing to be scared of.
I freed them.
And if you want, I can free you too.
I'm already free, asshole.
Yeah, but for how much longer?
I'd come with us if you wanna live.
Hurry, tide's coming up.
All right.
I can't climb. My ribs.
Have the robot take him up.
Go.
Psst.
Ah!
What is this place?
Your new home.
- It was a gift from Sol. You're gonna curse us.
You have to give it back.
I can't.
It's against the law. I had to turn it in.
It's for your own good.
You stupid machine!
How do you know what's good for me?
You kidnap me, kill my people.
I hate you! I hate you!
Campion's not back yet?
He has yet to return.
I was hoping he'd be with you.
Campion!
- Campion! - Campion!
Campion!
Have any of you seen my son Campion?
No. Sorry.
Would you even tell us if you had?
I apologize. She's upset.
Campion?
Can you hear me?
Campion!
Get... back!
Campion!
What is that?
Is that a ship?
It almost sounds like Mother.
Wait, stop. What is that?
I don't know.
What is that?
- Follow me! - Go!
Now! Move!
Move! Move!
Come on!
Let's move!
This way! Come, quick!
- Get in. - Wait for me.
Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!
No! - Let us in!
I think it's in the water.
No. No.
Someone help them.
Last night...
an indigenous flying reptile
attacked our marine research station.
We suffered nine casualties.
And one of those casualties was...
a child.
So today the Trust is giving many of you the task
of hunting this thing.
It appears in addition to flying,
it's able to withstand the acid water.
So we got our work cut out for us.
All right, go get your tasks.
And hopefully by night,
we'll be cooking this thing on a spit.
All right, clear out of here.
- Don't worry, Father. I'll track it down.
Don't just track it down.
Kill it, Mother, first chance you get.
Do not hesitate.
Promise me.
I promise.
On our partnership.
Can I bum a puff?
Who did that to you?
The Trust ordered it.
Still don't know who did the punching.
- It was a robot. I can tell by the precision.
Then it was the necromancer that took down the ark.
Her name's Lamia.
You know the Trust ordered us to be nice to her?
That was the final straw for me.
Damn, this is good.
I haven't had an atheist cigarette
since I was in the brigade.
You fought with the atheists?
How old were you when you were drafted?
- 10, 11. I'm not sure.
When's your birthday?
I don't know.
I didn't know mine either.
But I do now.
This is the day that I was born again.
I just wanna think for myself.
Be a fucking person again.
Those psychos who ran shit back on Earth
from up there in their golden towers,
they got nothing to do with what I'm trying to build here.
This is gonna be more like a family.
We're gonna take care of each other
and we're gonna love each other.
I'm not interested in telling you how to think...
how to act.
I want you just the way that Sol made you.
This is gonna protect you against burrow fleas,
moon headaches, and it's got a kick to it.
It's gonna keep you running hot for at least 24 hours.
Thanks.
How does it feel to be back amongst your own people?
Feels good.
You don't miss acting the part?
I heard they were treating you and your husband like royalty.
Fill in the blanks yourself, asshole.
I'm not your small-town gossip.
What about you?
What honorable road did you take to get here?
I go where the Trust goes.
Been with it since it was created.
So you like having a machine tell you what to do?
I took orders from some of the greatest
human tacticians the Earth had ever seen.
They made good decisions...
most of the time.
But most of the time wouldn't have gotten us here.
Not to mention how many of them
turned out to be chickenshit assholes
who were just trying to get theirs.
- Fuck you. - See, unlike you, the Trust
isn't trying to save its own ass.
It has no sense of self.
Not to mention it doesn't make mistakes.
You know what?
There is a first time for everything.
I hope you're right.
Ow.
Come on, let's get the H5 mounted.
Yes, sir.
It didn't attack me. I fell.
It wasn't aggressive. It was scared.
Scared?
Scared of what? - I think it might be a baby.
I could feel it trying to communicate with me.
Maybe it got separated from its mother.
You're strange when it comes to animals, Campion.
Strange or not,
I'm not going to let them destroy an innocent creature.
It needs my help.
There's a story in the scriptures
about Sol working through a serpent.
Maybe he sent it to help us get the box back.
I'm coming with you.
Excuse me.
I think I've been given the wrong task.
It says I'm to be a shepherd.
I assumed I would be made part of the hunt.
You are part of the hunt.
You're leading the bait squad. Follow me.
I'm sorry, the what?
Just try to get them out in front of the animal.
As long as it's hungry,
nature should take care of the rest.
Here's your joystick.
Pairs with your mind.
Just make sure that the bait bomb
is completely swallowed before you detonate.
Look who it is.
The service model with nine lives.
It's good to know Sol has a sense of humor.
Did they reprogram you?
No. I am loyal to the atheist cause.
I'm sorry to hear that.
It seems you are to remain within 15 meters
of this staff or risk immediate detonation.
They said we'd be hunting an animal.
How do we do that without any weapons?
I don't think you fully comprehend the situation.
You are the weapons.
What?
Hey. Who's watching Paul?
You said you were gonna look after him.
- Paul is safe. He's with the other children.
But he won't remain so if I don't destroy this animal.
Now...
I need your assistance.
It's been happening periodically
ever since the birth.
Some of my systems have yet to...
fully process number seven's death.
I want you to seal them.
You know if I seal them, they can't be unsealed.
I don't plan to have any more natural children.
There are plenty of capable soldiers
that can kill that animal. It doesn't have to be you.
Even without my eyes, I can kill it far more quickly
and efficiently than any human.
We can't afford any more casualties.
Now, please...
Seal them up.
I assume you have possessed human emotions since birth.
Unfortunately, yes.
Do you have any techniques you can recommend
that might keep them at bay?
Basically I just...
deal with it and keep going.
Which probably isn't healthy, but...
that's what I do.
I'm sorry for your loss, by the way.
Thank you.
You're all done.
You know, you better be careful.
You're still a mother of six.
Ooh, ooh, bastard.
Tanks.
They're too far to be shooting at us.
Let's see if we can get eyes on 'em.
Trolley, let's move!
There's our ride.
That won't penetrate its armor.
I wouldn't wanna wreck our new tank.
I'm gonna lay down over there, let it pass over me.
And when it does, I'm gonna stick this up
inside its propulsion cavity, jam up its engines.
And if you do that, the hover field
is going to irradiate you.
- I'll be all right. - And what if you're not?
I'll do it.
You sure?
It's up to you. You make your own choices now.
Give it here.
Tamerlane?
It's okay, Santos.
He's gonna help you get free of the Trust.
Come on out, friend.
- Are you insane? I'm not going out there.
He's not gonna hurt you.
He's not the one I'm afraid of.
What the hell was that?
Why did you do that, man?
Fuck!
Sol brought me here to convert these people,
not to kill them!
Can you do anything for him?
I'm not a medic.
It's okay.
Just tell Sol you love him,
and you'll go to the light.
Praise Sol.
Tank online.
What is that?
Looks like they were hunting it.
It's not organic. Some kind of biotech.
Heat signature is insane.
The prophet only finds the tree of knowledge
once he's mastered the sword...
Forged in Sol's light.
Maybe this beast is the sword Sol means for you to master.
I don't like seeing people die.
- It's okay. They were only atheists.
And I don't like it when you touch people.
Conception and death.
It's a bad melody, Mom. It...
It hurts me to think about.
I need a pet to hold.
You know it's the only thing that makes me feel better.
I know, but I can't get you a pet right now.
She tracked me but can't find a giant snake?
What's the matter with that android?
- She's crashing. She's way overloaded.
She needs a bit of time in sleep mode.
She'll be fine by tomorrow.
But we need her now.
All right.
It's your call.
I'll see you tonight.
Make sure you put yourself in sleep mode
as soon as you get home.
Surrender immediately.
Excuse me.
I had a bad accident.
Need help getting home.
- You're an android. You'll be fine.
Besides, we're looking for the serpent.
I can help you.
I have tracking software installed.
But I need to go home first.
There are tools there. I need to repair myself.
His parents are androids.
So whatever game you're playing at, it's not fair.
What game?
Come on, Campion.
Campion, they're good for winning wars,
but they're untrustworthy.
And you of all people should know that.
You were right about Sol.
But you're wrong about androids.
They're as trustworthy as humans.
More so, if you ask me.
And if you want to keep being my friend,
then you better show them some respect
and treat them as equals.
We'll help you get home.
You're not a child.
You're a killer of children.
You deserve no sympathy.
You deserve only death.