The opening scene takes place in a park in Moscow. Augur, subtly disguised, takes a seat on a park bench beside a man of obviously Russian nationality and asks him if he has the merchandise. The Russian, a scientist named Smird Yatov, disregards Augur's question and talks about once he was the elite of the human species, a Nobel Prize winning scientist and is now reduced to perfecting Taelon virtual glass technology. Augur asks Yatov once more if he has the virtual glass matrix data. Yatov continues to talk aloud, lamenting the fact that no one needs scientists now because the aliens simply give everything to humanity. He speaks of the "journey of discovery which makes us human" and bemoans the fact that the journey of discovery has been taken away from humanity.

Unknown to Augur and Yatov, their meeting is being watched and filmed. Augur passes a book to Yatov which contains a concealed compartment. Without warning they find themselves surrounded by armed security agents. Augur uses his wrist watch to send a signal to Holo Lili and his computer systems at home in the States. Then he and Yatov are arrested and taken away to prison.

At Augur's home base, Holo Lili, who has undergone yet another transformation and is dressed in a demure business suit and pearls (à la Miss Moneypenny from the James Bond movies), has a very worried look .

Augur has been placed in a Russian prison cell and is thinking about how to extract himself from this unpleasant situation. He tells Yatov, who is in the adjoining cell, how he once escaped an execution in Afghanistan by bribing the firing squad to use blank shells, then having his "executed" body shipped home in a comfortable casket. The Russian tells Augur that he won't be so lucky this time, because in Russia the sentence for high treason is death by hanging. Augur doesn't understand why he and the Russian are being charged with high treason since all they have done is steal some technological data, nothing to warrant such a serious charge. The Russian scientist tells Augur that in Russia the Taelons are considered a national treasure and tells him that he picked the wrong country.

Augur's day in court arrives and he comes before a dour female judge who tells him without preamble that the court finds him guilty of crimes against the state. He attempts to bribe her and she does not respond, but gives him a stony look and sentences him to death by hanging, the sentence to be carried out at sunrise the next day.

Liam is in his candle lit apartment practising martial arts when he is contacted by Holo Lili. He is surprised at her demure and businesslike appearance and comments that it looks as though Augur is exploring his more tame holographic fantasies these days. Holo Lili smiles and tells him that she has been digitally emancipated, having been reprogrammed by the real Captain Marquette. Liam grins and says that Augur is in for a little surprise. Holo Lili becomes serious and tells Liam gravely that a business venture in which Augur was involved has gone desperately awry and that he has urgent need of Liam's help, in Russia. Liam is dismayed and says: "In Russia?"

In his cell in Russia, Augur is visited by a tall mysterious man who offers him a way out of his predicament. Augur has only two choices, death or cooperation. Always the realist, Augur chooses cooperation. The man, whose name is Lazarus remarks that now "they" will see if Augur has what they are looking for.

Augur is escorted by Lazarus to an ID portal, and is told by him on the way to it that escape is impossible. Augur replies that he wouldn't dream of it; he would do anything to avoid hanging. They step into the portal and are transported to the Taelon mother ship.

Liam goes to Da'an to find out the details of Augur's capture, arrest and imprisonment. Da'an explains to Liam that Augur has been rescued, and that he has been told he will be released "if he survives". Liam inquires what it is that Augur must survive.

On the mother ship, Augur is brought to a chamber where he encounters his friend Yatov, who has "volunteered" for the project. A monitor in the chamber broadcasts a speech from Zo'or welcoming the two new volunteers to the project. Augur makes a rude comment on Zo'or's use of the word "volunteers". Zo'or tells them that the rumours they have heard are true and that an alien race called the Jaridians is preparing to attack earth. The project for which Augur and Yatov have volunteered, "Project Earth Defence", is a Taelon plan to prevent humanity from being wiped out by the Jaridians. The goal of the project is to bio-engineer human volunteers into warriors with the ability to defeat the Jaridians. Augur makes a comment to the effect that the Taelons are just using humanity to cover their own posteriors, and that he and Yatov are nothing more than lab rats. Yatov presses a hand to his chest in pain and Augur inquires if he is all right. Yatov grimaces and reassures Augur that he is fine, dismissing the pains as the result of a life lived in excess. Augur calls out to the vacant monitor that he and Yatov are not running any mazes.

On earth Liam and Da'an are talking about how they can rescue Augur. Liam tells Da'an that Augur had no choice but to volunteer for the project and that they have to get him out of it. Da'an understands Liam's anguish but reminds him that Augur was sentenced to death by a human court, and that the existence of Zo'or's project saved his life. Liam retorts that there was absolutely no justification for sentencing Augur to death for his offence. Da'an explains gently to him that the Russian courts are being pressured by Zo'or to institute extreme penalties for all crimes against Taelons. Liam is distraught and only wants to know how they can make contact Augur and rescue him. Da'an has thought about it and tells Liam that as a member of the Synod, he has the right to inspect all Taelon facilities, projects and experiments.

Lili and Sandoval are having lunch together at an outdoor bistro. Lili notices that Sandoval is wearing his wedding ring and mentions it, asking him casually if it was a gift or a family heirloom. Sandoval answers her question with a withering look. Lili makes a speedy exit on the pretext of getting the cheque for their lunch.

Maiya is taking a walk nearby and sees Sandoval sitting alone. She assumes that Sandoval is her husband Jason and addresses him by that name, asking how he managed to survive and cross over into this dimension.

Sandoval is totally confused by Maiya's words and tries to tell her that she has mistaken him for someone else. She grabs his hand to tell him there is no need for him to be sorry and suddenly realizes that he has a skrill. She accuses him of betraying their people. Sandoval repeats his earlier words, that she has mistaken him for someone else. Maiya departs abruptly and as she does so, Lili returns and asks who she is. Sandoval replies that he doesn't know, but that he will, and he follows Maiya.

Augur awakens, sees Lazarus looking down at him, and makes a lewd comment about Lazarus's reasons for being there. Lazarus orders Augur to get up and follow him.

Sandoval finds Maiya on the bridge and asks her if she is all right. She tells him to leave him to leave her alone, that he reminded her of someone she knew a lifetime ago. He asks her if she would like to take a walk with him and she agrees.

From her vantage point close by, Lili watches them, a perturbed look on her face.

Lazarus tells Augur about the procedure about to be carried out, how he will be receiving Taelon implants and that his mind will be reprogrammed, so that he can confront the Jaridians without losing his mind. Augur asks Lazarus if that is what was done to him, but Lazarus doesn't answer. The procedure begins.

Da'an and Liam arrive at the mother ship and meet Zo'or, who asks Da'an why he has chosen to inspect this project, as he has never before expressed a wish to do so. Da'an tells Zo'or that it is his intention to inspect all of Zo'or's projects and to bring his findings to the Synod so that he can argue for the termination of them.

Zo'or takes them on a tour of his pet project and explains it to them. Initially the volunteers undergo aggressive gene therapy to stimulate the limbic centres of the brain. Liam asks Zo'or if the therapy is designed to arouse their buried killer instinct. Zo'or reply is condescending. He tells Liam that humanity has barely crawled out of the primordial ooze, insinuating that humanity are savages who have not evolved very far from their beginnings. Liam asks him if he is taking innocent men and women and making them into murderers. Zo'or retorts that the project takes only the outcasts of human society and offers both them and Earth hope.

Da'an is standing with his back to the conversation between Liam and Zo'or, gazing in horror at a "blue tank" where a human male is in suspended animation. He is remembering Boone's sojourn in the blue tank and his death at the hands of Zo'or. Da'an turns to face Zo'or and in ringing tones says, "Hope? This is a chamber of horrors. A disgrace to all we are." Zo'or's reply is that the disgrace will be when Earth falls to the Jaridian invaders, and the Taelons did nothing to stop it. The disgrace will be the extinction of the Taelon race.

Meanwhile Lazarus is telling Augur that his initial testing is completed and that they will begin preliminary implantation. He rather dryly tells Augur not to worry, that he will still be essentially human. Augur feigns impatience in an effort to avoid the implant procedure and tells Lazarus that he is ready to fight now. Lazarus replies that Augur must receive the implants first. Augur inquires if Lazarus has the implants and Lazarus admits that he does, but says that he is at an advanced stage of his programming and can control his aggression. He tells Augur that he was Zo'or's first success, and is his prize specimen. As Lazarus speaks, his expression glazes over; he begins to shake uncontrollably and has difficulty maintaining his composure. He begins to experience flashbacks, a man (who resembles Boone) and a woman in profile, an unidentified Taelon, Zo'or. Lazarus is overcome by what he is experiencing. He is brought back to the moment by Augur who asks what is wrong with him and tells him to get on with it..

Maiya and Sandoval are taking a stroll along a bridge and she tells him that she is unable to understand this world. People here live as if their future is assured, and as if tomorrow is a certainty. Sandoval tells her that they are living in a golden age, and that the arrival of the Taelons means that each day will be better than the last. Maiya tells him that anyone who trusts the Taelons deserves to die. Sandoval responds with a rhetorical question about Maiya not trusting the Taelons and asks her how it is that he feels he knows her, as if they've met somewhere, in another time and another life. Maiya tells him that the universe is vast beyond imagining, but that perhaps nature works from familiar templates. It is possible that they have met in another life, maybe another world. Sandoval reaches up to touch her face gently and she leans against him, whispering her husband's name in anguish. She looks down and sees his skrill, and repulsed by it, runs away.

Sandoval is standing on the bridge alone, looking after Maiya, when Lili approaches and makes a quip about him needing a new pick up line. Sandoval rather tersely asks her what she is doing there and she tells him that they have both been summoned to the mother ship. As Lili turns to go, Sandoval orders her to locate the woman he was talking to. She protests and he hands her a bag containing a strand of Maiya's hair and tells her to call him when she obtains a positive ID from the sample. Then he walks away.

On the mother ship, Lazarus explains to Augur that the implants will increase his motor coordination, and stimulate the limbic centre of his brain. The first (and painful) procedure is carried out and an implant is placed on Augur's chest.

In another chamber Da'an and Zo'or are still arguing. Zo'or has told Da'an that the success rate of the program is five out of every twenty specimens. Da'an is horrified and asks how Zo'or can call that an acceptable survival rate. Zo'or replies that the only survival rate which interests him is the Taelon survival rate. Da'an attempts to persuade Zo'or that Taelon survival will be assured by elevating humans, not by causing them to regress into hate filled monsters. He describes his own regression into the Atavus state and says that nothing good can come from inflicting the same fate on humanity. Zo'or sarcastically tells Da'an that his point is well taken and that perhaps the wiser path would be to elevate humanity to a spiritual level where a joining with the Taelons is feasible. Da'an says hopefully that Zo'or's willingness to change is encouraging. Zo'or's final words are that he has one concern, who will protect the Taelons from the Jaridians when humanity have been elevated. Da'an is silent.

Lili is angered by Maiya's behaviour with Sandoval and pulls her into the shadows to ask her what she thinks she was doing with Sandoval. Maiya tells Lili that she acted impulsively, and it won't happen again. The exasperated (and worried) Lili tells her it's a little late for that, and they now have a huge problem. Maiya says she couldn't help it; Sandoval looks and even feels like Jason. Lili says that she understands, but that she cannot let Maiya jeopardize the Resistance. Maiya replies that she acted on human emotion and inquires whether Lili even understands what that is anymore?" Lili is angered by her words and tells her that she chose to leave her world, that she knew that Sandoval was a parallel version of her husband in this dimension and that there is no excuse for her behaviour. Maiya says Sandoval will never find out anything about her. Lili holds up the bag containing the sample of Maiya's hair given to her by Sandoval and asks if there was such a thing as DNA codes in Maiya's world. She tells Maiya that Sandoval will never give up until he finds her.

On the mother ship, Liam is looking around the project chambers and encounters Lazarus who says he had better have a good reason for being there. Liam replies that he is Da'an's new protector and shows Lazarus his ID badge. Lazarus fixes Liam with a penetrating look and says sarcastically that he imagines Da'an would have appointed a new protector by this time. Liam inquires if Lazarus was involved in the search for a replacement. Lazarus says that he was not, but that he is acquainted with Da'an and his former protector. Liam inquires about Augur who has awakened spoiling for a fight. Lazarus tells Liam that the implantation procedure has been completed and that there is to be a final test, to see if Augur is a success.

On earth, Lili and Maiya are in Resistance HQ, working on a false identity for Maiya. Lili is doubtful that an identity can be fabricated which will stand up to Sandoval's scrutiny. She wishes Augur was there and says she does not have a devious mind like his. Maiya remarks that they will have to devise another tactic and makes a disparaging comment about Lili calling herself a soldier. Lili retorts that an intelligent soldier never would have put them in such a position to begin with As they are talking, they both realize that if everyone in Maiya's world has a counterpart in this dimension, then Maiya herself must have one here, and that it maybe the answer to their predicament. They search the computer databases and discover that she does have a counterpart on earth.

On the mother ship Augur is about to undergo a test consisting of unarmed combat with another recently implanted "volunteer" to check the success of his implantation. Da'an, Zo'or, Liam, Sandoval and Lazarus are present. The other implant enters and as Lazarus gives the signal for the combat to begin, both Augur and his opponent perceive themselves as enemy Jaridians. There is a vicious struggle, each combatant thinking he is contending with a Jaridian. The horrified Liam remarks that these men are so enraged they can't think straight. Lazarus is standing nearby and is staring transfixed at Liam. Da'an asks Lazarus if he still believes the project is necessary, having completed the program himself. Lazarus says that he does. Suddenly Lazarus begins to experience flashbacks again. Da'an is aware that Lazarus is in anguish and that something is very wrong with him. Zo'or has seen enough and orders that the fight be ended, but Lazarus is still in the throes of his flashbacks and is slow to respond. When he does, Augur really sees the man he was fighting and steps back surprised. The second man laughs and in Yatov's voice tells Augur that the performance was not bad for a vodka swilling old man. He is exhilarated by his new physical strength and his ability to kill. Suddenly he collapses in pain; Lazarus examines him and says that his body is rejecting the implant.

A few minutes later, Lazarus is in distress and is alone in the examination room, handling one of the implantation devices. He is experiencing more flashbacks. Da'an enters the room and goes immediately to Lazarus, asking him directly if his implants are failing. The agonized Lazarus asks Da'an who he is. When Da'an asks him if he doesn't know, Lazarus replies in the negative and says that he only knows they have a connection. Lazarus and Da'an join hands in the Taelon "sharing" act and Da'an is stricken, recognizing the being within Lazarus. He says that Zo'or had no right to do what he did, that no one should have to suffer as Lazarus has. Da'an asks Lazarus if he can ever forgive them, and Lazarus replies, "No. Only you."

Lili and Maiya have found Maiya's counterpart on earth. Her name is Isabel Martinez and she was born in Madrid, Spain in 1983. She is a doctoral candidate in Cultural Anthropology and is presently doing field work in the Amazon Basin. Lili says it's just perfect as Sandoval won't be running into Isobel any time soon. Maiya looks at her counterpart on the screen, and asks Lili if she is acquainted with Isobel and Lili replies that she does not, and why would she be? Maiya asks Lili how much Liam and Augur have told her about the other dimension. Lili replies that they told her everything she needed to know. She is aware that her counterpart in Maiya's world is a Taelon supporter named Kayla, who actually leads the Taelon initiative against humanity. Maiya tells Lili that in her own dimension, the traitor Kayla was her sister. Lili denies having a sister and says that Maiya cannot be her sister. Maiya agrees, saying that they can't be sisters as she is from a different dimension. Lili suddenly realizes what Maiya is trying to tell her, that there is a strong possibility that she and Isabel Martinez are sisters.

On the mother ship Lazarus liberates Yatov from the blue tank and tells him that he is just in time to destroy the ship using his virtual glass technology.

In another part of the mother ship, Liam encounters Augur in aggressive mode who tells him that the Jaridians are responsible for Yatov's breakdown and that he wants to find them and fight them. Liam is trying unsuccessfully to get through to Augur when Lazarus enters. Between them they restrain Augur. Lazarus tells Liam that the only way to break Augur's programming is to make Augur understand who he is. Liam manages to get through to Augur, reminding him of their Resistance work together and telling him to "take back his soul". Augur comes to his senses, describing his experience as "definitely a rush" and asks how to get rid of the implant in his chest. Lazarus uses a laser instrument of some sort to remove the implant. Liam asks Lazarus how he was able to break free of his programming. Lazarus tells him that the subjects are isolated from everyone close to them, making it easier for the implanted rage to take hold. Liam asks who Lazarus is connected to and Lazarus tells him that it was his connection to Da'an which brought him back. Liam wants to know how Lazarus is connected to Da'an, but Lazarus doesn't answer him.

Meanwhile, Yatov has accessed the mother ship's system and initiates routine which will cause the mother shop's virtual glass hull to break down.

Lazarus asks Augur if he knows how to fly a shuttle. Augur says that he can, if his flight simulations were good enough. Lazarus remarks cryptically that there will be a disturbance on the ship which will distract everyone from noticing Augur's departure. He also says that Augur has no reason to worry as his records have been deleted and Russia never happened. As Augur leaves the room, Lazarus says that it was good to see him again. Augur turns to face Lazarus surprised; he does not recognize Lazarus. Lazarus tells Augur just to go and Augur exits.

Liam asks Lazarus to explain his connection first, with Da'an, and now with Augur. Lazarus is experiencing flashbacks again and doesn't answer the question, but tells Liam that he must find Da'an and get off the ship.

Yatov is successful in starting the operation which will break down the bonds holding the mother ship's virtual glass shell together. Holes begin to open up randomly in the mother ship's shell. A hole opens up close to where Augur is standing and a technician is sucked through it into space, screaming. The aperture closes up immediately, but Augur realizes what is taking place.

The destruction of the mother ship is only moments away and always the coward, Zo'or instructs Sandoval to prepare the cruiser for their swift departure from the mother ship. As they prepare to go, Lazarus enters the room with his weapon trained on Zo'or. He tells Zo'or that he has taken everything away from him and it is time for him to repay the favour.

Augur goes to the shuttle bay and is preparing to leave, but decides to stay. He cannot abandon Liam, Da'an and the other humans who are employed on the mother ship to their doom.

Sandoval is tempted to use his skrill, but is told by Lazarus that he had better not move, or he (Lazarus) will kill Zo'or now, much as he would like to see Zo'or suffer. Liam attempts ro dissuade Lazarus saying that there are many innocent people on board the mother ship. Zo'or tells Lazarus that there is a problem with his implants, but that "we can correct you". When Lazarus is distracted for a second by a door opening, Sandoval fires his skrill, fatally wounding Lazarus. The computer announces that there is less than a minute in which to evacuate, and Zo'or and Sandoval hurry out.

Augur accesses a computer console and begins the process of reversing Yatov's destruction module.

Liam is holding the dying Lazarus and asks him who he is. Lazarus whispers something intelligible and dies, smiling up at Liam.

With seconds to spare, Augur is able to reprogram the virtual glass shell on the mother ship. Augur continues on his way to the shuttle bay and takes off after a few mistakes in trying to power up the shuttle.

Lili gives Sandoval the information about Isobel Martinez and tells him that she could be anywhere. She tells him that she interviewed Isobel's professor and that this is her pattern. Isobel is not big on commitment. Sandoval wants to know where Isobel is, because he wants to talk to her. Lili tells him that according to Isobel's professor, her field work could take her anywhere. He is never exactly sure where she is. Sandoval tells Lili to keep looking. Lili makes a remark about the CVI being supposed to protect its owner from obsessions of this kind. Sandoval says that she heard him. Sandoval leaves and Lili stands staring at the image of Isobel on the computer screen.