The opening scene takes place in a Taelon laboratory in an undisclosed location. A man with a camera obtains surreptitious access to the lab and discovers that it contains scores of examining tables or gurneys, each containing an identical humanoid entity who appears to be in suspended animation or stasis.

In another area, Da'an and Liam Kincaid are meeting with Dr. Sparrow, a bio-engineer who is running the biosurrogate project for Da'an. Dr. Sparrow is a quadriplegic. He is confined to a wheelchair and can communicate only through galvanic skin sensors placed directly on his head which interact with his brain and permit him to communicate using a computer generated voice.

On the mother ship, Sandoval informs Zo'or that Da'an is at Artelligent, but that he should not worry because security at the site will prevent Da'an from seeing their secure area. Zo'or believes that Da'an was correct in promoting Sparrow's research, but feels that Da'an simply didn't understand the proper application for Dr. Sparrow's research. Sandoval is curious about when Zo'or plans to tell Da'an about the enhancements he has made to Sparrow's work in the biosurrogate program. Zo'or plans to do so after President Thompson and the Joint Chiefs endorse the program.

In the lab the journalist is taking photographs of his remarkable discovery.

At Artelligent, Da'an explains to Liam that he has formed a partnership with the organization because of Dr. Sparrow's pioneering work in the field. With the help of Taelon science, Sparrow has been able to shatter existing barriers in computer assisted technology for disabled persons. Sparrow describes his work as software for the human brain, downloaded into virtual experience conduits. Liam queries Sparrow about the conduits and Sparrow explains that the conduits are vehicles which are light years ahead of the four wheeled dinosaur (wheelchair) he uses. His software allows the transfer of an individual's identity from its body, all its memories, ideas, perceptions, its entire consciousness. Liam wonders what the identity would be transferred into, and Sparrow replies that it will be transferred into a piece of Jaridian inspired hardware. Liam thinks of the Jaridian replicant and is horrified; he can't believe that Sparrow is serious. Da'an explains that Taelon technology had only allowed Sparrow to proceed to a certain point, but that with information taken from the Jaridian replicant, they have actually been able to manufacture humanoid biosurrogates.

In the lab a flash from the journalist's camera animates one of the biosurrogates. It rises off its table and assaults the journalist, then escapes from the lab. A security guard discovers the unconscious journalist on the floor and as he does so, the biosurrogate approaches him, menace in its expression and its movements.

Sandoval arrives at the lab to discover two dead bodies and he asks a scientist what happened. Theoretically, a biosurrogate can only be activated when a human consciousness is downloaded into it, but the scientist explains that the process can also be initiated by a burst of energy such as a flash from the journalist's camera. Sandoval wants to know what programming had been installed in the escaped biosurrogate. He is told that it possesses an autonomic nervous system geared for survival with feeding, fighting and flight mechanisms as well as a full compliment of Jaridian weaponry, and language and enemy recognition capabilities. Without a human consciousness to guide the biosurrogate, there is no way of predicting its behaviour.

Sparrow is explaining his research to Da'an and Liam and he tells them he will be the first to test the consciousness transfer process which has been made possible by his work.

Sandoval contacts Zo'or with an urgent message which has been relayed by Lili about the biosurrogate's escape from the lab. Zo'or orders that it be tracked and apprehended. Sandoval advises that they halt the program, at least until the biosurrogate is caught, but Zo'or does not agree with Sandoval. He does, however, want the biosurrogate neutralized before it places his program in jeopardy. Lili is confused because she thought that the biosurrogates were harmless. Zo'or tells her that they were until a few enhancements were added.

Sandoval instructs Liam to use any and all resources at his disposal to find the biosurrogate. Liam asks Sandoval why he has come to Artelligent, since this is Da'an's project, and Dr. Sparrow's biosurrogates pose no threat. Sandoval tells them that this biosurrogate was not from Da'an's project.

There is a heated confrontation between Da'an and Zo'or in which Da'an tells Zo'or that his biosurrogate program was never intended for war. Zo'or replies that they (the Taelons) are fighting for their survival and that he acted in accordance with his responsibility as leader of the Taelons. He suggests that if Da'an has a problem with his actions, that he should raise it with the Synod. Da'an intends to do that very thing, but in the interim, he cannot predict what will occur if the biosurrogates are used as fighting machines. Zo'or agrees and says that it is imperative that they proceed with the first consciousness transfer to determine the feasibility of this program. Da'an asks to be present when it occurs, but Zo'or says it won't be necessary, and that Da'an will be informed of the results along with the rest of the Synod. Da'an couldn't care less about the results of the experiment, but he does care about the level of safeguards on a project which could endanger human lives. Zo'or tries to say that there are adequate safeguards, but is silent when Da'an asks him to explain the escape of the biosurrogate and his failure to recover it.

At Resistance Headquarters Augur is working on a sculpture. Liam says, "They say a picture's worth a thousand words. That's..." Augur asks what his masterpiece says to Liam, who replies, "Try the yellow pages. 'G' for garbage removal." Sparrow who has entered the room, interrupts Augur's rude rejoinder and tells Augur his sculpture is magnificent. Liam introduces Sparrow to Augur as a fellow cyberphile and tells him that he and Sparrow need his help. Augur replies (echoing Liam's earlier words), "Really? Well, try the yellow pages. 'C' for churches." Liam shows Augur the technology Sparrow has been working on and it immediately seizes Augur's attention as possessing great commercial potential. HoloLili makes an appearance dressed as a waitress and Sparrow comments that Holo Lili is interesting usage for a hologram. Liam is curious about Holo Lili's current configuration because he thought the real Lili had permanently reprogrammed Holo Lili and Augur is dismissive about that. HoloLili is standing impatiently with her waitress's order book and asks for their order. Augur instructs her to tap into all known satellite tracking facilities and scan for a match. Sparrow is watching the screen in the flat which shows what is going on in the Flat Planet Cafe, and he is captivated by Maiya who is working as the bartender. Dr. Sparrow expresses an interest in going to the café and Augur and Liam escort him there, Liam pushing his wheelchair.

Inside the café Liam asks Sparrow if he can get him anything. Sparrow sees Maiya behind the bar and wheels himself off in her direction.

Lili confronts Sandoval and Zo'or and tells them she would like to have been briefed on their biosurrogate program. Sandoval is curt with her, replying that what she would have liked, or not liked for that matter, is of no concern. As always, she is on a need to know basis, and in this instance she had no need. Both Lili and Sandoval are surprised when Zo'or raises his hand and silences Sandoval, saying that Lili has a point. He points out that unlike Sandoval, Lili has combat experience and can therefore understand the logic of the program better than Sandoval himself can. Sandoval's reaction is sullen. Lili is curious as to why her combat experience is relevant. Zo'or asks if she has reviewed the Jaridian files in the Taelon Archives. She nods her assent and he asks her if she honestly believes that humanity has the capability to defeat the Jaridians. Lili replies that they don't at present, but that humanity will do whatever is necessary to survive. She believes that if data on the Jaridians was made available to the appropriate military personnel, an effective and successful strategy could be devised. Sandoval tells her that such data has already been provided to the President and the Joint Chiefs, and that they have not responded. Zo'or believes that defeating the Jaridians will require more than just the will to survive and that humanity needs the tools to defeat a race with superior capabilities. He asks Lili if she denies this, and she is silent for a moment before telling him she does not.

Sparrow wheels himself over to Maiya, and she seems nonplussed to see him. He asks if his appearance upsets her and she tells him truthfully that she has never seen anyone like him before. Sparrow says she must not have been looking around her very carefully. She tells him that where she comes from, people like him don't exist, and that anyone like him with a disability was usually left behind to die.

Augur informs Liam that HoloLili has pinpointed a series of shuttles which landed on the mother ship, and which originated from the Pentagon. Frequent scans have not been able to locate the biosurrogate.

In a diner in the city, two police officers are waiting for their lunch to be brought to them. The waitress brings one plate. The biosurrogate grabs the plate, sits down and begins to consume it in vulgar fashion. The police officer reaches over to take his plate back, but the biosurrogate wrenches his hand away and continues to eat. The policeman pulls his gun and orders the biosurrogate to get up real slow, and the biosurrogate looks straight at him with a baleful look. For a moment we see the policeman through the biosurrogate's eyes and it resembles the view from a replicant's perspective. Then biosurrogate rises from its seat, seizes the policeman's gun and flings the officer right across the room. Before the second officer can draw his firearm, the biosurrogate shoots him. Everyone flees from the diner and the biosurrogate sits down alone to finish his meal.

President Thompson arrives on the mother ship and Sandoval tells him that Zo'or will see him at the presentation for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Thompson is angry and says that one of the killing machines has escaped, and that they have no idea what it will do. He asks Sandoval if they really expect him to endorse the program to the JCS in the circumstances. Sandoval says that the biosurrogate will be captured before it causes any harm. The technology is ready and there is no need to delay it.

Thompson asks Sandoval what will happen if they don't find the biosurrogate in time. The last thing Thompson wants is to be in a defensive posture while he is trying to sell the project to the American public. Sandoval is unperturbed and says that he doesn't believe that Zo'or would consider that his problem. Thompson seizes Sandoval's arm and tells him that Zo'or doesn't run the country, he does. Sandoval asks if Thompson wishes to continue to run the country, and when Thompson asks him if his words are a threat, Sandoval replies that he merely is reminding the President that they still live in a democracy, and that leaders have to be elected.

The biosurrogate finishes its meal and leaves the diner. As it emerges, two police cars cruisers arrive. One officer is armed with a shotgun and orders the biosurrogate to stop where it is. The biosurrogate ignores the officer and steps into the street. A large truck drives between it and the officers, and as that happens, the biosurrogate activates a cloaking device and disappears from view, leaving the officers looking bewildered.

The scientist informs Lili and Sandoval that the biosurrogate is actually reconnoitring the area. This is one of the self programming Jaridian subroutines which is activated when the biosurrogate is exposed to a new environment. There is a multitude of embedded complex programs which the scientists haven't been able to override yet, like the automatic cloaking response after a confrontation. Lili is worried about how they find the biosurrogate once it has cloaked. The scientist tells her that she won't until the biosurrogate needs to defend itself again, gets hungry, or encounters an enemy, which is highly unlikely, considering ------. Sandoval asks for further clarification and is told that the only enemies which the biosurrogate is hard wired to attack, are Jaridians.

At the lab Sparrow sends Maiya a poem which he wrote for her. One of his assistants enters and tells Sparrow that they have been lied to. The project is now under military jurisdiction and Zo'or's and Sparrow is no longer a part of it. Sparrow tries to access his own files without success.

At his presentation, Zo'or explains his program to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He tells them that the biosurrogates are the perfect conduit for the fighting spirit and expertise of human soldiers. Once they have transferred the consciousness of trained combat soldiers into the biosurrogates, nothing will be able to stand against humanity including the Jaridians. Sandoval explains that the biosurrogates are programmed to evaluate any opposing force, but the Joint Chiefs are unwilling to risk the lives of their men. Although Zo'or tells them repeatedly that there is no risk, they don't believe him. Sandoval explains that the bodies of the men will be kept in stasis while their consciousness occupies the biosurrogates. If the biosurrogates sustain injuries, the human consciousness will simply be downloaded back into their original bodies. He refers dramatically to a war completely without death.

When one general asks what will happen if one of the men gets blown away, and the chip is also destroyed, Zo'or ends the presentation abruptly and tells everyone it is time to proceed with the consciousness transfer since all their concerns have been addressed. One general addresses the fact that a biosurrogate escaped from Artelligent and asks why it has not been retrieved. Zo'or is angered by the question.

Lili is explaining to Liam about the biosurrogates and tells him they are hardwired with survival instincts. Under Dr. Sparrow's program, the biosurrogate's bodies were programmed only to experience sensations for physically challenged people and the idea was that once the consciousness had been transferred, the person's motivation would have controlled the actions of the biosurrogate. Liam asks about Zo'or's modifications and she tells him that the biosurrogates are now programmed with autonomic nervous system instincts and a full range of Jaridian weaponry. The biosurrogate they are looking for has no controlling human consciousness and therefore no control. It has no purpose, other than to act on its most primitive animal instincts. Like the Jaridian replicant, it is programmed to study and assimilate everything it encounters exponentially. Liam understands and says that the biosurrogate has no moral high ground to guide its actions. He feels it is imperative to bring Sparrow in on the situation.

The biosurrogate pauses at a news kiosk to scan the front page which has a picture of it under the headline, "Cop Killer Escapes." A policeman approaches from behind and orders the biosurrogate to stay where it is. Before the officer can draw his weapon the biosurrogate fires on him and kills him using a blast of energy from its clenched fist.

Sandoval tells Zo'or that something about the biosurrogate program is troubling him. Zo'or asks if there is another disaster to report Sandoval is curious about the resources that will be required to care for the bodies of millions of soldiers which have been placed in stasis. Zo'or rather serenely says that one must always be conscious of the allocation of resources. Sandoval begins to say that it is especially so in a prolonged war when a soldier's consciousness can be downloaded from one biosurrogate to another biosurrogate, as easily as... Zo'or finishes Sandoval's sentence by saying ...... it can be downloaded from a biosurrogate to a human donor. Sandoval now understands why the Taelons had the motivational imperative implanted in all biosurrogates. Zo'or reiterates that one must always be conscious of the allocation of resources, especially in war when acceptable losses are a fact of life." Sandoval adds, "And death." Sandoval's global beeps and Lili informs him about the biosurrogate's attack on the police officer at the news kiosk.

Lili contacts Doors to tell him that the biosurrogate has killed again so that he can comment for the late news.

In the Flat Planet Café, Maiya and Sparrow are chatting and she tells him that the poem which he wrote for her was beautiful. Sparrow says that one can move in his mind and heart, if not in their body. Maiya says that she doesn't know about that since he moves quite well in that his chair. Sparrow says that he is doing everything except cartwheels. Trying to be witty, Maiya asks him to dance. Sparrow is hurt and leaves abruptly as Maiya berates herself for having made such an insensitive remark.

Liam, Sandoval and Lily are examining the scene at the news kiosk where the officer was killed. Sandoval doesn't understand why the biosurrogate would uncloak to attack the officer. Liam tells Sandoval tells him that biosurrogate uncloaked in order to read the news. Sandoval thinks that Liam is making a joke and tells him that his sense of humour escapes him. Liam explains for Sandoval that the biosurrogate is learning, first from the cop in the diner, then the cop at the news kiosk. He has added a new enemy to his program, any knight in blue. Sandoval orders that the area be cordoned off within a 5 km radius of the news kiosk. As Lili leaves, he tells her that as far as the press is concerned, it is just another random killing. He turns back to the scene and finds Doors making a speech to the assembled reporters, telling them that the Taelons, with the full support of the Thompson administration, were attempting to create the perfect warrior. Sandoval orders the officers to maintain the barrier and asks Lili how the hell Doors found out about the killing. She does not have a chance to make a reply. Sandoval approaches Doors just as he is denouncing Sandoval to the reporters. Someone shoves a camera in Sandoval's face and he shoves it away, ordering everyone to leave immediately, but Doors continues to talk about the suspension of freedom of the press in Taelon dominated America. Placing his face only a few inches from Doors' own, Sandoval tells him in a low voice and with great menace that Doors won't see it coming, but that he is a dead man. Doors gives Sandoval a withering look and leaves the scene.

At Augur's flat, Lili, Augur, Liam and Doors are having a disagreement. Lili feels that the biosurrogates may be the only way to defeat the Jaridians without sacrificing human lives. Doors accuses her of supporting Zo'or. She denies it. Doors is aghast that Lili would actually defend Zo'or. Lili defends herself, saying that if Doors would shut up for even one moment, he would see that she is supporting humanity, not Zo'or. Doors wants to acquire the technology, not just to defeat the Jaridians, but to drive the Taelons off the planet. Liam is adamant that the technology has to be destroyed completely because if soldiers in a war cannot be killed, then war will become a never ending game. Augur makes the point that it's a very profitable game. Lili is disgusted by Augur's words and can't believe he said them. Doors silences them and says that there is no moving backward - the technology exists and either humanity have it or the Taelons do; that is the choice. Liam believes that all they have to do is destroy the Taelon lab, and convince Sparrow that the technology must never be recreated. Doors and Lili will not consider destroying technology. It appears that only Liam understands the horror and the consequences of what they are facing.

Maiya and Sparrow are together in a park and she apologizes for her tactless words at the café. Sparrow also apologizes for leaving so abruptly. He tells her that when he was eighteen years old, before he became sick, he was a gifted athlete. He left the café because the thought of dancing with her, and then not being able to do so, upset him. Maiya says that after his consciousness is transferred into one of the biosurrogates, she expects to have the first dance. Sparrow tells her it is a date.

Doors wants Augur to gain access to Sparrow's files at Artelligent. Augur asks if Doors thinks he is brilliant enough to do it and tells Doors that he can. Doors exclaims that they really are in agreement, and Augur tells him that although they agree on how brilliant he (Augur) is, that is as far as it goes. They negotiate a price for Augur's services and Doors obtains them in exchange for a piece of modern art.

President Thompson is angry because Zo'or's lackey (Sandoval) gave Doors the sound byte of the year. Zo'or asks if Thompson would have preferred that Sandoval allow the press to view the aftermath of the biosurrogate attack. Thompson asks Zo'or why he tried to make a deal with Doors behind his back. Zo'or serenely says that Thompson is labouring under a false impression. Thompson also wants to know why the Synod has not endorsed his campaign. Zo'or believes (and states) that it is immaterial who sits in the White House since his only priority is to his own agenda. Thompson, is very close to losing his self control, and Zo'or cautions him not to humiliate himself since he knows he can't win the election without Zo'or's support. He instructs Thompson that if he orders General Cromer to provide trained soldiers for the consciousness transfer, then he (Zo'or) will consider endorsing Thompson's candidacy. Thompson replies that with that biosurrogate on the prowl, Zo'or has a loose cannon which Doors can use against him. Until it is defused, he will not order Cromer to do anything that he doesn't deem appropriate for the welfare of his men.

Augur asks Sparrow's assistance in gaining access to the project files. Augur has gotten past the first obstacle, when Sparrow asks Augur to help him in his turn.

The biosurrogate is walking in the park when it encounters a teenaged girl who is waiting for her boyfriend. It pauses and stares at her. The boyfriend arrives and is offended by the biosurrogate's stare. He orders it to leave and when it doesn't attacks it. The biosurrogate strangles the boy.

A report reaches Sandoval that all the biosurrogates in the lab save one have been destroyed and that all the program files have been erased. The one remaining intact biosurrogate is missing. The security system has registered the fact that an Artelligent employee, Sparrow, has performed a consciousness transfer, aided by an assistant.

Liam interrogates the weeping teenager girl whose boyfriend was killed, and contacts Sandoval to tell him there has been another death. Sandoval tells Liam about Sparrow's transfer, saying also that Sparrow knows nothing about the weaponry the enhanced biosurrogates have. The cloaked biosurrogate is watching Liam and registers 75% Jaridian DNA. It locks onto Liam as a target.

Liam leaves the park and pays a visit to Augur. There is a blue tank in Augur's flat similar to those used in Zo'or's laboratories on the mother ship, and it holds Sparrow's physical body but not his consciousness which has already been transferred into a biosurrogate. Liam confronts Augur about the destruction of the Artelligent laboratories which was obviously carried out by Augur and Sparrow. Augur says that his own criminal activities were limited to breaking, entering and stealing. He confesses that it was Sparrow destroyed the lab after Augur had assisted him and his associate in transferring his subconscious into a biosurrogate's body. Liam wants to know where Sparrow is, but Augur doesn't know. Looking at the screen which displays the interior of the Flat Planet Café, Augur says thoughtfully that he thinks he knows where Sparrow went.

At the Flat planet Café, Sparrow walks up to the bar where Maiya is working and tells her that he's ready for that dance. Maiya doesn't recognize him at first and gives him a blank look, and he reminds her of their conversation in the park. She is delighted about his transfer and asks him how it feels. Sparrow says that he hopes she is wearing her dancing shoes. Liam, sensing danger, enters the café and goes directly to the bar. He is followed by the renegade biosurrogate which attacks him with a blast from the energy weapon in its fist. Liam evades the blast and Sparrow attempts to stop the renegade biosurrogate, but he isn't fast enough and he has no knowledge of the Jaridian weaponry which his host body contains. Sparrow is fatally wounded and collapses against a wall. There is violent struggle between the biosurrogate and Liam in which Liam is thrown around the café and most of the furniture is smashed. Finally the biosurrogate pins Liam against a wall and Liam activates his Sha'karava (much to the biosurrogate's amazement) killing it. Liam and Maiya go immediately to Sparrow who is dying. Sparrow tells Maiya that he's sorry they didn't get that dance. Liam tells Sparrow that they can take him back to the lab and save him, but Sparrow says that there's no time. Liam asks how long they have after he dies to transfer his consciousness back into his body and Sparrow doesn't understand what he is talking about. Liam explains what Zo'or had told him, that if a biosurrogate was killed, they could download its human consciousness back into his body. Sparrow looks up and tells Liam and Maiya, "Zo'or lied. There's nothing you can do for me." He closes his eyes and dies.

In Augur's flat Sparrow's body is resting in its blue tank. There is a shower of sparks and the body disappears leaving behind an empty tank.