CAST LIST

SYNOPSIS

A military General, flanked by armed guards, enters a sealed research compound. Inside, two civilian Computer Programmers are furiously arguing. When questioned by the officer as to the problem, they confess that "Cyberax" has escaped… Incredulous, the General challenges the pair to explain how an artificial intelligence program inside a computer could "escape". One of the programmers explains that someone has hacked into the secure line to the machine and created a loophole: Cyberax simply copied itself out and deleted all trace of its existence from their machines. When quizzed by the General as to why Cyberax would do this, the programmer reminds the officer of their brief: to create a self-developing program capable of independent life in a computer network. The program, being offered a better place for self-development outside their network has simply taken the opportunity to leave and expand elsewhere… A young hacker finishes his work on "stealing" Cyberax…for a grateful Jean-Daniel. Using the niobium gained from his Bactrian artifacts the Frenchman has produced machines with super-fast processors, and Cyberax (designed to gobble-up computer power) has been enticed by the power of Jean-Daniel’s machinery to leave its birthplace. Jean-Daniel sends his teenage hacker away to collect his payment: a sports car. However, the young man can’t drive… Jean-Daniel makes contact with Cyberax, and offers the child-like intelligence the ultimate network to explore, as he lets it out into the Real World… as the military engage in a radical damage-limitation exercise, cancelling all Cyberax-maintained projects and send the two hapless civilians to the Arctic survey. The General however is unconcerned about Cyberax itself…as he knows that the program has its own way of dealing with those who cross it…

At Gizmos, Ros, Ed and Beckett are watching a live feed from a secret location courtesy of Roland Blatty, head of The Bureau of Weapons. He is keen to get the team involved with a device he has received 3 days earlier…though Ed and Beckett seem keener to ridicule Roland’s cloak and dagger approach to the whole event. Ignoring Ed’s cracks Roland explains that the bio-feedback unit he’s been hooked up will allow him to operate a Howitzer gun using WALDO controls (a system that Ros explains mimics the movements of a human operator) but more surprisingly by only thinking about the movements. Incredibly is able to move the gun in this manner… much to the astonishment of the team. Beckett notes Roland’s brain activity increases by 25% in the process, as he and the machine become linked together. He explains that the unit was intercepted on its way to a company called Cyberax, who the Bureau suspect of having an unauthorised weapons program. Ed jokingly cautions Blatty, hoping he has had the system swept for viruses. Suddenly and without warning Blatty’s brain activity dramatically increases: he then coldly and dispassionately picks up the control unit for the bio-feedback unit, places it and himself in front of the Howitzer and fires the gun at himself…

The team rush to Roland’s aid: Ed is critical of Roland’s "spy games" approach, which could now cost him his life. Beckett, although worried about Blatty, seems far more concerned about Ros … Ed contacts the Field Team, where a young operative, Rona, informs them that Roland is only breathing with help, and that the paramedics are nowhere to be seen… Suddenly a helicopter appears with two paramedics aboard, who quickly prepare Roland for his journey to hospital. Arriving at the "secret" facility (which is anything but secret) the team gets to the scene of the accident mere moments after Roland has been airlifted. Ros asks who else has used the bio-feedback unit: Rona admits that all the Bureau personnel have tried the device, but only Roland has used it in the Field…and as they talk the genuine paramedic arrives… Inside the helicopter Cassandra informs Jean-Daniel they have another useable specimen…

An inconsolable Ros is watching again and again the final moments before Roland’s accident. Ed wonders if it will do her any good to keep doing so, but Ros is convinced she has discovered something from the bio-feedback unit insinuating itself into the chemical layer of Roland’s memory. Reminding Ed of the last thing he said to Blatty before the accident, Ed realises with horror that Roland has had a computer virus planted in his brain. By inadvertedly triggering that virus with his flippant comment it immediately set to work to destroy both Roland’s body and the equipment from which the virus came. Ed’s concern is suddenly for the other Bureau employees who had tried the device…but as Beckett points out, if any of them try to warn the Bureau staff directly they are in danger, then the virus will do to them exactly what it did to Roland. Cassandra and her colleague wander amongst the inert bodies of the entire Bureau staff, all incapacitated by Cyberax. Rona however is showing signs of life, and Cassandra orders her body to be retrieved for use. Downstairs at the Bureau the team formulate their next move whilst hoping that they aren’t too late to save the situation, as upstairs Cassandra is setting a massive incendiary device. Disturbed by the threesome she makes a run for it, with Ed and Beckett in close pursuit: only after they’ve left does Ros notice the bomb… With time running out, Cassandra having escaped and the case of the bomb welded shut, Ed takes radical measures to ensure the building doesn’t go up in flames, by throwing the bomb into the staff swimming pool…

Back at Gizmos Ros makes a link from the present to the past: the existence of Niobium 5 alloy in the battered remains of Roland’s bio-feedback control unit convinces her that it is Jean-Daniel who is behind Cyberax. Niobium 5’s rarity and it’s inability to be manufactured in anything other than minute quantities (in a dangerous process using a particle accelerator!) is enough to make the team return to Jean-Daniel’s prison cell for more information on his activities. After the Frenchman’s buyout the prison has been returned to it’s original owners, and the old Governor transferred to a Unit for the Disturbed and the Deranged…as a patient. Using her retrieval program to access hidden files on Jean-Daniel’s computer, Ros discovers a massive web of companies and services under Jean–Daniel’s control, including chip manufacture and a massive overseas building programme where Ros thinks Roland could be being kept. There is mention too of Cyberax, but Ros can get no more information as the file has been emptied. Beckett has had an idea on how he can ascertain where the virus’ victims are taken, and asks Ros to meet him at the Bureau’s testing range…after he has picked up Ed from a Research Facility. The Head of the Facility, Briggs, is tutoring Ed on the mechanics of Particle Acceleration. The Professor informs him that the small amount of Niobium 5 they have will not be added to, as the process of making it produces anti-matter as a side-effect…and the last time they tried to do so the Facility almost blew up the planet. Asking Briggs to watch for anyone with an unscientific interest in the element Ed leaves, as Briggs’ assistant Layla informs him of a problem in the Control Room. As Beckett picks up Ed, Briggs corrects the problem with the accelerator using his recently delivered bio-feedback unit…

Ros arrives at the range ahead of Ed and Beckett, and Beckett explains his plan. Using some electronic trickery Beckett is literally a "Dead Man walking": his heartbeat disguised and his jacket full of trackers he intends to duplicate Roland’s accident, play the results down a modem and see if anyone is listening. When the bogus paramedics come to collect him Ed and Ros can track his movements and follow him to the paramedic’s final destination. Recreating the accident has the required result, and Cassandra arrives to pick up a "dead" Beckett from the test range. With Ros and Ed in pursuit Beckett is taken to his destination: the underground complex where Cyberax was originally enticed. Arriving at the surface she meets Jean-Daniel, who informs her that to complete his work he needs more Niobium 5, and does not have time to dig in the desert. His dream, the Technopolis Tower, has to be finished on time… Downstairs Beckett has released himself from the stretcher he was strapped to, and begins examining his surroundings. He finds Roland, who is barely alive and who has been bar-coded…ready to be sent on to another destination. Beckett informs Ros who instructs him to try and find a barcode reader. Cassandra cheerfully informs Jean-Daniel that Beckett is Cyberax’s latest victim, but the Frenchman is not so sure, and set off back downstairs with a gun. Beckett finds a barcode reader but is unaware its results don’t show up on the handset but on a nearby screen. Frustrated, he opens a nearby box and finds it stuffed with Niobium 5 processors…as Jean-Daniel appears behind him with a gun. As Ros and Ed try to listen in to the conversation, Jean-Daniel attempts to ascertain whether Beckett really has been infected. There are two ways that the virus can destroy a brain: knowledge of the virus’ presence, and the true nature of Cyberax itself. Beckett is not affected by either, and finds himself inches away from death…but Jean-Daniel has another use for him…

Arriving at the underground bunker Ros and Ed find everything gone, except the torn remains of Beckett’s jacket, and the bar code reader with it’s memory intact. Reading the last code the pair discover all the equipment is heading for Technopolis, a futuristic 21^st century city and infrastructure built in the middle of nowhere, meant to represent the cutting edge of future technology but not considered as such by the outside world. All is not yet lost as Beckett is carrying a cavity resonator, and informs the pair he’s in the boot of Jean-Daniel’s car, on his way to the Particle Accelerator… Inside the Accelerator Jean-Daniel introduces himself as a sponsor of Cyberax, but when it becomes clear that Briggs will be uncooperative more traditional means are referred to. Outside Ros and Ed conclude that sneaking into the facility is almost impossible, and Ros is thankful for a souvenir from a previous encounter with Jean-Daniel that will now come in rather useful. Inside the Control Room Jean-Daniel activates Cyberax (without using the headset) and informs it that he will keep to their deadline and open Technopolis Tower on time. Briggs panics when he hears the instruction to produce Niobium 5, but Jean-Daniel has little thought for casualties, while outside Ed takes Jean-Daniel’s bazooka from the Jeep. Using Beckett’s cavity resonator to communicate with the pair the Frenchmen leaves them in no doubt that if they interfere, Beckett will die…

As Briggs tries to stop Cyberax using the bio-feedback headset, Jean-Daniel tells him the true nature of Cyberax, that the face on the screen is the face of the machine. Trying to stop Briggs from being infected Beckett attempts to distract him, but Jean-Daniel persists, telling Briggs that Cyberax has bred, evolved and learnt…having grown from a child to a monstrous adult intelligence. Briggs finally loses his grip on reality as the virus attacks him, and kills both himself and his research assistant by electrocution. Ros and Ed reach the control room door, and their first attempt to enter is unsuccessful…as they try again Cassandra removes the Niobium plates, and hands them to Jean-Daniel who takes flight through an escape tunnel. As she is about to shoot Beckett the second attempt to break through the door is successful, and although Cassandra gets away Ed is in close pursuit. Ros is faced with the ultimate dilemma: to save millions of lives she must use the bio-feedback unit, and by doing so will be infected with the Cyberax virus. The choice is simple for Ros but Beckett is desperate to stop her… but his protestations are to no avail. Ed is moments behind Jean-Daniel as Ros sends the anti-matter into solid rock through the escape tunnel, trapping the Frenchman in the process. Sending Cassandra onward with the Niobium 5 to finish his plan, Jean-Daniel is found by Ed…

Ros asks Beckett later why she can’t raise Roland to talk to him, and why vital files are missing from her computer but she has no memory of their absence. Beckett and Ed are at a loss, knowing that they must maintain their front of innocence without allowing Ros to realise what has happened to her, as the knowledge would mean her death. Ros however is well aware that something is seriously amiss…