Every night, the same dream, the same strange planet.
But why?
What are they trying to tell me?
It's been 34 years since they arrived on this planet.
And not a day passes that the survivors...
...forced to live in barrier cities, do not live in fear.
I have vowed to end that fear.
I believe my dreams hold the key.
The question is, will I be in time to save the Earth?
Where are you?
This is a restricted area.
Do not move!
-What's she doing here, Captain? -I don't know. We're getting her out.
-You're coming with us. -Behind you!
Hold it!
Damn. Let's move, people!
Two coming through the wall!
Hold your fire. Those tanks are flammable!
Ryan, Neil, let's go!
-What are you doing? -There's a life form.
-Not in years. -There is now.
Life form or not, I'm taking you in.
Arrest me. But I'm not Leaving without that llfe form.
It's one of those days.
Captain, the transport won't wait for us much longer.
I understand that.
It's in bad shape.
Tell me we're not risking our necks for this plant!
I wouldn't even call it a weed.
Really, it's a weed.
I need a minute to extract it.
That's a minute we do not have.
I'm afraid he's right about that, man.
Phantoms! We have incoming.
-Captain, we need to get moving. -Understood, sergeant.
-Could you hurry, Miss? -Done.
-Captain? -Yes, Neil?
I'm for "Let's get out of here."
Duly noted.
Can I have this, please? Thank you.
-We're surrounded! -No shit!
-Just relax. -We gotta get to higher ground.
Everyone, up top!
Go, go, go!
-Transport, Requesting immediate evac. -Affirmative.
Up here!
-They're right behind you! -Come on!
I've got you!
-You okay? -Yeah.
All right, everybody, here they come.
You okay?
You're gonna be all right.
So, why shouldn't I arrest you?
I am Dr. Aki Ross. I have clearance to be here.
Not unlimited clearance. Not without authorization.
I don't have time for this.
Do you realize you risked the lives of my squad?
Look, I don't wanna talk about it. The fact of the matter is...
-...it was worth the lives of you and your men. -You and your men?
-She thinks you're a man. -I think she's an idiot.
-I know you're not a man. -I think you're an idiot, too.
-Very funny. -I want to talk about it.
Did it occur to you...
...that we would've volunteered had we been given a choice?
Nobody asked you to save me.
I don't believe this. You have not changed a bit!
Gray?
Yeah. Nice to see you too.
-Welcome back, captain. -We're clean.
-Let's make sure of that, shall we? -I hate getting scanned.
Sir, this scan is probably worse for us than the Phantoms.
And I about it, Captain. These machines are suspected of causing sterility.
I want to have a little Neil Jr. calling me daddy someday.
-That's a spooky thought. -Why you always bust my chops?
People, let's just do this thing. All right?
Yes, sir.
-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.
Okay, next.
You've gained weight.
It's called upper-body strength, Neil. Get a girlfriend.
I'm working on it.
You know my security rating allows me to bypass this.
Not today it doesn't.
Something's not right.
-About this mission? Or that woman? -Both.
Next.
Listen, Captain, I think...
I don't care what you think, Doctor.
You're getting scanned just llke everybody else.
Shit!
-Captain! -They got him.
There must be a mistake.
You came in contact with the Phantom, sir. Please remain calm.
Administering treatment shield.
-What level is he? -Blue. Code red in 3-1/2 minutes.
We have to treat him.
I'm sorry, but that's impossible. We'll transfer him to the treatment center.
There's no time for that.
Get him to the table.
Hang in there, captain.
Locating pathogens.
Jesus, look at that thing!
How much time?
Not enough. When he reaches code red, the treatment shield won't hold the alien particles.
Engaging bio-etheric laser.
-What's going on? -Where'd it go?
What the hell is going on?
We've lost contact. Infestation is moving deeper.
-Tracking. -There's no time.
-Tracking. -You'll lose him!
His treatment shield is failing.
Found it.
Come on.
It's all right.
You'll be back to normal in no time.
Doctor, we need to scan you for infestation.
That won't be necessary. I'll take responsibility.
Hey, doc.
Thanks for saving him.
-Are you all right? -Yeah, but the military impounded my ship.
-What's with her? -What's with her and the captain?
What's with her and that stupid plant?
What?
Forward me the phantom data, and everything regarding the five spirits we have collected so far.
Yes, doctor.
I thought we weren't supposed to use the "s" word.
Don't get smart with me.
Now let's see if that plant does the trick.
It's a match. We've found it.
Yes.
The sixth spirit.
You broke nearly every protocol.
How long do you think this would have survived outside the barrier?
There are elements in the council and military waiting to shut us down.
Look, 20 years ago, who discovered this energy in the Phantoms? You.
And who proved the same energy source existed in humans and every llfe form?
You. You made it possible to harness that energy...
...for ovo-pacs, scanners, and even the barrier.
The council knows. They trust you. We're so close to proving--
But we still need these parts.
Two more pieces and we've solved the puzzle!
We need to be free to find those pieces.
I want to show you something, Aki.
-What is this? -Read.
"All llfe is born of Gaia and each llfe has a spirit.
Each new spirit is housed in a body."
Go on.
"Through their experiences on Earth, each spirit matures and grows.
When the physical body dies...
...the mature spirit, enriched by llfe on Earth, returns to Gaia...
...bringing with it the experiences...
...enabling Gaia to llve and grow."
It's my old diary.
I wrote that 43 years ago, when I was the age you are now.
Dr. Sid!
Remember Galileo? They threw him in jail because...
...he said the Earth was not the center of the universe.
That could happen to us.
Our ideas are unpopular, Aki.
If you have any notes that could be used against you...
...destroy them.
-Keep them up here. -Right.
And stay away from your friend the captain.
He saves your llfe, you save his, this leads to that.
I was young once.
Doctor, there is a war going on.
No one's young anymore.
Members of the council...
...could you please explain why?
Zeus was completed a month ago.
If we attack the meteor with this, we will eliminate the Phantoms at the source.
General Hein, calm down.
At our last meeting, we voted 6 to 2...
...to postpone using the Zeus cannon to attack the Leonid Meteor.
We have re-convened today to vote that very issue again.
I'd llke to ask the director of the Bio-Etheric Center to speak.
Dr. Sid, please.
Thank you.
As you all know, the Phantoms' nest is in the Leonid Meteor...
...that landed here 34 years ago.
What you see now are the records of every assault on the meteor to date.
Physical attacks have had utterly no effect.
This took place three months ago during a full-scale bombardment.
Please note the Phantoms outside the meteor are destroyed.
However, inside, many that were dormant come to llfe...
...and as you see, overall Phantom density remains the same.
The newly risen aliens respond to the attack...
...by burrowing deeper into the Earth.
This is very interesting to me, Dr. Sid.
...because we see the same thing during surgery...
...when using bio-etheric lasers on Phantom particles, do we not?
Yes, indeed we do.
The injured particles escape...
...digging themselves deeper into a patient's body.
When we increase the laser power to destroy these deeper particles...
...we have had incidents of further injury to a patient...
...and in some cases...
...death.
What exactly does that mean, Doctor?
It means there's a very good chance...
...the beam from the Zeus cannon will burn the Phantoms in the meteor.
Exactly! Thank you.
However, it also means that the beam energy may be too strong...
...injuring the Earth.
Injure the Earth?
You mean the Gaia.
-I mean-- -You mean the spirit of the Earth.
Yes...
...the spirit of the Earth.
Did he say what I think he said?
What are you doing?
I know what I'm doing. Keep your mouth shut.
This is ridiculous.
With all due respect...
...did you come here to talk about some Gaia theory?
To tell us that the planet is alive?
That it has a spirit?
That's a fairy tale. And I'm sorry, but we don't have time for that.
It is not a fairy tale. It is true.
So if I point a gun at the Earth and fire...
...I'm not just making a hole, I'm killing the planet.
Dr. Sid, the Gaia theory has not been proven.
Even if Gaia does exist, won't we still have to remove the Phantoms?
If there's a chance of success, we should take it.
-Don't you agree? -Of course.
But there is an alternative to the space cannon.
Another method?
-A means of disabling the Phantoms. -Please.
As we know, the aliens display a distinct energy pattern.
It is a fact that two opposing bio-etheric waves...
...placed one over the other cancel each other out.
It is theoretically possible to make a wave pattern...
...in opposition to the Phantom energy.
We are assembling such a wave and are near completion.
Members of the council...
...gathering plants and animals from around the world...
...to fight the Phantoms is utter nonsense.
The Zeus cannon is a proven, effective weapon.
It will kill Phantoms.
Can we afford to wait for some crazy invention...
...some army of touchy-feely plants and animals...
...that offers no evidence that it will destroy the aliens?
There is evidence!
Our partially completed energy wave...
...has successfully stopped Phantom particles from spreading...
...through a terminally infected patient.
Doctor, do you claim to have evidence that a terminal patient has been cured?
Not cured. The wave is not complete.
But we've succeeded in containing the particles safely inside the patient.
Where is the proof?
Here.
You may have bought us some time, Aki. But I wonder at what cost.
I can't keep hiding in the back while you protect me.
I want what llfe I have left to mean something.
When we find the seventh and eighth spirits--
If we find them. What we need now is luck.
Luck has nothing to do with it.
Faith and hard work, girl...
...because I'll be damned if you're going to die before me.
The council decided to postpone firing the Zeus cannon.
I guess I put on a good show.
Mind if I tag along?
You'll probably get bored.
So, what are you doing?
Oh, I see. You're giving me the silent treatment.
I'm scanning the city for the seventh spirit.
Hurry up, Neil.
-Almost got it. -What are you doing?
We're gonna strand them for a while.
Hey, don't look at me. It was his idea.
This was your idea?
We're just helping the captain out.
Where's your sense of romance?
You've seen how the captain looks at her.
It's amore, baby.
What's going on?
It's probably just a glitch.
-Listen, Aki-- -I'm still mad at you.
-You're mad? -Leaving your helmet on.
Not telling me who you were. That doesn't seem a little childish?
I was upset when you left for the Zeus Station without a word.
-Now you know what was going on. -Yeah.
My operation had to be done in zero grav.
Fine.
I was there on a job and you wouldn't even see me.
I was probably helping Dr. Sid collect spirit waves.
-Now I know. -I'm sorry!
Well, me too! We're both sorry.
Will you tell me about them?
About what?
About the spirits you've collected.
I was infected by a Phantom during an experiment.
-Normally, no one could have survived. -How did you?
Dr. Sid created a membrane around the infection, keeping me alive.
So the first spirit wave was me.
The second was a fish.
A fish?
The third was a deer I found in a wildlife preserve outside Moscow.
The fourth was a bird.
Ever tried to track a sparrow from outer space? It's no fun.
-You'd probably love that. -Right, I probably would.
And then there was that plant I collected from Times Square.
-I thought that was number six. -What?
You skipped one.
The fifth was a llttle girl dying in a hospital emergency room.
I retrieved the sample in time, but she....
I told her everything had a spirit: Dogs, cats, trees, llttle girls.
Even the Earth.
I told her she wasn't dying, but returning to the Earth's spirit...
...to Gaia.
She told me that she was ready to die.
She said I didn't have to make up stories to make her feel better.
Only 7 years old and ready to die.
I'm sorry.
I have work to do. I have to find the seventh and eighth spirits.
Don't, please.
You don't believe any of this, do you?
I just don't know, Aki.
Is this why you shut me out?
You should have told me.
I don't know how much time I have left.
Who does?
I'd better get back to scanning.
Captain Edwards...
...you extracted a Dr. Ross from Old New York several days ago?
-Yes, sir. -What were your impressions of her?
She seemed very capable and determined, sir.
You and the Deep Eyes are being temporarily reassigned.
You will guard Dr. Ross when she reenters the wasteland.
Understood, sir.
You don't understand yet, captain.
Report any aberrant behavior in Dr. Ross to the major immediately.
Aberrant behavior?
The woman carries an alien infestation. We don't know what it may be doing to her.
Alien presence might affect her judgment.
It may be manipulating the doctor for their very own purpose.
Is the general suggesting that Dr. Ross is a spy?
The general is wondering why he's explaining himself to a captain.
She's had prolonged exposure to Phantom tissue.
If this begins to manifest itself in any way...
...Dr. Ross is to be placed under arrest and transported here for observation.
It is, in fact, for her own good, Captain.
Of course, sir.
Major, send some of our men to keep an eye on the good captain.
I'm convinced these dreams are some form of communication.
The message still eludes me...
...but they're coming faster now and that can only mean one thing.
The Phantoms inside me are beginning to win.
Our target is 50 klicks west of Tucson.
Phantom concentration?
Not good. We've got big metas everywhere.
It's gonna be a real picnic.
Stick close to me. No heroics today. Everything by the book.
By the book. Right.
If we drop energy buoys here, here and here...
...we can acquire the target and get out before they know we were there.
The buoys attract the Phantoms?
-Yeah. -For a while.
So you're from the 307th, right? Under General Hein?
Ever done wasteland recon before? It can get pretty ugly.
Captain, rendezvous for evac at vector 6, coordinate 279.
Roger. Stay alert for hostiles.
Looks llke they've taken the bait.
The seventh spirit should be just beyond that llne of wreckage.
How could any llving thing survive out here?
We'll find out soon enough.
This was the Phantom Cleansing Mission.
It was supposed to end the war.
My father's in here somewhere.
All right.
Let's move out, people.
I'll be damned.
A survivor.
What's it doing out here?
Hoping for llfe to return.
Is that our spirit, doc?
No.
We're closing in on the llfe form.
-Distance? -Hard to say. We're very close.
I don't see anything.
-You're not gonna tell me it's him? -That's impossible.
It's not the soldier. It's his ovo-pac.
How do you explain that? The pacs power our weapons, the barrier cities....
I mean it's just bio-etheric energy.
To create that energy we use llving tissue. Single-cell organisms.
-You're telling me that his backpack is the seventh spirit? -Yes.
We have incoming. Captain? Do read me?
Say again?
We have incoming.
Ryan, get the soldier's pac.
I need a hand! Sarge!
-Those buoys? They're not working. -Yeah.
-Are you all right? -Of course, I am.
Let's get the hell out of here!
Something's not right. This shouldn't be happening.
Something's attracting them.
Aki!
-They're right on us, sir, closing in fast! -Jane, take the lead.
Fire in the hole!
Get us out of here, Neil.
-Sir, I would love to, but I ... -Just do it!
Okay, that's it.
That doesn't look good.
We have to get her to a hospital.
-You have your orders, sir. -What the hell's going on?
Dr. Ross is to be taken into custody now, sir.
Lower your weapons. That's an order!
Sir, we have no choice, but to relieve you of your command.
I won't let you do this, soilder. You'll have to shoot me.
Stand down, Captain!
Aki!
Hang on, everyone!
That's enough. Hands where I can see them now.
Deep Eyes, hard to starboard!
Neil, get us back to New York, fast!
The Deep Eyes are returning from the wastelands, sir.
Apparently there was an incident.
It would seem the Phantoms were attracted to Dr. Ross.
The crew barely escaped with their lives.
Captain Edwards is still in command.
Issue an order.
I want Edwards and Dr. Ross placed under arrest.
All research materials pertaining to Dr. Sid's wave theory...
...are to be confiscated immediately.
That might not go over well with the council.
What a tragedy that would be.
This is perfect. The good captain has opened the door for us.
By tommorow morning, the council will be at our feet...
...thanking us for exposing the traitors and imploring us...
...to save them from the Phantoms.
How is she, doctor?
-She is dying. -There must be something you can do.
Aki is fighting with only six of the spirits.
We'll have to implant the seventh directly into her chest plate.
It took a bullet. I think it might be damaged.
We have to repair this panel quickly.
Her vital signs are dropping. Aki is slipping away from us.
She needs a sympathetic spirit to help hold her in this world.
I can think of none better suited for that task than yours, captain.
-I don't understand. -You don't have to understand.
You just be with her now.
You keep her here with us.
Aki? Where are we?
On an alien planet.
How is that possible?
I'm not entirely sure.
You seem pretty calm.
I've been having this dream every night for months.
Dream?
Well, whatever it is.
You're really here, aren't you?
What's happening to me?
Sid is implanting the seventh spirit directly into your body.
Then you're my spiritual support.
Gray, how sweet of you.
Look, I don't think you realize how serious this situation is.
Something you should see here, sir.
And I am watching what, major?
It seems Dr. Ross has been recording her dreams.
And why would I be interested in...
...her dreams?
This is it. This is our evidence.
She's under the influence of the Phantoms.
The dreams should be all the council needs to authorize the Zeus cannon.
The council is content to hide cowardly inside this barrier...
...while the world dies more every day.
I believe they need a push in the right direction.
Get together a group of your most trusted men.
What are they doing ?Why are they staring at us?
Not at us.
Welcome back, captain.
Is it over?
How is she, doctor?
She'll be fine. But this is only temporary.
We'll need to find the eighth and final spirit to cure her.
Aki, can you hear me?
I finished it.
I know what it means.
I know what the Phantoms really are.
Nobody move! You're all under arrest!
We have them, sir.
Sir?
My wife and daughter...
...were killed by Phantoms in the San Francisco Barrier when the city was attacked.
Did I ever tell you that?
I try to imagine what that must have been llke...
...seeing everyone around you fall over dead for no apparent reason.
And then, at the end, feeling something next to you...
...invisible...
...touching you...
...reaching inside your body....
You've lost family, haven't you?
Yes, sir.
That's why I trust you.
All of you.
You know what must be done.
Security override.
What's happening?
Perimeter breach.
Major, arrest these men.
-Take it easy. -Stand up. Go.
You are relieved of your post. Don't ask questions.
Reduce power to Sector 31.
Sir, you do realize that the Phantoms--
What I realize...
...is we must force the council to take action.
25% of energy pipe alpha redirected.
Lowering power output to Sector 31.
Barrier breach in Sector 31, General. They're coming through now.
We can handle a few Phantoms in a contained space.
Relax, major. When this night's over, you're going to be a hero.
-Aki I don't think ... -You were in my dream, Gray. You saw it.
I'm not sure what I saw. How can you be?
Captain, please, let her continue.
Why do you think we've never been able to determine...
...a relationship between the human-sized Phantoms and the giant ones roaming the wastelands?
Excuse me, doc, but what frigging relationship?
I mean you got your human-sized Phantoms, and your creepy caterpillary Phantoms...
...your flying Phantoms and let's not forget my personal favorite...
...the big, fat, giant Phantoms.
Down, boy.
He's right. If you've spent as much time in the field as we have...
...you know there is no relationship. It's llke a zoo out there.
Precisely. I think the giant ones are llke our whales or elephants.
But why would an invading army bring a bunch of whales and elephants along for the ride?
Unless their ship was some kind of a crazy Noah's Ark?
We have always assumed that the meteor...
...was intended as a form of transportation. But it wasn't.
The meteor is a chunk of their planet that got thrown into space...
...when they destroyed their world.
But how could they survive the trip across outer space on a hunk of rock?
They didn't.
Oh. This is all beginning to make a creepy kind of sense.
What do you think about all this, Captain?
I think that explains why we never had a chance.
All our strategies are based on one assumption:
That we were fighting alien invaders.
Think of the dream, Gray. How they died.
Since then, all they've known is suffering.
They're not an invading army.
They're ghosts.
How many Phantoms?
More than enough to convince the council.
Excellent. Sound an alert. Send a squad out to eliminate them.
Alert status. Full deployment.
I have numerous Phantom contacts!
Of course you do.
Outside of Sector 31 and moving at incredible speed.
What the hell is going on?
They're in the pipes.
They're moving with the bio-etheric energy flow.
That's impossible. Nothing could survive in those pipes.
Well we've got a big one heading this way. Meta class, sir.
Oh, my God.
Hold your fire!
What have I done?