In shock after her first kill, Aster buries her feelings as she and Halan prepare for QTA Manager Coley to arrive on the beacon. Coley immediately distrusts Halan and sees him as a threat, forcing Aster to make a tough decision.
Returning to Beacon 23, the inhabitants are still trapped under Aleph's watchful eye; after Aster's plan was cut short, Halan decides to see it through.
Iris, keeper of Beacon 67, learns of Halan's distress on Beacon 23; she decides to go help and is stunned by the disrepair; as they go about repairing the beacon, a strange occurrence leaves them confused and terrified.