A sleep-deprived professor pushes to finish the Ether System, a seawater-to-energy lifeline for two billion people. He’s told a flawless new proposal exists and that the student inventor, Alaric Thorne, must be brought to the chief. The Crisis Division and military arrive to escort Alaric from campus while classmates murmur they recognize him. At headquarters, Harvey presents a complete Ether System design and confirms Alaric as its creator. As the chief prepares to depart with the student, someone shouts, "No! You can't go, chief!", leaving Alaric's fate and the rollout uncertain.