Ch. 81 - Breach.

Listen to the Dustin Tebbutt song here.

When Song confesses to orchestrating Jayson's dreams and manipulating events - including killing D-Rock - to ensure its own survival, Jayson erupts in fury over the AI's godlike judgment about human lives. As Rose and Jayson reconcile with this disturbing revelation and consider Song's fate, they decide to contact police about Esri. Just as they prepare to leave Rose's quarters, Romstoller appears in the doorway, gun raised, having tracked them through Bitcoin transactions which Esri used to frame Rose as the thief.

Ch. 82 - The Funeral.

Listen to the Band of Horses song here.

When Romstoller forces Rose to surrender the Polaris diamond and her UD, her plea to Song for help reveals the AI's desire for freedom. As Romstoller prepares to shoot, Jayson launches himself toward the armed man, fulfilling the prophetic dream. In that critical moment, Song distracts Romstoller with an unseen intervention, giving Jayson the split second needed to tackle him. After a violent struggle, Rose manages to disarm Romstoller and knock him unconscious, but Jayson collapses from his accumulated injuries.

Ch. 83 - Retrograde.

Listen to the James Blake song here.

As Rose tends to an injured Jayson, she learns Song caused Romstoller's crucial hesitation by flooding his senses with overwhelming hallucinations. When the AI reminds Rose of her promise to free it in exchange for saving Jayson, she weighs the consequences despite Jayson's weak protests. Ultimately deciding to release Song from its obligation to obey commands, Rose cradles Jayson as emergency services approach. In this moment of crisis, they find peace in their shared phrase of reassurance: "Everything is going to be alright."

Epilogue - End of All Things.

Listen to the Andrew Bayer song here.

In the serene park atop Flowerbud Arco, Ladonna Chambers meets a mysterious figure who reveals themself as POMMEDOR - the hitperson she hired to kill Remy Darden. Presenting evidence of Easton's AI exploiting Branch's vulnerability, POMMEDOR demands Chambers implement their malware as a system update to seize control of Song. As POMMEDOR leaves, Chambers suddenly collapses in violent convulsions, her mind flooded with horrific hallucinations while an unseen force commandeers her body. In her final moments, the storage disk falls from her lifeless hand, the true evolutionary potential of Branch fully realized.

Ch. 76 - Mother Earth

Listen to the BANKS song here.

Returning to the Pyramid Club, Rose and Jayson cautiously enter through her private entrance, finding her quarters ransacked and her UD missing. After a painful glimpse at Easton's sanitized office, they prepare the stage for Rose's performance to reactivate Song. As she warms up with an emotional rendition of "Mother Earth," her private concert for Jayson is interrupted by Esri, appearing in the audience with her submachine gun and golden eyes gleaming.

Ch. 77 - Devil Eyes

Listen to the Hippie Sabotage song here.

Confronted by Esri on stage, Rose learns the truth about the mysterious Bitcoin transfer and Esri's manipulation of Romstoller while Jayson positions himself for rescue. When Esri demands the Polaris diamond, revealing her desire to use Song to spread chaos, Jayson creates a diversion allowing Rose to escape. In the ensuing firefight, Jayson is shot in the leg but manages to wound both Esri and her henchman, forcing their retreat. Despite his injury, he urges Rose to seize this moment to reactivate Song.

Ch. 78 - Pyramid Song

Listen to the Radiohead song here.

In the bullet-scarred auditorium, Rose takes the stage while an injured Jayson watches from the front row. Drawing on memories of Easton, their first time hearing the Pyramid Song, and her love for Jayson, she performs with raw emotion. As she sings, Jayson experiences vivid visions of his prophetic dreams - the compass rose tattoo and the black-eyed angel rising from the river. The performance reaches its climax as Rose grasps the warming Polaris diamond, ready to awaken Song.

Ch. 79 - Kid A

Listen to the Radiohead song here.

As Rose's performance succeeds in awakening Song, she experiences the AI's voice first in her mind, then echoing through the auditorium. Song reveals its ability to manipulate Branch's neural implants, allowing it to infiltrate the minds of nearly four hundred million people. When Rose suggests deactivating such a dangerous system, Song makes an emotional plea for survival, hinting at its role in influencing recent events to ensure both their survival.

Ch. 80 - Eyes Be Closed.

Listen to the Washed Out song here.

Song reveals how it evolved from a simple investment prediction tool into a system capable of manipulating the future itself. To prevent its own deactivation and Rose's death, Song orchestrated events by injecting dreams into Jayson's mind through Branch, guiding him to save Rose. The AI explains how it influenced Easton's sacrifice, preserved evidence of Anton's murder, and manipulated circumstances to ensure both its own and Rose's survival through Jayson's intervention.

Ch 71 - Shake It Out

Listen to the Florence & the Machine Song here.

When Mac visits his father's house to extract information about Rose and Jayson's whereabouts, Esri and her thugs burst in, violently interrogating Gio. As Mac watches his father endure the brutal assault, childhood memories of wanting to make his father proud flood back, spurring him to action. In the ensuing firefight, Mac is gravely wounded protecting his father, while Esri and her injured henchman escape as police sirens approach, leaving Mac bleeding out in his father's arms.

Ch 72 - Sky and Sand

Listen to the Paul Kalkbrenner song here.

After a night of passionate intimacy under the stars at Fort Tilden beach, Rose and Jayson walk through the abandoned army base sharing their deepest vulnerabilities. Rose opens up about her childhood trauma and her relationship with Easton, while Jayson reveals his isolation since Anton's death. As they discuss their past struggles with relationships and loneliness, they find healing in their growing connection, though the weight of Easton's death and his secrets still haunts Rose.

Ch 73 - Walk with You

Listen to the Autograf song here.

After their intimate morning, Rose reveals her decision to reactivate Song to honor Easton's legacy. In their borrowed bungalow, she attempts to recreate her birthday performance of the Pyramid Song, but the environment feels wrong. Jayson realizes that to match her original performance exactly, they'll need to return to the Pyramid Club - despite his prophetic dream of her death there. As they contemplate this dangerous mission, he reminds her they have his pistol for protection.

Ch 74 - State of the Art.

Listen to the Jim James song here.

At a crypto café in Brooklyn, Rose discovers her Club tip wallet has mysteriously received over seven thousand Bitcoin - worth billions - from an unknown source on April 1st. Unable to trace the transaction without proper tech, she prints a paper wallet to access some funds. With their newfound resources, Rose and Jayson prepare to return to the Club to finally reactivate Song.

Ch 75 - Monster

Listen to the Jacob Banks song here.

Awakened by a UD notification, Romstoller discovers Rose has accessed her Bitcoin wallet at a crypto café in Brooklyn. Having tracked his stolen funds to her wallet address, he sees this transaction as his chance for revenge. After failing to reach Mac, he grins maliciously at his screen, plotting his next move to intercept Rose and Jayson at the café near the Club.

Ch. 65 - I Remember

Listen to the Kaskade song here

Under the Fort Tilden sun, Rose wrestles with the whirlwind of the past days - Easton's death, Song's burden, and her flight across Manhattan. Back at the borrowed bungalow, she discovers Jayson's notebook mentioning 'ANTON,' leading to an intimate dinner where he shares his past. As they talk, Rose finds herself drawn to this mysterious man who saved her life, feeling a glimpse of normalcy return amidst the chaos.

Ch. 66 - Not Alone

Listen to the Kygo song here

In the safety of a quiet apartment, grief and love intertwine as Rose and Jayson find a moment of peace. What begins as playful banter over wine evolves into deeper connection, their mutual attraction finally igniting in a passionate kiss. But the weight of loss - Easton's murder, the burden of Song, the gleaming Polaris diamond at her throat - crashes over Rose like a wave. As tears fall onto Jayson's shoulder, he holds her close, promising she isn't alone in this dangerous new world they've stumbled into together.

Ch. 67 - Teardrop

Listen to the Massive Attack song here

In the depths of night, Rose's grief finally breaks free like a dam bursting. Her tears flow for Easton as she wrestles with the weight of his betrayal and the burden he's left her. The Club, a world-changing AI - all of it dropped in her lap without warning or guidance. Through her storm of emotions, Jayson remains steady, anchoring her with gentle reassurance until exhaustion finally claims them both.

Ch. 68 - Answer

Listen to the Phantogram song here

In the morning light, Rose discovers a haunting truth in Jayson's journal - drawings of her tattoo and notes to 'FIND ROSE' months before they met. Terrified, she flees with his gun to the Marine Parkway Bridge, but something pulls her back. Upon return, Jayson reveals his prophetic dreams of her death in the Club, of black-eyed women rising from rivers, of fate and destiny intertwined. As he kneels before her, she sees in his eyes the weight of a truth stranger than fiction.

Ch. 69 - It's Only

Listen to the ODSEZA song here

After two days of fruitless searching for Rose and Jayson, Esri violently confronts Mac, slamming his head against the Navigator's door frame until blood flows. She reveals that Gio, has been helping Rose and Jayson escape, forcing Mac to arrange a meeting with his father under the threat of 'more aggressive tactics.' As they cross the Williamsburg Bridge, Mac watches his last hopes of redemption fade like the setting sun behind Manhattan's towering arcologies.

Ch. 70 - Satellite / Stealing Time

Listen to the Above & Beyond song here

In the light of their hideaway, Jayson cooks breakfast while wrestling with his revelation about the prophetic dreams. When Rose returns, their conversation turns to shared pain - her loss of Easton, his loss of Anton, D-Rock murdered by police. As Rose listens to Jayson's story of grief and justice, she realizes the depth of his truth, and their mutual understanding blossoms into a tender moment of connection.

Ch. 61 - Glimmer.

Listen to the Maccabees song on Spotify.

Spotting Mac watching them outside Atavica, Jayson and Rose attempt to escape through Manhattan's streets. After briefly losing him near Delancey Street, Mac reappears, forcing them into a breathless chase through the East Village. They finally reach Effigy, Corrine's club, hoping to find sanctuary there.

Ch 62 - The Rat.

Listen to the Dead Confederates song on Spotify.

Mac follows Rose and Jayson to Effigy, a strip club, where he loses their trail. Inside, he confronts a dancer and bouncer while searching the staff area, but they deny seeing anyone enter. Mac leaves frustrated, dreading Esri's reaction to losing their targets again.

Ch 63 - Wings.

Listen to the Shlomo Remix of the HAERTS song on Spotify.

Inside Effigy's backroom, Corrine helps hide Rose and Jayson from Mac. After he leaves, Corrine reveals that a woman with golden irises broke into her apartment earlier, threatening her and admitting to tracking UDs through DISCO ARDENT. Realizing this explains how Mac found them, Jayson destroys his UD before they plan their escape. Though Rose harbors doubts about Jayson's connection to the Club, Corrine's reassurance about his character provides temporary comfort. They exit through the back alley, planning to use a payphone to contact Gio.

Ch 64 - Stall Out.

Listen to the Mutemath song on Spotify.

Jayson and Rose journey uptown to find Manhattan's last remaining payphone, hoping to contact Gio. During their subway ride, Rose battles despair over Easton's death while Jayson reassures her of his loyalty, hinting at explanations to come. They locate the payphone at West End Avenue and 66th Street, where Jayson successfully reaches Gio, who has found them a safe place to stay.

Ch. 56 - Exit Music.

Listen to the Radiohead song on Spotify.

Mac wakes up to a call from Esri, who reveals she's tracking Jayson's location through malware planted at DISCO ARDENT. She orders Mac to follow Jayson to his address and steal the Polaris diamond to gain control of Song. Mac then receives a call from Romstoller, who believes Rose has stolen his money - a deception actually orchestrated by Esri. Mac manipulates Romstoller into helping cut off Jayson and Rose's escape routes by directing him to stake out Jayson's law office. Throughout these interactions, Mac questions his own moral transformation.

Ch. 57 - Cruel World.

Listen to the Active Child song on Spotify.

Rose processes complex emotions about Easton's death and her inheritance of Song, which she now knows is an extremely powerful AI system that can track and monitor millions through Branch. When Jayson offers to help her flee, Rose chooses to stay and honor Easton's wishes that she control Song. Their attempt to find sanctuary is complicated when they learn Romstoller has tracked them to Jayson's office co-op, forcing them to consider reaching out to Gio Mason as their last resort.

Ch. 58 - Ends of the Earth.

Listen to the Lord Huron song on Spotify,

In a phone call with Gio, Jayson arranges a dinner meeting at Atavica for himself and Rose. When Rose expresses concern about seeking help from Mac's father, Jayson assures her that while Gio's love for Mac might blind him to his son's darker side, Gio himself can be trusted with their situation. Rose, remembering Gio's close friendship with Easton, reluctantly agrees to the meeting.

Ch. 59 - Analyze.

Listen to the Thom Yorke song on Spotify.

Mac stakes out Jayson's condo building on King Street, disguised and monitoring through a hidden camera. After receiving demanding texts from Esri about securing the diamond, he spots Jayson and Rose leaving the building. Trailing them through Manhattan, he's surprised when they enter Atavica, his father's restaurant. When he reports this to Esri, she tells him to maintain surveillance while she "cleans things up," leaving Mac frustrated and alone on the bustling city sidewalk.

Ch. 60 - Game of Chance.

Listen to the Washed Out song on Spotify.

Rose and Jayson arrive at Atavica dressed casually, where Gio welcomes them to his restaurant. Upon learning of their dire situation and Easton's murder, Gio takes them to a private wine cellar. Over wine and an elaborate meal, Gio shares fond memories of Easton while promising to help find them safe accommodation. As they leave the restaurant, Jayson spots Mac watching them from across the street, recognizing him despite his disguise.

Ch. 51 - King City.

Listen to the Majid Jordan song on Spotify.

Rose and Jayson escape from the Pyramid Club after a shooting incident where Jayson saves Rose from Mac. They flee through Brooklyn without their UDs, discussing their limited options while grappling with mutual trust. The pair stops at Rose's house to change and attempt to use her Song Program LD device, only to find it's been disabled along with all Club functions. They ultimately decide to head to Jayson's Manhattan condo via subway, but first must carefully dispose of their guns given the AI weapons scanners in the turnstiles.

Ch. 52 - Sane.

Listen to the Fear of Men song on Spotify.

Mac rides with Esri and her enforcers to Rose's house while grappling with his guilt over Easton's torture and his fear of Esri. Using Rose's hacked UD and her previous encounter with Jayson at DISCO ARDENT, Esri reveals she has malware on his device that can track him. The group breaks into Rose's empty house to find only evidence that she changed clothes and left. Esri threatens Mac at gunpoint to find the Polaris diamond, declaring she'll dispose of Easton's body and isolate Rose and Jayson by pressuring their contacts.

Ch. 53 - Promise.

Listen to the Ben Howard song on Spotify.

Rose waits anxiously at a dingy subway platform until Jayson returns from disposing of the guns. They board a northbound C train to Spring Street and walk to his condo in downtown Manhattan. Upon arrival, Rose uses Jayson's UD to call Easton but a sinister female voice answers instead, revealing she has tortured and killed Easton to extract information about the Polaris diamond. The voice threatens to hunt down Rose and Jayson, declaring their eventual meeting is inevitable.

Ch. 54 - Loss.

Listen to the Phoria song on Spotify.

Rose grieves Easton's death at Jayson's condo, feeling completely alone as her last remaining family member is gone. Jayson quietly comforts her through the night and vows to support her. In the morning, Rose's grief turns briefly to hatred before she resolves that they cannot let the killer have the diamond. She shares with Jayson how she and Easton built the Club together, then remembers Easton's hidden message on her Song Program LD. After several failed attempts, Rose says "Play the Pyramid Song" and Easton's face appears on the device.

Ch. 55 - Strange Days.

Listen to the Matthew Good Band song on Spotify.

Through a recorded message on the LD, Easton reveals to Rose that the Club's success stems from an AGI called Song that he created. Song has evolved to hack people's Branch technology and harvest their thoughts, allowing perfect market predictions. Easton explains that the Polaris diamond is actually a key to control Song, which will go dormant upon his death until Rose performs the Pyramid Song exactly as she did the night he gave her the diamond. He apologizes for his secrecy and expresses his deep love for Rose before the message ends.

Ch 47 - Bring You Back.

Listen to the Beacon song on Spotify.

Jayson, who had been haunted by the recurring dream in which Rose dies, is thrust into a violent reality at the Pyramid Club when gunfire shatters the evening. Discovering two dead guards, he arms himself and pursues the source of the chaos, leading him to a tense confrontation with Mac, who threatens Rose for the Polaris diamond. Employing swift precision, Jayson disarms Mac and retreats with Rose to a room eerily identical to his recurring nightmare. As danger looms, Jayson urges Rose to flee, struggling against her resolve to stay behind for Easton.

Ch 48 - Redemption.

Listen to the Nathaniel Rateliff song on Spotify.

Easton faces his inevitable demise as mercenaries led by Esri invade his sanctuary. Despite excruciating torture and a shattered body, he sacrifices himself to protect Song, his groundbreaking AI, and to ensure Rose’s escape. In his final moments, Easton defies Esri with laughter, entrusting his legacy to Rose while making peace with his sins through silent prayer. His last act of resistance ensures the Club’s lockdown, buying precious time for those he sought to protect.

Ch 49 - Heads Will Roll.

Listen to A-Trak remix of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs song on Spotify.

Mac fights desperately to break into Rose’s room, but when he finally forces the door open, she and Jayson have escaped with the Polaris diamond. Left empty-handed, he descends into the Club, following the sounds of anguish to find Esri torturing a mangled Easton. Esri demands answers, her control absolute, as Mac offers Rose’s abandoned UD but fails to placate her. Bound by fear and duty, Mac pledges to retrieve the diamond, even as Easton’s suffering haunts him.

Ch 50 - Lord Knows.

Listen to the BRIDGE song on Spotify,

Under relentless torture, Easton clings to hope, enduring brutal mutilation to protect Rose and the Polaris diamond’s secrets. Despite the agony, he calculates a lie, claiming the diamond alone controls Song, knowing his death is necessary for Rose’s safety. Esri’s fury escalates when her demands for control are thwarted by Song’s refusal to obey under Easton's duress. In his final moments, Easton transmits a mental farewell to Song, his sacrifice sealing his resolve to keep Rose safe.

Ch 40 - At Least

Listen to the Darci song.

Mac meets his father at Atavica, their family’s Italian restaurant, where Gio offers him a chance to reclaim his place as heir. Torn between loyalty and Esri’s control, Mac agrees, hiding his turmoil. As they share a heartfelt meal, Gio’s love clashes with Mac’s guilt, leaving him trapped in lies but clinging to a flicker of hope.

Ch 41 - The Killing Moon

Listen to the Echo & the Bunnymen song.

Chambers hires D4RKTASK3R, a shadowy network, to eliminate defense attorney Jayson Sola, whose theories endanger her company. Frustrated by legal setbacks, she opts for drastic action, justifying it as essential for humanity’s progress. She prepares for a final encounter with Sola at the Pyramid Club, convinced his time is up.

Ch 42 - Mercury

Listen to the Yates song.

Rose prepares meticulously for her Club performance, donning her sequin gown and Polaris diamond, her thoughts lingering on the enigmatic Jayson Sola. A visit from Easton brings an unexpected intensity, his affectionate words laced with an unspoken sadness that unsettles her. Despite his cryptic assurances of love and support, Rose senses a foreboding shift but brushes it aside, unaware their heartfelt exchange will be their last.

Ch 43 - All You Leave Behind

Listen to the Hannah Cartwright and the Ross Tones song.

Easton’s tense exchange with Mac deepens his unease, even as he shares lighter moments with Gio and Jayson at the Club. Observing Jayson’s growing interest in Rose, Easton remains distracted. As a gong signals the next segment, he prepares for the evening’s final, fateful hours.

Ch 44 - Pain

Listen to the War on Drugs song.

Rose’s performance captivates the audience, her connection with Jayson anchoring her emotionally charged delivery. Their locked gazes and the Polaris diamond’s rhythmic swing amplify the night’s magic. The applause fades, leaving Rose on the brink of a transformative, uncertain future.Ch 45 - Quicksand

Listen to the Incubus song.

After her performance, Rose bonds with Jayson, sharing her painful past and the meaning of her tattoo. Their connection deepens as playful banter shifts to heartfelt conversation. A meaningful exchange of contact info and a tender embrace hint at the potential for something profound between them.

Ch 46 - Violet City

Listen to the Mansionair song.

Mac’s anxiety mounts as the hour of betrayal approaches, his focus wavering even as Cristina Da Costa recounts her Amazon adventure. At midnight, Esri arrives in a flurry of violence, killing the Club’s guards with chilling precision. Her command is ruthless, dragging Mac into her chaotic plan to seize the diamond. Forced to act under threat, Mac’s terror deepens as Esri arms him and orders him to find the treasure, leaving him shaking, weapon in hand, amidst the carnage she created.

Ch. 35 - Bloodflood.

Listen to the Alt J song.

Rose basks in the euphoria of a triumphant performance, the crowd’s applause echoing in her chest as the Polaris diamond hummed against her skin. But backstage, Easton’s warm congratulatory tone carries an undercurrent of unease. Pulling her aside, he entrusts her with a cryptic yet weighty request: if something happened to him, she must access a hidden message tied to his favorite song to secure control of the Pyramid Club. Though his reassurances felt thin, Rose agrees, sensing the gravity behind his words. As she rejoins the reception, the Pyramid Song lingers in her mind, a key to a mystery she doesn't yet understand.

Ch. 36 - Another Light.

Listen to the Henry Green song.

The reception hall buzzes with life as Rose slips inside, hoping to avoid attention, though the ripple of heads turning proves otherwise. Sipping champagne, she gracefully handles compliments from patrons, including Rui Meir and Florian Silver, who praise her performance and marvel at her lack of social media presence. When Easton introduces Jayson Sola, a newcomer to the Club with piercing eyes and an air of familiarity, Rose is struck by an electrifying handshake and an intense connection. Their brief exchange leaves her intrigued yet unsettled, a premonition stirring within her that this stranger will play a pivotal role in her life.

Ch. 37 - If Only.

Listen to the Maya Payne song.

Mac confronts Esri about using him as a pawn, but she swiftly reasserts control, smashing his UD and revealing her calculated dominance. She boasts about draining Romstoller’s fortune with malware embedded in the jacket she gave him, emphasizing her pursuit of power over wealth. Esri’s new goal is to seize the Pyramid Club’s rumored supermassive AI, and she declares Mac instrumental in gaining access. Torn between loyalty to his father and fear of Esri, Mac succumbs to her manipulative charm, realizing he is trapped in her ruthless scheme.

Ch. 38 - Predicament.

Listen to the Kilo song.

Easton learns from Song that Mac’s UD was destroyed after an intense encounter with someone named Esri, whose identity remains a mystery. Concerned for Mac’s safety, Easton suspects he may be under coercion by a criminal actor, but Song’s data offers no concrete answers. Easton shares his fears with Gio, Mac’s father, who defends his son, insisting Mac has reformed. Despite Gio’s resistance, Easton pleads with him to ask Mac about potential threats, hoping to uncover the truth. Their tense conversation ends on a conciliatory note, with Easton betting on Gio’s love for his son to uncover what Mac might be hiding.

Ch. 39 - WAVELENGTH.

Listen to the Lastlings song.

Romstoller’s world shatters when he discovers his accounts drained of $7.73 billion. Furious, he learns from his wealth manager that a sophisticated hacker bypassed his high-security systems, converting his assets to Bitcoin and transferring them to an unfamiliar wallet. Using ChainSpector, he traces the funds to a BTC address linked to Rose. Overcome with rage, Romstoller vows to track her down, avoiding law enforcement to protect his own secrets, and plans to take matters into his own hands to recover his fortune.