“We think about it any other way, we might as well give up. Those people aren’t who they used to be.”
Mag

In Tucson, Arizona, the Imprinted drift through the urning buildings. Directive Four is active: Kill Echo.

Crouched behind a car, Alpha, Ivy 1 and Trevor watch nervously as the Imprinted establish a perimeter. Alpha takes their presence as confirmation — Echo must be close. He checks for imprinting signals — none. He instructs them to switch to secure channels: they need to find Echo first, and they can’t afford to be caught off guard.

Inside a nearby building, Ivy and Trevor hear movement. A man swings at them with a baseball bat; Ivy screams. Trevor knocks him to the floor — he’s not a Butcher. Butchers don’t look frightened. Ivy tells him they’re here to help. The man mentions Echo. He’s never met her, but he’s heard stories — she helped people escape into the mountains. She was meant to lead survivors out of the city, but never arrived. Ivy asks how he knows this. The man says he saw the cipher.

He holds up a piece of paper with a symbol. It looks meaningless — until paired with another, forming an arrow: a trail for survivors. But he lost the trail in Tucson. Trevor radios Alpha, asking if he’s found anyone else.

Elsewhere, Alpha ignores the call. He’s in a bathroom. A body lies on the floor. Knife still dripping, he looks down and tells himself that was the “last one.”

Another voice speaks from the same mouth. “We made a deal. You want to save the world, you let me have fun…”

Alpha argues with himself — imprinted people, not survivors. His murderous persona doesn’t see the difference. That survivor wouldn’t have lasted. The voice warns him not to interfere, or someone Alpha cares about — like Trevor — will die.

Alpha resists. They need Trevor. But the savage side insists: making Trevor a hero won’t redeem Alpha’s past. Alpha concedes — “he can have whoever he wants, but not Trevor.” The radio crackles. Alpha answers, glancing back at the body. He lies to Trevor — no survivors found.

In Hollywood, on a rooftop, Zone studies a photo of his partner. Then he rises, cocks his gun, and stares out at the Hollywood Hills.

Back in Arizona, Ivy tells Alpha about the ciphers. Alpha suspects Echo has found them — a cipher has been drawn on the truck while they were away. They have to follow the breadcrumbs.

Inside, Ivy 3 has modified the imprinting device Ivy 2 built. It now sends Butchers into a blank state. Trevor is relieved — no need for a gun. It’s non-lethal, Ivy admits — Trevor’s idea. The Ivies mourn Ivy 2’s death. Ivy 1 is surprised when his doppelgänger kisses him.

In Hollywood, Butchers circle abandoned vehicles en route to the Hills. Zone climbs atop a car and taunts them. One knocks him down, raises a weapon. Zone waits, tells the Butcher to finish it.

A shot rings out. Mag arrives with Griff, saving Zone. She helps him up, tells him he may not want help — but he’s getting it.

In Tucson, Trevor decodes another cipher. He confronts Alpha about Echo — the obsession, the treatment. Alpha admits he was different then — many people. He was selfish. He didn’t want to be alone. He wanted Echo to be like him. He stops speaking — a Butcher approaches.

Trevor steps forward, uses the device. The Butcher reverts to a blank Doll state — helpless, childlike. Trevor instructs him to wait in a nearby house. Alpha watches, notes Echo will love Trevor — always caring for the vulnerable.

Trevor believes Echo can restore them all — even Alpha. But Alpha reveals his original personality was monstrous, even before Rossum. Trevor is stunned. Alpha assures him he’s changed. He has purpose now. He points — the cipher leads that way.

In Hollywood, Mag asks Zone if he wanted to die. Zone asks when she thinks Butchers die — at imprinting, or when he shoots them. She says imprinting. She has to believe that — otherwise, they’ve already lost. Those people — and themselves — aren’t who they were. She insists they’ll help with the transmitter.

In Arizona, Alpha is amused — the latest cipher points to a toy shop. One that sells dollhouses. Trevor doesn’t understand. Before Alpha can explain, a gun presses against his head.

Paul Ballard.

He’s not taking chances. Last time, Alpha stole his brain and left him for dead. Ballard warns Trevor not to move — or Alpha’s personalities end up on the pavement. Alpha insists they’re on the same side — searching for Echo. Paul’s here to keep Alpha away from her. He left the ciphers. Echo doesn’t have time for madmen.

Alpha doesn’t take kindly to that. He hurls himself and Paul through the shop window. Glass shatters. Paul reaches for his gun, aims at Alpha. Trevor intervenes. He threatens Paul with a blank imprint. “Alpha can take it. I bet you can’t.”

Paul brings up Alpha’s past. Trevor insists he’s changed. He’s evolved. Paul calls it a lie. Trevor says Alpha doesn’t kill.

But Paul has been tracking them — following the bodies. At least half a dozen.

Then Alpha speaks. “It’s the only way I could get everyone in my head to cooperate. To keep our mission on track.”

Trevor is horrified. He runs. Alpha watches him go. Paul strikes Alpha with an iron bar. Alpha collapses.

“He’s better off without you,” Ballard snarls. “In fact, we’ll all be better off without you.”