Scene 06: Origins
The investigation had started months before.. As the team had just tracked down a suspect spotted inserting implants into a relay node of Nexta Corp’s communications grid. Whoever they were, these perps were always a few steps ahead, and the situation was becoming critical. Motoko suddenly started to feel things coming back into place. Something big had happened.

Scene 07: Underground Attack
Initially starting as a commercial implementation of the NeXTA project, Nexta Corp eventually realized that physical transportation and distribution in the physical world had its virtual counterparts.. The world of information, networked people and things, all connected as one on the grid… It became inconceivable to think what would happen if The Grid might get disconnected. Yet, despite being deep underground, NeXTA’s control centers were being attacked, and compromised… Motoko was somehow involved in all this.

Scene 08: Firewall
The Grid.. had become the world, and needed to be defended at any cost. But it was still fragile… distributed.. still with many vulnerabilities. Unlike the early Internet which connected computers and inanimates, The Grid evolved to integrate citizens, their thoughts and memories interconnected and protected by Firewall. Motoko could feel its presence. In a way, she felt like she was a part of it somehow.

Scene 09: Platinum Prophet
As NeXTA’s control centers became compromised, citizens started reporting the appearance of a strange presence… Guiding their every thought, the presence would intervene in important decisions, presenting unusual information and options guiding their decisions. Then a glowing figure would present itself floating in full field view: The platinum colored avatar would smile back, with a kind and benevolent face, instilling comfort and confidence. Media labelled this appearance as “The Platinum Prophet” - as it became apparent that those who followed its advice somehow found their lives taking a turn for the better...

Scene 10: Alternating Currents
Although The Grid had done away with many physical world problems, reducing all planetary distance to a single point, it brought about new problems.. Cyberterror became very personal and very real.. Who was watching you? What did they want? Now The Platinum Prophet turned this equation into something not seen before. The Prophet appeared benevolent. But no one in government or industry could identify its origin, or its motives. This was a deep cause for concern for institutions used to controlling the population. Despite being harmless, and possibly even helpful, it needed to be controlled.