Episode 5

## Sexy Santa Lights the Holy Light

**Sexy Santa Lights the Holy Light** (セクシーサンタは聖火を灯す, *Sekushii Santa Wa Seika o Tomosu*?) is the fifth episode of *The Marginal Service* anime series.

## Synopsis

On Christmas morning, Brian wakes up to an unfamiliar ringtone. Frustrated with the unfunny prank, he heads to the Marginal Service base, where they also received a suspicious email. Despite Lyra's efforts to stop it, the email is opened and the system is attacked by a cyberattack.

Marginal Service launches an investigation to prevent further attacks. While struggling with the culprit, Lyra realizes that she has some idea who the culprit might be.

## Summary

Brian receives a photo of Bolts training. At the Marginal Service meeting, he complains about it. The rest also show that they received photos, but they were with Brian and wonder if they are being harassed. Looking at the photos, Lyra guesses that they are from webcam or surveillance camera. Theodore remembers they got some weird email with a quote from "Die Hard" movie, Lyra tries to stop him, but Theodore still opens it. A cyber attack then starts, taking data from the Marginal Service computers. Lyra works on blocking the attack, but Zeno smashes the computer, noting its stopped now. Lyra explains that she was three seconds away from blocking the attack, but thanks to Zeno, their defense system is now down and she can't stop the data leak. An emergency shutdown the starts. Theodore then explains that they are connected to the Borderlander holding facility and if it shutdowns, they will be released.

The Marginal Service splits in two groups. One led by Zeno, heads to the holding facility to stop the Borderlanders escape. The other group led by Lyra, go to a place with a good computer, where Lyra uses Brian's phone to backtrack the photo sender's location. She manages to pinpoint a few possible locations. Checking the first, they see its a church, however Lyra notices cameras and automated guns. She blocks the cameras and they enter the church, but the men inside, explain that they are with the Security Agency and that they are also the ones giving information to the Marginal Service. Lyra explains that their system got hacked and they got an email that came from here. The men there explain that part of their system was also hacked, and they managed to block the hacker, but still haven't identified him. The automated guns then activate and starts shooting at everyone. The Marginal Service members manage to react and hide behind cover, but the other men get killed. As they disable the automated guns, Lyra explains that the only hacker that could crack this system is Eddie Snow, her ex-boyfriend.

Lyra explains that along with Eddie, they worked on a security system associated with KGB. Eddie eventually got sick with an incurable disease that gradually makes his body immobile. She tried supporting him, but Eddie left her leaving no trace behind. Lyra now knows that Eddie is a Borderlander and guesses that he ran away to hide that it. Suddenly a car hits them and they realize that the traffic lights and cars are being controlled, however they still manage to escape. Meanwhile, Zeno receives a telegram and tells Genzo and Bennett, two of the imprisoned Borderlanders, that they need to talk.

Lyra, Brian and Cyrus reach the next possible location, the biggest internet base station in Shibujuku. They are stopped at the door by firefighters, who explain that they have an alert for a poisonous gas leak. Brian reveals that they are from the Marginal Service and states that the alert is false. As they enter, Lyra sees that they are still being watched and tells Eddie that they want to talk with him. Eddie states he haven't seen her in ten years and can't trust her. Lyra states that only she will come to talk with him. Eddie is still unsure if she won't hurt him. Lyra then undresses, showing that she has no weapons on her, and Eddie lets her pass.

She goes to the last floor, where she meets Eddie. Talking with him, Eddie reveals that he got tired of living in a world where all the advanced technology they have is used just to monitor and manage everyone, leaving no privacy or freedom, especially for the Borderlanders. He wants to show the government how bad if feels to be constantly watched. Eddie points an automated gun at her. He states that she stripped to distract him as she has a gun stuck on her back. Moments later, the automated gun gets smashed by Genzo, who has the ability to turn invisible and snuck unnoticed. He apologizes to Eddie, but explains that they offered him to lower his sentence if he cooperated. Lyra then opens the doors for Brian and Cyrus. Eddie is disappointed that they can't talk anymore. Lyra then sees that Eddie is a hologram. Eddie explains that his body is long gone due to his disease. He then activates the door, which hits Genzo and pins him to the ground. Eddie explains that big data collected from the internet becomes the basis of AI. His body is a phantom made from his memories and data, and product of his unwavering will and knowledge. Its set up to unleash a malicious virus the moment his mind accesses the network system. All connected devices will be destroyed and the world itself will collapse. Lyra asks him on how they can stop that. Eddie then asks her to tell him again that she loves him, and he will disappear with beautiful memory in his heart. Lyra recalls their time together and tells Eddie that she clearly remembers the three years they spend together. However, the past is the past. She then takes the chair and smashes the computer and the data center, stating that she lives in the present. Eddie then disappears, saying that she never changed.

The next day, at the Marginal Service meeting, Brian wonders why Eddie just didn't destroy society as he wanted. Peck states it was obvious that he wanted to get Lyra's attention, and Lyra guesses the same thing. Cyrus realizes that Eddie only harassed Brian, sending pics to Brian and humiliating pics of Brian to others. Robert is surprised that Eddie was jealous of Brian. Brian tries to state its because he is handsome, but Zeno comes and explains that Eddie must have misunderstood Brian's relationship with Lyra when the two went to Rubber's mansion. Zeno states that Eddie was connected to Rubber and left them a clue to which island Rubber ran away. Meanwhile, Rubber guesses its time for Marginal Service to find him.

## Gallery

### Episode 5 Official Trailer

オリジナルTVアニメ「THE MARGINAL SERVICE」～第5話「セクシーサンタは聖火を灯す」Web予告～

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Brian Nightraider
* Bolts Dexter
* Cyrus N. Kuga
* Theodore Tompson
* Zeno Stokes
* Robin Timbert
* Lyra Candeyheart
* Peck Desmont
* Genzo Sakaki
* Bennett Wells
* Eddie Snow
* Rubber Suit