A futuristic laboratory, illuminated by sterile blue and white lights. Transparent walls reveal streams of data and humming machines. In the center stands a glowing capsule, filled with liquid and containing a humanoid form—prototype A-009. Control panels display a looming celestial object approaching Earth. Dr. Katsura Takashi stands before the console, tension visible on her face. Batou, rugged and cyber-enhanced, waits nearby, arms crossed.

Rain falls on a slick, graffiti-laden alley bathed in neon lights from overhead advertisements. Jin, slightly battered, dashes under flickering signs, clutching a small high-tech disk. A looming synth-beast's shadow cuts through the mist behind him. The tension is palpable as Jin checks over his shoulder while catching his breath behind steel crates.

A high-rise penthouse filled with muted gold lighting. Floor-to-ceiling windows survey the city and, above, the encroaching celestial object. Holographic displays float before Mayako Ren, replaying scenes of urban unrest and skyward terror. She stands with impeccable poise and a glass in hand, her silk gown shimmering under the elegant lights.

Back in the lab, tension peaks as the capsule's glow intensifies. Dr. Katsura and Batou shelter behind a control desk as the machinery surges. The capsule slowly opens, mist escaping, and the humanoid within begins to move. Both watch, faces lit by blue light, torn between hope and dread.