“Second Time” is episode thirteen of season two of Continuum and the season finale.
In the previous episode, “Second Last”, Emily revealed to Alec that she had been assigned to him by Escher and he in turn revealed that the globe that Escher wanted is a time travel device. According to Jason – who, going by the DNA test, appears to be Alec’s father, the Freelancers can track the device, and they turned up at Jason’s place. Why they didn’t arrive at Alec’s lab is a good question. During the ensuing firefight, Emily threw the device away, which distracted Kiera who went after it. As a result, Emily was shot and killed by the Freelancers, and Alec did not take it well. There has always been a difference between how the Alec of the future is supposed to be and the Alec of the present is; the death of Emily may be a cause. Alec himself went to see Escher.
This episode opens in the future with Kiera looking at the image of the device that was connected to a murder of a Sadtech scientist in the previous episode, which she believes is connected to the Liber8 executions. She’s still looking into it, even though she’s been taken of the case. Her husband wants to keep her away from the execution. Older Alec is informed, and he says that he will take steps. These steps include the transmission of information to her CMR directly, as was seen in “Second Chances”. Kiera’s husband seems to be keeping things from her. It’s now the day of the Liber8 execution., as seen in “A Stitch in Time”. Older Alec is in discussion with some others, saying that they know about the Liber8 plot to escape, but they need to let it unfold to catch the others involved. Given that he seems to be the one behind the plot, this seems unlikely. An assistant reports about a sect that is interfering, one that knows about Sadler’s research – the Freelancers. Alec enlists the help of someone else to deal with them – Jason.
In the present, Alec is meeting with Escher at Piron. He is not happy with Escher, and blames him for Emily’s death. Escher wants to know what happened. He also claims that he is Alec’s father. So who is actually Alec’s Father, Jason or Escher? Escher presents some convincing evidence. What Jason’s relationship with Alec actually is is revealed in another clip from the future later on in the episode.
Carlos is investigating a murder, one that appears to be linked to the Freelancers. He was supposed to bring Kiera in, but didn’t, and she is still being pursued by CSIS who think she is responsible for Gardiner’s death. Carlos wants Dillon to call off the APB. Kiera is still in contact with Carlos; she didn’t know about Emily’s death, and does blame herself to a degree. However, Dillon gets Betty to trace the call. Betty sends a text message to someone afterwards – Sonya, it seems. She asks Kellog why Kiera is meeting with Alec and Escher at Piron, and isn’t happy. Kellog says that he warned them about Escher, and that Garza was taken by someone connected to him in “Second Wave”. Kellog also states that Alec has reassembled the time machine and Escher has a suitable power source for it, so they can get to the future time they originally planned. Kellog wants Escher stopped so that he can’t use the device against them.
Kiera is arrested at Piron, perhaps due to the traced call, perhaps because Piron is funding the police department. Carlos is not happy with Betty and has discovered she is the mole for Liber8. He also isn’t that happy with Dillon, so breaks Kiera free, even though this will more than likely cost him his job. Not that Carlos is happy with how things have changed. Both Alec and Carlos are trying to send Kiera home. Dillon is not happy.
Escher wants Kiera to come to Piron, as does Alec, but for different reasons. Travis is heading for Piron as well, and he has a CPS suit too, just like Kiera does. He’s also a trained soldier with combat enhancements. Things are getting very messy.
Some more is revealed about the Freelancers and Alec, and it ends with new threads leading into season three.