The fifth episode of "The Kollective" kicks off with Arielle and Nadia immersed in a lively club atmosphere, their spirits soaring amidst the pulsating rhythms. However, the evening takes a dark turn when Nadia surreptitiously drugs Arielle's drink andpretends to partake herself shortly after. This deceitful act is soon followed by the sinister appearance of two men lurking menacingly around Nadia within the crowded venue.
Elsewhere, Maya and her team orchestrate a daring plan to leverage the Kollective's mainstream media platform to disseminate a censored footage of Joshua’s murder, aiming to amplify its reach and impact. Their efforts bear fruit as Etienne swiftly receives a video affirmation, accompanied by a chilling message revealing that his daughter has been kidnapped. A subsequent phone call delivers an ultimatum: destroy the video or face dire consequences.
In a desperate bid to navigate this perilous situation, Etienne contacts Delia, pleading with her to hold off on publishing until he can verify if the video is a sophisticated deep fake. However, Maya remains steadfast in her conviction, emphasizing the urgency to release it that very night, arguing that the Congolese people must witness the footage before casting their votes in the impending morning polls. Tempted to deploy a virus code to sabotage their efforts, Etienne hesitates at the last moment, opting instead to use the remaining two hours before midnight to track down Arielle.
Etienne's quest begins at Claire's residence, where she reveals that Arielle had plans to meet Nadia at a club, albeit unaware of its specific location. Undeterred, Etienne embarks on a frantic search across Nantes, club-hopping in a desperate bid to locate his daughter. Concurrently, Lucas confirms to the team that the video is authentic, lacking the telltale reflections that would suggest a deep fake, as Etienne had earlier suggested. While Maya pushes for immediate publication, Aaron and Delia stand firm in their commitment to Etienne, advocating for patience until midnight.
In the dimly lit confines of the club, Arielle becomes acutely aware of the eerie figures trailing her steps, one of whom clandestinely brandishes a firearm. Desperate to evade capture, her efforts are hampered by a lingering drug-induced haze. Providentially, she bumps into another clubgoer, a perceptive young woman who swiftly discerns Arielle's distress. Acting swiftly, she dials 911, and before long, Etienne locates Arielle amidst the encroaching sirens. This chance encounter transpires just as midnight strikes, coinciding with Aaron and Delia's decision to unleash their exposé into the world.
As Etienne beholds Arielle under the police's watchful eye, the authorities apprehend the two suspicious men alongside Nadia. Etienne delivers his testament at the precinct, only to find his words falling on deaf ears; the investigation proceeds without their active involvement. Expecting some form of police escort, they are instead dismissed to return home, while their assailants remain confined within the station's walls.
Dawn breaks as Ashton gently rouses Lucas from slumber at his abode, where the night appears to have blurred into morning. Their conversation about how to capitalize on the article's release is abruptly interrupted by Lucas's phone buzzing with an alarming notification: the article they so diligently crafted has been branded a fabrication. Maya's company swiftly pulls the piece, and the hashtag #KollectiveLies rockets to the top trends on social media platform X. Delia speculates that they might have incurred the wrath of a Russian troll farm.
Through intricate coding and an exhaustive analysis of millions of digital footprints, Lucas uncovers the culprit: The Web Research Agency in Saint Petersburg, owned by the enigmatic Constantine Drischev. Elsewhere, Mbambe triumphantly secures his electoral victory, while Etienne, mindful of his daughter's safety and the perpetual risk of retribution, resigns from the Kollective. Arielle, recognizing the weight of his decision but unwilling to be its catalyst, urges him not to let her predicament dictate his future.
Meanwhile, Delia and Aaron board a flight bound for Saint Petersburg, determined to uncover the truth behind The Web Research Agency. Their local contact, Sofiya, facilitates a closer inspection of the agency's premises. For two hours, Sofiya sits vigilantly outside the company's office door, observing with perplexity as not a soul enters or exits the suspicious establishment.
Lucas conceived the ingenious plan to install a camera trained on the door. After meticulously monitoring the entrance for countless hours, they finally witnessed a janitor gaining access to the room with a key card. Seizing the opportunity when the janitor reappeared, they deployed Sofiya to deftly swipe his key card, thereby gaining entry to the mysterious chamber. However, just as Delia and Aaron stepped inside, Lucas's connection was abruptly severed.
Inside, they uncovered a sophisticated disinformation machine, fueled by cutting-edge deep fake technology. This automated system tirelessly scoured the internet, weaving alternative narratives around facts and disseminating these distortions through thousands of varied comments and articles, all aimed at obfuscating the truth. While Delia and Aaron meticulously documented the deep fake setup, Lucas and Ashton indulged in plans for a cozy pizza evening.
Meanwhile, the janitor had discovered his missing key card and promptly alerted Drischev and his henchmen. As they descended upon the research agency in a fury, a separate contingent laid siege to Lucas's home. In a dramatic escape, Delia and Lucas slipped out through a window, Lucas's technological prowess intimidating their pursuers further when someone managed to stream a live video of the chaos online.
At the agency, operatives dispatched by Maya came to the aid of Aaron and Delia, escorting them to a secure hideout to recuperate before their departure flight. Aaron was wracked with guilt over losing his phone, but Delia reassured him, emphasizing that their survival and knowledge of the agency's workings offered them a fighting chance. Later that night, Aaron stealthily ventured out to track his phone. At an airport, he witnessed Drischev meeting with the man who had killed Joshua.
Stealthily snapping photos of the duo, Aaron forwarded them to Etienne, pleading for his assistance in identifying the mysterious figure. In a daring move, Aaron also orchestrated Drischev's demise at the airport. As the episode concluded, Etienne made a poignant decision to rejoin the Kollective team.
