Chapter 3

Chapter 3 is the third episode of the first season of the Netflix original sci-fi series Tribes of Europa.

Synopsis
To gain Grieta's trust, Liv takes matters into her own hands. Elja turns the Cube on in front of Moses and Amena. Kiano's plot to gain freedom unravels.

Plot
SPOILERS AHEAD

Elja asks Moses about the origins of Black December. He reveals that his mother was obsessed with it. She collected news articles among other things. According to Moses, on December 2029, everything driven by technology went horribly wrong. And on the 31st of December, there was a global blackout. Elja wonders who was behind it. Moses suspects the Atlantians were responsible considering their technology still works. They’re light years ahead of every other tribe and no one knows where they come from.

Liv stands alone in the woods near Camp Arhenburg. David warns her that the woods are dangerous, but she’s spent her entire life in the forest and knows how to navigate the trees. She revealed that they would often trade with Little Praha. They had an agreement with Little Praha, who wouldn’t tell anyone they existed, which is why the Crimson didn’t know of the Origines until a few days ago. Liv’s mother founded the tribe before she was born. Less than 12 people at the time. Until a few days ago, they numbered almost 50. David promises Liv that they will rescue her family.

Kiano is greeted by his foreman, Linus. He shows Kiano where he’ll be working, telling him just how lucky he is to be in packaging rather than production, which is a certain death, as wolk fumes in production would eat away at his brain. Within a couple of weeks, he’d be unable to speak and die soon thereafter.

Grieta asks Liv how she intends to break her out. Liv reveals that they’ve given her a job as a prison guard. Eventually, they’re going to give her a transponder to open the locks. Grieta remarks that Liv has made remarkable progress in such little time. Liv then asks Grieta how she intends to free her family. However, Grieta refuses to give Liv any more information until she’s free.

Liv reports back to David; she fears that Grieta won’t be easily fooled. Liv will have to prove that she has a credible escape plan. Liv proposes that she break the prisoner out and once she has enough information, she’ll signal them, and they’ll capture her and the Crow. However, David remarks that it’s too risky. They’ll stick to the plan of Liv working as a prison guard to gain her trust.

While working in the factory, Linus warns Kiano not to watch the guards or else they’ll become suspicious of them stealing wolk, a crime punishable by wire. Kiano then asks if there’s a way out, but Linus warns him that he’s wasting his time. While on lunch, Linus reveals that he’s from Flemish Union, though it doesn’t exist anymore. The Crows captured their monarch and decapitate him. After that, Linus and his family moved around until being captured. Linus then reveals that there is in fact a way out. It’s called a Boj — a freedom fight. Slave against slave. Winner will be a free Crow. The only way to get a Boj, however, is if sanctioned by Varvara.

Elja and Moses pull over onto the side of the road. They start a fire and open up a can of produce that expired in 2031, which Moses is unable to stomach. So, they are forced to hunt for their food. Elja manages to catch some fish. Moses then asks Elja of his plan after selling the cube, however, he says that he isn’t sure. Moses informs Elja that the Northern Alliance has the wildest gambling halls, the richest casinos, and coolest bars, along with clubs, theaters, and concert halls and brothels. Moses then changes the subject to Elja and asks why he’s been wandering the woods alone.

Merk returns with the body of the Atlantian pilot from Liv’s village. Unfortunately, there was nothing left at the crash site. Scouts of the north report that it was taken to Brahtok. Merk fears that the Crows might have the Atlantian cube and suggests once again informing Father Cameron, but David doesn’t want to involve the Father. He looks to Liv and pushes her to make Grieta talk.

Liv visits Grieta in her cell. However, before they go any further, Liv wants to know just how they’re getting past the barricade unnoticed. Grieta calls Liv over and grabs her by the throat, having realized that Liv is in cahoots with the Crimson. She questions what they offered Liv, referring to Liv as a Crimson before telling her to get out.

Liv reveals to David that her cover is blown. Without a means to get past the barricade, their mission is delayed. With that, Liv decides to leave, but David tries to convince her to stay as a Crimson. Sooner or later, the Republic will attack Brahtok, and David will be there fighting on the front lines. He hopes that Liv will join him in freeing Brahtok. But she fears that her family doesn’t have much time and declines his offer.

Linus accidentally drops his tools and is attacked by Gregor, who then turns his attention to Kiano and beats him with a baton after Kiano attempts to defend Linus. While on the floor writhing in pain, Kiano notices a couple slaves stealing wolk. After another day of work, the slaves return to their sleeping quarters, where Kiano secretly watches as the two slaves from before signal Gregor.

Liv sneaks around outside of Camp Ahrenberg and heads down a sewer tunnel that leads into Grieta’s cell

Elja and Moses arrive at Amena’s. She shoots at them upon their arrival, as she and Moses have a complicated past. She recalls the last time she saw him; he left and said that he’d be back in two days to spend the rest of his life with her. That was more than 2 years ago. She asks why she shouldn’t shoot him. Elja replies by showing her the damaged Atlantian cube. Amena invites them inside her home. She is without a tribe. Amena grew up in the Southern Empire, but their king was complicated. Amena has never known tribal life. She reveals to Elja that there was a time when the countries of Europa could be counted on two hands: Germany, France, Spain among them. And when everything fell apart, the rule of the Tribes began. Amena agrees to fix the cube but only if given 10% of the profits, which both Elja and Moses agree to.

Liv approaches David and informs him that she would like to join the Crimson Republic. She has one provision however. She wants one last visit with Grieta before she’s removed. Liv has come up with a plan to regain her trust.

Kiano and Linus return to work. Kiano has come up with a plan that’ll hopefully save the two of them. He reveals that there are two volniks smuggling wolk for the chief of the watchmen, Gregor. Kiano wishes to report this to Varvara and asks Linus to organize the meeting.

He believes that if they can expose that Varvara is being cheated, she might be grateful enough to grant a Boj.

Liv and David approach Grieta’s cell. Liv steals David’s gun from his holster and with Grieta’s help, restrains his hands to the cell doors with rope. Liv then frees Grieta, and they escape up a sewer tunnel. Liv climbs up first with Grieta not far behind her. Once on the surface, Grieta manages to steal Liv’s gun and knock her to the ground. She holds Liv at gunpoint before returning her pistol, stating that Crows stand by their word.

Amena seemingly repairs the Atlantian cube, though she has no idea how it works, nor does Moses. Elja grabs the cube and activates it. The cube begins to glow red and float before projecting some kind of recording.

As they walk through the woods, Grieta notes that Liv and her family must be close for her to be willing to make an enemy of the entire Crimson Republic. Not that it matters. There will only be Crows on this continent in a few years, Grieta says. She asks Liv will she be prepared and what side she will be on when the black wave crashes over the land. Grieta proposes that rather than Liv breaking her family out, she joins them as a Crow. However, Liv isn’t interested.

Linus approaches Kiano, claiming that Lord Varvara wishes to see him. However, in truth, Linus leads Kiano into an ambush by the smuggling slaves. Kiano jumps down into the water. One of the slaves charges after him with a knife, but Kiano manages to evade his attack and kill the slave. As the guards approach, Linus and the other slave flee while Kiano is apprehended.

Grieta reveals that it will be a three to four day journey to Brahtok, depending on how many Crimson patrols they send out, so they’ll have to take the western route to get into the city through Wedding. The old subway tunnel there is the only one not completely flooded, and it leads into Varvara’s factory, Grieta reveals. Having gained knowledge of a way under the barricades, Liv signals the Crimson with a flare gun. Within minutes, David and his men have Grieta in custody.

They return to Camp Ahrenberg, where David notes that her plan was both risky and courageous. Both Liv and David take a drink before proceeding to kiss.

Kiano is taken before Varvara, who questions why he killed one of her workers. He reveals that he saw a security guard smuggling and one of the volniks tried to kill him for his discovery. Kiano proceeds to reveal that he saw the volnik swallow some wolk and pass them through the cell door to Gregor, who claims that Kiano is lying. However, Varvara appears to believe Gregor, as she trusts the word of one of her Bozies over a slave. So, she sentences Kiano to death by the wire.

Cast

 * Henriette Confurius as Liv
 * Emilio Sakraya as Kiano
 * David Ali Rashed as Elja
 * Oliver Masucci as Moses
 * Melika Foroutan as Varvara
 * Ana Ularu as Grieta
 * Robert Finster as David Voss
 * Benjamin Sadler as Jakob (credit only)
 * Sebastian Blomberg as Kapitan Yvar (credit only)
 * Jeanette Hain as Amena
 * James Faulkner as General Cameron (credit only)
 * Johann Myers as Bracker (credit only)
 * Adriana Ugarte as Alia (credit only)
 * Jannik Schümann as Dewiat (credit only)
 * Matteo van der Grijn as Merk
 * Eugene Boateng as Corporal Yeboa
 * Richard Zeman as Gregor
 * Leonard Kunz as Linus