Conduit

A bedraggled man travels by foot along a stretch of desolate highway. His destination is an underground "church" where parishioners engage in ecstatic virtual reality prayer. We come to learn that the man is Charlie Grale; a freelance "conduit" hired to conduct a seance using his (black market) cybernetic implants.

But this latest job sours immediately. Charlie acts defensive and aloof when his contact berates him for being late. Even worse, his clients—a married couple—come up short on the payment Charlie was promised. A stand-off ensues, and he almost leaves them in a lurch. But when the couple literally offer to give Charlie their home in a desperate plea, his conscience is—much to his surprise—stirred. He reluctantly agrees to their discounted price. Another complication arises when they discover that the high-tech "core" containing their daughter's memories has corroded. Charlie is torn, but ultimately decides to continue despite the personal risk this poses.

Reality blurs as he begins to channel the personality of their deceased child. The couple embraces their daughter, apologize, and make peace with her passing...but not before learning a few troubling details that suggest her death may not have been accidental. Charlie—badly-shaken—emerges from his possessed state and reconciles with his clients. But as they reflect on these latest revelations, a lingering vision of the dead girl suggests that Charlie may never be able to return to his former detachment.