Ep 7. The Black Mandala

As the episode opens, we see Mara in her therapy session with Paul. She is struggling to come to terms with the fact that she likes being in Reverie and how real it feels to her. Meanwhile, the team at Onira-Tech is alerted to a new case involving a woman named Holly. She is a former hacker who used her skills to steal from the rich and give to the poor, similar to Robin Hood. However, she is now being targeted by a group of mercenaries who want her to complete a heist for them. She has gone into Reverie and refuses to come out, stating that she can complete the mission from within the program.

The team at Onira-Tech is hesitant to allow her to continue, as they fear the mercenaries might find a way to use the Reverie program to do something nefarious. However, Mara believes that they need to help Holly and begins her journey into the program to locate her. Once inside, Mara meets Holly and discovers that the heist is to steal a rare artifact known as the Black Mandala. It is a powerful symbol used in a cult's ceremonies that can bring about catastrophic events if used with the wrong intent.

Mara and Holly run into some obstacles along the way, including a seductive member of the cult who captures Holly and tries to use the Black Mandala for her own purposes. Mara must navigate through the distorted reality of Reverie to save Holly and prevent the cult from using the Mandala. In the real world, the team at Onira-Tech works to find a way to extract Holly from the program before it's too late.

As always, the episode balances the action-packed storyline of the heist with the emotional depth of Mara's personal struggles. Throughout the episode, we see Mara continuing to grapple with the fact that she may be addicted to the Reverie program. She questions whether it's healthy for her to continue to be immersed in the program and whether she should be using her skills to help real people in the real world. This conflict is heightened when she discovers that Holly's motivations for her crimes were rooted in a desire to make a difference in the world and a need to feel like she was making a tangible impact.

Ultimately, Mara is able to complete the mission and save Holly from the cult's influence. She returns to the real world with a renewed sense of purpose, as she realizes that she can use her skills to help people in need outside of the program. The episode ends with her having a heart-to-heart with Paul, in which she shares her insights and asks for his advice on how to proceed.

Overall, the episode is a thrilling journey through the distorted reality of Reverie, while also exploring Mara's inner struggles and motivations. The show continues to deliver a unique blend of action and introspection, making for a compelling viewing experience.