Aaron thinks that the two Patriots who burst into flames was his doing, with the help of nano-technology that can now network images into his brain. He struggles with the idea that he can kill just by the mere thought. It is also revealed that Cynthia, Aaron’s girlfriend, was married to an abusive husband when Aaron came to Willoughby. When Aaron caught the husband cheating on Cynthia, the car he was in burst in to flames, killing the mistress as well.
The Texas Rangers show up at Willoughby to challenge the Patriots. Tom Neville is placed on the US acting commander’s security detail, but other Patriots ambushed them on their journey. It turns out that the wagons full of people being “resettled” in a better camp were actually being sent to a reprogramming center. When the acting commander complained about the treatment in the reprogramming centers, she became a liability and people were sent to take care of it. Tom Neville agrees to help the commander in exchange for taking him to see Jason (his son), who was sent to one of the reprogramming centers.
Charlie and Monroe have arrived in Willoughby and try to help Miles find proof of the US’s motives so that the Texas Rangers will wage war with the US. As Miles puts it, “Texas is an 800-pound gorilla… in a Stetson.” They capture a Patriot who also worked for Titus Andover and they decide to use him as proof. However, Monroe shoots the Texas Ranger instead and decides to frame the Patriots for the murder in order to induce war.