the planet to constant darkness, high temperatures and humidity. The shield falls under the control of the corrupt Shield Corporation and its chief executive David Blake, who imposes heavy fees on countries for continued protection from solar radiation. In 2024, Connor MacLeod, now mortal, is a frail old man. While watching an opera performance, he has a flashback from five hundred years ago on the immortals' distant home planet of Zeist. MacLeod was chosen by Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez, a wise Zeist sorcerer, to lead a rebellion against the corrupt leadership of General Katana. Using the Quickening, Ramírez creates a bond between him and MacLeod that cannot be broken even by death. Katana and his troops then attack, crushing the rebellion and imprisoning Macleod and Ramirez. The latter two are put on trial by priests, before being exiled to Earth to live as immortals. Locked into ageless lives, they will fight each other until there is only one left. The survivor will win the Prize: a choice to either remain on Earth as a mortal or return to Zeist, their past crimes forgiven. Awakening from his flashback MacLeod is approached by Louise Marcus, leader of an anti-shield group. Louise has uncovered the possibility that the ozone layer has returned to normal and that The Shield Corporation are keeping its restoration quiet to maintain revenue. Louise asks MacLeod to help her take down the shield, but he refuses, replying that he is too old and disapproves of terrorism. Meanwhile on Zeist, General Katana decides to have MacLeod killed and sends assassins Corda and Reno to Earth to kill him. MacLeod defeats Reno and Corda, and uses their quickenings to regain his youth and summon Ramírez back to life. Ramírez materializes where he had died in Glencoe, Scotland. Drawn to MacLeod's location, his earring is apparently worth enough money to buy a new suit of clothes and a plane ticket to New York. General Katana also arrives on Earth, determined to kill MacLeod himself. After Ramírez finds MacLeod and Louise, the three make a plan to take down the shield. Katana approaches the Shield Corporation and creates an uneasy alliance with David Blake to kill MacLeod. When it is discovered that Neyman has revealed proof the ozone layer has healed to MacLeod, Blake has Neyman imprisoned. MacLeod, Ramírez and Marcus break into the prison, but Neyman dies and Ramírez sacrifices his life to