 In 2065 , Earth is infested by alien life forms known as Phantoms . By physical contact Phantoms consume the Gaia spirit of living beings , killing them instantly , though a minor contact may only result in an infection . The surviving humans live in " barrier cities " , areas protected by an energy shield that prevents Phantoms from entering , and are engaged in an ongoing struggle to free the planet . After being infected by a Phantom during one of her experiments , Aki Ross ( Ming @-@ Na ) and her mentor , Doctor Sid ( Donald Sutherland ) , uncover a means of defeating the Phantoms by gathering eight spirit signatures that , when joined , can negate the Phantoms . Aki is searching for the sixth spirit in the ruins of New York City when she is cornered by Phantoms but is rescued by Gray Edwards ( Alec Baldwin ) and his squad " Deep Eyes " , consisting of Ryan Whittaker ( Ving Rhames ) , Neil Fleming ( Steve Buscemi ) and Jane Proudfoot ( Peri Gilpin ) . It is revealed that Gray was once romantically involved with Aki . 
