Sleeper

"Sleeper" is the second episode of the second series of the British science fiction television series Torchwood, which was first broadcast on BBC Two on 23 January 2008. A specially edited pre-watershed repeat was shown the following day. In the episode, an alien sleeper cell with false memories attacks strategic targets in Cardiff to prepare the Earth for invasion. Plot Torchwood are called to investigate fatal injuries sustained by two burglars in the failed attempt to rob a flat owned by Beth Halloran and her husband Mike. They suspect Beth is responsible, though she has no recollection of the events, but willingly goes with the team. When they return to the Hub and place Beth in one of the cells, a nearby Weevil cowers at Beth's presence. Jack suspects there is more to Beth than she lets on, and orders her to undergo a mind probe. After numerous evaluations under the probe, they suddenly discover alien technology buried under Beth's right forearm, allowing it to transform into a bladed weapon that matches the injuries on the burglars. Jack surmises that she is an alien sleeper agent, yet to be activated by her controller and given the belief she is human through memory transplants. Beth's transceiver is cut off from the other sleeper agents, and placed in an alien cryogenic chamber until Torchwood can find a way to prevent her from activating.