Plot

Section 9 is seeking for the fugitive doctor Imakurusu, however, they are not the only one.

The Major charges into the emergency room at the hospital to see a a wounded Togusa. Togusa manages to tell her it was the MHLW and to get the info from his head, Motoko and Aramaki request the last 16 hours from his cyberbrain over the doctor's objections.

Section 9 review the brain info and discuss the findings.They learn the DEA NSS was involved and about Dr. Hisashi Imakarusu. The doctor had overseen the board that denied the Murai Vaccine to people suffering from cyberbrain sclerosis. Aramaki sends the Major to see the Dr, she goes with Pazoo and Saito and assigns Batou, Ishikawa and Borma to memory analysis. An enraged Batou wants to go after the DEA instead, the others urge him to cool off.

Aramaki visits Niimi, the man who ordered the DEA/Narcotics Suppression Squad raid on the Sunflower Society. He tells Niimi that one of his agents was a casualty of the raid. After Aramaki leaves Niimi phones the NSS squad leader Gayle to advise him Public Security Section 9 is involved so Gayle asks for "it", what he's been asking for. Gayle and his men are at Imakarusu's house.

Later, Motoko arrives at the smoldering remains of Imakarusu's house. Ishikawa suggest using the American Empire's spy satellites to find a trace of Imakarusu's communications in order to find him. In a short time S9 begins receiving realtime surveillance of all Japanese communications.

Imakarusu talks to a hacked young man, face hidden by the Laughing Man logo. They discuss the vaccine and micro machine issue and the LM charges government corruption in allowing the micro machine manufacturers, including Serano Genomics, to earn a trillion yen per year selling useless protein pills. Imakarusu objects that micro machines are now working but the LM trumps him by asking why he doesn't use the technology himself? LM asks him to regain his honour by admitting the truth. When challenged as a hypocrite the LM claims he never engaged in any blackmail, that was done by others.

At the hospital the doctor tells Mrs. Togusa her husband should be all right, but may need future prosthetics.

The comm. surveillance picks up a positive ID on Imakarusu as he makes a call to Niimi. Niimi then immediately calls Gayle to tell him where the doctor is. S9 also pinpoints the location of the phone call and a siting is confirmed by video. Aramaki sends Batou by helicopter to get Imakarusu. Ishikawa notices the American Empire has a wiretap on the phone of the Japan Government's ruling party .

In the NSS tactical van the marine squad prepares. Gayle is dressed in an armoured exo-skeleton JMSDA Type 303 and barks out orders. Batou rappels from the helo and crashes directly into Imakurusu's hotel room as the cloaked narc squad enter the building. Batou fights a gun battle in the hallway but is pinned down. Motoko hurries to the scene and joins in. Motoko orders Batou to get out with the doctor as she goes against the armed suit alone. Gayle in the suit chases the Major and then picks her up and drives her head into the pavement as Saito and Pazoo arrive with the .50 cal sniper gun and fire to disable the suit. Motoko manages to arise, takes the large rifle and proceeds to fire several times into the armed suit as Gayle pleads for mercy.

The S9 helo lands to pick up Batou and Imakarusu but the doctor wanders off across a street. Batou turns to look and sees Imakarusu with a person wearing an overcoat with upturned collar and low slung hat. He rushed across traffic to get the doctor. A window rolls down from a nearby car and an assassin shoots Imakarusu. The Laughing Man reveals his face to the dying Imakarusu and hides himself from Batou's eyes as he gives the S9 cyborg the missing binder with list of vaccine recipients. LM, the young man Aoi from the Episode 11, walks away sadly as Batou wails in frustration.