Mutant X s03e08 Episode Script
Wasteland
Oh, this is way too much country for me.
Come on, city boy, a little fresh air never hurt anybody.
It's not the air that's bothering me.
Shal, Brennan, you in position yet? Oh, it's hard to say.
We're in the middle of a corn field.
Well, check your coordinates.
Yeah, don't worry, Lex.
We're in the right spot.
You know, it's been over an hour, and there's still no sign of your whistle-blower.
I'm beginning to think he bailed.
Let's give him ten more.
This better be some whistle.
Well, according to the Dominion, he's got proof of an upcoming genetic disaster.
Are you sure you don't see anything at all? Yeah, well, a whole lot of corn.
And bugs.
Damn, that's a big grasshopper.
It's a locust.
Yeah, well, whatever it is just keep it away from me.
Do you hear that? Guys, talk to me.
What's going on? Ah, it's nothing.
It's just the wind.
That's not the wind.
Let's move! What the hell's that? Locusts! Thousands of them! They're all over us! Guys, what's happening? They're dead.
Every single one of them.
That can't be good.
Gets worse.
I think we've found our informant.
Scientist Adam Kane was a pioneer of genetic research, manipulating DNA to save human lives.
But in many, their genes unexpectedly mutated and they developed superhuman abilities.
Together, four of the most powerful fight to protect a world that doesn't even know they exist.
They are Mutant X.
The smoke of a giant furnace.
From that smoke locusts came down upon the earth, and they were given powers like that of scorpions.
" Wow.
Sounds like somebody did some hard time in Sunday school.
It's good for the soul.
So, you think those locusts are the disaster your informant was trying to tell us about? It's kind of hard to say since he's not talking.
Hmm.
We'll just have to wait until we hear from Dr.
Bellows, Dominion's entomologist.
You think he's worth his salt? Well, from what I hear, if it flies, crawls or squirms, she's the one who can tell us what we're dealing with.
She? Hm.
Hm.
I suspect it's a genetically modified version of Schistocerca Gregaria The desert locust.
The most aggressive and voracious of the locust family.
They're eating machines.
How do you know it's been genetically modified? Oh, honey, because there is simply nothing this destructive found in nature.
How much do you weigh? Buck ninety? Two hundred? Never mind.
The point is, this is not your garden variety locust, okay? These are bred to resist any kind of pesticides.
And from what we saw, pretty healthy appetites, too.
Oh, yeah.
They feed on all kinds of crop vegetation, corn, grain, wheat, until there's nothing left.
And you know what? By the looks of it, if their reproductive system is advanced as I think it is, these bugs have the potential to create a national famine like nothing you've ever seen.
Why would someone even create something like that? Oh, who knows? An agro-terrorist or random whack-job.
But it doesn't make sense.
I mean, one minute they're on a feeding frenzy, and the next they're dropping from the sky.
I suspect you've stepped into a very controlled experiment.
So what you're saying is the best is yet to come? I pray you find out before we have a disaster on our hands.
I got the autopsy results on our dead informant.
Let me guess: death by locusts.
Try bullets - two of them.
Hm.
Whoever's breeding these things is willing to kill to protect them.
The company he worked for is ZDT.
It's a huge agro conglomerate run by the Keary family.
I understand you're familiar with them.
Yeah.
We're old family friends.
We used to summer together.
What? In between terms at boarding school? You know only rich people "summer".
Yeah You were making a point.
I think you were trying to suggest that the Kearys were involved.
ZDT owns the fields destroyed by the bugs.
Which makes them either a target - or the source.
Now we don't have time to waste here.
Jess, you're our in.
What? Expect me just to waltz in there and ask if somebody's invented any new agro-plagues lately? Actually, I was hoping for a more subtle approach.
Here.
Dominion has set you up with a rather generous financial portfolio.
Don't get too excited - it's just play money.
Ahh.
Just enough play money to set up a meet and greet with ZDT as a venture capitalist ready to play ball.
Yeah.
Anyway, the place is run by uh Alisha Keary? Oh You two close? Is this going to be a problem for you? No.
Not at all.
Why is it that Armani looks a little too good on you? It's actually a Boss.
You know at one point, this was going to be my life? Ivy League school, corporate job, the whole nine yards.
And you gave all that up for Mutant X? No.
I gave it up for me.
Mr.
Kilmartin? Nate Gilmore.
Good to meet you.
Yeah.
This Lexa Pierce, my in-house counsel.
How do you do? So, Alisha tells me you're looking to invest in agro-technologies? Considering it.
I think you'll be very impressed.
This way.
Tight security.
We set the benchmark in cutting edge agro-science.
GMOs, RMFs.
Can't afford any snooping competitors.
You'll have to excuse Nate.
His enthusiasm is only second to my own.
Jess.
Alisha.
It's good to see you again.
Oh, um Lexa Pierce.
Hi.
Hi.
My twelve thirty just cancelled.
So, if you would like, I could go over the company's expected earnings with you.
Over lunch.
Great.
Great.
Nate, could you please show Miss Pierce the necessary documents? Of course.
Thank you.
Given the area of crop devastation, we should be able to pinpoint where the locusts were released.
How? It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Well, not necessarily.
This is the field where we found the dead locusts.
And we can use satellite imaging to track their point of origin.
Okay.
This is 10:15, about the time the locusts died.
We reverse the timeline Hm.
There's our haystack.
Whaddya say we go find that needle? So when did you decide to return to the family business? I guess that's hard to say.
I suppose some things are just in the blood, huh? Well, if you're really serious about ZDT, we're involved in some really breakthrough technology.
Hm.
Is that why some of your fields were recently attacked by infestation? Uh well, that's news to me.
I'm sure if that was a problem I'd know about it, don't you think? Well, my people tell me some of your crops were very seriously damaged.
Your people? So you been doing your research? Yeah, well, whatever that was, I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about.
ZDT is a high-profile corporation.
I'm sure you have your share of corporate enemies.
Yeah, well, it comes with the territory, doesn't it, Jess? You know, there's always someone out there ready to cut your throat before you have a chance to cut theirs.
Yeah.
How long do we have to do this? What? Pretend that this isn't incredibly awkward - seeing each other again? You don't know how many times I wanted to call you.
So why didn't you? I just didn't know what to say.
Well, to be perfectly frank, until now Alisha's been wary of outside investors.
Ah, so you're doing just fine on your own, is that it? You know, I would love to get a look at a report on some of the farming technologies you have in development.
Well, I'm afraid that's not possible.
All R&D is confidential.
Nate, we both know how much Mr.
Kilmartin is prepared to invest here.
Throw me a bone.
I'm sorry.
Alisha wouldn't have it any other way.
She seems surprisingly young to be the head of the company.
She's a classic Type A personality.
Just don't get in her way.
Ooh, sounds like a loaded statement.
Well, just say she knows what she wants, and she knows how to get it.
At all costs? We're in a competitive field, Miss Pierce.
Alisha knows how to maintain the edge.
Well, then, whenever you're finished here, my secretary will see you out.
Great.
Guys, any luck on your end? Alright, we think we found where the bugs were released.
It's a barn on a parcel of land owned by a company called Pacific Bionetics.
Maybe ZDT's been the target all along.
It's too soon to tell.
Anyways, Jessie's feeling things out with Alisha Keary right now.
Alisha? There's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
What do you mean? She was a part of his old life.
His first real love.
Oh.
How real? High school sweethearts.
I think at one point they were even engaged.
Really? Well, it's nice of him to have told me.
I guess it just slipped his mind.
Aw, relax, Lex.
It was ten years ago.
I'm sure she's ancient history.
Well, you know what? I hope so.
So how involved are you in the day-to-day operations? I'm a control freak - you know that.
Like to micromanage everything.
Used to bug you, didn't it? Nah, not maybe just a little, yeah.
Sorry.
Hello? No.
You know what? If you're not going to handle that, then I will.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thanks.
Sorry about that.
Everything okay? Yeah.
Yeah.
It will be.
All right, what's wrong with this picture? If this is where the swarm started, then why didn't they eat this corn? Maybe they read the signs.
I mean, what is this corn made out of anyway? Gold? I don't know.
I guess I should grab a sample for Dr.
Bellows We got company.
Oh! Come on, let's get out of here.
I thought you'd never ask.
Look, Leesh I know you're really swamped right now, but I'd really like to see you again.
Tell me you're not going to try to stir things up, right? I'm not here to stir things up.
Can we meet for drinks later? Sorry.
Yeah I don't know.
Um I have to work late.
Hello? Ohh.
There is nothing that touches me more than the look of two corporate executives in love.
Has anybody ever told you it is really not polite to eavesdrop? All the time.
Hm So tell me: when were you planning on telling me you two used to be engaged? It's not an issue.
I grilled her at lunch.
She's not involved.
Well, then, let's just hope you're better at picking out liars than she is.
Hey.
Hi.
Okay I've just figured out what kills these insects, all right? They were designed with a self-destruct mechanism.
They rupture from the inside? It's ingenious, really.
And when I determine what the trigger is we'll be able to destroy these things.
So what about the corn? Why didn't they touch it? Ah, ha ha ha! Because these have been genetically modified to be the one crop that is resistant to these insects.
So we're not dealing with an agro-terrorist, this is just a simple case of supply and demand.
Wake up, people.
Welcome to the world of Franken-foods.
You know, there's no telling what repercussions these hybrid crops could have on the environment.
Well, someone's planning on profiting from this.
Looks like that corn is made of gold after all.
Hate to break it to you, Jess.
But your ex-fiancee's involved.
Pacific Bionetics is owned by ZDT.
What? I had to trace through dummy corporations and overseas trust funds to find the link to Alisha.
That can't be.
I don't know, Jess.
You got to admit, it does look kind of suspicious.
Look, I have known this woman for half my life.
Trust me.
She's not a part of this.
Are you sure that's not your heart talking? Or some other part? It's not like that.
Well, we're going to have to go back to ZDT to find the answers in the back of the book.
How? Well I'm sure Alisha's still working.
That means all you gotta do is go over there and keep her company while Lexa looks around.
And how exactly am I supposed to do that? Oh.
I'm sure you'll figure something out.
Jess, I just want you to know, this isn't anything personal.
Doesn't matter.
The only reason I am doing this is to prove that you are wrong.
Look, I know you can't see it, but I can tell this Alisha she eats guys like you for lunch.
Really? The problem is you're too trusting, Jess.
I've trusted you since the day we met.
That isn't exactly helping your argument.
Jess, what are you doing here? Ha Well, thanks for meeting me.
It's a little late, don't you think, for a business meeting? You know that's not why I'm here.
My office.
Do you still like, uh, gin and tonic? Yeah.
Yeah? Can't remember the last time I had one.
Yeah? I can.
Uh, it was at Spadini's.
We were talking about wedding plans.
Remember? Yeah.
Well, your mind wasn't really there.
Well, I figured you just had a case of cold feet.
But I guess I had no idea how cold your feet were, did I? You know, I made a promise to myself that the next time I saw you I would tell you exactly what I thought about you.
Probably the least I deserve.
Yeah.
Funny thing is, though, I'm I'm looking at you right now, and I don't know - I don't feel like saying it any more.
Are you in yet? Yeah, but unfortunately, I haven't found very much.
I'm trying to see what I can dig up in their interoffice VOIP system.
VOIP? Yeah, it's a computerized log of all in- and out-going telecommunications.
These guys are anal about corporate espionage leaks.
See, all calls are recorded - especially R&D guys.
So What was it? Did I did I do something? Or Alisha, I was messed up.
I had things going on that that you couldn't understand.
So you felt like you couldn't turn to me, then? No.
It wasn't that simple.
I didn't feel that it was fair Hm.
for me to start a life with you where I didn't fit.
Shouldn't I have been able to choose that? I'm into operation level.
Searching through Michael Porter's account.
Who is that? The informant found dead in the cornfield.
Okay.
Punching into his final call in his log.
Alisha.
Shh I don't want to hurt you again.
Shhh No, I'm not going to let you.
INFORMANT'S VOICE "Look, I am tired of getting jerked around here.
I know all about Project Redstock.
And if you don't come through by 8 P.
M.
tonight I am taking this wide.
" Well, that sounds like a threat.
And a motive.
Who was he calling? Alisha Keary.
Looks like she was willing to kill for the bottom line.
I'll say this for Jess, he sure knows how to pick 'em.
Phew! Hi.
Hi.
Reminds me of the time that my father caught us.
You remember that? We were in the pool cabana and there was that fireworks display.
Yeah.
He never seemed to look at me the same way after that.
Neither did I.
Really? Yeah.
You know I've changed, Alisha.
Everybody changes.
That's okay.
Look, relax, Jess.
You know, it's I have zero expectations here - really.
You know, whatever that was, it's just it's just what it was, you know? That's not what I mean.
What do you mean, then? I just I keep running a series of "what ifs".
I mean I mean, what if I hadn't run away? What if what if What if I'd been straight up with you from the beginning? What if we can just start again? How about that? What if we can just start again, huh? What do you think of that? Hey, I cross-referenced Project Redstock, but I'm coming up empty.
ZDT's planning a worldwide devastation.
I can't imagine those bugs were that easy to hide.
Alisha's not stupid, Shal.
I'm sure she figured out a way to cover her tracks.
All right, Doc.
Uh huh? Look, I could really use your help.
Can you pull a rabbit out of your hat right about now? Okay.
How about this? I found residue of nitrogen-rich protein in the system of the specimen you brought.
Okay, okay.
It's like this.
Locusts begin as eggs, which eventually hatch, and become wingless nymphs.
A nitrogen-rich diet speeds along their growth.
Okay.
I'm losing you.
All right.
Okay.
Right now, they're feeding on a a dry spore mix which is commonly sold as Fer-lomant.
And by the projected size of the swarm they're going to need a lot of it.
Did you get that, Lex? Fer-lomant, I'm on it.
Okay.
I'm looking at purchase orders for almost a ton of this stuff.
Delivered to a farm outside the town of Decatur.
Gotta be our source.
You never did tell me where you've been for all these years.
Hey, lover-boy.
Hello? Is this thing on? Cat got your tongue? Are you okay? I hope that's all she's got.
Yeah, I just gotta get another drink.
Okay.
Jess, Alisha's been behind this from the very start.
She's the one who ordered the killing on the informant.
It's time to smarten up.
It's called Project Redstock.
And hopefully it's not too late to shut them down, but you need to get out of there now, you understand? Okay.
Listen, I I uh, I gotta go.
Excuse me.
Gotta go? Why do you have to go? Why do you have to go? Wait-wait-wait-wait.
Wait.
I don't want any secrets here, okay? So just talk to me.
I know about Project Redstock.
Is this, like, a joke? Because I have no idea what you're talking about.
You gotta be straight with me.
Okay? You are way over your head.
And the only way I can help you is if you tell me the truth.
The truth? Okay, who's the liar here? What did you come back for? I had to investigate.
You had to investigate? Oh, I see.
So, you really didn't come back here to invest in in ZDT, right? And you obviously didn't come back here to get me.
I had no idea I'd feel this way.
Get out.
Alisha, please I said get out.
I never want to see you again.
Get out.
Nate, yeah.
I need to see you in here.
Yeah, 'cause we have a problem.
Now if these bugs are here, how are we supposed to destroy them? Well, Dr.
Bellows is going to contact us when she figures out how to activate the self-destruct system.
Hopefully they're still contained in the barn.
Worst comes to worst, we can always burn it down.
Huh, nice.
Just turn them grasshoppers into fireflies.
Where have you been? You took your sweet time.
I'm sorry.
I just had to clear my head a little.
Any word from Shalimar and Brennan? Not yet.
I'm sorry, Jess.
If it means anything, I was hoping I was wrong about her.
Whatcha gonna do? Okay, guys, we're here.
You see anything? Looks like someone took off from here in a hurry.
Let's take a look inside.
The place is cleared.
Too late.
Damn.
Well, they're grown.
Looks like they were in the process of releasing them.
Brennan, it's a bomb! This was no coincidence.
We were set up.
Somebody must have tipped them off.
You told her, didn't you? I had to level with her, Lexa.
There was too much at stake.
Yeah, that's exactly why you should've kept your mouth shut.
What did you think? Her love for you would suddenly spur a burst of honesty? Well, I gave it a shot.
Well, you were wrong.
Yeah, I got that.
Well, that's great.
Now thanks to you we have no idea where those bugs are going to be released.
Good.
Now it's anybody's game.
No telling how many truckloads of those bugs might've made it out.
Yeah, or where they're headed.
Well, maybe your little friend can tell us.
Yeah.
I think I'll name him Chester.
Stay.
Alisha.
Listen, don't hang up, okay? Everything that you said was right.
Look, I've been poring over these R&D files and I can't believe it.
You can't believe what? Everything that you said was true.
Pacific Bionetics, the crop research.
Someone's been funnelling money from ZDT to fund all this.
Why are you telling me this? Because my name is all over everything.
There's money trails, there's there's requisition forms.
Listen, I I need you.
I need you to come here, and I need you to help me.
Alisha, the last time I trusted you, two of my friends almost got killed.
Jess, I had no idea.
Okay? You just have to believe me.
Okay, look, stay in your office.
I'll be right there.
Okay.
Nate, why didn't you tell me about Project Redstock? Because I was trying to protect you.
It's why I've been covering your back from the start, destroying memos, deleting voice mails.
Do you have any idea the size of the players involved here? The amount of money we stand to make? Billions.
By creating a plague? No, it would never get to that level.
Look, a few farms will be destroyed.
The press would have a field day, then ZDT come out as heroes when we release the first insect-resistant corn.
Nobody gets hurt here, Alisha.
It's a win-win all around.
Look, we can't give up now.
Where you going? Alisha called.
She needs my help.
Of course she does.
Look I'm not going to say that I believe her.
But if she is telling the truth, then she is our only lead as to where these locusts are going to be released.
And if she isn't, you're just giving her another chance to play you again.
I'll take that chance.
Then I'm coming with you.
Stay here.
Yeah, right.
Lexa, just give me two minutes with her.
Two minutes.
No! Oh, my God! Oh, my God.
Oh How did you do that? Look, there's some things in this world you can understand.
And there's some things that you can't.
Oh, God.
And you fall into the latter? Yeah.
Oh, my God.
It's okay.
Look, it's going to be okay.
Trust me.
I'm getting you out of here.
Okay? Oh, God.
Okay.
It's all right.
Tell us you have good news.
I have discovered the key on how to kill the locusts.
Sound waves.
The right frequency shatters the destruct organ.
Killing them instantly.
Well, I can upload it to the Helix, so we can pump it out through the external speakers.
Yeah, but the Helix's sonic range is only a hundred metres.
Oh, would you stop complaining? That gives you two minutes to neutralize these things after they've been released.
If we can find 'em.
Well, you better.
These things reproduce at an alarming rate.
And once they spread, they will devour anything in their path.
Any chance we might be able to narrow down the field for us? I would have to say that you're going to have to go low-tech.
What do you mean? Swoop over the corn fields like a crop duster? Well, unless you've got a better idea I'm right behind you guys.
What the hell's going on? Is Alisha okay? You can say she's a little confused.
Well, see if she knows where the locusts are going to be released.
Who are you talking to? I'm talking to a friend.
She's just trying to help.
Now, do you have any idea where Nate might be trying to release the locusts? I don't know Come on, think.
Think! I don't know! I just found out about this.
You have to believe me.
I just found out about this.
It's impossible to cover this much area.
These corn fields go on for hundreds of miles.
Yeah, well, if we don't find these locusts in time, Chester's little buddies are going to cut through those fields like a machete.
Okay, kids.
They just pulled onto the freeway.
You're heading north on the I-80.
We just got onto a freeway.
A freeway? What direction are we going in? We're heading north.
North on the I-80.
North on the I-80 You know what? I remember seeing paperwork.
We leased a farm.
Where? South south of Gilroy.
You got that, guys? We are about forty miles north of there.
According to this, there's only two farms outside the town.
Looks like we got a fifty-fifty chance.
Tell you what.
Why don't we just stop at the one where we hear the locusts buzzing? Release them, then get those trucks out of here.
Oh, my God.
It's okay.
I'm scared.
It's okay.
I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
Do it.
And bury her in the field.
Got it.
Okay go over there.
Stay behind me.
No.
No no no Yes, get over there.
Agghh! Come on! Good.
Come on.
Isn't it a little too early for sunset? Aw! Come on.
Go.
Go go go! Okay, I've got the wave pattern locked and loaded.
We're ready to go.
We gonna need earplugs for this thing? Relax.
The frequency is well out of your hearing range.
But I'm probably going to end up with a migraine.
Aw, then I'll have to get you a couple of aspirin.
Oh.
.
! You okay? Come on.
You may be bullet-proof, but she isn't.
Don't move! What, like this? Agh! Hey, Bren, Shalimar, what's going on? Somebody call for an exterminator? Now, Bren.
Forty more seconds, the bugs'll be out of range.
See ya, Chester.
Ugh oh It worked.
Yeah, no kidding.
Well, the good news is the bugs are destroyed.
The bad news is the windshield of the Helix is a mess.
Yeah, and I'm not cleaning it.
Well, guys, apparently the Dominion destroyed all of ZDT's research.
Well, I guess that leaves Alisha to rebuild the company from the ground up.
You know, something tells me she won't have a problem.
Were you always like this? It started in high school.
So all the time that we were together you you were just hiding it from me? You know, you could've told me that.
I would've accepted it, right? Yeah, but at the time I couldn't accept it in myself.
So this, uh this new life that you have makes you happy? Yeah.
Yeah, it does.
But there's no room for you know, a wife, or a white picket fence? I wish it was that simple.
But as much as I would like to, I can't change who I am.
Why does it seem like all the good men are either gay or married or Mutants? So I take it there are others like you? Like her? Yeah.
Well, next time a woman comes along that fits into your life, promise me something.
Uh huh.
Don't let her go.
Bye.
Hey.
Listen, it happens to the best of us.
But you'll be fine.
Yeah, whatever.
| |
It's not the air that's bothering me.
Shal, Brennan, you in position yet? Oh, it's hard to say.
We're in the middle of a corn field.
Well, check your coordinates.
Yeah, don't worry, Lex.
We're in the right spot.
You know, it's been over an hour, and there's still no sign of your whistle-blower.
I'm beginning to think he bailed.
Let's give him ten more.
This better be some whistle.
Well, according to the Dominion, he's got proof of an upcoming genetic disaster.
Are you sure you don't see anything at all? Yeah, well, a whole lot of corn.
And bugs.
It's a locust.
Yeah, well, whatever it is just keep it away from me.
Do you hear that? Guys, talk to me.
What's going on? Ah, it's nothing.
It's just the wind.
That's not the wind.
Let's move! What the hell's that? Locusts! Thousands of them! They're all over us! Guys, what's happening?
Every single one of them.
That can't be good.
Gets worse.
I think we've found our informant.
Scientist Adam Kane was a pioneer of genetic research, manipulating DNA to save human lives.
But in many, their genes unexpectedly mutated and they developed superhuman abilities.
Together, four of the most powerful fight to protect a world that doesn't even know they exist.
They are Mutant X.
The smoke of a giant furnace.
From that smoke locusts came down upon the earth, and they were given powers like that of scorpions.
" Wow.
Sounds like somebody did some hard time in Sunday school.
It's good for the soul.
So, you think those locusts are the disaster your informant was trying to tell us about? It's kind of hard to say since he's not talking.
Hmm.
We'll just have to wait until we hear from Dr.
Bellows, Dominion's entomologist.
You think he's worth his salt? Well, from what I hear, if it flies, crawls or squirms, she's the one who can tell us what we're dealing with.
She? Hm.
Hm.
I suspect it's a genetically modified version of Schistocerca Gregaria The desert locust.
The most aggressive and voracious of the locust family.
They're eating machines.
How do you know it's been genetically modified? Oh, honey, because there is simply nothing this destructive found in nature.
How much do you weigh? Buck ninety? Two hundred? Never mind.
The point is, this is not your garden variety locust, okay? These are bred to resist any kind of pesticides.
And from what we saw, pretty healthy appetites, too.
Oh, yeah.
They feed on all kinds of crop vegetation, corn, grain, wheat, until there's nothing left.
And you know what? By the looks of it, if their reproductive system is advanced as I think it is, these bugs have the potential to create a national famine like nothing you've ever seen.
Why would someone even create something like that? Oh, who knows? An agro-terrorist or random whack-job.
But it doesn't make sense.
I mean, one minute they're on a feeding frenzy, and the next they're dropping from the sky.
I suspect you've stepped into a very controlled experiment.
So what you're saying is the best is yet to come? I pray you find out before we have a disaster on our hands.
I got the autopsy results on our dead informant.
Let me guess: death by locusts.
Try bullets - two of them.
Hm.
Whoever's breeding these things is willing to kill to protect them.
The company he worked for is ZDT.
It's a huge agro conglomerate run by the Keary family.
I understand you're familiar with them.
Yeah.
We're old family friends.
We used to summer together.
What? In between terms at boarding school? You know only rich people "summer".
Yeah You were making a point.
I think you were trying to suggest that the Kearys were involved.
ZDT owns the fields destroyed by the bugs.
Which makes them either a target - or the source.
Now we don't have time to waste here.
Jess, you're our in.
What? Expect me just to waltz in there and ask if somebody's invented any new agro-plagues lately? Actually, I was hoping for a more subtle approach.
Here.
Dominion has set you up with a rather generous financial portfolio.
Don't get too excited - it's just play money.
Ahh.
Just enough play money to set up a meet and greet with ZDT as a venture capitalist ready to play ball.
Yeah.
Anyway, the place is run by uh Alisha Keary? Oh You two close? Is this going to be a problem for you? No.
Not at all.
Why is it that Armani looks a little too good on you? It's actually a Boss.
You know at one point, this was going to be my life? Ivy League school, corporate job, the whole nine yards.
And you gave all that up for Mutant X? No.
I gave it up for me.
Mr.
Kilmartin? Nate Gilmore.
Good to meet you.
Yeah.
This Lexa Pierce, my in-house counsel.
How do you do? So, Alisha tells me you're looking to invest in agro-technologies? Considering it.
I think you'll be very impressed.
This way.
Tight security.
We set the benchmark in cutting edge agro-science.
GMOs, RMFs.
Can't afford any snooping competitors.
You'll have to excuse Nate.
His enthusiasm is only second to my own.
Jess.
Alisha.
It's good to see you again.
Hi.
Hi.
My twelve thirty just cancelled.
So, if you would like, I could go over the company's expected earnings with you.
Over lunch.
Great.
Great.
Nate, could you please show Miss Pierce the necessary documents? Of course.
Thank you.
Given the area of crop devastation, we should be able to pinpoint where the locusts were released.
How? It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack.
Well, not necessarily.
This is the field where we found the dead locusts.
And we can use satellite imaging to track their point of origin.
Okay.
This is 10:15, about the time the locusts died.
We reverse the timeline Hm.
There's our haystack.
Whaddya say we go find that needle? So when did you decide to return to the family business? I guess that's hard to say.
I suppose some things are just in the blood, huh? Well, if you're really serious about ZDT, we're involved in some really breakthrough technology.
Hm.
Is that why some of your fields were recently attacked by infestation? Uh well, that's news to me.
I'm sure if that was a problem I'd know about it, don't you think? Well, my people tell me some of your crops were very seriously damaged.
Your people? So you been doing your research? Yeah, well, whatever that was, I'm sure it's nothing to be concerned about.
ZDT is a high-profile corporation.
I'm sure you have your share of corporate enemies.
Yeah, well, it comes with the territory, doesn't it, Jess? You know, there's always someone out there ready to cut your throat before you have a chance to cut theirs.
Yeah.
How long do we have to do this? What? Pretend that this isn't incredibly awkward - seeing each other again? You don't know how many times I wanted to call you.
So why didn't you? I just didn't know what to say.
Well, to be perfectly frank, until now Alisha's been wary of outside investors.
Ah, so you're doing just fine on your own, is that it? You know, I would love to get a look at a report on some of the farming technologies you have in development.
Well, I'm afraid that's not possible.
All R&D is confidential.
Nate, we both know how much Mr.
Kilmartin is prepared to invest here.
Throw me a bone.
I'm sorry.
Alisha wouldn't have it any other way.
She seems surprisingly young to be the head of the company.
She's a classic Type A personality.
Just don't get in her way.
Ooh, sounds like a loaded statement.
At all costs? We're in a competitive field, Miss Pierce.
Alisha knows how to maintain the edge.
Well, then, whenever you're finished here, my secretary will see you out.
Great.
Guys, any luck on your end? Alright, we think we found where the bugs were released.
It's a barn on a parcel of land owned by a company called Pacific Bionetics.
Maybe ZDT's been the target all along.
It's too soon to tell.
Anyways, Jessie's feeling things out with Alisha Keary right now.
Alisha? There's a name I haven't heard in a long time.
What do you mean? She was a part of his old life.
His first real love.
Oh.
How real? High school sweethearts.
I think at one point they were even engaged.
Really? Well, it's nice of him to have told me.
I guess it just slipped his mind.
Aw, relax, Lex.
It was ten years ago.
I'm sure she's ancient history.
Well, you know what? I hope so.
So how involved are you in the day-to-day operations? I'm a control freak - you know that.
Like to micromanage everything.
Used to bug you, didn't it? Nah, not maybe just a little, yeah.
Hello? No.
You know what? If you're not going to handle that, then I will.
Yeah.
Okay.
Thanks.
Sorry about that.
Everything okay? Yeah.
Yeah.
It will be.
All right, what's wrong with this picture? If this is where the swarm started, then why didn't they eat this corn? Maybe they read the signs.
I guess I should grab a sample for Dr.
Bellows We got company.
Oh! Come on, let's get out of here.
I thought you'd never ask.
Look, Leesh I know you're really swamped right now, but I'd really like to see you again.
Tell me you're not going to try to stir things up, right? I'm not here to stir things up.
Can we meet for drinks later?
Yeah I don't know.
Um I have to work late.
Hello? Ohh.
There is nothing that touches me more than the look of two corporate executives in love.
Has anybody ever told you it is really not polite to eavesdrop? All the time.
Hm So tell me: when were you planning on telling me you two used to be engaged? It's not an issue.
I grilled her at lunch.
She's not involved.
Well, then, let's just hope you're better at picking out liars than she is.
Hey.
Hi.
Okay I've just figured out what kills these insects, all right? They were designed with a self-destruct mechanism.
They rupture from the inside? It's ingenious, really.
And when I determine what the trigger is we'll be able to destroy these things.
So what about the corn? Why didn't they touch it? Ah, ha ha ha! Because these have been genetically modified to be the one crop that is resistant to these insects.
So we're not dealing with an agro-terrorist, this is just a simple case of supply and demand.
Wake up, people.
Welcome to the world of Franken-foods.
You know, there's no telling what repercussions these hybrid crops could have on the environment.
Well, someone's planning on profiting from this.
Looks like that corn is made of gold after all.
Hate to break it to you, Jess.
But your ex-fiancee's involved.
Pacific Bionetics is owned by ZDT.
What? I had to trace through dummy corporations and overseas trust funds to find the link to Alisha.
That can't be.
I don't know, Jess.
You got to admit, it does look kind of suspicious.
Look, I have known this woman for half my life.
Trust me.
She's not a part of this.
Are you sure that's not your heart talking? Or some other part? It's not like that.
Well, we're going to have to go back to ZDT to find the answers in the back of the book.
How? Well I'm sure Alisha's still working.
That means all you gotta do is go over there and keep her company while Lexa looks around.
And how exactly am I supposed to do that? Oh.
I'm sure you'll figure something out.
Jess, I just want you to know, this isn't anything personal.
Doesn't matter.
The only reason I am doing this is to prove that you are wrong.
Look, I know you can't see it, but I can tell this Alisha she eats guys like you for lunch.
Really? The problem is you're too trusting, Jess.
I've trusted you since the day we met.
That isn't exactly helping your argument.
Jess, what are you doing here? Ha Well, thanks for meeting me.
It's a little late, don't you think, for a business meeting? You know that's not why I'm here.
My office.
Do you still like, uh, gin and tonic? Yeah.
Yeah? Can't remember the last time I had one.
Yeah? I can.
Uh, it was at Spadini's.
We were talking about wedding plans.
Remember? Yeah.
Well, your mind wasn't really there.
Well, I figured you just had a case of cold feet.
But I guess I had no idea how cold your feet were, did I? You know, I made a promise to myself that the next time I saw you I would tell you exactly what I thought about you.
Probably the least I deserve.
Yeah.
Funny thing is, though, I'm I'm looking at you right now, and I don't know - I don't feel like saying it any more.
Are you in yet? Yeah, but unfortunately, I haven't found very much.
I'm trying to see what I can dig up in their interoffice VOIP system.
VOIP? Yeah, it's a computerized log of all in- and out-going telecommunications.
These guys are anal about corporate espionage leaks.
See, all calls are recorded - especially R&D guys.
So What was it? Did I did I do something? Or Alisha, I was messed up.
So you felt like you couldn't turn to me, then? No.
It wasn't that simple.
for me to start a life with you where I didn't fit.
Shouldn't I have been able to choose that? I'm into operation level.
Searching through Michael Porter's account.
Who is that? The informant found dead in the cornfield.
Okay.
Punching into his final call in his log.
Shh I don't want to hurt you again.
Shhh No, I'm not going to let you.
INFORMANT'S VOICE "Look, I am tired of getting jerked around here.
I know all about Project Redstock.
And if you don't come through by 8 P.
M.
tonight I am taking this wide.
" Well, that sounds like a threat.
And a motive.
Who was he calling? Alisha Keary.
Looks like she was willing to kill for the bottom line.
I'll say this for Jess, he sure knows how to pick 'em.
Hi.
Reminds me of the time that my father caught us.
You remember that? We were in the pool cabana and there was that fireworks display.
Yeah.
Neither did I.
Really? Yeah.
You know I've changed, Alisha.
Everybody changes.
That's okay.
Look, relax, Jess.
You know, it's I have zero expectations here - really.
You know, whatever that was, it's just it's just what it was, you know? That's not what I mean.
What do you mean, then? I just I keep running a series of "what ifs".
I mean I mean, what if I hadn't run away? What if what if What if I'd been straight up with you from the beginning? What if we can just start again? How about that? What if we can just start again, huh? What do you think of that? Hey, I cross-referenced Project Redstock, but I'm coming up empty.
ZDT's planning a worldwide devastation.
I can't imagine those bugs were that easy to hide.
Alisha's not stupid, Shal.
I'm sure she figured out a way to cover her tracks.
All right, Doc.
Uh huh? Look, I could really use your help.
Can you pull a rabbit out of your hat right about now? Okay.
How about this? I found residue of nitrogen-rich protein in the system of the specimen you brought.
Okay, okay.
It's like this.
Locusts begin as eggs, which eventually hatch, and become wingless nymphs.
A nitrogen-rich diet speeds along their growth.
Okay.
I'm losing you.
All right.
Okay.
Right now, they're feeding on a a dry spore mix which is commonly sold as Fer-lomant.
And by the projected size of the swarm they're going to need a lot of it.
Did you get that, Lex? Fer-lomant, I'm on it.
Okay.
I'm looking at purchase orders for almost a ton of this stuff.
Delivered to a farm outside the town of Decatur.
Gotta be our source.
You never did tell me where you've been for all these years.
Hey, lover-boy.
Hello? Is this thing on?
Yeah, I just gotta get another drink.
Okay.
Jess, Alisha's been behind this from the very start.
She's the one who ordered the killing on the informant.
It's time to smarten up.
It's called Project Redstock.
And hopefully it's not too late to shut them down, but you need to get out of there now, you understand?
Listen, I I uh, I gotta go.
Excuse me.
Gotta go? Why do you have to go? Why do you have to go? Wait-wait-wait-wait.
Wait.
I don't want any secrets here, okay? So just talk to me.
I know about Project Redstock.
Is this, like, a joke? Because I have no idea what you're talking about.
You gotta be straight with me.
Okay? You are way over your head.
And the only way I can help you is if you tell me the truth.
The truth? Okay, who's the liar here? What did you come back for? I had to investigate.
You had to investigate? Oh, I see.
So, you really didn't come back here to invest in in ZDT, right? And you obviously didn't come back here to get me.
I had no idea I'd feel this way.
Get out.
Alisha, please I said get out.
I never want to see you again.
Get out.
Nate, yeah.
I need to see you in here.
Yeah, 'cause we have a problem.
Now if these bugs are here, how are we supposed to destroy them? Well, Dr.
Bellows is going to contact us when she figures out how to activate the self-destruct system.
Hopefully they're still contained in the barn.
Worst comes to worst, we can always burn it down.
Huh, nice.
Just turn them grasshoppers into fireflies.
Where have you been? You took your sweet time.
I'm sorry.
I just had to clear my head a little.
Any word from Shalimar and Brennan? Not yet.
I'm sorry, Jess.
If it means anything, I was hoping I was wrong about her.
Whatcha gonna do? Okay, guys, we're here.
You see anything? Looks like someone took off from here in a hurry.
Let's take a look inside.
The place is cleared.
Too late.
Damn.
Well, they're grown.
Looks like they were in the process of releasing them.
Brennan, it's a bomb! This was no coincidence.
We were set up.
Somebody must have tipped them off.
You told her, didn't you? I had to level with her, Lexa.
There was too much at stake.
Yeah, that's exactly why you should've kept your mouth shut.
What did you think? Her love for you would suddenly spur a burst of honesty? Well, I gave it a shot.
Well, you were wrong.
Yeah, I got that.
Well, that's great.
Now thanks to you we have no idea where those bugs are going to be released.
Good.
Now it's anybody's game.
No telling how many truckloads of those bugs might've made it out.
Yeah, or where they're headed.
Well, maybe your little friend can tell us.
Yeah.
I think I'll name him Chester.
Stay.
Listen, don't hang up, okay? Everything that you said was right.
Look, I've been poring over these R&D files and I can't believe it.
You can't believe what? Everything that you said was true.
Pacific Bionetics, the crop research.
Someone's been funnelling money from ZDT to fund all this.
Why are you telling me this? Because my name is all over everything.
There's money trails, there's there's requisition forms.
Listen, I I need you.
I need you to come here, and I need you to help me.
Alisha, the last time I trusted you, two of my friends almost got killed.
Jess, I had no idea.
Okay? You just have to believe me.
Okay, look, stay in your office.
I'll be right there.
Okay.
Nate, why didn't you tell me about Project Redstock? Because I was trying to protect you.
It's why I've been covering your back from the start, destroying memos, deleting voice mails.
Do you have any idea the size of the players involved here? The amount of money we stand to make? Billions.
By creating a plague? No, it would never get to that level.
Look, a few farms will be destroyed.
The press would have a field day, then ZDT come out as heroes when we release the first insect-resistant corn.
Nobody gets hurt here, Alisha.
It's a win-win all around.
Look, we can't give up now.
Where you going? Alisha called.
She needs my help.
Of course she does.
Look I'm not going to say that I believe her.
But if she is telling the truth, then she is our only lead as to where these locusts are going to be released.
And if she isn't, you're just giving her another chance to play you again.
I'll take that chance.
Then I'm coming with you.
Stay here.
Yeah, right.
Lexa, just give me two minutes with her.
Two minutes.
No!
Oh How did you do that? Look, there's some things in this world you can understand.
And there's some things that you can't.
Oh, God.
And you fall into the latter? Yeah.
Oh, my God.
It's okay.
Look, it's going to be okay.
Trust me.
I'm getting you out of here.
Okay? Oh, God.
Okay.
It's all right.
Tell us you have good news.
I have discovered the key on how to kill the locusts.
Sound waves.
The right frequency shatters the destruct organ.
Killing them instantly.
Well, I can upload it to the Helix, so we can pump it out through the external speakers.
Yeah, but the Helix's sonic range is only a hundred metres.
Oh, would you stop complaining? That gives you two minutes to neutralize these things after they've been released.
If we can find 'em.
Well, you better.
These things reproduce at an alarming rate.
And once they spread, they will devour anything in their path.
Any chance we might be able to narrow down the field for us? I would have to say that you're going to have to go low-tech.
What do you mean? Swoop over the corn fields like a crop duster? Well, unless you've got a better idea I'm right behind you guys.
What the hell's going on? Is Alisha okay? You can say she's a little confused.
Well, see if she knows where the locusts are going to be released.
Who are you talking to? I'm talking to a friend.
She's just trying to help.
Now, do you have any idea where Nate might be trying to release the locusts? I don't know Come on, think.
Think! I don't know! I just found out about this.
You have to believe me.
I just found out about this.
It's impossible to cover this much area.
These corn fields go on for hundreds of miles.
Yeah, well, if we don't find these locusts in time, Chester's little buddies are going to cut through those fields like a machete.
Okay, kids.
They just pulled onto the freeway.
You're heading north on the I-80.
We just got onto a freeway.
A freeway? What direction are we going in? We're heading north.
North on the I-80.
North on the I-80 You know what? I remember seeing paperwork.
We leased a farm.
Where? South south of Gilroy.
You got that, guys? We are about forty miles north of there.
According to this, there's only two farms outside the town.
Looks like we got a fifty-fifty chance.
Tell you what.
Why don't we just stop at the one where we hear the locusts buzzing? Release them, then get those trucks out of here.
Oh, my God.
It's okay.
I'm scared.
It's okay.
I'm not going to let anything happen to you.
Do it.
And bury her in the field.
Got it.
Okay go over there.
Stay behind me.
No.
No no no Yes, get over there.
Agghh! Come on! Good.
Come on.
Isn't it a little too early for sunset? Aw! Come on.
Go.
Go go go! Okay, I've got the wave pattern locked and loaded.
We're ready to go.
We gonna need earplugs for this thing? Relax.
The frequency is well out of your hearing range.
But I'm probably going to end up with a migraine.
Aw, then I'll have to get you a couple of aspirin.
Oh.
.
! You okay? Come on.
You may be bullet-proof, but she isn't.
Don't move! What, like this? Agh! Hey, Bren, Shalimar, what's going on? Somebody call for an exterminator? Now, Bren.
Forty more seconds, the bugs'll be out of range.
See ya, Chester.
Ugh oh It worked.
Yeah, no kidding.
Well, the good news is the bugs are destroyed.
The bad news is the windshield of the Helix is a mess.
Yeah, and I'm not cleaning it.
Well, guys, apparently the Dominion destroyed all of ZDT's research.
Well, I guess that leaves Alisha to rebuild the company from the ground up.
You know, something tells me she won't have a problem.
Were you always like this? It started in high school.
So all the time that we were together you you were just hiding it from me? You know, you could've told me that.
I would've accepted it, right? Yeah, but at the time I couldn't accept it in myself.
So this, uh this new life that you have makes you happy? Yeah.
Yeah, it does.
But there's no room for you know, a wife, or a white picket fence? I wish it was that simple.
But as much as I would like to, I can't change who I am.
Why does it seem like all the good men are either gay or married or Mutants?
Well, next time a woman comes along that fits into your life, promise me something.
Uh huh.
Don't let her go.
Bye.
Hey.
Listen, it happens to the best of us.
But you'll be fine.
Yeah, whatever.