You need to relax.
It's just a dinner.
Yes, dinner with my parents, two regular people.
And they're gonna love you.
Because I love you.
-I'll see you in an hour.
How could they know?
Hello?
-Abbi Singh? -Who's calling, please?
Maxwell Schifrin, from the wellness program. You called me.
Oh, yes. Maxwell, hi.
Thank you so much for calling me back.
How could I not after your incredibly detailed voicemail?
Sorry about that.
I'm sorry to hear what's going on with you.
With all of us, I guess.
I can't believe Dr. Sarkov would do this on purpose.
Yeah. It's come as a shock to us all.
You said we should expect to experience side effects?
Yeah, it varies from person to person.
Have you noticed anything different about yourself lately?
I've been feeling body aches, and having trouble breathing.
Should I be concerned? We talking a class action?
I'll just be happy to get fixed.
Which is actually why I'm calling.
I'm looking for Dr. Sarkov,
and I know he's been in contact with others from the program.
I'm seeing him tomorrow.
It's a drive to Portland,
but maybe you'd have better luck if you spoke with him in person.
You don't mind if we crash your appointment?
-We? -Yeah.
I'm working with a couple others from the program. Juan and Tilda.
-I'll text you the address. -Thank you so, so much.
Happy to help.
So these side effects, how worried should I be?
I'm sorry. I have to take this. It's work-related.
See you tomorrow.
She'll be here tomorrow, with two other specimens.
-And their side effects are? -Undetermined.
We need to know what they're capable of.
Qamara's right. It'd be best if we knew what we were getting into.
We'll just have to be ready for anything.
You can't go to Portland. Not after what happened.
That's exactly why I gotta go to Portland.
Can we please talk about this?
Nothing to talk about. I could've hurt you.
But you didn't. So...?
Darcy, don't you get it?
-I could have killed you.
That thing is a monster.
I think you're being a little hard on Chupi.
Don't name it.
Don't!
-It's not an it. -Don't.
It's a majestic noble beast and has every right to exist!
It's dangerous! It kills pets, people. It could kill you.
And it must be destroyed.
Juan. I don't wanna fight about this.
If this is what you want, then... I support you.
Thank you.
Ah! What the fuck?
If you're gonna get rid of him, at least let me see him one last time.
Why would you do that?
I wanna make sure I've got the proportions right.
We'll talk about this when I get back.
-Uh--
Where are those fucking keys?
So that's why you wanted to get into my pants, huh?
That's not the only reason.
Tilda, I already said it's a no.
I need the van to get us to Portland.
-We need to get to our gig tonight. -Oh, right.
-Rose's big debut is tonight. -Yes, it is.
No one's happy about it. Not even Rose.
Some bands cancel shows when their lead can't sing.
They don't parachute someone in.
There's no band if we don't keep working.
-It's not even 10 a.m. -You sound like a tour manager.
-Give me it. Give me it. -Give it.
-Case in point. -I'm so sorry.
I don't want your sympathy.
-Just need your keys. -Hey.
-Dr. Burke? -In the lab.
I have amazing news.
So do I.
-Here. -What's this?
Concentrated cyclodextrin molecules.
It occurred to me you would all be traveling in one vehicle to Portland,
so this popped into my head.
Should nullify your pheromones for two hours.
-And, best of all-- -It's unscented.
-A little gift for all of us. -Thank you.
-You said you had news? -Abbi. Are you down here?
It can wait.
Look. Dr. Burke made me an unscented pheromone nullifier.
-So, new...? -Yes.
Oh, cool.
I don't suppose you have anything to stop my transforming?
Not yet, but I am trying to develop an early warning system.
Wear that.
It'll monitor your blood pressure, breathing, and your heart rate.
Once we know what we're looking for,
we might be able to find a way to control it.
You guys were supposed to be outside waiting!
I heard there were presents.
Give me.
Right. Uh, yeah.
You...
-What did you get? -I got a watch.
Perfect.
Should help with your hyperacusis.
-Gee, thanks. -You don't have to drink all my wine.
You sure you can't come?
If Alex refuses to help,
dealing with your side effects is on me.
Even with his research, I have a lot to cover.
You're not working on the morphogenetic protein identifications, are you?
There will be plenty of work when you get back.
Yeah...
I was thinking about not going.
I'm worried about transforming.
Don't worry, buddy. I got you covered.
Tighter.
There you go.
Not every day you meet a woman who knows inline double coin knots.
-Oh, Boy Scout knows his knots.
They didn't teach me Kinbaku in Boy Scouts.
Where'd you learn it?
-I go to art school. -Uh, can you flirt on the road?
-We've gotta get going. -Oh, we're not flirting.
I'm not into younger dudes.
What if there's construction? An accident? What if Sarkov shows up early?
Or what if this hunk of junk breaks down?
Then we'll track Sarkov to his next test subject.
-It's not the end of the world, Abbi. -Maybe for you it isn't!
Okay, something's got your knickers in a serious twist. Spill.
-Oxford offered me a makeup interview. -Abbi, that's great!
-Sarkov's fixing me first.
That's why I didn't wanna say anything.
It only makes sense. I'm in the most pain.
But I'm in the most danger.
-You just wanna get to Oxford. -You just wanna go on tour.
I think Darcy's attracted to the Chupacabras.
Darcy has a monster fetish. Always has.
Ever since her father took her to see Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast.
She wanted to see the Disney version, but he went to film school.
-So he was like, fuck that. -Focus.
How did she find out about it?
Apparently, I transformed in front of her last night
and now she's obsessed.
And this morning she tried to...
Yeah, well, she had just...
She-- She calls it "Chupi."
-Aw! -Aw! Who's a good Chupi?
Chupi!
-Why, yes, you are!
-I hate you guys. -You love us.
Okay. Let's go.
Damn it.
If you call him, he will lord it over you.
Mm-hm.
Dr. Yake speaking.
-Mm-mm.
He could save you weeks of work.
Dr. Brian Yake. Hello?
-Dr. Brian Yake. Hello--
Oh, just make the fucking call. Okay.
I don't know who this is, but I got better things to do with my time.
Brian? Sydney Burke.
Sydney?
Did you just call me and hang up?
-No. -Oh.
I'm surprised to hear from you.
I guess you've heard about Reg?
-Reggie Lindt? What about him? -He's dead, Sydney.
Spilled some chemicals in his car and it turned into a gas chamber.
Oh, my God. Poor Reggie.
If you're not calling me about that, then what?
Um, Alex reached out to me recently.
Said he had a breakthrough with the side effects.
The problem has nothing to do with the nucleus.
So, I was checking his research, and I think he might be right.
You're working with Alex Sarkov again?
No. I'm continuing to focus on AGDS, and Alex is on his own path.
But his discovery may have bearing on my research
so I was hoping to get a second opinion.
You know, cell differentiation is your area of expertise.
Well, I'm surprised you're asking me, to be honest.
Considering our history.
Look, I called you, so... water under the bridge.
Oh...
Tell you what. Send me everything you've got.
I look forward to it. And, Sydney...
good to talk to you.
Yeah, you too.
Douchebag.
...because the diploid was outnumbered by the polyploid.
Yeah. Diploid, yeah.
Whatever. It killed with the Oxford people.
Who also attacked you because of your pheromones?
Oh, God.
I'm screwed! It doesn't matter if Sarkov does fix me.
After me, and after Juan.
No way I'll get into Oxford. They're covering their butts.
"We interviewed her a second time over Zoom, and she couldn't make the cut."
Stop beating yourself up. Oxford would be lucky to have you.
Yeah. Dr. Burke totally wanted your help with the...
with the mighty morphing geriatric... um, thing.
Morphogenetic protein identifications.
Yeah. You see? You know. You're smart. Huh?
All right, look.
When we find Sarkov and get him to agree to help us,
you can go second after me.
Gee, thanks, Tilda.
I'm a giver.
I thought I was going second?
Juan, don't be so selfish.
Abbi needs this.
Thanks, guys.
Thank you.
We better get going.
We'll get the next one, okay?
People actually live here?
Are you sure this is the right place?
It's the address Maxwell sent.
Guys, I can get some help.
Hey, how do we convince Sarkov to help us anyway?
Kick his ass and toss him in the van.
I like your enthusiasm, and that's a solid plan B,
but I was thinking we try a more inclusive approach.
I thought we were using your pheromones?
I'd rather not.
-They don't bring out the best in people. -I could "banshee" him,
but there's a chance I'd turn his brain into pudding and Juan will eat him.
-That was one time. -All right.
I'll pheromone him, but let's keep this to ourselves.
I told Maxwell we were coming to talk to Sarkov.
Didn't say anything about kidnapping him. He might balk if we make him an accessory.
Is "banshee" a verb?
It is now.
Abbi, Juan, Tilda.
-That's Maxwell? -It has been seven years.
-Abbi. Good to see you. -You're kidding, right?
-Of course I am, Tilda. Abbi. -Oh, not a first-time hugger.
Noted. I am a first-time hugger.
You guys look great.
Yeah, you look pretty good too.
I didn't know what to expect. Abbi kept talking about your side effects.
Thought you might be turning into fish people or something.
-It's not that exciting. -Thanks again.
-Hey, we gotta stick together, right? -Yeah.
Where are my manners? Come on in.
-Just this way. -Thanks.
Did you track down Yake?
Yeah, I found him. He's on lunch.
Don't let him out of your sight.
Okay. Why am I following him?
Same as Lindt. Same as Sarkov.
People in his orbit tend to get hurt.
Especially women.
He is absolute trash.
Speaking of which, how'd it go with Lindt?
Better than expected. Couldn't have done it without you.
All I did was track down the make and model of his car.
And pretend to be his assistant.
I wish I could've seen his face
when he found his car destroyed by acid.
Yeah.
And this Yake clown, same information?
I'm looking for office hours,
building and security schedules and routes.
I'd like to spend more time with him.
Easy-peasy.
He's leaving now. I'll talk to you later.
This will do.
Big place.
Yeah. It was Qamara's idea. Buy big, subdivide and conquer.
So this is what you guys are into? Real estate?
You could say we're speculators.
This whole thing with Dr. Sarkov must be so stressful.
She'd be crawling up the walls right now if she were in your shoes.
She'd research everything online.
I'd be ignoring it, hoping it goes away...
if my side effects were worse.
Any developments on that front?
Not yet. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
What side effects are you dealing with?
I'm guessing from the ear protectors, it's some kind of sensitivity issue?
Aha! Look at that. It's past00.
Maxwell, maybe you could check in on Dr. Sarkov.
Look at that, he just texted. Gonna be closer to00.
You're welcome to wait.
Guess we're waiting.
Is there a restroom I could use?
Absolutely. I'll show you.
Hey, Tilda. How about a tour?
Sure, why not?
Oh, I was hoping to hear about your comic.
Uh... Sugar Skull?
Mm-hm.
Yeah, sure. Um...
Yeah, I can talk with you about my comic. Yeah. What do you wanna know?
Everything.
How did you come up with the idea?
I'm glad you asked.
It was my brother Alejandro's fault.
He was a huge comic--
Shh.
Let me show you what's upstairs.
Hey...
how do you get back to the living room from here?
What's the rush?
I wanna check on Juan. He's not great with strangers.
-Okay. It's just back that way. -Okay.
I can find the restroom by myself.
-Just point the way. -Don't be ridiculous. It's no problem.
It's better if I'm not around other people
this close for long periods of time.
Whatever those synthetic stem cells did to you, I'm sure Sarkov can fix it.
Maxwell knows about the synthetic stem cells?
Yeah. Sarkov mentioned them to him when he called. Here we go.
-Don't expect anything fancy. -I'm really not.
God, you know, it's just so warm down here.
Ooh. Thanks for the escort.
-Anything for you. -Hm.
-Anything. -Let's start with the truth.
How does Maxwell know about the synthetic stem cells?
He didn't.
The real Maxwell's dead.
What did you do to him?
We tried to save his life, but...
the stem cells, they turned him into some kind of fish person.
-So, you're scientists? -We prefer the term "bio-hackers."
Why did you lie to us?
We discovered the stem cells after Maxwell died.
We were just beginning to realize their potential.
And then you called--
You lured us here to experiment on us?
I'm supposed to inject you with this. It's veterinary-grade stuff.
Would've knocked you out for hours
and then... the experiments I had planned for you.
I'd love it if you'd inject yourself instead.
Kinky.
If that's what you're into.
This guy is pretty heavy. Nate, give me a hand.
I'm busy with my own hostage.
Oh, my God.
Oh, Maxwell.
God, I'm so sorry.
I'll check on Qamara.
Shit. Shit.
You can't leave them.
You're not leaving them. You're going for help.
Damn it, Abbi.
Yake's office is in that building--
Okay. Are you rehearsing for your ASMR podcast?
Just talk normally. Whispering draws attention.
Yake's office is in that building. Second floor.
Security does a sweep every hour on the hour.
They take the elevator up and work their way down.
He's got a night class tonight, so he'll be there late.
Anyone see you?
No one sees me.
I see you.
Detective Moore.
-Building and office number. -Seriously.
You should sell that coffee shop of yours, go into business as a P.I.
I like my coffee shop.
Then why are you here?
I've always been angry at Sarkov for what happened to me.
But I never thought I had any right to feel that way.
Until I met you.
Sarkov had no right to experiment on you without your informed consent.
Sarkov and the others like him, Yake, Lindt--
Burke.
They're predators.
Now they'll understand how it feels to be preyed upon.
They deserve to experience the pain you endured.
They deserve more.
Vandalizing their cars, trashing their offices.
It feels like they're getting off easy.
Trust me. The punishment fits the crime.
I can do more.
I want to do more.
I'll keep that in mind.
Sydney, it's Brian.
I think I identified the cause of the side effects.
It's a protein glitch.
What was that about a protein glitch?
Call me back when you get this.
Can I help you?
I'm here on behalf of all the people
whose lives you've ruined with your experiments.
Hey, hey, hey. Stop that!
Take your moral outrage somewhere else.
I do everything I can to ensure the safety of all my test subjects.
And your experiments with Sarkov?
Who ensured their safety?
Get out of my office right now or I'm calling security.
Hey. What is that?
-Tert-Butyllithium. -Be careful with that.
It's pyrophoric.
It will ignite spontaneously in air.
And there's that ever-so condescending tone you reserve just for the ladies.
What are you doing? No, no, no. Stop that, please. No.
That's my best guess based on what happened.
Should be worth something.
What was Sarkov trying to accomplish?
I say we call Flux now.
-Hand this to them. -It's not that simple.
What do you mean, it's not?
Do you have a contact at Flux or not?
I do. But I can't just call and say,
"It's Nate. I've got some science for you."
That's exactly what you said you could do.
-It's more complicated than that. -Then un-complicate it.
Call your contact and tell them what we have.
I will. As soon as we run more tests.
-Nate. -The more we know, the more we can charge.
-We don't have enough information yet. -Know what else we don't have?
Adequate facilities to detain three human test subjects with enhanced abilities.
-They're not super-heroes. -And it won't be indefinite.
Especially if we let Nate take care of them.
-It's not my fault Maxwell died. -As long as she's alive, we're in danger.
When her pheromones took hold, I would've done anything she said.
-I did do anything she said. -Fine.
I'll take her. See if you can figure out Juan's deal.
-Fine. -We'll want samples of her pheromones.
-You think? -You're gonna swab?
You're lazy. It's a good thing you're cute.
The putative axillary sweat pheromones
are steroid-structure components.
-They'll give us the best sample. -I'm looking for volume.
You could scrape off her top layer of dermis and soak it in methanol.
Turn up the heat, morons. I'll sweat out more than enough in an hour.
She's not wrong.
Come on.
-Thirsty? -Yeah.
So...
you creeps are some kind of science pirates, yeah?
You heard that, huh?
Guess we are dealing with some kind of super-hearing.
Dick.
This doesn't have to be so antagonistic.
Help us help you.
Yeah? The way you helped Maxwell to an early grave?
Yeah, I heard that too.
We tried to help him.
But his stem cells were out of control.
He wouldn't stop changing, so we injected him with an inhibitor and--
It killed him?
Just my luck to be abducted by incompetent science pirates.
From what I've read, AGDS can present as any kind of inherited genetic disorder.
What did yours present as?
Mine presented as, go fuck yourself.
We'll come back to the questions later.
Let's start with a blood sample.
That should have hurt you more.
There's a sedative in your water.
I'm guessing that's affected whatever that was supposed to be.
I'm really starting to hate scientists.
Oh, no.
I just got this.
What have you done with Tilda and Abbi?
They're being examined by my colleagues.
Now, we know about Abbi's pheromones and Tilda's super-hearing.
Question is, what's up with you?
Do you wanna know?
I'll show you.
Come on, come on.
Any time now.
You're constipated? Is that your thing?
Come on, you coward. Come on, you got this. Come on.
Too bad.
-I thought we could be civil. -Wait. No. We can. No.
Espérate. Quédate ahí! No, no. Stay. Stay. No.
Tilda, I need a distraction.
Tilda, can you hear me?
You say something?
Yeah. I said, how did you cross paths with Maxwell?
Qamara.
She has a side hustle at a medical clinic.
Maxwell comes in, he'd grown gills overnight.
-He was scared shitless.
Said he'd been part of an experiment run by Alex Sarkov.
-She brought him home. -And?
You decided to steal Sarkov's science and sell it to Flux as your own?
Pretty much.
Oh, fuck.
-How can I stay mad at you? -If you really cared, you'd untie me.
Of course. What was I thinking?
Anything for you.
-Can you forgive me? -Hey. Don't ever touch me again.
-But I'll die without you. -Maybe you should.
You're right.
I can't live in a world where you hate me.
-Melanie, don't!
Oh, fuck.
-Motherfucker. -Don't be such a baby.
Just a few more, and we'll be done.
Where's Juan?
Down the hall, just past where I found you.
-Let me show you-- -I know where that is.
I'd love it if you'd knock yourself out now.
Anything for you.
I love watching you own those pheromones.
There you go.
Cans, cans, cans.
-Here. Any time. -Thanks.
No, Abbi. Thank you. I heard you make it to the door.
If I'd gotten free, I'm not sure I could've stayed to find you.
No monster left behind. It's my new motto.
Good motto. Let's get Juan and get out of here.
Stop, please. Por favor. No! Please, stop. Please. Please.
-You think I'm enjoying this? -In all honesty, yes, a bit.
You know how to stop it.
Okay. No, no, no. Wait. Por qué? Okay.
I'm a Chupacabras.
What did I say about making jokes?
It's not a joke.
I'm the Terror of Tacoma.
And when I transform, I'm gonna rip your throat out.
Bullshit.
Qamara! Put that down and let our friend go now.
You back up against that wall.
We should've just jumped her.
How was I supposed to know she had a gun?
You think your pheromones can seduce a bullet?
Definitely not.
Just let Juan go and we'll get out of here.
We never have to see each other again.
Those synthetic stem cells could be worth billions.
I'm not letting that go.
Restrain her. Now.
-Really? -Reflex action.
Do it, or she dies.
-No. -Now get that tape and restrain her.
-I'm not going to ask you again.
It's about time you showed up.
Oh, my God.
No! Chupi, come back!
Juan, wait!
-Juan? -Chupi!
Don't fucking move.
You killed Melanie.
-Technically, she killed herself. -And Juan killed Qamara.
So that leaves you.
-Well, I'm gonna kill you. -About that.
Remember the sedative that fucked up my voice?
-What about it? -It wore off.
No.
Let's go find our boy.
Killer.
Juan!
Oh.
-Juan! -Hey.
What is all that?
I found my stuff and a ton of bio-hacker research.
It might help Dr. Burke.
Okay. We're supposed to be looking for Juan, not looting.
I would have grabbed some stuff.
Oh, I found his phone, wallet, and the monitoring device. But no Juan.
We should wait for him. See if he comes back.
We can't stay here. There's four dead bodies in there.
If you want to go, go. But I'm not giving up on Juan.
He's our friend, and just a kid.
Tilda, seriously. He's not just a kid. He's a young man.
Slash killing machine.
As long as he's not in there, he's got a fighting chance.
It's Oxford. I completely forgot.
Well, you got to take it.
Let's get this stuff back to Dr. Burke.
Fucking scientists.
Benny?
Sponson.
I'm gonna need cleaners to my location.
I'm not sure what we're dealing with, but whatever it is...
it's already escaped.