A man lies in an isolated hospital ward. He's in his mid 30's and strapped. The evolution of his state is being closely monitored by experts, as his arm shows signs of increasing hair in rapid growth. In a shock, the arm rapidly mutates into something inhuman, and the nurses attending the patient get sliced by it. Quickly after that, the patient, unstrapped, plummets to the floor.
Chapter 2
Isolation ward
Phillip Broyles is making public declarations as he has been recently promoted to Secretary of Defense. "Dr. Bishop has sent a resignation letter this morning," Phillip says in front of the media. "He remains committed to the cause of defending the country, as he has managed to create a technology capable of sealing the portals. The underlying causes of this event are still to be studied, but needless to say, our defense systems remain intact. The DOD's department at the Statue of Liberty were only for experimental purposes and not the base of our defense system. The Fringe Division will oversee the investigation of the matters and will release all information necessary. But, we must be aware that we may be facing a potential era of scientific terrorism, which needs to be placed in check, for that, nothing better than our Fringe Division. Thank you all, and God Bless America."
"He looks great on that speech," a red-haired Olivia Dunham says, while having some leisure time with his partner, Peter Bishop. "It's strange you haven't been called on duty," Peter says. "You know what is even stranger?" says Olivia. "That you have taken that blond chick and our baby on a tour to save the world! What the heck were you even thinking about!" Peter smiles, as he knows he's done it again. "Don't worry," says Peter. "She's like you, only slightly different." "What do you mean with that?!" Olivia says. "You'll find out sooner or later," Peter says. "But if I told you now, you wouldn't believe me. Suffice to say that she isn't one of those identity snatching machines." "Yeah, I know it," Olivia says. "She wasn't even trying to copy me. It's more like she was me if I had gone through a different set of circumstances. Anyways, Lincoln will handle her."
Agent Francis hasn't the same luck. He is now arranging proper isolation in a hospital in the event of a breakout of some strange mutation material. "Do we have an ID on the attacker?" Agent Francis asks. "His name is Jonathan Michael," Agent Farnsworth says. "For what I see, he has entered due to a strange slicing in his back. A big infection indeed. He was admitted yesterday and put into isolation." "So he must have been attacked by one of those semi-human gargoyles," Agent Francis says. "We have a survivor we need to put into isolation, but we haven't got enough brainpower to cope with this." "Don't worry, Agent Francis," Agent Farnsworth says. "I think I have an idea. Allow me to convince Captain Lee."
"Secretary Broyles," Captain Lee says. "We are going to need more scientists in our division. We are undermanned in that area." "I agree, Captain," Broyles says. "But our scientific community has entered into a bit of panic. I'm facing the same issues here. The big names are quitting their applications and we are hiring juniors in the DOD. I guess everyone is hiding out." "Excuse me, Captain," says Agent Farnsworth as she abruptly interrupts the exchange between Lee and Broyles. "I want permission to take a short leave. I would like to hire a consultant for our division." "Who do you have in mind?" Lee asks. "Well, Dr. Bishop is now unemployed," Farnsworth says. "We could use him." "Are you out of your mind?!" Lee yells. "Go back to your station, Farnsworth!" "Sorry, sir," Farnsworth says. "I'll arrange all matters with Agent Francis then."
In the scene, the corpses are being analyzed. One of them is showing signs of response. Another mutation. A corpse mutates in the leg, and stands up screaming in pain. A shootout in the hospital begins, with the corpse being definitely shot in the head by Agent Francis. The sole civilian survivor is a blonde nurse in her 40s, who has been slashed by one mutant. "Captain," Francis calls on the phone. "We need to isolate the hospital. Things are getting out of control!" "I'll dispatch a team immediately!" Captain Lee says. "Heck, this is a bad day to start as Fringe division captain!"
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Amidst the crisis, Captain Lee makes time to visit the new prisoner, a blond Olivia Dunham. "Are you having a bad day, Agent?" Olivia asks. "Captain, for you…" Lee says. "So, Broyles got a promotion," Olivia says. Lee smirks. He isn't liking it a bit. "I'll be the one asking questions here," Lee says. "Shoot," Olivia answers calmly. "DOD," Lee says. "You were there, what happened?"
"So, you are interrogating me without even knowing what was going on in the DOD!" Olivia says with displease. "Gosh, Walter's making things hard here!" "How do you know Dr. Bishop?" Lee asks. "Which Dr. Bishop?" Olivia asks for clarification. "There's only one Dr. Bishop!" Lee says. "The former Secretary of Defense." "There's more than one of everything…" Olivia hints. "You mean shapeshifters?" Lee says. "You lack the scientific knowledge to interrogate me," Olivia says. "If I told you now, you wouldn't believe me. So, I'll make it easy for you. Agreed?" "Go on," Lee says.
"I reckon you've seen my picture with Rachel and Ella in the Statue of Liberty," Olivia says. "Do you remember the color?" "It's green," Lee says. "Was it some kind of effect?" "No," Olivia says. "The picture has no effects. As I've told you, there is more than one of everything. How about you take a blood sample from me and we continue later? If there's no mercury you'll be able to check I'm no shapeshifter." "I'd like you to go on," Lee says. "Well, to make it short," Olivia says. "I think the Statue was stolen. There was a machine there, a piece of state of the art biotechnology that operates with one specific DNA pattern. The reason why, I ignore. All I know is that it is capable of manipulating vortexes." "Vortexes?" Lee asks. "Yes, ones generated by imbalances in the fabric of the universe," Olivia says. "These allow for events impossible to happen under normal physics." "A fringe event…" Lee says. "But who stole it?" "That, I would also like to know…" Olivia says. "All I know is that it lies on the other side of those vortexes Dr. Bishop closed. Agent Farnsworth has seen it, you can check it with her." "OK," Lee says. "Thanks for your cooperation. I have some matters in hand. I'll come by later." "Godspeed, Captain," Olivia says.
"We've got some intel on the DOD's mysteries," Captain Lee says. "But I don't think I have clearance, Secretary." "You have it now," Broyles says. "Apparently we were on the verge of some amazing discovery," Lee says. "Universal energy manipulation, perhaps. It got stolen. The DOD lies beyond those strange portals Dr. Bishop closed." "That sounds crazy," Broyles says. "I reckon you were debriefed, Secretary," Lee says. "It's okay if you can't tell me anything else. Our prisoner seems to be more cooperative than expected." "Do we know her allegiances?" Broyles asks. "Honestly, I think she is a rogue one," Lee answers. "She's working alone." Meanwhile, Secretary Broyles checks the last footage of the DOD, with a group of men in suits surrounding a big grey machine; their origin and identity, unknown.
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"Where's Farnsworth?" Lee asks. "She's gone!" another agent says. "Track her," Lee asks. "No need to," says the agent. "She's in Boston. She said it was vital to recruit Dr. Bishop. You know what she's like…" "Charlie!" Lee says. "Tell me we have some good news." "It's hard to give anyone good news here!" answers Agent Francis. "It's all locked up, but people are getting impatient. Have we got any advances from the agency?" "None," Lee says. "They can't even read the DNA. It's a madman's work."
"Excuse me, Dr. Bishop," Farnsworth says, while interrupting Dr. Bishop in the middle of a lecture. "I need your assistance." "Agent Farnsworth!" Walter says. "Everyone, this is Fringe Division Agent Farnsworth. One of the best in analytics. I must dismiss the class. Some hectic event must be going out there. Apparently, I'm still needed around." The students all start grabbing their things and leave. "Shall we go to the lab?" Walter suggests with a smile.
Dr. Bishop takes a look at the DNA sample taken from the hospital victims. "Tanatosis," Dr. Bishop says. "When an animal is in danger, they feign being dead. It is possible that the mutation not only changes parts of the victims' bodies, but also their behaviour." "But why is it contagious?" Agent Farnsworth asks. "Hard to know," Dr. Bishop says. "I'm not an expert in biotechnology, but my son is. He might be able to work around it."
"Honey," a red-haired Olivia says. "I've got a call from Agent Farnsworth. She wants me to show you some DNA samples. She says it's from a Fringe event." "OK, let's take a look," Peter says. "I think I might get the idea of what's going on," Peter says. "But I would have to take a look at an actual body." "What do you think?" Olivia asks. "I think that the mutation is carried out by a design virus. But these designs… It's cutting-edge technology. I don't know of any organization with such a level of expertise." "We'll have to design a retroviral," Peter says. "I think that the technology behind this has been imported. You'll have to ask the blond Olivia, she might know something." "I'll call Lincoln," Olivia says.
"You're back!" a blond Olivia Dunham says surprised. "Not like I wanted to," says Captain Lee. "But I might need your help." "How much do you know of bioterrorism?" Lee asks. "Well, there are two names I might think of," Olivia says. "But they might be dead or even have other lifestyles over here. So take it with a pinch of salt." "OK," Captain Lee says. "I'll only run a small check." "One is a biotechnology businessman," Olivia Dunham says. "He should be the main provider of weapons for the Fringe Division and the DOD, but again, I might be wrong. His name is William Bell. The other one, is a german lunatic. He has founded a cult following the work of Dr. Walter Bishop and William Bell, his name is David Robert Jones." "I think I'm regretting more and more coming here to talk to you," Lee says. "As far as I know, Secretary Bishop always worked alone." "I'm not talking about your Secretary of Defense, Captain," Olivia says. "If you find any of them, be cautious. They will outsmart you."
"Astrid!" calls Dr. Bishop. "Are there any infected?" "Allow me to check with Agent Francis," Agent Farnsworth says. "There's one." "So, we are on a bit of a run," says Walter. "Peter's sequencing the virus. Help me prepare the equipment to synthetize a serum." "This place works faster with that blond woman," Astrid says. "It's a shame she's locked up." "She is a paradigm changer," Walter says. "I don't think this world is ready for someone like her."
"Your new Fringe Division Captain is asking too many questions about our cooperation agreement," a red-haired old lady says. "Ms. Sharp!" Secretary Broyles says in surprise while in his new office. "Does Walter's chair suit you well?" she asks. "I don't know," Broyles says. "There's so much to review and so little time. Do you have any intel on the hospital crisis?" "Let me see," Ms. Sharp says. "We did hire one William Bell, and he was one of our chief designers for the DOD. But his background is in weaponry design, not biotechnology. His origin was unknown, but his abilities proved to be essential to the US Defense Program. He died last year in a car accident." "So, it's always a car accident…" Broyles says. "I may need to meet with the former Secretary of Defense on this one."
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"Are we going to be sanitized, Agent Francis?" asks an infected nurse, isolated and strapped. "I hope that not," Agent Francis says. "The life of all the people in the hospital is in the line. That would be a hell of a big blow for all of us, especially after the DOD disappeared." "These mutations," the nurse says. "They are unlike anything we have seen. It must be terrifying having to deal with this everyday." "It'll only get worse," Agent Francis says. "We were prepared for so many things, but everyday a new challenge raises. But if we made it this far, we can make it a little bit farther."
A retroviral mix has been synthesized in Walter's lab and simulations seem to run OK, but it hasn't been tested in actual material. "Is it safe to apply to humans? Agent Farnsworth asks. "Unfortunately, we have no time, dear," Walter says. "We must go on blind on this one." "I will make sure it is properly administered," Agent Farnsworth says. "We've got lives to save, Secretary." "You can call me Walter now," Dr. Bishop says. "I'm no longer a public official."
The nurse is starting to show signs of growing abnormal hair, as Astrid dashes to her van. "Relax, Sonia," says Agent Francis, while trying not to discomfort her. "It's starting, isn't it?" she asks crying. A Fringe Division siren goes on. "Agent Francis," calls Agent Farnsworth. "Are you there?" Full silence. Astrid Farnsworth starts to push the gas on the Fringe Division van. "Captain!" calls Farnsworth. "I have a possible cure for the mutation. But it remains to be tested. Should I use it?" "Where did you get it?" asks Lee. "Dr. Bishop," she answers. "You are green to go," answers Lee. "If anything fails, I'll back you up. You are our only hope now."
By the time Farnsworth arrives, the nurse has successfully mutated into a full-fledged humanoid gargoyle, minus the wings. The straps become loose, but the nurse retains some of her consciousness. For a second, she sees her hands and drops a tear. Then, she enrages. Agent Francis tries to stop her with bullets, but they aren't having much effect. He starts to retreat. On his back, Agent Farnsworth gets to shoot a dart with the cure. The mutant nurse lies to the floor and starts shaking. Afterwards, she vomits most of her blood. "The cure failed," says Agent Farnsworth crying. "It's a shame… after all of that hard work." "Thank you, Astrid," says Agent Francis as he hugs her.
"I've heard you've been helping our division, former Secretary," says Broyles in a phone call. Walter sits relaxed in his lab's office. "I had to create a poison," Dr. Bishop says. "There was no time for a cure. I hope Agent Farnsworth can cope with it." "It was the right call, Mr. Secretary," Broyles says. "You are the Secretary now," Walter says. "Sorry, I still can't get used to it," says Broyles. "I would like to know about the nature of our blond prisoner and how she has insight on the DOD." "I have a theory, but I need to demonstrate it," Walter says. "But, I can assure you she's no spy. What she knows is due to her experiences with past fringe events." "What's your theory?" Broyles asks. "There's more than one of everything," Walter says. "And she might be the proof of that." "Doppelgangers?" Broyles asks. "But how?" "That's what I need to demonstrate…" Walter answers.
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