The episode kicks off with a scene set in 1968, where a tour guide at Fort Jerome, exuding an air of superiority, is abruptly pulled off a cliff's edge by a mysterious oily substance. Shifting to the present, Frankie (portrayed by Galilea La Salvia) steps back into the Brewer household, where Cece Brewer (Jayden Bartels) shares whispers that Trey Jiminez (Stony Blyden) might hold clues about the woman who abducted Anthony Brewer (David Schwimmer). Meanwhile, Devin Brewer (Sam McCarthy) scours through one of Matty Brewer’s (Christopher Paul Richards) old yearbooks, seeking the elusive Hannah Parker (Elois Payet). Just when things seem to gain momentum, CJ (Elijah M Cooper) dashes in with news that his mother has recruited a new delivery person to take his place.
Just then, Trey arrives with a bombshell: a 1994 episode of "20/20" that covers the disappearance, featuring Dr. Ramona Pamani (Sakina Jaffrey). A cursory internet search yields only a solitary hit—a tome on global risk management authored by Dr. Abi Pamani (Sendhil Ramamurthy). Determined, Frankie, Devin, and Trey devise a plan to visit Frankie's mother at the hospital, hoping to trace Ramona’s whereabouts, while Cece, CJ, and Alex (Francesca Noel) embark on a quest to uncover the book.
Anthony, confined within his cocoon-like pod, indulges in vivid dreams or fantasies, finding himself back in his basement. In parallel, Frankie leverages her connection with her mother at the hospital to procure Ramona’s license plate number. Trey suggests they run the plates through his father’s auto shop.
Jen (Ana Ortiz) ventures to Anthony’s side, seeking insight into the tape's contents. Instead, she encounters Joe Jr. (Wayne Lopez), who narrates the hurried exit of the children earlier. Jen taps into her police contacts to trace Alex’s ankle monitor.
Frankie, Devin, and Trey tail Ramona’s Range Rover to a warehouse, where they converge with Alex, Cece, and CJ. Inside the warehouse, Devin uncovers Anthony’s shirt nestled in a biohazard container, while Cece stumbles upon Ramona’s meticulously dated journal, stretching back to the year 1969, painting a richer, more intricate picture of the unfolding mystery.
In the year 1969, within the confines of the Fort, a youthful Ramona, played by Sahana Srinivasan, along with Ari, introduced an ensemble of men to the enigmatic Orion Project. After delivering a concise overview of their roles and the enigmatic facility, they guided them beneath the surface, unveiling what resembled an organic, levitating UFO—a sight that left the men awestruck.
Six months flew by, and the team succeeded in formulating a functional serum, which they subjected to a live rat for testing. Shortly thereafter, Ramona, burdened by curiosity, inquisitively probed her father about the true objective of the Orion Project. His response, that it was merely meant for assessment and observation, failed to convince her. Instead, she accused him of harboring intentions to weaponize the serum. In a moment of sincerity, he confessed that if the serum held the power to thwart the impending doom that threatened every soul on Earth, he would unhesitatingly wield it as a weapon.
The other male members of the Project echoed Ramona's skepticism, and when the time came to test the serum on the ship, they retreated in hesitation. Undeterred, Ari ventured forth alone. Initially, the serum seemed to exert its intended effect, but shortly after Ari's departure, the first cocooned victim revived, broke free, and nullified the serum's potency. By the time the entire facility was placed on high alert and Ari reached Ramona, the ship had embarked on a defensive counterattack. With heroic effort, Ari aided Ramona in her escape and secured the facility, entrusting her with the solemn duty of ensuring the entity remained confined. Just before sealing the facility, he imparted these final words to her, echoed in a will she later discovered in his safe.
Ramona's interruption of the group was anything but welcoming; her frustration with their intrusion was palpable. After a tense exchange, Cece's persuasive prowess convinced Ramona to revisit the fort and rescue Anthony. Though she conceded, she warned them that time was of the essence.
The episode concludes on a harrowing note, as Anthony is portrayed being assailed by an oily substance within the confines of his basement, his plight a grim testament to the looming peril.