Episode 5 of Sweet Tooth's second season opens with a glimpse into Jepperd's shadowy past, revealing more of his sordid role in capturing hybrid children. It's evident that he's far from content with this grisly task, his patience wearing thin under the constant demands of his superior, Coach. As he bundles the sedated child into a cage, his voice betrays his dissatisfaction, muttering darkly about his desire to quit working for the Last Men. Coach's constant claiming of credit for Jepperd's hard work only fuels his resentment. His heart is set on finding Louisa, but Coach tantalizes him with a supposed "promising lead" to keep him in line.
Back in the sweltering heat of the present, the truck sputters to a halt in the middle of the road, its engine giving up once again. Jepperd, faced with no other option, grabs as much gear as he can carry, including a megaphone and a flare gun, and sets off jogging along the road. His face is set in a determined grimace, his mind focused on reaching his destination.
Meanwhile, Abbot ushers Gus into his shadowy tent, the two engaging in a tense ideological exchange. Abbot taunts Gus with his fears, mocking his reluctance to fight back. He speaks chillingly about the hybrid bones, hinting at their importance and the hidden prize they hold. Suddenly, the tent flaps open, and the General strides in, making a stark example of Gus. With a swift slash, he cuts off one of Gus's antlers, leaving the hybrid whimpering in pain.
As Gus is thrown back into his cage, he cowers in fear, shaking uncontrollably. Wendy rushes to his side, her voice soft and reassuring. She tells him that his antler will grow back stronger, and in doing so, it will be a symbol of their own resilience. They will emerge from this ordeal stronger than they were before, she promises, her words a beacon of hope in the darkness.
Meanwhile, Adi stumbled upon devastating news. It transpired that the dreaded virus had indeed been detected, and shockingly, there was no known cure. He sank into despair, viewing himself as a complete failure. This dismal revelation meant that his upcoming meeting with The Three would undoubtedly turn sour.
Rani, however, saw an opportunity in this calamity. She proposed that they could use this revelation to their advantage, convincing the powerful warlords that the General had been manipulating them all. This ploy would stir up a frenzy of chaos, providing them with a chance to finally escape Abbot's clutches. But it all hinged on Adi's courage to take the first step and defy his own research.
Elsewhere, Becky boldly infiltrated the camp, expecting to find hybrids. Instead, she encountered the unexpected sight of the Animal Army. Becky engaged in a fierce battle with Tiger, fearing that her impending plan to storm Abbot's army would lead to catastrophic consequences. She desperately tried to negotiate with Tiger, but her efforts were abruptly interrupted when Jordan emerged from the shadows and knocked Tiger unconscious.
Meanwhile, The Three, including Zhang (or Helen, as she preferred to be called), Voss, and Dutch, arrived at Abbot's Zoo. Abbot revealed his vision for Evergreen, a utopian sanctuary that he hoped would serve as a self-sustaining refuge for them all. He described an abandoned housing development, a remnant of his military past, boasting 53 acres of lush greenery surrounded by towering walls.
He offered the leaders 150 of the finest men from each of their communities, while the rest would be relegated to the Sick. Abbot stressed that the General needed everyone's unity to power up this idyllic Evergreen commune, but this grand scheme rested on the nonexistent cure.
With his usual nervous demeanor, Singh took the podium and delivered a chilling presentation, highlighting the deadliness of the new strain. It was uncontrollable, and as for a cure… Adi betrayed his wife and opted not to reveal the truth, instead misleading them into believing that more processing of the cure was necessary for its success.
Meanwhile, the kids banded together, cleverly overwhelming one of the guards. They trapped him inside, seizing his cattle prod and using it to knock him unconscious. With the path cleared, the kids finally broke out. Gus noticed a flare in the sky and suspected it might be the Big Man. The other soldiers inside also saw it, prompting Johnny to dispatch a team to investigate. This left a minimal crew behind, and Gus boldly offered himself as bait.
He boldly interrupted General Abbot during the crucial meeting, no longer content to hide. He revealed that hybrids were dying for Abbot's purported cure, boldly pointing out that the virus was the true enemy, not them. However, just before Abbot could make his move, Johnny intervened, saving Gus and allowing him to escape.
Mrs. Zhang, on the other hand, made a calculated decision. She refused to follow General Abbot… unless she was guaranteed all the spots at Evergreen. In fact, she was prepared to undermine the competition completely, and with ruthless efficiency, she eliminated all competitors, forcing the two groups to unite.
Outside the zoo, Jepp attempted to negotiate with the Last Men, offering Aimee and her guards as a trade for Gus' return. But Bobby unexpectedly emerged from the ground, recognizing Jepp as the Big Man. One of the guards quickly subdued him with a net, causing Jepp to lose his temper and lash out. It was enough to scare the little hybrid away, but Jepp himself was also captured in the process.
