Atavus (Episode 202)

Augur (Richard Chevolleau) was given the job of keeping Major Liam Kincaid (Robert Leeshock) out of trouble. They spent time in Augur's loft watching a surveillance monitor trained on the Flat Planet Café, which Augur revealed he owned. Later, they entered the bar where they met up with Captain Lili Marquette (Lisa Howard) and Kwai-ling (Miranda Kwok). Lili teased the flirtatious Augur, saying that his overtures would never compete with her "joining" experience with Da'an (Leni Parker), which enveloped her in the Taelon Commonality. Baited by Lili's comments, Augur returned to his lair and, using his sophisticated computer, found his own way to tap into the Taelon Commonality. He was immediately overwhelmed by the psychic sensations, unaware that his trespassing severed Da'an's own link to the Commonality. Da'an was in his office with Zo'or (Anita La Selva) when his connection to the Commonality was broken. Da'an transformed into a hideous monster, a primitive ancestor of the Taelon species. He pushed past a startled Lili who just arrived on the scene and disappeared into the night. Zo'or informed Sandoval and Liam that Da'an regressed into an Atavus, a dangerous killer they must track down and destroy. Meanwhile, Augur, oblivious to the turmoil he created, stayed in his loft tapped into the Commonality, with a computer hologram that looked an awful lot like Lili monitoring his "visit." The real Lili refused to accept that Da'an could not be saved, but Zo'or insisted there was no way to reverse his regression. Agent Ron Sandoval (Von Flores) insisted that she stop thinking of the Atavus as Da'an, and concentrate on eliminating the beast before it started killing. But the Atavus had already claimed its first victim -- a mugger it encountered in the heart of the city. The Atavus moved on to claim its second victim. The Atavus "consumed" the hunter in a shower of light, leaving only his withered corpse behind.

Siobhan Beckett (Kari Matchett) joined Lili in the search for the Atavus, which they realized was heading straight for Augur's loft. What they didn't know was that Da'an was still inside the beast, and was trying to regain his lost link to the Commonality through the harmonic signal, which he traced to Augur. The agents converged on Augur's loft at the same time the Atavus arrived, and Sandoval was badly wounded during the ensuing melee. Lili was able to cover Sandoval and save Augur, but the Atavus disappeared into the night. The Atavus completely destroyed Augur's computer system, and Lili realized the only way to draw it out of hiding was to recreate the Commonality "harmonic" at Liberation headquarters. Beckett stayed in the hospital with the injured Sandoval, while Liam, Lili and Augur presented their plan to Resistance leader Jonathan Doors (David Hemblen), who was outraged at the threat to their security. Doors finally backed down at Liam's insistence on saving Da'an. They set up the equipment to lure the Atavus toward Liberation headquarters, where another shoot-out ensued in the church yard above ground. Beckett arrived and wounded the Atavus with her skrill, while Lili tried to reach out to Da'an's essence inside the beast. Liam arrived at Lili's side, and was able to approach, palms raised and Shaqarava glowing. The Commonality harmonic emanating from Liam penetrated the Atavus as he clasped hands with him and in an explosion of unearthly light and energy, the Atavus changed back into Da'an. Da'an was unscathed by his nightmare transformation, but the same couldn't be said of the relationship between Liam and Doors. The Liberation leader, ready to expel Liam from the group, waited to confront Liam upon his entering the hideout. But Doors and the Resistance members were astounded when Liam walked in, not alone, but with Da'an, thus opening a new chapter in their struggle against the Taelon occupation.