Renee Palmer (Jayne Heitmeyer) visits Washington television reporter Melissa Donovan (Deborah O'Dell) at the DC Press Club, where she desperately tries to convince the journalist of the presence of the Atavus. After Melissa leaves, Renee is confronted by a whisky-guzzling homeless man named Joe (Peter Outerbridge), who tells her that he is a former journalist and now lives beneath the city amidst others being hunted by the Atavus. Renee doesn't believe him and walks away.

The next day, Renee intercepts Melissa outside her TV studio and again tells her about the Atavus. She also informs her that Sandoval (Von Flores) is not only still alive, but is in cahoots with Patricio (Noam Jenkins), an FBI agent who had served with Sandoval on an anti-terrorist squad years ago. Again, Melissa refuses to believe Renee and leaves. Joe suddenly appears, describing the wounds of the homeless victims, and is able to convince Renee that the Atavus have indeed been attacking his friends. Accompanying him to his underground home, Renee watches as another victim, bearing the cleave marks of an Atavus, is found. Joe tells her two dozen people have been killed. Renee agrees to help him find the aliens who are responsible.

When Renee and Joe search the city's subterranean tunnels, they discover an Atavan chamber. Renee quickly sets an explosive, but an Atavus and a hybrid are able to scurry to safety via an airshaft before the bomb detonates.

Aboard the Taelon Mothership, Sandoval and Juda (Guylaine St. Onge) receive word of the explosion and devise a plot to capture Renee. They decide to trap her at an upcoming media reception arranged by the FBI at the press club.

Meanwhile, Renee takes Joe to Augur's lair where she instructs J Street (Melinda Deines) to try to access the guest list for the media reception, again intending to persuade the media that the Atavan threat is real. Street stuns her with the news that Sandoval, believed to be dead, is on the list. Renee concludes that Patricio is probably planning to exonerate Sandoval publicly for his involvement with the Taelons. Joe also informs her that Melissa, another of the invited guests, is Patricio's ex-wife.

At the reception, Patricio tells Melissa that Sandoval was, in fact, undercover while with the Taelons. He arranges an exclusive interview with Sandoval, who escorts Melissa to the building's basement. Meanwhile, Renee and Joe find their way to the press club via a subterranean tunnel. Melissa is stunned as Sandoval leads her into an Atavan chamber where Juda awaits. While Joe returns to street level and gathers several homeless friends, Renee cuts her way into the basement with a laser drill and pulls Melissa to safety. Joe arrives and the three escape just as an explosive charge set by Renee destroys the chamber.

Melissa contacts Renee and tells her she is ready to blow the lid off the Atavan story if Renee can provide evidence. Renee complies, supplying her with proof that includes security video footage of the Atavan chamber at the press club. Joe accompanies Melissa as she leaves with the evidence, and is shocked when he sees her suddenly toss it into a garbage can fire. As Sandoval appears from around a corner, Joe sees an Atavan gleam in Melissa's eye and realizes she is a hybrid. Before he can escape, Juda sneaks up and kills him.

This episode synopsis was originally produced by The Official E:FC Website and remains the property of Tribune Entertainment.