Atavus (Episode 202)

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.

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.