Meaning of Death
Season One
US Airdate : 10 November 2001
UK Airdate : 21 November 2001
Brennan (Victor Webster) arrives at a new mutant safehouse, where he meets fellow new mutant, Rick Bellamy (Christopher Davis). Rick introduces Brennan to a married couple, Todd (Kevin Jubinville), whose mutancy is superspeed, and Jerri (Gina Sorel), whose special ability is X-ray vision. Suddenly, Rick doubles over in pain, his body twitching uncontrollably. A whirlwind materializes between his hands and violently explodes, knocking everyone to the ground. In an attempt to stop his convulsions, Brennan hits Rick with a bolt of electricity, rendering him unconscious.
At Sanctuary, Adam (John Shea) quarantines Rick inside a force field and examines him. Baffled, Adam can only confirm that Rick no longer has any control over his mutant powers. Meanwhile at Genomex, Mason Eckhart's (Tom McCammus) associate Marlowe (Anthony Lemke) informs Eckhart that many new mutants are getting sick, and their uncontrolled powers are causing devastating damage around the city. Eckhart orders Marlowe to hunt down and detain any new mutants exhibiting symptoms.
From Rick's test results, Adam concludes that he has Cladosporium, a virus stemming from an airborne spore that causes uncontrollable mutation, and eventually death, in new mutants who are exposed. Back at the safehouse, Brennan informs Todd and Jerri that they have been quarantined as a precaution, and should refrain from using their mutant powers.
Shalimar (Victoria Pratt), dressed in a protective hazmat suit, accompanies Adam to new mutant Alice Robins' (Sherry Hilliard) apartment after hearing that she's been infected. Alice, who has the ability to generate thermal energy, is literally burning up. Marlowe and an agent arrive on the scene just as Alice is about to combust. Everyone except Marlowe evacuates the apartment. Moments later, he miraculously emerges from the burning building unscathed. Outside, Adam approaches Eckhart and proposes they make a truce while he searches for a cure for the Cladosporium. Knowing that the GSA can no longer exist if all the new mutants die out, Eckhart agrees, even offering to help Adam with his research. Once Eckhart and Marlowe are gone, Adam fills Shalimar in on his past with Marlowe. He tells her they were once co-workers at Genomex. Marlowe had developed a cellular invulnerability mutation, which explains why he walked out of the fire without a scratch. Later, Adam meets Marlowe at a military base that Eckhart has converted into a hospital for infected new mutants. Shalimar arrives, noticing Marlowe at the bedside of one of the sick. When the same new mutant that Marlowe was talking to goes into cardiac arrest, Adam tries to ban him from the hospital, but Marlowe refuses to leave.
Back at Sanctuary, Rick also goes into cardiac arrest, his body emitting a whirlwind that sends Emma (Lauren Lee Smith) flying across the room. Rick dies just as Jesse (Forbes March) rushes in to rescue Emma, who's unconscious on the floor. When Emma comes to, she realizes that both she and Jesse have now been exposed to Cladosporium.
As Adam works furiously to find a cure for the virus, Shalimar informs him that Marlowe is still there, harassing patients. When Adam approaches Marlowe, he storms off noticeably angry. With Emma and Jesse both beginning to lose control of their mutant powers simultaneously, a panicked Adam sends Shalimar to get them and bring them back to the hospital for observation.
Enraged that Eckhart has joined forces with his enemy, Adam, Marlowe returns to the hospital and confronts Adam about their past, blaming him for his mutation. Marlowe pulls a gun, but Adam is able to kick it away and a fight ensues. Adam knocks Marlowe's tooth out, and another one grows in immediately. He recognizes that Marlowe's mutant powers might be the cure he's been searching for.
Adam takes Marlowe to his lab where he searches for the strand of DNA that causes his cell regeneration. He finds the strand and successfully develops an antidote. Marlowe realizes however, that during the procedure his mutant powers have dissipated. At the hospital, Eckhart and his agents ambush Marlowe and Shalimar. Marlowe is shot and dies peacefully in Shalimar's arms while Adam administers the antidote through a satellite transmission. The infected new mutants' health is instantaneously restored.