“In Absentia” is episode two of season five of Fringe.
Olivia wakes from the same nightmare that Peter did in the previous episode, “Transilience Thought Unifier Model-11”, only from her perspective. Peter is there. He joins Walter, Astrid and Etta; Walter is experimenting with the thought unifier and Astrid thinks there are adverse effects. Walter wants to keep using it to retrieve the plan. Peter isn’t sure there’s anything left to retrieve. Olivia joins them and says that Walter always documented things. Is he sure he hasn’t written the plan down? Walter agrees that it’s possible, but Etta says they can’t go back to the lab; it’s an Observer base with a 4-mile radius no-go zone. Walter says they can get in, through the steam tunnels.
They find an entrance outside the fence and use it to get to the lab. Part of which has been ambered. Walter imagines he did it to protect it. Inside the amber is a Betamax recorder on a tripod. Walter thinks he made videos, not notes. They hear a sound and a Loyalist arrives only to be captured. He says someone will notice he’s missing. However, they need the camera and Walter needs a laser to get it.
The lab lacks power and they need to go to the substation in the science building to turn it back on. Only they have no idea what’s in the science building these days. Etta says the Loyalist does, and sets off to torture him with a device.
Olivia, looking for a part for the laser, sees Etta using the device. The Loyalist is now older. Olivia isn’t that happy. Etta says Loyalists sell out their own kind like rats. This is a war, and they’re losing it. Walter calls for Etta, as he wants to melt down her silver necklace for solder.
Olivia speaks to the Loyalist whilst Etta is gone. She doesn’t think anyone will be looking for him as she thinks he came to the lab to feed the pigeons. He’s probably not even supposed to be in this building, so this is the last place anyone will look. Tell Etta what she wants to know before it gets worse. He must have something to live for. The Loyalist thinks she must be new to the resistance, as the resistance doesn’t do what she’s offering. He, however, says he isn’t afraid to die. But he doesn’t want his son to think he’s alive and might come back. He wants Olivia to tell his son he’s dead and that he loves him. Olivia agrees, and the Loyalist tells them what he knows.
However, he doesn’t know everything, which causes problems. At least the plan doesn’t appear to be lost.