“Time Squared” is episode three of season two of Mutant X.
Jesse is following Ashlocke in a car and reporting in to Adam. Ashlocke left the Strand building with a vial of blue liquid. Emma, who is with Adam, asks him what’s in the vial. No idea. And why is Ashlocke out alone; he’s always surrounded by people? He’s dying and is likely taking chances. Brennan and Shalimar are about 10 miles south of Jesse. It’s pretty obvious that Jesse is following Ashlocke, who dupes him into taking an off ramp. Jesse recovers, but has to stop to avoid hitting a woman with a pram.
Jesse tells Brennan and Shalimar he’s lost Ashlocke and where. Shalimar says the main point of interest is Ellison Psychiatric Hospital. Ashlocke does head there – the place oddly has an Emergency unit – and kills the receptionist, using the computer to look up a Diana Moller. He buzzes himself in then blows open a door to a room. In the room is Diana, who he says has been hiding from him. Brennan and Shalimar are on their way as Ashlocke is telling Diana she needs to do this. He’s dying and has found a way to stay alive. Help him, or die.
Shalimar and Brennan buzz themselves in as Ashlocke is telling Diana he needs to go to October 13th 1978. She tells him he can’t tell anyone who he is, or he will affect the continuum. Has Ashlocke ever let her down before? All the time. Diana uses her power to open some sort of portal. Brennan and Shalimar arrive, Ashlocke dives through and Brennan and Shalimar follow, landing on a street. Jesse arrives after and Diana says it was an accident; she sent Ashlocke back and the others followed. Brennan and Shalimar are, according to a poster, at the future home of Ellison, due to be completed in 1981. Shalimar can track Ashlocke. Jesse contacts Adam and tells him about Diana.
Jesse and Diana walk to the Sanctuary. In the rain; she’s complaining. She says she’s being blamed for something over which she has no control. Jesse doesn’t know Ashlocke. Jesse does. In which case, he will know Ashlocke can be overwhelming. He was using Diana when they were together and she knew it. She hid in the hospital, thinking he wouldn’t be able to track her. In the past, Ashlocke is stealing a car, and Brennan does the same with a motorbike. In the Sanctuary, Diana says the others are still alive, but she can’t control them. She sent them back in time. Ashlocke went back to find Adam. Brennan is following Ashlocke but loses him. Shalimar sees a magazine with a young Adam on the cover.
Adam explains he arrived at Genomex to work on the Patient Zero Project. Two weeks later, Gabriel Ashlocke’s parents brought him back to Genomex. They believed Genomex was responsible for his extreme aggression, and they were right. Nobody knew what to do, but Adam came along with a procedure to make him more humane, give him a conscience. However, Ashlocke’s genes mutated, making him even more of a monster. Six weeks later, he killed his parents. Ashlocke has presumably figured something out. If he’s figured out a cure, he’ll be invincible.
Shalimar has arrived at Genomex and spots young Adam. Who spots her as well; he has an eye for pretty ladies it seems. Shalimar bumps into a woman and steals her pass. Ashlocke has arrived at his former home where he’s greeted by young him. Ashlocke blasts his father across the room, sending him into his mother and them both out through a window. Young Ashlocke enjoyed that. Disturbing. Ashlocke says he’s been sent by Genomex to pick young Ashlocke up. They’ll take his father’s car. Young Ashlocke can drive.
In the car, young Ashlocke is going to light up a cigarette, but older Ashlocke throws it out the window. A filthy habit; he’s still got a cough from it. Ashlocke says the procedure that Genomex is going to be doing on his younger self backfires and turns him into a freak. The blue liquid older Ashlocke has will make him invincible. It would seem to make sense to use the substance now, but Ashlocke doesn’t. There is a reason.
Shalimar is inside Genomex, though she still doesn’t look as if she fits. She’s in Adam’s office, looking at Ashlocke’s file, when Adam enters. He’s a bit flirty with Shalimar, who seems flattered. She asks about Ashlocke. Adam would like to spend some time with Shalimar, get to know her better. Shalimar is sure they will.
So, a time travel episode. Adam is also planning to head back to stop Ashlocke. What sort of time travel episode is it? One where the present changes and those in the present see it changing as events in the past change, but their memories aren’t affected. Time travel can be hard to do.