The opening scene takes place in Augur's warehouse apartment, where Augur and Lili conversing. Augur tells Lili that he is really going to miss this place. Lili asks if he isn't being a bit premature since the deal for his new place has not closed yet, but that does not appear to concern Augur. Lili inquires if Augur has developed any theories on the relationship between Maiya's universe and this world. Augur's projections indicate that the dimension from which Maiya came exists in a dimension adjacent to their own, a parallel universe. Lili asks if the two dimensions are both parallel and different. Augur explains that there are differences, but that there is a strong correlation in the way history is occurring in the two dimensions. Lili seems preoccupied and does not seem to be listening very closely to Augur. He asks her if there is something specific on her mind, and she tells him she wants to know about Isabel Martinez.

Augur shows Lili an image of Kayla (Lili's counterpart in Maiya's dimension) on his computer monitor. Looking at it, Lili tells Augur that it is a strange experience to be looking at her own face, knowing that the face does not belong to her. Augur remarks that the body which goes with the face was not bad either. Since Maiya and Kayla are sisters in their own dimension, Augur is curious to know what the relationship is between Lili and Isabel Martinez (Maiya's counterpart here) in this dimension. Lili tells Augur that she already knows the question, and he should have the answer for her. Augur asks if Colonel Marquette (actually Purcell), Lili's father, had a girl in every port or was an uptight, by-the-book spit-and-polish type of person. Lili retorts that her father was a fighter, not a lover. Augur obviously believes that Lili and Isabel are sisters, and the idea makes Lili very uneasy.

In the Flat Planet Café, Liam is conversing with the young woman behind the bar. She asks him if he has been in Washington long and he makes a quip about feeling as though he was born yesterday (which is not far from the truth). She offers to show him around Washington, and he has just accepted her offer when he looks across the room and sees that Maiya appears to be in pain. He asks her if she's all right. Maiya is dazed and doesn't know what is happening to her. Liam helps her into a room behind the bar and tells her to stay there while he obtains help. Just as she starts to tell him she is all right, she goes into a seizure; her appearance begins to waver and dissolve, much as a holographic image would. The episode lasts only a few seconds, but she is disturbed and anxious.

In Augur's flat, Lili asks him if there is any possibility that the presence of Maiya and Isabel in the same dimension is violating a universal physical law. According to Augur, Maiya shouldn't even exist in this dimension, and he has a theory that Maiya and Isabel will be compelled to merge to restore the balance in this dimension. Lili asks what will happen if they do not merge. Augur tells her they are not supposed to exist in the same dimension together, and that if something is not done they may both die.

At Resistance Headquarters, Doors is standing on the balcony addressing the assembled members of the Resistance. He announces that the time has come for him to go above ground and challenge the Taelons on an equal footing as President of the United States. Doors has made an arrangement with the Attorney General and no criminal charges will be filed against the members of the Resistance. Doors assures everyone that the fight will continue and says that the power base of the Resistance is simply moving to the next level. Resistance Headquarters is to be abandoned because the world cannot be won back from a base underground. The opportunity which everyone has been waiting for has finally arrived, the opportunity to return to the surface and confront the Taelons directly.

In the room behind the Flat Planet Café, Augur tries to explain to Liam and Maiya what he believes is happening. The dimensional "phasing" that Maiya is experiencing is due to the fact that both Maiya and Isabel exist in the same dimension at the same time. Liam is curious why the problem did not exist in Maiya's dimension. Augur believes that he and Liam were not there long enough for the universe to register their presence. Liam is not impressed with Augur's theory and tells him it is "pretty shaky". This irritates Augur who asks Liam if he has a better theory. (Liam does not.) Liam asks what will happen if Augur's theory is correct. Augur believes that the universe will always adjust itself to its natural balance, and this means that either Maiya or Isabel can survive in this dimension, but not both of them. Maiya is disturbed; she feels that she is the intruder in this dimension, and that it is unfair that Isabel may die because of her actions. Augur is fatalistic and says that right or wrong, the fates of Isabel and Maiya are now inexorably linked. He believes that Isabel is probably experiencing seizures or "phasing" as well.

On the mother ship Sandoval is berating Lili for her failure to locate Isabel when Isabel was right there in the city. Lili asks Sandoval what happened when he found Isabel. As Sandoval returns Lili's curious gaze, he remembers his last meeting with Isabel at the Flat Planet Café.

Isabel asked him what he would have and he said, "That's up to you." She prepared a drink for him and asked him why he was pursuing her. In turn, Sandoval asked Maiya why she had approached him on the day they first met. Maiya tells Sandoval that she has already explained that, that he reminded her of someone she once knew, and that she was mistaken. Sandoval insists that there was more to it than that, that it wasn't just someone she knew, but someone she had loved. Maiya is outraged and upbraids Sandoval saying, "No, there's nothing of him in you. Nothing! Get out of here and don't come back!" Sandoval agrees to leave, but tells her that he will be back whenever he pleases. In parting, he touches her face gently, and she slaps his hand away from her face. Sandoval orders Lili to take a team to the Flat Planet Café, capture Isabel and convey her to the mother ship. When Lili asks him on what basis she is to proceed, he tells her to come up with a reason, and not to let anything go wrong this time.

Lili and her team enter the Flat Planet Café. The team begin rounding up the patrons and staff, and Lili asks the bartender where Maiya is.

Behind the Flat planet Café, Liam, Augur and Maiya are talking over Maiya's problem. Augur is convinced that what is happening is the universe's own way of redressing the imbalance which has been created by Maiya's presence in this world. In order for balance to be restored, both Maiya and Isabel will have to be present in the same physical space and merge. Maiya is concerned about Isabel's safety, and Augur says there is no way to protect her, but that they have no other choice than to bring Maiya and Isabel together. Liam has located Isabel Martinez in a native village in northern Canada. He will go there to meet her and bring her back to the city.

Lili appears on the scene and tells Liam, Augur and Maiya that Sandoval has ordered her to bring Maiya in for questioning. Maiya is loath to see Sandoval again; Liam tells her that Sandoval is not her husband and she has nothing to fear. Maiya already knows this, but Sandoval is an exact duplicate of Jason, and she feels a strong attraction to him. Lili tells Liam, Augur and Maiya that there are a dozen agents positioned at the exits, and that if she doesn't remove Maiya now, the room will be discovered. Maiya is beginning to protest when she suffers another seizure, even more severe than the last one. When it is over, Liam tells Maiya to go with Lili. Maiya tells Liam that she feels ashamed, that she came to Liam's world to fulfil her obligation to protect him, but that he is protecting her, and an innocent person may die because of her actions.

Liam pilots the shuttle to the native village in northern Canada where Isabel Martinez has been located. In the village centre, Isabel is talking with an elder when Liam's shuttle arrives. The elder tells Isabel that he is trying to carry on in his father's ways, but that with the arrival of the Taelons, everyone in the world wants to join together, when all he and his people want is to be left alone. When Liam enters, Isabel asks him what he wants. He introduces himself and starts to explain his presence, but she cuts him off, saying that she heard his chariot and is not impressed. It is clear that Isabel does not like the Taelons, and when Liam asks her about it, she tells him that "like" has nothing to do with it, she doesn't trust Greeks bearing gifts. Liam tells her rather wryly that it is one thing she and Maiya will not be arguing about. Isabel asks Liam what he means, and he says it's nothing. This angers Isabel who tells him she doesn't have time for this.

At the soon to be abandoned Resistance Headquarters, Doors and Augur are bargaining for possession of the premises. Doors tells Augur to stop wasting his time by pretending that he doesn't want the place; Doors knows very well that Augur wants to take possession, but he is not interested in negotiating a better deal. There is sophisticated equipment on the premises which Doors does not wish to remove, and since Augur designed most of the systems, he is the best person to act as custodian of them. They discuss the terms of Augur's purchase, and only one final condition remains to be negotiated. In case of emergency, Doors wants to have access to the premises. Augur is adamant; he is moving in that day and refuses to give Doors access to his new home. Doors turns to leave and tells Augur that the condition is a deal breaking issue, and that if Augur cannot live with it, he understands. Augur frantically asks Doors to wait while he calls his lawyers to draft a definition of emergency which they can both live with. Doors tells Augur that he doesn't have time, and Augur grudgingly agrees to Doors' final condition. They shake hands, and as he turns to leave, Doors tells Augur that there is one more thing he had forgotten - that garbage day is on Thursday. Doors gets into the elevator; Augur grins and takes a seat in his new home. As the elevator doors close behind Doors. Augur looks around his new home with its sophisticated systems and monitoring devices and shouts, "Yes!" He laughs loudly and delightedly and pounds on the desk.

In the native village, Liam takes a seat and talks with the elder with whom Isabel was speaking when he came in. He tells the elder that he understands the obligation which the elder feels toward his village. Liam tells him that his own father (Ha'gel) spoke to him from the dead. The elder, recognizing that something very special is being revealed here, asks Liam, "You actually talked to your father from the dead?" A few steps away, Isabel is listening to the conversation. Liam tells the elder about his father's advice, that it is Liam's actions in the here and now that are important. Liam's thoughts are all he can truly control and they will be his legacy. The elder is thoughtful for a moment and gravely thanks Liam for his words of wisdom, then he leaves.

Isabel sits down at the table with Liam and tells him that he weaves a good story, and that it is a pity that it isn't true. Liam replies that his words were true and that the elder could feel the power of their truth. He tells Isabel that he can help her and she makes a flippant comment about only accepting help from Girl Scouts. Liam loses patience with her and says, "Well then, try these cookies. You've been experiencing seizures and you don't know what's causing them." Isabel's expression is troubled, and Liam continues, telling her that she has been feeling the presence of another person who feels like part of her. Isabel asks why the Taelons would do such a thing to her, and Liam tells her that it isn't the Taelons, but that if she wishes to live, she must go with him.

Lili takes Maiya to the chamber on the mother ship where Sandoval is waiting for her. Shortly after she enters, Maiya experiences another seizure and is placed on an examining table. Sandoval, worried that she is going to die, asks a Taelon medic to examine her. The Taelon is unable to determine Maiya's condition, never having seen anything like it, and asks for some time to make a diagnosis. Maiya rudely tells Sandoval that she wants nothing to do with him, and he replies that she no longer has that option; he wants answers. Perhaps as a result of his affinity with Maiya's dead husband Jason, Sandoval finds himself experiencing visions in which he sees Maiya and Jason together. He tells her that he can see images of another time and place, and that they are both there. He asks Maiya to tell him what they means, but she won't reply. As he leaves the room, Sandoval tells her that eventually she will tell him what she knows.

Liam and Isabel arrive in the back room at the Flat Planet Café where Augur is waiting. Isabel tells them that she will not go anywhere near the mother ship, but as she finishes speaking, she goes into a seizure. Liam tells her that the only way to save her life is for her to travel to the mother ship. Lili enters the room, and seeing Isabel, she introduces herself nervously, then she reports on the situation with Maiya at the mother ship. She tells them that Sandoval is receiving CVI enhanced images of Maiya's dimension. Liam asks Lili if they could be Jason's memories, and they explain to Isabel who Jason is. Augur thinks that Sandoval's visions make sense because of the correlation between the two dimensions. Sandoval's CVI allows him to access virtually 100% of his brain, so it may be able to access Jason's memories right across the dimensions. Liam thinks that Maiya's phasing may also play a part in setting off the images in Sandoval's brain.

Augur interrupts the conversation to glance at his watch and turn on the television set where Doors is being interviewed.

On television, Doors announces that he has decided to accept the challenge of running for president. The reporter asks him why he has chosen to emerge now. Doors tells her that the Taelons are getting caught in their own lies, that their programs are being revealed to the American people, and the presidential race gives him a forum where he can reach even more people with the truth. The reporter asks what Doors' first action as a presidential candidate will be. He tells her that he has been invited (summoned) to the Taelon Mother Ship to discuss his candidacy with Zo'or, the head of the Synod. The reporter is curious about whether Doors feels secure meeting Zo'or on the mother ship. Doors replies that he doesn't, but that it's time to stop hiding, and start fighting.

Back at the Flat Planet Café, plans are being made. Liam says that Doors will have to take a security contingent to the Mother Ship, and Lili says she has been put in charge of coordinating security. They will disguise Isabel and send her to the mother ship as part of Doors' security team. Isabel stands by as they formulate their plans for her. They need a diversion sufficient to lure the security agents out of the area where Maiya is being held in order to give the two women enough time to merge. They decide on the Taelon version of a fire, and Augur (as usual) has a bright idea which he explains to Liam.

As Liam and Augur are talking, Lili approaches Isabel. She shows Isabel a photo of her father and asks Isabel if she knows him. Isabel smiles and tells Lili that it's her father. Lili is dismayed. Isabel asks where she got the photo, and Lili tells her it is from her own family album. Isabel doesn't understand why Lili would have such a photo in her family album, and Lili tells her that the man in the photo is her father too. Isabel is stunned. Lili asks Isabel to tell her about her father. Isabel tells her that he was away much of the time, but that he had spent more time with them during the last several years. Lili is angry and says that it must have been after he divorced her mother, when there was one less person to lie to. Isabel says that she and her father loved each other and she doesn't think he would have lied to her. Lili is bitter because Isabel got to know her father in a way she never did; the most Lili ever got was a few post cards from the road and a ring when she turned sixteen which arrived six months after her birthday. Isabel tells Lili that their father always carried a sadness with him which was obvious when her six cousins came to visit. After those visits it took a few days for him to become his old self again. When Lili relates the story of her brother and his death, Isabel is shocked and regretful. Lili says that it is good that her father was able to get it right with Isabel's family.

In the holding area on the mother ship, Sandoval asks Maiya who Jason is, but she refuses to answer. When she has another seizure he places his hand on her arm. This establishes a physical connection with Maiya, and he finds himself experiencing stronger visions of the other dimension. One of the visual images which he "receives" is of Liam saving Maiya; another image is of Jason's death in Maiya's arms. When Maiya revives from her seizure, Sandoval asks her why she left her world, saying that she would not have left to accompany Liam just because he saved her life. Maiya tells him that it has to do with loyalty, something he knows nothing of unless it is programmed into his brain, and that Sandoval cannot possibly know how far she will go to honor her husband's last request. Sandoval remarks that Liam did not want Maiya to come to earth. Maiya retorts that it isn't about what Liam wanted, that it is about honouring a tradition and the customs of her people. Sandoval doesn't believe her and angrily accuses her of having another agenda. Maiya rises from the table where she was placed during her seizure, and looking directly into Sandoval's face, she tells him that she came to earth so that he could see Jason, the kind of man he (Sandoval) could have been, but never will. Sandoval tells her that he is exactly the man he wants to be and leaves.

Zo'or interrogates Sandoval about his obsessive personal interest in a woman who is not a leader of the Resistance, and therefore of little consequence. Sandoval defends his actions, saying that he has taken no more interest in Maiya than he would in any other suspected Liberation member. As he speaks he experiences another clear mental image of Maiya and Jason.

Doors, Liam and Isabel are en route to the mother ship in the shuttle which is being piloted by Lili; Maiya is disguised in a blonde wig and business suit. When they reach the mother ship they are met by Sandoval. There is a brief exchange between Doors and Sandoval in which Sandoval addresses Doors as "the elusive Jonathan Doors" and Doors snaps back that he is only elusive when he is being hunted. Sandoval makes the comment that Doors was effective as an underground hero, but is now out in the open where no one will listen to him. Doors says he supposes that he can't count on Sandoval's vote in November.

Doors is escorted to the bridge. He and Zo'or dismiss their security escorts to discuss the election campaign privately. Zo'or says that Doors must be aware that he has no chance of winning the presidency. Doors replies that winning is irrelevant, and that what matters is that the world will discover the truth about the Taelons. Zo'or smiles sarcastically and tells Doors that for him (Doors) everything is bout winning and he is not in the race to lose. Doors is curious about why Zo'or wants to talk to him if he has no chance of winning the election, and Zo'or rather smugly admits that Thompson in the pocket of the Taelons. Doors agrees. Zo'or also tells Doors that Companions are so admired that no candidate can win the presidency without the support of the Synod. Doors takes exception to the use of the word "admired". He says that the people are beginning to ask questions, and demand answers, which he will be happy to give them. Zo'or says that no one demands anything from the Taelons, that people are afraid of them, and Doors says he is not afraid. At this point Zo'or makes the suggestion that he and Doors may be able to come to a mutually beneficial understanding. He (Zo'or) is not happy because Thompson is a thoroughly political animal whose only ambition is to retain his office, and he is not treating the matter of the Jaridians seriously. Doors says he doesn't take the threat seriously either. Zo'or makes a pejorative comment about Doors' intelligence.

Elsewhere on the mother ship Liam and Isabel approach a shuttle bay, and he tells her to wait for him nearby and signal him by global if anyone enters. He climbs inside the shuttle and opens a control panel to prepare the ruse which will lure the guards away from Maiya.

On the bridge, Zo'or is trying to convince Doors of the certainty of Jaridian invasion and says he can prove it. Doors is curious why, if the Taelons are so terrified of the Jaridians, they don't simply pack up and leave, letting humanity handle the Jaridians themselves. Zo'or says he is giving Doors an opportunity to elevate himself and save humanity. Doors asks what opportunity he is being given. Zo'or exposes his pet peeve, that Thompson is not enthusiastic about biologically engineering humanity to fight the Jaridians; he is too slow in implementing the programs Zo'or has suggested. The light comes on, and Doors realizes that Zo'or is offering to support his candidacy if he will accelerate human bioengineering programs if elected. Zo'or tells Doors that the Synod will officially endorse his candidacy and guarantee his election to the presidential office if he does so. Doors asks if Zo'or has his psychological profile, and Zo'or tells Doors that the profile was the reason he thought Doors would be receptive to his offer. With intense loathing, Doors looks directly at Zo'or and tells him that he should fire his psychologists, because he (Doors) will never join forces with the Synod. The disappointed Zo'or says that it is a shame, for Doors and for humanity.

A companion agent in uniform enters the shuttle bay and asks Isabel to identify herself. Isabel contacts Liam and he remains out of sight. She relates her cover story, which checks out and the companion agent exits. Liam completes his work in the shuttle and leaves the shuttle bay with Isabel. As they leave, the shuttle's control panel malfunctions, and an alarm is triggered. Sandoval hears the shuttle alarm and heads for the shuttle bay area with his team, leaving only one companion agent to guard Maiya.

Liam and Isabel approach the area where Maiya is being held and Liam tells Isabel that he will distract the guard. Isabel enters the holding area and is ordered to stop by the guard. Maiya arises from the examining table and attacks the guard from behind, rendering him unconscious just as Liam arrives.

Maiya and Isabel approach each other carefully for the first and last time. Maiya asks Isabel if she knows that only one of them will live. Isabel already knows, and Maiya tells her that she (Maiya) has no right to be here and to cause Isabel's death. She tells Isabel that when they come together, Isabel must fight to survive. Isabel is unwilling to do so, knowing that it will kill Maiya. Maiya pleads with Isabel who comforts her by saying that they felt each other's presence long before they had ever met, that they may come from different worlds, but that they know they are one. As long as one of them lives, neither will ever be truly gone.

Sandoval arrives at the shuttle bay as a team begins work to repair the malfunction, and Lili contacts Liam to tell him that Maiya and Isabel will have to merge at once.

Liam tells Maiya and Isabel that their time is almost up. The two women approach each other slowly, and as their hands meet, they both go into violent seizures, then they collapse unconscious. Liam checks to see who has survived.

Sandoval contacts Zo'or to tell him that the crisis is over. Zo'or replies that he and Doors have nothing more to discuss and orders him to return Doors to earth at once. Sandoval orders Lili to fly Doors back to earth.

Maiya regains consciousness and gets to her feet with Liam's help. She looks down at the body of the dead Isabel and tells Liam, "She was wrong. We weren't one before, but we are now." At Liam's suggestion Maiya exchanges clothing with the dead Isabel so that Sandoval will not suspect that she is still alive. Maiya caresses Isabel's cheek, then she and Liam leave. She conceals herself when they encounter Sandoval in the corridor en route to the holding area. Sandoval orders Liam to accompany him, and when they have left, Maiya goes to the shuttle bay.

Lili is in the shuttle waiting for everyone when Maiya arrives. Sandoval goes to the holding area with Liam and discovers the body of Isabel (whom he thinks is Maiya). He checks the body for a pulse and closes his eyes, as if in pain. He asks Liam if he knows the dead woman. Liam admits that he does and tells Sandoval she was from a different dimension, one he was thrust into when his shuttle engines malfunctioned during ID flight. The grieving Sandoval is angry about Liam withholding this knowledge from him. Liam admits that it was a huge mistake to allow Maiya to come to this dimension, but Sandoval is still very angry. Liam tries to explain that if it had been revealed that Maiya was from another dimension, she would not have been permitted to return to her own dimension. Sandoval seizes Liam's collar and accuses him of insubordination, saying that there are severe penalties for such offences and Liam will never again see the light of day. Liam breaks free of Sandoval's grip and says that he doubts it since Da'an was fully briefed on Maiya's presence and fully supported his (Liam's) actions. Liam leaves and Sandoval tenderly places his hand on Maiya's forehead.

A television reporter asks Doors about his meeting with Zo'or. Doors tells her that Zo'or must consider him a strong contender because Zo'or offered to endorse his candidacy. The reporter asks if Zo'or actually said he was pulling his support from President Thompson. Doors tells her rather dryly that the only time Thompson was mentioned was when Zo'or said he was in the pocket of the Taelons. The reporter asks how Doors responded to Zo'or's offer. Doors tells her he refused it, and that he will continue to refuse offers of support until there is a full accounting of all Taelon activities on earth. The reporter asks why Zo'or would offer to support Doors, and Doors tells her that Zo'or is worried about his (Doors') candidacy, and that he should be. The Taelons are going to lose their puppet in the White House.

On the mother ship, Zo'or and Sandoval are watching the Doors interview. Sandoval asks Zo'or if he thought Doors would accept his offer. Zo'or admits that he did, that he underestimated Doors and will never underestimate any human again. As Zo'or makes his statement he gives Sandoval a penetrating look, and Sandoval looks away.

Augur is ecstatic about his new home and is waxing enthusiastic to Lili and Lili about it. Maiya is curious about what Augur is going to do with all the space he has in his new home. Augur makes a joke about Maiya moving in. Liam, commenting on the absence of windows so far underground, says that some people actually like to see the sky through their windows. Lili steps out of the elevator and Augur, seeing her arrive, makes a joke about changing the locks. Liam and Augur leave the room together and Lili approaches Maiya and starts to ask her a question. Maiya interrupts and says that she knows what Lili is wondering about. She tells Lili that she carries a part of Isabel with her now, her thoughts and her memories. She tells Lili that Isabel made her understand that she was supposed to come to this world and survive. Maiya touches Lili's shoulder and says with great feeling, "There are so many things that I need to tell you about your father." Lili takes Maiya's hand into her own and says, "Our father."