Howard and Joanne Sharp are having a baby. They must decide whether to give their child all the advantages of black market genetic enhancements, which runs the risk of Genetic Rejection Syndrome (GRS).
Opening narration
| "What will become of us when we take a hand in our own creation? In trying to create the new man, will we condemn the old?" |
Plot
Howard and Joanne meet with several doctors while pondering their decision. They remain ambivalent because of GRS. The effects of GRS on children include physical deformities, increased capacity for violence and psychosis. Genetic engineering has been going on for years, resulting in a wave of crimes being committed by GRS kids.
Meanwhile Howard and Joanne's neighbours and close friends, Tony and Fran's marriage appears to be in jeopardy. Their son died in an accident less than a year ago, and Tony appears to have developed a drinking problem. There are loud domestic disturbances heard from their home almost every night.
Howard finds himself being outperformed and made expendable at his job, by his younger coworkers, who have had genetic enhancements. This persuades him to go ahead with the procedure on their unborn child.
Tony and Fran's loud arguments continue, which leads Joanne to suspect Tony has been abusing his wife. She sneaks over to their house, and looks in the basement, where to her shock, sees their young son Timmy, alive but suffering from GRS.
After seeing that Timmy is slowly turning into a monstrous creature that Tony and Fran have been forced to imprison in the basement, Howard and Joanne decide to reverse the genetic enhancement process of their unborn child. Unfortunately, Timmy was fond of his neighbors and breaks out of the basement, tracking them down and killing the doctor before he can initiate the reversal. Timmy is then gunned down by security while a horrified Howard and Joanne watch.
Left with no choice but to have the baby, Howard and Joanne brood on their apparently-normal son and what could possibly happen in the future...
Closing narration
| "What are children but an extension of our own selves... a reflection of who we are and what we want to become." |
Notes
- "Criminal Nature" is a sequel to this episode.
- This is the only episode written by Eric A. Morris.
Cast
- Alan Ruck as Howard Sharp
- Catherine Mary Stewart as Joanne Sharp
- Mary Beth Rubens as Fran Blake (as Mary Elizabeth Rubens)
- Harrison Coe as John Arkelian (as Harrison Robert Coe)
- Andrew Wheeler as Tony Blake
- Ryan Slater as Timmy Blake
- Pat Bermel as Dr. Reid
- Roger Barnes as Tyler
- Catherine Swing as Nurse
- Sean Campbell as Police Officer
- Mitchell Kosterman as Police Officer
- Candice Connelly as Mother
- Desiree Nicholson as Little Girl
- Kevin Conway as the Control Voice (voice)
| Innobotics Corporation | "Valerie 23" • "Resurrection" • "The Hunt" • "Mary 25" • "In Our Own Image" | |
| Major John Skokes | "Quality of Mercy" • "The Light Brigade" | |
| Alien Infiltration | "Birthright" • "The Voice of Reason" | |
| Strong Brothers Investigate Conspiracies | "The Voice of Reason" • "A Special Edition" | |
| Dr. Theresa Givens' Time Machine | "A Stitch in Time" • "Better Luck Next Time" • "Final Appeal" | |
| Genetic Rejection Syndrome | "Unnatural Selection" • "Criminal Nature" | |
| The New Masters | "The Camp" • "Promised Land" | |
| Dr. Martin Nodel | "Double Helix" • "The Origin of Species" | |
| USAS | "The Joining" • "The Vessel" • "In the Blood" | |
| Earth Coalition-Free Alliance Conflict | "Phobos Rising" • "The Human Factor" • "Human Trials" | |
| Jack the Ripper | "Ripper" • "Better Luck Next Time" | |
| Nicholas Prentice | "Tribunal" • "Gettysburg" • "Time to Time" | |