OC paints her fingernails and complains that Max is taking too long to get ready. She finally walks into Max's room to see what is going on, and Max is wearing a sexy black halter-top dress. OC exclaims over how hot Max looks. Max asks if her bar code is covered up, and OC assures her that it is. Max says that she's sick of moping around, and it's time for her to get out and enjoy something. OC got them into some hot club. Max declares that they are going to "party like it's 2099." Will people really be saying that over a hundred years from now? I hope not.
Max and OC wait in a long line outside the club. Max says that she thought that OC knew the bouncer, Boom Boom. OC says that she does, and as soon as he sees them in line, he'll let them in. A car pulls up, and a bunch of people hop out and run into the club. Max snarks that they must know Boom Boom too. As the gang runs inside the club, they exclaim, "To the marrow!" Oh, Lord. The bouncer complains that they need to have reservations. One girl says that they are the entertainment as the rest disappear inside. The bouncer snarls, "Get Boom Boom." Freddy "Boom Boom" Washington? That would be awesome if he were the bouncer.
Inside the club, the gang shoves people out of the way and grabs other people's drinks. Outside, OC says that she's going to go up front and see what's going on, and warns Max not to bail. Max promises to stick around. Inside, one of the gang members hops up on the bar and starts babbling about how he wants all of them for "concubinage." Someone tries to get him down, and is rewarded with a kick to the face. The rest of the gang members shove their way across the floor and steal money and purses. Bar-Standing Guy smashes a glass and then does a back flip off the bar. Outside, OC is trying to request that Boom Boom come out and talk to her. The bouncer tells her that she'll have to wait like everyone else. Inside, the gang continues to steal money and wallets. Bar-Standing Guy knocks one guy down and steals his money. The other gang members yell at him. I guess he's being too obvious. Bar-Standing Guy accuses one of the women gang members of "crashing." Some dude who looks like The Crow says, "Let's jack the house money and be gone from this dreck." That line would have had so much more impact if he had just said "shit." The gang members run out, followed by bouncers. Outside, OC is still trying to convince the bouncer to call Boom Boom. The gang members bust out of the door, knocking one bouncer down and fighting the others. OC tries to help out, but gets knocked down. She notices that the gang members have bar codes on their necks. The gang members get the money and take off in their car. Max runs up and checks on OC, who reveals that the gang members had bar codes on their necks. Dun dun dun!
One of the girl gang members (the one who was "crashing" earlier) walks into a hospital emergency room, crying, and informs the woman behind the desk that she is sick. The woman tells her to fill out a form and wait like everyone else. Crashing Girl goes into the waiting room, where she puts her head in her hands, unable to fill out the form. Later, a doctor calls out for Donna Stein and gets no response. She asks Crashing Girl if she is Donna Stein, but she's not. The doctor notices the bar code on Crashing Girl's neck and takes off in a hurry.
Max and OC walk into Jam Pony HQ, where Normal is (as usual) telling everyone to get a move on. Max apologizes to OC about OC's broken arm. OC says that it's not Max's fault. Max replies that she is the one who opened up the cages at Manticore. OC reminds Max that she figured the escapees would be smart enough to stay undercover, then asks if Max has talked to Logan about the situation. Max says that she's trying to prevent Logan from having to deal with more "mutant mayhem," and plus there's the whole virus thing. Max adds, "No wonder he's over me." OC doesn't think that's true. Max doesn't want to remind Logan that she's not a regular girl. Her beeper goes off; it's Logan.
Alec is using the pay phone when Max walks up. She tells him to get off the phone. Alec says he's taking care of some business. Max hangs up the phone on him, which is so rude. She starts dialing. Alec says that he'll forgive her this time, and walks away, talking on his cell phone.
Max calls Logan. There are plenty of awkward pauses. They both agree that their weeks have been slow. Logan says that he's been getting a lot of information about "some sort of whacked-out gang" that have bar codes. Max has heard something about that. Logan says that rumors are still flying after Max's hospitalization that the CDC had their hands on "a real live transgenic." Logan heard from the ER doctor about Crashing Girl. Max promises to go into the clinic, show her bar code to Crashing Girl, and advise her to lay low. Logan doesn't know if that's the right plan, but Max insists that she's got it covered, and hangs up. I didn't say it every time, but just insert a bunch of longing looks and things unsaid into that conversation.
Max says that she's going to take OC home. Normal walks up with a package for them to deliver. Max says that OC can't do it because she's hurt, and Max can't do it because she's taking OC home. Normal insists that one of them do it, and Max hands the package off to Alec. Do any of these people work, ever? I don't blame Normal for getting so annoyed sometimes. Alec insists that he can't deliver the package, but Normal isn't having it. Normal hands Alec a stack of other packages to deliver as well. Alec complains that he has an appointment. Normal says Alec can find someone else to do the deliveries, and walks away. Alec asks a couple of people, including Sketchy, but no one wants to do it.
Cut to Alec at The Dreaming, offering Joshua money and tips for delivering the packages. Does this seem like a good idea to anyone but Alec? Joshua says that he would rather paint. Alec says that it would be a chance for Joshua to see the world, and offers to let Joshua take his bike. Joshua is tempted, but remembers that Max wouldn't like it. Alec says that Max is a worrywart, and treats Joshua like a pet. Joshua repeats what Max has told him about people being afraid of things they don't understand. Alec offers up his helmet, which Joshua tries on. It covers his jowls, so Joshua is happy. He gives Joshua the packages and a map, and reminds him to always get a signature, and to never remove his helmet. Alec is pleased, and says he'll meet Joshua later that night.
Crashing Girl is not looking so good. She sits in the hospital waiting room, her vision blurry. As her eyes focus, she realizes that the rest of the gang members are sitting across from her. Oh, her name is Lida. Now if they would only tell me the other people's names. Lida tries to run away, saying that she doesn't want to go back. The other gang members catch her and assure her that Marrow will help her. Max walks into the ER with the doctor from earlier. They see the gang dragging Lida down the hallway. Max takes off after them. Outside, the gang members put Lida into a car. Max catches up with them and says that they need to chat. One of the guys tells one of the girls to get rid of Max. The girl approaches Max, who gives a speech about how they have been "naughty little transgenics." The girl takes a swing at Max, who knocks her down easily. They fight some more, with Max winning handily, but the girl keeps coming back for more until Max knocks her out. The leader of the gang starts to get out of the car to take Max on, but then Logan pulls up in the Asstek. The gang leader gets back in his car and takes off.
Max asks Logan why he's there. Logan thought she might need a hand. Max crouches over the girl she just beat up and asks if she is an X5 or an X6. The girl doesn't know what Max is talking about. Max pokes her barcode, and the girl yelps, because it's a tattoo and she just had it done. Logan realizes that the girl is not Manticore. Am I supposed to pretend I don't know that these people are some sort of vampire-like gang? With the white faces and the leather outfits and the references to marrow, it's pretty clear.
Joshua walks down an apartment building hallway, and knocks on a door to make a delivery. The woman who answers is holding a cat, and she asks Joshua to hold him while she signs. Joshua tries to hold the cat as far away from himself as possible. The woman walks back inside to get a tip for Joshua, and the cat starts yowling. Joshua tosses the cat inside and says that he doesn't need a tip. How come Max, with her feline DNA, never had a similar reaction to Joshua? As Joshua leaves, he passes another messenger in the hallway. Joshua complains about his cat scratch, so the messenger offers him "a little herb." He hands Joshua a pipe, and lights it for him.
Max and Logan question the gang girl in Logan's apartment. They think that she's on drugs, because her pupils are dilated and she's jumpy. She just described two out of my three cats. Maybe they are on drugs. Anyway, Max wants to know where the girl got the bar code. The girl asks if Max wants one, and Max says that she already has one, and shows her. The girl is shocked, and wants to know where Max got it. Max isn't saying until the girl confesses. The girl gets up to leave, but Max throws her back in the chair. Logan plays Good Cop and tells the girl not to be scared. Max plays Bad Cop and threatens her with another beating if she doesn't tell them what they want to know. The girl says that they'll find out what's going on when Marrow comes for her. Max asks who Marrow is, and the girl smirks.
Cut to Marrow, a freaky-looking dude with translucent eyes. Marrow asks the gang to tell him about Max. They think Max is on drugs, because she took Rain (ah, another name) out in two seconds and said something about Manticore. Ooh, the gang leader is named Push. The names, they are coming fast and furious now. Marrow kind of looks like White. Marrow tells Lida that they were trying to help her out and they lost Rain. Lida says that she knows she made a mistake, but she wanted to try to make it on her own, and she's sorry. They're all hanging out in an abandoned church. Marrow asks Lida what she was before he gave her "this incredible life." Lida says that she was ordinary. Marrow says that she was a shadow. Lida sobs and says that she hurts. Marrow says that he made her strong and special, by jacking her up into "the tribe of the Alive." Ew. Marrow has a cheesy ponytail. You know who else he kind of looks like? Glenn from Real World Los Angeles. Lida shakes and says that she needs to sip. Marrow tells her that he told her this was forever, and the shaking means that even if he helped her, it's too late. Lida begs him to make it stop. Marrow says that he wishes he could, and then turns and gestures to the other gang members. Cut to Lida being shut into a room alone.
Back in Logan's apartment, Rain is reciting some vow about Marrow. She starts to fall forward, and Max catches her. Max insists that she talk about the bar codes. Rain says that they only got them to be more like him. Max asks if she's talking about Marrow. Rain starts gasping. Max realizes that Rain is going through some sort of withdrawal. Logan calls the ER doctor to see if she can do anything as Rain continues reciting the vow. Max takes Rain's jacket off and finds an envelope, labeled "My Offering" and stuffed with cash. It's the kind of envelope that churches send out for people to put their offerings in. Logan says that the doctor is on her way over. Max tells Logan to keep an eye on her while she goes to the church.
Joshua and his stoner friend walk into an apartment where a bunch of other messengers are hanging out. Stoner introduces Joshua around. They offer him some food, and mistake Joshua's stoned comments for the comments any stoned dude would make. Joshua tries to eat some pretzels by pouring them into his helmet. They all laugh at him. Joshua laughs too, spitting out pretzels.
Lida lies on the floor in her room, moaning. Marrow walks in and tells her that she brought this on herself. Lida says that she doesn't want to die. Marrow tells her that she should have thought about that before. Lida begs him. Marrow says that he's not a cruel man, and it hurts him to see her suffer, so he's brought her some relief. He covers her face with a cloth as if to suffocate her.
Max sneaks into the church and sees Marrow laying out Lida's dead body. Marrow tells the others that Lida was their sister, and she was beautiful, devoted, and "a promiscuous advocate of mischief." I think that's going on my business cards. Marrow closes Lida's eyes and tells the others that it didn't have to end like this, and that her death was senseless. Lida knew the covenant. Marrow holds up a glass pipe and says that "this" is forever, and that Lida left, knowing she couldn't survive without it. Marrow rolls up his sleeve and jams the glass pipe into his arm. He squeezes his fist so that blood goes up into the pipe. One of the gang members walks over and drinks some of the blood. She walks over and kisses Push. One by one, the gang members walk over and drink the blood. Ew. Max watches the whole thing until she hears a footstep behind her. She turns around just in time to get clocked in the head.
Max is chained to a pillar. Marrow asks why she's there, and says that she shouldn't have showed up because it's not her business. Max says that Marrow is Manticore, so that makes it her business. Marrow confesses that he is "the Red Cross, the mother of all blood brothers, the bank of Sangria." Marrow says that Manticore gave him the perfect blood. Max says that they are all universal donors. Marrow says that his blood is more than that. Max realizes that he has the kids hooked on it, and that they think he's some sort of holy vampire. Marrow says that he gives them life. Max asks what that means for Lida, since she's dead and all. Marrow shouts that there is no out, and Lida knew that. He goes on to say that he makes them into gods, and they get a taste of what it's like to be from Manticore. Marrow tells Max that she's "a mutant with tangled genetics and a bar code." He says that Max is still in hiding, and the world will soon realize that the mutants are out there, and will declare war on them. When that happens, Marrow will have his "own private army." Is that like your own private Idaho? Marrow says that his gang would do anything for him, even die, because they love him. Or at least, they can't live without him. Max doesn't answer. Marrow says that he should kill Max, but he wants Rain back. He asks Max to send Rain back or she will die, and it will be Max's fault. Max leaves.
Joshua is still hanging out with the stoners. They ask where he came from, and he says, "The basement." This cracks them all up. A girl sits on his lap and asks if he has a girl. Joshua babbles something about Cindy and Max. This whole scene is so dumb. Joshua starts howling and barking like a dog, and they all laugh. Joshua sees the girl kiss another guy, and takes off his helmet. Once they see his face, they all scream, and Joshua takes off.
Back at Logan's apartment, Max explains Marrow's situation to Logan, who is incredulous. Logan asks about Lida, and Max replies that she didn't make it. Rain is crying and shaking. The doctor tells Logan that Rain might not survive the night, and she's never seen this situation before. Rain babbles that it's not too late to take her to Marrow, and that once the shaking starts, she will die. I don't get that, because she's totally shaking, so it's obviously too late already. Max is upset that she let something like Marrow out in the world, and the whole thing is sick. Max says that there's nothing they can do now. Logan offers to take Rain back. Max says that she's going to Joshua's place.
Alec walks into Jam Pony HQ. Normal complains that he's had three people call, saying that they never got their packages. He wants to see the signatures. Alec looks for his clipboard and doesn't find it, then lies that he left it at his last run. Normal tells him to go and get it.
Joshua walks into The Dreaming. Max yells at him for being gone, and then realizes that Joshua is freaked out, so she asks what happened. Joshua hides under a blanket and admits that he tried to go outside and make a delivery for Alec. Max sniffs and asks Joshua if he's been smoking. Joshua admits that he "got baked with dudeheads." Max asks if any of the dudeheads tried to follow him home. Joshua says no and hides under the blanket some more.
Logan drives Rain back to Marrow's church. Rain asks what Max's problem is. Rain thinks that Max is jealous because she's like Marrow, but they all love Marrow better. Logan points out to Rain that Marrow owns her. Rain says that Marrow made her better than she was. Logan asks if she thinks that Marrow is special, born to some destiny. Rain wonders what Logan knows about anything. Logan tells her that Marrow was designed in a lab, and was brainwashed with the same kind of lies that he's using on Rain and the others. Logan explains how Max is different, how she escaped, and what the bar code means; he says that seeing someone with a bar code so eager to be a slave, it kills Max inside. Rain tells Logan where to stop. He does, and she gets out. Logan wishes her luck. Rain says that she couldn't get out, even if she wanted to, because Marrow owns them. She exits.
Max asks Joshua what happened to him. Joshua says that he should have listened to Max. He thought his friends would understand, but they didn't. He imitates how they freaked out, just as Logan walks in. Max explains that Joshua is stoned. Joshua freaks out some more, explaining how the cat scratched him. Logan reassures him by telling him that he's freaking out because of the drugs, and it will be fine. Max remembers all of the things she saw Marrow say, and tells the guys that she has to go.
Marrow asks Rain if the shaking has started yet. She whimpers and says no. Marrow tells her that he can save her. He sticks the pipe in his arm. Rain sits up, and Marrow tells her to "sip [her] troubles away." She remembers Logan saying that Marrow owned her and was manufactured in a lab. She hesitates. Marrow tells her that she will die if she doesn't drink the blood. Rain remembers Logan saying that Marrow had brainwashed her. Marrow commands Rain to sip again. Rain says that she doesn't need to, and realizes that Marrow lied to her. Marrow pulls the pipe out and says that Rain discovered his little secret. Rain begs him to let her go. Marrow says he can't, because he has "a tactical imperative" to keep the others from finding out. Rain promises not to tell anyone, but Marrow doesn't believe her.
Just then, Max drops in through the window. They fight. Rain runs out and tells the others that Marrow has been lying, and they don't need him; Marrow tried to kill her because she knew the truth. Marrow super-speeds over and throws Rain aside. Max tosses Marrow into the air, and he's impaled on a candlestick. Yikes. That was kind of cool. Max rushes over to Rain. Push realizes that Marrow is dead, and that means that they will all die. Rain assures him that it's not true -- she didn't sip and she's fine. Push asks about Lida, and Max says that Marrow killed Lida to convince the rest of them that they would die without him. Max tells them that they will all be okay. Rain says that Logan told her about Max, and that Max is nothing like Marrow.
Joshua sleeps in The Dreaming. He sniffs something and wakes up. Max has arrived with breakfast. Max promises to smack Alec around, and tells Joshua to cheer up. Joshua is sad that he only gets to watch life through a window. Max says that she loves who Joshua is, and that matters. Joshua agrees that it does matter. Max's beeper goes off; it's Logan, and it's urgent. Joshua thanks her for the food and tells her to go. Max kisses his head and takes off.
Max shows up at Logan's apartment and asks what's up. Logan starts telling her about some new Manticore creature that has the wingspan of a jet, titanium claws, and a screech that makes people's heads explode. Max smiles as she realizes that Logan is kidding. Logan tells her that the doctor says that the gang members are all fine, and want to forget that they ever met a transgenic. Max says she's ready to be a regular girl. They smile at each other from across the room. Bleh.
In the episode: Max meets another transgenic who can hypnotize people and get them to tell their deepest secrets. And somehow, Max and Alec end up in a boxing ring. I don't know.