Animal X: Natural Mystery Unit the Complete Season 1

Episode 9: Gone Fishing

Featured Cryptid: Iliamna Lake Monster

Our episode opens up with Daniel, Natalie, and Rodney returning to Animal X HQ with Bill asking Natalie how the mission went. Natalie then tells both Bill and Dr. Helena white that she needs to talk to them in private, which makes Daniel suspicious. we then cut to Natalie in Bill's office telling Bill and Dr. Helena about what she learned about Daniel: that he has some weird psychic powers which explains why he's able to tame even the most difficult to handle of Cryptids, bringing up how he was able to tame a Bigfoot, a Mngwa, a Bunyip, a Thunderbird, and now he was able to command an entire swarm of Mongolian Death Worms. Bill then tells Natalie that he knows, he's known all along which is why he recruited him in the first place. Natalie is shocked to hear this, saying that it makes sense why Bill would want a clueless idiot like Daniel in the Animal X natural mystery unit, because someone with a gift like his would turn the tide in their war against the black dot. Bill then tells Natalie that he has assigned her and Dr. Helena to Lake Iliamna, Alaska to take Daniel on a "Fishing trip" of sorts in search of the Lake Iliamna Monster to test out Daniel's abilities on this cryptid. this concerns Natalie, as she thinks that his idea is kinda manipulative Natalie telling Bill that he's treating him like some kind of lab rat. Bill then tells Natalie that they need to do what they must if they are to hone his skills for the coming storm mentioning that the two of them barely escaped their encounter with Domino twice. after that, we cut to Daniel sitting in his personal quarters playing videogames with Tony while Rodney watches. Natalie then enters the room and tells Daniel to pack his things telling him that they're going on a "fishing trip". Daniel is confused, asking what she's talking about all the while Tony is bummed out that Daniel can't stay and play videogames with him. Dr. Helena then enters the room much to the shock of Tony who asks his mother what she's doing here. Dr. Helena then tells her son that this doesn't concern him before Daniel asks what's going on. after that, we cut to Domino's airship where Domino tells his son Marcus that he has tracked Animal X's next destination, Lake Iliamna in Alaska which is home to a giant fish that he could make a profit of by selling its meat on the black market. Marcus then asks Domino what of Daniel, and Domino then tells his son that his job will to be the one to seduce Daniel to the side of the Black Dot. Marcus then kneels down, promising his father that he will not fail him. as Marcus leaves Domino's room and walks down the hallways he looks at his keychain promising that he will avenge his birth parent's deaths by vanquishing the Animal X natural mystery unit. after that, we cut to the X-Jeep transforming into boat mode upon landing in the icy waters of Lake Iliamna, Alaska where Daniel complains about the freezing weather asking Dr. Helena why they couldn't visit somewhere warm instead for this so-called fishing trip pointing out how poor Rodney is being turned into a rod-sicle too. Dr. Helena then tells Daniel that they came here to Lake Iliamna specifically in search of the giant fish that calls this place home so that they could test his special "gift" on it before handing Daniel the Cryptozoologicon. Daniel then opens the Cryptozoologicon to the page talking about the Lake Iliamna monster where Daniel reads about how the giant fish that inhabits Lake Iliamna is an unknown species of gigantic sturgeon larger than any other that has ever been discovered. Daniel then makes the remark "that's a big fish" before Dr. Helena smacks Daniel upside the head and tells him to focus while Rodney looks at him sadly. Daniel then puts on his scuba suit and dives down into the icy waters after the elusive fish, Dr. Helena contacting Daniel asking if he sees anything yet, all the while Natalie is very concerned for him. Dr. Helena takes notice of this, accusing Natalie of having feelings for him. Natalie denies this, telling Helena that it's not like that saying that ever since she lost her parents in that fateful plane crash Bill sheltered her, not allowing her to socialize with other kids or have friends during her childhood due to him being very over-protective of her. and when Daniel came into her life, for the first time in her entire life she felt like she finally had somebody to lean on, someone to relate to, a friend. and even though he can be clumsy and make stubborn decisions at times, Daniel's always had Natalie's back. we then cut back to Daniel underwater where he sees a large shape swimming towards him, only for it to turn out to be the Lake Iliamna monster. Daniel then informs Dr. Helena that the fish is in his sights, followed by Dr. Helena telling Daniel that he's doing a good job and all he needs to do now is tame the beast. Daniel then closes his eyes having a childhood flashback to his father injecting him in the arm with a type of serum before leaving him at the Johnson's house and reaches his hand out to touch the large fish's head, however both Daniel and the Fish are suddenly caught in a giant net that pulls them out of the water via crane. Dr. Helena tries to contact Daniel, only for her to get static which worries Natalie. we then cut to Daniel and the fish being placed atop a large vessel with the black dot logo painted on the side, only for Marcus to cut Daniel out of the net with his katana and tell him to get up. Daniel then gets back up and asks what Marcus wants with the Lake Iliamna monster, only for Marcus to tell Daniel that he didn't come here for the fish, it's HIM he wants. Daniel is confused, followed by Marcus holding out his hand and telling Daniel to come with him and he'll give him the answers he seeks. Daniel looks at his hands and comes to the conclusion that he's talking about the answers to where his gift came from and hesitates asking if he can trust Marcus as he is the Enemy. Marcus then assures Daniel that he can trust him and that he can show him the truth about his powers and the Animal X natural mystery unit followed by Daniel agreeing to Marcus's terms and shaking hands with him. while the Black Dot grunts load the gigantic fish into a holding tank aboard the vessel Marcus takes Daniel below deck and gives him a tour of the ship, Daniel asking Marcus why he should trust the son of a maniac who runs an organization that is basically the world's largest cryptid abattoir, followed by Marcus telling Daniel that his precious Animal X has just as much blood on its hands as the black dot does. Daniel is confused, asking what Marcus is talking about. Marcus then shows Daniel his keychain, telling Daniel that Bill never told him everything. Daniel is confused, telling Marcus that Bill is their leader and does what is necessary to protect cryptids around the world. Marcus then tells Daniel that Bill is a manipulative old man who keeps secrets from everybody even his precious Animal X agents if it means enforcing the status quo, Marcus revealing that an Animal X agent killed his birth parents. Daniel is in denial, telling him that he's lying. Marcus then tells Daniel that he never knew his birth parents since they died when he was but a small child, but his adopted father Domino told him that they were shot down by Animal X agents because they saw a Cryptid and Animal X didn't hesitate to pull the trigger when the secret of the existence of the precious Cryptids they swore to protect were on the line. Daniel is in denial, telling Marcus that Domino is a monster who slaughters innocent cryptids. Marcus then tells Daniel that Domino is no monster before taking him back up deck where Daniel sees the Lake Iliamna fish being held in the holding tank and thrashing around due to being in such a cramped space. Daniel tells Marcus to let the fish go, followed by Marcus telling Daniel that the fish is safe with them. Daniel understandably doesn't trust Marcus, however Marcus tells Daniel that Animal X manipulated him and that they don't care about him only his special gift and that the Black Dot will accept him for who he is. Daniel is yet again in Denial, but Marcus tells Daniel that deep down he knows it's the truth making Daniel consider joining the black dot. we then cut back to the X-Jeep where Dr. Helena informs Natalie that they are approaching a large object in the water. Natalie asks her if it's the fish, and Helena tells Natalie "no, bigger". they then come across the large Black Dot ship followed by Natalie pulling out a pair of binoculars and noticing that Daniel's on board much to the concern of poor little Rodney. Natalie tells Helena that they've got to save him followed by Helena whipping out a grappling gun similar to Daniel's and firing the cable at the ship Rodney catching the cable in his mouth and lifting our heroes into the air. the two land on the deck of the ship before sneaking around to find a very irritated Lake Iliamna Monster in a holding tank. Natalie wonders what the Black Dot would want with the poor fish before Helena tells her that they should be concerned for what they would want with Daniel. we then cut back to Daniel's conversation with Marcus explaining to Daniel that the Black Dot wants to use the Cryptids to benefit humanity, explaining of all the products that the Black Dot has manufactured such as medicine made from the horn of an Emela-Ntouka, coats made from Yeti pelts, and soon the Lake Iliamna monster's flesh will be used to feed entire countries of starving people unlike Animal X who want the cryptids all to themselves. Marcus then tells Daniel that he could use his gifts to help the Black Dot cause and help mankind rather than Animal X's goal of keeping people in the dark IF he makes the right choice, all the while Natalie and Dr. Helena overhear their conversation. Natalie then blows her cover and arrives on the scene to warn Daniel that Marcus is lying to him, however her and Dr. Helena are then surrounded by Black Dot grunts. Daniel then tells Natalie that Marcus told him everything, how they manipulate and used him just for his power, whipping out his grappling gun to round up Helena and Natalie. Marcus then tells Natalie and Dr. Helena that they're too late as he has already turned him on them before ordering Daniel to "do his thing". Daniel then hops into the holding tank landing on the Lake Iliamna monster's back and Daniel's eyes start to glow icy blue like last episode as he places his hand on the gargantuan fish's forehead causing the irritated beast to calm down, Marcus contacting Domino to inform him that they have successfully captured the fish AND turned Daniel on the Animal X Natural Mystery Unit. Domino congratulates Marcus on a Job well done all the while Rodney helps free Natalie and Dr. Helena by chewing on the cables. Natalie then electrocutes Marcus with her electric batons cutting off his conversation with Domino before rushing towards the holding tank to get through to Daniel by admitting that they did use him and what they did was wrong before confessing her true feelings about him. Daniel then begins to feel conflicted before Daniel commands the lake Iliamna monster to leap out of its holding tank and into the icy waters below taking Daniel down with it. Marcus then gets up to notice that the monster is gone before telling Natalie that she'll pay for that before unsheathing his katana. Natalie then puts her twin electric batons together to form a bo staff and the two fight on the deck of the ship while Dr. Helena whips out a pair of binoculars and notices something coming towards the vessel. as it turns out, it is none other than Daniel surfing on the back of the Lake Iliamna monster to the rescue. the gigantic fish then starts ramming the Black Dot vessel causing it to shake knocking both Natalie and Marcus off their feet. the super-sized sturgeon then leaps out of the water before landing on top of Marcus subduing him in the process. Daniel then hops off the big fish's back before hugging Natalie, telling her that he's staying with Animal X for good this time. Natalie then pushes Daniel away from her, telling him no hugging before Rodney nuzzles against Daniel happy to have his buddy back. Dr. Helena is impressed with Daniel's ability to telepathically connect with animal life, all the while poor Marcus is struggling to get up from underneath the weight of the big heavy fish laying on top of him. after that, we cut to Animal X personnel arriving on the vessel to arrest Marcus and the rest of the Black Dot goons while Dr. Helena takes control of the crane using it to pick up the Lake Iliamna monster and drop it back into the water where the giant fish swims off into the icy depths happy to return to its natural habitat. Bill then arrives on the X-copter to ask Dr. Helena how Daniel's training went, followed by Helena turning her head to Natalie who places her hand on Daniel's shoulder and our episode ends with Helena telling Bill that he passed with flying colors.