Synopsis:
 
All over the world, a series of apparent experiments collectively referred to as "The Pattern" (e.g., a newborn baby who rapidly ages and dies within a few minutes; a bus full of passengers trapped in a strange resin, like mosquitoes trapped in amber) are occurring for reasons unknown. Olivia, Peter, and Walter are in charge of investigating these strange events to determine their source. Connected to the Pattern is 'Massive Dynamic', a megacorporation which is a leading global technology company, holding the patents for a diverse number of new and significant technologies. Their enemy is ZFT (Zerstörung durch Fortschritte der Technologie, en: Destruction through advances in technology), a bioterrorist organization which is orchestrating all of the strange occurrences in order to prepare for a destructive technological singularity. Tying both sides together is a nootropic  drug, called Cortexiphan, that was developed by Walter and his partner, William Bell (now chairman of Massive Dynamic), which Olivia and a number of others were treated with as children. Events also reveal to the viewer that a tragedy had occurred to Peter, and only Walter has knowledge of this. The first season closes with Olivia meeting William in a parallel universe where, among other differences, the World Trade Center has not been destroyed....