In fact, corporations – the only entities with money after ecological disasters caused the government to go bankrupt – now function AS the government. As in, they rule with an iron fist, rewarding those that are loyal – and punishing those who aren’t.
Those that work for the corporations live in the Green Zone, protected and with the finer things in life. Everyone else lives in the Red Zone, where resources are scarce and survival is a daily struggle.
Meet Ben Larson. He’s in middle management at Spiga, a biotech corporation that’s one of the world’s most powerful. He’s married to Laura, a doctor – and the boss’ daughter.
Why? Ben wants to find his teenage sweetheart Elena, who was forced to sign herself over to Spiga as a corporate prostitute (executives get a LOT of perks at Spiga) in order to keep her father out of jail.
When Ben learns Elena is working at the Spiga executive retreat, Arcadia, he schemes to get his boss, Chad, kicked out of the Red Zone for corporate espionage.
Julian starts to suspect Ben guilty of the crime, but Ben manages to prove his innocence (by giving himself amnesia for awhile – don’t ask). Ben is later promoted.
Ben visits Arcadia and makes contact with Elena. She’s irritated with him, but quickly cozies up to him. And we learn it’s likely due to ulterior motives, as she seems to be part of an underground resistance movement.
Deciding to confront her fears, Laura visits the Red Zone and decides to use her medical skills to open a clinic there. This does not make her mother happy.
By season’s end, Laura learns she’s pregnant AND that her mother had her father killed when he committed corporate espionage. So, she’s not having the best day.
