Lydia is a Black student researcher assisting Dr. Kenworth on his project, in partnership with the farmer Devaun, to devise methods to protect crops from the scorching post-2089 climate. After surveying a field of almonds devastated by a nasty fungus, Devaun is convinced a formula involving garlic, an ingredient essential to his sharecropping ancestors, would protect the next batch of crops. Rob Kenworth, a White microbiologist, has reservations about what he calls “homegrown methods.” If the crops did not show results soon, the Department of Agriculture would sell the land to the leading agricultural titan, AgCode, who only employed artificial crop harvesters. Devaun is adamant on keeping his human field hands, most of whom would lose their livelihood if the land was sold to AgCode. 

Back in his office, after intercourse with Rob, Lydia sees an AgCode contract on his desk. Furious, she calls Devaun and warns him of the impending deal. 

On her last visit to the farmland, Devaun shows her a small field of healthy almond trees that were saved because of Devaun’s garlic concoction. He asks for her for help in refining the formula for the main fields. Lydia contemplates her family’s own history of sharecropping and agrees.