Faux Walter

Lore & Background

In the parallel universe, Walternate is Walter's doppelgänger and serves as the U.S. Secretary of Defense. He orchestrated events to assemble the Machine, a doomsday device that reacts only to Peter's biology. He sent his Olivia, "Fauxlivia," to the prime universe to replace Olivia Dunham, engage the Fringe Division, and assemble the prime universe's version of the device, while he studied Olivia's Cortexiphan-induced powers. By happenstance, Fauxlivia became pregnant with Peter's child, Henry, before being outed and extracted to the parallel universe. Walternate orchestrated acceleration of the pregnancy to gain a sample of the baby's blood, which he used to activate the machine. His actions are driven by the parallel universe being plagued by singularities occurring at weakened points of the fabric between worlds, and he believes the prime universe is at war with his own, engineered by human-machine hybrid shapeshifters from the parallel universe.

In Their Own Story

The fluorescent lights hummed with a low, irritating buzz that matched the tension in the air. He stood before the glass partition, watching his counterpart work. The man on the other side looked tired, but kind. A ghost of a smile touched Walternate's lips, though it didn't reach his eyes. He knew what he had done to get here. He knew the price paid in blood and betrayal. Yet, as he adjusted the dials on the machine, he realized some debts could never be fully repaid. The bridge was closing, and for the first time in eighteen years, silence felt like a mercy.

Reader's Guide

Dr. Walter Bishop of the Parallel Universe, known as Walternate, represents a darker reflection of the primary timeline's genius scientist. While sharing the same intellect and eccentricities, this version operates without the moral constraints that eventually bind his counterpart. His narrative arc begins with a desperate act: he is the U.S. Secretary of Defense in the parallel universe and has set events in motion to assemble the Machine, a doomsday device that reacts only to Peter's biology. He sent his Olivia, "Fauxlivia," to the prime universe to replace Olivia Dunham, engage the Fringe Division, and assemble the prime universe's version of the device, while he studied Olivia's Cortexiphan-induced powers. By happenstance, Fauxlivia became pregnant with Peter's child, Henry, before being outed and extracted to the parallel universe. Walternate orchestrated acceleration of the pregnancy to gain a sample of the baby's blood, which he used to activate the machine. His defining moment remains the revelation of the Peter swap, which recontextualizes the entire series' history.

Did You Know?

• Walternate is the U.S. Secretary of Defense in the parallel universe.
• He sent his Olivia, "Fauxlivia," to the prime universe to replace Olivia Dunham and assemble the prime universe's version of the Machine.
• Walternate orchestrated acceleration of Fauxlivia's pregnancy to gain a sample of the baby's blood, which he used to activate the Machine.
• The Machine is a doomsday device that reacts only to Peter's biology.
• Walternate studied Olivia's Cortexiphan-induced powers while Fauxlivia was in the prime universe.