NNL 0800 hrs. February 6

Jarod went over his presentation as the Backstep team arrived. The first to show was Dr. Ballard.

"Good morning, Dr. Ballard." Jarod shook hands with the permanently seated genius.

"Morning, Dr. Seaborg, I'm excited to hear what you've got for us." Ballard buzzed up to the conference table, his motorized wheel chair moving smartly over the gray carpet.

"Please, call me Jarod." The Pretender knew from Ballard's file how eclectic he could be. Just in time to save Jarod from a dull conversation about quantum physics, Frank and Donovan walked in.

"So, Dr. Seaborg, how many more days can you squeeze out for us?" Frank asked as he took a seat. Easily, he put his feet up on the chair beside him and yawned lazily. Jarod studied Lt. Frank Parker before answering.

"Three days, maybe more." Jarod responded, not quite sure he trusted Frank. He would have to keep an eye on the chrononaut. Frank was smarter than he acted.

"Good morning everyone." Dir. Talmadge strolled in, followed by the rest of the Backstep team. Olga sat across from Frank, Ramsey seated beside her. For the next two hours everyone was all ears, except for Frank. The chrononaut let the technical stuff slide over him like water from a shower head. As long as the ride didn't get any rougher he didn't care about time phase or streamlining fuel cycles. It all bored him to death.

Jarod took questions and explained concepts. Most of the questions came from Ballard. The man had an insatiable thirst for knowledge.

"Now, if there are no further questions, I believe Dr. Seaborg should see the sphere hangar." Talmadge ended the meeting. The team dispersed quickly, leaving only Dr. Ballard, Talmadge and Jarod.

"Jarod, if you'll follow me, I'll show you to the hangar." Ballard waved him toward the door.

Scene Break

The Centre Blue Cove, Delaware February ?

"Miss Parker, the jet is finally ready to take off." Broots rushed in to Sydney's office. They'd been stuck at the Centre for nearly thirty-six hours. Broots lamented to himself how much babysitting money he was going to owe the sitter.

"Finally, those flyboys are such pansies. Sitting here with you two, I've never been so bored." Miss Parker moved swiftly, leaving Sydney and Broots running to catch up.

Scene Break