They reached the Fort to see President Grant pacing just inside the gates. He rushed to them as they entered and Evans began shouting orders to the orderlies. They whisked Artie to the infirmary and Evans began the treatments again. This time ordering a sentry posted outside the room and one inside. He was bound and determined this particular patient would not get away from him again.

Jim was pulled to the Commander's office much to his chagrin. He entered the office to see Loveless still bound and gagged, seated in a chair glaring at his guards. When his eyes set on Jim he became animated, twisting and turning in his seat shouting through the gag.

Jim took a seat and waited for Grant to arrive, careful not to acknowledge Loveless' presence. After a few minutes, the door opened and Grant strode through. Jim jumped to his feet and stood at attention. Grant waved him down and Jim sat rigidly in his chair.

Grant looked from the agent in front of him to their captive and back again. He motioned for one of the guards to remove the gag. The guard reached over and untied the cloth from around the little man's mouth.

"I wish to lodge a formal protest…my treatment has been," Loveless began only to have Jim cut him off.

"We've been through this before, doctor," Jim spat, "at least you can be sitting in that chair…my partner is fighting for his life in the infirmary." Jim's glare cut through him like a hot knife through butter.

"I apologized for that indiscretion, Mr. West. You know that I would never allow the treatment Mr. Gordon received…" Loveless looked Jim in the eye.

"You're just upset that you weren't there to witness it."

"Enough, James," Grant told him, "I am allowing you to be present at this interrogation as a courtesy. Don't make me regret it."

"Yes, sir," Jim sighed.

"Now, Dr. Loveless…" Grant began.

"Before I will tell you anything I demand to be released from these bonds."

"That I left up to the discretion of the arresting agent and I believe he has made his intentions quite clear on the matter." Grant glared at Loveless.

"Mr. West, would you like to begin?"

"Yes, sir. Doctor, what did you hope to gain by causing avalanches?" Jim demanded.

"Gain, Mr. West? Nothing I was merely experimenting when Mr. Gordon so rudely interrupted me." Loveless smirked.

"Come off it, Loveless. You were after something, and you know it."

"Perhaps Mr. Gordon can tell you, when he's better that is." Jim looked at the President.

"Sir, permission to take him…" Jim started.

"Permission denied, West. Stand down." Grant said in a tone that left no room for questioning.

"Dr. Loveless," Grant spoke slowly and determinedly. "Your henchmen do not share your attitude. They have talked and told us plenty." Grant leveled a hard stare at him.

"They are imbeciles, not worthy of the air they waste. They were not my usual caliber of workers."

"You haven't answered the question put to you."

"Oh how very droll, Mr. West. You always want to know the why…at least when Mr. Gordon questions me it's the more interesting things like the how or they when…is it possible to wait until Mr. Gordon can join you to at least make this interesting. I find this to be quite boring."

"Looks like I'm all you're going to get this time, Loveless," Jim flashed him one of his famous smiles.

WWWWWWWWWW

Evans was putting his stethoscope away when his patient began to come around. Artie opened his eyes and looked around. Seeing he was back in the infirmary, he rolled his eyes and moaned.

"Sorry about the accommodations, Mr. Gordon, but they are the best you will see for a while I'm afraid." Evans regarded him closely.

"How long?" Artie stared back at him.

"Well, that will depend on you, Mr. Gordon. You reopened your shoulder wound and it's infected…and your pneumonia is back full force." Evans glared at his patient.

"How long?" Artie tried again and Evans sighed.

"At the very least, I'd say two weeks maybe three…"Artie started to protest.

"It's better than the alternative."

"Which is?" Artie was certain he did not want to know.

"All things considered…two months. Take your pick, Mr. Gordon. Stay put and follow my instructions and you'll be out in three weeks…don't and it'll be two months." Evans glare told Artie not to argue.

"Where's Jim?" Evans smiled when Artie didn't argue.

"He's in with the President and Dr. Loveless." Artie tried to sit up but Evans pushed him back into the pillows he was propped up on.

"No, Gordon, it's already been decided…you're not part of this." Artie glared but didn't move.

"I know how badly you want him…"

"No, you don't. It's not just getting Loveless. I saw those plans. I know what he was up to. I have to talk to Grant. I've got to tell him…I've got to warn him."

This slight bit of exertion was tiring but Evans knew his patient, he would have to find a way to compromise or risk an all out mutiny.

"I've made arrangements to take you to see Grant, but I want you to get some rest first." Artie shook his head.

"Now would be better, Loveless has a way of slipping out of custody quicker than a jackrabbit down his hole. Doctor, why am I so blasted tired?"

"Your body is shutting down, Mr. Gordon. It needs rest. But I know how stubborn you can be I'll allow this on the conditions you let me go with you and you use a wheelchair. That will help you conserve the energy that will not last you much longer anyway."

WWWWWWWWWW

"Dr. Loveless need I remind you this government does not negotiate with terrorists or subversives?" Grant was quickly beginning to see why James and Artemus were always so short tempered in dealing with this little man.

"Mr. Grant, I am neither a terrorist nor a subversive…tell him Mr. West." Loveless looked to Jim for help.

"He's got you there, sir," Jim said and Loveless beamed.

"He IS however a despot, would be dictator, tyrant and…"

"Mr. West! I am many things but I am NOT a tyrant!" Loveless protested.

"Just trying to help you out, doctor," Jim smirked.

"I will remember this when next we meet, Mr. West." Loveless glared at him.

"There will be NO next time, Miguelito…" the weak but angry voice startled them. All eyes turned toward the door.

"Artie!" Jim rose and went over to his friend seated somewhat reluctantly in the wheelchair.

"Mr. Gordon, if you have escaped from the infirmary again…" Grant leveled an icy glare at the agent.

"He's here with my approval, sir," Evans said as he appeared behind him.

"But only until he says what he came here to say. Then its straight back to the infirmary," Artie reluctantly nodded.

"Mr. Gordon, how good of you to join us," Loveless grinned at him.

"Doctor," Artie nodded toward him.

"Now that the more intelligent half of the team is here, Mr. West, maybe we can get somewhere." Jim glared but Artie held his hand up to forestall Jim's protests.

"I've got this one, Jim," he told him as Grant leaned back in his chair to watch his agents at work.

"I saw what you were up to and this government would never buy it."

"Think of the uses of my device, Mr. Gordon…"

"Oh it's not just the uses of your little toy I'm thinking about. It's the implications."

"Oh come now, Mr. Gordon, surely you don't think me garish enough to use my device merely for it's destructive properties."

"Oh no, not the great Miguelito Loveless, the protector of all mankind." Artie gestured with his free arm.

"Mr. Gordon, you mock me. This device has many uses…"

"Oh from what I've seen I don't doubt that. But at what price?" Artie baited him and Jim merely smiled, his partner was in his element now.

"Oh, Mr. Gordon, you wound me. To think that I would ask for mere money for such an inventions as this is…is…"

"Typical? You never do anything for anyone without getting something in return." Grant was enjoying watching this interchange.

"What is it this time, Loveless? Do you want your own little territory, money or just the satisfaction of knowing you did something nice for a change?" Artie wisecracked, making Grant stare at him and Jim could barely contain his snicker.

"I want nothing more than my freedom in exchange for telling you how my machine works and the location of the main device." Loveless smirked.

"Loveless, you're mad," Jim commented.

"I already told you how we deal with extortionists, Doctor Loveless," Grant snarled.

"Mr. President, there's no need for negotiations," Artie spoke calmly albeit tiredly.

"Explain yourself, Mr. Gordon."

"I saw his schematics and I saw the blueprints. I think I can fairly accurately pin point where that device is." Artie was beginning to tire and sweat was breaking out on his forehead.

"You better tell him quickly, Mr. Gordon, I'm giving you five more minutes and that's all." Evans said as he put his stethoscope to Artie's chest.

"Well, if I had to guess I'd say the main device is housed in that cave we were in."

"Artie?" Are you sure?" Jim asked.

"Pretty sure, Jim. That bank of machines we thought was a phony, the one that covers the entrance to that lovely little abode…it isn't phony. That is where the main trigger for that device is." Artie smirked satisfactorily at Loveless.

"Mr. Gordon that is NOT fair! You didn't play by the rules, you cheated…you had to have cheated!" Loveless grumped like a spoiled child.

"Rules? What is he talking about?" Grant asked no one in particular.

"Oh, sir, there's a whole different set of rules we live by when dealing with our friend here." Artie smiled to which Loveless growled.

"Mr. Gordon you may be a smart man but you are most assuredly an infuriating man," Loveless told him pointedly.

"You hear that, Jim? Last time we met I was insufferable…this time I'm infuriating. I don't know, should I be insulted or not?" Artie grinned at his partner, knowing it would irritate their adversary.

"I don't know, Artie. What's next? I'm beginning to think the good doctor doesn't really like us." Jim grinned back at his partner.

"Mr. Gordon, you may know how the device functions and even where the main device is hidden but what you don't have is the why…and that will bother you until you do." Loveless grinned.

"Oh I think I have a pretty good idea of the why as well." Artie paused again to regain his breath before continuing.

"You planned on using the device to clear the snowcap off the mountain range in order to have better access to the minerals underneath." Artie surmised.

"Well done, Mr. Gordon, very well done indeed. I knew I could count on your intellect to figure things out eventually."

"You could do well to take lessons from your partner, Mr. West, as infuriating as he may be he is by far the smarter one in your little duo."

Evans and Grant watched the exchange with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Grant shook his head at his agent's unorthodox approach to this man. Evans had been watching his patient more than he had been focusing on the verbal banter. He noted the thick sheen of sweat on Artie's face and his shallow and raspy breathing and decided to end the verbal sparring match.

"I hate to break up whatever it is you've got going here, but Mr. Gordon has a date with a bed in the infirmary." Artie rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Oh come on, just a few more minutes," he looked imploringly at Evans.

"Two words, Gordon…two months." Evans glared at his patient.

"But…" Artie began.

"Do I hear three months?" Evans snapped, Grant caught the twinkle in his eyes.

"Oh all right! Jim, I want a full report later and don't let that little pipsqueak get the upper hand…you know what he like to try and pull."

"I'll be by to see you later, Artie. And don't worry I won't let the pip…er…doctor pull a fast one." Jim watched as Evans wheeled his partner back to the infirmary.

Jim turned his attention to their captive and studied him intently for a few moments before speaking.

"Sine your device has been explained away by my partner why don't you just fill in the holes?" Jim asked him glaringly.

"Such as, Mr. West?"

"Where are the rest of your resonating chambers? It seems your map was less than accurate."

"Oh come now, Mr. West. Where would the fun be in that?" Jim regarded him icily for a moment.

"Get him out of here, sir, he's not going to tell us." Jim looked at Grant and before he could reply Loveless asked a question Jim found strange.

"Could one of you gentlemen please tell me what time it is?" Grant looked at him quizzically.

"It's four o'clock, but what meaning does time have to a man who will be spending the rest of his time behind bars?" Jim asked.

"No meaning really, Mr. West, I just like to know what time it is." Jim didn't like the look on his face.

"Something's up, sir." Jim said to Grant.

"What would you suggest we do?"

"Lock down the Fort, sir," Jim said as he kept an eye on Loveless.

Grant sent one of the guards to give the orders and he watched Jim as he sat staring at the doctor. Jim continued to watch him, carefully paying attention to his eyes. He noted Loveless' eyes shifting to the window behind Grant.

Seconds before the blast, realization hit Jim and he made a diving leap behind Grant's desk, knocking him from his chair. Jim did his best to shield the President from what he was positive was about to happen. He looked over at Dr. Loveless and the shocked guard.

"Guard! Don't let Loveless out of your sight!"

As the guard reached for Loveless the wall behind him blew inward with a force that shattered the heavy timbers into toothpick sized splinters, showering down on them. The guard crumpled to the floor unconscious. Grant shouted for Jim to secure Loveless.

Jim jumped up and made a grab for the doctor when several men burst through the gaping hole in the building. He immediately recognized the tall, powerfully built Voltaire. Jim lunged for Loveless and three men jumped on top of him pinning him to the floor.

He pushed up, twisting to one side, trying to knock them off. Jim grabbed the nearest man and punched him in the face. The man fell backward and Jim dove for the next man and began to fight with him. He looked over toward the President to see how he was faring and he was somewhat shocked to see Grant fighting with one of the assailants.

Jim felled his opponent as he heard the sound of soldiers approaching. As the soldiers burst into the office Jim threw his man toward them to subdue and he rushed out the newly made opening and after Voltaire and Loveless.

Out in the hallway on his way to the infirmary, Artie had stopped Evans. Something wasn't right. Loveless was too cocky…like he knew something they hadn't.

"Doctor, I'll be right back," Artie said as he shoved himself out of the wheelchair and headed outside.

"Mr. Gordon! Get back here this instant!" Evans yelled, knowing that the agent wasn't listening.

Artie stopped a passing soldier carrying a rifle and relieved him of his weapon as he ran past. He hurried around the building and through the Fort gates with the other soldiers. Then he turned in the opposite direction and headed toward the wooded area.

He rounded the corner of the Fort just in time to see Voltaire with Dr. Loveless slip into the woods. Artie moved as quickly as he could toward the spot they had disappeared. The snow was deep and he had trouble wading through it. Suddenly, Jim appeared beside him, eyes glaring and his nostrils flaring.

"I thought you were on your way back to the infirmary." Jim spat as he helped his partner through the snow.

"Something didn't sit right with me. Loveless was too smug. Like he knew something we didn't." Artie panted.

"Apparently he did. I should have guessed he was up to something when he wanted to know what time it was."

They looked up when they heard a rustling noise up ahead. Jim pulled Artie to the side and shielded him with his body as a horse and rider came barreling toward them. The rider dropped a small package near them and they could hear the unmistakable cackle of Dr. Loveless as the horse disappeared into the woods.