Colonel Virginia Lake slowly lifted her head off the floor and looked around the room. To her right was Colonel Freeman, still unconscious with a gash on his left hand. Lake slowly and carefully sat up, scooted over a few inches towards Freeman, and began a cursory examination. The colonel stirred and opened his eyes as Virginia rolled him onto his back.

"I'm glad you're alive Alec," the blonde remarked with relief.

Freeman blinked a few times before smiling up at Lake. "I'm glad you're alive as well. How did the EDD machine fare?"

Virginia turned to her left to see only charred wiring and melted metal where the EDD machine had been minutes earlier. "Not so good. It will take us some time to get it back up and running if that is even possible."

"What about our new arrival Harper? He's supposed to be an engineer. Suppose we see how good he really is?" Lake suggested.

Freeman appeared to contemplate the idea before rubbing his right temple of his head. "I'm leery of letting either of our guests have access to our technology."

Lake helped the colonel to his feet. "If their ship is any indication, Rhade and Harper are used to much more advanced and sophisticated equipment."

Alec walked in a small circle, taking in all of the damage. "Where is Lieutenant Keane?"

Virginia's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced around the room. "I don't know. I was unconscious as well. I only just regained consciousness when you did."

"This day just keeps getting better and better," Freeman grumbled. "I think we should get checked out by Jackson and his team."

Lake grimaced as she unconsciously felt her left ribcage. "Sound advice Alec."

A medical team rushed into S.H.A.D.O. in time to help Freeman and Lake to the medical facility.

"Did you hear that Harper?" Rhade questioned as he stood in the room that served as their quarters. The Nietzschean turned around to face Harper who had a blank look on his face. "What am I saying, of course not."

"What was I supposed to have heard?" Harper asked blandly.

"An explosion," the Nietzschean informed succinctly.

The engineer immediately perked up and stopped playing with a deck of cards. "I did feel a slight shake, like a minor earthquake. It almost makes me glad being stuck in here where we're safe."

Rhade leaned his back against the wall next to the door. "If you weren't so irritating when you're bored I might agree with you."

Harper shuffled the deck of cards in his hands. "You're just jealous because I beat you at Triad."

"I let you beat me. Triad is a boring game that requires little skill or strategy," the Nietzschean defended.

"Is that sour grapes I hear from you?" Harper quipped.

Rhade glared at the engineer "Whatever. I think this could be our chance to get out of here."

The engineer tossed the deck of cards aside onto the bed. "Get out? So where would we go? The Maru isn't in any shape to go anywhere yet. We gotta play along with these people, they hold all the cards."

A knock at the door signaled the arrival of Gem Tracy. The lieutenant appeared out of breath as she entered. "Oh good you guys aren't hurt."

"Yeah we're okay. I'm glad you're okay too. I thought people might have been hurt when I heard the explosion.." Rhade said as he stood in front of the lieutenant.

Gem cocked her head as she watched the Nietzschean. "You heard the explosion? Dr. Jackson said you had good hearing Mr. Rhade."

Harper remained where he was, keeping as much weight off of his leg as possible. "Can you tell us what happened?"

The lieutenant had a worried expression. "One of the machines just exploded."

"Was anybody injured?" Rhade was quick to ask.

"Not that we know of. Colonel Freeman and Colonel Lake were knocked about a bit but were able to get to our medical facility on their own," Tracy informed. "There's no sign of Lieutenant Keane. A search team is looking for him."

Both Rhade and Harper had concerned looks on their faces. "How bad was the damage?"

"The word is that the damage wasn't serious. Mostly a lot of smoke and stuff. The EDD is pretty badly damage however," the lieutenant informed them with concern in her voice.

Rhade frowned on hearing the information. "That doesn't sound good. What is an EDD anyway?"

Lieutenant Tracy hesitated before answering, "I shouldn't be telling you this, but it's a machine that's rather important to S.H.A.D.O. and we really need to get it repaired as soon as possible."

Harper had a thoughtful expression on his face. "That sounds like a job for a genius like me. "Look, you've been nice and all, and we can't really complain too much about our treatment here, but we really should be trying to get back to our own time. Maybe we can offer a trade in return for our release."

"What kind of trade?" Gem inquired with interest.

"I've got technological knowledge that you might find helpful in getting your precious machine up and running," Harper announced. "So what do you say?"

The lieutenant didn't hesitate in answering, "I'll bring your proposal to Colonel Freeman. "I can't promise anything but I will do my best."

Rhade nodded his head. "We understand."

"I should be getting to Medical to begin my shift," the lieutenant remarked as she glanced at her wristwatch.

Harper flashed an easy grin. "Okay thanks Trance."

Gem Tracy shot a confused look at the engineer before recovering. "I'm Lieutenant Gem Tracy, but you can call me Gem."

Rhade and Harper shrugged their shoulders in unison as the lieutenant left the room.

Fifteen minutes after Gem left Harper and Rhade, four security personnel arrived and instructed the two men to come out into the hall.

Rhade and Harper were escorted down a hallway by the four security personnel. Harper leaned on Rhade as the engineer favored his injured leg. The Nietzschean ignored the security guards while Harper did his best to irritate the guards. The engineer made faces at the security men as he limped along. When that got no reaction Harper began a nonstop monologue about his escapades on El Dorado Drift.

After receiving a warning look from Rhade, the engineer ended his rambling. "Looks like we're popular now," Harper muttered as Rhade helped him walk down one of the hallways inside S.H.A.D.O. headquarters.

The Nietzschean cast an annoyed glance down at the shorter man. "We'll see."

A few minutes of walking brought Harper and Rhade to the Control Room. Freeman and Lake greeted the two Andromeda crewmembers.

"Mr. Harper I understand that you are an engineer," Alec stated as he stood next to the EDD.

Rahde helped Harper hobble over to the machine. Harper gave a cursory glance at the machine. "Yeah I'm the best."

Lake walked up next to the engineer and gestured towards the EDD. "What can you tell us about this machine?"

Harper barely moved a muscle before replying, "I can tell you that machine has seen better days."

"Do you think you could repair it?" Virginia questioned patiently.

The engineer let out a snort. "If I can't nobody can."

Colonel Freeman frowned in mild frustration. "How long do you estimate it would take to finish the repairs if you were to start work on the EDD Mr. Harper?"

"It will be tricky, a lot of this ancient technology is pretty delicate and I'm not even sure it can be fixed yet, but I'd say no more than half an hour at most," Harper informed before a sudden appearance of realization flashed across his features. "Wait you're offering to let me near your top secret machine?"

Lake cast a knowing glance over at Freeman. "Would you like a chance to fix our EDD?"

The engineer's eyes opened wide as he stammered, "Uh yeah sure, but aren't you worried I'll sabotage it or try to escape?"

"You will be under constant supervision by Colonel Lake and her team. Mr. Rhade here will be insurance against you trying anything untoward," Alec warned. "Besides, it appears as if you have acquired an injury to your leg which would slow you down if you attempted to escape."

A worried look crossed Harper's face. "Hey come on you don't need to threaten to hurt Rhade to get me to fix this machine. I like an engineering challenge. Also, you're right about my injury. I wouldn't be able to get far very fast. But I want you to do something for me in return for fixing your EDD machine."

The middle-aged colonel arched an eyebrow in interest. "What is it you want in return?"

"Our freedom. I fix your machine and you let me fix the Maru. Then Rhade and I leave here and we're out of your hair," the engineer offered.

Colonel Lake frowned at the engineer. "It's not that simple Mr. Harper."

"Sure it is. If you need to get permission for your superiors then by all means contact them. We'll be happy to discuss the situation," Harper suggested as he glanced over at Rhade. The Nietzschean's eyes narrowed in response.

"General Henderson will be here shortly so I imagine you'll get your chance to state your terms," Alec remarked.

"Good. Your EDD thingy will have to wait until then," the engineer replied as he patted the damaged machine.

Rhade sighed at the antics of his crewmate. "What is an EDD anyway?"

Virginia's eyes opened wider in enthusiasm. "EDD is an acronym for early defense devise. Commander Straker came up with the name."

"So you just call it EeeDeeDee? If I were naming the thing, I'd call it Edd," Harper commented. When he saw several sets of eyes glaring at him the engineer immediately defended his suggestion. "What? You guys call your outfit S.H.A.D.O. don't you?"

"We'll take your suggestion under consideration Mr. Harper." Freeman announced politely.

"Sure ya will," Harper whined sarcastically. "Whenever Dylan says that he never acts on my suggestions. He just says that to humor me."

"Has anybody told you that you can be rather annoying Mr. Harper?" Colonel Lake asked lightheartedly.

The engineer nodded his head with enthusiasm. "Yup that's part of my charm. You see if I'm annoying enough you'll let me go."

Virginia Lake covered up a smirk with the palm of her right hand. "I'm afraid you'll have to do better in this instance."

"I'll remember that," Harper acknowledged.

Freeman's expression turned serious as he questioned, "If you fixed your ship would you be able to get to your own time?"

Harper looked up at the ceiling, as if mulling over the possibility. "I'm not sure. My guess is the slipstream drive was knocked outta whack, causing a rift in time."

"This slipstream drive of yours sounds pretty powerful to alter time in such a manner," Lake remarked casually.

Harper pointed a finger at the blonde colonel. "I'll give you a little tip ma'am, a slipstream drive is designed to alter time. That's how we are able to travel at faster than light speed and why we use slipstream. It's a lot quicker than the old fashioned rockets you guys use."

Colonel Lake kept her composure at the lack of respect from the engineer from the future. "Perhaps you would care to provide some upgrades to our current technology Mr. Harper?"

"Maybe I can do that for you, but it's gonna cost ya extra," Harper replied, sounding as if he relished bargaining.

Rhade let out a low growl, getting Harper's attention. "We're not here to bargain and give Earth our technology."

Freeman put his right hand the Nietzschean's shoulder. "Don't be too hard on your friend. Cooperating with us is your only way back to your time Mr. Rhade."

The Nietzschean pulled a face as he replied, "So you say Colonel Freeman."

"Colonel Freeman, Colonel Lake, we need to talk," a portly middle-aged man bellowed as he entered Control.

Both S.H.A.D.O. colonels whirled around to face the new arrival. Freeman stepped forward to greet the visitor. "General Henderson, we weren't expecting you until tomorrow."

General Henderson, dressed in brown slacks, a yellow shirt and brown sweater, eyed Harper and Rhade with suspicion. "Colonel Freeman, who are these two men?"

Both Freeman and Lake shifted uncomfortably under the scrutiny of the general. "These are the two men who say they are from the future," Freeman informed.

"Why aren't they confined to a cell?" Henderson demanded.

Lake stepped in between the Andromeda crewmembers stating, "We are in need of help with the EDD. Mr. Harper is an engineer so we wanted to test his knowledge," she explained.

"That's taking an unacceptable risk," the general replied as he walked up to Harper. Henderson stared at the engineer's data port. "So this is the one with the metal in his neck."

Harper flashed a cocky grin at the older man. "Yup I'm Seamus Zelazny Harper with the dataport."

The general scowled at the younger man. "You are an insolent young man aren't you?"

The engineer shrugged his shoulders and opened his mouth to make a remark, but a warning look from Rhade made him stop

General Henderson turned to his subordinates and motioned towards Harper. "I read the reports on these two men. There was no mention of any testing on the metal disk in this man's neck."

"Dr. Jackson has examined the dataport, "Freeman quickly informed. "His assessment is in the reports sent to you General. The devise is not just embedded in Mr. Harper's neck but is somehow connected to his brain so Dr. Jackson determined that it would be too risky to Mr. Harper to probe the datataport further than what was done."

"Yes I read the doctor's report," Henderson retorted, dismissing the colonel's explanation. "These two men have been treated with kid gloves. Two of S.H.A.D.O.'s top men are missing so it's time to take the gloves off."

A low growl came from Rhade's direction. The S.H.A.D.O. personnel appeared not to notice. Harper stole a quick glance in the Nietzschean's direction and nearly imperceptibly raised an eyebrow in response.

Virginia Lake took a deep breath before confronting the general. "General Henderson, I'm sure you are aware that any tampering with Mr. Harper's dataport could have serious consequences for him. With our EDD damaged Mr. Harper might be of some use to use, but only if he's alive and healthy."

"This man could also sabotage S.H.A.D.O. headquarters while he's at it," Henderson countered with passion. "Have a security team take Mr. Harper to one of the examination rooms. I'll tell Jackson to get a medical team ready."

Harper's face became pale before he unconsciously stumbled backwards. "Hey don't touch the data port! Freeman here is right, it's not healthy for me to have people going around messing with my dataport."

With lighting speed, Rhade grabbed Henderson and held the general in a half-nelson. A split second later Colonel Lake was holding a pistol pointed at Harper. The Nietzschean remained calm, fixing a steely-eyed gaze on the blonde colonel.

"It appears as if we have what the Americans call a 'Mexican Standoff'," Virginia announced in a steady tone.

Henderson sweated while the situation remained tense until Rhade slowly eased his grip on the retired American general. Colonel Lake lowered her gun, causing Harper to exhale a long breath.

Henderson immediately stepped away from Rhade, ending up standing next to Freeman. The General's face had gone from white to beet red. "That was a foolish move Mr. Rhade. I want this man placed under solitary confinement," he ordered, gesturing towards the Nietzschean."

Two security guards armed with rifles who had been standing guard outside S.H.A.D.O. Control promptly entered the room and rushed up to the Nietzschean. Rhade scowled at the guards but made no effort to attack them.

"Look General, we've behaved ourselves up 'til now so how about cutting us some slack?" Harper piped up. "We don't mean you or your people any harm. I'm even willing to help you get your machine up and running sooner than you ever thought possible."

"Why should I trust you?" Henderson demanded gruffly. You could be working with the aliens or at the very least you could be under their influence."

Harper quickly answered, "You've given us all kinds of psychological and physical tests. If you don't believe the results of those tests or Doctor Jackson then you're not the kind of leader these people deserve. These people deserve a leader who trusts their judgment and the information they provide."

"Well put Mr. Harper," Alec enthusiastically praised, earning a stern look from Henderson in response.

The engineer smirked before quickly turning serious. "Thanks."

"He has his moments," Rhade quipped.

Virginia put her pistol back in holster hidden at the small of her back. "General if I may, these men are no use to us dead."

Henderson was silent for a few seconds before letting out a sigh. "You raise a valid point Colonel Lake. Very well, get Mr. Harper started on working on the EDD."

"Good choice General. Always listen to a pretty lady with a gun I say," the engineer replied with a nervous crack in his voice. "You won't regret it, I promise."

"See that I don't," Henderson bellowed. "

"General Henderson," Lake interrupted. "Mr. Harper has injured his leg. He should have it examined."

Henderson sighed in frustration as he glanced over at Andromeda's engineer. "Very well. Take this man to Medical and have any injuries tended to."

Virginia Lake helped her fellow engineer out of the command center and onto one of the S.H.A.D.O. motorized carts in the hallway.