Al looked down at the handlink, unhappy but not surprised at Ziggy's theory. He had been afraid of this. He looked at the young man, Andrew Carter, before him and debated whether or not to tell him. He spared a look to Andrew's friend who seemed very concerned about the young man's sanity. If Al had been in his place, he was sure that he would feel the same way.

"His name is Al."

Al flinched. He hated it when people other than Sam knew he was around.

"Who's Al?"

Andrew looked at Al for an answer. Giving the young man the hairy eyeball, Al sighed to himself. Well, at least it couldn't get any worse.

He belatedly remembered that you should never say that things couldn't be worse- they always could be.

"That's what I'd like to know. Actually, I'd like to know a couple things."

Al spun around and stared at the man standing in the doorway. Colonel Robert Hogan looked tired and unamused. Al found himself very happy that he was a hologram.

Andrew smiled. "Hi, sir."

Hogan didn't return the smile. "I want an explanation and I want one now."

"About what, sir?"

"About what the hell happened in Klink's office!"

Andrew looked surprised. "How do you know about that?" Then he seemed to realize the answer to his own question. "Oh, you were listening in."

"Yes, and I'd like to know what you know about this mess."

***

As Carter told his tale, he noticed with growing unease that the Colonel's expression never seemed to change. At least, it didn't until the very end. Then, his frown deepened.

"And you didn't think to share this with the rest of us."

"You believe me, sir?" Carter winced a little at how hopeful that sounded. *Who are you trying to convince, Carter?* He shook the thought away. At a time like this, the last thing that he needed to be doing was talking to himself.

Hogan sighed, looking weary. "With all the strange things that happen around here, Carter, what choice do I have?"

Carter felt a measure of relief- at least his commander didn't think he was crazy . . . well, not any crazier than usual. He almost felt like hugging the man, but he decided that the Colonel wouldn't appreciate it. He settled for a quiet "Thank you, sir."

"I could not find . . . oh, there you are, mon Colonel." Lebeau looked around at the other people in the room before focusing his attention on the Colonel. "I take it you already know."

Hogan nodded. "Lebeau, go get Kinch." He turned to Carter. "Tell him what you told me. Newkirk, I want you to put this mission on hold until we find out what's going on around here."

"What are you going to do?" Newkirk asked as he came to his feet.

"I think it's time I had a chat with this 'Sam'."

***

As for Sam, things were going surprisingly good, considering the circumstances. General Boes seemed content to stay out of his hair, which, in his book, was very good. Sam had a strange feeling about that man. If forced to describe the feeling, he would have to say something alone the lines of 'bad vibes'. During the initial tour that the General insisted on going on, Sam noticed every now and then the General would stare at him, as if measuring him up somehow. And judging the look on the General's face, 'Klink' didn't measure up well at all.

Not that being underestimated was a problem. Sometimes it was better that an opponent think he was dumber than he really was. Of course, he had no real evidence that the General was indeed his opponent--

Knocking. Yet another person was knocking on that door. Sam could really get to hate that. "Come in!" He only hoped that he sounded more civil than he felt.

***

Hogan walked into the Commandant's office with a confident swagger that he didn't really feel. Klink sat at his desk and looked at him curiously. "Yes, what do you want?"

Feeling a certain measure of doubt creeping on him, despite what he had heard on the bug and from Carter, Hogan put on his most charming face. "I just wanted to meet the famous Sam."

Klink stared at him, looking for a moment as if he were going to deny it before closing his eyes in surrender. "I guess there's no point in trying to fool you any longer."

Hogan couldn't deny that he was a little surprised. "So, it's true?"

Klink- Sam nodded and stood, looking Hogan in the eyes. "I want you all to know that I'm here to help. Three days from now-"

"Klink's going to die and so are some of the members of the underground."

Sam looked dumbfounded. "How . . ." He shook his head, "Never mind."

"Look," Hogan began,"Believe it or not, I don't want Klink to die any more than you do, and we certainly don't want to see anything happen to the underground. Maybe we can help each other."

Sam seemed to consider it. "I don't know. I mean, I don't know what you can do. I don't even know where the danger is coming from- much less how I can keep it from happening at this point." He closed his eyes. "But then, I don't see what choice I have."

Hogan smiled his first genuine smile all day. "I knew you would see things my way."

***

She had come to the fool's office and was about to knock when she heard voices. She put her ear to the door and tried to listen in.

". . . famous Sam."

". . . here to help. . . "

". . . Klink's going to die. . . "

She pulled her head away with a jerk. This was bad. This was so bad. This was . . .

She smiled a cruel smile. This was perfect. Getting rid of that meddling time traveler would definitely get her re-promoted- it would certainly get her in with Lothos. Oh, her plans would have to be altered a little, but it would definitely be worth it- if for no other reason than to see the look on Boy Scout's face when he found out who was responsible.