Koenig entered Command Center, much of his normal air and authority having returned.

Paul smiled at him, "Commander.... we weren't expecting you back on your feet so quickly, glad you're okay."

He nodded at them all in acknowledgment, but his face was tight with strain, "There's a lot of work to do. Paul, what's the status of Operation Exodus for the planet Bintoss?"

Morrow's smile quickly faded, "Bintoss, Commander?"

Koenig glared at him, as though he were a disobedient schoolboy, "Yes, Bintoss, the fourth planet in this system."

Paul and Sandra looked at each other in confusion.

Sandra spoke up, "Commander, we have just begun the necessary scans on the planet."

"Scans? I didn't order any scans. My last order was to begin Operation Exodus."

Victor stepped forward, "John, surely you don't mean for us to evacuate to some planet that we haven't even checked for atmosphere?"

Koenig turned toward Bergman, the anger in his eyes surprising his mentor, "Don't tell me what I mean and don't mean by an order, Professor," his voice took on a slightly monotone timbre as he continued, "the planet can fully sustain carbon-based life forms, and it's the paradise we've been looking for..."

All motion in Command Center stopped as the crew stared at him in shock. Koenig became agitated.

"What is the matter with all of you? I gave an order, I expect it to be carried out."

Victor stepped closer, setting a light hand on the commander's arm, "John, I think you're overwrought, why don't we go into the office and discuss this--"

Koenig tore away from Bergman's grip, "--There's nothing to discuss. We're evacuating to Bintoss. That is unless you're all planning a mutiny."

Alan spoke up, "Commander, no one here would betray you; you know that."

"Then do as I ask."

Alan's mouth tightened, "But Commander, we need to at least send a survey Eagle first, and establish that the planet is capable of sustaining us."

The ferocity in Koenig's tone sent Alan's stomach into his chest, "I told you that Bintoss is exactly what we're looking for, and still you question my authority--"

Victor broke in, trying to diffuse the situation, "--Bintoss. You keep referring to the fourth planet by that name. Why?"

Koenig stared at Bergman as if his mentor had gone mad, "Because Bintoss is its name... what else would you have me call it?"

"How do you know that?"

John blinked at Victor: it was a simple question, but one that Koenig couldn't answer. He searched within his mind, but it was blank. He could feel the perspiration begin to trickle down the back of his neck as he pressed within for an explanation. And then the sound of the melodious, unfeeling voice filled his head, and so did the pain. Unbearable, excruciating pain. He screamed, grabbed his head, and sank to his knees. Victor was by his side instantly, supporting him with an arm around his shoulders.

Bergman looked up at Paul, "Get Helena up here, fast." He pulled Koenig close to him, "Easy John, easy."

Koenig looked up at Bergman, tears of agony on his face, "Victor, help me, please.....oh God, the pain. I can't take this pain. She's going to kill me."

"Who's going to kill you, John? Who?"

Koenig's voice and demeanor were working toward hysteria, "The woman from Bintoss. Victor," the commander looked up at his old friend, terror filling his eyes, "I hear her in my mind. She's in my mind! I can't fight her, Victor. I can't, it hurts....so....much. VICTOR! Please....."

Victor swallowed hard, trying to clear the lump that had formed in his throat. He forced his voice to stay calm.

"I'm here, John. I won't let anything happen to you." He looked sadly up at the others in Main Mission, his eyes filling with moisture, "None of us will."

Sandra's face was streaked with tears, Paul and Alan barely able to keep theirs at bay; Kano had to turn away, unable to observe the breakdown of the man they all respected, and had entrusted with their lives.

Koenig grabbed Victor's arms tightly, pulling into him as far as he could go. Victor responded by holding John firmly, trying to make him feel secure.

"Easy now...." He turned to Paul, "What in the hell is keeping Helena?"

Paul shook his head, "Don't know."

And at that moment, Dr. Russell and her medical support staff hurried into Main Mission, pulling a gurney behind them. The sight which greeted her caused Helena to stop abruptly. She stared at Victor, who cradled a terrified man in his arms. She knew it was John, but her conscious mind couldn't process it.

Victor's voice was soft as he met her gaze, "He's much worse, Helena."

She nodded, swallowing down her fear as she moved toward them, "Let's get him to the Med Lab. I need to run tests."

Helena reached for John, who recoiled in fear, and buried his face into Bergman's chest.

His cries pierced her heart as painfully as a lance, "Victor, don't let her take me. Please, she's going to kill me." Koenig wept with a fear from deep within, "Victor, don't, please...."

Bergman forcefully pulled the Commander's face to look up into his own, "John, listen to me. There is no one here who would hurt you." He could see that Koenig wasn't hearing him, "John, do you trust me? Do you?" Koenig slowly nodded, so Victor continued, "Then I want you to let us take you to the Medical Lab."

"You'll be with me?"

The vulnerability in John's voice and eyes tugged at Victor's mechanical heart. He closed his eyes momentarily, in an effort to keep his spiraling emotions in control, then he looked at Koenig and smiled gently.

"I won't leave you, John, I promise."

Bergman could feel Koenig begin to relax against him, and he let out a long breath of air that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He gently stroked the back of John's head as the medical technicians prepared the gurney.

Victor looked up at Helena, "Let me get him onto the gurney, there's no need to frighten him further."

Helena nodded silently, but she wanted to scream. She wanted to cry out against the pain in her heart caused by the man she loved more than any other; the man who didn't seem to know her anymore. Victor gently pulled Koenig to his feet, and guided him to lie down on the gurney. John's death grip on Bergman's sleeve never lessened as they silently rolled him out of Command Center and toward the Med Lab.

Paul swallowed hard, then spoke with authority, "All right, everyone, let's get back to work. We have a lot of analysis to do on that fourth planet. Dr. Russell will take care of the Commander."

The staff moved back to their stations, and Sandra leaned in toward Paul, keeping her voice low, "What do you think happened to him?"

He shook his head, "I don't know, San, I just don't know."

"Do you think any of what he said is true?"

Paul looked at her sadly, "No, I'm afraid it's only true in his mind, San."

Sandra Benes looked away. In her heart she couldn't accept that Commander John Koenig was so ill he had become mentally incapacitated. But then, the events that had unfolded before her eyes were difficult, if not impossible, to refute.