italics = thoughts

### = start and end of flashbacks

A Conundrum Knight

By KT

2001, Never Never Land, Operation Backstep

"So, what've you got," Frank Parker said, flopping into a chair at the long table in the N.N.L. briefing room.

"We just got word that it was a bomb that blew that plane, not a bolt of lightning as was originally thought," Bradley Talmadge answered, laying a folder on the table.

"We're a go?" Frank asked, leaning forward.

"This being the seventh day, the Panel has authorized a backstep," Talmadge confirmed.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Olga Vukavtich asked. "Mr. Parker will be landing in the middle of a major lightning storm."

"I think it is worth the risk to save those lives! Who knows, if one did strike it might be just the treatment Parker needs!" Nathan Ramsey exclaimed.

Frank scowled and was about say something, but John Ballard spoke up first, "I've made some modifications to the sphere so it should just absorb the lightning bolt should one strike."

"Are sure that was a good idea? Especially considering what happened the last few times you made modifications," Craig Donovan asked, worriedly.

"Ok people, we don't have time to discuss the pros and cons of this," Talmadge interjected. "Frank, go suit up, the rest of you get to work."

Everyone nodded and started to head out of the briefing room.

Frank sat in the sphere, clutching the joystick, awaiting the call for him to engage.

"Reactor is at 90 percent, Mr. Parker," Olga said through their radio.

Frank tensed, adjusting his grip.

"Engage!"

Frank reached over and pushed the green engage button. He immediately felt the effects of the sphere traveling back in time. He struggled to keep control of the craft. Glancing over, he saw the date rolling backward. Reaching the seven day limit, the sphere stopped it's race back though time and entered back to normal time.

Just as Frank exited the timestream, a bolt of lightning struck the craft. Instead of absorbing the energy and letting it dissipate like Ballard's modifications were supposed to do, it absorbed it and fed it into the reactor sending the sphere back into the timestream. Frank felt a shooting pain race through his body, but as he was losing consciousness, he glanced at the control panel. The date scrolled backward, going farther then it had ever gone before!

1986, The Foundation's outside testing facility

Michael Knight laid comfortably on Kitt's hood, relaxing after a routine test Kitt's abilities. He sighed, watching the clouds drift in the sky. Suddenly, with a bright flash of light, a large blue ball burst into the sky and then crashed into the ground. Michael sprung up and after a quick glance at Bonnie Barstow, he bolted over to the sphere. Looking through a window Michael saw that there was someone inside. "Bonnie, Kitt, someone is in here!"

After searching the craft and being guided by Kitt, Michael found the hatch to open it. Pulling the door off he climbed in, followed by Bonnie. Michael walked over to the man. Pulling off his helmet, Michael looked at the man's face. He looked to be in his last twenties, early thirties with brown hair and brown eyes.

After seeing the blood on the outside of the man's eyes, Michael reached to feel for a pulse. Satisfied that there was one he called to Kitt, "Hey Kitt, would you call an ambulance and notify Devon for me?"

"Very well, however I think it would be wise to move out of sight of this craft," Kitt suggested.

"How come?" Michael asked, gesturing for Bonnie to help him lift the man out of the craft, knowing Kitt would not have suggested it if the man had been to hurt to move.

"Because, we do not know anything about what this craft is and what people's response to it would be. I'm sure you do not want the press hounding us before you know what it is," Kitt replied.

Michael nodded in agreement. "Is it safe to take him to the hospital our selves? We could get him there faster," Michael questioned.

"I believe it is," Kitt said confidently. "Also, you might want to look in his pockets, my scans indicate that he has some sort of government ID, a wallet and some sort of gun. I have never seen one quite like it before."

Michael nodded, after carefully placing the man in the Trans Am, he grabbed the items and placed them on the backseat next to Bonnie, for later examination. Jumping into the front seat, Michael pressed the gas pedal, on his way to the hospital.

"What have you been able to find out about our mysterious visitor?" Devon asked, glancing through the hospital observation window, at the man laying unconscious on the bed.

"According to the things that where in his possession, his name is Frank B. Parker, he had an ID that said he was a member of the NSA. According to Kitt, the ID is not what an NSA ID is supposed to look like, also the dates on all his IDs and money are all wrong. He was supposedly born 15 years ago, but as you can see he is at least 15 years older than that," Michael stated. "Kitt also took a look at his gun, it resembles some of the currant makes, but Kitt says that it has had upgrades like none he has never seen before."

"Why would someone go to all that trouble to make it look like he was from the future?" Devon asked.

"Devon, I'm not so sure that he isn't from the future. I had Kitt do a background check on a Frank Parker. He found one; Frank Parker is an approximately 15 years old orphan. I called his school and they faxed over a photo. The kid looks like a 15 year old version of that man in there," Michael said, waving his hand across the window.

"So you believe that he is from the future?" Devon questioned.

"I don't know, I'm just saying don't discount all the information pointing in that direction," Michael sighed. "I think that man is the only person who can answer our questions."

"It looks like he will in a few minutes," Devon replied.

"What?" Michael asked.

"He is waking up," Devon answered.