By the time they arrived at the ARC Abby still hadn't got a reply. She joined Jess by the computer screens.

"Who's Sarah?" chirped Jess.

"An archaeologist I suppose. She came here after an incident at the museum where she worked." Abby replied automatically.

"What happened to her?"

"I don't know." Abby admitted.

"Neither do I - Becker won't talk about it." Jess added. "Whoever she was he misses her." Abby stared into space, deep in thought. She wasn't really listening to Jess. "Are you thinking about Connor?"

This comment however got through.

"Yes. He's been ignoring my texts which he never does and you know he didn't come home last night."

"Maybe you should try calling him."

"I have, five times by now."

"Well..." Jess pondered unsure of what else to suggest. "Abby so long as he's got his black box I can track him."

Abby broke out of her concerned daydream and looked at Jess.

"You can do that?"

"Yes. Don't look so surprised!"

Jess started typing and a few seconds later a red circle appeared on screen. It was labelled: Connor Temple. It hovered on the map displayed by the computer screen.

"That's weird – " Jess frowned. "His black box is in his office according to this."

She turned to Abby but she'd already gone.

Abby entered Connor's office in anticipation. Phillip had never approved of her coming in here but Connor always had. The look of childish glee on his face was adorable as he showed off.

"Connor?" she called.

There was no reply. He was not here. The desk was drowning in clutter, this was the messiest she'd seen it. A whiteboard stood in the corner of the room covered in equations. Abby stepped towards it and tripped over Connor's black box. What was it doing on the floor? She grabbed hold of the desk and pulled herself up to face his laptop. Now she knew he'd been onto something. Cutter's anomaly diagram was on the screen before her. Connor had finally re-constructed it! Abby laughed out loud. He'd been searching for this answer for so long! This meant something. He would've told Phillip if he hadn't already. Abby felt a sinking feeling in her stomach at this thought.

He would've told Phillip.

But what did it mean? Cutter had kept a lot of things to himself.

"Abby? You're not allowed in here. I'm sorry but you're going to have to leave." said Phillip.

Abby turned, she was caught red-handed.

Phillip Burton stood in the doorway, his tall silhouette managing to look quite menacing as he blocked her only escape route.

"Where's Connor?" Abby questioned.

"At Prospero. Surely Becker told you that?" Phillip stated simply. "Come away Abby."

"I'm not budging until I see Connor."

"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter."

The man stepped to one side to reveal an armed soldier behind him. Abby was manhandled back into the main room. If anybody noticed they didn't say anything. What could they say when Phillip was in charge of this whole operation?

"There was that really so difficult?" Burton smiled.

"What have you done with Connor?"

"He has chosen to work for my company full time. Didn't you know?" he replied with infuriating innocence.

Abby didn't believe him for one second. Connor would've told her if he'd made such a big decision. But work had been taking him over lately...Filled with a new confusion Abby walked back over to Jess.

"What did you find?" Jess whispered, aware that Phillip was still watching them.

"Another empty room." Abby replied glumly. "Phillip says Connor is working for Prospero full-time."

"Well you can't trust him! Matt told me what Danny said."

Abby felt suspicious again, so Matt had found time to tell Jess too?

Connor was no longer sure where he was. He'd been working on his new invention for so long that he'd stopped paying attention to the time or place. All that mattered was that he finished this device.

Connor had arrived at Prospero the evening before, worrying about the anomalies. After that everything was a blur. Phillip had told him something important, it had scared him out of his wits at the time but now he couldn't even remember what had been said.

He'd been working on his creation throughout the night and into the next morning. As a result he was clumsier than normal. He didn't spot the flashing of his phone to show he had a message or the uncanny familiarity of what he was building. He was so tired. Connor rubbed his eyes and added an extra component to his work in progress. He'd be able to sleep once his latest gadget was complete; no sooner, no later.

Phillip promptly entered the room.

"How is it coming along?" he asked.

"It's nearly finished. I just need to add some final touches and then it'll be ready for testing." Connor confirmed.

"Will your contraption be – how should I put it? Environmentally friendly?"

"It shouldn't cause any anomaly interference if that's what you mean."

"Good." congratulated Phillip.

Connor swayed on his feet as he closed his eyes. His boss noted this, but didn't seem to particularly care.

"Yeah." he agreed quietly, opening them.

"You should check your messages. Abby is worried sick." Phillip reminded him.

Connor plucked his mobile phone from his pocket and dialled Abby's number. No matter how tired he felt he knew Phillip was right.