Co-Stars: Richard Blackburn (General Young); Crystal Comacho (Miss October); Shontelle Pinch (Miss November); Vanessa Reid (Miss February/Jennifer); Hayley Verlyn (Miss March/Sydney); Jonathan Walker (Lab Technician)

Originally Aired: 20-May-2002; Written by: Grant Rosenberg; Directed by: Bruce Pittman

Synopsis: This obviously low-budget (and just as obviously sequel-of-sorts) episode is essentially a 30-minute script stretched and padded to fill out the hour. Cole (and everyone else) seem to spend a lot of time just yammering away or dinking about and wandering around, and Nestov’s calendar shoot for his "Women of the Watchfire" is overdone, but some Vardian history is learned and there’s more information supplied about what Zin is after. Geraint Wyn Davies is deliciously evil here and Paul Hopkins makes for a very nasty and believable bad guy as well.

———————————————————————

It begins with a long-running teaser in a conference room at the Complex of the research and development facility for both civilian and military applications that also happens to house the USDAS government project dedicated to detecting aliens. Now Four-Star General Young (promoted since "Breach") is telling, with extensive flashbacks, what previously happened to a group of new staff members. He informs them that "you are here because you are the brightest we have and because you can be trusted," explaining that the last group had been "reassigned due to a serious breach in security."

He goes on to explain that Dr. Ross Connolly had brought a 34-year old accountant born in Cleveland, Ohio, by the name of Wes Tarver into the Complex because he "believed that Mr. Tarver was not of this Earth." The series of tests which were done, however, were "inconclusive" and "before anything definitive could be ascertained, an unknown person broke into the Complex and attempted to forcibly take Mr. Tarver out with him."

Despite the fact that Cole extracted Krace’s lifeforce, it seems that Wes Tarver’s body didn’t die. It’s "being kept alive with the latest medical technology" on life support at the facility.

To let them know of the gravity of the situation, Young tells them: "My superiors have informed me ... that they will not tolerate the death of this civilian. If we fail, the funding for this facility will be immediately revoked."

And a new doctor, "a specialist in molecular biochemistry" named Dr. Dennis Armstrong, has been assigned to the case with specific orders to "see to Mr. Tarver’s complete recovery."

This new doctor is actually Zin and he wants "to get started as soon as possible."

———————————————————————

It seems that Zin has finally been able to develop a means of effecting a transfer of a lifeforce to another body. The lifeforce he’s using is that of a Vardian named Remel, who just happens to be Rhee’s brother and not a nice guy. Remel wasn’t able to obtain a body in the original takeover because there weren’t enough Humans (or dogs) on the 805 train.

Dr. Hampton: "How is it we can assist you in this operation, Dr. Armstrong?"

Zin: "Well, all I really need you to do is monitor the patient’s vitals, Doctor?..."

Dr. Hampton, flirty: "Hampton ... Collene Hampton."

Zin, flirting back: "Dr. Hampton. Thank you."

He places a device with a luminous green liquid in it on Wes Tarver’s chest.

Dr. Hampton, puzzled: "Uh, what ... what is that, exactly?"

Zin: "Oh, I don’t want to bore you with the details, Doctor. But this apparatus contains a very ... unique form ... of adrenaline. I’m hoping it will provide ... Mr. Tarver with the jump-start his body needs."

‘Tarver’ comes ‘awake’ with a start.

Zin: "Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Tarver."

‘Tarver’, recognizing him: "Zin..."

Zin: "Lie still. You need to save your energy."

Dr. Hampton, very impressed: "Congratulations, Dr. Armstrong. You’ve done it!"

Zin, very pleased with himself: "Yes. Yes, I have."

———————————————————————

Meanwhile at the Watchfire, a chortling and highly excited Nestov is doing a calendar shoot of a scantily clad Valentine’s Day Miss February around the pool table, to the entertainment of an audience of bar patrons and to Mel’s considerable annoyance.

Mel, coming up to him: "What is going on?"

Nestov: "Oh, hi, Mel ... I’m just wrapping up Miss February."

Mel: "Oh. Miss February ... What are you talking about?"

Nestov: "The Women of the Watchfire Calendar." Mel grabs his arm. "Is there a problem?"

Mel, tightly: "No, Nestov. There’s no problem. But would it be too much to ask you what in the hell are you talking about?"

Nestov: "A calendar! You know! It shows the months of the year! It starts with January, and then it goes to February and then..."

Mel: "I know what a calendar is, thank you. What is this ... ‘Women of the Watchfire’ ... thing?"

Nestov: "A guaranteed money-maker. A very smart advertising ploy to boot. You see..." He puts an arm around her shoulders. "... You see, twelve beautiful women, each representing a different month of the year. See, Jennifer here, she’s Valentine’s Day, which is February!"

Mel: "I got that!"

Nestov: "And I believe St. Patrick’s day is March, and tax day is April, and..."

Mel, snide: "So how do these women represent the ‘Women of the Watchfire’?"

Nestov: "Oh, don’t get technical on me! Do you think all those oiled-up over-developed hunks on the Firefighter’s Calendar actually work for the Fire Department? Please!"

Mel: "Cole needs to see you."

Nestov: "Well, I’m working here, okay? I’ll be up when I’m ready."

Mel grabs his camera and glares at him.

Nestov: "Easy with the camera! This is a very expensive technical piece of equipment ... But I’ll go! All right? We’re done." To Jennifer, "We’re done. I’ll see you later." To Mel, "You happy?"

Mel: "Yes!"

———————————————————————

In the War Room, Cole is still analyzing Mel’s grandmother’s triangle thing when Mel and Nestov come in.

Nestov, as he opens the door: "Cole ... You gotta talk to this Human! She’s out of control!" To Mel, "And you’ve gotta learn to relax a little, baby."

Cole: "I caught up with Zyhel."

Nestov: "Zyhel? Whoa-ho-ho!" To Mel, "Really anti-social dude! Killed 43 Desserians, then went home and snuffed out his mother-in-law ... Although I heard that she did deserve it..."

Cole: "Yes, although before I took his lifeforce he told me that Zin is close to finding what he’s looking for."

Nestov: "Oh, you mean whatever that’s buried someplace under the Watchfire?"

Cole, holding up the Key: "Yes ... But somewhere there’s a door ... that’s opened by this Key ... Behind the door is something Vardian."

Nestov: "If it’s Vardian, then its gotta be dangerous..."

Cole: "That’s why I need you on the street to find out what you can."

Nestov: "Oh, no, no, no, no! I’ve got Sydney coming in! She’s gonna be downstairs right now! ... Whoo whoo! Miss March! Wait till you see..." Both Mel and Cole glare at him and he sobers. "Okay."

He leaves.

Mel: "Cole ... Is he right about it being dangerous?"

Cole: "Probably."

Mel: "How dangerous?"

Cole, after a long pause: "Well, there’s really no way to measure that in Earth terms..."

———————————————————————

When Mel goes back downstairs she finds Nestov still there and talking with Sydney, a scantily clad Miss March/St. Patrick’s Day-garbed model over her palm-pilot to reschedule the photoshoot. She has aerobics classes, tennis lessons and an acting coach, plus works with a director named Spielberg [Murray Spielberg] and teaches paleontology, so her schedule is kind of full.

Mel, annoyed: "What are you still doing here?"

Nestov: "Can’t I have a little conver..."

Mel: "NO!"

Nestov: "No? ... You’re cold!"

Telling Miss March with a pat on her arm, "I’ll call you later, " he leaves, eyeing another woman on the way out, while Sydney smirks at Mel.

———————————————————————

At the Complex, Zin, wearing hospital scrubs, enters ‘Wes Tarver’s’ room. The Vardian is abed.

Remel: "Zin."

Zin: "Dr. Armstrong."

Remel: "Of course." He looks up at the security camera mounted in the corner by the ceiling.

Zin, following his gaze: "It’s all right. I’ve reprogrammed it ... How are you feeling?"

Remel: "This body will take some getting used to, but ... It’s good to be out in the world, even if it’s this one ... What happened after the wormhole?"

Zin: "There weren’t sufficient Humans on the train. Fortunately, I was able to store your lifeforce until I found a suitable donor."

Remel: "So why now? Why him?"

Zin: "Same body that was inhabited by Krace."

Remel: "What happened to Krace?"

Zin, after a long pause: "The Tracker."

Remel: "The Tracker’s still alive..."

Zin: "He’s proving far more resourceful than I’d ever imagined ... He’s Collected ... over 20 of us, including your brother."

[Note: The actual number of Collections shown or accounted for at this point is 26. There may even be more than that].

Remel: "I was afraid of that."

Zin: "Well, Rhee was careless. And overconfident. We have learned ... not to make that mistake again."

Remel: "In the meantime, you’ll allow the Tracker to capture us one by one."

Zin: "You’ll have to learn that Earthly ... virtue known as patience. We are very close to attaining our goal. It’s best we keep a low profile."

Remel: "I have a blood oath to avenge my brother. The Tracker must die!"

Zin: "In time, Remel, in time ... I brought you back, into this body ... so that I would have credibility and an ally inside this Complex."

Remel: "The device is here?"

Zin: "No ... But I believe that there’s information here that will lead us directly to it ... So you understand ... why you must keep your ... violent impulses in check ... Yes?"

———————————————————————

Cole, turning as Mel enters the War Room: "Any news of Nestov?"

Mel: "Not yet ... You’re still at it, huh?"

Cole: "I’m still trying to decipher these symbols ... It’s a strange variant on Ancient Vardian, which is making it very hard to translate..." He points out one of the symbols. "This one means ‘devastation’ but this one..." He points to another one, "See? ... It can either mean ... ‘overpowering’ or ... ‘formidable’."

[Note: The translation that Mel’s grandmother had was either only part of what was there or, more likely, must have been added later (say on the reverse side) by others (Cirronians?)].

Mel: "Either one means bad news for us."

The War Room door suddenly flies open and Cole immediately stations himself between Mel and the door. Mel clutches at his arm.

[Note: Mel is finally starting to seek physical contact with Cole, touching him on his arms and shoulders, sometimes on his face or chest, and she’s been doing this since the hugs of "The Dark Road Home." She will continue to behave this way through the remaining two episodes of the series].

Nestov: "Hey."

Nestov: "The word on the street is Zin is definitely up to something. He’s having a meeting later tonight with a few of his Inner Circle to plan his final move."

Cole, grabbing his black leather jacket: "Where?"

Nestov: "Penthouse of the Wrigley Building."

Cole: "You did good."

Nestov: "Thank you."

Mel, as he’s leaving: "What are you going to do?"

Cole: "Oh, I believe in your culture it’s called ‘crashing Zin’s party’."

———————————————————————

Back at the Complex, General Young has discovered Zin going through the cabinets in the File Room.

General Young: "What are you doing in here?"

Zin: "That’s really no concern of yours, General."

General Young: "These files are strictly eyes only and those eyes don’t include yours!"

Zin, slamming a drawer shut: "I thought we had a deal."

General Young: "I allowed you to come in, resuscitate the patient and supervise his testing ... Our deal ... does not extend to giving you access to documents that may compromise national security!"

Zin, thoughtfully: "You’re right ... I’ll double the amount of the deposit into your account ... And in exchange for that, I need to see the files from Milos Sandborne."

General Young: "I can’t give you that for any amount of money!"

Zin: "Can’t? ... Or won’t?"

General Young: "Don’t force my hand ... Doctor! Or I will terminate this whole charade right now!"

Zin, with a pleasantly evil grin: "I think there’s been a misunderstanding ... Yes...." He idly walks over to the General. "You see, if there’s any termination to be done ... General..." He suddenly grabs the General by his chest, over the heart, his hand glowing bright red and short-circuiting the man’s nervous system. "It will be done by me!"

General Young drops dead at Zin’s feet and Zin steps over him on his way out.

———————————————————————

While Cole is walking down the street by a park and heading out to the Wrigley Building, he comes upon a construction site where he senses something. He’s kneeling down to check the ground when a figure appears.

Cole, confused: "Krace! I thought you were dead..."

Remel: "Well ... Think of me as an avenging angel..."

Remel attacks and there are some great martial arts sequences as the two battle, Cole asking "Who are you?" and taking something of a beating under the Vardian’s telekinetic ability to fling things at him, forcing him to retreat up on some scaffolding. Police are soon attracted to the scene, however, and they split up, both escaping detection.

———————————————————————

Cole returns home, closing the front door and heading for his room.

Mel, popping out from the kitchen: "Did you find Zin?"

Cole, stopping, his back to her: "No."

Mel: "Well, what happened?"

Cole, turning and walking toward her: "I ran into an old friend ... Remember Wes Tarver?"

Mel: "The guy who was caught by the government and put in that Complex?"

Cole, passing Mel and going into the kitchen: "That’s right."

Mel, following as he exits the kitchen by the other door: "I thought you took his lifeforce."

Cole: "I did."

Mel: "But when you do that, doesn’t the Human host die?"

Cole, stopping, obviously troubled: "Yes."

Mel: "Well ... Are you going to explain it to me? Or are you having fun keeping me in the dark?"

Cole, frustrated: "No. I don’t know if I can explain it. All I know is that Wes Tarver is now inhabited by a Vardian fugitive."

Mel: "So, when you sucked out Krace, another one jumped in?"

Cole, moving back into the kitchen: "Zin must have found a way to transfer the lifeforces ... Oh ... Wait..." Muttering to himself, he starts pantomiming some martial arts moves.

Mel: "What are you doing?"

Cole: "The way Wes Tarver moved reminded me of someone ... I’m going to have to find out who he is..." He grabs the toaster.

Mel: "Not my toaster!"

Cole, grabbing the blender as well: "Mel, I’ll replace it. But I’ll need these things to take me back into the Complex."

He starts heading for his room.

Mel, following: "Wait a minute ... You’re not planning on going back there!?"

Cole, turning back: "Well, I don’t have any choice ... I know the layout of the place. It will be easy for me to slip in without being noticed."

Mel, worried: "Well, even if you do get in, how are you planning on staying safe?"

Cole: "I have an idea."

———————————————————————

Back in Remel’s room at the Complex...

Zin: "You could have ruined everything!"

Remel: "The Tracker is the only thing that stands in our way. Wouldn’t our job be easier if he were out of the way?"

Zin: "You have no idea how tenuous our situation really is ... how every person in the Migar System plays a part in our overall scheme."

Remel: "Well, why don’t you enlighten me?"

Zin, threateningly: "All you need to know is that you must obey my instructions."

Remel, after a long pause: "All right ... How did you find out I took the Tracker on?"

Zin: "I have eyes everywhere in the City ... And beyond ... How did you manage to slip out of the Complex without setting off the alarm?"

Remel: "Well, maybe you’re not as all-seeing and all-knowing as you believe."

Zin: "Perhaps ... But disobey me again ... and I will rip the lifeforce out of this body ... And I understand ... that when you are exposed directly to the Earth’s atmosphere, it’s a very painful death..."

———————————————————————

Mel, coming into the War Room with her cup of coffee: "Good morning."

Cole, glancing over from his work: "Good morning, Mel."

Mel: "So, you’ve been at it all night, huh?"

Cole, busy at his worktable: "Well, not requiring any sleep does come in handy at times like this."

Mel: "So, what did you find out?"

Cole: "Oh, I located a satellite that was orbiting North America ... that had infrared scanning capabilities."

Mel, said like she really doesn’t understand what he’s talking about: "Oh."

Cole: "Yeah. I was able to reprogram its telemetries so that it’s aligned at the exact coordinates that the military base is located."

Mel: "You’ve redirected a satellite?"

Cole: "Yes."

Mel: "Cole, someone is going to notice that it’s not doing what it’s supposed to be doing."

Cole: "Well, hopefully, the Russians won’t use it until we’re done with it."

Mel: "Russians? ... You’ve tapped into a Russian satellite?"

Cole: "Yes. Their satellites are far more advanced than, uh, the rest of the world has been led to believe."

Mel: "That’s comforting!"

Cole: "Oh, here! Look." He shows her the image on his computer screen. "A bird’s eye view of events."

Mel: "What are those?"

Cole: "Oh, those are Humans, heat signature scans, to be precise. The infrared scanner reads them as, uh, reddish-orange blobs."

Mel: "It’s amazing!"

Cole: "Thank you."

Mel: "What’s that blue one?"

Cole, looking: "It’s the only one there ... One of the fugitives."

———————————————————————

At the Complex, Zin and Dr. Hampton are searching for Dr. Milos Sandborne’s files in the File Room.

Dr. Hampton: "Are you sure this patient file is from 1952?"

Zin: "That’s my understanding, yes."

Dr. Hampton: "Those files all seem to be missing. Have you asked General Young about this?"

Zin: "Of course! Actually, it was ... he who gave me the authorization to look through these ... Unfortunately, he wasn’t ... familiar with this particular file."

Dr. Hampton, sorting through some more folders: "Doctor, did you say that the information you’re looking for came from the files of ... Dr. Milos Sandborne?"

Zin: "Yes." He closes the cabinet drawer and comes over to her. "Have you found something?"

Dr. Hampton, showing him: "Well, his name is across the front of this, but it’s not a patient file ... It looks more like a ... renovation plan."

Zin, taking it from her: "Well, leave it to the government to classify office remodeling as ... Top Secret."

Dr. Hampton, giggling slightly and flirting: "Well, um, I’ll keep looking..."

Zin, smiling at her: "Thank you ... Dr. Hampton ... I appreciate your help."

Very pleased, he puts the plans in his briefcase as soon as she turns for the file cabinets. He knows that they’re of major significance in locating the hiding place of the actual files.

———————————————————————

Back in the War Room, Mel is seated at the computer and Cole is setting her up and explaining things.

Cole: "I’m going to need you to be monitoring the screen at all times. I’ve rigged this microphone so you can tell me what you see ... And this earphone is sensitive enough to pick up my voice so that we can communicate with each other."

Mel: "Okay ... But on the screen, how do I know which one is you and which one is a fugitive?"

Cole: "Because I’m an energy-based being ... my signature will come up as white."

Mel, nodding: "I see..."

Cole: "Take a hold of this."

Mel, clasping her hand around a joystick: "How do I operate it?"

Cole: "Here." He covers her hand with his own to guide her as to how. "See ... The image moves left ... right ... back ... forward ... Use these two buttons here to zoom in ... and zoom out."

Mel: "Got it."

Cole: "I’m relying on your surveillance, Mel."

Mel: "I won’t let you down, Cole."

Cole: "I know you won’t."

Mel: "Did you find out who Tarver is?"

Cole: "I’ve narrowed it down to two. The most likely is Remel ... Rhee’s brother."

Mel looks stunned at that.

———————————————————————

Mel goes downstairs and finds an excited Nestov in the middle of another of his calendar photoshoots, this time with a scantily clad Miss October for Halloween.

Mel, striding over: "We are not even open yet! How did you get in here!?"

Nestov: "Oh, door locks and security alarms just aren’t what they used to be!"

Mel, looking at the model’s black and orange costume: "Let me guess ... Mother’s Day?"

Nestov: "Aww! You must’ve had a very unhappy childhood." He turns to the model, "Take five, Broomhilda. I’ll be right back."

He throws an arm around Mel’s shoulder and takes her off to the side.

Nestov: "So, tell me ... Did you, uh, see Cole when he came back last night?"

Mel: "We talked."

Nestov: "Well? So? How did it go?"

Mel: "Not according to the plan!"

Nestov: "Oh, no, no, no! He’s not blaming me!?! I mean, the information I gave him was right!"

Mel: "I don’t know how he feels about you right now, but I suggest that you keep a low profile."

Nestov: "All right, yeah."

Mel: "And, Nestov..."

Nestov: "Yeah?"

Mel: "No more playing photographer in my bar!"

Nestov: "Why not? The customers love it, I love it, the calendar-buying public will love it!"

Nestov: "Mel, I’ve told you. We’re going to stretch the truth a little ... I mean, the bottom line is: sex sells!"

Mel, tired of arguing: "I need another cup of coffee ... When I get back, you’d better be gone."

Nestov: "Five minutes." She glares at him. "Okay. Two."

Nestov hurries to finish his photoshoot while Mel goes to get her coffee.

———————————————————————

Mel is guiding Cole through the Complex so that he can avoid meeting up with a "reddish-orange blob."

[Note: she warns him about a guard approaching on his right. On her map, however, there’s a wall ahead of the guard, yet when he comes out on-screen there’s a corridor in front of him instead that he walks into].

She then warns that someone is coming behind him and he peaks out after ducking into an empty laboratory, telling her that "it’s just one of the scientists." (Due to the white lab coat).

Mel: "That scientist is reading blue."

Cole warily looks again and, as the scientist turns around, he sees that it’s Zin, carrying a clipboard.

Mel: "Who was that? Was it Tarver?"

Cole: "It was Zin."

Mel: "What the hell is he doing there!?"

Cole: "I don’t know."

Mel: "Cole, you’ve got to get out of there! ... It’s way too dangerous!"

Cole: "I can’t, Mel ... There’s more to this. I have to see what he’s into here."

[Why doesn’t Cole just go into hyperspeed, grab Zin, and Collect his lifeforce? While he talks about how he wants to see what Zin is up to, Zin appears to be the sole motivating force behind whatever the fugitives are searching for. But even if he wasn’t, wouldn’t taking out Zin be a huge blow to their entire conspiracy?].

Mel: "It could be a trap! He could have a dozen of his men waiting there for you!" Unbeknownst to her, Nestov is eavesdropping at the door to the War Room. "Please ... Get out of the Complex as soon as you can."

Cole: "I will ... Once I get some answers."

Nestov sneaks away.

———————————————————————

While Cole is dinking through the halls, Remel is back in bed, telekinetically moving his meal tray around.

Zin: "Will you stop that!"

Remel, snide: "I’m being a good boy, just waiting for my master’s command."

Zin: "This is not a game, Remel! We are talking about the future of our civilization!"

Remel, bored: "Fine. Let me help you ensure it."

Zin: "That’s why I’m here. Put on some clothes."

Remel: "Are we getting out of here?"

Zin: "After we find what we’re looking for."

———————————————————————

Zin and Remel are walking through hallway "D", heading for hallway "B", Zin opening doors as they go and checking out the rooms.

Remel: "Where are we?"

Zin: "Where? The South Wing. They closed it down years ago with plans to renovate it." He chuckles. "Well, with all these government cutbacks, the work was never done." He chuckles again.

Remel: "And what are we looking for?"

Zin: "Hmm ... Fifty Earth years ago, a Vardian ship with a sole passenger crashed into Lake Michigan. The Vardian survived."

Remel: "Arkin."

Zin: "Hmm ... You’ve heard the story."

Remel: "Yes, sure. Go on."

Zin: "Well, Arkin was captured and brought to this facility, where he was examined and questioned by an eccentric ... doctor named Milos Sandborne."

Remel: "Arkin came to Earth to retrieve the device."

Zin: "Hmm."

Remel: "You said that he alone knew the precise location."

Zin, chuckling: "Yes, well, he never got to complete his mission. But ... I’ve recently learned ... that ... Dr. Sandborne was able to extract certain information from Arkin..."

Remel: "Well, if he got this information, why didn’t he give it to his government?"

Zin: "Hmm ... Why? Well, maybe Sandborne had no idea what Arkin was talking about. Or maybe he only got part of the information before Arkin died."

Behind them, Cole zips from one side of the hall to the other and Zin looks back uncertainly.

Remel: "What?"

Zin, shrugging after a moment: "Anyway, Sandborne disappeared a year later, although my source does tell me that he put some files in a hidden safe ... And since he never shared any of his findings with the government, they have no idea that the files ever existed."

Remel: "So, do you know where the safe is?"

Zin: "Yes! He put them in some sort of kitchen area ... We’ll find it..."

They keep searching with Cole following.

Mel: "There are two of them ahead of you!"

Cole cautiously approaches the junction of the corridor, his hand at the small of his back.

Mel, noting another blue blob streaking toward him behind his back: "There’s another one coming! ... Cole?"

Nestov, materializing from the wall and tapping Cole’s shoulder: "Cole!"

On high alert, Cole whirls, grabbing Nestov by the shoulder, Collector at the ready.

Nestov: "Whoa! Easy!"

Cole, after hustling him into a men’s room: "What are you doing here!?"

Nestov: "I’m here to help!"

Cole: "Well, thank you very much, but now you’re going to have to leave."

Nestov: "And leave you here alone to deal with Zin and that other guy?"

Cole: "That ‘other guy’ happens to be Remel."

Nestov, blocking the door: "Remel? ... Remel!?"

Cole: "Yes!"

Nestov: "Oh. Well, now! That’s, ah, some serious history!" He starts talking fast, not letting Cole get a word in. "See, but you see, okay ... Now, that’s exactly my point! If - if you get killed, I’m only one step behind!"

Cole: "Nestov!"

Nestov, speaking over him: "... We’re a team! We gotta stick together! Besides, I feel bad that I gave you that bogus information about that meeting..."

Cole, exasperated: "Well, well don’t!"

Nestov: "Look! My being here and risking my life is my way of showing you that when the chips are down you can count on –"

Cole: "All right! All right!"

Nestov: "You say ‘all right’?"

Cole: "All right! But you do everything I tell you to!"

Nestov: "Got it!"

Cole: "Good!"

Nestov: "You’re the top dog! ... Lead the way, Lassie!"

Cole: "What!?"

Nestov: "Let’s go!"

As they exit the men’s room and proceed to the end of the hall, Nestov ends up making a lot of unnecessary noise simply by talking too much.

Nestov: "They must be in that office."

Cole: "All right. Stay here."

Nestov: "I came to help!"

Cole: "Would you keep your voice down!"

Nestov: "All right! All right!"

Cole: "Nestov!"

Nestov: "I’ll see if I can do exactly what you tell me to do!"

Cole: "Just ... just..."

Nestov: "Are you happy with that?"

Cole: "Just watch my back!"

Ready to pull out his Collector, Cole cautiously opens the door, finding an empty office.

Nestov: "Anything?" He comes over to look. "Where did they go?"

Cole: "We have to find out. They must’ve come through here." He adjusts his earpiece. "Mel?"

Mel, relieved: "Cole, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you."

Cole: "I’ve had to be incommunicado for a while."

Mel, realizing: "There’s another one behind you!"

Cole: "I know. It’s only Nestov."

Nestov, getting big deal insulted: "Only Nestov!?! What’s that supposed to mean!?!"

Cole: "Quiet! ... What? What, Mel?"

Mel: "What is he doing there?"

Cole: "It doesn’t matter. I’ll explain later. I need you to tell me what’s on the other side of this wall ... Explain it as far as you can. Describe what you see."

Mel: "It looks like the wall is ... false. There’s a hallway behind it that leads to another set of offices."

Cole, mumbling to himself: "There must be a way through ..." To Nestov, "There’s a faint vibration here." He smiles. "An electrical panel."

Nestov: "An electrical panel!?! No! You don’t want to do that!"

Cole: "Quiet! ... Just stand back!"

Nestov: "You don’t have to tell me twice!"

With a glow of energy from Cole’s hand, the panel slides open.

[Note: On Mel’s satellite map, a room is shown just to the left beyond the panel. But when Cole and Nestov go through the panel, there’s a hallway in that same place that wasn’t on Mel’s map].

The dynamic duo walk through to the hallway beyond, heading for hallway "A".

Nestov: "A secret passage! We're like the Hardy Boys!" Cole looks at him in puzzlement and he starts to explain, "The Hardy B–"

Cole holds up a silencing hand as they near the junction of hallway "A".

Mel: "Cole! There are two people!"

Cole: "Where?"

From behind them, a stormtrooper coming out of an office with a snub-nosed rifle demands: "Hands up!"

As they turn, two more armed stormtroopers appear from around the junction’s corner: "Get ’em up!"

[Perhaps they were alerted by all the noise Nestov was making?].

Mel, plaintively: "Cole? What’s going on? Cole!? Talk to me!"

With one stormtrooper on point ahead of them and two behind, Cole and Nestov are being marched down the hall with their hands on top of their heads.

Nestov: "Yeah, I hate to tell you, man, but you guys got the wrong fellas! Hey, when your boss finds out you got us with our hands above our heads, you’re finished!"

Point Guard: "No talking!"

Nestov: "I’m not feeling very well, by the way. I feel terrible!" He coughs. "Oh, man, I don’t feel good!"

He throws a fake coughing fit, doubles over and stumbles into a wall, giving Cole the distraction he needs to go into hyperspeed. Within moments, two of the guards are in an unconscious heap on the floor and the third is handcuffed to a radiator. One glowing pass of Cole’s hand over his head and he, too, is unconscious.

Cole, tossing away the rifle: "Come on!"

Nestov: "All right!"

Cole, pushing him along: "Go!"

Cole: "Shh! Shh! ... Mel?"

Mel: "Cole!? Are you all right?"

Cole, indicating to Nestov that he should check the junction with hallway "A": "Yes, I’m fine, Mel."

Mel, with a sigh: "Do you have any idea how frustrating this is!?!"

Cole: "I need you to find the safe for me."

Mel: "How am I supposed to do that?"

Cole: "It will be constructed of a dense metal, probably lead. It’s color will be cold like a ... like a light blue."

Suddenly a warning siren begins to sound in the Complex.

Mel: "What’s that?"

Nestov, running up to him: "Cole! Cole! You just used hyperspeed! You can’t use it again! I mean, you won’t beat Zin ... And Remel, forget it!"

Cole: "I’ll improvise!"

Nestov: "You can’t! Forget it! You ..."

Cole, shushing him: "Did you find the safe, Mel?"

Nestov: "It’s not going to work!"

[Note: It seems very likely that Nestov met up with Zin and Remel around that corner because now he’s abruptly attempting to get Cole to leave. This is actually the first episode to clearly indicate that Nestov has been playing both sides against the middle all along. While in one respect it can be said that such would be typical of him or typical of a Desserian, in another respect he likely had little choice in the matter. Both Zin and Cole have been using him as they see fit, neither showing him very much thought or consideration].

———————————————————————

Meanwhile, Zin and Remel have found the old kitchen.

Zin: "This looks like it."

Remel: "Oh, yeah."

Zin: "You know, according to his plans, Sandborne hid the safe somewhere ... in this room..." He opens his briefcase and takes out the plans. "If I’m right..." He points to a walled column and chuckles. "Yes."

Remel, examining the column: "Well, it must be some kind of hidden latch."

Zin: "It could be anywhere."

Remel: "Well, no time for finesse." He starts punching holes in the wall.

———————————————————————

It seems that the Russians have reclaimed their satellite for it moves off as Mel is searching for the safe.

Cole, to Mel as they near the junction with hallway "C": "Any luck?"

Mel: "Uhhhh ... The satellite’s not directed at the complex anymore ... What do I do?"

Cole: "We’ll take it from here."

Nestov: "What? What?"

Cole: "We’re on our own."

Nestov, groaning: "Perfect!"

In the War Room, Mel closes her eyes in silent prayer.

———————————————————————

Remel has the safe exposed and is tugging on the door.

Zin: "Well done, Tarver. Just a little bit more..."

The door yields under the Vardian’s strength and Zin comes over to claim his prize.

Zin, taking papers and folders from the safe: "Bravo! ... Let me see ..." He gives the items a quick perusal. "This is just what I was looking for ... Stand guard! If anyone tries to get in, kill them!"

———————————————————————

Out in the hallway, note the dumb, utterly pointless and anti-canon scene of Cole and Nestov trying to decide which of two doors will lead to the room Zin and Remel are in. In "Breach," all Cole had to do was hold his hand up in front of the door and he was able to sense which cell Krace had been put into. Here, he doesn’t even try.

Cole: "This is the end of the hallway. It’s got to be one of these two doors."

Nestov: "Which one?" He points to the door on his left. "Let’s try this one."

Cole hesitates, his instincts telling him it’s the other door, then he relents.

Cole: "All right."

———————————————————————

In the old kitchen, Zin suddenly looks up from studying the found blueprints, sensing something.

Remel, alert: "Someone’s out there."

———————————————————————

Out in the hall, Nestov hesitates. Was he thinking of confessing all?

Cole, sensing that Nestov wants to say something: "What?"

Nestov, changing his mind: "Nothing. Got your back."

Cole: "Thanks."

Nestov opens the door and it turns out to be a supply closet. In an Abbot and Costello moment, all the supplies come tumbling out, making a racket.

Cole, annoyed: "Glad you’re with me."

He moves to the other door.

———————————————————————

Remel, alertly watching the door: "That was close by."

Zin, gloating: "Well, I have what I need." He slams his briefcase closed. "All this time, the location of the greatest power source in the solar system was right here! The fools never even knew what they had!"

Remel, never taking his eyes from the door: "You found what you were looking for. And all that’s left is for me to settle my score with the Tracker."

On cue, Cole strolls in, and he and Zin glare at each other.

Remel: "Daggon!"

Cole, walking closer: "That body must feel like a second-hand suit to you, Remel."

Zin, sneering: "I see you’ve been doing your homework."

Cole: "Maybe it’s just the stench."

Zin grabs his briefcase and flees, Cole zipping in pursuit, but Remel blocks, then handily decks him. They skirmish for only a moment, then Cole gets the upper hand and returns the favor. Remel then telekinetically sends all sorts of kitchen items flying at Cole, who knocks them away.

Remel, lunging: "Get ready to join your wife and daughter, Daggon!"

After a brief but good fight, Cole has Remel flat on his back and pulls out his Collector.

Cole: "Not this time!" He starts extracting Remel’s lifeforce. "Say hello to Rhee for me."

Nestov, coming in just as Cole is finishing: "Man, that’s gotta hurt!"

Cole: "Where were you?!"

Nestov: "I saw Zin running down the back hallway and I chased after him ..." He grabs Cole’s arm to stop him. "No! No! He’s not there! He’s truthfully gone now, man! No! He’s gone! No, man! We should go!"

Cole: "No!" He starts to pull away, but again Nestov stops him.

Nestov: "Cole! Let’s go! Zin is gone! Let’s go!" He half drags the reluctant Tracker out by his arm.

———————————————————————

Nestov, as they exit the kitchen: "This is the way out."

Cole: "No, let’s go this way."

Nestov: "No, no, no! Look, look, look! I know you’re a big-time Tracker guy and everything, but I’m telling you, your sense of direction is all wrong!"

Cole, dryly: "Like it was with the door over there?"

Nestov: "This is the way!"

Cole: "Fine. You want to go that way, go that way. I’m going that way."

Nestov: "Fine."

Cole: "Good."

Nestov hardly takes three steps toward hallway "C" when he hears soldiers approaching, then quickly turns at a trot to catch up to Cole.

Nestov: "All right, all right! I’m sorry! You lead the way!"

[Note: As in "Breach," Cole leaves Tarver’s body where it fell. What’s to say they won’t put the guy back where they had him again? Of course, there wouldn’t be another lifeforce this time to revive him with ... One also wonders how many Humans short they were besides General Young].

———————————————————————

Back in the War Room, Cole is depositing Remel’s lifeforce into the containment vessel.

Mel: "So, that’s Rhee’s brother you’re putting in there. "

Cole nods and sighs.

Mel: "Since Rhee, it seems such a long time ago..."

Cole, reflectively: "Yes, it does ... Been through so much since then."

Mel: "A whole lifetime’s worth."

They smile at each other affectionately, Mel a bit flirty, Cole a bit sadly.

Mel, awkward: "So, what now?"

Cole, grimly: "I think Zin’s found the exact location of whatever it is he’s looking for ... It’s somewhere below the Watchfire."

Mel: "Don’t we have the Key?"

Cole, nods: "Hmm ... Which means it’s his move."

The cheering and clapping from downstairs then tells them that Nestov must be at it again.

Mel, with a sigh: "Nestov."

Cole: "Better see what he’s up to."

———————————————————————

Downstairs, Mel finds Nestov busy photographing Miss November, dressed as a scantily clad Pilgrim.

Mel: "That’s it! Nestov, you are turning my bar into a strip club!"

Nestov: "She’s not taking off her clothes, is she?"

Mel: "That’s a good thing because she’s not wearing much to begin with!"

Nestov: "This is Miss November. I’m almost finished with my calendar. Only one more month to do."

Mel: "No! I will not have one more woman dressed like that pretending she works in my bar!"

Nestov, slyly: "I was hoping you were going to say that!" He grins. "Una momento, por favor!" He bends down to pick something up. "I saved the best for last ... For you!"

Mel, incredulous: "What?"

Nestov: "Yes, December. Mrs. Santa."

Mel, eyeing the costume and clearly enunciating: "No way!"

Nestov: "Yes, way! No?" He calls out to the crowd, "Oh! Did you hear that? No way! She doesn’t want to wear it! Can you believe that?" Moans all around. To Mel, "They still want to see you in it!" To the crowd again, "Do you want to see her in it?" Unanimous cheers and clapping. To Mel again, teasing, "Come on."

Mel: "Not in this lifetime!"

Nestov, wheedling: "But I got it in your size!"

Mel: "That’s very nice of you, Nestov, but it’s really not my style."

Nestov: "If anyone can pull it off, it’s you ... Come on ... Please, please, please with sugar on top, please."

Mel, capitulating: "Oh! You are relentless! ... Just give me the hat ... Just ... the hat."

Nestov: "We’ll start with the hat. That’s good."

Mel: "And then this is all over."

Nestov: "Done!"

Mel pulls on the hat.

Nestov, widely grinning approval: "Oh, yes! It’s you, baby! Sexy!"

Mel turns to the crowd and they wildly applaud and whistle while Nestov readies his camera.

Mel, muttering to herself in surprise: "They like me."

She looks back at Nestov, unable to suppress a smile. She’s finding that a part of her is enjoying this.

The ending was kind of cute for this part, but then the scene switches back to the War Room and one gets an almost cliffhanger feel. A worried Cole is sitting in front of his computer with the Key, intrigued by what he knows so far and trying to find out more...

• There’s some confusion here as to how the aliens refer to each other. Both Zin and Cole sometimes refer to Remel as ‘Tarver,’ which was the name of his now deceased Human host. This seems a little strange.