The Seeker gently landed across from Medusa's spaceship.

Chris reached his hand back from the console then placed his hand on to the barrier.

"If she refuses?" Laura asked.

"Then we have to detain her," Chris said.

"Or worse," Laura said.

"Neutralize her spaceship," Chris said.

"That's not a bad way of handling her," Laura said.

Chris shook his head sliding the barrier aside.

"Worse than that," Chris said. "Take her scepter and leaving her neutralized would be like leaving her . . ." It was a struggle to add on but he didn't like the idea. "in. . . . in. . . in . . . prison."

"We would have to take it to make sure that she wouldn't try to use it in the battle," Laura said. "Stealing is bad in on itself," she stood up from the chair joining Chris's side. "And cheating would be worse."

"To make it fair, we have to destroy that scepter," Chris said. "It has never been done before."

Laura paused, briefly, then nodded her head.

"Leave it to Tee Gar," Laura said. "Tee Gar is really good with destroying things not intentionally."

Chris raised his left brow lowering his head in a puzzled manner.

"You want me to tell him not to destroy it so he struggle not to break it?" Chris asked, hands on his hips. "And break it anyway?"

"Yes," Laura said. "Don't make a command and it will never pose a threat to anyone else again."

"Pros and con's," Chris said. "We get something good out of it and she gets worse."

Laura nodded in agreement.

"It's a lot to ask," Laura said.

"But is it right to ask of her that?" Chris asked.

The twins stood beside the door side by side sharing uneasy looks in the silence. It was Chris who walked out of the Seeker first with his sibling tagging from behind him. The light from the interior of the Seeker poured out displaying the golden dirt and the light gray pebbles that decorated the ground. Their boots crunched the small pebbles looking on toward the Queen type spaceship that stood out as intimidating and menacing. It was dark and intimidating with tall towers that had red windows. The large door to the castle had fallen down acting as a bridge over a ravine. They walked on the bridge side by side entering a elaborate room that acted as the entrance. The castle was coated in layers of purple and pink layered with golden decorations strewn about the room.

They were greeted by two Arcosian guards in black cloaks with purple stripes and had lizard qualities with horns on the top of their head, dark gray skin, and had two big eyes. The first Arcosian gestured toward the narrow corridor then walked on. The twins went in a line following the guards. There were plenty of passages that were curved and remained just as narrow as the initial corridor. The space cadets came into a purple room that had a golden throne seated by Medusa. The chair moved to the roll of her fingers toward the space cadets as she had the scepter in one hand. Laura and Chris stepped out of the corridor coming to each other's side with hands linked behind their backs.

"Cadets," Medusa said. "Welcome to my castle."

"You have a nice castle, your majesty," Laura said. "I am Laura Gentry and this is Chris Gentry."

"I am honored to be in your presence," Chris said.

"No," Medusa said. "I am who should be honored. You have survived a landing that should have destroyed the planet. Remarkable."

"What brought you here?" Chris asked.

"Dragos has lost it," Medusa said.

"I can help him," Laura said. Medusa had a bitter smile.

"You can't help Dragos in the place that he has raised himself up, Laura," Medusa said. "He is too far gone."

"No one is truly gone," Laura said.

"His mind has been warped by revenge and relentless victory," Medusa paused, a subtle smile, looking back at a memory from earlier. "The reasonable Emperor Dragos was left behind in that alternate universe," her eyes drifted toward the view screen with sorrow then turned toward the twins. "He was always reasonable when it came to revenge despite how he treated cadets and commanders in his endless desire to destroy the academy. He went too far. I followed him for a week chasing after your stubborn commander. Dragos kept firing after the ship went adrift even going on to chase him into the West Asteroid Belt. Dragos would have reeled back and gone off to finish more worthy opponent leaving his enemy in ruins but in his allies hands."

"It has been four days," Chris said. "And we have a army."

"And we need someone to lead them up to Dragos's army," Laura said.

"We're in a tough pickle right here putting the Academy leading the charge," Chris said.

"That's why we want to be in the back," Laura said.

"We are organizing the army," Chris said.

"So it will be neat and coordinated when lift off is set," Laura added.

"If you want to help him," Chris said. "Then you have to hand over that gem and any other gem like it."

"We can't risk being responsible for anyone being frozen being unable to evade the firing shots," Laura said.

"It would not be fair," Chris said. "And you are going to help us detain him."

"A betrayal like that?" Medusa said.

"We need the academy to be covered before it goes into warp and flies off to federation territory," Chris said. "The rest. . ."

"The rest is up to you," Laura finished. "and that army."

"We want that army distracted," Chris said. "Keep them there and all attention on your army."

"It's a shame," Medusa said. "What is left of my army is up there following that man," she looked up then turned her attention back toward the cadets. "How big is the army?"

"Three hundred fifteen," Chris said. "Its not much but we got a fighting chance."

"We accept the risk that we are going to be attacked when we make flight," Laura said.

"And we will put in a good word for you when the Fleet comes in," Chris said.

"I have been refusing to let my planet join the federation," Medusa said. "It is time that I make some changes of my own. Two years inside the endless tunnel, all alone, while time passed by me and my people . . ." she shook her head out of pity. "oh, my people, my people, never gave up on finding me," she had a meek smile. "After everything I have done as Dragos's ally, this will be the beginning of a new alliance."

Smiles grew on the cadets faces.

"We will need those gems," Chris said. "All of them."

"If you are serious about this," Laura said

Medusa nodded, briefly fluttering her eyebrows, in a pleasant manner.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

"Ah, uh, ah, Colonel---Commander!"

Smith turned away from the gathering stage.

"Ah, Paul," Smith said, easing off the commander demeanor in a pleasant manner.

"I have to show you something," Paul said. "It's part of the plan."

Smith looked toward the assembling set then toward Paul.

"Guide me there," Smith said.

"Follow me," Paul said.

The men left the widened gymnasium making their way toward a corridor that wasn't as packed as the rest. There were quite a few civilians and cadets making their path through the hall. Smith took a turn to the left then the black man waved his hand in front of a panel and the door opened. Paul brought the doctor into the technologically advanced room. Smith looked around in awe in the room observing the touch screens that contrasted against the black background with the blue console designs surrounding the commands. Paul joined the older man's side.

"This is a hundred year old tech," Paul said.

"And the tech on the bridge?" Smith asked.

"It works a lot better and lasts a lot longer than touch screen," Paul said. "You can call it retro tech."

"Retro tech, indeed," Smith said. "Looks can be very deceiving."

"We are considering handing over all this---" Paul gestured toward the tech in the room. "tech to Dragos."

"Advanced technology like this?" Smith asked. "Sir, what kind of plan is this?"

"It is the kind of one where we buy time," Paul said. "We have a working theory that can explain how our commander is alive and well. Knowing Dragos, he is going to have flown faster than the rest of the army after the commander which means he will arrive first. His army will arrive hours later," Smith looked off toward the technology. "And we are going to sabotage everything in here. To the best of our ability."

"You don't have a shard of sabotaging something like this," Smith gestured toward the glowing consoles. "You seem more accustomed to using those simple devices."

"True that, Colonel," Paul said, with a laugh. "we can try."

"Trying in the face of certain imminent doom," Smith said.

"Since you've been such a really actor, we can use some more of that to be used on Dragos," Paul said. "Make up any star year, earth year, whatever, Chris doesn't really care, but all we want is that you know what we want and you are doing this willingly."

Smith turned in the direction of the cadet.

"You want me to be your distraction plan," Smith said.

"Yep," Paul said, with a smile that tinged with regret.

"I am not sure a Seeker can carry all this," Smith said, concerned gesturing toward the machines.

"A typical seeker can't," Paul said. "But a big one can."

Smith walked toward the tech.

"Do I have to make sure the technology is properly brought to the bridge?" Smith asked.

"You don't have to lift it, Colonel," Paul said, then came over with a glass padd with glowing touch screen. "All you need to customize this form."

Smith observed the padd taking it from Paul and feeling around for a pen that was slid out of the top.

"Interesting," Smith said. "During this, will I need the commander persona?"

"No," Paul said, shaking his head. "You can be yourself."

"Myself," Smith considered momentarily. "I will see what I can do with this persona."

Paul sighed, relieved, then stared at the man running through what he had just replied.

"Are you a spy or something?" Paul asked.

Smith's blue eyes grew big turning his head toward the man.

"If I were. . ." Smith started. "I could not afford to let you tell them."

Paul slowly nodded his head in understanding.

"Oraco," Paul said.

"I will need a few minutes to this, at most," Smith said. "you can leave me to it."

Paul grew a smile then walked away.

"Oh," Smith said. "And Paul."

Paul turned toward Smith.

"Yes?" Paul asked.

"Is there another way out of the spacecraft?" Smith asked.

"A transporter," Paul said. "But it is always near the bridge." then emphasized. "Always." he had a short nod. "Can't miss it." Paul briefly paused before turning toward the door. "And helping us, you are serving your country in the best capacity there is, Colonel."

Smith had a small smile.

"Thank you for the thought, Lieutenant," Smith said. "You are dismissed."

Paul waved his hand in front of the black item then walked out and took out the thin object, a collinear, from his pocket.

"Jarome to Chris Gentry," Paul said.

"Chris here," Chris's voice came over.

"Colonel Smith accepted his part of the plan," Paul said.

"Did he mention that he is going to take more gold?" Chris asked.

"Negative," Paul said.

"He must have enough coins," Chris said, amused. "Chris out."

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

There were food and water stands set up around the gymnasium. Tee Gar had been busy with hundreds of other cadets keeping the clothing replicators working to make new and fresh clothes for the new day that fit the size of everyone aboard. Professor Cocupine wheeled her way from Professor Allen with a roll of her eye as though he had gone mad. Allen looked over in the direction of three Klingons around a well controlled maintained area that had a ice sculpture holding glasses.

"I spoke to the captain of the Jupiter 2," Allen said. "We are obviously not in our present."

"Uh huh," the three grayed Klingons said, in annoyance, rolling their eyes.

"And the captain used the Jupiter 2 call sign," Allen said. "No one has a ship in the Alvereze System or on Galvan called Jupiter 2. It's illegal to have a spacecraft called Jupiter 2 so we have to be on the destroyed fabled second planet that has no name."

"Wasn't it just your imagination, Professor?" the first Klingon asked. "Everyone is stressed and traumatized as it is."

"I am pretty sure it wasn't," Allen said. "The call came from Emergency Command Control regarding a patient."

"All the more reason it was the product of your stressed mind," the second Klingon said, while Roark was sipping a glass of wine coming closer to the scene with a intrigued look on his face.

"You should take your mind off trivial matters and battle your demons as a warrior," the third Klingon agreed.

"Your suggestion is appreciated," Allen said. "But my demons are more going to sleep as usual than being a exercise workout to face my fears, anxieties, or trauma."

"Trauma works in very unique ways," The first Klingon noted. "Have you spoken with the counselor?"

"I have got a clean bill of health," Allen said. "And you?"

"I rather fight in a holodeck," The first Klingon replied. "Not against a --hum um -- therapist."

"How would a Klingon therapist be able to have moves that match the mood off falling?" Allen asked. "Only a computer would be capable of generating a fight simulation like it."

"A very intense Klingon therapist," The second Klingon said. "It works very well on Qo'Nos, but you? I am certain that yours is more . . . Talking than the actual fight itself."

"I am fine," Allen said.

"Sure?" The second Klingon asked.

"Very sure," Allen said. "Sure that we are in the 20th century."

"That is impossible," The second Klingon said. "A entire academy time traveling?"

"With thousands of people and no one felt the time traveling?" The third Klingon asked.

"It is hard to notice when falling through space and being hit by chairs," Allen said.

"But do you have proof?" The first Klingon asked. "Or verbal corroboration from Emergency Control?"

"No," Allen said. "I haven't found the line operator---" The three Klingons walked away from the cool structure. "Yet!"

Roark approached Allen coming to the man's side.

"I believe you," Roark said. "Professor."

Allen turned in the direction of Roark.

"Ah finally!" Allen said. "Someone who listens."

"Tell me," Roark said. "Do you think the Jupiter 2 is the same as the historical Jupiter 2 sent out three hundred years ago?"

"Three hundred?" Allen said, then paused. "Yes. But it couldn't have been destroyed on this planet," Roark nodded. "The parts were found no where in the Alvereze system. In fact, they were all traced to have been come apart in a section of deep space."

"If you see them," Roark said. "Ignore them and refuse to speak with them. And do not draw attention to them."

"Right, right," Allen said. "Temporal prime directive. I forgot about that."

"And stop talking about it," Roark said. "I understand your shock, excitement, and concern about them but they will not be part of this battle."

Allen observed Roark.

"Everyone said they were going to reach Alpha Centauri," Allen said. "There is always a chance they will find a way in."

"If they do," Roark said. "I will freeze them and escort them out myself. Leave that concern to me."

Allen grew a smile in return.

"Thanks, buddy," Allen slapped Roark's shoulder rather cheerfully. "That's a load off my chest!" He placed a hand on the side of his hip. "So, how have your vacations on Vega been?" Allen took a glass from the table then took a sip from it. "Cultural shock much? I have been meaning to ask for the last few years but I just keep forgetting. . ."