Additional cast: Barry Flatman as Andy Jackson; Ted Simonett as Jim Mitchell; Steve Whistance Smith as Scavenger No. 1

Database Journal Entry 47-5 Mark 20. With Tank, Scout and Pilot away on a survey mission, Captain Power and Hawk handle a medical supply run to "sector three", or what used to be Dallas, Texas. As Power and Hawk are about the business of unloading crates of supplies, they are being watched from a distance by two men hiding nearby (Andy Jackson and Jim Mitchell). As Power and Hawk leave the area of the Jumpship, Jackson moves in and attaches an electronic device (Sonic Key) near the main hatch of the Jumpship. But the watchers themselves are being watched--by a Dread "eye in the sky" floating camera. Dread is observing Power's activities looking for a pattern he can later exploit. Upon observing the intruding Jackson, Dread sends Blastarr to capture the organic (Jackson). Jackson's sonic key succeeds in opening the Jumpship's hatch. He enters and stows away on board, hiding himself in the lift. Power and Hawk return. The Jumpship departs for Powerbase with Jackson still aboard. Jackson's partner, Mitchell, watches the Jumpship fly off. At Volcania, Dread is being lectured by Overmind. Overmind is concerned because Dread still exhibits human emotions "while not in his presence". Overmind explains that not only flesh but emotions as well, is to be eliminated when the maching takes over. Dread cowers to Overmind and promises to see Overmind's council in moments of weakness. As Dread leaves the Overmind chamber, Laccki approaches. After Laccki and Dread exchange unpleasantries, Laccki enters the Overmind chamber and address Overmind as "My Lord". The Jumpship has returned to Powerbase with Jackson still aboard, and as yet undiscovered. Power and Hawk disembark. Jackson waits a bit then exits the ship. He is inside the legendary (and super-secret) Powerbase. Jackson is impressed. He begins his stealthful reconnaissance of Powerbase. In Powerbase's control room, Pilot is conversing with Mentor. Mentor recites a passage from "Ulysses" by Tennyson. Pilot tells Mentor that there are many things she did not learn about as she was growing up in the Dread Youth. Pilot asks Mentor to explain the concept of love to her. Specifically the love of lovers. Jackson is eavesdropping on the entire exchange. Jackson makes a radio transmission to Mitchell to report that he is inside the base. But Pilot intercepts the message and informs Power of an intruder within the Powerbase. Power orders an ultraviolet alert and states "If it's Dread we'll have to blow the base." They begin to search. Power himself finds and overpowers a flippant but cooperative Andy Jackson. The Power Team interrogates Jackson. Jackson says (tongue in cheek) that he wanted to see if the Power Team was good enough to join he and his partner. Both Tank and Scout threaten Jackson with death, but Jackson knows that such threats are empty because Captain Power values life above all else. Blastarr and a cord of biomechs have located Mitchell in sector three. The machines overpower Mitchell and try to get him to cooperate. Mitchell refuses, but his verbal responses provide Blastarr with enough of a speech sample to duplicate Mitchell's voice. Blastarr puts out a bogus distress call in an attempt to lure Power into the open. The team powers-on as Jackson watches in amazement. Jackson pleads with Power, stating that the message is a fake. Jackson says his partner would never break radio silence (even though Jackson already did) and that his partner would have used code names. Jackson explains that he and Mitchell were once Special Forces and that they have also been fighting Dread in their own way. Jackson says he and Mitchell want to join the Power Team, and that breaking into the base was their way of showing Power what they were capable of. Power reluctantly allows Jackson to help. Jackson answers the distress call and confirms to Power's satisfaction that the distress call is bait for a trap. Blastarr gloats to a bound and supine Mitchell that Mitchell is only needed alive as bait. Blastarr has a trooper administer "sleeper seven" to Mitchell, who falls unconscious. Captain Power, still not fully trusting Jackson, attaches a remote controlled wrist grenade to Jackson's right arm. The device will explode if removed and Power hopes this safeguard will keep Jackson honest. Power lets Jackson attempt to rescue his partner. Jackson "stumbles" into Blastarr's trap. But it is Blastarr who is being set up. The Power Team launches a full-scale attack on Blastarr and his support troops. Power, Tank and Scout attack from ground level, while Hawk and Pilot (aboard a Skybike) attack from the air. Under cover of the attack, Jackson rescues Mitchell. Blastarr is violently blasting everything in sight. Tank finally fells Blastarr with a blast from an electronic bazooka. Back at the Jumpship, Power explains to Jackson that he can't join the Power Team. Power says there is room for one more team member, but Power must be certain it's the "right" one. Power says the decision to add to the team will take time and trust. Pilot has tended to Mitchell's injuries and they both emerge from the Jumpship. Power decides to trust Jackson and Mitchell. He removes the wrist grenade from Jackson's wrist. Jackson and Mitchell watch the Jumpship depart, confident that they have "passed audition."

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