(Original air date 01/08/78)
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As Steve prepares for his entry into the atmosphere, his instruments suddenly go awry. Back at mission control, all communications fail. Donna wonders whether her telemeter is at fault and proposes to do a double check.
The computer issues the disturbing result of a narrow angle of entry that might have sent the capsule adrift, thus condemning Steve to rove in space indefinitely.
At night, Steve is invited to taste the Reverend's cuisine. As their casual conversation progresses, the subject of time is broached. Steve is shocked to learn that the present year is 1984.
Steve argues that it's all a misunderstanding and to prove that he missed his landing, he brings Barris to the beach to see the capsule, a model, he learns to his great astonishment, NASA has removed from its program years ago.
Steve is taken to the base where Barris and General Winston Hayden (John Milford) beset him with questions on his whereabouts in the last six years. Hayden believes he was brainwashed by the Russians and then sent back as a message to their enemy.
Steve is completely dumbfounded by this onslaught of false allegations and asks to speak to Rudy in order to settle the matter.
She confesses to having agonized over the thought of being responsible for sending him to his death, when in fact he had defected to the Soviet Union.
Steve's heart sink at the news of Oscar's death, the result of his obstinacy to clear his name for he refused to admit the possibility that his best friend could have been a traitor.
Steve assures Donna that it's all a huge mistake and seeks her assistance in proving him right.
Another troubling fact is that time appeared to have frozen only for him. His face hasn't aged, but Donna's has. He suggests the possibility of a passage through a spatial-temporal rift, one that is feasible by travelling at light's speed.
As she does, Hayden and Barris burst into the room and order her to hand over the tapes, which she does under a drug-induced suggestion. Steve grabs the reels and dashes out of the room.
Later, Barris brings the tapes down to an underground laboratory where fake Reverend Essex, a scientist working for their camp, analyses the formula. He assures the data will allow them to begin the tests this afternoon.
Barris and Hayden agree to keep Steve captive, aware that his scientific knowledge is worth its weight in gold.
Meanwhile, Steve goes to the capsule to contact Oscar at mission control to inform him of the situation with Donna, Barris and Hayden. He leaves his transmitter on in order to allow them to locate his exact position.
They put Steve behind bars and leave him with Donna. They set a bomb before fleeing with the formula.
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