The Midas Prototype, an experimental cold fusion device, is stolen from an armored security van. Byder tells Ethaniel and Laura that all his information leads him to believe that Banning must have been involved. Banning had been trying to get the prototype's inventor, Sylvia Deschamps, to come and work for him and she had refused. If he really wanted to get hold of the machine her refusal would not have stopped him from getting his hands on her invention. Knowing that Banning will not stop at having just the machine Ethaniel and Laura track down Sylvia and warn her that Banning will be after her next, she doesn't believe them but is soon convinced when Dent arrives with some of thugs to grab her. Ethaniel escapes with Sylvia but Dent captures Laura. Banning offers to trade Laura for the machine, but if he hasn't got it who has?