Dr. Sam McFarlane is a scientist who specializes in meteorites. McFarlane has found several meteorites in the past with his partner, Nestor Masangkay. However, during one such recovery, McFarlane panicked and made a deal with a Japanese businessman that caused an irreparable split in his relationship with his partner. This deal was based on McFarlane's theory that some meteorites could come from outside the known solar system. McFarlane believed that the meteorite in question was one of these and that the loss of funding would cause it to be left behind. McFarlane thought he was protecting the meteorite by selling it to the highest bidder, but all he did was ruin his own reputation and tarnish his partner's.