A/N: I'm still pretty green...but still at it! Please read and review...and thanks to those of you who have helped me along the way with comments suggestions from other fics. You are wonderful writers and I'm learning so much from you!

Mind Reading 101

He woke up feeling groggy. Blurry figures gazed down at him.

"Mark, how are you feeling?" Anderson looked at the Eagle with concern.

"OUCH! My head hurts!" Mark grabbed his head, wincing with pain. He heard the chief mumble to the nurse, asking her to get some more pain medicine.

Anderson then began to whisper, "Mark, we've successfully installed the new implant. We'll be able to test it out in a few hours, when the pain medicine kicks in…right now would be too painful. Don't worry, you'll get used to it. I'll let you get some rest."

After taking the medicine, Mark quickly dozed off again. After several hours, he awoke, feeling much better, and a little hungry. He pushed the button beside his bed and paged the nurse.

Moments later, she appeared with a tray full of food. Mark began eating eagerly, even though the food was not especially appetizing.

Suddenly he heard a voice… Mark…Mark can you hear me? It's Chief Anderson…

Am I hearing things? It must be a bad reaction to the pain medicine…Mark sat straight up in bed.

You're not having a bad reaction, Mark, it's the new implant…we'll be able to communicate through our minds…

The Eagle frowned. Mind reading? But, how? Why?

Security purposes, Mark, you'll now be able to give commands, warnings and directions without the enemy hearing you. It gives you more stealth, as your voices won't give you away…

But what if I'm thinking thoughts I don't want everyone to hear?

There are different channels for thought. You'll have one channel open for each member of the team, and one open to me. All of the team will be interconnected. You'll be able to turn the channels on and off at will. It will take some practice, though, but you'll get a feel for it.

Do the others know about this? Mark raised his hand and felt the stitches in the back of his head.

No, and I'd prefer that you didn't mention it to them. Jason is scheduled to go in this evening, Princess, tomorrow morning, Keyop, around noon tomorrow, and Tiny, tomorrow evening. We want to have this done as soon as possible.

Mark scowled. He didn't like keeping information from his comrades. Ok, but I think you're going to have some irritated patients on your hands…

Later that afternoon, Princess, Tiny and Keyop came by Mark's room for a visit.

"How ya feelin'?" Keyop burbled.

"Okay, I guess. I had a massive headache when I woke up, but now, I'm feeling fine." Mark shifted positions in his bed.

"They're prepping Jason for the OR, now…he was fussing the whole time…then, when they started the drugs in his IV, he started hitting on the nurses…" Princess giggled.

"Yeah, that sounds typical; Jason's always been a difficult patient…" Mark chuckled softly.

"Any…side effects we should know about, Mark?" Tiny sat down in the chair by the window.

"Oh, you know how it is with these implants…nothing we won't get used to." Mark shrugged nonchalantly, trying to brush off the subject.

Princess sat on the edge of his bed, eyeing him with concern. "Do you need anything?"

"No, I'm fine…They're going to keep me overnight for observation, and I'll be released in the morning. Probably just in time to see you off to the OR, Prin." He smiled at her. "You guys better go get some rest. You have a busy day tomorrow."

Princess kissed Mark's forehead, Keyop gave him a hug, and Tiny gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"See you tomorrow, guys…"Mark waved as the exited the room.

If they only knew… I feel like I'm letting them down…I don't like keeping things from them…Mark ran his hand through his hair and looked out the window. Feeling his stitches, he remembered his new ability.

Don't worry, Mark, they'll know tomorrow. It's for their own good.

Mark raised his eyebrows as he heard the Chief's voice in his head. Boy, I need to get the hang of this "channel" thing…

In his office, the Chief began to chuckle at Mark's statement. Yes, the next few days would prove to be rather interesting….