"What really matters is what you do with what you have."
- H. G. Wells
As with all of these stories, I do not own Warehouse 13.
Chapter 7-Really
Warehouse 13
The next day Myka and Leena were out on the balcony looking over the Warehouse. Myka shoulders slumped. She grimaced, "It's hard to believe the rafters had that much dust."
Leena was not very happy either. "Yeah, that and the shelves that fell over. This is going to take a long time."
Myka was still shaking her head when Claudia stepped out. She was in overalls and was the model of a well-equipped janitor. She had gloves, purple ones, spray bottles, rubber boots and head gear with filter and eye protectors. Myka looked at her up and down, "Really?"
"Sorry. I mean I am really sorry. Of all the things I could think of, this was not what I wanted. I spent two years under Artie's thumb restocking, redoing and cleaning this place. Now I get to do it all over again," Claudia shook her head.
Even Leena was surprised, "Really?" She looked at Claudia a little more carefully. "Are you alright?"
Claudia blinked her eyes, "I feel like I have the biggest stuffed up nose ever. It started on the way back. The only way I can explain it is that it has something to do with the warehouse." She shrugged. "I am sorry but I need everyone to help." She smiled a little, "I even got Kato to help."
Myka was surprised at that, "Really?"
Claudia smiled in response, "Well, I told him that it was either I am breathing or I am not. He kind of took that as part of his job to make sure I keep breathing." After she said that Helena, Steve and Kato came out to the balcony with similar outfits.
Helena smiled at Myka, "Yes, I really am going to help."
They had been working through the morning and now it was well into the afternoon. Claudia saw the light on her Farnsworth go off. She had modified it to alert her to a ping. It did not give her any more information other than there was one. Claudia held her hand up to the group. "There is a ping. Let's take a break and go check it." Everyone was more than happy to follow her to the offices.
They got to the console. Claudia read off the results, "Four deaths in Miami, three women and one man. Possible stings from Jellyfish, but none spotted in the waters."
"Certainly people die in the waters off your coast, " Helena almost questioned.
Claudia continued, "Yes, but there is a connection. They were biochemists." She typed on her laptop for a second, "And there was no convention for biochemists."
Myka said, "Well, we should certainly check this out."
Helena nodded, "Wells and Bering at your service."
Myka shook her head and laughed, "Bering and Wells."
"Wait, Artie will shoot me if we don't call him." Claudia knew better than to send anyone, even herself, out on a snag and bag. This was Artie's call. He still needed to be the person telling them what to do.
Myka smiled, "Probably all of us." She got out her Farnsworth. Artie immediately appeared. His hair was a bit disheveled. She looked at that for a second before beginning, "Artie, we have a Ping down in Florida. Four people have been killed and it is tied together."
Vanessa replaced Artie in the picture, "I was alerted to that through CDC just a few minutes ago. I'll be headed down there tomorrow. We have a team down there now making the initial analysis. Be careful, those were not Jellyfish stings as first reported. It is some kind of disease. We will alert you when we find out what it is."
Artie replaced Vanessa, "Helena, you've worked in this field before." He took silence as agreement. "I want you and Myka to head down there now and see what you can find out. If you can identify the artifact and not get sick, bring it back. I'll send Pete down on Monday." The Farnsworth went blank.
"Well, a little time at the beach. Should be fun," Helena suggested.
Steve stood there with his broom and moaned, "It would be better than cleaning duty." He saw Claudia stick out her tongue and did so in reply.
Leena was happy with something to do, "I'll get your tickets ready."
Claudia looked at Steve and Kato. It was pointless. "Okay, let's blow this joint. We can always do more tomorrow." She was hoping to see Dwayne Maddox before he got a replacement guitarist or worse forgot about her.
The B&B
Myka was in Helena's room. She smiled, "It is still going to be hot down there."
"Yes, that was what I had expected. They shipped me the clothes that I wore when I was Emily. I must say they are better than those grey clothes I thought I would be in forever." She shook her head, "Every time they or you got me out I was wearing the same thing."
"Okay, are you all set then?" Myka looked at her closing the bag. "And I guess I do have a question." She saw Helena nod. Myka went on, "So, do you remember when you where Emily?"
Helena paused and looked at Myka, "I do. It's very strange, almost like when I used the time machine. I was there for everything but the entire memory of the event is missing."
Myka was a little concerned, "But you're okay?"
"Oh, yes. It is not a problem." Helena tried to explain it again, "Remember when you used the time machine. The things you thought were you. Now, imagine that you were able to see, feel, hear and everything that Rebecca would have." Helkena looked at Myka, "Next, imagine that you have Rebecca's thoughts and ideas, but not yours."
"Hmm," Myka nodded.
"Yes well, let us be on our way." Helena got her bag and Myka followed her out the door of the bedroom.
When they got down stairs, Leena met them, "I got the tickets printed out for you. You'll get in late, but the hotel will hold your rooms. I have you booked in the Regalton on South Beach. It's close to the location of the deaths."
"Great, thank you." Myka responded, then saw Claudia heading for the door. "Hey, where are you going?"
Claudia smiled. She couldn't help it. It just came out. "Going to show Kato how to drive around Univille."
"Claud!" came from both Myka and Helena.
"Right, sorry. I am going to see Maddox and I am still trying to figure out how to explain this," she shrugged.
"Dwayne?" Myka asked. "Is he?"
"I don't know. We've only been together three times. And I have not seen him since you guys left for Wyoming," she looked down.
Helena smiled, "Don't worry darling, I am sure he is still interested."
Claudia smiled back and went out the door. She met Steve and Kato at the car. Steve smiled at her, "So, this is the guy you called about?"
Claudia had to stop and remember, "Yeah, right."
Steve looked at Kato, "And you're going to take her?"
"Yes, we still aren't certain that there isn't a threat to her," Kato responded.
Steve looked at Claudia, "So, do you want me to come along too?"
Claudia gave up at that point. It might be a little easier to explain, "Sure. I am just going to meet him at the coffee house."
"Okay, I'm in."
The Coffee House
Dwayne looked up from his coffee and saw Claudia come into the shop. She had a guy with short hair and no smile behind her. He swept the room with his eyes. Next came a big hulk, certainly a pro-wrestler or maybe a center for some pro-football team. He carried himself the same way and checked behind and then the entire shop.
As Claudia approached, Dwayne said, "Wow. You still marked for death?" That produced a reaction in the men following Claudia, Dwayne was not really expecting. One reached behind his coat and apparently to the small of his back. The big man slid a hand behind the front of his coat. Dwayne's eyes went wide, "Whoa, kidding!" His hands went up.
Claudia turned and looked at Steve and Kato, "What did I just say? Come on, this is Univille. What can happen here?" Not seeing any movement from Kato, she added, "And if you'll notice, the barber's pole now has an extension in here." She pointed to the small red, white and blue pole over the brew station.
She turned back to the table, "Listen Dwayne, the warning label still applies. Stuff still happens to me."
Kato came a little closer and looked straight at Dwayne, "My job is to make sure it doesn't."
Claudia shook her head, "Wait Dwayne, this is my partner, Steve."
"Ah, I thought you said you were…"
Claudia caught on quickly, "No. No. He's my partner at work. We watch each other's back. And this is Katundo Mulinu. He works with us too."
Steve shook Dwayne's hand. Kato smiled, "Nice meeting you." He held out his hand.
Dwayne took the offered hand cautiously. This guy was twice his size.
Claudia sat down and the others sat around the table. Claudia leaned over to Dwayne, "Look I am sorry I was gone for such a long time."
"Yeah, I appreciated the calls. You sound pretty shattered when you first called. Was everything at the funeral okay?" DuWayne asked.
Claudia remembered the sequence. She called Dwayne when she came back after Steve got killed. Then again when they were getting ready for Mrs. Frederic's funeral. He must have assumed they were the about the same person. "Thank you, everything was fine. Sorry, that I was a little irrational the first time."
"Yeah, you must have had quite a connection to her," Dwayne replied.
"Yes, well, more than you'd think possible," Claudia smiled.
"Say, I have another set to do, then we can either just hang here or try something else," DuWayne started to get up.
"Sure, when you get done," Claudia nodded.
After Dwayne headed away, Steve asked, "You were irrational?" He saw her just look at him and knew what the first call was about. "Oh."
A/N Please leave a review.
