"Copier…"

Summary: Paracelsus is leaving a little gift for Arthur and the gang…

Disclaimer: No copywrite infringement intended.

Part VII…

Intense light…Pain…God, what a…Migraine? What?

"Malfunction!" harsh cry…

Jinks…Jinks' voice…

"Abort! We have another energy surge!"

"Can't we proceed?" stern voice…

"Not if you want her bronzed alive…"

"All right, shut it the hell down…Pull her out…"

Pete…Pete's voice…

"Pete…" she tried, vaguely… "I can't…"

"Open it up and get her out…Leena, check her out…Jinks, keep her covered! Get her back to confinement and then I want this system put back on line! Looks like someone got a temporary reprieve today." Bitter tone…

"Is she alive?"

"Mrs…Fredericks?" Myka, faintly…Trying to open her eyes…

"Lie still, Myka…" Leena's voice. "I'm going to give you a shot…The bronzer had a malfunction. Just be calm."

"Leena?" she managed to force her eyes open… "Leena?" she stared at the coolly professional woman in suit bending over her.

"Lie still…This won't hurt…" rub of exposed arm with alcohol pad, stick of needle…

"How is she?" Pete's voice…

She opened eyes to see a grim-looking Pete in suit and tie, coldly looking her over.

"She'll live." Leena, calmly.

"Get her to confinement…"

"Pete…" Myka gasped… "Where's…Claudia…? What happened?"

"Your friend's secure…Your bronzing failed. We'll do it asap. Sorry we have to put you through it twice. Take her…"

"Pete? Bronze me? Pete? Why?" she gasped.

"No contact with the prisoner, Jinks…That's an order." Pete turned to Jinks, likewise in suit, she saw…Jinks nodding… "Yes, sir."

"Wait…" Mrs. Fredericks stepped forward.

"Am I running this place or not, ma'am?" Pete eyed her coldly.

"Mr. Lattimer, there's no cause to be cruel…The girl is disoriented." She turned to the staring Myka, looking round, increasingly anxious… "Myka? The bronzer malfunctioned. We're going to send you back to your cell and try to repeat the process after repairs are made and we're sure you're able to tolerate it. Claudia's bronzing went safely…She's alive but we're concerned about the power surges. We won't try this again until we're sure it's…"

"I was in…Claudia…She…"

"Ah, here it comes again…" Pete, harsh glare…

"Myka? If you're trying to make another appeal…" Mrs. Fredericks, gently. "I can have it taken but…"

"No…Listen…" Myka reached up a hand…

"Put your hand down, Bering!" Pete called, sternly. "No unnecessary movement or I will have you sedated or Teslaed!"

"Pete…" she gasped… "You have to listen…To me…"

"What? You luv me?" he stared at her, grim set face… "Take her, now!"

"I'll see you in a little while, Myka." Mrs. Fredericks offered. "It will be all right…Just go with Leena and Jinks…"

"Come." Leena urged…Neither harshly nor kindly.

"You'd better use a chair…She's still weak." Mrs. Fredericks suggested.

"Fine…Get her a wheelchair." Pete eyed Jinks who nodded.

"Mrs. F? A word in my office?" he turned to Mrs. Fredericks…

She frowned but nodded and followed him…Myka staring at the two…Returning her gaze to Leena beside her.

"Leena…What's happening…?" Myka asked…Wanly… "You're alive…?"

"No talking…" Leena told her. "Just wait for your chair. Do you need some water?"

"Please…Leena? I don't understand…"

"Here…" Leena handed her a water bottle…Myka taking a sip…

"Thanks…Listen…"

"I said, no talking…" Leena frowned. "You heard Agent Lattimer."

"What is going on?...Leena? Claudia's bronzed? I don't understand…She…Did…"

"My orders are to sedate you if you don't stop, Bering." Leena eyed her. "Don't make me do that."

Myka, shaking head…

No…

This can't be…

…..

Artie eyed the two before him…Myka still holding Claudia…Claudia dabbing tears…

"So, you're ok? He didn't hurt you?"

"Just a cut…" she offered her bloodied hand…

"Oh…" Myka stared…

"It's not bad…Just bled a little…He wasn't really much with a sword…" Claudia, wan grin…

"And you wounded him, you think?" Artie, carefully…

"I got the scimitar away from him for a minute…I …I didn't want to hurt him, he's deranged Artie…Delusional…I think the artifacts have made him schizo or something…I don't think he even knows what he's doing now…Thanks, Mikes…" she turned to Myka.

Release now, sweetie…Come on…

"Ok…OK…" Artie nodded as Myka finally got the message and released Claudia from her embrace, maintaining sympathetic look…Occasional arm pat… "We'll get after him…"

"Jinks and Petey are on the trail now…" Claudia noted. "Maybe they can get to him if he's hurt. I hope I didn't really hurt him…I didn't mean to…I just wanted him to let go…I really thought for a min, he was gonna…"

"Oh, Claudia…" Myka patted…

"We'll get him…" Artie nodded. "Myka, you better take her back to section 1 with Mrs. Fredericks, that's the safest place for her now."

"Right." Eager nod.

"Well, wait…" Claudia, waving hand… "I wanna help…I'm ok, just let me get back to work…Nail that bastard…" she shook slightly.

"Go to section 1…" Artie commanded. "And Myka, get her something from the medicine chest in my office..The herbal tea there…"

"Herbal tea?..." Claudia sighed. "Artie…"

"It's a mild sedative…Now just go…That's an order."

"Come on, honey…" Myka, pulling at her…

"Ok, fine…But keep a girl in the loop, Nielsen…" Claudia, firmly…Wan smile to him at end. "I'll be ok…I'm fine."

"Just take it easy." He noted, sternly.

"And you be careful, big guy…" she smiled… "Please…?"

"Sure."

"Ok…Sedative…" she rolled eyes… "At least tell me there's cookies?"

"In the cupboard, middle shelf…"

"That's my boy…" grin. "Arthur, be careful." She eyed him firmly. "I couldn't bear bad news today, ok?"

"Ok…Go."

Not when things are going so very well…She thought…

The two set out…

"You ok? Wanna lean on me?" Myka offered…Hurt look at Claudia's frown…

"Tone it down, girl." She hissed.

"Just tryin' to do it right." Myka, a bit miffed.

"And keep clear of Mrs. F when we get there. Find something to do in the main office asap…Ok?"

"Sure…" sigh as they walked back…

"Is he really dead? Paracelsus?"

"As dead as we'll be if you don't watch it…" Claudia eyed her sternly, whispering… "Now stick to the script, Agent…"

"I'm sure we'll nail Paracelsus soon, Claudia…It'll be ok." Myka, raising voice. "And then everything will be back to normal…"

"Yeah…Thanks…" Claudia nodded.

"We should all take some leave after this…A vacation or something? You think Pete would like that?"

"I think we need to take down the mad guy first, honey…" Claudia whispered. "Please try and focus…Think square-jawed Pete as your role model."

"Oh, I don't think I could be as good as…" urgent hiss…Cut off by Claudia's harsh glare.

"Right. We should get on Paracelsus' trail asap." Raising voice.

"That would be good." Claudia, repressing sardonic tone as best she could.

The tools we must work with sometimes…