Chapter Twenty-One
Jack leapt forward with the jar open and threw the invisible contents over Owen stopping him in his tracks. Owen screamed and fell to the ground, the gun falling from his hand and skidding across the room.
"What's happening?" Toshiko asked concerned
"I think the cyborg is putting up a fight, it's usually a more peaceful process"
"What was that?" Gwen asked
"Nanogenes they should rewrite his cells to what they should be"
"Should?"
"Well yes unless they just finish off the process, they are intended for organic matter though so we should be ok"
"That's reassuring"
"It's the best I could do"
Owen was starting to look like Owen again. Toshiko went to move forward to him but Jack stopped her "Wait, until it's finished. We need to threat these things with respect. I had a great lot of trouble with them once upon a time"
Owen stopped moving, he once again looked like himself. Jack crept forward with his jar and somehow returned the contents.
Owen sat upright looking slightly groggy "I really don't recommend that" Toshiko joined him and helped him over to a seat "Just got a bit of a headache"
"You nearly, had the worst head ache going" Jack said
Owen looked at Toshiko "There was no other way" he looked back at the others "It was going to make me kill you all" He thought for a moment "What was it you chucked at me Jack?"
"Nanogenes, they rewrite the cells to what they should be. They are generally meant for wounds and such"
"Couldn't I have used them on my buggered hand, when I was dead and couldn't heal?"
"I wouldn't have risked it, they could have fixed it or they could have fixed you so you were properly dead"
"Point taken"
"Besides I'd almost forgotten we had them. I'm a bit weary of them these days. I had them in my ship"
"Hang on you've got a ship, space craft I take it. So why have we never seen it?"
"I don't have it anymore"
"What'd do crash it?" Gwen asked
"No actually it was blown up in an act of heroism. I'd have gone with it if it was for a friend of mine"
"How does blowing up work with the whole immortality thing?"
"I don't know, it wouldn't have mattered it hadn't happened then. Anyway" Jack said changing the subject "the bottom line is treat nanogenes with respect. Right we need to get working Owen isn't the only one affected by this. We need stunners and sedatives, its going to be a long night folks"
Toshiko and Gwen cancelled the lock down. The team worked through the night and the following day, tracking down everyone effected and setting the nanogenes to work. It was hard and dangerous work, the cyborgs were set to kill. Eventually they got there, sedating anyone who had enough human in them for it still to work, and stunning those who were mostly cyborg.
The team counted themselves lucky that they had all got back in one piece it was more than could be said for the many people who hadn't survived the attacks. Even when everyone was converted back, Tosh had her work cut out for her explaining the deaths. She wondered what Jack had come up with to explain her and Owen's demise, but then she tried not to think about it, it was too morbid. Then she remembered he could still be using them, if this is what they were sent back for it was over now, their reason for returning finished. She felt sad at the thought of leaving her friends and the life she loved again, but she had no choice, just like last time.
"Well done team" Jack said as Toshiko finished her last 'accidental' death statement. "I take it every copy of that game, has now gone"
"Yup, all dealt with" Gwen said "What about whoever was behind it?"
"I don't reckon we'll see them" Jack said "Their mission failed, they'll be keeping a low profile"
"Won't they try again?"
"Probably"
"So what do we do?"
"We're wise to that plan now. Just keep an eye on any new games. I'm sure Owen wouldn't mind"
"Not likely. Besides it's highly likely I won't be around much longer"
"It's true" Toshiko said
"If that's what we were sent back to do, it's done now, we won't be staying"
"No, that's not fair" Gwen said sadly
"It was the deal" Toshiko said
"Well seeing you may drop down dead any minute, it's not really fair to make you work late" Jack said "Go, make good use of the time you have left"
"Thank you"
"Thanks" Owen echoed
There were sad farewells, Gwen hugged them tightly, tears in her eyes. "I'll miss you two you know"
"We'll be ok" Toshiko said
"At least I get to say goodbye this time" Gwen said wiping away her tears
"You take care"
"And keep an eye on these two" Owen added
Toshiko and Owen arrived at her flat.
"What now?" she asked
"If it's the last thing I ever do, I want to make love with you Toshiko Sato"
A massive smile covered her face and she closed the door behind them.
Owen lay there half asleep, the memories of the night before fresh in his mind, the grin still on his face, it had been wonderful. As he became more conscious he realised he could see bright light through his closed eyes. His heart sank, he was terrified that if he opened his eyes, his suspicions would be confirmed, he knew for certain he was back on the Angeline ship. They had taken them back. Gingerly he opened his eyes and was surprised by what he saw.