The Pretender is the Copyright of TNT. The characters Jarod, Sydney, Miss. Parker, Broots, and Mr. Raines etc. are all the copyright of TNT. The song Dust in the Wind belongs to Kansas. No profit intended, no harm intended. This is my first take at fan fiction and any errors are mine alone.
Chapter 4: Same Old Song Infirmary - CentreWhen Sydney checked in on Jarod the next morning he found the room had been transformed into a technicians lab. Computers and equipment nearly filled the room. Near the bed, Broots stood looking at a monitor as Jarod typed rapidly. They were so intent on the monitor that they didn't notice his arrival.
He stepped closer and joined them in looking at the monitor. Instead of the stocks and statistics that were intended as the next Sim for the Pretender he saw technical readouts and trajectories. Glancing at the other monitors around the room he saw that they too projected technical data.
Concerned that his instructions were already being over-ridden Sydney asked, "What are you working on Broots?"
Jarod glanced up but resumed his typing.
Broots was more startled and put a hand to his chest. "Oh Sydney! I didn't see you come in."
Sydney repeated his question.
"Oh, um, we were setting up to work on the stock trends when Miss Parker came and told us that a satellite had lost it's booster rocket firing programming and was malfunctioning. If it doesn't fire the rockets and get back into it's orbit soon, it could crash somewhere in the Middle East! Jarod is trying to reprogram it but it keeps rejecting the update commands."
Broots fell silent and renewed his attention to the screen.
A ringing cell phone broke their concentration. Jarod paused in his typing as one of the sweepers answered his phone. The sweeper stepped out of the room to reply to his caller.
In the hallway, Don the sweeper replied to Mr. Raines.
"Yes Mr. Raines?"
"How is the simulation going? Is the Pretender putting every effort into a resolution?"
"Yes, Mr. Raines. Mr. Broots is keeping a close watch on him. He seems satisfied so far."
"Keep watching, Mr. Broots as well. I want to know if anything is not as it seems."
"Yes Mr. Raines."
Jarod's eyes followed the sweeper from the room before he resumed typing.
Broots looked at Jarod, then to Sydney. "You're sending the command to one of the other satellites? What good is that going to do?"
A couple more keystrokes brought a smile to Jarod's face as the malfunctioning satellite accepted the upgrade program.
"Yes Mr. Broots. The cell phone reminded me that the satellites were also programmed with a secondary rocket control program to keep them in alignment with the other satellites. This program runs automatically if they shift out of position. I just sent the command into this back door and it overwrote the block to the update protocol."
"Wow, um, that's incredible. I wouldn't have thought of that. Well not in the four hours it took you to do it and that's with only an hour of research!"
Jarod looked up as the sweeper returned to the room and his former position.
"It's firing the booster rockets now and should be back in it's orbit in three point seven minutes."
They all waited anxiously until the satellite was back in orbit. Then Jarod pushed away the food tray holding the keyboard and lowered the bed back into a reclining position.
With the object of his attention gone now, his head ached and his hands trembled. He began to rub his forehead.
"Close your eyes and rest Jarod. You need to remember to take it slower until you have fully recovered."
Jarod kept his eyes closed and began some relaxation techniques. In the beginnings of his relaxed state, he felt her presence even as he heard Miss Parker coming down the corridor.
On her way to the infirmary, Miss Parker had to reset her thoughts back to "her pretend". When they had received the call from NASA asking for help, she had not believed they could do anything. Her father had insisted that the Pretender start earning his keep. She had been as amazed as the command at NASA when their telemetry confirmed that the satellite was accepting the program and returning to orbit.
She had seen the DSA's and read about Jarod's Sims but seeing it in action was still unsettling. She had always gotten some idea of what Jarod had been doing while he was on the loose but she had not noticed anything like this before. She began to realize how much damage Jarod could have done if he had meant to destroy the Centre.
This thought brought with it another less comforting thought. This same genius was now in the hands of the people that had misused it before. People that had no conscience about what good or evil could be done with it. She was feeling even less happy about her part in all this.
She managed to put her "friend" face back on before she walked through the infirmary doors.
"The people at NASA are feeling pretty happy now, Broots you need to zip up everything that we have here and get it to me to send to NASA. We don't want them to have to come and get it. Better they think it was our combined efforts that solved this one."
Turning to Jarod, she noticed his paleness and Sydney's hovering.
"Jarod?"
"He needs rest Miss Parker. Sims are exhausting and take a lot out of him. He isn't fully recovered from his injuries. Broots leave the equipment and let's leave him to rest."
Broots looked at Jarod and without argument added, "Yeah, I'll just turn these off and pull the files from the Tech room. Get some rest Jarod."
He moved from the room looking anxiously back at the resting Pretender.
On his way back to the tech room, Broots kept thinking how freaky it was to see Jarod not really Jarod. He had liked the Pretender, respected him. This guy had Jarod's looks and smarts but none of the personality. It gave him the creeps!
Sydney beckoned to the sweepers to precede him out of the door. Looking back at Miss Parker they filed out. Miss Parker indicated that she would stay. Sydney scowled but she glared at him.
"Try to rest Jarod. I will check on you later."
Sydney headed out the door and stopped a short distance down the hall. He intended on timing Miss Parker's visit to the already exhausted Jarod.
Miss Parker sat in the chair beside the bed. Jarod opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Miss Parker?"
With a smile she answered, "Jarod?"
He smiled then got serious again. Sydney tells me that we've been friends since we were children but I can't even remember your first name."
"Then let's start over. My name is Mary. We met here as children. You let me play with the rabbits you were doing some genetic studies on." A smile crept onto her face, "You gave me one of my own a few years ago. I named him Bugs, original I know. I'll show him to you when you feel better. He's in my apartment."
"How are you doing with all of this?" She gestured with her hands.
"Overwhelmed. I don't want to hurt anyone because I can't remember my past."
"We understand Jarod. We're so glad that we didn't loose you. The doctor's were worried that you wouldn't make it at all, much less with brain cells intact."
"I'm not so sure that they have. There is something not quite right with me. It's elusive but there. Whenever I think it might become clear to me, my head hurts."
"I'm sorry Jarod. I wish there was something I could do or say to help. Maybe being in your apartment will help. If you feel up to it, I think I can round up a wheel chair to break you out of this gloom and doom room."
"That would be nice. I would like to see what kind of a person I was."
"I'll go see what I can do about that. I'll be back later. Rest Jarod." She put her hand on his and then turned and left the room.
Jarod put his hand out the window of the car and let it become the plane. Swooping up and down with the currents. He liked the feel of the wind on his hand, through his fingers. There was something about this simple action that made the day even better. Kyle watched him and then got up on his knees on the seat and put his hand out the window too. They shared a look of pleasure at this mutually shared freedom. His parents talked quietly in the front seat, his father's arm around his mother's shoulders. Everything felt so happy and comfortable.
They pulled into the driveway of home. Jarod noticed a black car with two men in it parked a couple of houses away. When his parents noticed him staring at the car they whispered rapidly to each other and herded the boys into the house.
As they took their bath together, Jarod and Kyle talked about the car ride home. They discussed aerodynamics, wind resistance and lift. That was before the conversation turned into a contest on who could cover themselves with bubbles first. This brought his mother and a rinsing. Next came pajamas and bed. As he settled down for sleep, Jarod looked at the lunchbox his mother had given him that morning. Tomorrow he would start school and he could hardly wait.
Jarod abruptly woke up. He didn't remember his dream but something about it had made his heart race and covered him in sweat. He raised the bed and slid his braced leg off the bed. He paused a few moments to let the dizziness recede. Then he slowly stood up. As he tried to put weight on his leg the room narrowed to a tiny spot and went black.
He woke up to a calming childlike voice.
"It's not time yet friend."
Jarod didn't understand what Angelo was telling him. Time for what? The arrival of Miss Parker and Sydney interrupted his question to Angelo.
"Jarod, what happened? Angelo came running down here. The sweepers, uh security called me."
"I stood up and must have passed out."
"Oh Jarod," she said helping him back into bed with help from Angelo. "I said I would be back with a wheelchair. I was just waiting for you to wake up."
"I woke up and just had to get up and move."
"Why Jarod? Did you have a dream?" Sydney asked remembering all of the bad dreams that used to haunt the Pretender.
"I don't know. I don't remember if I dreamed. I just had to get up and move around. I wanted fresh air and light and… I don't know." Frustrated he looked away from them.
Miss Parker sat on the edge of the bed and took his hand in hers. Holding Jarod's eyes with her own she asked Sydney, "Any reason why we can't take a wheel chair and go out to the hybrid gardens?"
"No, I'll get the doctor's permission and we can all go together."
Sydney left the room. He was followed by one of the sweepers. Sydney continued to the nursing station and the sweeper immediately made a call.
"Mr. Raines."
"Mr. Raines. The Pretender had a nightmare. Miss Parker and Sydney are going to take him outside to the gardens. Do you have any instructions?"
"Follow them. I want to know everything they talk about."
"Yes Mr. Raines."
In his office, Lyle was receiving a similar call.
"Right, I want a copy of the security tape in my office before I get back." Lyle got up and headed out to the gardens.
Sydney returned with the wheelchair and the doctor. The doctor made a quick examination and the four of them helped Jarod into the chair after the doctor declared he had not injured himself further. The wheelchair kept his braced leg elevated and secure but was very awkward to steer.
Miss Parker pushed the chair out of the infirmary and into the elevators. It seemed forever until Jarod felt the fresh air of the lobby then the sun on his face as they went outside. Their group grew in size as security joined them in the lobby and put themselves in a loose box around Jarod, Miss Parker and Sydney.
"Why so much security?" Jarod asked as he was surrounded.
"Just a precaution. This is the first time you have been outside since you were hurt. The news would have reported that you were brought back here to recuperate. We are just being careful." Sam answered so Miss Parker didn't have to. He knew that she had problems lying to the Pretender. They were still under orders to make sure the Pretender didn't go anywhere they didn't want him to go.
Miss Parker shot him a look of gratitude and changed the subject. "Do you remember these gardens?" She knew that he wouldn't, he had never gotten to see them.
"No, is that a golden chain tree? And that, is that a blue jay?"
Chuckling, Miss Parker responded, "Well you are certainly remembering your flora and fauna."
Jarod grew quiet and alert as he looked around him at the cultivated garden. His face and body posture relaxed as he enjoyed the trip to the gardens. As they rounded a group of trees they met Lyle.
"Hello Jarod, it's good to see you out and about again. Are you feeling better?"
"Lyle. It is great to be outside again. I don't remember how much I liked it but definitely more than that room inside."
"You'll be more comfortable when you can get back to your own room. This little excursion must mean that won't be too far off huh Sydney?"
"We'll have to see how he's doing. This is just for some fresh air." Sydney was hesitant to share too much information with Lyle.
"I heard that you did an excellent job on the NASA job this morning. We're all relieved that the old you seems to be coming back. Do you mind if I stop by this evening to talk to you about the stock trend Sim you were scheduled to do this morning? I have some experience with this myself."
"I don't see why not. Broots said we would run that Sim tomorrow morning unless something came up."
Miss Parker glared at Lyle and started pushing the wheelchair away effectively indicating that the conversation was at an end.
"I'll make arrangements with you later Lyle, we have to finish our walk before the doctor comes looking for his patient." She added over her shoulder.
Jarod was disappointed when they returned to the infirmary. He felt relaxed again and the anxiety had left him. They helped Jarod back into bed and Sydney went in search of the doctor.
When he returned with the doctor, he ordered the others out of the room and they sat down to talk with Jarod.
"I understand that you were feeling some anxiety earlier today." The doctor said.
"Yes, I don't know exactly why. I just woke up and had to get up. It's better now."
"Dr. Greene and I have discussed possible reasons for this. We believe your body is building up a level of stress due to your inactivity. You're used to a much higher level of activity and with all that has happened, your energy level is recovering faster than your body. I believe I can put you on a physical therapy regiment that will help keep you at a manageable level."
"Thank you doctor."
"We also agree that your condition no longer requires you stay in the infirmary. We have had security cameras installed in your apartment to monitor for emergencies. We can move you up there right away."
Sydney added, "We sent a crew to put handrails where you would need them to help you be more self sufficient. You will have to promise to use the wheelchair and not try walking yet."
"I'll do that. Can I go up now?" Jarod asked excitedly.
"Let's let the crews get out of there first."
A non-descript woman in a nurse's uniform walked in. "Is this my patient?"
"Jarod, this is Nurse Colleen. I would like you to work with her every day until you are recovered from your accident. I expect it will take several months so don't push yourself too hard."
With that the doctor's left the room and the nurse began to explain what she was going to do.
