Colonel Steve Austin was up working on his report. There were rumors of a Eastern Bloc Bionic Man, and that would explain most all of Bellows reports, and what Steve himself saw. Nelson traveled a lot, and there was the lost time in 1965, after which all these "mysterious events" started happening. The Russians could have made him bionic after the Stardust 1 landing. The improbability of Tony Nelson just waiting on an island for the rescue chopper is just too incredible. Steve started feeling bad for Alfred Bellows. Bellows was on the short list for General before he crossed tracks with Tony Nelson. Nelson made him look like a fool.
Just then the phone rang. "Steve Austin," the OSI Agent answered.
"Please hold, Colonel," The operator said.
In a matter of seconds a familiar voice stated, "I hope I didn't wake you up, Steve."
"No, Sir, Mr. President" Steve said, standing at attention.
Jeannie said in her Gerald Ford voice, "Thanks again for your concern and quick reactions in Spain, Colonel."
Steve replied, "It was my duty, and my pleasure sir."
Jeannie/Ford went on, "That's not why I called though. Let's just say you have a little secret, and Tony Nelson has a little secret."
Steve was caught off guard, just as Tony had hoped, "Sir?" He asked.
Jeannie/Ford made an effort to sound impatient, "Let me try to be clear here. A lot of people in the OSI know about your little secret. Very few people know about Colonel Nelson's secret. You will report to Oscar Goldman that there is absolutely nothing unusual about Lt. Col Anthony Nelson, and he should be promoted to full colonel. You will take the first flight to Washington. Do you understand, Colonel?"
Steve answered very quickly, "Yes sir, thank you for clarifying that sir."
Jeannie/Ford ended the call with, "Your welcome, have a good evening." Then hung up.
Roger asked Tony, "You think he bought it?"
Tony answered, "From what I heard, it sounded like it, but we won't know for sure until tomorrow."
The next day at NASA, Tony and Roger stopped by Steve's office. They were relieved to see him packing.
"Leaving already, Steve?" Tony asked.
Steve replied, "Yeah, you know the Air Force… here today gone tomorrow."
"Where are you heading?" asked Roger.
"They need me back at my desk in Arlington." Answered Steve.
"Well good luck," Tony said, and meant it.
Steve replied, "Thanks," and the three shook hands.
Tony felt mischievous, "Oh Steve?" he said while heading for the door.
"Yeah?" Steve asked.
"Let me know if you want a rematch on that race," Tony answered.
Before Steve could answer, Tony was gone.
Roger and Tony walked by the clinic, and noticed Dr. Richardson was packing too. She seemed a lot more upbeat than Steve, though.
Sheila spotted the two and shouted, "Colonel Nelson! Colonel Healey!"
Roger asked, "Commander, why are you packing?"
The Navy Flight Surgeon gushed, "I'm going to Houston! I got accepted to astronaut training!"
"Well, congratulations! We may be flying together soon." Tony said.
Roger added, "Congratulations, you will be missed."
Sheila said, "Thank you, sirs, and I hope to be assigned with you in the future!" She then followed that up by the very unmilitary move of hugging the two superior officers. Neither of the men seemed to mind.
When Healy and Nelson were alone, Roger said, "You know-- if I had a Jeannie, and there was a nosey flight surgeon poking around my life, I would get rid of the flight surgeon and make her forget about wild stories about me by having my Jeannie grant the good doctor the wish of having her dream job."
Soon to be 0-6 Colonel Anthony Nelson just smiled.