After the paramedics left, as Pam was able to refuse treatment, Ralph and Bill sat around the living room, trying to figure out what happened.
"I'm telling you Bill, I don't get it. First I'm floating in the air for no reason, then getting false holographs. Next thing you know, I'll start uncontrollably popping in and out invisible," said Ralph. "Though then again, it's done that , so who knows?"
"Well kid, that might happen, but I wouldn't tempt the suit to do it again by saying so," said Bill with a slight smile. "Then again, it could spin you in circles or turn you into a glowing neon sign."
Ralph glared at the older man. "Bill, come on be serious. The suit is acting strange and it could have caused me trouble at the school. Good thing no one saw my feet weren't on the ground."
As he was talking, Pam came back into the room carrying a tall glass of orange juice and some beef jerky. "Here you go hun," said Pam. "Sorry I haven't started dinner yet, but this should help. Don't want you to have another dizzy spell again."
Ralph groaned slightly when he took the glass of orange juice from Pam. "More OJ, huh? I've had so much of it today that I'm starting to feel as though I'm going to take root and start sprouting leaves and oranges."
The three laughed at the comment, but it made them think what the suit's problem might be. "Ralph, you don't think. ..." said Pam.
"Yeah, Pam, that might be it," Ralph concluded. "It's got to be donating blood."
Bill gave them a funny look. "What...How's donating a pint have anything to do with the suit acting like a yo-yo?"
"Well think about it, partner, all this time we've known the suit will only work on me," said Ralph. "I've always thought it might be my metabolism or something, but. ..."
"Come on Ralph, why would the suit worry about your dietary habits," said Bill with a grimace. "You're as healthy as horse."
"Wasn't going to say it exactly like that partner, but you're on the right track. This is the first time I've used the suit the same day I've given blood. Most of the time it's been a couple of days later. Well, what if the suit's reacting to my being a pint low?"
"Yeah, Bill, maybe the suit's adapting to an alien concept of its own with Ralph being low on iron or some other element in his blood," said Pam.
"Counselor, that might be it. But what are you going to do about it kid? Call the farm and get a cow to eat," said Bill.
"Funny Bill, but until dinner's ready, I guess orange juice and some sort of heavy snack will have to do. At least now that we know, maybe I can get a holograph on Chiastolite's killers," said Ralph.
"Great, let's go," said Bill standing up. "Thanks for your help, Counselor."
"No way, I'm coming with you," said Pam. When the other two balked, she said, "Look guys, though we know why the suit might be acting up, we still need to be ready just in case Ralph has problems again, and I can help out."
Bill nodded reluctantly. "All right Counselor, you can go, but let's get back to my place so we can try getting a holograph off the items I have before the suit decides to give Ralph another surprise."
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It only took a few minutes for Bill to get the items from his apartment, and the group drove back toward downtown.
As they were traveling, Bill and Pam were getting annoyed when once again Ralph turned invisible. It was the tenth time in the past three minutes.
"Come on kid, will you quit it," said Bill. "You're starting to look like a TV with bad reception."
"He's trying the best he can to stop it," said Pam sharply. "It could be really worse you know. The suit could've started something on fire."
"There I think it's stopped," said Ralph as he appeared visible again. "I chose to reappear that time. I think the orange juice has helped out a lot. Now, where are the watch and St. Christopher medal?"
Bill handed him the bag containing the items. Ralph tipped them out and held them in his hand, concentrating. "I'm getting something," he said. "It's ... uh..."
"Kid, you getting anything," Bill said when Ralph hesitated. "If it's a holograph of me being eaten by a pink and purple polka-dot lion while you keep spinning in circles, I don't want to hear it."
"Wait a second Bill, I think this time it's legit. I see a group of men carrying a box of some sort. They're near the hydroelectric plant and ... oh no."
"Ralph," asked Pam with increasing concern, "what's wrong, did you lose the image?"
"No, they're placing the box right next to the reservoir and talking ... Bill I think it's a bomb!"
"How's a bomb near the hydroelectric plant reservoir going to ...," said Bill as he realized. "They're trying blow it up and flood ... you better get out there Ralph and stop them."
"I don't know Bill," said Pam worriedly, "he's still having problems with the suit, what if it doesn't let him fly?"
"Counselor, we have no choice. If he doesn't get to those guys and destroy the bomb, Los Angeles is going to be a toast ... literally."
"Pam, don't worry, I flew earlier to the house, and didn't have a problem," said Ralph as he was taking off his shirt to reveal the red suit and black cape. "Besides, I'm feeling better, and I should be able to fly again without any more wobbling than I normally do. I hope."
Bill pulled his car over to let Ralph out. "Kid, be sure to use the communicator to give us your location," said Bill. Ralph nodded, took three steps and jumped, taking flight. Pam and Bill watched him for a few moments to see if Ralph was going to crash, but assured he was fine, went back to the car and drove in the same direction.
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As Ralph was flying, his head swum a bit when he had a slight drop in altitude, concerning him. "Come on suit," said Ralph, "this is the one thing you can't be finicky on right now, we need to get to the hydroelectric plant."
For some reason, if nothing else stubbornness, the suit didn't turn Ralph into a falling rock and he made it to the hydroelectric plant without much of a hitch. Shaking the dust out of his hair after crashing, he concentrated and turned invisible. He headed toward a van that was guarded by a henchman.
As he snuck near the man, the suit decided to pop Ralph back in visible. The guard turned around, saw Ralph in the funny longjohns and opened fire. Ralph covered his head with his arms and deflected the bullets, though they stung a bit. When the shooter was out of bullets, Ralph walked up to him, tossed the guy's gun and lightly tapped the man's head against the van's door, rendering him unconscious. Ralph lowered the man to the ground and touched the door of the van to see if he could get a holograph. When he saw nothing but green, Ralph decided he'd turn back invisible to get closer to the men with the bomb.
Meanwhile, Malachite and his men finished installing the bomb, setting it to go off in 15 minutes. Malachite tried to raise his man guarding the van on the communicator, only to receive no response. "Men," he said, "Something's up, I'm not getting a response from Dale. Spread out and find him. We can't let anyone find us and stop us from setting this bomb off."
As the men spread out, Bill and Pam arrived at the plant. "Counselor, this time you've got to stay in the car," said Bill.
"Fine," said Pam sarcastically. "I'll do my best to protect the fort."
"That's great third string utility backup," said Bill as he pulled out his gun from its holster. He started to walk away from the car when he heard movement off to his left. "Ralph, is that you," he asked.
"No pal, it ain't, don't move," said another voice menacingly. "Drop the gun, raise your hands and turn around."
Bill did what he was asked, except when he turned around, he kicked the other man, knocking him off balance. The man fell as the rifle went off sending the bullet way above Bill's head.
Ralph heard the noise and ran over to where it came from. Still invisible, he saw Bill and the other man struggle with the weapon, and Bill was slowly losing the upper hand.
Before Ralph could rush to his aid, another man headed toward the car and drew a gun on Pam. Bill stopped fighting his attacker, and, not knowing where Ralph was, looked for a way to protect her. That moment of indecision was enough for the man to strike Bill in the head with the butt of his rifle, knocking him out. The men took both Pam and Bill to a shed, and tied them up. As Ralph neared the shed, he heard Pam talk to her captors.
"Who are you? Why are you here," said Pam flatly.
"My name's Ben Malachite, my dear," said Malachite. "And I believe the question is, what are you doing here? Last time I heard, Bill Maxwell didn't have a female agent as a partner."
"You know Bill," asked Pam, surprised.
"Of course. It was a tough go at first trying to get information out of Chiastolite, but after giving him sodium pentathol, he was more than willing to disclose everything he new about the agency. We then gave him a post-hypnotic suggestion to tell us exactly where the documents we wanted were, and sent him on his way. He was quite successful, and since then, he's been 'paid in full' for his help," said Malachite with a sneer.
Pam swallowed hard when she realized what he meant. "Now," he continued, "as far as what I'm doing here, well, I plan to flood Los Angeles by blowing up the hydroelectric plant. And, you and Maxwell here will be the first to reap the rewards of my success. Too bad you won't be able to see the results first-hand." He then nodded to the guard, closed the door and proceeded to walk off to the location of the bomb.