"Copier…"
Summary: Paracelsus is leaving a little gift for Arthur and the gang…
Disclaimer: No copywrite infringement intended.
Part VIII…
Artie's office…
"Ok…Artie's sedative herbal tea…" Myka set the mug down before Claudia. "With honey, as you like it…"
"Thanks." Wan smile…
"So?..." Myka took a seat next to her… "How are we?"
"I believe cookies were mentioned…" Claudia eyed her…
"Right. One sec…" she rose.
Ummn…Pause…
"Should I refuse to fetch things for you? I mean, I supposed to be your superior, right?" she eyed Claudia, heavy whisper.
"Near mystic or real rape victim, mild hysteria, Myka in mother/nurse mode…What do you think, sweetie?" Claudia eyed her.
Ummn… "I'll get them for you, honey." Raised voice.
Claudia, eyes raised to ceiling…
Still, she is either my Myka or the 99.999999999% quantum equivalent…And I wanted my Myka, of the somewhat submissive, easily led persuasion.
Not really wishing to have to duke it out with some brilliant but fiendishly evil super Myka, thanks…
Though it would've been Donovan in three or four rounds at most…
"Here we go…Say, these look good…Just the ones Artie used to…" Myka, suddenly pensive…
"Mourn our personal dead later, sweetheart…" Claudia eyed her firmly. "We have to go over things before we seek the sheltering bosom of this world's Mrs. F."
In extensive detail, I've no doubt….
Myka chortling a bit…
Sheltering what?...God, Claudia…Giggle, repressed at Claudia's glare.
…
Section 15 corridor…
"Artie…I haven't seen hide nor hair of Paracelsus…" Jinks sighed. "And not even a sensation…"
"But I do got the hare…" Pete, triumphantly raising the captured Energizer bunny by the ears…
"Little fellow was feisty, but…" he beamed.
Uh…He quieted at Artie's glare…
"I want this maniac found, gentlemen." He said, grimly. "If we have to dismantle the Warehouse row by row, stall and shelf by stall and shelf…I want him found."
Buzz of Farnsworth…
"Claudia?"
"Hey…" warm beam… "How's me personal pharmacist/pusher? I'm sipping down your natural Valium…" she raised tea cup to view.
"Hi, Artie!" Myka, cheery wave. "She's much better, we're about to go to Mrs. Fredericks…And those cookies are great!"
"Alls well in Myka and Claudia land, to cut to the chase…" Claudia noted. "Any luck with the hunt, Squire Nielsen?"
"Hey, Claud…All better?" Pete, eagerly.
"Pete!" Myka, beaming… "You're ok?!"
"Fine, Mikes…Thanks for askin'…" pleased smile.
"Sure…" warm beam…
"Family day…" Claudia shrugged to the image of a frowning Arthur. "So?..."
"Nothing yet…"
"Well…" Pete cut in…
"Right. Pete here nailed your bunny." Artie, grim frown.
"Excellent, Elmer…" Claudia grinned. "Well done…So…Did he grab the batteries?"
"Nope…And no more holograms as yet…" Pete, rather proudly. "I'd say we put his lights somewhat out…A bit more, anyway…"
"Aw…It is a win, Nielsen…" Claudia smiled to Artie's glare. "Give the little fellow his well-earned due…Oh, I have the printout from my search…Just a mo and I'll send it to you there." She moved over to the computer.
"Ha, ha…" Myka beamed… "Oh, guys, this is just like…" she paused. Uh…
"The great days before we lost poor Leena…" Claudia cut in, hurrying back…Quick, woebegone look… "We were just talking about her…File's on your way…"
Well…I just was reminding the dear brain-dead girl for the third time that the poor thing's dead here…And was not the junior female Peter Lattimer in suit clone we knew.
"Yeah…" Myka, hastily. "I guess I was getting' all pensive…Sorry to be a downer, guys."
Ok, not bad…Claudia's careful look said.
No, don't smile now, moron…
"Would you two finish your tea break and get over to Mrs Fredericks before Paracelsus or I kill you…?" Artie urged. "Thanks for the list, we'll check it out."
"On our way, without delay, mon captaine…" Claudia, saluting. "Thanks for that checkin' in reminder alarm buzz, you." Sly grin…
The Farnsworth went out…
"She seems good…" Pete noted, pleased.
And so nice of her to note my little hunting triumph…He beamed.
And Myka…That was so nice of her, too.
You know, if we weren't dealing with a mad menace to Humanity and the Universe in general this would be one red letter day for one Lattimer, he thought happily.
"Yeah…She does." Artie frowned. "Jinks? Did you sense anything?"
"About what you'd expect, she was keeping a general front…No direct lies, that I could tell over the Farnsworth anyway…"
"Ok, we'll assume things are stable at that end for the time being. Now…" Artie frowned, scanning Claudia's list of artifacts…
Pete a bit nonplused… "You thought she'd lie to you?"
"We have to assume Paracelsus had something in mind when he attacked her…Especially given he's done it twice now." Artie, calmly. "Would you prefer I hope everything's hunky-dory and wait to find Paracelsus or some old girlfriend has taken up residence in her or left subliminal commands?"
"Right…I get the point." Nod.
"Great. Now, can we see if Claudia's search uncovered any…? Hmmn…93% chance Rashid's cloak is not actually present. 89% chance the scimitar of Omar likewise."
"'Not actually present'…What does that mean, Artie?" Pete stared.
"85% chance the armor of Achilles is no longer where it should be…It means, Agent Lattimer, that Paracelsus found a way to take artifacts without leaving a trace…Or rather…"
"Leaving a false trace…" Jinks finished… Holding the label for the said "Armor of Achilles"…
"But it's right there..." Pete noted, reaching for the armor on the shelf…His hand passing through…
"Hologram?..."
"In part…Only better…A residual artifact trace included to fool the security system." Artie noted…Examining the pad on which the image of the armor lay. "Very nice indeed." He nodded.
"To be expected, from a caretaker…" Pete, shrewd nod.
"Actually, I'd expect better…" Artie shook head. "From a caretaker of Paracelsus' experience and skill…I'd expect us all dead and the Warehouse in his grip. Something is not right."
"What?" Pete…Jinks…
Us not being dead and beat is…"Not right"?
…
Section 1…
"Mrs. Fredericks?" Claudia, carefully, to the seated Mrs. Fredericks as she entered the section. Myka following…Cautiously.
"Claudia…Agent Bering…" nod.
"Mrs. Fredericks." Myka, nodding.
Firm stare, look her in the eye like Claudia said…Don't panic…She trusts you. She is not going to bronze you or call in guards…
"Are you all right, Claudia? Arthur's told me of Paracelsus' attacks…"
"Yeah…Fine…" shrug. "Just wish he'd give some reason for what he's doing."
"I should go join the fellas and see if I can help…" Myka noted.
"Certainly, Agent…" Mrs, Fredericks nodded. "Claudia will be fine with me…"
Made it…Phew…Wait…
Acid test…Right…
"Uh…No offense, Mrs. Fredericks…" she hesitated.
"Yes, Agent?"
"I should check you…Just to be sure, you know? That you're not our guy…Paracelsus…In disguise? Seeing as he's so obsessed with Claud…Claudia…"
Claudia, slightest of supportive glances…Well done, moron.
"That's wise…Please go ahead." Mrs. Fredericks nodded. "No offense taken…"
"Right…Uh…"
"The energy orb set to Paracelsus' aura…?" Claudia offered. "I think it's the best way to test…"
"Right…" nod…Pulling the orb Claudia had passed to her back in the office during their "review"…
"You're clear…" solemn look.
Great…Now, get lost, sweetie…Claudia stared.
"Well done, Agent." Mrs. Fredericks nodded. "Tell Arthur I'll keep Claudia safe. Be careful going to the others…"
"Right." Pleased nod, turning to exit…
Mrs. F always did like me…Till things got a little…Confused…Inward sigh.
But love does things to you…Look at Claud over poor Artie…
"Yes, be careful, Myka. And please keep an eye on Artie…?" Claudia called.
"Oh, sure…Take care. Goodbye, Mrs Fredericks."
"Myka." Nod.
Careful stare at Claudia… "Have a seat, Miss Donovan."
"So…" Claudia, nervous smile…Taking seat.
"You should know I've arranged for additional help…In case we fail to locate Paracelsus." Mrs. Fredericks noted quietly.
"Really…" Claudia…Hesitant…
This could be it…What I was waiting for…
"The Regents are coming for a convocation. Provided I deem the situation is safe enough."
God bless you, sweetheart…Beam. "That's great, Mrs. Fredericks…But…" worried look. "Is that safe? To gather the Regents with Paracelsus here?"
"Better than letting him pick me off, then each of them, one by one, dear."
"I see…But you beat him…"
"I held him off the first time…I might not be so lucky in a second attack."
I see…Still, the ole lady has something…She wouldn't risk the whole shebang like this unless she knew she could protect them…Or the sit was so bad…
…And while not promising…Technically…Though thanks to lil' ole me in reality, battle in fact, won…We're not yet at DefCom 4.
Lets just hope Myka is up to the challenge of provoking such a jump…
…
Confinement cell…
"Look, you people have got this all wrong!" Myka hollered from behind the bars. "I don't belong here…I'm not your Myka Bering! Jinks!..." she called to the agent in dark suit, staring impassively at her….
"You can prove it…I'm not your Myka…See? Not a lie."
"The only thing that proves is that you had great teachers in Paracelsus and Claudia, Myka." Jinks, quietly.
"Jinks!" she cried.
"Lets not play this game again, Bering. I'm not interested, I've heard it all…You were a tool of Claudia Donovan, she and her pal led you astray…They 'did something' to you…The same old song and with Claudia's little self-hypnosis trick, you can make yourself believe it." He put up a hand. "I admit my arrogance led me to think I couldn't be fooled once. Thank God Peter Lattimer is no fool." Glare. "Now. if you want anything as to food or drink, something to read, I'll pass it on…Otherwise."
"I'm not trying to fool you and I'm not making excuses! Jinks, somehow I was sent here, from my world…Claudia…" she stared. "No…It couldn't have been Claudia…Paracelsus…In her form or controlling her or…"
"Tell it to Fredericks when she comes…She's a sweet ole lady, she'll probably be willing to listen." Cold tone. Pausing just before turning away…"But let me tell you, Bering." Icy, grim stare. Cold repressed anger in tone… "The days when people like you could betray and murder good people and threaten the world and soft-hearted fools like Mrs. Fredericks and her Regents would let it happen are coming to an end, thanks to Agent Lattimer. And this place is going to be protected…Properly." He turned and walked off, signaling for the quietly waiting Leena to let him out.
Thanks to …? She stared after him…Catching Leena's glance for a second before Leena, ignoring her, turned away and closed the outer door.
