Dustin was still unconscious; more equipment was being set up by a medical team including Éclair and Lumiere. Carly hovered over Dustin.
"He's showing heightened activity in the cerebral cortex."
"Pulse and blood pressure are slightly elevated." Daniel reported.
"Systemic activity?"
"Increasing. And I'm getting heightened tactile responses."
"Set up a galvanic scan."
"Optimus, I have been analyzing the nucleonic beam. I believe it would be possible to reflect the particles back toward the probe in a way that would disrupt the signal.
Optimus turned to Carly with a tough question.
"Carly?"
She didn't have an easy answer.
"I don't know what it's doing to him, or what'll happen if we stop it."
"He could be dying by inches." Optimus said.
"His vital signs are stable. There's no indication he's in a life threatening situation" Carly said.
"I'm not willing to let that thing keep drilling into him." Prime said with a stern voice.
"I simply don't know the risk of shutting down the beam. If someone gets stabbed, you don't necessarily pull the knife out right away, that might do more harm than leaving it there.
"Shortstop is under attack. We must act." Brainstorm said.
Prime weighed his options.
"I'm inclined to agree. Carly, monitor him closely. Perceptor, prepare to disrupt the beam. We're going to try to cut this cord."