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"What do you mean they locked the lab doors?" Talmadge demanded.
"Somehow they overrode the computers and locked the doors." Olga answered.
"I want those doors opened now! Ramsey, get it done."
"Yes sir."
As Ramsey rushed out of Talmadge's office, Olga's cell phone rang. "Hello?"
"Olga, this is Diane. Could you come to the lab, I have some results to discuss with you."
"I'll be right there." Turning to Talmadge she said, "Dr. Hughes Foley wants to discuss some results."
"I'll go with you. I want them to understand that this type of behavior will not be tolerated."
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Diane looked Talmadge straight in the eyes, "I understand your concerns sir, but if you had given me all the facts to begin with we never would have had to take extreme measures."
"Let me understand this, you found the problem?"
"Yes sir, it was actually easy once I found out what you were hiding."
"And what is it that you have found?"
"The 'Trojan Horse' program was interrupted by a temporal anomaly. I believe the original program would have killed him after driving him insane. His current condition is a result of the nanites repairing the programming themselves. His frequent jumps in time kept setting the nanite program back. Something has changed recently that allowed them to finish repairing the program."
"Recently we have allowed another chrononaut to 'backstep', taking some of the load off of Parker. How did you learn about our project?"
"That is classified sir."
"You are being insubordinate."
"We both are." Jake put in, speaking for the first time. "If you get Director Beckett on the phone you will find that we are under orders that we received this morning."
"That I will do. Now, how much do you know?"
Looking at each other for a few seconds, Jake answered for himself and his wife, "Enough to know we would know too much, if we weren't already ultra-classified."
A monitor started flashing as the quartet stared at each other. Talmadge's face was firm not showing the possibilities of the situation that he was calculating. Olga's surprise at Jake and Diane's findings was evident in her big eyes. Diane stood firm, eyes locked on Talmadge, resolve and anger colored her porcelain face. And Jake stood slightly behind her, intense concentration showing clearly as his hand rested on Diane's shoulder.
Noticing the monitor, Olga tapped in a command and broke the silence. "Frank is awake. Would you like to meet your patient?"
"Of course," Diane answered, breaking her stare with Talmadge. "I would like to get his opinion of his situation and of his relationship with Claire."
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Leading the way into the observation room, Olga is greeted by her Mr. Parker. "Hi Olga," he said groaning as he sat up and moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "This was the worst night yet…" Seeing Diane stepping from behind Olga, he lunged for her, "You bitch!" As his hands wrapped around her throat, he is struck by Jake's fist.
Spinning to face the new threat, he started punching at the body when his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he sagged to the floor.
Standing behind him with a hypodermic in her hand, Olga looked aghast. "I am so sorry; he has never acted that way before."
"Yet you were ready with a sedative?" Jake said accusingly as he put his handkerchief over a split knuckle.
"It was in case he needed it, I never expected to…"
"Has he ever reacted like this before?" Diane asked, rubbing her reddened throat.
"No, never… Usually when he sees a beautiful woman he 'hits' on her."
"His condition may be deteriorating. I need to find out more about the nanites and this 'Claire'. Can we talk to Dr. Ballard?"
"I'm sorry, that would be impossible. He died recently of cancer."
"I'm sorry. Is there a record of his nanite development and programming that I can see?"
"Yes, I can call that up for you in the lab."
"What about Claire? Is there anyone I can talk to about her programming?"
Thinking a moment, Olga answered, "How about Dr. Susan Erikson – Claire's 'mom'."
"Mom?"
"Claire referred to her as 'mom' and Dr. Ballard 'dad'. She programmed Claire and he developed… the Gemini-IV, multi-programmable memory chip, a piece of hardware that made her possible."
"I think it would be useful if we talked with her as soon as possible."
"Of course, I will see about…"
Interrupting, Jake tried to usher the women out of the observation room. "Ladies, I would feel better if we continued this meeting somewhere where my wife is secure."
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"… and that is how things stand now."
"I'm not sure how I can help Olga." Dr. Susan Erikson said. The sofa in her living room was little used and was less comfortable than decorative. Company had been sparse the last few years since the 'Claire' disaster; even old friends had rarely returned her phone calls. The death of Dr. Ballard, seemingly her only true friend left had left a hole in her life.
"We have a specialist working on the case who feels like you may have insights that could help."
Thinking about… Claire. It felt wrong, but if there was more damage to undo, she felt obliged to help. "Alright, what ever you need. When shall we meet?"
"I knew you would agree. They are nearby window shopping."
"Window shopping! In an emergency?" Dr. Erikson had risen to her feet in annoyance.
"Please Susan! Relax… She is expecting and her husband has his hands full keeping her from overworking on this case. Please sit down; they are a phone call away."
The decaf-coffee was steaming when the doorbell rang. Answering, Dr. Erikson was immediately captured by the warm brown eyes and easy smile of the tall man standing there. Her eyes stray down to the equally brown and smiling eyes of… Claire. If not for the quick movement of the man, her limp body would have finished collapsing in the front door.
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She awoke in her own bed, the room dark except for the reading lamp on the table by which Olga sat reading. That had to have been a hallucination she thought, brought on by the conversation she had had with Olga. Claire has been deleted and had been for seven years. There is no way she is back – and real!
Noticing movement, Olga moved to the bed. "How do you feel?"
"Confused… Foolish… What happened?"
"You fainted when you answered the door. We checked you out and could find no physical reason for you to collapse."
"I'm sorry, I thought… I don't know why it happened."
"You sound unsure?"
Seeing that Olga wouldn't let it go of it she decides to tell her what she saw. "I thought I saw Claire standing at the door… I know it sounds foolish."
"That would be a shock. I can assure you that Diane is real. Would you like to meet the Foley's? I can assure you that they are very nice people. She is a research doctor with the NSA and he is also with the agency as a computer technician."
"They work together?"
"They are… unique." Standing and moving to the door, Olga softly called for the couple.
A couple of minutes passed as Dr. Erikson heard the two ascend the stairs and approach the room. Hidden by Olga, she doesn't see the woman, but she can see the warm eyes of the husband looking at her with concern. Almost in slow motion she saw the diminutive woman step to her husband's side and give her a nervously quick smile and wave hello. Staring, Dr. Susan Erikson doesn't believe her eyes – it is Claire!
"Dr. Susan Erikson," Olga began making the introductions, "I would like you to meet Mr. Jake Foley and his wife Dr. Diane Hughes Foley."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Dr. Erikson." Diane said stepping to the bed, watching in confusion as Dr. Erikson pushed herself deeper into the covers, eyes widened in fear. "Are you feeling Ok?"
Looking to Olga, she stammered, "Th – Th - This is a joke, right?"
"What are you talking about Susan?"
Pointing to her desk, she asked Olga to get Claire's folder from the file drawer. "Please Olga, find the pictures."
Opening the folder, Olga easily found the pictures. The first is of a 10 year old Claire, innocent looking, except for her knowing eyes. Then the young teen Claire, so full of wonder and questions, spending too much time in inappropriate adult web sites. The next is of the 'punk' version of Claire, not exactly a pretty sight. The fourth, Olga recognizes as the 20 something Claire, sultry, sexy and very 'interested' in Frank. Stopping, she looked again, then she looked at Diane, then the picture again – it can't be! Holding the picture up so she can see both it and Dr. Hughes she shook her head, "This can not be."
Having moved to her side, Jake took the picture from her and stared at it, "Diane, when did you have straight hair?"
"I've never had straight hair, you know that."
Handing her the picture, he smiled, "I like the dress."
Staring at the dead on image of herself, she frowned. "Where did this come from?"
"Diane," Olga began, "This is Claire…"
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