Loveless had Voltaire strap Gordon down to the operating table after having the prisoner's boots, socks, and shirt removed. When Gordon's shirt was removed, Loveless winced and then took a closer look at the red lattice-like rash. He then wrapped his small hands around the prisoner's wrists, elbows and then ankles and chuckled.

"This is going just perfectly!"

"What is going perfectly, Miguilito," Antoinette asked as she approached the operating table in her mask and gloves.

"My improved bacterium! Mr. Gordon now has the rash, the swollen joints, and uncontrollable spasms of his muscles. All in less than one week," Loveless clapped his hands.

"Miguilito, that is wonderful," Antoinette exclaimed as she clapped her hands.

"Now Antoinette, be a dear and give him just one dose of the cure now and put another dose in his breakfast tomorrow. I don't want him completely cured, but I don't want him to die just yet. I want him to come around so I can have a little chat with Mr. Gordon here."

"Yes, Miguilito," Antoinette said and waltzed over to a rack of vials on a table against the wall.

"By tomorrow afternoon he should be somewhat sensible again. Then we can have more fun with him and Mr. West!" Loveless laughed as he watched Antoinette give the unconscious agent some of the cure intravenously.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

James West paced around the tiny cell in anticipation of seeing his partner again. Loveless made it clear that Artie was going to stay extremely sick and that while he would get no better, he would not die, just yet anyway. How were they going to get out of this? If, if, Artemus was given enough of the antidote to feel better long enough to fake another attack like this one, that could be used as an element of surprise. Then there was Lina. He was sure he could get Lina's assistance but he had to think of how best to use that assistance. He couldn't put her in a position where she could possibly get shot. After another several minutes of pacing the idea finally came to him.

Lina finally came in with dinner and was a bit surprised to find only one of the two prisoners. "What happened to Mr. Gordon," she quietly asked as she slid West's try through the slot.

"Artemus took a turn for the worst," Jim said indifferently as he knelt down to pick up his dinner.

Putting a small hand to her mouth, Lina quietly gasped, "oh Mr. West, what can I do? I- I don't want to be a part of anyone's suffering."

"Come on, are you going to put the other tray in the cell for when the other prisoner gets back or not?" Sampson asked impatiently.

This time the cell was opened for her to enter to place the tray of food where it would not get stepped on.

Jim casually strolled over and sat down on his bunk and pretended to eat and quietly asked, "Do you know where Dr. Loveless put the items he took off of us and do you have access to his lab?"

"Y- yes both." Lina replied softly as she paused to make up Gordon's cot to buy some time to speak to the prisoner.

"Good, then here's what you can do to help." As he ate, Jim quickly and quietly told Lina what she could do to help.

"Stop yer flirtin and git going already," Sampson snapped.

Without another word or glance back, Lina left the cell and exited the room.

Well, here goes everything, Jim thought to himself.

WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

After what seemed like an eternity to Jim, Voltaire appeared with Artemus thrown over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and deposited the unconscious agent onto the cot then left immediately. Surprisingly Loveless did not appear to further taunt him.

After Voltaire was gone, Jim hurriedly strode over to the bars that separated the two cells. Artemus appeared to be sleeping and his breathing seemed easier. His forehead was still warm, but not burning up like it was before and the swelling in Artie's wrist had gone down some as well. For the time being, Artemus seemed to be sleeping peacefully and not in any immediate danger so Jim let his partner get the sleep he needed and settled down on his own cot for the night.