Chapter 16
''An army of - what did that mad doctor call them? - Fembots?'' Jack Hansen suggested.
''That's hardly likely,'' Rudy scoffed. (Hansen was clearly not cut out for scientific brainstorming!) The three-agency morning meeting had turned into a roundtable brainstorming session about what the terrorists' possible end goal might be...and Rudy had been summoned for the insight he might provide. As the creator of the technology the terrorists were after, he'd clearly have plenty to say. ''The fembots may have been physically more powerful than Steve and Jaime, but their power source was far more primitive - and easily vanquished. They wouldn't be readily adaptable to a nuclear source, even if this group somehow got their hands on an entire fembot to use as a prototype.''
''Alright, an army of bionic people, then,'' Hansen muttered.
''Not without all of my files on the necessary schematics and the biology involved - and those are locked in a crack-proof, fire-proof, lead-lined safe.''
''So we're obviously talking about some other sort of...device,'' Russ theorized. ''Since Jack brought up Doctor Franklin, there's another device we should probably mention here -''
''Weather control,'' Oscar completed for him, sharing the same worrisome thought. ''Was about it, Rudy? Could that be nuclear-powered?''
''I suppose it could...but there's really no reason for it to be. For the miniaturization of it, sure - but why make it smaller, harder to find - when a properly-functioning weather control system wouldn't allow us anywhere near its base of operations. They want to inflict terror, as widespread and complete as they can make it. Since they're after the power pack's technology though, I don't think their eye is on weather control. And since Steve has informed us that the terrorists claim to have all the money they need, we have to assume they're ready to move forward with their plan. We have to make sure they don't get their hands on a power pack - or the results will likely be worse than we can even imagine!''
Security once again followed at a tactful distance, allowing Jaime the joy of returning home without unduly adding to any stress she might feel. Steve thought she looked radiant...except when he took a good, close look into her eyes. She was also still fragile...and frightened. Only one who knew Jaime as well as he did would spot that - and he vowed to do everything in his power to help her feel safe.
''Put your feet up and relax,'' he told her, ''and I'll fix some lunch.''
''Put my feet up...why? There's no circulation in my feet!''
''It's the idea of enforced relaxation that I'm going for here -''
''And don't forget that I remember all about your 'skills' in the kitchen now, Colonel! I love you, but you'd probably burn soup.''
''Even one-handed, I can slap together some sandwiches...probably.''
''I'll make you a deal,'' Jaime laughed, heading into the kitchen where that morning a secretary (sent by Oscar) had stocked the refrigerator with food for Jaime's homecoming, ''I'll 'slap some lunch together'. And you can supervise to make sure I don't do anything strenuous. How's that?''
A kiss sealed the agreement - for both of them.
Outside the house, Security had just moved forward into their assigned posts at the front and back doors (with teams also in cars on the street, facing in both directions) when the florist's delivery truck pulled up - and the team at the front door accepted the bright, cheerful arrangement. They immediately began scanning the blossoms for explosives, listening devices or harmful substances but there was only a card. They tore open the tiny white envelope...and immediately radioed for Hansen and Oscar. They hoped Jaime hadn't noticed the delivery truck because she wasn't going to be receiving these flowers - and they certainly weren't going to show her the card!
We're glad you're feeling better, it read. We haven't forgotten you.
END of Episode Four
(Story continued in Episode Five.)