AUTHOR'S NOTE: This chapter was originally written in a different format as well. I liked it, but I think I like this one more. Maybe. We'll see. I know it's not terribly action-packed, but this is my The Empire Strikes Back of the trilogy - if, you know, the trilogy was Star Wars and not Morganville. As always, please read, please enjoy, please review. Much love! ~ Billie

THEO

I hovered over my patient, checking vitals. Unlike most, this one was actually human. She was a young mother here in Morganville, and suffered from anemia. It meant she donated blood far less often than most of the others, and it was the fact that I treated her that encouraged Amelie to make an exception to the town's "blood tax law" for her. I made an effort to treat as many of the townsfolk who suffered from disorders that made it difficult for them to donate blood as possible. It was the least I could do - Amelie usually listened when I recommended that the taxes be adjusted for my patients, as long as I had legitimate medical reasons.

I took a few drops of Mrs. Wallace's blood using a finger prick and tested to ensure that the iron supplements I had recommended for her were working. Things looked much better. I turned to her with a smile and gave her the good news. "Your iron count looks much better than it did before the supplements, Mrs. Wallace. Are you suffering from any of the ill effects we spoke about last time you were here?"

She swallowed and kept her gaze lowered. I was disappointed that she was so nervous around me, but I understood it. Many of my human patients had difficulty separating me from my brethren, despite the fact that I took my Hippocratic Oath very seriously. It was one of the reasons that I didn't advertise as a human doctor, only took recommended patients from a colleague at Morganville's clinic.

"No," she said. "No problems at all."

"And are you seeing a benefit from use of the supplement?"

"Oh yes," she said, and her face lit up as she smiled. "I can finally chase little Kayleigh around all day without feeling dizzy and light-headed."

"Very good," I said, smiling back at her. "Children, particularly toddlers, can be very demanding. I know how much energy it takes to look after them."

Mrs. Wallace nodded. "It really does. I have no idea how my mom did it. There were six of us."

"Obviously, your mother is a superhero," I replied, making notes in my chart. "Now, if there are no concerns, I recommend you keep your dosage the same as now. I'm also recommending your taxes remain where they currently are. You are obviously healthier now, but there is no need to go mucking about with such things any time soon."

"Thank you, doctor," she said with a smile.

"Oh, and Mrs. Wallace, one more thing."

She turned to me and faced me full-on, her eyes meeting mine. "Yes?"

I sighed. I hated being the bearer of bad news, particularly news this bad. "There has been an incident. One that is very dangerous for this town. I want you to listen to what I tell you and listen closely. You are no longer safe outside of your home after sunset for any reason. Do not walk down any shaded alleys, even during the day. Keep your cellular phone charged and turned on, and I recommend you and your friends travel everywhere in groups.

"Do not open your door to anyone after dark for any reason, even if they say they need your help. Make sure all of your outside lights work. And above all else, keep your daughter in your sight at all times. And if you haven't already, I recommend you teach your little girl stranger safety as well as what to do in an emergency."

Mrs. Wallace blanched. "What?"

I smiled sadly. "I'm afraid I cannot go into much detail at this time, but I want you to know that there are a great many people working as hard as they can to fix the situation at hand as quickly as possible. I recommend you call your friends and loved ones and pass my warning on to them, and encourage them to pass it on as well."

The young woman swallowed loudly. "Yes sir, Doctor Goldman. Th-thank you for the warning."

I watched her leave, suddenly much more wary than she'd been when she entered. I watched through my office window as she ran across the sunny parking lot to her car, locking her doors when she got in. I prayed she would be safe.

After filing Mrs. Wallace's medical records in our records room and locking the cabinet, I returned to my office. I sat down behind my desk and avoided making eye contact with the visitor I had left waiting while I attended to my patient. "I had to warn her," I said, checking my appointment book. Mrs. Wallace was my last patient of the day.

"Yes, I suppose you did," Amelie acknowledged. "Hopefully, she will pass it on to a great many others."

I nodded. "We must be careful what we say."

"Did you tell her I was dead?"

"Absolutely not. I merely told her there was a situation, and that capable individuals were working to handle it as swiftly as possible."

The Founder nodded. "Well said."

I reached into my desk and pulled out the veneered, white-gold plated stake I had pulled from the Founder's chest this morning when I found her laying at the door to my home. "I must admit. A fake wooden stake dipped in gold so that it would resemble silver? Brilliant. Would you like this back?"

Amelie held her hand out. "Yes. It is one of a kind, given to me by Myrnin a few years back. He encouraged me to keep it around 'just in case.' I always thought he meant it as a joke."

"Well, one could never know whether or not he was serious with any certainty," I conceded, dropping the stake into her waiting hand. "You must miss him terribly."

There was the slightest of pauses, enough to let me know that the Founder was planning her words carefully. "Yes. As you know, he and I knew one another for centuries. I always knew I could trust him, even when we disagreed. I cannot say that honestly about another of my species. Even you would disregard my orders if they interfered with your moral code."

I nodded in agreement. I had done so before, and would certainly do so again. "I appreciate your giving me a rundown of the situation here in town," I said, hoping she would get my hint that this conversation was ending.

"Of course, Theo. I trust we can count on your continued support?"

I nodded. "Of course. Humanity does not need to be enslaved in order for us to survive. And to believe otherwise is not only foolish, it is dangerous. The only thing more dangerous than a cornered human is a group of cornered humans."

The Founder nodded and left my office without another word. I pulled out my telephone book and began calling every human patient I had to spread the word of the very serious danger they were all in.