Chapter 23

Michael's head fell forward and it seemed like everyone in the room held their collective breath, unsure of what would happen next. Before Rudy could even move in to take the younger doctor's pulse, Michael raised his head again and opened his eyes.

''I'm alright,'' he announced. ''Go ahead and check me over,'' he requested of Rudy, ''then let's get back to the MRI.'' While the machine was set up for another round, Michael turned to Oscar and Russ. ''I know I'm not in any position right now to make suggestions and you haven't even asked my opinion but...'' He paused, waiting quietly for whatever Oscar might say or do.

''Go ahead,'' Oscar told him. ''We're listening.''

''You may want to start rounding up the people on that list. Tell them whatever you need to, to get them here - and then as soon as Rudy looks at this second MRI, I'd like to help you in however you decide to proceed.''

''Will everyone of them need that?'' Russ asked, nodding through the glass at the huge, foreboding-looking MRI machine.

''Ideally, yes. But once you're fully convinced that I'm on the level, we'll talk about it further. You may decide to move more quickly - and I can help you with that.''

''We're ready for you, Doctor,'' the tech told Michael.

As the second scan was underway, both Oscar and Russ noted to themselves that Michael hadn't even a shred of doubt as to what the tests would show. His confidence in the face of what he was up against was both impressive...and highly convincing.

''Want me to get started on this list?'' Russ offered. While he'd still not been officially reinstated to his position as Oscar's right-hand man, he was already fulfilling the duties admirably in the midst of a high-pressure situation. Oscar nodded his assent and Russ began to scan the list. ''Oh no...'' he said almost involuntarily.

Oscar looked to the name Russ was pointing at in such utter horror. Jessica Armstrong, Jaime and Becca's favorite nurse. Russ looked up at the clock on the wall. ''She's on duty right now!'' he gasped. If she'd been programmed by Hansen to harm the Austins, there was no telling when or how she might strike.

''Send a team over to Steve and Jaime's,'' Oscar instructed, ''and -''

''I'll call Steve to warn him,'' Russ said quickly (completing his boss' thought), ''and then I'll head over there myself!''

Steve hung up the phone and looked at Jaime, who was still happily dancing around the kitchen, cleaning up, making muffins and preparing a salad for lunch all at the same time and rejoicing in everything she was suddenly able to do. Steve knew he was about to burst her bubble in a big way but he had no choice. Just 24 hours earlier, he'd have kept this from her, handled it himself in fear of sending her condition into a tailspin. Still...what exactly should he tell her? The info was sketchy at best and even if it were true, Becca was probably in no danger.

But 'probably' simply wasn't good enough; not when their daughter was concerned! He gave Jaime a brief rundown of what was happening - and what might be happening - then he held her while she cried before rushing off to the park himself. He got Jaime to agree to wait at home in case Jess an d Becca returned. They'd been gone an awfully long time, long enough for Jaime and Steve to cook and eat their own breakfast, clean up...and even for Jaime to make that batch of muffins! In spite of the reassuring words he'd offered his wife, Steve was beyond worried!

He ran as fast as he dared run in public, toward the park. He met them halfway there, coming down the sidewalk. Or rather...he met Jess. She held one hand behind her back, out of Steve's view and the other hand nonchalant;y pushed the stroller. Steve literally felt his breath catch in his throat when he saw the stroller was empty!

''Where's my daughter?'' Steve demanded accusingly.

Jess shook her head (still smiling) and pulled a glowering, sobbing Becca from where she'd been leading/pulling her by the hand. ''Someone didn't want to leave the park,'' she explained.

''What did you do to her?'' Steve snarled, swooping his sniffling child up I his arms.

''I really wouldn't do that if I were you,'' Jess told him calmly. ''Reward a tantrum and she'll have another every time things don't go her way; I guarantee it.''

Steve put Becca down to stand on her own two (stomping) feet. He almost had to laugh when he looked at her; he'd seen the same angry glower and pout on her mother's face hundreds of times!

''She's...(sniffle)...mean, Daddy!'' the child protested.

''Looks like the Terrible Twos have hit with a vengeance, Colonel,'' the nurse chuckled.

Rudy looked up at the lightbox with Michael beside him (and Security penguins lining the room). ''He's right, Oscar,'' he announced. ''The change is there, exactly as Michael had said it would be.''

Oscar stepped forward and turned toward Michael. ''Alright,'' he said, ''so what the hell do we do now?''

''MRIs would tell you the story for sure,'' Michael began, ''But there are just too many of them.''

''I hope you have a solution for us...? Are we just supposed to line up dozens of subjects and 'zap' them with your device - whether they consent to it or not?''

That was a breach of ethics that Rudy found he couldn't swallow. He shook his head with surprising vehemence. ''That's not what he's saying,Oscar; it can't be!''

Michaels's expression was dark and sad...and his voice was grim. ''That's exactly what I'm saying...''

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