"The partially, nearly Naked Gun 3 : 'They Saved Crumpf's Brain'..."

Summary: Frank Drebbin is out of retirement and on the case when he learns the fanatical former president and loser candidate Fred Crumpf may not be quite as dead as he left him and he and/or his crazies including his family threaten the newly elected President Woodrowmina Wilson.

Of course, Nordberg is no longer on the squad because of, well, we never talk about that...

Part XXII...

"You really think it's worthwhile...To see these last two docs?" Ed asked Marjorie from the rear of her car as the three-Director Bailey, Frank, and Ed sped to a special heliport. Another agent driving now so that they could talk more easily, she seated with Ed in back.

"Well, we are out of options, Ed." Marjorie noted. "We've not had much luck so far with the others."

"But if they haven't been attacked..." Ed pointed out. "Even if Edna did see 'em...?"

"Even Crumpf's people can't be everywhere." She noted. "And I simply want to review anything we find. I would like you there, Captain. You know both men and they might talk more freely with you. After all, the only useful information we've gotten so far was from Dr. Bailey's records and he wasn't a member of their group, so far as we can determine."

"That Edna's brain had been subjected to injury and then regenerated in parts, that's what you said your people confirmed from Dr. Bailey?" Frank asked. "That they got in there and sliced and diced till she was a raging promiscuous lunatic, then tried to see if they could regenerate something from the mush left inside?"

"Uh...Well, yes. Confirmation that some kind of manipulation and repair was involved...Though they tried to conceal it as natural...Enough to fool the average neurologist without access to viewing the damaged tissue directly. Though Dr. Bailey, coot and whatever else though he may be, was actually suspicious. Captain?" she eyed the glowering Hocken.

"Sorry..." Hocken calmed. "I just get a little red thinking of what those bastards...Those Nazi...That punk kid doctor..."

"Captain, we don't need you to have a stroke just right now. Nor does Edna." Marjorie noted.

"Marjorie's right, Ed. Strokes are for when we've beaten these bastards and you're back relaxing with your family." Frank nodded.

"Right. Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to check in with the last two. After all, Dr. Grey Owl was the first one to suggest it wasn't migraines. And she was better for a bit with the therapy Dr. Liu taught her about inner peace and rebuilding, and the acupuncture helped a little, though we passed on the herbs after Sue found out on the internet they could activate liver cancer and probably kill you anyway at those dosages." Ed noted. "Maybe we'll find something."

"Something..." Frank nodded. "Judging by what we've found to date today...Dead bodies, rifled records, crazy old perverted coots with computers full of compromising pictures of their patients. But it's all potentially useful knowledge, I guess. What about Barton's driver, Marjorie? Your agent? Has she or Goebbels-Banner been found?"

"Just the car..." Marjorie sighed. "Abandoned in a lot. No sign of Alison or Goebbels-Banner."

"It's making my blood boil, thinking of that lousy little doc..." Ed, fuming. "If I had him here, he'd see an exposed brain for sure."

"Ed..." Frank tried

"No, Frank...This one I gotta deal with. He lied to my face, my ears, my eyes, every part of me! He stood there, and pretended to be helping us...Edna. While all the time...!" brick red, near apoplectic face

"Sorry...Ma'am." he eyed the headstead he'd just pulled off from the passenger's seat in front of him. "I'll pay for that. Sorry, Frank, didn't mean to almost knock your head into the ceiling, grabbing and ripping this thing." He set the headset down before him.

"Sure..." the stunned Frank noted. "But watch that temper, Ed. We need cool calm and steady aim, not red-faced rage, when we're randomly shooting at people in public places with innocent people about."

"I understand your feelings, Captain..." Marjorie noted. "I lost at least two good agents today plus poor Terry and Jeremy may be out of action for months and Alison may be dead as well."

"Yeah...I'm sorry about that." Ed sighed.

"My agents are doing all they can to locate that Nazi sob and see what they can find in what remains of the deleted files and the blast at Barton's place. Lets hope they can uncover something." Marjorie nodded. "And what's happened is certainly not your fault, Captain."

Smiling... "But there is good news on one front. Dr. Krebins has texted me he feels the formulation is helping Edna already." She offered Ed her phone.

"That's wonderful." Ed nodded, as he read the texts. "Even if it's temporary...But, it's working so quickly?"

"As I understand it, the effect is to help enhance synaptic connections quickly allowing her brain to work with more efficiency. But the doctor wanted me to remind you the effect is going to temporary." Marjorie explained.

"Like that rat and the other fellow in 'Flowers for Algernon'?" Frank suggested helpfully from his seat. "She'll be up and up for a depressingly short time, then...Pfft?"

"Uh...Well..." Marjorie shrugged. "He wasn't that descriptive, so I couldn't say. Anyway, she seems improved."

"Well, again...We'll take what we can get, for now." Ed nodded. "Thanks, Marjorie. I and Edna and the kids do appreciate it."

"No thanks needed, Ed. Lets just get these bastards." She noted as the car turned into the heliport.

...

"Don't be depressed, Mom." Rory noted as the two Wilmore Killmores sat on bench near the coffee shop they'd just left, with sandwiches and coffee.

"I mean, apart from this coffee." She made face. "I wish we could wait to kill the owner and steal his car..." she noted. "But I know, we need to go back to the hotel and plan for Operation Drebbin." Pausing. "Cheer up, Mom. You were great today."

"Lorelei sighing. "I was...Ok...On the first three targets. Maybe pretty good in Chinatown. But..." sigh.

"Mom, you couldn't've known our client had a sleeper with the feds. And need I point out, we took out the target and destroyed his files."

"You destroyed his files. I was so proud of you, honey. That shot was right on target."

"I'm sorry about the agents killed and wounded, though. Of course, that was their duty. They have their jobs, we have ours. We all take chances, right."

"I have taught you well..." Lorelei, in James Earl Jones' tone attempt.

"Oh, now I'm rememberin' we just lost Darth Vader..." Rory sighed. "I feel a great disturbance in the Force."

"Oh, sorry...I should not have done that so soon. Forgive me, my young apprentice." Lorelei shook head.

"No problem, my Mistress Mother. But really, you were great. They were all fooled by your Scully." Beam.

Eyeing slight pout on Lorelei's face...

"Mulder?"

"Much better...Scully's too hard-nosed and close-minded." Lorelei nodded. Eyeing Rory... "You don't see me as too hard-nosed and close-minded, do you?"

"Not at all...You are the softest-nosed, most open-minded Mom I know. But I hate you feel bad about this one. You really did great. It was inspirational, watching you work today."

"I guess so...I just hate not to do these things myself. Feels almost like I haven't earned my keep."

"Now, now...We did all we were required to do so far...Well, we have to go back to the hotel and plan. So...Hows about a little shopping enroute?" Rory suggested. "We are doing well on this one."

"Ok...But just window shopping unless we see something unique. These LA prices are outrageous." Lorelei, rising.

"And maybe, a spa afternoon?" Rory suggested.

"Oooh...Mama likes where this is going..." Lorelei beamed.

...