We all gathered outside and waited for the helicopters to arrive. “Did you get a good look at the man in charge?” asked Sky. “Yes, and even better..” I began, then I held my held and started to scream. Everyone looked not knowing what to do. But it did not last and I was back to normal. “Did he do something to you Steve?” asked Sky. “I, I do not think so,” I said slowly, but my head still feels like a hammer hit me.”

I walked away from everyone and Sky followed after me. “I am overdue for my shot?” I asked her. “No, you are not due for another shot for 10 days,” she replied, “but perhaps that gas reacted badly because of your other problems.” “Maybe,” I said, “I sure do not feel right at all. I just want to get away from this place, and fast!” “Rock will be here soon,” she said and put her arm around me. “Get away!!” I yelled, “do not touch me!!”

Then I pushed her away, hard, and she fell. John came running over and stood between me and Sky. “Cool down Steve,” he said, “what has gotten into you?” I just yelled for him to get away from me. Sky called Marlene over to give me something to calm me down. She came right away. “NO, I do not want anything!” I yelled, and I pushed her down too. But John being quite a bit bigger than me, held me still so she could give me a tranquilizer to calm me down.

It worked very fast and I just went limp, so John laid me down on the ground. Meanwhile, “Well, well, Bruce,” said the man, “that gas never had such an effect on anyone before. I wonder if he is on some other medication? I can think of a couple medications that might mix badly. One would likely kill him after a few days, or make him go completely insane. Such a shame really, especially since he was so agreeable about leaving.” Bruce just mumbled something about not caring what happened to me.

Back to us. “I would say that gas is bringing on an attack of the ‘nowhere’ medication,” said John, “that is not good. I hope Saranna can do something to help him.” Poor Sky was now kneeling beside me and crying. “I want to go back in there and get that man,” she said angrily. “Without guns that would not be a good move,” said John, “better to leave now like he wants, then come back again.” “Yes, I suppose you are right,” she said.

The two choppers arrived just as it was beginning to get dark. We all loaded in quickly and left. Sky told Rock what had happened and to take me directly to the hospital. “You are in charge now Rock,” she said. “We will be coming back,” he said, “that is a promise. But I would like to see what Saranna says about Steve first. And, we need a plan for coming back. We need to come back a little less openly next time.” “I agree with that,” said Sky.

They dropped me, Sky and MC at the hospital and the others continued home. Annelie had some news waiting about this doctor I had met. Fortunately I had been thinking straight while with this doctor and his friend Bruce. We have a new feature on our phones, an ability to take a photo, silently and then send it to one of the cats. I sent a photo of the doctor and Bruce to Muffin. It gets picked up in her collar and Chung then downloaded them to Annelie’s laptop.

She began her search right away, and also sent the pictures to Baldwin and Mandar, just in case they might know them. Baldwin did right away and called Annelie to give her a name for the doctor. The man was a real doctor, Baldwin’s personal physician at one time, years ago now. But Baldwin caught him selling some of his company secrets to the competition, so he was sent to prison for 10 years, but he has been out for 5 years now.

His name is James Wilson and apparently he was a good doctor, but it seems he has decided on a new career. His friend is Bruce James, oddly enough, a well known tough guy in the criminal world and actually worked for Victor on a couple of occasions. She found out that info from the Major. Now, if Saranna can just find out some information about what has happened to me.

Unfortunately when I awoke I was just yelling and making no sense whatever, plus I was totally violent so I had to be kept calm with tranquilizers. She was convinced that there must have been a bad reaction due to lingering effects of that ‘nowhere’ drug in me. That had her very concerned as she really did not know what to do.

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.