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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2009 22:52:06 GMT -5
Caddy shook his head. "Not yet -- I've been busy keeping an eye on Timothy. He got knocked on the head in addition to the effect that 'Doctor G.' character's powers are having on his system. It's not a very severe concussion, but I'm not taking any chances."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2009 22:57:15 GMT -5
"What exactly did that creep do to Timothy?" Vance asked intently. "The odds are good this wasn't the last time we're gonna run into him--and I wanna know how to protect my men."
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2009 23:19:11 GMT -5
Caddy sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Near as I can tell? Doctor G. can produce a biological compound that passes through the skin -- and leaves a nasty chemical burn in the process. It causes a few moments of really intense pain, and then induces unconsciousness."
"That fits with what we saw at Voegel's place." Daws said.
Hubert nodded. "There's more. The compound has some secondary effects once the unconsciousness passes, acting as a powerful stimulant for more or less every system in the body."
"Timothy woke up pretty wired." Caddy added. "It even seems to have boosted his powers, along with his heartrate and respiration. From what Timothy says, it's more pleasant than the original effect of the stuff -- but not by much."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2009 23:23:24 GMT -5
"I don't like the sound of that one bit." Vance scowled, looking thoughtful and troubled.
"Doc, have you got any guess on whether this power of Doctor G.'s is natural--or if maybe he's been tinkering with his own abilities, too?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2009 23:34:14 GMT -5
Caddy shook his head. "Not with what I've got to go on right now. I took some samples of Timothy's blood, so we can try and track what the compound is doing to his system -- but I'd need samples of G's DNA and neurotoxin to even start figuring out if he comes by it naturally. It's not impossible, though."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 16, 2009 23:43:08 GMT -5
"We'll try not to bring you any samples the hard way--unless it's G's head on a platter." Vance scowled. "Any suggestions on how to avoid contact with the stuff if we get in another fight with him?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 16, 2009 23:47:40 GMT -5
"Don't let him touch you." Caddy replied. "Judging from the burn he left on Timothy's arm, my guess is that he needs to contact a target with his bare skin for the toxin to have any effect."
"I guess that makes sense." Daws mused. "If he could project something that nasty, he probably would've done it at Voegel's."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2009 21:43:33 GMT -5
"Can we see Timothy?" Vance asked.
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Post by skybright on Sept 17, 2009 21:54:52 GMT -5
Caddy nodded. "He's been pretty anxious for you guys to get back, actually. Well -- on top of the anxiety from the neurotoxin."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2009 21:58:37 GMT -5
"Let's put his mind at ease, then," Vance said. "And while we're checking him over, maybe you can have a look at the stuff we took out. I wanna know whether we've got a jackpot or junk."
He hesitated. "And there was a file on me in there, Doc."
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Post by skybright on Sept 17, 2009 22:17:23 GMT -5
Caddy paled slightly and nodded. "We'll get on it right away -- and I'll let you look over the file for yourself, if you want."
He turned and led the way back into the consulting room, where Timothy was sitting on the edge of an examining table, slightly hunched over. His face was paler than usual, and covered with a thin sheen of sweat; when he glanced up at Caddy and the others, his pupils were dilated.
Despite his rough appearance, he managed a shaky smile when he saw Vance and the others. "Hiya, Daws. Major Vance." He pushed his bangs back from his forehead. "Glad to see you guys."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2009 22:21:11 GMT -5
"That goes double for us seeing you," Vance replied sincerely. "You look okay--not great. How're you holding up?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 17, 2009 22:27:10 GMT -5
Timothy's smile faltered, and he twitched one shoulder in a somewhat fidgety shrug. "I'm, uh . . . well, I've been better. But I'm alive." He flinched. "I was kinda surprised about that when I woke up."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2009 22:39:16 GMT -5
"You're the one thing we've been worried about ever since we got out of Voegel's place," Rog said warmly to the younger man.
There was a noise at the doorway then, and Handy scuttled into the room. "Oh, you're back..." He was trying to look nonchalant, but there was a gleam of delighted relief in his eyes.
"No trouble." Vance shrugged laconically. "Where are the rest of the boys?"
"Um." Handy grinned falteringly and fidgeted. "In the kitchen?"
The Major gave him an astonished look. "Fridge-raiding again? I thought they did that at Voegel's apartment!"
"Well... they kinda got interrupted there. An' housebreaking is hungry work." Handy's effort at a disarming grin faded. " 'Sides, Flash is awful worn out."
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Post by skybright on Sept 17, 2009 22:46:16 GMT -5
Caddy had moved to take Timothy's pulse when he came into the room, and he looked up with a permissive wave of his free hand. "Let 'em take whatever they want -- I don't mind."
Daws glanced at Handy. "Is Flash gonna be okay?"
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 17, 2009 22:52:41 GMT -5
"Oh, yeah." Handy gave Daws one of his peculiar jerky shrugs. "He's just really tired. He needs to sleep, but he was too worried about the rest of ya to snooze 'til he knew you were safe."
"He's earned himself two straight days of sleep," Vance replied. "I've never seen him put out more effort for us."
He turned back to Timothy. "Question is, are you gonna be okay? Have you got somebody to look out for you for a couple days, while we make sure no more aftereffects crop up?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 17, 2009 23:02:50 GMT -5
"I've got that covered." Caddy interjected quickly. "He's not going anywhere for a day or two. Among other things, I want to keep an eye on that head injury."
Timothy gave Vance a thin, sheepish smile. "Yeah, uh . . . Doctor G. and his guys teleported in behind me and cracked me on the head. That's how he grabbed me, too." He dropped his eyes. "Sorry."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 18, 2009 21:16:13 GMT -5
"Don't worry about it, kid." Vance shook his head. "Believe me--I know from experience how hard it is to protect yourself from an unexpected teleporter. Anybody who can get out of that spot is luckier than they are tough."
He turned to Caddy. "Now, how about going over our catch of medical technobabble?"
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Post by skybright on Sept 19, 2009 19:00:32 GMT -5
Caddy nodded. "It's in the living room. I figured that was as good a place to spread it out and dig through it as any."
He patted Timothy's shoulder. "I know you're a little old for a babysitter, but humor me and let Hubert keep an eye on ya, huh?" He nodded at his housemate, who had quietly followed the others into the examining room.
"I don't think I'm going anywhere." Timothy replied with a weak grin, "But if it'll make you feel better."
"Good. Great. Take it easy, huh?" The doctor turned and motioned to Vance and the others. "Okay, then, this way to the mad science."
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Post by Jordanna on Sept 19, 2009 21:49:24 GMT -5
Daws, Vance, Nate, Handy, and Roger followed Caddy back into the living room--just in time to see Kindle coming out of the kitchen, carrying a tray piled high with sandwiches and potato chips. Flash followed after him with two cans of soda, looking tired. However, both men perked up visibly when they saw Vance and the others.
"Glad t'see you back, Major!" Kindle said heartily. "Would ye be hungry?"
Vance chuckled, a bit wearily. "Maybe in a while... I'm a little too preoccupied right now. You boys go ahead, though."
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