‘Is that something that can be resolved?’ Anderson asked, biting his lip. ‘If he blacks outevery time he does that, he’s not much use to us is he?’ ‘There was feedback,’ Stevenson said, thrusting a computer readout into the General’shands. ‘The participant’s conscience had to go somewhere, and it tried to implant itself inthe subject’s own brain. It appears to have failed, but it’s definitely a problem we’ll haveto work on.’ ‘Well, get to it,’ The General thundered. ‘We can’t have a weapon like this falling into thehands of the very people we’ll be ordered to assassinate.’ ‘We’ll work it out sir,’ Stevenson said surely.‘You’d better,’ Anderson snapped. ‘We can’t go on wasting time with half-baked ideas thatonly work in principal.’ ‘We’ll find a way General,’ Jacobson said. ‘Peterson, go and unhook Fred from thecomputer will you?’ ***‘Is he going to be alright?’ Leara asked worriedly from Fred’s bedside in The MercuryRoom Infirmary as Blonde Aries, the Allucian nurse went about checking his responses.‘As far as I can see,’ Aries tisked. ‘There’s nothing physically wrong with him.’ ‘Then why hasn’t he come around yet?’ Gmac inquired, biting at his thumbnail.‘Look,’ Aries said with an astonished laugh. ‘Fred comes from the same place that gaveNeil and Danny and Will-ko their freaky super powers. Whatever ability Fred has, it’snothing I’ve ever come across before, but from what you said, it sounded like some kindof telepathic or psychic power. Cuts and bruises, broken bones, disease, I can handle,but I’m not trained in super powers.’ ‘Are you sure you’re qualified to make a diagnosis at all?’ Gmac frowned. ‘I heard you were raised by kangaroos.’ Aries glowered at him. ‘And once I’m done here, I’ll be finding the one putting thatrumour about and practicing my surgery skills without anaesthetic.’ ‘Nice,’ Gmac replied sardonically.‘Those issues aside,’ Aries continued. All I can suggest is that you let him get some rest. The only alternative to that would be to find somebody out there with Psychic powers of their own. I don’t know anybody like that around here.’ ‘I do,’ a voice came from behind them from a tall, wiry haired man leaning against thedoorway. ‘What’s the problem?’ ‘I’m sorry,’ Aries said, stepping forwards. ‘Who are you?’ ‘John Jones,’ the man said airily, stepping forwards and picking up Fred’s chart. ‘I heard you saying that you needed somebody familiar with psychic powers.’ ‘The door was closed,’ Aries frowned.‘I’m a good listener,’ John Jones replied with a wink. ‘Now then, what seems to be theissue here?’ ‘We don’t know,’ Leara began. ‘We were attacked by a killer robot thing and Fred stoppedit with his mind. He hasn’t woken up since.’ ‘I see,’ John Jones nodded and placed his hands on Fred’s temples. ‘Interesting,’ he saidafter a moment. ‘That’s very interesting.’ ‘What’s interesting?’ Gmac asked.‘HUHHH!’ Fred gasped, sitting bolt upright suddenly, holding his head.’ OW!’ he shouted,gritting his teeth.’ ‘That’s an unusual power,’ John Jones mused as he took hold of Fred’s head and gazeddeeply into his eyes. ‘I’d be more careful about using something like that if I were you.You realize that the mind you invaded entered your own and tried to take control of it?’ Fred nodded, holding his head in his hands. ‘I didn’t think it would happen again… I thought that had stopped … but that … thing … that … robot … it was too powerful.It wasn’t a mechanical mind, it was almost as if it was … alive … I was unprepared for it.’ ‘Alright!’ Aries shouted, holding her hands up. ‘That’s it! This is my Infirmary, nowsomebody tell me what on Earth is going on before I throw the bloody lot of you out on your ears.’
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