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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Foxy picked up the phone handset next to her chair. The pilot was
calling to update her. “Foxy? <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Durham</st1:City></st1:place>
here. Just wanted to let you know that we have reached cruising altitude and
the weather forecast ahead is all clear. We will make excellent time back to
SFO.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Thank you Anthony.” Foxy replied to the pilot.
“I’ll let Spectrum know.” She hung up the handset. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on"><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>WEST</span></font></st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">COAST</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> DEFENDERS #42
“Luft”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Co-starring <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Aurora</st1:City></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Foxy relaxed in the executive lounge chair of the Citation-XI-A’s
custom-appointed cabin. Stretching seductively, she winked at Spectrum, and
then went back to scribbling on a legal pad and thumbing through the brochure
on the plane. While most private jets maintain subsonic performance, this
aircraft company out of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Detroit</st1:City></st1:place>
had made several structural and performance modifications that would allow the
plane to exceed the normal envelope. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Lawrence</st1:City></st1:place>
had tasked her with learning about the plane, and coming up with some options
that would allow the team to get the most out of one if they chose to buy one.
Most of the options were window dressing since the real meat of the upgrades
was included with every plane. Most of her checklist was a check off of the
features, with a comment, “What is this?” scribbled next to it.
She opted for a rear pressurized drop portal, if someone needed to exit the
plane at high altitudes, but then selected a small cozy, sleeping room.
Enhanced communications were accessible from a forward station just off the
pilots cockpit, and she made a note to see what kind of seating options were
available, since TDSM might want to be there for extended periods.
“Spectrum, pilot says we’re making good time. Hey, this guy here that
is running the upgrade facility looks more like a mechanic than an executive.
You know anyone named Jake?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum looked up distractedly for a moment. “Not that I can
think of… hang on Foxy I am on the phone with someone, just make sure the
plane has a good sized refrigerator and some room to either carry some cargo or
a full medical stretcher. If this plane is sitting around, it would be nice to
lend it out for an emergency air ambulance. And don’t forget to get the
quotation on flight instruction schools for us.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“US?” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Hey with everything going on, we both should learn how to fly
one of these. It’d be a fun class to take together…”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“We need to work on your definition of fun…” She
pulled on a tight-fitting t-shirt with the letters MHC emblazoned on the front.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum grinned at her then waved her off and turned his attention
back to the console.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Sorry doc. Foxy wanted something. I have another conference
call coming up in a couple minutes but I wanted to get a hold of you as soon as
I could. Can you ask Summer who or what ‘Kopykat’ means?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>The video screen displayed Dr. Odd Science, and his expression was
puzzled. “Yes, I will relay your request to her. Now back to the main
questions. How long has your suit displayed these …’odd’
symptoms?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“I don’t know exactly, but I noticed that at the hotel the
suit somehow created a power adaptor cord to link the briefcase to the wall
power. There was also a network cable plugged in, now that I think about
it.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Fascinating. I must admit, that after the numerous circumstances
that the original batch of nanotechnology has been exposed to, from the hyperspacial
explosion, to the gestaltic mergers with Summer, I don’t know exactly
what you are dealing with. I did not design any of this into the nanotech
repair systems I introduced into your suit. All those nanites
‘know’ about is how to repair your systems. The behavior you
describe suggests they are now operating outside those original
parameters.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Remember when Summer merged with my suit to look at it from the
inside? I mean, inside the systems, not inside where I am…and then yeah,
there are the psychic linkages that were formed when Sigma came online, and then
there are the upgrades/repairs during the Robomacs….my computer’s
voice menus sound like her; could she have ‘infected’ my
suit’s systems?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“It’s possible. Considering the circumstances, it’s
very possible. But how that would affect your suit I can not say. I would
like to run a full diagnostic on your suit at the earliest possible convenience.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Summer and the nanotech are now merged, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“It’s probably more appropriate to say that she is more
than the sum of the parts. What she can do is more than the nanotech could
ever do on its own. With her exposure to the hyperspacial energy…”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum rubbed his chin. “So is the suit going to go
Frankenstein on me? Is it going to eat me or something?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Hardly. But since you are, or at least were, a human nexus of
energies, the summer-nanites might have been attracted to you and piggybacked
onto your suit. The original programming of the repair nanites mixed with
Summer’s feelings towards you might have ‘colored’ their
programming and so they work to maintain your suit at its optimum efficiency,
and faced with the possibility of powering down, they fashioned a logical
extension of the current parameters. I don’t think this would ever mean
the suit would ever become like Summer’s body, nor do I think it would
make you at risk of becoming a techno-organic creature like she is now.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“So, what I hear you saying is that all this will probably mean
is that the suit will be more efficient at repairing itself and keeping itself
at max readiness.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“… I don’t know. I still think you need to bring it
in to be checked out. Congratulations on your knighthood, and I
understand--your engagement?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum laughed. “Yeah, gonna make an honest woman out of her.
Looks like I’ve come into a sizable fortune too. If only I could get my
powers back. Just tell me if you need some funding and I’ll be happy to
cut you a check, I owe you guys several times over. Please ask Summer to give
me a call.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“I’m sure the team feels indebted to you and yours too.
Thank you for your generous offer, I shall consider it, however at this time
the numerous patents and such that I have should provide for my present needs.
May I ask you one more question?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Shoot.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“What made you want to power-down?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>There was a long silence, then an icon chimed on the display and
Spectrum stammered, “Thanks again for everything you have done. I have to
get on another call, but you need to alert team M.E.C.H.A. about the Nintan
threat. I’ve emailed your team the particulars as I know them. As soon
as I can get a space worthy ship we are heading out, but the heroes need to be
updated if things go sideways. I’m sure Foxy will be mailing wedding
invitations to everyone soon. Bye!”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum shook his head, then turned to his fiancé, “hey furry-buns,
its time!” He watched her slip on a headset at another station, and her
smiling face appeared in a small window on his screen.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A couple key presses later and windows for Nikon Ninja, Trapdoor Spider
Man, British Airwave, and his own face tiled the edges of the screen.
“Okay folks, what can you tell me about <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Aurora</st1:City></st1:place>?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Its southeast of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Denver</st1:City></st1:place>,
the city has generally nice people, they have a great public library
system…” Parker Peterson quipped.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Doah….” British Airwave deadpanned.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“They are quite a formidable force,” TDSM began. “…with
extensive resources in equipment and manpower…”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“BEANSTALK!” Foxy interjected. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Yes,” British Airwave continued, “and they just
saved the world from an extra-dimensional invasion.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“So, fending off invasions is something they have done
already…” Spectrum responded, “good, hopefully then we can
spend less time convincing them of the threat and focus more on the threat
itself.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“If you are ready now, I shall connect us.” Randall
offered.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>After a few moments, another window popped up to reveal a pleasant
young woman's face. "<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Aurora</st1:City></st1:place>
priority communications," she said. "What group do you represent and
what's the nature of your emergency?"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Hello, this is Spectrum of the West Coast Defenders. My
teammate British Airwave contacted you earlier and we needed to speak with
someone in your organization about assisting us in an emergency.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"Of course," she replied, pressing several buttons. "One
moment... and..." Her window slid to join the others which were tiling the
edge of the screen. A new window opened, to reveal another face. "Arthur
Doyle. It's good finally to be able to speak to you in, well, almost person.
What seems to be the problem?"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Hello Mr. Doyle, Spectrum here. My team has recently
encountered a group of aliens that were going to try to blow up the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City></st1:place> subway system and
in the process blame Muslim terrorists. Their equipment was state of the art
and also included advanced alien technology. I think their purpose was to sow
chaos around the world in order to distract earth’s heroes from an
impending invasion.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Do you have any of them in custody?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“No, they accidentally blew themselves up with their own
bomb.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“I helped!” Foxy interjected.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum nodded, “When we were in combat with them, they were
able to drag their dead and wounded with them.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Doyle frowned.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“We have some of their weapons…” Foxy added.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Just machine pistols and automatic weapons. The alien blasters
must have had some sort of timed destruct built in.” Spectrum slowed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“What did they look like?” Doyle asked, as he reached into
the Beanstalk's computer networks. With luck, either he or some client group
would have these aliens on file.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Giant insects we think. It’s hard to say…”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“They were disguised as Arabs…with Dick Van Dyke
masks.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Except for the two that looked like Guinness Beer
creators…”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"Brilliant," muttered Doyle dryly, receiving very few matches
on any of these criteria. "Go on..."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Wait!” TDSM added, “I wassss able to hack into the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">London</st1:City></st1:place> sssecurity camera
sssystem and pull up thisss clip.” Another window opened and a grainy
black and while video clip looped, showing Spectrum and Foxy talking to the
back of a large truck.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“The aliens were in there?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Yes, I mean no, not at that time, we were talking to their
bomb.” Foxy replied.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“A talking bomb….” Doyle muttered, quickly
suppressing the link to the Internet Movie Database that his systems wanted to
create.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Yes, and that was the bomb that blew up in that area
later… and destroyed all the aliens.” British Airwave explained.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“My press contacts at the Sun over there said that the police
were able to gather some blood samples from the explosion.” Nikon Ninja
added.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“The tabloid newspaper…” Doyle asked.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Yes. However I just got an email saying that the samples are
missing.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“Are you the hero that goes around dressed like a giant
bunny?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>“No! I ride a giant bunny, except when I am in ‘battlerabbit
mode’.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Spectrum sighed. “This is not going well.” He glanced at
all the windows as his team tried to explain the threat, all talking at once,
and then at Viva who was looking at the other windows trying to stifle a grin,
and Doyle doing his best to be patient.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Foxy interrupted, looking from her window in the corner to the center
of the screen. “Um. Why is Ann B. Davis there in the middle smiling at
us?”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>A door behind Doyle burst open, disgorging a team of technicians
wearing hazmat suits. An attractive redhead surged forward, sweeping the room
in all directions until she oriented on Doyle's screen.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"Th' residual TVD energy's comin' from here!" she yelled out.
"Hae all decontamination ready..."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>Doyle whirled around, presenting his back to the screen.
"Colleen... wait, no! No, bad! Decontamination protocols do NOT include
flamethrow--"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>"DECONTAMINATE!"<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>There was a whoosh of orange that washed over the screen. Doyle and
Viva's windows both blinked out, to be replaced by the words 'Technical
Difficulties -- Please Stand By'. Under them, an animated cartoon figure of
Colleen appeared, and looped, smiling sheepishly and shrugging.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> “Oy vey.” British Airwave sighed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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