Episode 12: Once Upon A Time In Section 57
Clarke and Jack came by Taffy's room minutes after she left. Penny, who had been excited and awake hours before was now crashed out on Taffy's couch. They were both curious as to how Taffy had made it through the night after being exposed to the nanos for the second time in two days.
"Where is she?" Jack asked. He had almost passed up on this visit since he had meetings all day, but he couldn't force himself to avoid her.
"She's not here," Clarke said. "And that's not possible. She should be worn out and zapped of energy."
"Maybe she's different," Jack suggested "Or maybe she's being questioned by the Section 57 agent. Helen said one was sent o her location last night.
"Section 57? Why are they getting involved in this?"
"Who knows." Jack shook Penny's shoulder. "Wake up, kid."
"I didn't do it, I swear," she mumbled.
"Didn't do what?" Clarke asked.
"Huh?" Penny rubbed the sleep from her eyes then got a good look at who was talking to her. "Hey, guys."
"Where's Taffy?" Jack asked.
Penny shrugged. "Beats me. Try the Concourse. I don't think she's had a chance to check things out since she got here. I mean, she's been unconscious most of the time."
"Thanks, kid." Jack barely cracked a smile then turned and left the apartment.
Penny raised her eyebrows.
"Don't mind him. He's still working on his interpersonal skills." Clarke thanked Penny then let himself.
Penny poked her head out the door and shouted down the Concourse after the men. "Oh, and you might want to check out the strange Indian dude who broke into Taffy's apartment last night." When she noticed neither were listening she gave up and pouted. "Fine. Be that way." She slammed the door and returned to her nap.
***
Jared managed to drag Carter to a utility cart parked in a maintenance bay. He lugged him into the back and drove the hidden road to Section 57. He skidded to a halt in front of the S57 Infirmary and motioned for two orderlies to help him. They put Carter on a gurney and took him into an awaiting operating theatre.
"What do we have?" the masked doctor asked.''
"He's been astrally effected by foreign nanos. He went into Subject 337's fractured reality and helped her mend it. I need him to be scanned."
The group in the infirmary had certain protocols they had to go through for a foreign nanite containment. Jared sat in the waiting room for over an hour while everything was checked.
The head doctor came out of the operating theatre and conferred with Jared. He handed him a report and they went over it together.
"What's wrong with him?"
"His ATP levels are depleted. He's not used to such a bombardment of nanites. The one he connected with must be infused with them. e restored Mr. Wayne's ATP levels to normal. I'll leave a monitor with him in case he has a few stragglers hanging on."
"Thank you, doctor."
"That was quick thinking on your part. Most Watchers aren't familiar with nanite symptoms."
"Let's just say it's not the first time I've seen foreign nanos."
The orderlies loaded Carter back into the utility cart and Jared drove him back to his apartment on the Concourse. The front door key was above the door sill. Typical. Jared let himself in and propped the door open. When he returned to the cart Jack Osbourne had spotted him and set the steaming cup of coffee he had gotten off a Starbucks kiosk onto the front steps.
"Need a little assistance, buddy?" Jack asked.
"That would be wonderful." Jared said trying not to act too suspicious. The two of them carried Carter to his bed and Jack noticed how pale the man was.
"What happened to him?" Jack asked. "He have one too many at the Shangri-la?"
"He was infected by foreign nano technology. It effected some of his fluid levels but he should be fine tomorrow."
Jared thanked him for his assistance and nearly walked him out the door. Jack noticed how insistent the man was to be rid of him. The door slammed before he was a foot away from the apartment.
Jack pulled out his cell and dialed Clarke. "Carter's back and he's got a visitor."
