"You really think this is going to work?"

"Shot in the dark."

"I'm glad it's you and not me..." Ian sighed. "How we doing, Ruby?"

"All ready, Doctor..." Nurse Piper offered, hitting the last few switches on the monitor. She leaned forward, adjusting one of the many sensor pads lining Ozzy's forehead. "...all brain functions are still at recorded levels..."

"Right...off you go, then..." Ian nodded, taking a seat next to the surgical table. "...Barbara should be along shortly. You know she likes her space when she's working."

"I'll be in ward seven if you need anything." she replied, closing the door behind her.

Huerta shivered a bit.

"It's a damn freezer in here." he said, taking an adjacent seat at the head of the table. "Why are we doing this in an operating room anyway?"

"Oh, suck it up, you girl..." McGregor frowned. "We all have our way of doing things, right? You prop all the miswired-weirdos on leather couches..."

"'Miswired-weirdos'?" Huerta shot back. "Where's your bedside manner?"

"...what is it with those couches, anyway?" Ian continued. "Why do all you psyche-boys have to flock to long, leather couches?"

"...oh, look who's talking...still touchy about your skull, I'll bet..."

"...I mean, why not recliners, or, a nice single bed...."

"...which you named Fred..."

Huerta suddenly paused, a wave of strange nausea passing quickly through him.

"...what..." he said, shaking his head.

"Yeah, that's Barb..." the doctor explained. "...means she's coming down the hall..."

"Some greeting..." Huerta frowned.

"No...I told you, she's blind and deaf." Ian shook his head.

"But, she's also a telepath."

"Right. And, that's how she 'sees' what's in front of her..."

"By making me nauseous?"

|||The nausea is an unfortunate side-effect for those that are not accustomed to my sweeps|||

The voice came at an echoed distance, even as a tall, lanky woman entered the room. Wire-frame shades, tinted as red as her hair, hid wide, sightless eyes. A ponytail, firmly braided into a single weave, pulled fiery strands tight along a perfect cranium.


Jodyhuerta Ian's voice rang in Huerta's head. Barbara

|||Tighten your thoughts, Ian||| her soothing voice came again. |||Dr. Huerta can barely make out your introduction|||

"...this is...odd..." Huerta spoke aloud, even as the thin-framed woman took her seat.

"Think it." Ian remarked.

"Wha--"

"Don't speak it...think it..." he said.

|||What Dr. McGregor is trying to say, is that, once linked, the telepathic community generally considers it rude to speak aloud during a thought-conference|||Barbara explained. |||And, to complete the rest of the patterns I see forming within you, yes, we are speaking telepathically. No, I am not sneaking into your private rooms. Yes, I use other people's senses as my own when I am near them. Yes, that is where the nausea originates. Yes, I am head of the M.R.C. Psychiatric Division.|||

Huerta opened his mouth to reply, but stopped short, instead closing his eyes.

...I...see..

|||Very good, Dr. Huerta. I can see this is not your first experience with a telepath. A Mr. Smith, is it?|||

...If...you work here....why hasn't this procedure...been attempted already?

Need guide Ian's voice replied.

|||That's right, Ian. I may have the skills to peer into Mr. Baxter's head, however, I would have no frame of reference for what I might find. We needed someone who knows him. Who knows what to look for, and why.|||

Yeah Ian added. Have fun with that

Huerta gave him the finger.

|||If you are ready, Dr. Huerta, I suggest we get started|||