Ray rang the buzzer just as twilight started glowing in the eastern skyline. Sloan was obviously troubled and uneasy when she answered immediately and released the door alarm. As he entered, he noticed her swollen, red eyes with dark circles underneath. None of her restlessness was hidden in that face. Glancing around the room, Ray saw papers and work-notes were scattered on the telephone table next to the big armchair. A throw was lying untidily on the plush chair, obviously dropped hurriedly as she rushed to answer the door.

Sloan tried to smile and fired questions at Ray, not allowing him any time to answer. "Have you any more news? When do you leave for Canada?"

Ray held up his hands. "Steady, Sloan, one thing at a time. Let me catch my breath after those stairs." Ray was beginning to feel his age with all the events these recent months. Plus, all the dashing around wouldn't help him. "We leave in less than 2 hours."

"I'm sorry, Ray, how thoughtless of me. Please, sit down. I just boiled the kettle. Do you want tea or do you prefer coffee?" Sloan hastened over to her sofa, puffed up the cushions, and tidied the throw rug. It appeared she slept there a lot, probably because it was the place that she felt closest to Tom.

Ray shook his head. "Grace will have a meal ready when I get home, but you go ahead. Thanks all the same." Ray sat at the kitchen counter as Sloan poured a mug of tea for herself. As he watched her, he couldn't help noticing how thin she'd become. 'The poor girl hasn't been eating since Tom disappeared.' He made a mental note to ask Grace if she might call Sloan while he was away. Maybe she needed the 'ear' of another woman these days. Sloan had lost that when her friend Ann was so brutally murdered. 'It's sad. Her whole world revolves around the men at work and in her friendships. She has no other woman friends right now. Yes. Grace could be a good friend for Sloan these days. It might also take his wife's mind off her own family worries.'

Sloan looked up at Ray as she noticed his silence. "What is it, Ray? You're very quiet," she asked, concern clearly etched on her face.

"I'm just wondering when you last had a decent meal. Sloan, you've gotta eat to keep up your strength," said Ray, seriously.

"I'm okay, I'll survive. Food seems to be the last thing on my mind these days." Sloan touched his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry Ray. I've enough people watching out for me - you, Ed and Walter." Tapping at her watch, she said, "I don't mean to be short with you, but I know you're under pressure. So if there's anything to tell... time is ticking on." Sloan's eagerness radiated in anticipation of any developments.

Ray knew she was stubborn when it came to taking advice and decided to let the subject pass. Maybe Grace might be able to persuade her. He tried to tell her as concisely as possible to satisfy her need. "My FBI friend, Tony and I are taking an elite team of four up to a base in northern Idaho in a couple of hours. We'll leave from Edwards Air Force Base and fly over the San Gabriel Mountains. John Maxwell supplied us with a stealth helicopter and all sorts of surveillance equipment you'd never even dream existed." He stopped and grinned. "Great to know the right people, huh?" he teased. Ray saw her curiosity grow.

Sloan perked up and she commented, "That's great! It's good to know our top people are interested in Tom and not just Lewis and the anti-peace Faction of the Dominants." Sloan's smile was a little brighter now.

Ray was glad he called and excitement resonated from him. "We'll land at Fairchilds Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington State, and transfer to a Stingray from there. Sloan, you should see this device, it's an amazing new light plane with an inflatable wing and it's propelled by nothing more than a car engine." Ray reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a photo of the Stingray. "See?"

Sloan took the picture and exhaled a long low whistle. "Wow! Ray, it's amazing. You know, ever since we regained our lab, my confidence in the home team has just about been restored. For a while, the odds were all stacked against us, but Walter really came through when he revealed his connections to John Maxwell." Her twinkling eyes stared happily at Ray. "Now we have that state-of-the-art lab equipment, your Stingray and clearance to any technology the NSA has in its possession. Maybe we have a chance after all. We can beat them, Ray." She handed the photo back to him and he quickly replaced it in his inside pocket.

Ray was pleased. He chuckled. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Anyway, this Stingray will be ours for the duration of this offence. We'll be based in Moyle Springs, ~32 Km (20 miles) south of the Canadian border. There's plenty of cover there, as the country is very rugged and mountainous. Very few people live anywhere near there, so it's an ideal location to slip across the mountains undetected and get a closer look at that base. No one would be the wiser." Ray smiled. "Remember, Mariana said as long as we aren't aggressive and they're passively sensing, then they won't detect our intentions. They'll know someone is near, but not why." Ray stopped and patted her hand. "If Tom's there, we'll know for sure. We'll find out what is going on over there."

"That's a relief, Ray." Sloan sighed. "Of course, I won't relax till I hear the results." Sloan hesitated for a moment before she asked uncertainly, "Do you really believe it's him, Ray?"

Ray shrugged his shoulder, as he replied plaintively. "Sloan, I really wish I could truthfully say no, but that's a question we can only answer after we've done our own investigations." He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as he added, "You know that, don't you?"

She nodded wordlessly. Ray stood up to leave. Sloan was more at ease now that the operation was proceeding and with assistance from the White House, no less. She walked to the door and opened it for him. He turned and gave her a reassuring smile. "Look, Sloan, do you mind if I ask Grace to call you? Maybe the two of you could meet for coffee and a chat. Sometimes another woman understands things we men can't. What do you say?"

Sloan smiled and she responded. "That would be nice. She can call me here or at the lab."

"Thatta girl. I'll tell Grace."

As Ray withdrew, Sloan impulsively leaned forward and planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thanks Ray, for being so thoughtful." Closing the door, she reflected on her good fortune, having such caring friends. It had certainly helped her to cope with this painful experience. With her new found resolve and her faith that Tom will return, she thought she might actually be able to relax and unwind enough to concentrate on her work. Now that they had all the right tools, she and Ed should make some headway, conducting some detailed and intricate experiments.

Scattered throughout the room were plush deep-seated armchairs and straight-back Chippendale chairs. Lewis gestured Tom towards one of them as he glided to the bar and grabbed two bottles of mineral water. He offered one to Tom and sat in another chair. "How are you feeling now, Tom, physically and mentally?"

"Better than when I first arrived here," stated Tom cautiously.

"Yes. We've noticed that. It's for that reason that I'm preparing you for your return to society and undercover work. When you first left for this assignment regarding Dr. Coulter, we had just started our trainee's on masking, our newest offensive ability. Your training would have started when you returned, but you defected. Now I need to place you in some intensive training courses. I know you discovered this trait with Lisa, and while her abilities were adequate, yours will be brilliant. The doctors and I will also work on restoring your sensing and shielding abilities. They have to be instinctive and not painful to use."

Lewis placed his drink onto a side table and steepled his fingers under his chin. He regarded Tom calculatingly, suspiciously. "But, can I trust you again? How can I know for sure?" he asked. For a few moments, Lewis stared the younger Dominant straight in the eye. "I must admit I have great difficulty coming to terms with your betrayal of our species and, in particular, your deceptions to me. If it had been any other of my protégés, I might have been able to live with it, but not you!" Lewis moved his arms and draped them along the sides of the chair. "Tom, you were my star pupil. I treated you as a son. I admired you. I made you!" Lewis paused to let his words sink in.

Taking a gulp of his mineral water, Lewis swallowed and resumed his diatribe. "Do you understand the consequences of your actions, your traitorous behaviour to the rest of our species?" Lewis sighed and finally revealed his reason for this meeting. "I invested much in you, Tom, and you let me down. Frankly, I'm not sure what to believe with you. You have a great deal of work to achieve before I will be convinced of your change of heart."

Tom watched Lewis throughout this tirade and rode the wave of his latest mood swing. From past experience, he was aware this was the best path to follow, since his ex-mentor's hidden nature could be compared with a semi-dormant volcano. Lewis could be a quiet, controlled, emotionless man one minute and like a volcanic eruption the next. He'd been expecting a dressing-down from him since his arrival at Nead an Iolair.

Tom waited a minute before he answered, slowly and succinctly. "As I said before, you have every right to feel as you do. I didn't expect to be welcomed back like the prodigal son and all is forgotten attitude. I know what I did and I now know it was wrong. I don't expect you to trust me - I wouldn't if the tables were reversed."

Lewis noticed Tom's quickened interest after his last remark and chose to ignore it. He didn't want to explain their training methods in any more detail than was necessary. Besides, now wasn't the best time.

Lewis continued reprimanding the younger Chameleon. "Then you met Dr. Parker and she really endorsed your attitude." He held up his hand, forestalling Tom's protest. "I'm aware of your new-found emotions and your sentiments for Sloan. That's one of the reasons why I requested we meet here. There's an envelope on the shelf under the TV. I suggest you take a look at its contents before you make any rash decisions."

Tom eased himself out of the plush armchair and walked over to the shelf. He studied the envelope and slit the seal. The contents slipped into his hands and he almost dropped the package as he caught a glimpse of the top photo. Scanning the exterior of the videotape, he shrugged and carefully placed it on the shelf and stared at the first photo.

Tom guarded his facial expression and body movements as he saw what could be Sloan with a blonde-haired man in her bedroom. They were in bed together and she was leaning against him, so he couldn't clearly see her features. Tom quickly shuffled through the three photos and tried to figure out if someone had doctored or touched them up. 'I wonder where Lewis found the model for these fake pictures? It couldn't be Sloan. No, he had to have faked them in some way. Sloan would never allow this to happen.' This was just the type of trick Lewis would use to ensure his return. Tom laid the pictures down on the shelf and inserted the tape in the VCR. Tom played the Chameleon to the hilt now and he blanked his expression so he wouldn't reveal anything.

He pressed PLAY and he watched Sloan and Lewis walk arm-in-arm from her car into a large house. Of course, this could have been his ex-mentor directing Sloan against her will. Rewinding it slightly, Tom caught the way Lewis' arm dug against her side as if he was hiding a gun. It was most likely that, but Lewis could distort the truth to suit whatever purposes he had in mind. Tom watched the whole tape, then stared at the blank screen. 'It wasn't Sloan, it wasn't Sloan,' his thoughts chanted. Tom logically realised Lewis had presented him with the perfect opportunity. 'It wasn't Sloan, it wasn't Sloan,' his thoughts chanted repeatedly. Lewis needed proof he returned voluntarily to the programme. 'It wasn't Sloan, it wasn't Sloan,' his thoughts chanted, 'I know it wasn't her!' Tom knew this was his proof, but he had to play it right or Lewis would know of his lies. He addressed Lewis cynically. "Do you really expect me to believe Sloan was agreeable to any or all of this trash?"

Lewis stared calmly at his protégé. "Tom, it's immaterial to me what you believe," he said quietly and somewhat malevolently. "It's quite obvious what Kyle, our young blonde friend is doing with her. She's not restrained by him and she's in her own bed." Lewis slouched in his chair, reinforcing his indifferent attitude. "I'm sure your brave Dr. Parker would put up a fight if it was an attack or if she was under any duress. None of the pictures indicate anything of the sort."

Tom made as if to get up from his chair, his white knuckles showing the rage he had never felt before at Lewis' innuendo. He realised Lewis wanted this from him and disciplined himself to remain composed. 'Whatever happened, I mustn't play into Lewis' hand. Not now! I have to be careful or Lewis won't believe me and my change of heart.

Lewis glimpsed Tom's initial reaction and subsequent retreat. He smiled inwardly, pleased at the younger Dominant's self-restraint. 'That's a good sign that Tom has retained his Dominant capacity to dismiss his emotional aspect,' the Dominant leader speculated silently. Lewis' low, steady voice bluntly informed his former pupil, "If you must know, those were taken while you were still in captivity on September 14^th. Don't you think your loving doctor would have told you about this experience? Unless, of course, she had something to hide?"

That stopped Tom in his tracks. 'No way, it wasn't Sloan, it could never be her. She loves me, she told me that night in the car, that no one had ever meant as much to her as I did. But...' Doubts intruded into his thoughts. He wasn't thinking clearly. Alexandra's tortures had affected him more than he thought. 'I studied her habits for months before Dr. Coulter's death. She would remain true to me. It's in her nature. So, why didn't Sloan tell me about Kyle? Had she something to hide? No! It was a trick of Lewis',' he emphasised. Tom recalled the time after his rescue. 'I know I haven't been great company for Sloan. My injuries have strained our relationship, but I couldn't explain my rawness or pain from sensing. Near the end, Sloan seemed to have less patience with me.' Slowly he sorted his feelings for her. 'No way! I said I would remain loyal to her and she said she loved me. I tasted that emotion called love with Ed's geno-genesis formula. This is a trick of Lewis' that's backfired on him, but it's one I'm going to use. Sloan was loyal to me... I hope,' he thought quietly.

Tom mechanically replaced everything in the envelope and tucked it under his arm. He returned to his chair and sat back, his face expressionless.

Lewis waited for his protégé to say something. When it was clear he wasn't going to say anything, Lewis said emphatically. "You probably won't believe me and I know you're thinking they're fake, but it is her. Remember, I wasn't in any condition to set this up - I was too ill myself at the time. At least Sloan can verify that. She saw the state I was in and I know it shocked her."

Tom looked at Lewis. "Where is all of this leading to, Lewis? You must have some ulterior motive in showing me these. Are you testing me, trying to see if I have truly returned to our species and your control? Is it more?" Tom recalled Lewis' haste as he left him alone with the young doctor, Av. "What's the catch, Lewis? Are you hoping to break my ties with Sloan Parker by using Avila?"

"I am trying to ensure your loyalty, Tom. Face the facts!" he said forcefully, never quite raising his voice. "I need to know I can trust you again. You're going to have to make some tough decisions while you are here, and knowing all of this may well influence your analysis and help you reach the correct conclusions."

"Would any of these conclusions have anything to do with Dr. Avila Briglia?"

"Perhaps," said Lewis non-committally. "You must admit she is very enchanting and she is Chosen like you," he said temptingly. "I have her assigned as eventually running the WHO, when the time is right. Just think, her connections would be fabulous for you in your capacity as a Chameleon, and she is your species' match."

Tom took this all in without a word. If he hadn't betrayed his species, well... that road was better left alone. His emotions for Sloan were very intense, and although he hadn't been aware of them until he had become fully Human, he remembered them. Before that, his feelings for her were all wrapped up in the confusion of who he was and who he was supposed to be. Since his escape from Alexandra Luthor's experiment laboratory, he was bewildered by his trauma and unable to deal with his emotions again. It was those injuries, which had triggered some deep programming implanted in all Chameleons, the need to return to Need an Iolair and heal. As he'd felt this compulsion increase beyond resistance, he'd spoken with Walter privately.

Now Lewis had confronted him with this fabricated evidence, or at least he thought it was. Tom thought long and hard. 'I need to recuperate and work with Lewis in an effort to discover the overall plan for our species.'

Tony and his own elite unit ran initial checks on the various surveillance apparatus. Luckily, the other team members, André, Timmy, Derek and Ken were familiar with most of the paraphernalia and were able to guide them through the rudiments and operational procedures. Tony shivered. The late Autumn's bitter cold weather of this forlorn part of northern Idaho affected his hot Mexican heart.

Ray looked at his friend's face and smiled as he echoed his sentiments. "Missing our mild southern Californian climate already, Tony?"

Although they were fully equipped for this environment, that didn't help their cold extremities. Tony nodded morosely as he blew on his hands, trying to warm them.

"Let's go inside," suggested Ray, motioning for the rest of his team to join them.

Everyone scrambled into the warm weatherhaven and huddled around a gas heater. Ray and Tony gathered around the map of Southern Alberta and planned their final route to Mount Pilan. Ray had devised a two-prong surveillance attack pattern with the Black-Ops force at Fairchilds Air Force Base as backup.

Using the Stingray for transportation, Ray, André and Timmy would approach from the south, via Potawatomi. Modern laser imaging equipment would map their safest route. Tony and the other two, Derek and Ken would use the Cherokee Jeep equipped with a GPS to guide them in from Mount Pilan in the northeast. Ray hoped they could set up surveillance and visually study Nead an Iolair from different angles without alerting the Dominant's sensing abilities and patrol. Neither team would venture close enough to enter the target grounds, as they needed quiet observation, which wouldn't trigger any passive or active mental sensing alarms. 'Mariana suggested a distance greater than 500m.' Working out the logistics mentally, Ray grasped an important fact, which slipped by him before. They really didn't need close observation with the MOS coverage, but they did so anyway, because it allowed them fast access when required.

Ray smiled as his STO fell into place. As they waited, he thought about the final piece of standard equipment he still needed to issue for all personnel. The Type II Iridium Phones - a fully mobile handheld satellite phone slightly smaller than the latest StarTac cellular. These toys were a delight because you could call anywhere in the world without requiring line of sight alignment with communications satellites. It received calls as well. Ray thought a little gleefully about what he believed was its best feature. The batteries never wore out.

Lewis recalled the night of his arrest. "While en-route to my incarceration, a Special Ops forces hijacked our vehicle and drove me out of Pasadena towards their holding facility. I waited for my opportunity and escaped. Some distance from the car, I was shot with some sort of dart that knocked me out." Lewis shook his head slightly. "I woke up naked, in an iron cage set in the middle of a large, empty, dark room. With the exception of an incandescent light beaming down and illuminating the cage, I couldn't see anything else of my surroundings. The rest of the room was in total darkness. When I came around the second time, Alexandra stood on the edge of my perspective. She had stared and said, "It's your species or ours. I'll do anything to ensure that we will survive."

I just stared back at her and watched her walk away," explained Lewis. "When I was alone, I realised I ached all over. Obviously, someone had beaten me while I couldn't defend myself." His voice deepened as he recalled his entrapment. "They left me for days without food and barely enough water to exist. After this enforced starvation, Alexandra's scientists conducted various neurological experiments, which were quite painful. Not once did they offer any anaesthetising drugs." He shrugged. "I'm positive they were studying our species' pain threshold among other goals. Over time, they poked and injected numerous noxious substances into me, mapping our resistance to many infectious diseases. They conducted rigorous endurance tests and investigated my sensory perception." He turned to Tom. "There were occasions when I thought I had lost my empathic powers," he confessed.

Lewis continued, not letting Tom get in a word. "Down times weren't any better. They woke me if I ever succeeded in falling asleep because by then, her intent had been to break me. Whenever she ordered it, they roughly dragged me to Alexandra's Office, where they interrogated me at length. All the while, she observed everything, arms folded across her chest, her eyes dead and no emotion projected from her." Lewis marvelled at the control of the woman. "Now and then, she personally involved herself in the inquisition, but she seldom dirtied her own hands with the torture. She was so cold and calculating that it was hard to remember she wasn't of us. I know of no Homo sapiens who could be so cruel and lacking in emotion."

Tom listened as Lewis poured out his harrowing story at the hands of the vicious she-devil. He knew only too well, what Lewis had endured. His own recollections were scanty, as he was obviously sedated or unconscious during some of the experiments. He was lucky that Dr. Santiago was very humane and did his best to reduce Tom's suffering. Mercifully, the good doctor had spared him from Ms. Luthor's persecution and interrogation.

Tom noted Lewis' reaction. His former mentor gripped the steering wheel tightly, till his knuckles were white. Tom thought, 'Was it the agony or was it anger with thoughts of revenge?' He had never seen Lewis like this before, so... so full of emotion! He had always figured the man was insurmountable and cold. Nothing fazed him. Oddly, Tom empathised with Lewis.

"How did you finally escape?" asked Tom.

Lewis pulled the Nissan Xterra over to the side of the dirt road. "Let's stretch our legs for a few minutes." They walked a short distance to one of the many fast-flowing streams that rushed down these mountains. Lewis bent down and dashed his face with the cold clear water, taking a few mouthfuls in the course of his actions.

Tom doubted that Lewis was feigning his distress, but then again, his former mentor was a master Chameleon, so one could never tell. Hadn't he taught Tom all he knew? Somehow, he felt Lewis was reliving his nightmare with Luthor, but he couldn't take a chance. He had to respond in the way Lewis had taught him. As he approached the prone man, he said, "It's war and there'll always be victims or casualties. We will retaliate and win our species' rightful place in the world." He paused and let those words sink in for his ex-mentor.

Lewis didn't answer him.

"I'll drive the rest of the way," said Tom, expecting no argument from his mentor.

Lewis leaned back and stared at Tom for a few moments. He reached out his hand, grabbing Tom's arm as he arose from the water's edge. He knew his face reflected some surprise. 'That sounds like the old Tom,' speculated Lewis silently. Perhaps it was time to call a truce and take a risk, as the clock was ticking on. Otherwise, they would both be losers if they didn't take a chance soon.

Tom panicked as Lewis reached back, using his arm as support. He almost wrenched his arm back before he stopped himself. 'No! I can't! I mustn't let anyone touch me. Hurts too much, Lewis doesn't know. God, what am I doing here?' Tom steeled himself and reinforced his shields. Hesitantly he grabbed Lewis' hand, helping him up from his crouched position. They walked back to the jeep in silence as they each worked out their personal demons.

Her evolutionary genome research project tried tracking the trigger, which allowed Homo sapiens to evolve into Homo dominants. She was sure that every person in our world population exhibited some minute evolutionary differences. If she could find the trigger in the DNA, then perhaps they could find a way of understanding and fighting the new species. Ed had agreed with her theory at their meeting with Walter last week and had set about collecting all the DNA data for storage in their new super-computer. Sloan also thought they might get lucky and stumble on some unknown Homo dominants.

Sloan's thoughts swung towards Tom. She knew her main motive in working at home didn't fool anyone, but they respected her flimsy excuse. Half her time, she spent researching the medical journals she found on the Internet, compiling all the data pertaining to mental trauma and catatonia experienced by prisoners of war and hostages. The results shocked her and ultimately created her need to be there at the apartment, in case Tom returned, as suddenly as he had left.

Nevertheless, the clever young bio-anthropologist had found it wasn't so easy keeping her mind on her notes and reading material. So she spent a lot of her time sitting in Tom's oversized lounge chair and used the cushion as a comfort pillow. It consoled her as she endeavoured to do some work.

Sloan boiled the kettle for the third time since Ed had arrived at the apartment 2 hours ago. She knew Ed had noticed her weight loss because he tried enticing her with numerous mouth-watering descriptions of meals and even suggested going out for a meal at Theo's, their favourite restaurant. But she wasn't hungry.

Sloan handed Ed a mug of tea and reopened her discussion. "That man in the photos couldn't be Tom. Couldn't you at least see the distinct possibility that the man was a clone or brother of Tom's?" Ed's face remained closed and she sighed, quite exasperated. "Look! If Tom was so important for their survival, don't you think they would've cloned him so they wouldn't lose his gene contribution for their society?"

Ed opened and closed his mouth to argue. "Perhaps," he answered slowly. "You have a point, but don't you think it more probable that Tom's mental state following his incarceration is the cause of his disappearance? I know the old Tom would never react the way he's been these past few weeks. You've got to accept that he's sick, in here." Ed pointed animatedly to his head. "He needs help and he didn't ask us for it." Ed put his mug down on the table as he reached over and gently squeezed her hand in an effort to offer solace to his best friend. "It may be instinct which is forcing this erratic behaviour, compelling him to return to his own species. We don't know!"

Sloan looked up at him, sadly shaking her head. "Oh, Ed! Why can't you see it from my point of view? Tom's different from his species. He can't distance himself from Human emotions. It's even more difficult now that he's tried your geno-genesis serum and experienced those feelings for himself. How could he possibly think a cold-blooded Homo dominant like Lewis or his mother could help him when his mind is affected?"

"But Sloan," Ed replied sympathetically, "you're thinking he's only mentally affected, what if it's also physical? Maybe they're the only ones who could heal him. Maybe there's some hidden code we don't know about, some deep programming which sent Tom running back to Lewis' control." Seeing her stubborn chin, jut out, Ed sighed and hastily continued before she could argue the point anymore. "Anyhow, I may have a solution to our problems. It's the reason why I called this morning."

Ed stood up and avoided eye contact with his friend, using the excuse of bringing their empty mugs to the sink. Talking about Mariana confused him a lot because she affected him in ways he couldn't explain. Sloan wouldn't miss any of this with her finely tuned intuition, so he didn't want to take a chance. He hid his face from her as he washed the two mugs. "Mariana has offered her help in researching her species." Sloan remained quiet and Ed added desperately, "She's a scientist after all."

Ed turned and stared at her for a few minutes. He walked around the island in her kitchen and crouched down before her. "Come on, Sloan, be honest with yourself. How much have you achieved here these past few days? You're surrounded by reminders of Tom."

"You know I'm researching our new project here."

Ed looked around the apartment and finally rested his eyes on the chair where Sloan was sitting as he cajoled, "Come on, my friend, it's not working as long as you're moping around this apartment waiting for news. Admit it. You need the lab and its structure." Ed smiled slightly. He suggested, "Who knows, we may even find some way to help Tom when he returns."

"Ed? You aren't doubting that he'll come back are you?" Sloan's wide eyes betrayed her fear that her best friend held no hopes for Tom. "He was your friend too. Surely you knew that?"

Ed stood up and threw his hands in the air, very frustrated. "Yes, I knew that, but I'm also trying to be objective. Tom was under the effects of the geno-genesis serum when Alexandra kidnapped him. Admittedly, it was wearing off, but what if she dosed him again? God only knows what else that woman subjected him to apart from the torture and experiments. No Human could survive all of that and be normal. So Tom's chances of coming back without his mind being warped in some way are slim."

Sloan could see that the more she argued the point with Ed the more reasons he found to cast doubts on her theories. She decided for the sake of what little sanity she had left she was better off saying no more. Sloan wanted to preserve every particle of hope for Tom's safe return, accept him back into her life, and help him recover from his mental and physical torment. She prayed her intuition was right and Tom had a very good reason for disappearing so abruptly.

Sloan stopped short and she suddenly locked gazes with Ed, remembering his reactions whenever he'd mentioned Mariana's name. How could she not notice the mutual attraction forming between Ed and Mariana? If I know Ed, he doesn't even know its happening. "Ed, I'm so sorry - I've been a real pain lately. Why don't you go and spend some time with Mariana? I'm okay now."

Ed blushed at this sudden turn in the conversation. He headed towards her front door, trying to find the right words while his reactions subsided. He turned around and faced his friend, gathering the courage to say something. "It's okay, Sloan, we're just friends. I... I've been helping her with Mark. That's all. There's nothing more to it."

This time Sloan grinned and kept her thoughts to herself. 'Yes, Dr. Ed Tate, and pigs can fly! If this isn't a romance starting to blossom then I've lost my intuitive sense.'

Sloan hurried over and playfully nudged him. "Go on to the lab, Ed Tate! I'll follow in about 20 minutes. Tell Senan, my bodyguard, I won't be long. Where's Des? Is he outside?"

"Yeah. I left him talking with your guard in the hallway. Now, hurry up, Sloan. The break from here will do you good and Mariana has quite a few ideas to help even the playing field between our two species."

Sloan looked up in astonishment. "Really? Is that true? You never told me."

"I'm telling you now. So come on, hurry up," he said excitedly.

"Okay, okay," she repeated breathlessly. "By the way, Ed? Thanks for being such a good friend and a shoulder to cry on. You're always there when I need you."

Ed smiled softly, warmth filling his eyes. "Any time, Sloan. You'd do the same for me." Ed hugged her and left her standing at her open door. "I'll see you at the lab in a few minutes!" he called over his shoulder.

Potawatomi Village,

Lunchtime, 17^th November 1999

Tom drove the rest of the journey into Potawatomi. Lewis was much more relaxed now that he had unburdened his soul to Tom. They each sensed the change in their relationship, and for the first time since Tom's desertion of his species, they seemed to be able to talk more openly to one another.

Lewis was the first to resume their discussion about their comparative ordeals. "You asked me earlier how I managed to get away from our mutual enemy, the dragon-lady! I'll tell you, it wasn't easy. I hadn't any friends in that prison lab who would lift a finger to help me. I was in there almost 6 months and it felt like eternity. I knew if I didn't escape, I would die in there. You know our species can't exist locked up in a cage. Our empathic senses won't allow us to rest easy in captivity. I suppose it's the animal instinct. Live wild, live free, procreate, kill prey!"

Tom parked the jeep and leaned back, resting his left arm on the steering wheel and partially turned so that he could observe Lewis as he spoke.

The older Chameleon continued, his low, quiet voice somehow showing Tom the depth of this memory. "I decided my only hope of escape was Alexandra. I had to play on her bitterness and jealousy after they booted her from the CIA and the Human Task Force. She blamed one person in particular - Dr. Walter Attwood. I offered to help her in destroying him, if she agreed to release me. Naturally, she was reluctant, but every time she questioned me in her inquisition, I wore her down. She knew her best chance of destroying Attwood had to come from an outside source, and she needed someone to do her dirty work for her. If I were that person, the possibilities of tracing the deed back to her were minimal. She hardly expected this from me in my weakened state. Eventually, she decided to agree, but with one condition. I had to make my escape appear unaided. Otherwise, it would arouse suspicion if she just let me go." Lewis shook his head. "I will say this for the woman. She'd make a great Chameleon if she were one of us."

Tom interrupted Lewis as he saw his chance. "So, how did she explain your escape? She had the two of us in her claws together for almost two months, and I was obviously not held in the same place as you or we would have sensed one another."

"Ah, Tom," breathed Lewis, slightly amused. "That was the beauty of the thing. Your arrival facilitated my release. Since she had probably discovered all she could from me, she wanted to devote more time and efforts towards your interrogations and research. You were her new toy, her new lab-rat." Lewis shrugged his shoulders. "I doubt she would have given in to my suggestion if she hadn't got you."

Tom thought of Lewis' side of the story and he fumed. 'How dare he use me as a means of his own escape. Wait a minute! Maybe that was why she abducted me in the first place. If Alexandra had considered Lewis' proposal, she would want a new Homo dominant to replace him, so she could continue her experiments, and that replacement was me! Oh, the irony of it. My capture for Lewis' release, Sloan would love that one.'

Tom turned from his ex-mentor and removed the key from the ignition. He didn't trust himself to answer in a civilised manner right now. So he changed the subject and said as calmly as possible, "Not a lot happening here, is there?" He glanced at Lewis from the corner of his eye as he pointed out, "I mean, if there was surveillance on the camp, shouldn't there be at least one strange vehicle in town?"

"Hmmm. Perhaps, perhaps not. You never can tell in places such as this," countered Lewis. "Let's call in to the Prospector Bar and see what might have passed through. Al Hunter, the barkeep, is always a good bet for knowledge about strangers in town."

Tom locked the jeep and pocketed the keys. He joined Lewis as they ambled over to the timber-framed building reminiscent of a saloon from the old Wild, Wild West. There was even a rail for securing horses. Lewis swung the door wide and entered with Tom following closely. He noticed the modern centrally heated plush interior of the bar contrasted with the exterior. Shaking his head, Tom trailed Lewis, who approached the establishment's owner working at the bar.

Straightening from his tasks, the owner watched them advance. Al Hunter stood to his full 198 cm. (6' 7") height. From his build, he appeared to weigh at least 114 kg (250 lbs.). Tom thought it would take a brave man to wrestle with that solid proprietor.

"What can I get you guys?" asked Al.

Tom took the lead and replied, laconically, "Two bottles of Moosehead Ale. Is that okay with you, Lewis?"

"Yes, fine," Lewis replied as he pulled out two stools at the counter. The two men took their seats and made casual conversation with Al as they drank their beers.

Al was familiar with Lewis, seeing him in the bar and the village from time to time. He'd seen him one night less than a week ago in the company of two beautiful women. He'd been busy down the end of the bar while one of his barmen tended to their requirements. 'No doubt about it' thought Al, 'this guy knew how to pull in the ladies and from the rugged handsome appearance of his companion, he'd be drawing them like bees to the honey-pot as well.' He had assumed Lewis was a fitness trainer at the convalescent home about 50 km away but he never dared ask. Tom, he'd never seen before, but from his build, he figured he was in the same line of work as Lewis. There was something peculiar about that home, but he knew better than to enquire. Questions could get you in trouble. So it was odd that a lot of strangers had entered town lately, asking questions. When the two men in front of him asked about any new people in town, he mentioned the two suspicious strangers who had come around interrogating the locals about a week ago. He told the two Chameleons that these guys had all the signs of FBI agents, but as this was Canada, that couldn't be. It was way outside their jurisdiction. Anyhow, they were gone now. They hadn't been looking for a place to stay, but like Tom and Lewis, they'd done a lot of probing. They however were asking about the convalescent home. 'Funny. These two are from there,' thought Al, suspiciously. 'Something's going on here and I don't think I want to know.' Al's years of experience told him these were not men he wanted to mess with. 'There's something unnatural about them,' he finally decided.

Tom and Lewis downed the last of their beers and departed, leaving a generous tip for Al. Lewis called over his shoulder as they went out, "I'll be by again in a few days. I'm sure you'll be able to tell me if you see these people again or if anyone else seems to be a little too curious for their own good."

"Sure thing, Mr. -" He waited to see if his parting patron would elaborate on the name. Lewis put his head around the door and smiled as he quipped, "Lynch, Mr. Hunter. My name is Randall Lynch!"

Tom looked at him in surprise as they headed toward the car. "What's that all about? Calling yourself Randall Lynch?"

"If any of our snoopers are really looking for us, then that name will give them something to think about." Lewis chuckled a small wicked laugh.

Tom didn't bother responding as they returned to the car and headed back toward Nead an Iolair. Neither spoke for a long while as they were each immersed in their own thoughts.

"Tom, I need to know something," asked Lewis, breaking the silence. "How do you feel about your Dr. Sloan Parker now?"

"Well," said Tom, slowly, hesitantly, feeling his way through the words he needed to fool his former mentor. "Just before I left, things were rather strained between us. Of course, I put it down to what happened to me. But, it was at that time I noticed our association had changed, and the distance between us was palpable." Running one hand across his shortened hair, Tom searched for some difficult words. "For the second time in my life I felt alone, that I belonged nowhere and to no one, neither Dominant nor Human. I was deprived of all I had held close." Tom remained silent for a long while. Then he caught Lewis' eyes for a few seconds. "After seeing those photos, perhaps there was more to it than that. Maybe it wasn't me, maybe it was Sloan who pulled away, who wanted our relationship finished."

Tom hated saying these things, but he needed Lewis to accept him back into the Chameleon programme again, without question. 'It wasn't Sloan, it wasn't her, it wasn't her.' As he continued, he recognised some truth creeping into his confidence regarding his feelings, not about Sloan, but about his mother. He called upon those feelings, incorporating them into his argument to help give a convincing performance. "I felt betrayed by the one person whose trust and opinions mattered the most to me. That's when I started thinking about the differences between our two species and decided that Sloan and I were worlds apart. Too far for things to work out. Sometimes, I feel lonely for our own species, interacting with each other."

Tom glared at Lewis gravely, as he announced, "I've had mixed feelings about my desertion of our own species since my capture. Many times I expected Sloan to find me, especially when it was obvious I was being held by Alexandra Luthor in a facility only an hour's drive from Pasadena." Tom stole a glance at his former mentor. "There were times when I even wondered if Sloan Parker was in on the snatch. She was conveniently missing when it happened and miraculously reappeared as they shoved me into the van." As he declared this, Lewis noticed that Tom's knuckles were white with tension, gripping the steering wheel.

Lewis stared, considering how honest this confession was. For once, Tom's shields were closed and he couldn't get inside his head. Neither could he see into his eyes. So that didn't help. Lewis' eyes roamed his protégé. Judging by his body movements, Tom's story was true. He weighed Tom's explanation and figured it would have been difficult to rehearse such a speech, considering what he'd just undergone. Then again, the drugs helping his recovery could have helped him enough, so that he was in top form again. Lewis sighed. There was no other option but to believe him, until he could prove otherwise.

Lewis finally said, "Well, Tom, you've come to the right place to get over her. You know that. We'll soon have you fit and back at work. Avila will help you too, if you'll let her." He leaned back in the car seat and closed his eyes, recalling Tom's first entrance into the Chameleon programme. "I remember when you first came to me, very eager to learn. You were my brightest student and you excelled at everything. This is why I'm reluctant to give up on you." Lewis canted his head sideways and watched his protégé. "If all goes well, I do have an assignment for you, but we can discuss that later when you are a bit further along the road to recovery."

Tom's eyes jerked towards Lewis at that last statement. Nodding his agreement, he turned his attention back to the road. 'Yes, it looks like things were working out at last. He trusts me, I think. Better not let him find out otherwise.'

Both men made themselves comfortable for this session. Tom sat in his usual armchair as Lewis handed him a glass and a small bottle of peach-flavoured mineral water. Then the older Dominant sank into his own chair and drank from his own water. It had become a matter of habit, sharing a drink together before their meeting.

"Well, Tom, now that you've resumed the struggle for our cause, I think it's about time we did some serious talking." Tilting his head to the side, he asked obliquely, "Don't you agree?"

Tom outwardly appeared very calm and composed. He had so far succeeded in putting on a brave face, hiding his inner turmoil during these meetings. 'But, why oh why is that photo of Sloan bothering me? It's a fake. I know that!' He took a sip of the sweetened beverage before responding. "You're the arbiter in all things at Nead an Iolair. You said so yourself, Lewis. So I'm sure you'll tell me what's necessary when the time is right for you."

"Well said, Tom," retorted Lewis. "You know me well. So no more riddles, but that is my prerogative as your mentor. You're obviously regaining your confidence, since you're picking up my idiosyncrasies again." Lewis downed some of his own beverage before he tackled the next subject, which worried him. "I know you learned of the return of Kewleys Comet with our Sloan, but not its true purpose. I am going to reveal to you now, what you were supposed to hear if you had attended this meeting, our Horizon Event plan we connected to the arrival of Kewleys Comet."

Tom's expression sharpened as Lewis continued. "Initially, all the Chosen were implanted with some deep programming that was linked to the arrival of Kewleys. The comet's arrival triggered the programming and everyone made their way to the designated place around another well-hidden pillar." Lewis stared deep into Tom's eyes. "You were sorely missed, Tom, because you were supposed to play a major role in our overall plan."

Tom shifted uncomfortably in his chair as unwanted memories flashed at him from deep within his subconscious. Suddenly, his hands began to shake uncontrollably and the glass shattered in his hand, spilling its contents onto the floor. Though they were only minor cuts, his hand bled in several places. As Tom became more distressed, he pressed both hands to his temples, smearing blood across them. His face contorted in agony as he screamed, "Oh no! Please no! I can't stand it anymore. Make it stop! Please, somebody help me!" Tom folded into a foetal position on his chair, lying on his side. His low voice muttered over, and over again, "Kewleys... It's here! Must go... the meeting. Oh no! C... c... can't m... m... make it! C...c...can't escape! Please, oh please, not in there, again. The pain... the sensations.... It's, it's too much!" Tom's screams finally ebbed and a forlorn sigh escaped as he writhed in the chair.

Abruptly, the terrorised man fell forward onto his knees on the wet floor. He covered his head with his hands as though endeavouring to protect it from some external attack. From time to time, he emitted a cry of despair as though everything was hopeless. Finally succumbing to his helpless situation, Tom curled tightly into a foetal position again, as he sank deeper and deeper into his trauma.

Lewis observed him. He didn't move from his chair to help the younger Chameleon, as he was curious. Tom hadn't been this bad since he had first arrived at the refuge section of the complex's psychiatric ward. He didn't consider it unusual, since Tom had only recently arrived at the sanctuary and it had only been three weeks between his rescue and captivity. However, this was his protégé's first major relapse and he worried that Tom might go into shock and arrest.

Lewis cautiously arose from his chair, hoping not to startle the tortured man, and approached his protégé. Unsure what to do, he bent down and placed his hand on Tom's now bloodied forehead. He spoke slowly and somewhat soothingly. "Tom! Snap out of it. You're safe now. She doesn't hold you anymore."

Tom flinched in fear from Lewis' touch. He yelled, "No! Don't touch me! Pain, I can't bear it!" Tom shook his head. "No, no, no, no!" His voice faded as Lewis retreated and the danger passed. The silence was deafening.

Lewis sat back, giving the terrified man some space. "Tom, listen to me. You can relax. Kewleys Comet has passed. You're all right." The older Chameleon spoke calmly, trying to pacify him, but his protégé remained unresponsive. "Do you hear me, Tom? Just take a deep breath." Lewis noticed Tom's chest moving slightly. "That's it. Again!"

Tom gradually stopped shivering and looked around. He moved slowly, like a man coming out of a coma, and sat upright on the floor. Resting his elbows on his knees, he bowed his head and laced his gashed fingers together. The tormented ex-Chameleon could still feel his heart racing and endeavoured to slow its pace by taking longer, deeper breaths. He looked up warily and saw Lewis crouched in front of him. His former mentor caught his eye as he reached forward, trying to place his hand on Tom's shoulder. Tom instinctively recoiled away. Any physical touch was still so abhorrent to him after his spell in the sensory deprivation tank.

Lewis spoke softly. "Go talk this through with Dr. Briglia. You're here at Nead an Iolair to recover. That's your first priority." When it appeared his protégé didn't hear him, Lewis said louder, "Do you hear me, Tom?"

Tom slowly raised his head and nodded, not trusting himself to speak without sounding shaken. 'What had that woman done with his mind?' echoed his horrified thought. Tom hoped one day he'd be able to exact his own revenge, although vengeance had never been in his nature until he'd met Alexandra Luthor! Human emotion or not, it's what he felt.

From a distance, Tom heard Lewis speak again. Glancing up, he saw his ex-mentor's hand outstretched towards him, offering him help from the floor. 'I'm not crippled yet,' he thought. He ignored Lewis' hand and scrambled up himself. Patting himself down, he felt the damp patches on his clothing where he had lain on the wet carpet. Tiny splinters of broken glass also covered his hands and knees. Tom noticed the small cuts had started to sting a bit.

Lewis gestured towards them with his hand. "Go see Avila. She can attend to your wounds." The younger man attempted to remain independent despite his anxiety. "We can always continue this conversation later."

Tom shook his head vehemently, "No, Lewis. Let's do it now. What just happened, won't occur again. And my cuts are only minor." He walked to the bar and rinsed his hands under the tap. "I've had worse injuries in my times as a Chameleon." The headstrong young Dominant wrapped a clean paper towel around his hand to absorb the blood freely oozing again from the numerous wounds.

Lewis watched him and sensed his pain. "I don't know. The suddenness of this episode has me wondering how much you've come to terms with your imprisonment. While our pain management and Chameleon training are probably the only things which saved you, you came close. Considering you may be out in the field in a couple of weeks, we may need to change our plans." Lewis carefully watched Tom's reactions. "If an innocent touch or a conversation can set you off, then we can't risk it. This problem you have with sensing/shielding has to be resolved before you're assigned to active duty again."

Slowly, Tom walked back and gingerly picked up the slivers of broken glass, depositing them into a waste bin under the table. He rose, painfully and returned to his chair, mulling over his mentor's comments. There was no doubt about it. They made sense. He'd be mad to try and overlook what had happened, in the hopes that it would not recur. He was bound to have flashbacks. And the tank had been the final blow to his mental state of health. He was really worried that he would have these nightmares for the rest of his life.

As Tom sat in silence, obviously considering Lewis' words, the elder Chameleon went to the bar and poured another mineral water into a glass. With his back turned towards Tom, he covertly added the contents of a small vial, which he had in his pocket for such emergencies. He stirred it gently till the liquid cleared and brought it over to him and said, "This should relax you, Tom. Please, drink it down in one gulp."

The younger Dominant examined the congealing blood that had seeped from the gashes on his laced fingers. Mesmerised by the blood, he hardly heard Lewis approach. His name faintly registered and he looked up. Lewis gestured with the glass for him to accept it. Tom hesitantly, grasped the glass and swallowed the clear liquid, unaware of its nature, as the additive was also tasteless.

Tom placed the empty glass on the table and sighed. "I know you're right. It's just so hard to accept that I'm not the same man I used to be before that... Devil Woman got her hands on me. I'll never be the same again." Rubbing his hand across his forehead, he said, "I can't deal with the feelings that my loss of control unleashed in here." He pointed to his head. "It's so frustrating. I can't sleep at night without waking up thinking I'm still in that tank, especially if I'm covered in sweat and it's dark. I feel like a kid - afraid of the dark. I'm frightened of anybody touching me or getting close, so many phobias, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to deal with them all." He bowed his head, shaking it dispiritedly.

Lewis was sitting in his usual chair with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to Tom's account of the after-effects of the sensory deprivation tank. 'There's no doubt about it. Tom's going to suffer these flashbacks and nightmares for quite a while to come.' Lewis continued deliberating as Tom started to feel the effects of the drug and became calmer. 'This mental aberration could seriously mess up our plans, particularly over the coming weeks. This was not his alert Chameleon of almost a year ago. He's as close to broken as I ever want to see and Tom needs time to heal. Something will have to be done and quickly.' Lewis shook his head, his lips pursed together. 'At least the sedative I just administered is quick. But I'll have to arrange something more long-term so as not to interfere with his normal recovery. That's important for the future - he has to be fully recuperated for his role in our society.'

Tom appeared more composed as the concoction worked on his nervous system. He felt the waves of tranquillity wash over him as the drug hit deeper and deeper. 'This is strange. I'm not me, I'm outside myself, looking down on myself. There's something in that drink,' the confused Dominant finally surmised. He studied the empty glass and lifted it up, sniffing the dregs. 'Hmm. There's no telltale residue or scent of anything discrepant, but then that wouldn't be unusual for Lewis who was a master of deceit and guile.' He looked over at his mentor and raised his eyebrow questioningly.

Tom looked at him, dubiously and he retorted, "Oh yeah? Now where have I heard that before, Lewis? How do I know it's not something that affects me subconsciously? For all I know, it could be some more hallucinogenic opiate that you can use at some stage in the future for your own purposes."

"Tom, give me a little credit here. Would I hurt you? You're almost like a son to me. Anything that happened in the past was for your own good and the welfare of our species." Lewis sounded almost innocent. "You know how I feel about these things."

The younger Chameleon stared at his leader thoughtfully as he fell silent. He was unlikely to win this argument, so he let it go for the time being. If Lewis had drugged him, it was too late now, but he hoped that he could deal with any problems as they arose in time. 'Perhaps Ed could find out what I've been given if the narcotic is still in my system, if and when I return to Sloan and the rest of the lab team.' Tom hesitated a moment. 'Ah, that is the question... if.' Tom glanced at the floor for an instant while he collected his thoughts. 'As things were now, there was a lot of soul-searching to be done between Sloan and myself before we can ever get back what we had before, if ever.' He shielded himself against any further thoughts about Sloan as a dull ache began deep within his head. 'Besides, it's risky now with Lewis present to indulge in these reflections.'

Tom glanced at his former mentor. "I suppose we'd best get on with the reason for this meeting in the first place," he said, anxious to move on. "I'm ready to hear whatever you have to say about Kewleys Comet or anything else for that matter. I'm sure whatever was in that drink has been fully absorbed into my bloodstream by now, so there won't be another empathic attack." Tom leaned back in his chair and adopted a cool-headed appearance as he waited for Lewis' response.

The silver-haired leader stretched comfortably in his chair, watching his protégé as he considered the best approach. He leaned forward, lacing his fingers together and rested his elbows on his knees. "First of all, Kewleys Comet was highly significant because it established the Inaugural Congress of all the leaders of our species in our world-wide context as well as The High Council. We were all there, with a couple of exceptions. The others' absences were minor, compared to yours, Tom. You are one of the major fulcrums in this fight for our species. Many noted your absence and were disappointed. That night I made a promise that I would do my utmost to rescue you from your captors and return you to your rightful place within our command." Lewis paused purposefully as he allowed this to sink in.

Tom's eyes widened in astonishment. Lewis took a deep breath and explained, "I won't be telling you everything today. This is too pandemic a subject to digest all at once, especially after what you've been through with the demon-witch. Over the next few days, I'll reveal all that you need to know, so that you'll have a better understanding of our hierarchy and your place in the equation, Tom."

Lewis rose from his chair and walked over to the east-facing windows. There was a stunning view of Mount Pilan and the Macdonald Range of the Canadian Rockies from there. Resting his hands on the windowsill, he looked out at the spectacular vista. Lewis stated over his shoulder, "I had intended to go into more detail today with you, Tom, but I'm concerned about this mental anguish you are undergoing. That has to repaired and those wounds of yours need attention. I think we've had enough surprises today."

Tom reflected on the morning's events and slowly accepted that his mentor was probably right. He was feeling tired and grubby after all that had transpired. A shower and a rest would help a lot. Besides, his hand smarted. It might be a good idea to let Av fix it up. Tom looked up at his counsellor, nodding in agreement as he finally replied, "You're right, it's been quite a morning, for both of us. I suppose there's always tomorrow." Tom started to rise slowly, feeling his knees a bit stiff from the cuts and of course, the fatigue caused by the sedative. "I suppose same time, same place, tomorrow morning?" he asked, the exhaustion now obvious in his voice and face.

Lewis weighed Tom's words for a moment before he responded, "Yes. But keep the rest of the day free. I also want to meet you after lunch at the sanctuary. There's a doctor there who'll be able to help you through this. Sharon de Vere is a psychiatrist who specialises in problems such as yours. She was a member of the team of specialists assigned to assist victims in the Gulf War and other hostage situations. Meet me at her office at 2:30 p.m."

"Okay, I'll see you there," Tom assented, anxious to escape this room for a while. He walked towards the door with Lewis a few paces behind. He felt the walls closing in on him. 'I need out of here and quickly,' he reckoned.

Lewis met Sharon de Vere again following Tom's visit an hour earlier that evening. The young lady had been chief psychiatrist at the sanctuary for the past 5 years and she had a brilliant career prior to her arrival. Sharon was olive-skinned, of small stature with a well-rounded figure, which belied her energy and strength. Her short straight black hair and deep brown eyes were very appealing. She dressed casually as she believed her patients were more likely to open up to her if they saw her more like themselves.

Lewis appreciated her, always fascinated by the females of his species and their underlying charm. Sharon de Vere was no exception. He was anxious for her medical opinion regarding Tom and the effects of his incarceration on any future plans where he was involved. Doctor/patient confidentiality was non-existent when it came to Lewis. All the medical staff at Nead an Iolair knew this and accepted it, as Lewis was in charge of the entire complex and his word was what counted in this society. The Chameleon leader was relieved to learn that Sharon was hopeful for a full recovery in Tom's case, but only in due course.

Sharon succinctly explained, "Tom's spell in the sensory deprivation tank had been the most devastating experience I'd ever heard of, and the event greatly affected his empathic powers. He couldn't control sensing, nor block out any emotions. This led to his fear of contact because empathy intensifies with touch exponentially. It was serious enough to effect his interaction with the others." Sharon shook her head. "It's going to be a slow process and I can't let anyone interfere with him, as it could delay his recuperation."

This wasn't good news for Lewis who had certain plans lined up for Tom in the very near future. The younger Dominant would need to be fully alert and much further along the road to recovery for these to succeed. Lewis and Sharon discussed the various options open to them. Finally, after long deliberations, they came to an arrangement that would ensure Tom was ready for his mission without compromising his long-term health.

Sharon found her medical diary and read from it. "Yes, I knew it would be here. Lewis, we can use a narcotic cocktail which would enable Tom to think more clearly while reducing his susceptibility to the nightmares and phobias of the past few weeks. Hmm." Sharon slid her finger down the page. "A single daily dose within a power drink after exercise would be all that's required. The regimen would be finished by the time Tom was ready to leave the camp."

Lewis had figured that November 30^th was that deadline. Between now and then, Tom will have to visit Sharon every day for a consultation and meet daily with me. Lewis figured and rightly so, that Tom would be suspicious of any drug that he administered. So Sharon would attend to that part of the recuperation. She would provide the special drugged cocktail to Tom and explain its benefits to him. She could also add the memory-alert serum to the drink he consumed every morning after his exercise regime. This wonder drug prescribed by Sharon would assist his errant protégé in his recovery.

Lewis slept a little easier that night, knowing Tom would receive proper care and attention from Sharon. More imperative, however, the younger Dominant would also be ready in time for his secret mission.