... And the cogs start turning.

[Doc Holliday]

"Thump! Thump! Thump!""Thump! Thump! Thump!" kept on repeating on the hallway side of John Holliday's quarter door.
"Doctor Holliday, are you there?" came the voice on the other side of the locked door. When he got no answer, he yelled again, "Doctor! Are you there?" Just as he was going to get a security detail, the door slid open to reveal a very groggy John Holliday holding himself up on the wall. With his free hand, he rubbed his eyes as he spoke, "What is it?"

The young officer looked at his guest, concerned. "Excuse me, Doctor, but you look awful!"
Doc just nodded, "Son, this is what happens when you give a 180 pound man a sedative measured for a man twice that size."
"Understood, Doctor," replied the officer, "we have arrived a San Jacinto. When you are ready, we will escort you to where the Premier is."
"All right," replied Doc, "Let me get cleaned up and something to eat. Some coffee would also be nice."
"Yes, Doctor," answered the officer, "Call for me when you're ready!"

Doc showered, letting the hot water wake him up. He cursed himself for the heavy sedative. As he dressed in his medical clothes, he wondered exactly where he was. He had never heard of San Jacinto. He just knew that he was closer to Alvin and that's all that he was worried about.
He was then escorted to a cafeteria where he was given a breakfast that truly was meant for a dignitary.
"Is it OK, Doctor?" asked the cook with a nervous smile.
"It's not Mrs. Holliday's cooking but it is still quite good, Sir," responded a satisfied Doc.
The cook just scurried off with a smile.

Finally, Doc was escorted to the room where Alvin Katz lay. He lay under anesthesia and was being assisted by a ventilator. The Naval medical staff stepped back as Doc began to look at his friend or, what remained of him. He was beaten....badly beaten. His arms and legs broken but re-set by the Naval staff. His skull was fractured, his left eye was swollen shut and a quick check of his mouth found several of his teeth missing. Several ribs were also broken, broken just enough to cause pain and discomfort. It was obvious that someone wanted him to suffer.
Also about his body were 3rd degree burns. They were in various patterns over his body and in some places, his skin was blackened. Doc recognized them as electrical burns and the more he examined, the angrier he became. Finally, his temper won.

"Bastards!" he bellowed as he busted through a door into a nearby corridor, "those sick bastards!" He then began pacing, trying to settle himself as the Naval surgeon spoke to him.
"Doctor Holliday, please, I know it's hard but he needs you," he explained, "we've stabilized him but you have all of his information. Also, there's something I think you need to see."

Together, the two men re-entered the room. The Naval doctor showed Doc a scan that was taken upon Alvin's arrival. At the base of his neck, just below the skull, was a strange device.
"We have no clue what it is," said the Doctor.
Doc then opened a case of his and took out a scanning device. It was something that the Naval staff had never seen, at least, not as sophisticated as this one was. Doc prepared some settings on it and began scanning, transmitting the pictures from his scanner to a large screen for all to see.

"What is it?" asked a nurse.
As Doc scanned, he answered, "I'm not sure. But, whatever it is, it was placed there as evidenced by the surgical scar on the back of his neck."
He continued scanning sending detailed images of a device that was well stapled into his spinal cord just at the base of the skull. He only shook his head, even doubting himself. He could see what it was in a physical sense but knew nothing of it's function.
"Nano technology," he said, "very interesting. I'm guessing it's some sort of mind control device but I won't know for sure until I have one in hand to look at."
"But why," asked the nurse, "would someone torture him like thins and put the device on him?"
Doc turned and stearnly looked at her, "because someone wanted to send a message....and I know who this person is at least, I know of him."
He then turned the scanner. "Listen, don't let him wake up. Under no circumstances do you let him wake up. Keeping him in a drug induced coma may well save us all. Keep a steady flow of trapanal going through him until I can figure out what to do," Doc lectured. With that, he left the room and went to find a high ranking officer. When he did, he made his request simple but with purpose.

"I need to speak with General Alvarez......immediately!" he insisted, "It can't wait."

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[MFE]Med Force One | Tales of Recovery|Med Force Enterprises