More Incidents at Steel Canyon Med

Dr. Scott Nguyen walked down the deserted corridor toward the lab and containment unit. It was very late, but he hadn't been able to sleep. A new idea had struck him, and he knew he wouldn't be able to rest until he ran the models on it. It wasn't terribly unusual for him to stay late at the lab, but going back at this hour? Well, at least he wouldn't be sharing the space with the rest of the team for a change. Hard to work with all those elbows bumping together.

He rounded the last corner and his shoes squeaked on the freshly-mopped floor as he skidded to a halt. There were figures in the hallway. Three of about average size, but on had to be at least seven to eight feet tall. And all four of them were glowing like dying flourescent bulbs.

It's one thing to see them on the security cameras, the doctor thought to himself, swallowing hard. It's quite another to see real ghosts standing guard outside the room. He steeled himself and continued walking. Nothing to be afraid of. Just figments. They haven't hurt anyone.

Dr. Nguyen looked up at the tall, faceless figure as he stopped in front of the door. "H-hi... umm... Doppleganger, isn't it?" As he had heard, the four figures didn't react to him except to stand and stare. Silently threatening. Panic started building in the doctor, and he began to sweat. "I'm just going to run another model," he found himself telling the ghosts as he fumbled his security code. "We're going to help Dr. Pace. Really."

Finally, he managed to get the door open and get inside. He breathed a sigh and flicked on the lights, fighting the panic and fear that seemed to come across him in waves. Just ghosts, he kept telling himself. Nothing to worry about...

He turned to power up the computer and picked up a tray of instruments, intending to draw some blood. He turned back around and the instruments clattered, crashed, and shattered across the floor.

The ghosts had surrounded him, the largest one standing firmly between the doctor and his patient. The three smaller ones glared, pounding their fists into their hands. The largest... well, without a face, it was hard to be sure, but the fear and panic took over. Dr. Nguyen found himself trying to make a run for it. Icy shards shot past his head. A flaming sword clipped his shoulder, setting his lab coat aflame. Bolts of pure energy slammed into his lower back, sending him flying into the hallway, his head hitting the wall with a crack.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day, Dr. Nguyen found himself a patient in his own hospital. He was treated for a concussion and bruised ribs. When he finally managed to talk his way out of bed, he put back on his lab coat (odd that it was unmarked since he was sure he'd been burned). He stalked through the hallways to his office and began making phone calls to M.A.G.I.

"Yes, I know you can't give me her home number," he barked at the far-too-patient voice on the other end. "Just give a message to Obsydian Fyre or Fyre Hex or whatever she's calling herself now. I think there's a couple things she forgot to tell me about her friend."