Rip van E

Another day, another disappointment, Dr. Nguyen thought, striding quickly up the steps of Steel Canyon Med. He nodded to the security guards and walked into the elevator. He checked over his clipboard, looking at the minor fluctuations and trying to decide which treatment to try next.

When the doors opened again, he walked down the hall, nodding again to the extra security that had been added. They recognized him by now and gave him only a cursory scan before waving him along. He walked into his office and was almost to the computer before he realized something was wrong.

A few of the monitors were squealing weakly, indicating flatline, but somehow not as loudly as they should. Sparks were flying in the room on the other side of the tempered glass window. Lights were flashing, instruments were scattered, and...

The bed was empty.

Oh, no! he thought, forcing his way through the security door as quickly as he could. He scrambled in, already trying to think of what he would tell Fyre Hex. He gawked at the bed for a minute in horror. Then he started looking around the room, under the bed, behind it...

Someone was sitting at the computer in the corner. Dr. Nguyen grabbed a tranquilizer and started to creep up on him...

...when the ghosts appeared.

The figure at the computer turned around, scratching at the beard the orderlies had let him grow and pulling the labcoat closed across his scarred chest.

"Hey, doc," Dr. Jason Pace said, smiling a bit. "How long have I been out?"