Part 4

An hour later, Operations, Michael, Rita and Curlly were outside Medlab again. The doctor came out to the group. "Sherry just woke up. She seems to be okay from what I can tell." Everyone was relieved. They all followed the doctor in to see her.

"What's going on, doc? What am I doing here?" Sherry asked.

"You don't remember?" came the question from Michael.

Sherry shook her head no. "All I remember is going to lunch, then not feeling well and going home. Next thing I know I'm waking up here."

Michael nodded. "You've been poisoned, along with North and Kathy."

Sherry was shocked. "Poisoned? Are they okay? Who did it?"

Operations walked up beside Michael. "Dad! I'm glad you're here," Sherry said. "What's going on?"

Everyone, including Operations, was baffled. "Your father?" the doctor asked. Michael realized this was their first inkling of what the side effects would be. Her brain had to be jumbled.

She spoke again. "Dad, would you please answer me?" She was looking directly at Operations. He looked to the doctor who nodded to him. Clearing his throat, he explained what they knew.

Rita and Curlly were stunned. They exchanged quick glances. Could it be? Could Sherry really be his daughter? They glanced at Michael, but his expression, as usual, gave nothing away. For himself, Michael refused to believe it. She wasn't anything like Operations. There was no way she was a part of him. He had never even heard an inkling of anything even suggesting it since she first came to Section.

Once Operations had explained to Sherry's satisfaction what they knew, he asked Rita and Curlly to check on Northstar and Kathy.

When the girls were outside of Sherry's room, Curlly turned to Rita. "Is it true? Sherry is Operations' daughter?"

Rita shrugged. "I have no idea. I would have never guessed it in a million years. But it does explain why she gets away with treating him as she does."

Curlly nodded. "I can't believe it. Man, this is incredible." They headed for North's room. They found her awake.

"Hey North," Rita began. "You guys gave us quite a scare!"

North smiled. "Well, sorry, but we didn't really have a choice."

"How do you feel?" Curlly inquired.

"Oh, I'm tired, feel like I've been through the wringer, but otherwise I'm okay. How about the others?"

"We haven't checked on Kathy yet, but Sherry seems to be okay. Michael and Operations are with her now."

Northstar nodded. "Good. I hope Kathy is okay too. Would one of you be good enough to tell my brother I'd like to see him when he has a minute."

Rita and Curlly exchanged glances. "Your brother?" Rita asked.

North laughed. "Yeah, you know ... the one everybody drools over but is already spoken for. Are you sure you aren't the one that should be in this bed, Rita?"

"Michael?" Curlly asked. "He's your brother?"

North shook her head. "What is with you guys? You're acting like I'm speaking a foreign language! Yeah, Michael. When he has a minute, I'd like to see him."

Rita nodded. "Okay, yeah, I'll tell him." She and Curlly once again exchanged glances. First Sherry and Operations, now North and Michael? No one had ever said anything about Michael and North being brother and sister. It didn't seem possible.

Rita decided to try and get more info. "What about Operations? Do you want to see him?"

North thought about it for about a second. "Not unless he has some questions. I prefer to keep my distance from him." Now the girls knew something was wrong. Since when did North ever keep her distance from Operations?

Just then Rita's cellphone rang. "Hello."

"Rita, love, it's Mick. Listen, I need to speak with Michael."

"Okay, give me a second to find him," Rita answered and headed for Sherry's room.

Curlly paid a visit to Kathy. "Hey Kath. How are you doing?"

Kathy sighed. "Other than feeling like someone used me as a bowling ball, I'm okay. How about North and Sherry?"

Curlly smiled. "They seem to be healthy enough." She wanted to say something about their scrambled brains, but thought she'd better wait to see what came out of Kathy's mouth. "So, is there anything I can get for you, or do for you?" Curlly inquired.

Kathy nodded. "Yeah. Would you ask Davenport to stop by when he has a chance."

Curlly exhaled. Well, at least Kathy seems normal enough. "Sure. Anything else?"

Kathy shook her head and answered angrily. "No. Just tell Davenport I need to speak with him. I need to tell him that I won't be seeing him anymore."

"What?" Curlly exclaimed. "You don't want to see him anymore?"

Kathy was shaking her head. "No. I can't go out with a man who is seeing someone else behind my back."

Curlly's mind was reeling. Now what, she wondered. "You mean Kit?"

Kathy shook her head. "No, not Kit. I've known about that for a while now. I'm talking about Sherry. Did you know they took off together, spent over a week in a secluded house by the ocean? They were even looking at engagement rings." Kathy stopped and realized who she was talking to. "Well, of course you know. You were in on it with them. You helped them." Curlly was sorry she had brought it up. Apparently she was now on Kathy's list as well.

Kathy took a deep breath and continued. "I don't know what kind of a fool he thinks I am, but I won't put up with that kind of behavior. And I thought Sherry was my friend. You too."

Uh oh, Curlly thought. This was getting ugly. Better keep Kathy and Sherry apart for a while. "But Sherry is engaged to Michael, Kathy. He's with her now."

Kathy laughed. "Poor sap. He apparently won't believe it, even when he saw it with his own eyes. Oh, I know they made up some story about a mission and he bought it hook, line and sinker. But not me. I know the truth when I see it."

Curlly nodded. "Okay, Kathy. I'll tell Davenport when I see him. You better get some rest, now. I've gotta check in with Rita and see if they've found out anything." She quickly exited Kathy's room and went to find Rita. She found Rita heading for Sherry's room with a cellphone in her hand. She quickly followed her.

"Michael, it's Mick," Rita said as she handed him the phone.

"What did you find out?" Michael demanded. He listened for a few moments. "Thank you," then he hung up.

"So?" Rita inquired.

Michael turned to Operations. "It seems it's a new drug called 'Summer Heat.' As they told us, the affects are temporary if the antidote is administered within 48 hours. After that, the side effects become permanent. It's only been around for a few months. It was developed by a new group called Firestorm. And we more than likely have a mole in Section. So, we have to find Firestorm, get the antidote, stop their next attack, and root out the mole."