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A MindBomb Story: Loose Ends By Zapper A special thanks to BobH for letting me play in his Universe - Zapper PART ONE ++++++ Chapter 1 "A friendship renewed" ++++++ It was a pleasant fall day in Ann Arbor, Michigan as Trevor walked through the Diag headed toward South State Street and Ashley's bar. Trevor had graduated from the University of Michigan a couple of years ago with a degree in Computer Engineering and was now working as a computer programmer. He was also enrolled part time working on his Master's in Computer Science and Engineering but despite his education and work he wasn't happy. His job paid well enough and he'd just bought a small tri- level but he had few friends and no potential romantic interests. This was partly due to his slender build and largely due to his lack of social graces. Trevor was painfully shy. As Trevor passed Mason Hall he picked up his pace, there were students everywhere but that wasn't abnormal. Today was the first football Saturday of the fall in Ann Arbor and over 111,000 fans were making their way to the "Big House" to watch the Michigan Wolverines play. Trevor was a fan, of course, since he'd graduated from the University of Michigan, but he wasn't thinking about the game today. Instead he was focused on meeting up with Steve. Steve and Trevor had been friends since elementary school. Their friendship was odd since Steve was as different from Trevor as night from day. Where Trevor was shy Steve was out-going, Trevor was un-athletic Steve was a natural athlete, Trevor's IQ was on the genius level while Steve was only an average student. But they'd grown up next door neighbors and their parents had been close friends. After being thrown together to play they'd discovered that they both had a love of comic books, dungeons and dragons, video games, and reading. They'd become the best of friends before either realized that they shouldn't be. This thought made Trevor chuckle because if Steve had one overriding character trait it was loyalty. During high school Steve had made it clear to the "in" crowd that he'd not tolerate anyone picking on Trevor. Whenever there was a party he invited Trevor along and never really understood why Trevor didn't seem to have a good time. Then when graduation came Steve had received a wrestling scholarship from the University while Trevor had received a Presidential scholarship for academics. During college they'd seen less of each other since both were busy with different pursuits. They'd remained friends and tried to watch as many Michigan football games together as their schedules permitted. Then after graduation Trevor had found an IT job and Steve, who had also been in the Naval ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) program, had taken a commission into the Marine Corps. It was nearly three years after graduation when Trevor heard that Steve had lost his leg below the knee, in combat, in Afghanistan. They'd stayed in- touch via e-mail and now Steve had returned to Michigan. Steve's physical therapy had gone well and he'd been discharged from the Marine Corps and was returning to Ann Arbor to work on a Ph.D. in History. He'd told Trevor on the phone that he planned to go into teaching. Trevor had been at the welcome home party, Steve's parents had thrown, but with so many people Trevor's shyness had prevented him from having an opportunity to really get caught up. Now he was meeting Steve at their old hang out, Ashley's bar, for a couple of beers before the game. Trevor turned right when he got to South State Street and in a few minutes spotted Ashley's. Trevor entered the bar and saw that even though it was only 11 am they were doing a brisk business. It took a few minutes to spot Steve seated in an out of the way corner of the bar. As Trevor moved forward he slowed down and took some time to really look at Steve and was shocked by the changes. Steve was 6'2" with closely cropped light brown hair and had always been thin but now any fat he may have had was gone, he was all lean planes of muscle and leathery skin. His youthful face was lined with creases that Trevor hadn't seen three years ago and there was a hard cold look to his eyes. Steve was staring into his beer with an expression that was like stone as if he had no emotions. Trevor shuddered, for a second he wondered; "what had happened to Steve," then he pushed the thought a side this was his best friend. "Hey, buddy, how's it going?" Trevor asked. Steve looked up and his grim visage was transformed by the warm smile and Trevor was reminded of the Steve who'd left for TBS (The Basic School). Trevor slid into the seat opposite Steve feeling like the last three years had simply vanished. "I'm good; glad to be back home!" Steve said. "So what have you been up to?" "Work and school part time. Nothing particularly interesting, I heard that you're planning to go back to school." Trevor said signaling for a waitress come over. "Yup, I'm enrolled this fall full time in a Ph.D. program. I figure now that I've got this," and he hit his metal leg against a metal table leg causing it to chime, "I'm more suited to the classroom than the field." Trevor didn't know what to say; even though he'd known that there was a chance something could happen to Steve it had never seemed possible. Steve had always seemed so indestructible. After a pause Steve chuckled. "Same old Trevor, don't sweat it dude, I may have lost half my leg but I'm alive." Steve said. Just then Trevor's beer arrived and he took a long drink to cover his discomfort. "So how are the Wolverines looking this year?" Steve asked. Suddenly it was like old times as Trevor described who'd be starting and what to look for in this year's version of The Team. "So are you still spending all of your free time on the net?" Steve asked. "No! Well maybe, but it's for work." Trevor said. "Work? I doubt that, if I know you you're still poking around the inside of every government or corporate system you can get away with!" Steve laughed. "Hey it's for work; it helps me design safer systems." Trevor said but he couldn't keep a straight face and started laughing, Steve's humor was just too contagious to ignore. And Steve wasn't wrong Trevor was a gifted hacker although he hadn't caused any trouble on the net for him it was more about testing the limits of what he could do. It was the only form of risk taking Trevor was comfortable with, but inside cyber space Trevor was a terror! After a couple of beers and plenty of discussion about football and the latest computer and gaming systems Steve said, "I've got to go. There's a club for disabled veterans and we're meeting in a few minutes." Disappointed that Steve was going to have to leave before the game came on, Trevor stood up. He tossed a few bills onto the table, more than enough to cover the drinks and watched as Steve stood up noticing the slight limp as he used his prosthetic leg. "Where are you headed?" Trevor asked. "We're all meeting on the Diag the weather is nice enough so I assume we'll just find a spot on the grass and sit around talking and try to recruit new club members." Steve said. "I've got to cut through the Diag to get to my car. I'll walk with you." Trevor said. They made their way out of the bar and Trevor was impressed with how well Steve moved. If Trevor hadn't known better he'd never have guessed that Steve was missing part of his leg. After they passed Mason hall Trevor noticed that the Diag had considerably more people than earlier. Students were taking advantage of the beautiful fall day to hang out. Trevor spotted several clubs trying to recruit new members and even some of the ROTC detachment in uniform. "Hey brother!" A female voice shouted from Trevor's left. He glanced over and saw his sister Mary walking up with a friend he recognized but whose name he couldn't remember. "Oh my God, Steve is that you?" Mary exclaimed rushing forward to give Steve a hug. "Easy there girl you'll knock me over." Steve laughed returning the hug by picking her up off the ground and swinging her around. "When mom said you were meeting Trevor for the game I was hoping I'd see you. I'm sorry I couldn't make it to your welcome home party." Mary said. "No problem, it was kind of crazy anyway, too many relatives." Steve said putting Mary down and moving back slightly to get a better look at her. "Wow, you've grown up!" Steve said. It was true, Mary was four years younger than Trevor and Steve and the last three years had been good to her. She'd traded in braces and awkwardness for the grace and curves of a woman. Mary had always been cute but her looks had really blossomed. Steve noticed that she was only two inches shorter than her brother at 5'7" and her hair was as dark as the night sky while her skin was still very pale, just as he remembered. Suddenly Steve was transported to a day nearly a decade ago. He'd just gotten his license and had asked Trevor if he wanted to go for a drive. Mary had begged to go along and after some light hearted teasing the two older boys had relented. Steve had an old 72' Stang he and his dad had been working on and the car roared down the back roads in Michigan. The three teens had been thrilled with the new found freedom. After getting ice-cream they'd found a spot on the bank of a small stream and Mary's carefree attitude and humor had kept the older two boys laughing. Later that afternoon Steve had pulled into his driveway and as Mary got out she'd leaned in and surprised Steve by kissing him on the cheek. "I'm going to marry you some day!" She whispered so her brother wouldn't hear. Steve now looked down at the woman Mary had turned into and wondered if she remembered that announcement. "So is this they Steve you've been telling me about?" Asked the woman who'd been walking with Mary. "Oh, I'm sorry, yes. Kathy this is Steve and you remember my brother Trevor?" Mary said in a rush still holding Steve's arm. "No kidding?" Kathy said with a laugh. "Hi," she said extending a hand. Trevor noticed that Kathy was quite pretty, she was several inches shorter than his sister and her hair was a light brown but she had a full figure and seemed nice enough. "So where are you guys going to watch the game?" Mary asked. "I'm actually headed to a meeting with the DVC." Said Steve, at Mary's confused expression he added, "The disabled veterans club." "Oh, pooh, how long could that take? The game doesn't start until 3:30, why don't you meet us and we'll all watch it together?" Mary asked. Trevor had to shake his head. His sister had had a crush on Steve for years. Steve had always been nice to her but made it clear that he thought of her as a sister. Still if Steve accepted the offer it meant that they'd all spend the afternoon together, which was better than his plan to go back to his house and watch the game by himself. Even as Mary made her speech she noticed that Steve wasn't looking at her. Instead he was focused to one side. "Are you okay?" Mary asked sounding unsure for the first time. "What, yeah I'm fine, it's just that some things not right." Steve said. "What do you mean?" Trevor asked looking around curiously for the first time. "Do you see those guys in blue fatigues? They're feds, and now that I think about it when we were walking up State Street I noticed several cop cars. Look over there, why is there so much campus security? This isn't normal even for a game day." Steve said. As he talked, Steve moved off the sidewalk heading away from the crowd of students while turning in a full circle scanning the terrain. His three companions trailing behind mouths open at this strange behavior. Abruptly Steve stopped and Trevor almost ran into him. Steve pointed at a black garbage bag leaning against a trashcan next to where the veteran's had set up for their meeting. The area had well over a hundred students and fans and as Steve scanned the area he could see law enforcement closing in from all sides. Two and two clicked together. "Shit, that's an IED! Trevor, take Mary and Kathy and start walking away RIGHT NOW! Don't run, don't draw attention. I've got to get the DVC guys away from here!" Steve said moving at a brisk walk toward the trashcan. "IED?" Said Mary looking at her brother. Trevor shrugged, "I think it means improvised explosive device." Trevor said his heart racing. "The Taliban use them in Afghanistan to target Coalition forces. Steve must be having a PTSD episode there's never been anything like that here." The sound of an explosion ripped the air and Trevor had time to think, that this couldn't be happening before he passed out. ++++++ Chapter 2 "Fallout" ++++++ Trevor felt a strange sense of disorientation his head hurt and as he opened his eyes he had to blink several times to focus. A young woman in a blue camouflage uniform was shaking him. "Can you tell me your name?" She asked. "T... Trevor, . . ... Trevor Tate" Trevor stammered, forming the words was surprisingly difficult and when he did his voice sounded odd in his ears. "Can you tell me your age?" She asked. "26, what's going on?" Trevor said the image of the woman coming into clearer focus. "Ok, we need to bag and tag this guy, MEDIC!" the woman shouted. Trevor struggled to move but for some reason his body didn't want to respond. "Take it easy, big guy, it'll be okay." She said. Just then another woman this one in a paramedic's outfit arrived and put an aerosol syringe to Trevor's neck and blasted something into him. In seconds his vision swam and as the darkness closed in the woman's comment penetrated Trevor's strangely lethargic mind, "big guy?" +++++ Trevor slowly started to wake up his head aching like the worst hangover he could remember. Slowly he felt around the inside of his mouth with his tongue wondering why it didn't feel right. He tried to open his eyes but they felt heavy and sticky like too much sleep had welded them together. Trevor reflexively reached up and started to rub them quickly working them open and as his vision came into focus. He saw his hand for the first time and froze. The hand at the end of his arm was larger and more callused than his had been. The skin was slightly darker than his and, after looking at both of his hands for several seconds, he reached up to touch his suddenly unfamiliar facial planes. In a surge of movement Trevor sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed only to freeze when he spotted the metal leg extending below his right knee. For a second all he could do was gape, in disbelief! Then he felt a wave of dizziness and had to grip the sides of the bed with both hands and focus on breathing. For a time Trevor just sat there looking down at a body clearly not his own. He knew whose body he must have, but his mind refused to accept it. At last Trevor pushed himself up and balancing first on his good leg he cautiously tested his prosthetic one. Once on his feet Trevor looked around the room. It was fairly Spartan with the single twin size bed he'd been sleeping on, a dresser with a water pitcher and a glass, a chair with a side table next to it, and two doors, one with a full length mirror attached to the back. Trevor used the bed for support and then the wall as he limped, slowly and carefully, around to the mirror. In his heart he knew what he'd see but his mind refused to accept the reality of it. Stopping in front of the mirror Trevor looked up. There staring back at him was Steve Green his best friend. Trevor slowly let go of the wall and reached up to touch his face and watched as the figure in the mirror copied the movement. Steve's rugged good looks stared back at Trevor as he took a slow step forward. Trevor focused intently on what he was seeing, his balance and stance smoothing out as unconscious thought and muscle memory took care of his movements, and he took another step forward. Steve's blue eyes, strong chin, and closely cut brown hair gave the face Trevor was looking at an image of military vitality. Unable to resist Trevor lifted up his arms and tightened his biceps in the classic body builder pose noticing that his new arms were thickly muscled. Steve had been wearing a grey t-shirt with the words Michigan Football on the front and Trevor pulled the shirt off. Standing there in only his jeans Trevor's new chest and abs showed the hours Steve had spent in the gym building a lean well defined muscular physique. Trevor also noticed that there were several white scars along one side where Steve had taken some shrapnel while in Afghanistan. "What the fuck?!" Trevor muttered his rational mind refusing to accept what he was seeing. He moved closer again and for a second Trevor thought about punching the mirror. But his rational mind knew that it would do no good. Slowly he put his shirt back on and then cautiously limped back to the bed and sat down. Trevor put his elbows on his new knees and his face in his hands and tried to think. What he was seeing was simply impossible. People didn't just trade bodies. Was he crazy? Trevor looked around and this time looked more closely at the furniture as he evaluated the room. It reminded him of a hospital room or the room at the nursing home where they'd taken his grandfather. So he was in some kind of government facility or a clinic. Now his mind started racing. What was it that Steve had said right before the blast? The blast! Suddenly the events at the Diag came rushing back. They'd been heading toward a group of veterans when Steve had spotted what he'd called an IED! It must have been an improvised explosive device after all, and all the law enforcement Steve had spotted must have been moving in trying to find the bomb without setting off a panic. But bombs killed people they didn't cause them to switch bodies! Without warning the door to his small room opened and in stepped a woman in high heeled shoes wearing a white doctor's coat. The thing that caused Trevor to focus was the fact that she was drop dead gorgeous! "Hello, Trevor, my name is Doctor Caroline Summers," she said, a large orderly slipping in behind her and closing the door. "I'm sure all of this is a big shock." Before he could respond she continued. "I'm about to tell you several things that are secret. You've been the victim of a terrorist attack. They've developed a new weapon that causes chaos and confusion and by setting it off in crowds it causes anyone caught within the secondary blast radius to swap bodies. The weapon is called a Mindbomb." Trevor was too stunned to say anything. His first reaction was to say "bullshit!" but the evidence was in front of him. He was, as impossible as it sounded, in his best friend's body. After a few seconds of silence, the doctor motioned to the orderly who grabbed the one chair in the room and brought it over so that the doc could sit down in front of Trevor, as he sat on the edge of the bed. She sat down and remained quiet waiting patiently for Trevor to react. "Trevor are you okay, do you have any questions?" Doctor Summers asked after almost a minute of silence. "Too many, I'm trying to figure out where to start." Trevor said. "Start with the small ones and work up to the big ones." Doctor Summers replied. "Okay, where am I?" "You're in a government facility designated Camp Alpha, in the Colorado Rockies." She replied. "What day is it?" Trevor asked. "It's mid-morning Sunday the day after the attack." She replied. For a second Trevor thought about asking if Michigan won their opening game and almost laughed. Instead he asked. "Why am I in the body of my best friend Steve Green?" For a minute the doctor was quiet. "As I said you've been the victim of a terrorist attack that we're calling the Mindbomb. It causes those caught in it to swap bodies." She said. "Does that mean that Steve's now in my body?" Trevor asked. "No, there are many things we don't understand about the mindbomb effect. How it works, what are its characteristics and is it really random, and why people never swap directly into each other's bodies." She replied. "So whose body is Steve in? Oh, God, Mary!" Trevor exclaimed. He'd been so caught up in his own situation and then wondering about Steve that he'd completely forgotten about his sister. "What happened to my sister?" "I'm sorry Trevor, but I can't answer either of those questions. Government policy requires me to keep that information private." She replied. "What do you mean 'policy'?" Trevor replied. "Trevor, this is a very real threat to the national security of the United States. Everyone who is a victim of the bomb is brought here. There are several camps set up and based on the answers to our initial questions the victims are sorted and taken to one of the camps. Your former sister and best friend are not here at Camp Alpha." "You mean I'm a prisoner?" Trevor said feeling frightened and angry. "No, Trevor you're a patient. My job is to work with you so that you become adjusted to your new body and then we'll place you back into society. Sort of like the federal witness protection program. At some point in the future depending on your progress you might be able to communicate with your former friend and sister, but for now it's better for you to focus on your own situation." Doctor Summer's said with a soothing voice. When Trevor didn't say anything Doctor Summers stood up. "If you're feeling up to it, I'd like you to come with me. Its lunch time and you haven't eaten for almost twenty four hours." She said. Trevor stood up and felt a moment of dizziness but it passed quickly. The three of them left Trevor's little room behind and walked down a hallway to another room that was a little larger with several tables set up. Trevor had been following the doctor with the orderly behind him presumably to help if Trevor fell, but he felt like there was another reason for the orderly to be there. Despite Trevor's misgivings he decided that the best thing to do at the moment was cooperate. Once they were seated in the break room the orderly left and soon returned with another person pushing a cart with three trays. Trevor could smell the food before it arrived and his mouth started watering. +++++ "Any trouble?" The man with the Z-shaped scar on his face asked Doctor Summers several hours later when she walked into her office on Camp Alpha. "No, it was an emotional blow to become his best friend and the loss of his lower leg will cause some problems. But I think he'll adjust. Is his friend, Steve Green, awake yet?" Doctor Caroline Summers asked. "I'm not sure. Why," the Colonel asked? Doctor Summers looked down at her clipboard and flipped through a couple of pages. "Let me see," she said absently. "Ah, here it is, Steven Green was taken to Camp Beta and Mary Tate was sent to Camp Delta." She said. "Why is this important?" The Colonel repeated with a resigned tone. "The Tate's were the only family caught by the Mindbomb. We are looking for trends so we can tweak the technology and control it remember? It looks like the sister, Mary, was shifted into her brother's Trevor's body. Trevor shifted into his best friend, Steve Green's body, and Steve shifted into Mary's body. This is a pattern I'd have anticipated if all three of them had been related. So we have something new to look into here," Doctor Summers said looking up to catch the Colonel's eye. "Fine look into it, but we've got our hands full from this operation. We managed to catch nearly eighty people in the blast area and twenty four combat veterans." The Colonel gloated. "That's potentially twenty four new agents all with combat experience! And they're all now immune to future blasts." Doctor Summers moved forward and sat down at her desk logging into her computer. "How many are in bodies that will be useful?" She asked absently. "That's the beauty of this operation, a college campus during a game day meant lots of eighteen to twenty five year olds. Most of the vets were slightly older and many of them were amputees of one type or another. According to initial reports only six swapped into the bodies of other vets. So we've got eighteen now in young healthy bodies. Although fifteen of the 24 are now female, interestingly the one female vet swapped into the body of another woman." The Colonel mused. Doctor Summers tried to ignore the Colonel's rambling and the ethical issue of taking a group of disabled vets and swapping them with healthy people just so they could be used once again as government agents and soldiers. With a slight shake of her head she started to enter in the data from her first interview with Mr. Trevor Tate. He would need to pick out a new name soon but for now his current name would do. +++++ Earlier that day and several hours to the southwest of Camp Alpha at Camp Beta a figure slumped onto a twin sized bed stirred with a low moan. Steve blinked and tried to focus, "what the hell was going on" he thought as he struggled to clear his sleep muddled mind. He thought back trying to remember what had happened. He'd been with Steve, back at Michigan at the Diag and he'd been talking to Mary Tate, and then he'd realized that something wasn't right. It was the same feeling that had saved his life on mission after mission in Afghanistan. He'd been a Recon Marine stationed at Camp Bastion in Helmond Province. As a 1st Lieutenant he'd been responsible for taking his small team out for days at a time, setting up listening posts, with a specific mission; observe, locate, fix, and if possible destroy the Taliban in the mountain villages. During these missions Steve had developed a sense that he'd come to trust. That sense told him something wasn't right. He'd stopped listening to Mary and focused. Why were there so many unmarked law enforcement vehicles around the campus? Then he'd spotted a Humvee with the telltale C2 antennas indicating a Command and Control vehicle. There was an active operation happening right now on campus! Something bad was about to go down. Steve scanned the crowed ignoring the superficial clutter and focusing on the details; there a plain clothes agent with an ear piece and an M9 mostly concealed; uniformed officers, there and there; a pair of agents in blue camouflage; and on the roof of that building an armed over-watch had taken position. What the hell was going on? Whatever it was they were following standard U.S. military doctrine. The perimeter had been established, over-watch was in place, C2 was set up, there must be a CP (command post) close by along with a QRF (quick reaction force), what was the target? How had he walked into a SpecOp here in Michigan? Even as Steve's mind raced he continued his scan picking out the agents, lines of approach, overlapping fields of fire, and it was all focused on the part of the Diag where the Disabled Veterans Club had set up their meeting. Then he spotted the IED. "That's it!" He thought, there was no doubt in Steve's mind it was an IED and there were dozens of people, including the disabled veterans club, within twenty meters of the device! That was well within the lethal blast radius for most devices that size. Steve started moving at a quick walk toward the veterans he needed to get there quickly, but he also didn't want to cause an alarm. If it was an RCIED (radio controlled IED) then whoever was operating it would have an OP (observation post) set up and at the first sign that the game was up he'd set the damn thing off. If it was pressure plate controlled device then EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) could come handle it or it could be set to go off on a timer. In any case Steve knew he had to the vets away from the damn thing. There was no way he'd let his brothers down. Because Steve was moving toward it, he saw the bag explode. He was fifteen meters away and he knew he was a dead man, as he felt his awareness slipping away his last thought was "Semper Fi Brothers." +++++ "Can you hear me?" Steve felt himself being shaken. He cracked open a heavy eyelid to see a medic kneeling next to him. "Can you tell me your name?" The medic said. "I'm 1st Lieutenant Steve Green, USMC, O positive, . . . ." No, that wasn't right Steve thought; I'm not in the Corps any more. "Ah, make that just Steve Green." Steve said feeling confused and wondering what was wrong with his voice. "Alright LT, just take it easy, you'll be okay," the medic said pressing something into Steve's neck. In seconds Steve's eyes rolled back and he passed out. +++++ As Steve rolled around on the bed his sleep muddled mind remembering the Diag, the medic, and then a medic in Afghanistan; all at once he sat up as straight as a board and with a shout yelled; "IED" Then Steve dove off the bed onto the floor covering his head with both hands. He lay there for several seconds, heart racing, cold tiles pressing into his breasts through the thin fabric of his top. "Breasts" he thought, feeling disorientated and confused. Sitting up more slowly Steve noticed a curtain of black hair falling all around her face. She reached up with one slim hand and plucked a strand feeling it tug against her scalp. Then she spotted the hand. Slim and pale with a French manicure, it was a woman's hand. This isn't possible Steve thought her hands moving of their own accord to cup her breasts. "Holly Shit I've got breasts!" Steve whispered. Adrenaline surged through her system and she stood up and froze. Steve was looking down past the twin mounds pushing out from her chest to the pair of pale delicate feet with pink toenail polish. I've got two feet, Steve thought, suddenly it was too much and Steve collapsed to the floor hugging her knees to her chest and laughing uncontrollably. For several long minutes Steve sat on the floor unable to think, unable to process what had happened. "I must be losing my mind." She said out-loud. "I know that I lost my foot in Afghanistan. I know that I'm a man. I can't have breasts and two feet?!" Slowly the laughter died and then just as slowly Steve pushed herself up using the bed for support. Slowly and deliberately Steve scanned the room. Bed, dresser, chair, two doors; one's probably the closet or the latrine, and the other an exit. The door that Steve guessed was the closet had a full length mirror. Walking unsteadily to it Steve turned and stared into Mary Tate's face. This was impossible. Steve had known Mary his whole life she was like a sister to him there was no way he could be Mary! He must be insane that was the only explanation. Steve slowly raised a hand and watched as the image of Mary in the mirror did the same thing. Steve touched her face with the tips of her fingers and felt a set of delicate finger-tips touching her face as the woman in the mirror copy the movement. Abruptly the door opened and a large man with a huge belly and a pleasant expression entered the room. "LT Steven Green?" He asked with an open honest smile. Steve for a second didn't know what to say. "Soldier, relax, your safe now. We need to talk. My name is Doctor Johnson and I'm here to debrief you and explain what happened to you. But in summery you're the victim of a terrorist group that's been using a weapon we've code named the 'mindbomb'. It has a unique ability. It causes anyone caught in the secondary blast radius to pass out and, while unconscious, swap bodies with the others caught within about seventy meters of the device." The doctor said. When Steve didn't respond he said in a slightly louder voice, "are you tracking soldier?" At this Steve shook herself and moved to the chair and sat down facing the doctor. "I'm not a soldier, I'm a Marine. I spotted the Op but the IED went off before I could warn anyone." At this Steve stopped both hands going to her throat as she realized for the first time that she had Mary Tate's voice. The doctor moved over to the bed and sat on it twisting slightly to the side so he could face Steve. "This is impossible. There's no science on the planet that causes people to switch bodies." Steve said dropping her hands to her lap. "That's where your wrong son. The terrorists have developed this weapon. We're doing our best to keep the general public from knowing about it but they've been a step ahead of us. We almost got to the Diag in time to prevent the attack but we were just a little too slow." He said. Steve nodded. She understood all about timing and the enemy getting a vote. "What happened to my friends, Trevor and Mary Tate?" Steve asked suddenly worried about them. "You've got to understand for OpSec (operational security) reasons I can't tell you. I'll only say that they're both alive and are learning to cope with the changes just as you are." The doctor said. "What can you tell me, Sir?" Steve asked. "Today is Sunday, and you're at a government instillation called Camp Beta in Colorado. We're going to teach you to adjust to your new body and then hopefully transition you back into regular society." The doctor said briskly. Steve nodded. "What's the name of the terrorist organization responsible?" "The agency is working hard to figure that out, so far no known organization has claimed credit. But even if I knew at this point I wouldn't be able to tell you for security reasons." The doctor paused for a second apparently evaluating Steve. "However, with your background in the Marine Crops, and combat record, I'm sure the Colonel would be interest As an agent you'd have access to more information about the current situation. Hell, son, you might even be able to help track down those responsible for this attack." The doctor said leaning forward. "Thanks doc, but I've got enough to think about at the moment." Steve said gesturing down at his body. The doctor grunted, "I'll have someone bring you some lunch. If you open the door there you'll see it opens up to a large bathroom with a closet to one side. You might feel better if you use the bathroom and wash up." He said. At this Steve nodded reluctantly she wasn't sure if she was ready to face the idea of a shower in this body. "Is there any chance of getting my body back?" Steve asked as the doctor stood up. "I'm afraid not son. It appears this only works once and after that you're immune to the effect." The doctor said and with that he left. ++++++ Chapter 3 "Adjusting" ++++++ Steve was walking out of yoga class when she saw Doctor Johnson waiting for her. It had been just over a month since Steve found herself at Camp Beta and she was working hard to adjust to her new body. After the first couple of days Steve had been moved out of the room in the clinic and into what she thought of as a dormitory room. Looking back now those first couple of days had been tough and Doctor Johnson had pushed Steve hard. He'd introduced Steve to one of his interns, Doctor Lisa Clay, who'd taken Steve to an unusual room for a hospital clinic; it was the equivalent of a woman's department store but on a smaller scale. Lisa, as she'd asked Steve to call her, helped Steve pick out several sets of panties and then measured her, and had picked out a pair of bras. Next Lisa picked out a couple of new outfits for Steve. All of the outfits where either dresses, or skirt blouse combinations. When Steve asked why there were no jeans or slacks, she was told that it was at Doctor Johnson's orders; Steve would only dress in very feminine attire for the next few weeks. On her second day in the clinic the classes had started; make-up, feminine hygiene, and an administrative briefing on Camp Beta. The first two had been one-on-one sessions with Lisa but the last class on that second day took place in a classroom that soon held five other young college age women. Steve looked around and was surprised when most of the women wouldn't meet her eye. At last a red head, two seats over, caught Steve's glance and gave her a slight nod. Just then Doctor Johnson walked into the room he was followed by a man with a z-shaped scar on his face wearing blue fatigues and the silver eagles on his collar to indicate that he was a Colonel. "Let me start out by saying how pleased I am with the progress you've all made so far adjusting to your situation." Doctor Johnson said. At this a low murmur started as the six new women processed his statement. "Yes, each of you is the victim of the MB or mindbomb. In each of your cases you were men and have been swapped into the bodies of women. We've found that part of coming to terms with your new gender will include individual and group therapy. Over the next few weeks you'll all get to know each other very well, but that's not why you're here today. I'd like to introduce the Director of the agency," with that he turned and looked at the Colonel. "Colonel the floor is yours." The man with the strange Z-shaped scar stepped forward and raked the room with an implacable stare. "Gentlemen, or perhaps I should now say, ladies." The room was silent since most of the victims were still to numb to their situation to find any humor in his attempted joke. "As the doctor has explained you are all the victims of a terrible new weapon. As you are aware it has the ability to switch the minds of one person with that of another in a random pattern. Since all of you are veterans you'll also appreciate the fact that it renders its victims unconscious and defenseless for a short period. As a conventional weapon it offers very little utility but as a weapon of terror it is potentially as destabilizing as the use of a dirty bomb! This is why our government stood up the agency and why we have to do our best to keep this weapon a secret!" He said. "Most of the victims of the MB will disappear into new lives and identities that the agency will provide. In these cases your former families will have been told that you were killed in the blast. A few families will be told that you're alive but that you're receiving medical treatment and then later that you've been released but don't want to return to your homes. In a very few cases you may have to make a public appearance to help our Public Affairs team handle the media. I know I can count on each of you to do your duty." At this the Colonel paused to look around the room. He could see nods of understand but otherwise the group remained silent. "Because of your military backgrounds I'd like each of you to think about what happened to you and what this weapon could do to our country. Once the doctor has cleared you for reintegration into society you'll have to pick new careers, I'd like you to consider joining the agency." He said. Now there was a murmur as the new women looked at each other, the emotions on each woman's face was plain; confusion, anger, and pain. "Quiet," the Colonel said and after a minute they quieted down. "Thank you; Besides your security clearances, your military training, and the special skill sets each of you has learned while in uniform, you have one thing that regular law enforcement and the active duty forces don't have. You are now immune to the mindbomb! This means that you can be deployed to a site without fear of being neutralized! You give us the best chance of catching those responsible and stopping their use of this device! Please think about what I've said!" With that the Director of the agency left the room. Steve looked around the room as the women started talking excitedly. There was a difference in the atmosphere now. Before the Colonel's speech none of these women would meet Steve's eye, based on the body language Steve would have said each of these women felt like a victim. Now they were starting to react as they'd been trained. They'd been given a goal, learn to be women so they could reintegrate into society. They'd been given a purpose, join the agency and stop this sort of thing from happening to anyone else. Steve felt the impact of the Colonel's words as much as her fellow veterans but unlike them, as Steve looked around, she appeared to be the only one who felt suspicious. Once again that sense that Steve had come to trust told her that there were things they weren't being told. Now as Steve approached the doctor she realized that the last time she'd seen him was the day that she'd moved out of the clinic and into the dormitory on Camp Beta. Doctor Johnson had told Steve these were temporary quarters because it was just across the parking lot from the clinic and Steve would still be spending most of her time in the clinic. "Morgan, I'd like to talk to you." Doctor Johnson said. The words helped Steve focus on the here and now and she realized that something must be up for Doctor Johnson to track her down now. "My time is your time doc." Steve said. It had been almost three weeks since she'd seen Doctor Johnson and Steve wondered what was going on. "Something has come up. Can you meet me at my office in the clinic in an hour?" Doctor Johnson asked evasively. "Sure" +++++ Steve walked into Doctor Johnson's office still feeling slightly self- conscious. She was wearing a long black skirt that swished against her ankles and hid most of her high heeled black leather ankle boots. Steve's blue sweater was soft and fuzzy and showed a hint of cleavage. Steve knew that she looked good and between the ballet, and yoga classes she was moving in a graceful feminine manner and was nearly comfortable in her three inch heels. She'd also been doing well in her makeup, fashion, and etiquette classes so Steve knew that her outfit and hair were flawless. "Please have a seat," Doctor Johnson said standing up when Steve came into the room and waived at a chair in front of the desk. Steve smoothed her skirt and sat down gracefully crossing one knee over the other and folding her hands into her lap, just as she'd been trained. As she did she noticed another woman in the room. This woman was wearing a white medical coat and her chestnut colored hair was pinned up in a professional looking bun. Steve noted that the hair style, while professional, also served to display her long graceful neck and accentuate her stunning face. "Morgan, let me introduce Doctor Summers, she is the chief medical examiner for the agency and my boss." Doctor Johnson said. Steve nodded toward the doctor, "pleased to meet you ma'am." Doctor Summers just nodded back and remained silent. "You seem to be adjusting well," Doctor Johnson said. "I was curious about your new name. Why Morgan McKay?" Steve looked up and smiled slightly. "Well, Lisa said that choosing a new, feminine, name was an important step in accepting my new gender. I thought about using Mary but somehow it felt wrong, like I was stealing something. Morgan was my father's middle name and McKay my mother's maiden name so it felt like I was establishing a link to my past while accepting my situation." Steve replied. The doctor nodded. "You've done very well these last few weeks, so well, in fact, that the Colonel would like to ask you to do something for the agency." Curious Steve said, "oh, and what does the agency need from me?" "It's not my place to tell you. But as your physician I have to approve his request and I'm not sure I will. Please be candid with me because I've got a very important question for you." Doctor Johnson said. "Of course Doctor, what's the question?" Steve asked. "How do you feel about meeting your friends, Trevor and Mary?" The Doctor asked watching Steve closely. Steve felt the color drain from her face while at the same time her heart started racing. "What are you talking about? I've asked to meet them several times and was always told that it wasn't possible." Steve replied. "Normally, that's true, but circumstances have changed. The Colonel needs to talk to the three of you, together, about a situation. What we're trying to determine, is how that will affect you emotionally, and if you're ready." Doctor Summers said speaking for the first time. "Trevor and Mary are like a brother and sister to me. We grew up as next door neighbors and Trevor and I spent more time at each other's houses than we spent at home. Mary was always younger and she followed us around all the time. I think of them as family. So, yes, I'd absolutely love to see them!" Steve said. "Even knowing that you're now in Mary's body?" Doctor Summers asked. For a second Steve felt ashamed but that emotion was swiftly devoured by anger. "I didn't cause the mindbomb to go off, we're all victims! Besides if you look at it from a different point of view, I think Mary would rather I have her body than a total stranger." Steve said. Doctor Summers stood up and looked at Doctor Johnson, "I'm recommending we proceed. All three appear to be doing well enough. I think the risk to them is minimal. In fact it seeing each other may help them continue to adjust." +++++ Steve was riding in a non-descript white government sixteen passenger van and looking out the window at the gorgeous Colorado landscape. The driver, a man Steve had never met, and Doctor Johnson where talking about Big Twelve football. It was a conversation Steve had no interest in. She'd been told it was a two hour drive to Camp Alpha where she'd meet Trevor and Mary and hear what the Colonel wanted them to do. At the moment Steve wished that she'd gone to the bathroom before she left camp Beta. Steve crossed her legs in an attempt to help reduce the urge and remembered the first time she'd used those muscles. Doctor Johnson had just left to see about getting her some food on that first day leaving Steve alone in her room in the clinic. After a few minutes Steve had walked into the bathroom and froze once again staring into Mary's reflected face. Pale skin, high cheek bones, a delicate chin that came to a point, and a nose that was thin and had a very slight upturn; Mary's face was, Steve had to admit, very pretty especially framed by her dark lustrous tresses. As Steve gazed into the mirror she realized that she had to pee. Embarrassed Steve looked at the toilet and slowly slid Mary's jeans down her smooth pale legs. Steve tried not to look at the very small well groomed triangle of dark hair between her legs as she sat on the toilet. Steve squeezed and relaxed muscles experimentally until she found the right combination and started peeing with a feeling of immense relief. The whole time Steve felt like a voyeur sneaking a peak at his best friend's sister. Once done Steve remembered to grab a wad of toilet paper and pat herself dry before pulling up her panties and jeans and returning to her room. Now Steve mused the act of going to the bathroom was no big deal. Steve supposed this was just another example of how much she'd changed during the last month. Thinking back to those that first day brought a blush to Steve's pale skin. After eating lunch with Doctor Johnson she'd been given a tour of the clinic and then when Doctor Johnson was sure she was up for it taken to a small room with a single table and two chairs. After sitting there for a couple of minutes a man with a military buzz cut and wearing civilian clothes walked into the room. It only took Steve a second to figure out that this guy was a military intelligence officer. He'd been debriefed after operations in Afghanistan too many times not to identify the type. The man introduced himself as John, and Steve instantly knew that that wouldn't be his real name. He wanted Steve to go back and walk through the events of the morning that the Mindbomb had gone off while it was still fresh. Once the debrief was done Steve was escorted back to her room and heard the lock turn in the door. This made her wonder if she was a victim or a prisoner or if there was a difference. Steve saw that a set of clothes had been put out for her and decided to take a shower before changing into the fresh set of clothes. After adjusting the water Steve started to get undressed while thinking about the debrief. For some reason Steve hadn't wanted to tell 'John' everything he'd seen or deduced. Again that sense that Steve had learned to trust was telling him that something was going here and he shouldn't be too quick to trust these guys. Abruptly Steve realized he was standing in the bathroom in Mary's bra and panties. The sight of Mary in the mirror made Steve catch his breath. With embarrassment Steve turned around to face the shower and slid out of the bra and panties. Steve had noticed that Mary had filled out a good deal over the last three years but he hadn't thought she was too well endowed. Now looking down at Mary's naked breasts as they hung from his chest, the large bright pink nipples standing up at attention, caused Steve revise her opinion. In that moment they seemed huge! Steve climbed into the shower and was surprised at how sensitive her skin now was. The shower felt great as it massaged stiffness in Steve's neck that she hadn't known was there. Still conscious that this body wasn't his he tried to be methodical about cleaning it and getting out of the shower. Once dry and safely back in the bed room Steve looked at the clothes that had been laid out for her. It was a simple sun dress with buttons on the back. Next to the dress lay a white cotton bra and panty set and a pair of flat flip-flops. Steve was grateful for the simplicity of the outfit but wished that there had been a jeans and t-shirt option. For a minute Steve looked at the bra and felt clueless. Then Steve remember what she'd seen a girlfriend in college do; Steve put the bra around her waist backward with the hooks in front and cups behind her back. Steve fastened the hooks and spun the bra around then slid her arms through the bra straps and pulled the cups up. It took a minute or two to adjust the straps, cups, and Steve's new breasts but without too much trouble Steve had it on. Compared to the bra, the panties and dress were a snap. Although fastening buttons behind her back was a new experience. Next Steve sat down and brushed out her wet hair and tied it into a simple pony tail to keep it out of her face. Steve had to smile as she looked out the window of the van remembering that first time getting dressed in her new body. After that had come another meeting with Doctor Johnson who'd explained that the purpose of the camp was to help the victims adjust to their new bodies. There were three stages. The first was the initial rescue operation and clinical care of the mindbomb victim (MBV), this stage lasted until the staff was sure that the MBV wouldn't hurt themselves and that they were stable. Then the victim was moved to the dormitories where they learned and started the process of adjusting to their new bodies. Once they were ready they would enter stage three, which was the pre-reintegration stage, they'd be moved into houses on the base. Most would either have a roommate or live with a host family. The biggest difference here was that the MBV would be living with non-MBVs people who didn't know what had happened to them. The only thing a host family or roommate was told was that the MBV had been at the clinic for some kind of treatment. Steve had had several questions and the doctor had done his best to answer them. Then he'd introduced Steve to Doctor Lisa Clay his intern and Steve had his first dinner as a woman with Lisa. After that it was back to his room for the night. When the van slowed down Steve saw that they were leaving the main road turning onto a secondary road and off in the distance Steve spotted the entry control point for the base. Camp Alpha, Steve thought and her heart started to race. She was about to see Trevor and Mary! +++++ The van stopped in front of a low brick building and Steve was escorted by Doctor Johnson to a large room with several couches and a fire place. The room reminded Steve more of a ski-lodge than a clinic and maybe that was the point. The door across from Steve opened and in walked Doctor Summers. Today her hair was down in a more informal look but she was still a knock out. Steve felt shocked when she realized that not only was she not attracted to Doctor Summers but that she'd actually spent the first few seconds looking at her evaluating her clothes, hair, and makeup instead of checking out her rack. "Morgan, how are you doing today?" Doctor Summers said coming over and taking Steve's hand. "Okay, how're you doc?" Steve replied. "I'm good, both Trevor and Mary are in the building. As a matter of fact they have just met each other for the first time since the mindbomb. I'll bring them in here in a few minutes. We should give them some time plus there's something you need to know before we proceed." Doctor Summers said. "Sure, whatever you say doc." Steve said feeling her stomach start to churn with anxiety. "Why don't we sit down?" Doctor Summers said taking a seat on one of the couches. Steve sat down on another couch directly across from Doctor Summers and after a second crossed her legs. "So what did you want to tell me?" Steve asked. "This will come as a shock; there is no easy way to say it so I'm just going to be blunt." Doctor Summers paused to see if Steve was following along. Inside Steve just wished she'd get on with it. But instead raised one eyebrow in an expression she'd been practicing. "Your friend Mary was switched into her brother Trevor's body." Doctor Summer's said. "Holy shit! Do you mean to tell me that Mary and I are now genetically brother and sister?" Then before Doctor Summers could answer, Steve rushed on, "no wonder you wanted to give them some time alone. Poor Trevor it must be hard to see his old body, but knowing that it's his sister inside." "That's not all," Doctor Summers said catching Steve's eye. "The swap between family members is not uncommon for some reason with the mindbomb. In fact if a family is caught by a mindbomb, provided there are more than two family members, the swaps almost always stay within the family. However, the three of you have achieved a first as far as I know. You see your buddy Trevor was swapped into your body." For a second Doctor Summers paused and when Steve didn't react she continued, "my original theory was that the mindbomb was reacting to similar genetic structures within a family. But in your situation the mindbomb treated the three of you like you were family. So now I'm wondering if the connection is a chemical emotional function within the brain. When the mindbomb hits three or more brains with a chemical emotional attachment to each other, the mindbomb field is affected and this is what causes the statistical anomaly." She mused lost in thought. Steve wasn't paying any attention to the good Doctor's rambling. Trevor had swapped into his former body. A body that had seen combat and was missing the lower part of its right leg. One of the things the councilors had identified early on was that Steve felt guilty for taking Mary's body and had explained that it wasn't Steve's fault and the feelings of guilt were natural. What made the guilt worse was the wild feeling of pleasure Steve got every time she put a pair of shoes on both feet! Steve spent nearly an hour everyday either on the treadmill in the clinic or running around the track behind the dormitory. The freedom of having an uninjured body was incredible. Steve had felt guilty about this as well and the councilors had been helping her deal with it. Now the realization that he'd given his best friend his crippled body made him want to find a hole to crawl in. Suddenly Steve stood up and with a hand over her mouth said; "where's the closest bathroom?" Doctor Summers snapped back to the present. "Through that door," she said pointing to a door at the far end of the room a look of concern on her pretty face. Steve raced to the bathroom and locked the door behind before she turned and threw up into the toilet. After several minutes Steve knelt by the toilet resting her head in her arms. At last Steve stood up and splashed some cold water on her face and then swished some fresh water around her mouth to get rid of the taste. After that she used the toilet to relieve herself before returning to the main room. Doctor Summers looked anxiously at Steve. "I'm okay; I just hadn't realized that Trevor was in my old broken body. I don't know what came over me." Steve said. Doctor Summers came over to get a closer look at Steve. "Do you still want to meet them? We can call this off you know." "Yes, I do, I mean that. I need to see Trevor and Mary, I'll be okay." Steve replied. Just then the door opened and Doctor Johnson walked in. "Caroline, we're ready if Morgan is." He said. At a nod from Steve Doctor Summers said; "Go ahead, bring them in." The door shut and Doctor Summers came over to Steve and grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, "you'll be okay. Deep breathes." The door opened and Steve's heart caught when Trevor stepped into the room. It took Steve a second to realize that it was Trevor's body but not Trevor. It was subtle but the way he held his head was wrong. In fact the last month had been good to the new Trevor. It looked like he'd started working out and had already put on some weight and muscle. Then Mary in Trevor's body raced across the room and swept Steve up in a hug. "Oh, God, it's so good to see you!" Mary said in Trevor's baritone. "Hey, ease up there or you'll crack my ribs!" Steve joked. Mary let go and stepped back looking down for the first time on her former body. "Steve, I've got to say that I never looked so good! What have you done with my hair and you've lost weight!" Mary said with a delighted laugh. "Uhm, the stylist at the Camp Beta thought it would look better layered, with bangs, and slightly shorter. I've been running, practicing yoga and ballet every day for the last month. I think I've lost about ten pounds." Steve said in a breathless rush. "Well, girl, you look good!" Mary said. "I'm not the only one who's changed their new look. Have you been lifting weights?" Steve asked. Mary nodded, "the guys at the camp said it would help me adjust faster to my new gender. They've had me lifting, boxing, and wrestling every day!" Mary said excitedly. "Can I get a hug?" The sound of his own voice caused Steve to turn. Standing an arm's length away was Trevor in his former body. "Uh, sure," Steve stammered. Needing no more encouragement Trevor stepped in and crushed Steve into his broad chest. The hug seemed to go on and on and at least when Trevor released Steve she stepped back only to realize that she'd been crying. "Hey, bro, now that's a first. You got the big tough Steve Green to cry!" Mary said with a light laugh. "Mary, don't be a jerk. You always cried when you were happy. The doctors here said that the longer we're all in our new bodies the higher the likelihood that some of the original mannerisms will return." Trevor said. "Are you okay Steve?" Trevor added. "I'm fine, are you mad at me for giving you a broken body?" The words slipped out before Steve could stop them. "What?! Are you kidding me?" Trevor asked looking surprised. "Steve, if we're being completely honest, I've always envied you your size and athleticism. Having a metal leg from the knee down is a small price to pay." Trevor said. "But you're a cripple!" Steve said feeling a fresh set of tears flood into her eyes. "Could a cripple do this?" Trevor said and stepped in close putting both of his hands on Steve's hips. He then lifted Steve in one easy motion above his head and held her there with ease. "Hey, put me down!" Steve shouted now laughing. "Only if you take back that remark about me being a cripple!" Trevor said joining in on the laughter. "Okay, fine, you big lug; I take it back. Now put me down." Steve said. "Sure," Trevor replied and then tossed a screeching Steve up into the air and then caught her easily before setting her on the ground. As soon as Steve's feet were on the ground she hit Trevor in the arm as hard as she could. "Ouch, that tickles." Trevor said. The trio's moment of happiness was interrupted by the Colonel clearing his throat. "If the three of you are finished with your public displays of affection (PDAs) there is a reason for this reunion." He said. Immediately sobering up all three and they turned to face the Colonel. While they'd been having their reunion the Colonel had entered the room along with a blonde woman. "Why don't we all have a seat and the Colonel can tell you why he's brought you here." Doctor Summers said. The three friends all sat down on a single couch and looked over at the Colonel waiting for an explanation. "You've all been briefed on the mindbomb and the danger it poses to our country. This is Ms. Richards, she is the director of the agency's Public Affairs Division. Emily, would you explain the situation?" The Colonel said. At this the small blonde woman adjusted her glasses and looked at the three of them. "It's not that complicated. When the terrorists set off the mindbomb in Ann Arbor we'd had intel that the event was going to happen and were able to move in to try to intercept the terrorists and failing that contain the event. The agency was too slow to get the terrorists but we managed to collect up the victims. Standard protocol is to put out a press release explaining to the public what happened. In this event 78 people were affected. There are always situations in one of these events where due to the trauma of the swap victims aren't able to accept their new identity. So the cover story is that a nerve agent was used and all the victims are being treated. We give updates to the families and have the victims send e-mails to their loved ones explaining that they can't come home and are being treated. You know this because each of you has sent similar notes home." Here, Emily paused, waiting for nods from the three of them before she continued. "In your case those notes haven't been enough. Your parents, the Tate's and the Green's have been working together to form a group and they've been lobbying the government to allow them to visit and see with their own eyes that the three of you are okay." There was a note of disapproval in Emily's voice. At this the three friends exchanged looks and they couldn't help smiling at the thought of their folks hounding the government for answers. Now the Colonel jumped in, "look you three. This is still a free country but your folks are messing around with national security. We'd like to fly you to a hotel in Chicago. We'll bring your parents there and allow you to meet them on neutral ground for a few hours. Then you'll have to come back to the camp. We need you to convince them that you are the people whose bodies you're wearing." Steve felt stunned. The logical part of her mind raced. The Colonel's proposal made sense. Of those affected the three of them knew everything about each other. Their families were very close they'd spent vacations together and had grown up together. In fact of all of those caught by the mindbomb in Ann Arbor they were probably the best suited to play this charade. But the need to do it rubbed Steve the wrong way. On the other hand the opportunity to see her family again was one that she didn't want to give up. "I'll do it if you two will." Trevor said. Mary nodded and Steve added, "of course." "Excellent," the Colonel said standing up. "Emily and Doctor Summers will brief you, travel with you, and oversee the visit." On that announcement the Colonel walked out of the room. Steve looked over at Trevor sitting next to her and wondered a