Rapid return

After getting dressed quickly, Mike and Alicia hurry out to the car, where Damon waits impatiently. “Of course this would happen when you two convince me to wait while you go have sex with a gang leader.”

Alicia sighs as she gets the car moving. “She’s not…never mind. So, what’s happening?”

Damon shakes his head. “I’m not entirely sure. Apparently Kyrie saw the readings go wild, like they did the day Mike arrived. Possibly even bigger.”

Mike looks back at him. “That shouldn’t be possible. As far as I know there was only one machine, and it was ruined when I got pulled through. It would take years to build another.”

Damon shrugs. “Well, something happened. And I’m getting reports of a burnt section of forest in the area you say you first arrived. No word of any sightings beyond that, however.”

As they talk, Alicia is driving as fast as possible back to the lab. She glances over her shoulder momentarily. “So something happened, but we can’t find anything but burnt trees?”

Damon nods. “Right. Obviously, it’s only just happened, but still, it’s worrying. Mike’s arrival wasn’t destructive.”

Mike sighs. “I would bet that some rival faction has managed to create something. From the sound of things, it went about as well as ours did.”

Alicia looks over at him. “Do you know anything about these factions?”

Mike shakes his head. “Not a lot. I didn’t think that any of them had this capability.”

Damon sighs. “Well, this will make the visit from the security office interesting, to say the least. Donna will want to have a sit down with you, and get all the information she can.”

Mike nods. “I assumed as much. I’ll help however I can. Hopefully this doesn’t backfire, I really don’t want people to be upset.”

As Alicia pulls into the lab, she smiles at Mike. “I wouldn’t worry, she seems to like you already.”

Mike chuckles.