humanitarianism, and he warned the Focuses from the start the Arms were likely something entirely different from what they expected. He had used his reputation to gain full control over the third Arm, Rose Desmond, right after she transformed. Rose had lived beyond her initial transformation and adjustment period, and he thought he had mastered the subject and secured his reputation forever.
Then, disaster struck. Early in Rose’s seventh month as an Arm, Dr. Zielinski and Rose tried an experiment. It failed spectacularly. Rose went berserk, killed people, wounded him, and in the end, was shot dead. The media exposed the method he had used to provide Desmond with juice, volunteer unclaimed Transforms from the Transform Clinics, the same as they were going to use to keep Mrs. Hancock alive. The media moralists had drowned out his supporters and the Dean succumbed to pressure and fired him as department head. Rose’s death had broken his heart, but he had long since recovered his dispassion.
His career hadn’t yet recovered.
Dr. Zielinski wanted his reputation back. He wanted his standing in the medical community back. To get either, he needed a success. His most obvious prospect for success was to shepherd an Arm through her transformation and adjustment period and graduate her as a free and independent Arm. An Arm who could do good in the world and erase the horrific public perception of Arms created by Stacy Keaton.
He turned to Gauthier. “If you want Mrs. Hancock to live, give her to me . The Transform Department in Harvard Medical has a much better setup than this place. She’ll be much less exposed to the vicissitudes of life.”
“There are too many Missouri legal issues,” Gauthier said. “We can’t do that.”
Dr. Zielinski frowned. “Make them go away and I’ll get you your Arm.”
Gauthier shook his head. “I’ll look into it, but Stacy Keaton’s made it a lost cause. Until we can first show that Arms aren’t unredeemable killers, we’re not going to catch any legal slack.”
“Speaking of which, any information we can get on Arm capabilities would be much appreciated,” Tommy said. “The FBI bosses would love to find a way to kill or capture Keaton.”
“What about our friends?” Dr. Bentwyler said, referring to the Focuses. “They’re not going to be happy if you do that.”
“If we can present Mrs. Hancock to them as a replacement for Keaton, they’ll be fine,” Gauthier said. “Keaton’s a serial killer, remember. Bringing her to justice for the non-Transforms she’s killed is still our goal.”
Dr. Zielinski wasn’t so sure about how ‘fine’ the Focuses would be if Keaton got arrested or killed. He knew of at least two leading Focuses who would be livid if either happened. He needed to be careful himself; his own contacts with Keaton were far more extensive than either of the two FBI Agents knew. From the expression on Tommy’s face, Dr. Zielinski suspected the other FBI agent didn’t agree with Gauthier’s assessment. Tommy’s comment about information to help catch Keaton was window dressing, simply for Gauthier’s consumption.
“In any case, we need Hancock,” Gauthier said. “That’s up to you, Hank. You’re in control of this Arm’s care from now on. Make me a plan. Tell me what you need.”
“I’ll do my best,” Dr. Zielinski said, and let a small smile creep across his face. He could do this. He was positive he could do this.
Rover (Interlude)
He ran through the trees, up and down the rocky hillsides and steeper mountain slopes, chasing the blowing early fall leaves. The pain was gone. Yesterday, he found love, in the form of a Monster. He had loved the Monster to death, fulfilling some need he didn’t understand. Hungry, he had eaten the Monster as well and fallen asleep in a faint.
Perhaps he slept for more than a day. The day he loved the Monster to death
Then, disaster struck. Early in Rose’s seventh month as an Arm, Dr. Zielinski and Rose tried an experiment. It failed spectacularly. Rose went berserk, killed people, wounded him, and in the end, was shot dead. The media exposed the method he had used to provide Desmond with juice, volunteer unclaimed Transforms from the Transform Clinics, the same as they were going to use to keep Mrs. Hancock alive. The media moralists had drowned out his supporters and the Dean succumbed to pressure and fired him as department head. Rose’s death had broken his heart, but he had long since recovered his dispassion.
His career hadn’t yet recovered.
Dr. Zielinski wanted his reputation back. He wanted his standing in the medical community back. To get either, he needed a success. His most obvious prospect for success was to shepherd an Arm through her transformation and adjustment period and graduate her as a free and independent Arm. An Arm who could do good in the world and erase the horrific public perception of Arms created by Stacy Keaton.
He turned to Gauthier. “If you want Mrs. Hancock to live, give her to me . The Transform Department in Harvard Medical has a much better setup than this place. She’ll be much less exposed to the vicissitudes of life.”
“There are too many Missouri legal issues,” Gauthier said. “We can’t do that.”
Dr. Zielinski frowned. “Make them go away and I’ll get you your Arm.”
Gauthier shook his head. “I’ll look into it, but Stacy Keaton’s made it a lost cause. Until we can first show that Arms aren’t unredeemable killers, we’re not going to catch any legal slack.”
“Speaking of which, any information we can get on Arm capabilities would be much appreciated,” Tommy said. “The FBI bosses would love to find a way to kill or capture Keaton.”
“What about our friends?” Dr. Bentwyler said, referring to the Focuses. “They’re not going to be happy if you do that.”
“If we can present Mrs. Hancock to them as a replacement for Keaton, they’ll be fine,” Gauthier said. “Keaton’s a serial killer, remember. Bringing her to justice for the non-Transforms she’s killed is still our goal.”
Dr. Zielinski wasn’t so sure about how ‘fine’ the Focuses would be if Keaton got arrested or killed. He knew of at least two leading Focuses who would be livid if either happened. He needed to be careful himself; his own contacts with Keaton were far more extensive than either of the two FBI Agents knew. From the expression on Tommy’s face, Dr. Zielinski suspected the other FBI agent didn’t agree with Gauthier’s assessment. Tommy’s comment about information to help catch Keaton was window dressing, simply for Gauthier’s consumption.
“In any case, we need Hancock,” Gauthier said. “That’s up to you, Hank. You’re in control of this Arm’s care from now on. Make me a plan. Tell me what you need.”
“I’ll do my best,” Dr. Zielinski said, and let a small smile creep across his face. He could do this. He was positive he could do this.
Rover (Interlude)
He ran through the trees, up and down the rocky hillsides and steeper mountain slopes, chasing the blowing early fall leaves. The pain was gone. Yesterday, he found love, in the form of a Monster. He had loved the Monster to death, fulfilling some need he didn’t understand. Hungry, he had eaten the Monster as well and fallen asleep in a faint.
Perhaps he slept for more than a day. The day he loved the Monster to death
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