THE TROUBLE WITH DECEIT

Part 17 Desperate times

There was still a lot of activity around the establishment, although for the moment they had managed to keep the news from leaking to the press about the reopening of the portal and just as well, paparazzi would have a field day if they got their hands on this story.  Helen Ritch had hardly left the lab since Peter and Tom had departed as she needed to be on hand to get them back.  In fact, Gary Craven himself had let her sleep in the spare bedroom in his own little annex.  He had considered it the safest option as it meant her being on hand at all times and it kept both of them out of the public eye.  Although there were round the clock security staff in the big building he was the only person to actually reside there.  

As soon as she received the desperate call from Tom Arnold she made the decision to tell her boss,  he had backed her up before and she could only do this with his help.   Gary was relishing the thought of a little bit of peace in his precious little garden when Helen's frantic buzzing on his intercom put paid to that idea.  As he ushered her inside it was plain to see that she was very agitated.  She quickly told him of all that she knew of the status of the little group they had sent back to 2018.  "This is very bad indeed Helen," he said, shaking his head. "I know just the man, he has a private clinic near here and they are equipped for surgery, usually cosmetic. But, the thing is, how do we get him to do this for us?  I have opened doors for him in the past so he does owe me I guess.  You ring him, Helen, then you tell him there has been an accident and that you are going to put me on.  I hate deceit and just lately lying seems to be all that I am doing." 

It wasn't often that Gregor took a day off so today had been a real treat.  he had taken his teenage daughter to the shops and he had enjoyed spoiling her, before dropping her off at her mother's as It was her birthday.  Now he was looking forward to a nice shower and a couple of beers while he relaxed and listened to some of his favorite music.  The urgent sounding phone call he received from Helen, who apparently worked with one of his oldest friends Gary Craven completely spoiled his mood.  She was telling him that there was an emergency and that she was going to pass him over to him now.  Wondering why on earth he hadn't just rung himself he listened as Gary explained.  "Gregor I'm in trouble my friend, only you can help me,  I have have been experimenting, on myself I must add, there was something I simply had to trial, but I was forbidden.  Anyway, I have seriously injured myself, I'm bleeding profusely from a deep stomach wound.  This can't come out, I'm so sorry, I realize what I am asking of you.  I fear haven't got long, so if you are going to help me you need to send your ambulance now, for if not my friend I fear this is goodbye!"  Hanging up and turning his attention back to Helen he said, "get back to your lab and do the calculations now and bring them through.  I will speak to security to try to keep them sweet and then I'll join you."   Frowning she said "but what about the doctor,  do you think he will come?" smiling grimly Gary said "oh yes, he'll come! you can count on that, although  whether our friendship will survive the way I have just deceived him is another question."  As soon as she got back to the lab she started the automatic sequence that would charge up the powerful interchanger.  Then she entered data into the computer that factored in the new mass.  Subconsciously her mind was wrestling with a new problem. Nobody from the past had ever been brought forward in time, so really, anything might happen.  Now wasn't the time to have doubts so she pushed them aside, and as the transporter bar changed to green she threw the switch that activated the time portal.

Even though she had been warned she was stunned by the sight that greeted her as first a pool of blood on the floor appeared, and moments later the unconscious form of Reece lying in it with a young man holding his hand and then Tom and Peter.  Although usually a reserved woman she rushed forward and hugged Peter. "Thank goodness you came through in one piece. when I saw all that blood I feared the worst, look I have oxygen and I suggest we match his blood type now just in case!  although I suspect that if we can Gn. modified will be his best option, I'm not sure what his immune system would make of our future evolved blood."

As they were working on Reece, having prised Kip away from him, the big door swung open and Gregor and a man none of them knew came into the lab pushing a wheeled stretcher.  As Gary stepped forward to greet his old friend, Gregor was looking anything but pleased.  "For God's sake man, what is going on here? what have you people done!"  Looking intensely uncomfortable Gary answered "I'm so terribly sorry I have deceived you, you know my character Gregor, I would never do anything like this. So please just take my word for it that I felt I had no choice.  This young man is from 100 yrs in the past and I believe that from his blood we can make a vaccine that will stop PF dead in its tracks.  We will save millions of lives, furthermore, Gregor in a way I cannot yet understand I believe that he is already written into our present-day history, so you can see, it is vital that he survives.  Now although I know how inadvisable it is under the circumstances I need half a litre of his blood before we tamper with it."