C D+.
In addition, make a public announcement. It is important to point out we were willing to support them, but that our government does not have a state religion and cannot make an exception for the Children. Unsatisfied, a priest acting of his own accord assaulted our officer in an attempt to scare us into accepting their demands. Let the people know that our government will not give into threats of violence, and even though this assault is regrettable, we believe it the action of a lone cleric and not the church itself. Publicly release information about the cultist, including a picture (possibly a still from our security cameras), and warn all members of our great nation to be wary of this zealot which is both armed and has already critically injured a member of our government. Extend formal request (not demand) to the Children to assist us investigating and locating the terrorist.
All this is done.
The church seems to be backing up our position. They state that the act was one of a lone terrorist and agree to help us search for the perpetrator.
After the reporter business is over, Celling and Merrowitz get a report from the physicians and people in charge of treating Denis (mentally-attacked person).
“We found no physical, chemical, or biological abnormalities,” the doctor tells them. “All tests were normal. Whatever this is, it was something that bypassed the body entirely, going straight to her brain. The good news is that there will be no permanent neurological damage.”
Celling turned to her. “So what is causing this?”
The doctor sighed. “It appears to be something similar to an epileptic attack. A mass continuous misfiring of neurons in one part of the brain that totally disables it, resulting in erratic and uncontrollable motions. A repeating overload in her brain.”
“What could have done
that?” Merrowitz asked.
“I have no clue, OK?” the doctor said. She shrugged. “You’re wondering if it’s a psychic attack, right? I really didn’t believe that kind of thing, but now I’m not so sure. Whatever it was, whoever did this is capable of reaching straight into her brain and directly changing the way the neurons fire. Someone put his or her fingers into her mind and twiddled them.”
Celling and Merrowitz looked at each other. “So how do we treat it?” Celling asked.
“Done, and done,” the doctor said.
“What?”
“As I’ve said, no permanent damage was done to her brain. It just needs to be rebooted,” the doctor answered. “After we sedated her, we dropped her into a deep coma to delete the electrical signals causing this, and she’s fine now. She’s barely conscious and slowly recovering, but her readings are all normal and she shows no sign of cognitive abnormalities.”
“So she’s fine,” Celling asked, relieved.
“Completely. I hope you have a plan to find whoever did this, though. She’s really eager to give them a piece of her mind. Or rather, get it back.”
“We’re working on that,” said Merrowitz.
The doctor left. Around then they heard a crash from down the hall.
“Was that…” Merrowitz began.
A panicked
SQUAAAAAAAK echoed down the hall.
“Parrot’s back,” said Celling.
They ran down the hall and into the War Room, where the parrot had apparently flown straight out of their box and into a wall. Celling picked him up gently.
“Hey there,” he said. “Had a nice trip?”
The parrot regained his senses and flew off to perch on the side of a chair. “Missed the box by a mile on my first try and ended up in a trash can again!” he protested, in a small, chirpy voice.
“Did Quill get the note? Did he eat it?” Merrowitz asked.
“Yes, and yes,” the parrot replied. “I think Padelheb’s men are on to me, though. I Hammerspace-jumped out in full view of a big crowd of them. They’ve gotta be so mad around now.”
“Well,” said Celling, slamming a bowl of nuts in front of the parrot, “We’ll be sending you after David Eborrenial (teenage prophet) in the morning. I’d advise that you relax and regain your energy.”
The parrot pecked suspiciously at the nuts. “Almonds? I hate almonds!”
“We all make sacrifices for our country,” said Celling lazily. “Good night, green guy.”
More free action time. It is now night, second day of Padelheb’s rule. This is all a flashback which will end on night, third day. Suggest anything, no cost!Sanity checkReveal the truth twice:
Sanity -6%Sanity:
88%Influence:
98%Fame:
+0