on that theory. He approached a young, red-haired forensics officer and concentrated on feeling the sense of relief that had recently buoyed his spirits. The officer's brow was furrowed as he frowned at the bodies strewn around, tapping his pencil on his knee. As Eric watched, the tapping began to slow, and then sped up rapidly as if an idea was occurring to him. The lines on his face grew less entrenched and his eyebrows lifted as if to say, "Ah-ha!"
Fascinated with his new discovery, Eric decided to begin a little experiment. He motioned for Helen to join him as he explained his idea.
"Did you notice the look on that guy's face?" He gushed, pointing at the red-headed officer.
Helen looked at him quizzically.
"The more relaxed and happy we felt, the more relaxed he seemed, and his ideas really started flowing. Look!"
The officer was scribbling furiously on his notepad.
"Um. Pardon me, but I was busy paying attention to the REAL problem on hand." Helen snapped. The stress of the situation wouldn't allow her to be polite. She tilted her head in the direction of Sam, who was dusting his hands off and looked thoroughly pleased with himself. Pratz was nowhere to be seen, but a cloud of vapor hung in the air where he had been standing. Eric felt the familiar sinking feeling in his stomach. He closed his eyes and concentrated on controlling his fear. Helen grabbed both his arms and his eyes snapped open. She was looking away, towards Sam, and his eyes followed her gaze. Sam had remembered their presence after dealing with Pratz and was eying them with a malicious grin. He started in their direction.
"NOT A CHANCE IN HELL, YOU ANTEDILUVIAN REPTILE!!!!"
Eric whipped around too quickly and his weightless body spun for a minute before he regained control. Coming towards them from behind was Jack, and by his side, a petite woman waving her umbrella and yelling curses so vile his head started smoking. She was aiming them at Sam, and to Eric's surprise, Sam looked genuinely frightened. He backed up slowly and suddenly crumpled on the ground.
"Finished that one off!" Cried the woman by Jack's side.
"How did you...?" Eric trailed off, unable to comprehend what just happened.
"Don't worry kid, that wasn't the real Sam." Jack and his female warrior friend came to a stop
Fascinated with his new discovery, Eric decided to begin a little experiment. He motioned for Helen to join him as he explained his idea.
"Did you notice the look on that guy's face?" He gushed, pointing at the red-headed officer.
Helen looked at him quizzically.
"The more relaxed and happy we felt, the more relaxed he seemed, and his ideas really started flowing. Look!"
The officer was scribbling furiously on his notepad.
"Um. Pardon me, but I was busy paying attention to the REAL problem on hand." Helen snapped. The stress of the situation wouldn't allow her to be polite. She tilted her head in the direction of Sam, who was dusting his hands off and looked thoroughly pleased with himself. Pratz was nowhere to be seen, but a cloud of vapor hung in the air where he had been standing. Eric felt the familiar sinking feeling in his stomach. He closed his eyes and concentrated on controlling his fear. Helen grabbed both his arms and his eyes snapped open. She was looking away, towards Sam, and his eyes followed her gaze. Sam had remembered their presence after dealing with Pratz and was eying them with a malicious grin. He started in their direction.
"NOT A CHANCE IN HELL, YOU ANTEDILUVIAN REPTILE!!!!"
Eric whipped around too quickly and his weightless body spun for a minute before he regained control. Coming towards them from behind was Jack, and by his side, a petite woman waving her umbrella and yelling curses so vile his head started smoking. She was aiming them at Sam, and to Eric's surprise, Sam looked genuinely frightened. He backed up slowly and suddenly crumpled on the ground.
"Finished that one off!" Cried the woman by Jack's side.
"How did you...?" Eric trailed off, unable to comprehend what just happened.
"Don't worry kid, that wasn't the real Sam." Jack and his female warrior friend came to a stop
