An ghostly voice came over the radio " Cold hearted orb that rules the night, removes the colors from our sight, red is gray and yellow white, but we decide which is right, and which. . . is an illusion."

Images from the dreams he'd been having came flooding back to Darien. This was too close to home! Freaking a bit, he lunged at the controls and slammed the radio off, causing his partner to jump in surprise.

Hobbes stared at him." What is it with you Fawkes? First its donuts, now it's the Moody Blues!What planet did you grow up on? "

He paused a moment, " You're not weirding out on me here are you? " Hobbes looked closely at Darien's eyes. Ever since Darien had nearly strangled him during their investigation of Scarborough, Hobbes had been careful to check frequently with Darien about his Quicksilver levels.

"No, I'm fine. Guess I'm just a little edgy" Darien replied." I've been having nightmares again - like today in the Official's office. The Keeper said she'd work on something to help, but. . . ." his voice trailed off.

'Not the most satisfying response,' Hobbes thought. He made a mental note to stay alert for other potential signs of Quicksilver madness. Just in case.

They turned over the shift to the next pair of agents and were prepared to head home when they got a call from the Keeper asking them to return to the Agency building.

****

"Hey Keep," Darien strode into the lab." How's the research going? "

"Well, I've come up with a formula that might do the trick. I can give you the additive agent tonight. If it works I'll add it to your counteragent shots."

"Great. So this will stop the gland from doing its thing? " This could be the first good news all day, Darien thought.

"It may stop the nightmares, if that's what you mean" the Keeper replied.

"Yeah, and it'll break the connection between the Q-gland and the pineal gland right? "

"No, I can't promise that."

The smile faded from Darien's face.

"There's no obvious way to block the Quicksilver gland from interfacing with the pineal gland," she explained." In fact, I can't even slow it down." The Keeper looked sympathetically at Darien.

"I thought you said blocking it would be pretty straightforward. If you can't stop the gland spreading, then what's this shot for? " Darien was clearly upset, and the Keeper was trying to calm him.

"It's a bio-synthetic organ, Darien. I thought that if I could identify unique properties of the biological part of the Quicksilver gland and isolate them as distinct from your natural brain, it could work as a permanent blocking agent. But I can't." She shrugged, looking puzzled, " I don't know why, but I haven't been able to find a distinct difference between the gland and your own tissues.

The Keeper paused as if she was about to say something difficult." I know you don't want to hear this, but its communication may eventually spread to include other areas of your brain as well."

"What are you saying? He looked at her, alarmed.

"I mean the gland could start making connections with other areas beyond the pineal gland" she explained." I can't predict what the long term effects might be. It's a situation unique to you, Darien. None of the lab rats we implanted with glands showed this kind of spreading pattern."

Darien was stunned. It reminded him of his dream in the Official's office this morning. This was right out of the Twilight Zone.

"All I know is what the tests tell me," the Keeper continued." If I could get the lab notes from Dr. Fawkes' early development work, maybe I could figure out how this happened, and why your tissues seem so compatible. But for now, all I can do is try to reduce the problems you're having with your dreams."

Darien sighed heavily. He felt as if the floor beneath him was falling away from him as his world spun out of control. It was way too late at night and this was too much to think about when he was so tired. His brain was having trouble keeping up.

"OK, just give me the shot and let me get outta here. Hobbes is waiting for me."

****

Darien met Hobbes as he came out of the Official's office." You ready to go Fawkes? " Hobbes asked.

"Sure," Darien replied." Its been a long, weird kinda day. I just want to get home and hit the sack."

They walked out to the van, and drove to Darien's apartment.

"Thanks for the ride, Hobbes," Darien said as he got out of the Agency van. It was very late and he'd been glad for the ride.

"You OK now, hotshot? " Hobbes sounded concerned despite the tease.

Darien nodded and managed a weak smile." Yeah, the Keeper says the shot she gave me will take care of the nightmares. I guess I'll find out for certain soon enough."

"Course it will" Hobbes said." Why wouldn't it? "

"Oh, I dunno" Darien considered." I suppose she really is trying to work on this. It's just that sometimes I think everyone at the Agency has ulterior motives where this gland is concerned." He shrugged and headed toward the building's entrance.

"Don't let it worry you kid," Hobbes called out to him." No matter what the Fat Man is up to, as long as you play it straight with me, ya' got Bobby Hobbes watching your back. Trust me."

"Aw crap."

// Darien Fawkes - Note to self:Julius Caesar once said "keep your friends close and your enemies even closer." The way things have been going lately, there's no way I was gonna let these guys out of my sight." //