McMillan Tech Industries Lake Point Branch, Marketing Department, cubicle center hall
Elaine nodded. "I'm just wondering if any of you would stay healed if someone used a Restoration Gun on you, deliberately or accidentally."
"Truth is, I've been wondering that myself." Arnie said. "I don't think there's anything to worry about. Let's try it and see."
Before anyone could stop him, Arnie picked up his Restoration Gun, and aimed it at himself.
"WAIT!" Ryann and Jeffries shouted almost in unison, but it was too late. Arnie Amspoker zapped himself with the Restoration Gun.
Arnie Amspoker's Jock Gun induced appearance went away, reverting to the less athletic, slightly overweight appearance the tech engineer previously possessed. And almost instantly, the gash in his stomach inflicted on him by the Random Gun-created slasher returned, and he collapsed to the floor, bleeding profusely.
Peggy Pegany, still stuck in her chair, screamed at the sight. Everyone else stared in shock and horror for a moment, and then Jeffries grabbed the Jock Gun and zapped Arnie with it again.
Almost immediately, Arnie's Jock Gun enhanced athletic form returned, and the gash in his stomach disappeared as if it never was. He was still breathing, and slowly began to stir again.
Ryann watched carefully. She had been unconscious the first time this happened, so this was her first time seeing the beneficial healing side effects as an observer. The others in the area reacted with even greater astonishment.
"Looks like you were telling the truth." Darby Adaway said, staring at the scene in awe. "These things really can heal people."
"Are you all right?" Larry asked. Larry Eastbrook and Carrie Brierton were helping Arnie Amspoker to his feet.
"I think so." Arnie said. "But I'm not trying THAT again any time soon." He appeared to be fully recovered, none the worse for wear.
"What were you thinking?" Jeffries exclaimed. "You almost died! Again! It's bad enough that one of the guards was killed! We can't have any more people dying today!"
"I know. Not one of my better ideas." Arnie said with a sigh. "But I'm fine now."
"Someone died?" Peggy gasped.
Carrie turned to Peggy. "One of the guards -- I think his name was Kaplan. He was thrown out the window by the slasher. It happened so fast we couldn't save him."
Peggy Pegany then suddenly broke down, sobbing. "I'm sorry ... for all of this." she muttered.
"It's not your fault." Carrie said, trying to sound reassuring.
"But it is. I never wanted any of this." Peggy said, her eyes wet with tears. "Martin Stragey said it's all about getting people to change their behavior and see things our way. I thought it was harmless fun, messing with people by making them do silly things. I never wanted anyone to get hurt..."
"Some would say you were hurting them just the same." Ms. Hitchens said. "I know I didn't ask to be turned into a mime."
"I told myself this was harmless." Peggy said, sniffling. "There were plenty of these things out there. If someone didn't like what they got turned into, they could always get zapped by a different one, right? I didn't think anyone would get seriously hurt, or killed."
Ryann hadn't been there for the two prior confrontations with Peggy Pegany, but she had heard about what had happened from Samantha and Arnie just before heading into the office for the Restoration Gun session with Coakley. She decided to speak up.
"My friend Samantha told me Stragey promised you a pay raise if you helped him." Ryann began. "What you did was wrong, but I can tell you're being honest. I don't think anyone here holds you responsible for what happened to me or my friends, or what happened in the Board meeting. You had no way of knowing what was going to happen. If anything, it's Stragey's fault for thinking he could get the Random Gun to do what he wanted it to do."
Peggy sobbed. "Martin ... Mr. Stragey. When you find him, please tell him not to try using those ... Restoration Guns. He's in enough trouble as it is. If he ends up turning into some crazy person and hurts someone..."
"Don't worry. We'll tell him." Ryann said, in a calm tone.
Carrie then spoke up next. "I know this is none of my business, but are you ... in love with Mr. Stragey?"
Peggy suddenly blushed. "No, no. We're just good friends, that's all."
"We'll tell him that you're worried about him." Ryann said. "I promise."
"Oh and tell your friend Samantha that I'm sorry I badmouthed her. I'm sorry I badmouthed your whole department. She was right all along, and I just wasn't listening."
"I'll tell her, but maybe she'll stop by here a bit later and you can apologize to her in person." Ryann replied.
"Thank you." Peggy said.
Ryann observed Peggy carefully during the whole conversation, and she could tell that Peggy was sincere in her remorse and her apologies. She wasn't sure why -- maybe it was intuition, enhanced by the Babe Gun -- but she could sense it, in the other woman's micro facial expressions. It was something Ryann would have to talk about with Rachel later on. For now, though, she was sure that Peggy had seen the error of her ways, and would cause no further trouble.
With that in mind, she turned to the rest of the group. She knew they had a lot to talk about now. And the first thing they needed to discuss was the Restoration Guns.
