Denise Brewster turned to the group from Research and Development: Ryanne Leeson, Samantha Duncan, Rachel McLewis and Randall Jeffries. "Given the fact that this entire mess was caused by something you imagined, some would say the right thing to do would be to fire you all."
There was a pause. "However, you are the ones who know the most about the Transformation Guns and how they work, and you have spent most of the night trying to help people affected by them and restore order. Also, I know most of you pretty well, and I believe you're telling the truth when you said you don't know how your creations became real. And can anyone honestly tell me that anyone could have reasonably foreseen the events of today?"
She concluded. "Therefore, to me, at least, it makes more sense to keep you working here."
At this, the four breathed sighs of relief. Sarah McMillan, too, breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wait a minute! I'm still the one in charge!" Everyone turned and saw Ricki the cheerleader, or the transformed Mr. McMillan. "I think I should get a say in who gets kicked out."
She strutted up in a manner that reminded Sarah of herself when she had to settle arguments between members of her cheerleading squad. "Now, maybe if these tech geeks hadn't spent so much of their break time goofing off and imagining weird ray guns, this wouldn't have happened." she said, in a manner that reminded Sarah of some of her more mean-spirited moments.
She turned to Jeffries, who was now looking anxious. "Maybe you're right. Maybe you should go. Or maybe I should fire the lot of you. But what good would that do? Ms. Brewster's right - you all know more about these Transformation Guns than anyone else, so we're stuck with you."
Ricki turned to Ms. Brewster. "I just want you to know that I'm still in charge!"
"You are still recovering, and you are clearly under the influence of a Transformation Gun!" Ms. Brewster replied. "Before you resume your duties, you'll have to be cleared by the doctors. Furthermore, the Board of Directors will have a meeting in a few days to make some decisions. I am acting CEO until it is decided you are still capable of being CEO of the company."
Susan McMillan spoke up. "I knew it! You're trying to take the company away from him!"
"I am doing no such thing!" Denise Brewster replied. "It's standard procedure. If the CEO is unable to perform their duties, then the highest ranking person who's not ill or otherwise incapacitated is the temporary acting CEO. And that would be me. You've already heard everyone's stories so you know I had nothing to do with this."
Sarah turned to her mother. "Mom, she's right. Ms. Brewster didn't do it."
"It doesn't mean she's not taking advantage of the situation." Susan replied bitterly.
"So what?" Ricki said. "You're benching me?"
"If by 'benching' you mean giving you some time off due to health reasons, then yes." Denise Brewster replied.
"Whatever. Maybe I can get some more cheer practice in." Ricki said.
Sarah stared at Ricki. It unnerved her how this person acted like basically a cross between a cheerleader captain and her father.
"Cheer practice? Don't you know who you are? You're my father!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Of course I know who I am, Sarah!" Ricki said. "But I'm not that guy who cheated on your mom with Denise and Gloria anymore. Not anymore. I'm Ricki, head cheerleader of MTI!"
Sarah's jaw dropped. She had no words.
Susan spoke up. "Can't you do something?" she turned to Ryanne, Samantha, Rachel, and Jeffries.
"I don't know what we can do." Ryanne said. "We don't know how the Cheerleader Gun affected Mr. McMillan's mind. Given that he was already turned into a cheerleader and had that persona already there, this might have had some extra mental effect."
Dr. Anissa Fairlane, the professional psychiatrist, spoke up. "I'd advise against using a Restoration Gun. At least until I've had a chance to speak with the current version of Mr. McMillan."
Ryanne looked Susan in the eye. "We'll do everything we can. We can't promise that your husband will be restored to his previous self, but we'll do everything to make sure that your husband will be safe and hopefully mentally stable."
Susan slowly nodded.
Sarah, meanwhile, did not know what to do. She knew, however, that the next chance she got, she had to tell Jon and Karyn about everything she had seen and heard here. Including what happened to her father.
Detective Alec Bartlett approached from the Marketing department, followed by Larry Eastbrook, Carrie Brierton, Arnie Amspoker, and Dr. Elaine. He turned to Maura Dunbar. "I've finished my questioning of the witnesses over in Marketing. We can compare notes."
Larry, Carrie, and Arnie rushed over to meet with Ryanne, Samantha, Rachel, and Jeffries. Dr. Elaine took a look around. "It looks like I missed something important." she said with a smile.
"Not much." Jeffries said. "Only something that might affect the future of this company, that's all."
Anissa Fairlane then spoke up. "Ms. Brewster, Dr. Elaine, I would like you to accompany myself, Dr. Andrews, and Dr. Bryant. We need to speak in private for a bit."
With that, Anissa Fairlaine, Denise Brewster, Dr. Elaine, and the professional doctors headed off to an office to speak in private. Rachel and Nurse Jaclynn were told to look after Ricki, Nicolette, and Elliot.
Sarah and Susan McMillan remained silent while Denise Brewster was away with the doctors. Neither of them really felt like talking to the transformed Mr. McMillan, aka Ricki, and they did not feel like talking to anyone else, either.
Ryanne, Samantha, Rachel, and Jeffries filled Larry, Carrie, and Arnie in on what happened with Mr. McMillan, and Stragey's recapture. Carrie then spoke. "Peggy Pegany has given Mr. Adaway her resignation notice. She's still in the building now if you wish to hear her apologies."
Soon, Dr. Anissa Fairlane and Denise Brewster returned, followed by Dr. Elaine and the professional doctors Bryant and Andrews. Denise Brewster spoke to everyone.
"All right. You've all had a long night. I commend you for your efforts in gathering up as many Transformation Guns as possible and restoring order." Ms. Brewster began. "But I think it's about time some of us went home to get a good night's sleep. You've earned it."
Anissa spoke next. "We've decided that Mr. McMillan, Ms. Quarterson, Mr. Stallsworth, and Mr. Stragey will be taken to Lake Point Med for further observation overnight. In most cases, we expect the stay won't be long. Mr. Coakley will stay there for the next few days at least, given the severity of the current situation."
"Based on everything we've heard, most of the other transformees, including those who are still transformed, haven't suffered as much trauma. But I'm advising Ms. Leeson, Mr. Eastbrook, and Mr. Amspoker to stay with family members if they're not already living with them."
"Understood." Ryanne said. She knew why the psychiatrist recommended this. After all, the three of them had come very close to dying, and would have died if Jeffries and Carrie had not intervened. She knew, however, that she would be all right. Arnie had his wife and daughter to look after him, and Larry had his family as well.
"As for Dr. Elaine," Dr. Andrews said. "We're inviting you to come to Lake Point Med with us. You can observe our procedures, and our administrator can recommend some good med schools for you."
"Thanks!" Dr. Elaine said. She turned to Rachel. "Don't worry. I'm not leaving town yet. You'll see me around here for the next week, at least. I've got a few loose ends to tie up with my old job first, and then, hopefully, I'll find the right med school for me."
Rachel nodded. "I hope everything works out for you."
"Thanks." Dr. Elaine said.
Sarah then spoke up. "There's a lot of people over at my school who've been transformed by these things, and some of them want to be changed back. My boyfriend, some of his teammates, some of the teachers. I hope you'll send someone over with a Restoration Gun to do it."
Samantha turned to Sarah. "I already told Jay that at least one of us will be there a few days from now. We'll try to schedule a time."
"It'd better be soon. Biff can't wait too long." Sarah said.
"We'll try to make it as soon as we can." Samantha said. "Maybe the day after tomorrow at the earliest. We'll call the principal and work things out."
Susan stood up. "Sarah, let's go home."
Sarah, having said all she needed to say, followed her mother to the elevator. She knew that in the morning, she would have much to say to Jon and Karyn.
"Mr. Sallow's up in the PR Department with Ms. Sendletter, making sure everything's in order. I don't know if Milt's going to be restored back to his normal self, or going home as a cheerleader." Samantha said.
Ryanne nodded. "But we should be going home now anyway. I know a lot of you are tired. As soon as we secure all the Transformation Guns we've gathered in the basement lab with the others, we can call it a night."
"Fine with me." Larry said. "I've had more than enough excitement."
Some time later, many of McMIllan Tech Industries' employees left the building to return home. Everyone had to be searched to make sure they did not smuggle any Transformation Guns outside the building beforehand.
Ryanne Leeson, Samantha Duncan, Rachel McLewis, Randall Jeffries, Larry Eastbrook, Carrie Brierton, Teresa Talton, and Arnie Amspoker returned to the basement lab complex of Research and Development to store all the Transformation Guns they had gathered. Doug Sallow, the Department Head of Research and Development, would do the same.
Milt Smukmeyer had been restored to his normal form, but stated a desire to be once again turned into a cheerleader should MTI actually have an official cheerleading squad. Neil Nallon had chosen to remain the cheerleader Nellie.
Ryanne, Samantha, Rachel, and Jeffries were the last ones to leave for the night. Each of them took one long look at the building before they left.
"What a long, strange day it's been." Rachel said.
"Feels like more than a day." Jeffries replied. "Feels like days, weeks, months..."
"I know." Samantha replied. "So much has changed in just one day."
Ryanne nodded. "The company. The world. Us. Anyway, I'm glad we all got through today. Here's to tomorrow."
"To tomorrow." the others echoed.
They walked together for a while before going their separate ways. They had no idea what the future would bring, but they were determined to face it together. For now, they were glad to be able to return home to get some much needed sleep.
And so ended Day One of the world of Transformation Guns. The days ahead were sure to be filled with much adjustments, confusion, and change.
