{"id":1041,"date":"2022-01-24T17:41:06","date_gmt":"2022-01-24T23:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=1041"},"modified":"2022-01-31T20:25:31","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T02:25:31","slug":"part4","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode12\/part4\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 12: \u00a0Mr. Body Beautiful<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 4<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Red\u2019s hand trembled as she pulled back the plunger, filling the syringe with the solution she had prepared. She tapped it with her finger, making sure there were no air bubbles before she carried it back to K\u2019s bedside.<\/p>\n

Leo, Lancy, and Archie stood around the bed, awaiting her instructions. Archie twiddled his thumbs nervously while Lancy studied his reflection in the shiny surface of a stainless steel tray, carefully readjusting the nurse\u2019s cap over his frosted hair. Leo looked uncharacteristically nauseous, like he could vomit at any second.<\/p>\n

Red could relate. Clearing her throat, she said, \u201cOkay\u2026 let\u2019s go over the plan again. As Jay\u2019s team approaches the right side of K\u2019s heart, they\u2019ll use Pearl\u2019s grappling hook to anchor themselves to the wall of the superior vena cava, the vein that carries deoxygenated blood into the heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

She was momentarily distracted by the sound of Nick singing softly in the background: \u201cThe words to say, the road to take, to find a way back to K\u2019s heart\u2026\u201d<\/em> Half the time, she couldn\u2019t tell if he was singing real songs or making up lyrics on the spot, but he always sounded good doing it. She shook her head, forcing herself to tune him out and focus on relaying the plan to the rest of the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen, using diving gear and a guide line, one of them will scout out the location of the bomb. Based on K\u2019s symptoms earlier, we\u2019ve surmised that the bomb is implanted near the sinoatrial node, which is at the entrance to the right atrium. Once we have a visual on it, I will inject K with this solution–\u201d She held up her syringe. \u201c–which contains enough potassium to induce cardiac arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Archie let out a low moan. \u201cI knew I should have stayed home today,\u201d Red heard him mutter. She ignored him.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce K\u2019s heart has stopped, the team will follow Pearl\u2019s instructions to disarm the bomb. They\u2019ll have only four minutes to get the job done before we begin CPR to get K\u2019s blood circulating again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOoh, I\u2019ll give him mouth-to-mouth!\u201d Lancy offered with an impish little giggle.<\/p>\n

Red gave him a look of disgust. \u201cWe don\u2019t do that in clinical settings. One of us will use an Ambu bag to administer oxygen,\u201d she said, grabbing the bag valve mask off the red crash cart Archie had brought in earlier. \u201cWhich one of you would like to bag him?\u201d<\/p>\n

Leo and Archie looked at each other while Lancy just looked disappointed. No one volunteered.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna need all hands on deck here, guys,\u201d Red pleaded, her previous doubts returning. \u201cOne of us will also have to perform chest compressions while another person pushes meds to counteract the potassium and stimulate K\u2019s heart to beat on its own again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leo blanched. \u201cI\u2019ll bag him.\u201d<\/p>\n

She flashed him a grateful smile. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said, showing him how to hold the mask flush over K\u2019s face and squeeze the bag every five seconds. \u201cAnd Archie, since you at least have some medical training, I think you and I should take turns doing compressions while the other one handles the drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what am I going to do?\u201d Lancy asked huffily.<\/p>\n

Red looked over at him. \u201cYou can keep time for us. That\u2019s a very important job.\u201d<\/p>\n

The secretary seemed to perk up at her suggestion. \u201cOoh, okay! I\u2019ve got this, girlfriend!\u201d he chirped, gleefully flinging out his hand to show her the shimmery pink Rolex strapped around his wrist.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat. Do you have any questions?\u201d she asked, glancing around at her team again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got one.\u201d Hearing Nick\u2019s voice, Red turned her attention to the video screen. The blond agent\u2019s expression was unusually serious. \u201cWhat if you can\u2019t get K\u2019s heart started again?\u201d<\/p>\n

She swallowed hard, fighting back the same fear she saw reflected on his face. \u201cHe\u2019s young and healthy — both factors that will work in our favor. His heart is strong, and since there\u2019s nothing structurally wrong with it, it should respond well to resuscitation. Once we reverse the potassium overdose and restore blood flow through the heart, there\u2019s no reason it shouldn\u2019t start to beat on its own again.\u201d She tried to infuse her voice with confidence, feeling her plan would work, but deep down, she knew there were no guarantees. They could do everything \u201cright,\u201d and something might still go wrong. The mission might fail. K could die.<\/p>\n

But like Leo had said earlier, it was a risk worth taking to save their leader and all of HimTak.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet ready,\u201d Jay said suddenly. \u201cI can hear the heart again. We must be close.\u201d<\/p>\n

A tense silence filled the room. Red held her breath, her hand wrapped tightly around the syringe, and listened. Through the screen, she heard what Jay\u2019s team was hearing: the thundering sound of K\u2019s heartbeat. It was faint at first, like a faraway storm, but each beat that followed got a little louder. It was strange hearing it so clearly without the help of her stethoscope.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou remember which button to push to shoot the grappling hook, right?\u201d said Pearl.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one that looks like a cigarette lighter.\u201d Jay rolled his eyes and sighed. \u201cLike I could forget. I\u2019m gonna go smoke the rest of my pack as soon as we get out of here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what your lungs look like,\u201d said Nick, laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up. I think I see the entrance to the heart up ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Everyone fell silent again, watching and waiting, praying the first part of the plan would work.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady\u2026\u201d said Jay, his jaw set with determination. \u201cAim\u2026 FIRE!\u201d<\/p>\n

Red couldn\u2019t see where the grappling hook went, but all of a sudden, she heard Nick cheer. \u201cBoo-yah! We got it, baby!\u201d She saw darkened red blood cells flying by the Bug, but it seemed to have slowed down, held back by the hook as it burrowed into the side of K\u2019s vena cava.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes!\u201d Pearl cheered. \u201cNice work. Now to locate the bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Inside the Bugmarine, Jay and Nick shared a quick glance as their excitement dissipated. Even with the whizzing red blood cells, locating and defusing the bomb would be the easy part. Stopping and restarting K\u2019s heart\u2026 now, that would be difficult. Thankfully, they had the right team for that job. And this job\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll do it!\u201d Nick shouted, piercing the silence that had settled between them. \u201cI\u2019m a licensed scuba diver!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat.\u201d Styx stuck his head between the two front seats and stared at Nick incredulously.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to resign in Florida. Plus, you gotta do something when you\u2019re not saving the world.\u201d Nick shrugged.<\/p>\n

Jay and Styx each raised an eyebrow, quickly glancing between Nick and each other. When Styx opened his mouth to speak, Jay shook his head, making his thoughts loud and clear: Don\u2019t say anything.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? At your old job, they didn\u2019t let you have hobbies?\u201d Nick smirked. \u201cSome old job.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Jay ran his hand over his face. \u201cDude, now\u2019s definitely not the time. Plus, I swore to K that I wouldn\u2019t let you anywhere near the bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHis body, his rules, man.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick crossed his arms broodingly as he avoided looking at Jay, clearly stung by the comment.<\/p>\n

Jay couldn\u2019t help but feel a little guilty. Of course Nick could follow Pearl\u2019s instructions and defuse a bomb. Of course Nick also wanted to help K. Of course Nick was a capable agent. But he\u2019d sworn to follow K\u2019s wishes. And as he repeated that in his mind, his fingers numbed as the realization dawned on him. At that moment, he regretted leaving his cigarettes in Pearl\u2019s lab. \u201cDamn, that means I\u2019m defusing the bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe trunk detaches into a submersible pod. Go ahead and pop it open,\u201d Pearl\u2019s voice rang out across the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course it does.\u201d Jay laughed as he stared at the slew of buttons across the dash. \u201cAnd… which button controls that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one that looks like a car trunk popping up, of course. I\u2019m not a monster, Jay.\u201d Pearl grinned. \u201cJust push the button up.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a moment\u2019s hesitation, Jay pushed up the button that did exactly what it should do. Only the trunk didn\u2019t open. Instead, a small, circular doorway opened near Nick\u2019s feet, just above the floorboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis way, you can get into the submersible without any fluids getting into the car.\u201d While Pearl\u2019s tone was too chipper to be smug, she was clearly pleased with her adjustments to the Beetle.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee! Even the car wants me to defuse the bomb!\u201d Nick gestured at the small opening emphatically.<\/p>\n

\u201cDude, the car definitely doesn\u2019t want you to defuse the bomb,\u201d Jay retorted.<\/p>\n

At the same time, Pearl simply said, \u201cThe car wants you to stay buckled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay. What do I need to do to help?\u201d Even though he sighed exasperatedly and stared out the window rather than looking at either of them, it seemed as though Nick accepted their arguments.<\/p>\n

Pearl flashed him a half-hearted smile before beginning her instructions. \u201cJay, you\u2019re going to get into the submersible. Inside, you\u2019ll find one of our exosuits. I didn\u2019t add much to it since the last time you were in one, but we\u2019ll talk about the differences once you\u2019re in the submersible.\u201d When Jay nodded, she continued. \u201cNick, once Jay is inside the submersible, push the trunk button down to close the door. After he gives you the signal, push the trunk button in to release the submersible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSounds pretty boring,\u201d Nick grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have a really important job. The car will automatically grab the submersible once it\u2019s detached, but you\u2019ll need to grab Jay. Just press the button that looks like a box with lines coming out of it to release a guide wire. Once it\u2019s out, you can control it with the stick shift\u2019s manual mode.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIsn\u2019t that the defroster, Pearl?\u201d Jay smirked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell sure, originally<\/em>.\u201d Pearl shrugged. \u201cBut why would I need a defroster<\/em> in the desert? You know I won\u2019t drive in the snow.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay chuckled. Pearl always had a point.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne last thing.\u201d Pearl leaned toward her screen and grimaced. \u201cSince you\u2019ll probably have to leave quickly\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll definitely have to leave quickly.\u201d Red filled Pearl\u2019s pause, her tone gravely serious.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince you\u2019ll definitely<\/em> have to leave quickly\u2026\u201d Pearl groaned and held her head in her hand. \u201cNick, you\u2019ll have to drive on the way back.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou mean it, Pearly?\u201d Nick batted his eyelashes, holding his cheeks as a sickeningly sweet grin covered his face; Jay couldn\u2019t help but laugh in response.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you crash it, you\u2019re dead to me.\u201d Her brief smirk afterward undeniably confirmed that Pearl had something up her sleeve.<\/p>\n

The car probably does something else crazy,<\/em> Jay thought to himself as he shrugged, then unbuckled. \u201cLet\u2019s do this. As I always say, wasted time is a lazy man\u2019s crime!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDude, you literally never<\/em> say that.\u201d Nick rolled his eyes and unbuckled as well. \u201cYou feelin\u2019 okay? Weird shirts and weird sayings are pretty eccentric, even for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust feels right for this mission.\u201d Jay clapped. \u201cAlright, let\u2019s switch seats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Nick cocked an eyebrow, he didn\u2019t say anything. More than Jay\u2019s shirt and sayings, that was the most unusual thing about this mission.<\/p>\n

Is Nick feelin\u2019 okay?<\/em> Jay asked himself as he climbed over the gear shift and swung his foot over Nick\u2019s leg, gripping the headrest for support. Their faces were inches from each other during the switch.<\/p>\n

Nick cringed and turned his head as he scooted away. \u201cDude, I don\u2019t wanna go breakin\u2019 your heart or anything, but there\u2019s not room for you or Lancy in Carter\u2019s Angels.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it just me, or is this pulsating?\u201d Lancy\u2019s excited voice filled the car.<\/p>\n

\u201cLan<\/em>-cy!\u201d Leo groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! I made a Nick pun!\u201d Lancy giggled at his own joke.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy jokes are way better than that.\u201d Nick rolled his eyes as he flopped into the driver\u2019s seat. As Jay slid to the floorboard, he couldn\u2019t help but notice the faintest pout on Nick\u2019s lips.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt my old job–\u201d Styx started.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, I\u2019m going in!\u201d Jay exclaimed as he slipped through the opening into the trunk. Once inside, he tossed his delightfully printed shirt on to the empty passenger seat to keep it dry. \u201cShirt\u2019s safe! Close it up once I\u2019m through!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAt my old job, no one interrupted me,\u201d Styx mumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you love your old job so much, why don\u2019t you go back and work there?\u201d Nick\u2019s retort was the last thing Jay heard as the opening closed, plunging him into darkness.<\/p>\n

For a brief moment, the eerie dark silence of the submersible seemed almost soothing — like a pitch-black cocoon jostling with the movement of K\u2019s heart. But within seconds, it whirred to life, filling with light and sound. The headlights served as the submersible\u2019s two small windows into his surroundings. The pale yellow liquid rushed past, pushing the blood cells by with each beat and slowly rocking the car. Though they had a fixed path through the heart, the vein they\u2019d anchored themselves to felt endless.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you hear me?\u201d Pearl\u2019s voice filled the pod.<\/p>\n

\u201cLoud and clear.\u201d Jay blinked as his eyes adjusted to the light, finally spotting the exosuit inside the trunk. He quickly removed his flippers and began shimmying into the bulky, metallic suit from the opening in the neck. \u201cTalk to me about what\u2019s new.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI upgraded the video feed and sound feed so I can see and hear you better while you work, and you could see me too if you needed it. Finger dexterity is the same, so you\u2019ll be able to defuse the bomb even in the suit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat would have been a nightmare in the old ones with the tong hands.\u201d Jay laughed.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, exactly. The life support system has fifty hours worth now\u2026 Not that you\u2019ll need that much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStill good to know!\u201d Jay pulled his arms through the bulbous arms of the exosuit.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I added four 1.6-horsepower thrusters that your feet control, so you have full power over where you\u2019re going. I guess you don\u2019t really need Nick and the guide wire\u2026\u201d Pearl paused. \u201c…But, you know I like having backup plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay knew that all too well. He swallowed as he grabbed the round, metallic helmet with the teardrop-shaped viewpoint window. \u201cAnd Nick hates sitting around on missions anyway. He gets fidgety. Hopefully you didn\u2019t leave any machine gun bras in your car.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl laughed, breaking the tension in her voice. \u201cI would never.\u201d<\/p>\n

As he put on the enormous helmet, Jay grinned, grateful that her laughter had eased his own nerves.<\/p>\n

Once he was inside the helmet, it performed a quick eye scan, then sprang to life as it chirped robotically, \u201cWelcome Agent 003.\u201d With a blink of his eyes, the video screen inside the suit turned on, filling a fraction of his window with Pearl\u2019s face.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeat, huh?\u201d Pearl\u2019s grin grew wider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m forever grateful that you\u2019re on our side, Pearl.\u201d Jay chuckled.<\/p>\n

\u201cMe too,\u201d Brian\u2019s stunned voice spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cSave your gratitude for when Opal and I solve this encryption problem.\u201d Though she tried, Pearl couldn\u2019t hide the telltale flush creeping across her cheeks. \u201cThere\u2019s a belt near the suit that has all the tools you need and the necessary containment receptacles for the pieces of the bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay cleared his throat as he fastened the heavy belt around his waist. \u201cWhat\u2019s the signal to Nick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever you want.\u201d Pearl shrugged. \u201cI\u2019ll link you up to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Two more video feeds buzzed to life across Jay\u2019s window: the inside of Pearl\u2019s bug and the inside of Red\u2019s surgical room.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything working okay?\u201d Nick asked with a slightly off-putting serious tone. The gravity of K\u2019s situation hung heavy in all of their hearts.<\/p>\n

And while Jay was fully aware of Nick\u2019s more serious sides, in this mission Jay needed him to be less serious to calm his own nerves. Luckily, he knew just the signal that would do that and began to sing. \u201cJump up and down\u2026 and move it all around! Shake your head to the sound, put your hand on the ground!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cJay, no.\u201d Nick groaned.<\/p>\n

Pearl\u2019s gleeful gasp followed shortly afterward, then she started laughing.<\/p>\n

\u201cTake one step left\u2026 and one step right\u2026 one to the front and one to the side–\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you clap your hands even once, Jay, K\u2019s heartbeat isn\u2019t the only beat you\u2019ll feel.\u201d Nick glanced over his shoulder. \u201cI don\u2019t wanna hear about how much less singing there was at your old job, Styx!\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Jay saw Styx starting to speak, Nick slammed his fist on the trunk button at that exact moment, detaching the trunk from the car; the cavorting jostling of the submersible drowned out whatever Styx may have said. Jay bounced around as the trunk tumbled toward the floor of K\u2019s vena cava, metal scraping on metal as he hit the walls and ceiling. Thankfully, a metal arm gripped the submersible seconds later, tethering it to the Bugmarine.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, Pearl.\u201d Jay groaned, hoping the residual jostling of his stomach would stop. \u201cHow do I get out?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cJust press the button near the escape hatch you crawled in through.\u201d<\/p>\n

After glancing around the overturned trunk and realizing that he now sat on the hatch in question, Jay did as instructed. The metal door spun open, sending him plummeting toward K\u2019s vein.<\/p>\n

As Jay said his prayers — hoping he wouldn\u2019t give K a heart attack — he felt the churn of metal slamming against his spine. With a blink of his eyes, Jay cycled through the camera views on the exosuit while floating to the ground. The view from above: blood cells whizzing past. The view from below: the endless road of the vena cava. The view from his right and left sides: about the same as above. And, finally, behind: the Bugmarine and the guide wire nestled into a slot in his back. Nick held a finger in the air; since the plasma obscured the picture quality, Jay chose to assume it was a thumbs up.<\/p>\n

After blinking away the video feeds, Jay began walking through the tunnel-like vein. He ducked each blood cell that shot past, careful to keep his disturbance on K\u2019s heart at a minimum; Nick being inside his body probably put enough stress on his heart already. After walking for what felt like an eternity, Jay cycled through the video feeds again. This time, the view at his back resembled all the others except for the endless guide wire that trailed behind him. Hoping the voices of the others would drown out the pounding of K\u2019s heart, Jay brought back the feeds of their faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does everyone think the bomb looks like anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething stupid. $100 bucks says it\u2019s purple with a ferret.\u201d Nick snorted, his outstretched hand clenched tightly around the gear shift as he pushed it forward in manual mode.<\/p>\n

Jay chuckled, remembering the ferret emblazoned pirate flag in Bermuda. Unfortunately, at that moment, the rest of the encounter in Bermuda filled his mind. The seething stare of Howie\u2019s untwitching brown eye. The clang of metal striking metal. The furious words whipping between them. Howie wasn\u2019t the type of monster that would put a bomb in someone\u2019s body as a bargaining tactic. But Dr. Rough was. And as long as Howie was buried beneath Dr. Rough, Jay couldn\u2019t forgive a monster like that.<\/p>\n

A quiet ticking interrupted the steady symphony of K\u2019s heart, bringing Jay back to the present. Lub-dub lub-dub lub-dub. Tick tick tick tick tick.<\/em> As Jay walked through the tunnel, the familiar beat of K\u2019s heart kept a steady volume, but the ticking became louder.<\/p>\n

A sudden gust of fluid hurtled against Jay, leaving him momentarily breathless. Caught up in his memories, he\u2019d forgotten he walked through K\u2019s continuously beating heart. Quickly thinking on his feet, Jay activated the thrusters in the footpads, allowing him to navigate toward the wall of K\u2019s vein with comparative ease. The nimble but powerful hand pressed against it, allowing Jay some stability in the growing turbulence as he neared the opening into K\u2019s right atrium. For those personally perilous moments in the eternity through K\u2019s superior vena cava, he forgot about the bomb in favor of his personal safety. Until he neared the exit.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod damn it.\u201d Jay swore under his breath, jostling with K\u2019s thunderous heartbeat again.<\/p>\n

There, lodged haphazardly in the yellow banana-shaped crescent cluster that was almost certainly the sinoatrial node, was the literal ticking time bomb in K\u2019s heart. And in a show of Dr. Rough\u2019s madness, it was shaped like a cartoon heart. Jay felt his ears growing hot at this display of mockery. Worse than that, Nick had been right: it was a sickening purple color with a silver ferret inside an equally cartoonish heart etched on it.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod damn it. Found it.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Secretly, Red had been dreading those words.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod damn it. Found it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The words that served as her signal to stop K\u2019s heart. And while she had already tried to find all the other possible solutions, this one would work. This one was consistently used in open-heart surgeries. Of course, in those instances, the heart already wasn\u2019t working and anything could help. But other than the bomb implanted inside him, K\u2019s heart worked fine.<\/p>\n

Red swallowed. The bomb in K\u2019s heart made this necessary. Mustering the calmest bedside manner she could, she cupped K\u2019s hand and spoke in a low voice. \u201cK, you probably already heard, so I\u2019m going to walk you through everything. I\u2019m putting a potassium injection into your IV. It\u2019s going to stop your heart.\u201d Her own heart wrenched as K\u2019s hand twitched, but she continued. \u201cBut Jay can see the bomb now, so he\u2019ll be able to follow Pearl\u2019s instructions and disarm it safely when your heart is still.\u201d<\/p>\n

K remained still. Even in his sedative-induced lethargy, he likely realized that the alternatives were worse: giving up Jay or the bomb detonating in ten hours anyway. If even a chance of avoiding those existed, they should take it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe did ask Brian for medical consent on your behalf.\u201d Red held his hand tighter, calming her own nerves with his steady hand. \u201cAnd we\u2019re all doing everything we can to ensure you wake up. When the bomb is no longer a threat, Archie and I will restart your heart with chest compressions, sodium bicarbonate, and epinephrine. We\u2019ll use a defibrillator if necessary. Leo will ensure you have oxygen. Lancy is keeping time. Nick will make sure Jay is safe.\u201d She hoped the detailed descriptions of everyone\u2019s roles gave K comfort. After inhaling deeply, she raised the syringe toward the IV line. \u201cI\u2019ll see you when you wake up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Keeping careful watch on the heart monitor\u2019s methodical beeping, Red slowly injected the potassium through the IV line in K\u2019s arm.<\/p>\n

As expected, the peaks of the EKG waves grew, then the waves beside them widened and flattened before the EKG peaks widened. The heart rate slowed. A sine wave formed, gradually shrinking the peaks and valleys until K flatlined.<\/p>\n

Eyes still fixed on the loudly ringing monitor, Red spoke in a quiet voice. \u201cYou have four minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Though it hadn\u2019t been Red\u2019s intention, Jay also found comfort in her explanation to K. They each had a job to do that would make sure they saw K when he woke up. He focused on those words and their meaning, hoping they would provide stability as K\u2019s heartbeat boomed around him.<\/p>\n

First, the cavernous shaking grew, thrashing Jay about on the guide wire. In that moment, he was most grateful for the flexible material Pearl had made it out of, which made him bounce around the cushion of blood cells rather than slamming him into any walls. The second thing that made him grateful was that Nick had stopped adding slack to the line once Jay said he found the bomb. Next, the beating became erratic but continued to toss Jay around the vein. Then, the erratic beating began slowing, decreasing in intensity, length, and amount until it stopped altogether.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have four minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n

The urge to sink to his knees nearly overcame Jay, but he felt the guide wire slack behind him — a clear indicator that Red\u2019s words had made Nick feel equally overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it.\u201d While Jay\u2019s voice remained stoically calm, inside his body, his stomach did somersaults and his own heart clenched in his chest. Jay exited the superior vena cava, walking around the banana-shaped sinoatrial node until he stared straight at the purple monstrosity quietly ticking away. \u201cIs the visual okay, Pearl?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s clear, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m gonna start by cutting the wires from the battery to the timer. Look over the rest of it and let me know what to do next.\u201d Jay unfastened the belt from his waist and pulled the scissors from the tool holster. After gingerly snipping the wires, the bomb partially split, revealing the mechanisms inside and giving Jay access to the pieces. He set the scissors down and wiped his brow with the bulbous arm. \u201cWe only have four minutes; what\u2019s next?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGet one of the containment receptacles from the belt. You\u2019re looking for the neutron trigger. It\u2019s going to be a small disc or ball. It\u2019s really radioactive, so be careful.\u201d As Pearl spoke, Nick hummed something quietly in the background.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about K?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat small, he\u2019s probably okay for now. Red can screen him afterward, just in case. But you\u2019re small, too, so be careful. Also, the bomb can still detonate once it\u2019s out, but it won\u2019t be as cataclysmic.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGee, that\u2019s comforting.\u201d Jay swallowed as he grabbed one of the lead-lined containers, which he\u2019d momentarily forgotten were so heavy, and placed it beside the bomb. He began reaching for the small disc inside when Nick\u2019s humming grew louder. \u201cNick, if you have something to say, just say it!\u201d When Nick\u2019s humming stopped, Jay began reaching for the disc again. Unlike K\u2019s now silent heartbeat, his own heartbeat thundered in his ears. Four minutes and then K\u2019s heart could restart. Only four minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime is waiting\u2026\u201d<\/em> Pearl\u2019s voice crackled in his ear as Jay realized that Nick had started humming again while he\u2019d been concentrating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only got four minutes to save the world!\u201d<\/em> Nick sang loudly, replacing the annoying but quiet humming.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo hesitating\u2026 Grab a boy\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd grab a girl!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cTime is wai–\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Jay shouted as he pulled his hand back moments before touching the disc.<\/p>\n

\u201cSinging that Madonna song with that one guy from that boyband,\u201d Nick answered nonchalantly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know that! Why are you singing at a time like this?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just so catchy!\u201d Pearl groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt helps me focus.\u201d Nick shrugged as irritatingly nonchalantly as he spoke.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it\u2019s distracting me, so shut the hell up!\u201d Jay shouted.<\/p>\n

When the silence returned, Jay carefully grabbed the disc and placed it in the containment receptacle. After he closed the lid, another sound pricked at his ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cTick tock tick tock tick tock.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cRed! Four minutes!\u201d Jay shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSorry, I wasn\u2019t trying to distract you.\u201d Red had been caught red-handed and hid her face from the camera. \u201cIt\u2019s about two minutes now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe only got two minutes to save the world!\u201d<\/em> Nick started singing again.<\/p>\n

\u201cI swear to God, Nick, I will throw this bomb at your face if you can\u2019t be quiet for two minutes!\u201d Jay shouted. After puffing out a large breath, he focused on the bomb again. \u201cEveryone done singing?\u201d Thankfully, silence answered him. \u201cPearl, what\u2019s next?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemove the conventional explosive and put it in another container. That\u2019s the part that explodes, so it will be much safer once it\u2019s gone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay followed Pearl\u2019s instructions in blissful silence, enjoying the click of the box lid closing.<\/p>\n

\u201cLast part, separate the U-235 masses. They should be small but heavy chunks of metal. Don\u2019t let them get too close, or K\u2019s heart will flood with radiation. Once they\u2019re in their own boxes, they\u2019ll be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Each chunk was heavier than the box he placed them in, but this was the last step to keep the bomb from exploding catastrophically in K\u2019s heart. He closed the last lid, then began reaching toward the bomb remnants as they unclenched from K\u2019s sinoatrial node.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime\u2019s up. We have to restart K\u2019s heart.\u201d Red\u2019s words jolted Jay\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah\u2026 uh\u2026 I only got four minutes\u2026 to save the world.\u201d<\/em> Styx crackled through the sound feed as Jay dropped the bomb remnants. \u201cS-sorry\u2026 they got it stuck in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even with the bomb dismantled, it would take more than those last four minutes to restart K\u2019s heart. Jay hurriedly grabbed the bomb remnants and began shoving them in the last containment receptacle.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

As Styx\u2019s singing crackled away, Red stared fleetingly at Jay hurriedly packing the bomb remnants into his last containment receptacle. After clearing her throat, she switched into critical care mode and began barking out orders. \u201cLeo, bag K. Archie, start chest compressions. Lancy, time starts when Archie starts.\u201d<\/p>\n

The infirmary was a flurry of motion. Leo thrust the Ambu bag\u2019s face mask over K\u2019s nose and mouth, pressing the flexibly firm plastic against K\u2019s skin. Archie began chest compressions. Lancy timed on his shimmery pink Rolex, pacing around the bed. The chaotic symphony surrounded them: the crinkling plastic of the Ambu bag, the crunch of the chest compressions, Lancy\u2019s shoes tapping against the ground.<\/p>\n

Surrounded by this symphony, Red administered the necessary antidotal injections into K\u2019s IV line: calcium gluconate, sodium bicarbonate, glucose, and insulin.<\/p>\n

As Leo squeezed the bag, he watched Red injecting K with the various medicines; his face turned a sickening shade of pale green.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we gonna do? What are we gonna do? What are we gonna do?!\u201d Lancy fretted as he watched Leo\u2019s increasing nausea, his pinafore sashaying wildly as he walked.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Archie had also shifted into crisis mode and focused on the chest compressions without complaint.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust focus on keeping time,\u201d Red answered Lancy calmly. Though she nervously snuck a glance at her own watch as she timed the injections.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s two minutes,\u201d Lancy croaked.<\/p>\n

\u201cTime to switch, Archie. Leo, keep the oxygen flowing.\u201d Red seamlessly took over chest compressions as Leo continued squeezing the bag in queasy five-second intervals. Archie took over the injection line just as seamlessly.<\/p>\n

For his part, Lancy\u2019s fretting became more frenetic; the rhythm of his shoes against the floor doubled its pace.<\/p>\n

As Red performed the chest compressions, she kept her eye on the flashing light and alarm of K\u2019s heart monitor. The possibility that K could go into ventricular fibrillation crept into her mind. A possibility she couldn\u2019t keep to herself. For a moment, she glanced back at the monitors, watching Nick keeping tabs on Jay\u2019s whereabouts inside K\u2019s superior vena cava. As important as reviving K was, the agents inside his body needed to stay safe during the procedure.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cVentricular fibrillation may be a possibility.\u201d Red\u2019s eerily calm voice drifted through the car. \u201cYou should get out before that happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVentric-you-whata-what?\u201d Nick stammered.<\/p>\n

\u201cVentricular fibrillation. K\u2019s heart will seem like it\u2019s beating, but there won\u2019t be any blood flow. The movement is more like an erratic twitch than a true heartbeat. We\u2019d have to use a defibrillator to shock him and hopefully correct it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long do we have if that happens?\u201d Nick swallowed as he clenched the gear shift, forcing away the panic constricting in his chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly a couple of minutes at most. You\u2019ll need to hurry. The shock could kill you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cActually, the car and Jay\u2019s exosuit are lined with rubber; they should be perfectly safe from electrocution,\u201d Pearl chimed in.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo we just\u2026 wait and see what happens?\u201d Styx\u2019s voice shook, reflecting Nick\u2019s own panic.<\/p>\n

\u201cHell no! We\u2019re getting the fuck out of here!\u201d Nick leaned closer to the video feeds on the dashboard. \u201cJay, I can\u2019t tell — do you have all the pieces of the bomb?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019m coming back toward you now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMeet you there!\u201d Nick slammed his fist on the cigarette lighter, dislodging the Bugmarine from the wall of K\u2019s vena cava. He pulled the gear shift back as far as he could, retracting the guide wire like a fishing line. On the video feed, Jay shot backward abruptly. With confirmation that Jay hurtled toward them, Nick switched the gear shift back to automatic mode and floored the gas pedal, hoping acceleration still worked like a regular car.<\/p>\n

As the vehicle barreled across the vein, knocking Styx back against his seat, Nick focused on Red\u2019s camera feed in the infirmary. Hang in there, K,<\/em> he prayed silently. \u201cWhere do we go now, Red? Don\u2019t worry about us, just give me directions.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll take the tricuspid valve from the right atrium to the right ventricle. Once you\u2019re in the right ventricle, you\u2019ll enter the pulmonary artery through the pulmonary valve. Take the artery back to the lung.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that tricuspid valve look like?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA hole with three flaps that open and close.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGot it! Pearl, can Jay come back in the car if he\u2019s radioactive?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s probably fine, but–\u201d Pearl started.<\/p>\n

\u201cHear that, Jay? Buckle up in the trunk!\u201d Nick slammed open the trunk\u2019s door as they passed Jay, tossing him inside as the guide wire retracted back into the Bugmarine. Once the trunk closed, the mechanical arm reattached the trunk to the front of the car, then disappeared back inside.<\/p>\n

On the video feed, a stunned look remained on Jay\u2019s face as the trunk belted him to its wall. \u201cA little warning would have been nice, Carter!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you I was meeting you! Got the bomb still?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I\u2019ve got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAlright, let\u2019s kick this fantastic voyage up a notch!\u201d Nick floored the gas pedal again, careening the Bug past the weird banana-like sinoatrial node and into the right atrium.<\/p>\n

Straight ahead, the grayish-white flaps remained motionless and open, so the Bug squeezed through without issue. Past the tricuspid valve, a stringy webbing filled K\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fuck are these?\u201d Nick muttered under his breath.<\/p>\n

\u201cChordae tendinae. They attach the valve to the heart muscle.\u201d Red\u2019s answer remained eerily calm. That possible shock was probably inevitable.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re saying that us working together is so touching that we\u2019re literally tugging on K\u2019s heartstrings?\u201d Nick grinned.<\/p>\n

\u201cCar<\/em>-ter!\u201d Everyone groaned. Secretly, Nick relished in it. If they focused on his terrible jokes, they\u2019d worry less about K\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n

The grin widened on his face. Maybe they needed a song, too. He started humming to himself, a calming melodic tune that would hopefully work wonders on their nerves. The calm humming became a soft song. \u201cIf you don\u2019t know by now that you\u2019re my only one\u2026 Take a look inside me and watch my heartstrings come undone\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cYou really can\u2019t go one mission without singing?\u201d Jay groaned from inside the trunk.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy rescue mission, my rules.\u201d Nick smirked as he adjusted the rearview mirror. The smirk instantly fell as he scrutinized the object within it. Behind them, a large, white, spikey ball rose from the depths of K\u2019s heartstrings like a kraken from the deep. \u201cThe fuck is this\u2026 this… blowfish<\/em> from your shirt, Jay?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDude, why would a blowfish be in K\u2019s heart?\u201d Jay\u2019s voice sounded like he was frowning, but it was impossible to tell between the video feed and his diving helmet.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I said! Why would you wear a shirt with inner tubes and blowfish on it?!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUh\u2026 buddy\u2026 those are red blood cells and white blood cells\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhite blood cells? No, they\u2019ve all been red. What\u2019s a white blood cell do?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re one of the body\u2019s defenses against disease,\u201d Red answered quietly.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeaning\u2026 what exactly?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt thinks you\u2019re a virus!\u201d Pearl groaned. \u201cJust hurry up and get out!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid everyone hear that?\u201d Nick beamed. \u201cPearly told me to drive her car as fast as I can!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, I also said you\u2019re making K feel sick. So don\u2019t make me regret it, Blondie.\u201d<\/p>\n

After a quick glance back at the white blowfish cell, Nick floored the gas pedal again, shooting straight for the gray-white doors of what must have been the pulmonary valve Red had mentioned. Unfortunately, unlike the tricuspid valve, these flaps rhythmically opened and closed.<\/p>\n

At first, Nick considered asking Red why they were different. However, he shrugged it off just as quickly. This mini-golf obstacle seemed like the perfect way to narrowly escape a weaponized blowfish. He just had to time their entry just right. He tapped the brake, slowing the Bug as he counted the seconds between the valve opening and closing. Once he had a handle on the beat, he released the brake, then slammed the gas pedal to the floor. The yellow Beetle shot forward, squeezing through the opening with a plop and trapping the white blood cell on the other side of the valve. For a moment, they had a head start.<\/p>\n

Around them, the pulmonary artery twitched chaotically, a sharp contrast to the previous rhythmic pulsing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?!\u201d Nick gripped the steering wheel tightly.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s in ventricular fibrillation. We\u2019ll have to shock him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow long do we have?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow or never!\u201d Pearl shouted. \u201cOnce you\u2019re through the capillary, turn on the windshield wipers and open the sunroof to put the car in helicopter mode!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t we just fly<\/em> in?!\u201d Styx shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Pearl forgot to tell us this damn thing does everything but teleport!\u201d Jay grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cH-helicopter mode?\u201d Nick gulped as the Bugmarine pushed through the thin walls of the capillary back into K\u2019s lung. The only thing worse than flying was flying in a helicopter. And the only thing worse than that was flying in a microscopic helicopter inside K\u2019s body while it tried to kill them with blowfish.<\/p>\n

Pearl grinned. \u201cNot into driving fast now, Blondie?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cN-no, it\u2019s cool. Now or never, right? Thank god it rarely rains in the desert.\u201d Nick swallowed the lump in his throat hard as he flipped up the windshield wiper lever and pushed open the sunroof.<\/p>\n

Once again, the Bugmarine transformed. The periscope tucked away in the ceiling as two whirling helicopter blades emerged from the roof. The fins disappeared, returning the smooth sides of the yellow Beetle. Instead of wheels, two landing skids popped out of the bottom. The propellers stretched, becoming the tail boom and rotor of the transformed Bugicopter.<\/p>\n

The return trip from the capillary to an alveolus to a bronchial tube and out the trachea probably wouldn\u2019t involve any free-falling, but Nick started singing anyway to calm his nerves from flying out of there.<\/p>\n

\u201cStraight through my heart, a single bullet got me, I can\u2019t stop the bleeding, oh oh\u2026\u201d<\/em> Nick frowned. Too depressing.<\/p>\n

He picked another song. \u201cI\u2019ll never break your heart\u2026 I\u2019ll never make you cry\u2026 I\u2019d rather die–\u201d<\/em> Nope!<\/p>\n

Why was he having such a hard time thinking of peppy songs about hearts? \u201cSometimes I wish I could turn back time, impossible as it may seem\u2026 But I wish I could\u2026 so bad\u2026 baby\u2026 You better quit playin\u2019 games with my heart\u2026\u201d<\/em> K would clearly not love that one.<\/p>\n

Peppier? \u201cI\u2019m here with my confession\u2026 Got nothin\u2019 to hide no more\u2026 I don\u2019t know where to start\u2026 But to shoooow yoooouuuu the shape of my hearttt\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Jay\u2019s snigger interrupted him. \u201cOkay, human jukebox, not sure if you\u2019re planning to sing K awake, but he\u2019d definitely wake up just to kill you for trying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick chose to ignore Jay\u2019s joke and gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles instead. \u201cIsn\u2019t there any faster way out, Red?\u201d he groaned.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet to the trachea. Once you\u2019re there, Leo will stop bagging K, and I\u2019ll finish my compressions before we shock him. You should shoot right out.\u201d<\/p>\n

The thought of \u201cshooting right out\u201d made Nick feel extra queasy. Straight through K\u2019s heart for sure — or his lung, at least. But straight through K\u2019s lung didn\u2019t sound like a very catchy song, and the joke wasn\u2019t helping him feel any calmer.<\/p>\n

\u201cY-yeah\u201d was all Nick managed to answer as he tried swallowing away his nerves. The wind resistance from Leo pressing the bag pushed against the Bugicopter as it whirred through one of K\u2019s narrow bronchial tubes. \u201cOkay, we\u2019re going to that big straw tube.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLeo, stop the bag.\u201d Red\u2019s voice crackled through the car speakers again.<\/p>\n

A quick gust of air brushed down the tube, knocking them backward. This was the end! Di-Crapio was trying to kill them! But the end Nick braced for never came. Instead, with a quick push, the Bugicopter forced its way up the bronchial tube toward the trachea, hurtling them into their inevitable death.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The Adventures of Nicky Pocket<\/strong><\/a><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 5<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 12: \u00a0Mr. Body Beautiful Part 4   Red\u2019s hand trembled as she pulled back the plunger, filling the syringe with the solution she had prepared. She tapped it with her finger, making sure there were no air bubbles before she carried it back to K\u2019s bedside. Leo, Lancy, and\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1005,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1041","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-gN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1041"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1069,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1041\/revisions\/1069"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}