The technicians had cleared everyone from the room except for the necessary help. A few of the personnel were at a nearby table when Dr. Cooper set off the alarm bell which sent everyone there running for the protective control rooms. Jeanie joined him, along with two of the four male helpers. How well everyone knew the warning one of the machines would be activated! There could be any type of danger from then on!
Three buttons were pushed, each making an individual musical sound, and a switch was thrown, sending crackling energy and sparks practically up Cooper's spine. His expression registered surprise, as the proper lights above the cement cubicle flashed as planned, then, going out of control, wildly. The form on the circle faded from view slightly, then reappeared again, as tiny colored dust particles. Soon it was gone again, but just as quickly back, to explode into a million various-sized pieces which literally shattered the lab!
Dr. Cooper, Jeanie and the others ducked under the control panel, as huge chunks of debris battered the protective window. They weren't taking any chances! Cooper's glasses were knocked to the floor, but not broken, in the excitement. He just barely managed to reach his hand up to depress the 'off ' button. The transporter made a defeated sighing sound, then, all was silent.
"Do we dare look?" Jeanie asked, and after her superior's painful affirmative nod she poked her head up for her first glimpse of the disaster area. "What a mess!" she gasped. Pieces of cement and glass were everywhere. Tables at the other end of the room were overturned in an erratic display of unnatural havoc. even the safety glass before her was slightly cracked! She looked to the right and saw Officer McCree just inside the front door.
"What in the hell was that?" he managed to yell, then stared in shock at what lay before him, mouth open wide. "Dr. Cooper," he finally called out, "are you o.k.? Is EVERYONE in here o.k.? Did you people do this, or did somebody drop a bomb in here?"
"WE did it!" Cooper told him while struggling to his feet. He had been knocked over onto his back before he'd managed to shut the transporter off. "Oh!" he moaned, feeling dizzy. He shook his head as if snapping out of a nightmare, and how he wished he was! Satisfied with the news everyone in his charge was safe, John exited with a heavy sigh. Jeanie moved to Cooper's side and held onto his arm. "Must be a short circuit somewhere in the receiving station," he spoke up. "What a shock I got when I threw that switch!" He turned to the two technicians behind him as Jeanie handed him his glasses. "You two get to work on finding that right away. I'll join you in a few moments."
The men immediately ran off to the appointed place.
"Can I get you something, sir?" Jeanie asked, trying to get her boss to take a seat....somewhere.
"No! Er, a glass of water, perhaps. But watch your step, young lady! Hopefully all the damage that will be done today has already been done."