Well, Mike thought to himself, the world needed a new mystery; something to keep their minds off fighting, at least!
The next afternoon while Mike finished his lunch in the cafeteria, McCree slowly walked over to him and spoke almost in a whisper.
"Here's something that might help you if you ever have to use your new abilities in public." He pushed a small paper bag into Mikes left palm under the table, as if he was handing him something illegal.
"Don't look at it until you get home!" he was instructed.
"O.k., sure!" Mike told his new friend. He obliged by hiding the bag in his back pocket. The suspense was killing him! As soon as Mike was outside The Institute on his way home for the rest of his noontime break, he made sure no one was around and looked to see what McCree had given him. It was a black hood, something like the skiers used to wear!
"It's a mask!" Mike whispered to himself. When he got inside his door he immediately headed for the full length mirror on the inside of his closet door. After pulling the mask over his head he took up a bold pose, and cried out in a deep voice, "Behold! The Masked Avenger cometh!" then broke out in hysterical laughter! He removed the mask quickly and decided to keep it handy, in his back pocket in case of emergencies. Later, when he showed it to Jeanie she couldn't help but laugh at the thought of her masked hero!
On the first day Mike was able to visit Dr. Horton, Cooper told them both something they would remember well and do from then on.
"When will you ever remember to leave the experiments to the scientists?" he asked. "If you had asked for my help or advice, this whole thing might not have happened. From now on, before you do any more experiments, DOCTOR, if you do any more, tell me about them! Or next time you may not be so lucky!"
Dr. Horton's health improved rapidly....so well, as a matter of fact, it was both doctors' theory that Mike's healing touch had played a big part in the man's recovery. Dr. Cooper said that the condition of his colleague's wounds upon his arrival at the clinic showed definite signs of medical attention, though he had not been treated by anyone, just carried in Mike's medically untrained hands. The older man did his paperwork from his hospital bed, and kept busy throughout the recommended time, giving Dr. Cooper just a small amount of trouble to keep up the proper image. In a few weeks he was able to get out of bed and take over a few of his everyday chores once again. This was a happy and most productive time for everyone in the Institute. Mike was so enthused with his work he did not notice the dark cloud of approaching danger on the horizon, or that vibrations told of a terrifying threat of possible destruction meant just for him.