"Right! Go right ahead, Doc, we'll meet you in the lab!" Mike told him.
"What the hell is this world coming to?" Larry snapped, as he stood up and angrily tossed his pencil onto the table. He spun around on his heel, stopping to face Jeanie as she touched his arm.
"We've all been wondering that for years," she said. "Take it easy. When Doc gets done with his call, we'll know the whole story of what's happening!" She lowered her voice and added, "Hopefully it won't be something that Mike can't handle alone!"
They relaxed for a few minutes, talking to some of the others in the room, then hurried back to work.
It didn't take long for Cooper to join them. The other techs had remained in the cafeteria, so he was free to explain what he'd learned.
"We're in luck!" he said, "This Gen. Gauge isn't as powerful as he's trying to make us think! His headquarters are in Chicago. His forces have the control of the east coast cities of Chicago and New Orleans, and on the west coast, Los Angeles and San Francisco. There are a few small detachments of his elsewhere, but these are his bases of power. The most important fact to remember now, is that he has The Joint Chiefs held prisoner deep inside The Pentagon, in a place called The War Room. Their rescue is our only hope for The United States to keep any trace of what our ancestors fought for, alive. We must stop that monster from doing any more damage." Dr. Cooper placed a couple sheets of paper on the nearby table where he'd been working with Mike, earlier. "Here's a sketch of what the Pentagon looks like, and where The Joint Chiefs are being held, as given to me by my friend in Washington, D.C. that I just talked to." He spread the drawing out with his hands and then leaned forward on it so it wouldn't curl up again.
Mike studied the thing over his left arm. "Do you think you can help, Mike?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm pretty sure I can, Doc. I've got to leave right away. Is there anything else I should know first?"
Cooper handed him the second piece of paper he held. "This is a sketch of the inside of Gauge's headquarters that might be handy!"
"Oh; yeah!" Mike grinned, "Thanks!" He studied it quickly then tucked it inside one of his gloves after folding it as small as he could. "See you guys later! I've got a job to do!"
"Good luck, son!" Dr. Cooper said, waving. "We'll be waiting for you!"
Mike removed his clothes in the mens' room and quickly hid them in the lab. He ran out the service entrance at super speed, and zoomed into the air, heading for Washington, D.C..
When he reached the capital, he noticed some small battles had broken out between the army and the rebelling forces around The Pentagon, and the other old buildings and monuments. They were using heavy artillery and large tanks.