Track 8: (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

[SunlessNick]

Zara's a bit hesitant to volunteer, remembering the times Lota attacked her.

[Mr. Handy]

"Ah, it's the estrogen," says Liz, rolling up the sleeve of her lab coat. "If a bit of blood is all you need, I'll donate some." She's not about to let the Soviets walk off with fiendishly brilliant scientists who could cause no end of trouble.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

A small sample of blood is obtained, in a sanitary and nearly painless manner; these docs are no amateurs. Under heavy sedation, Lota is injected with the red stuff. For quite some time there appears to be no change in her semi-lupine condition. Then, Lota's eyes open. She is apparently fully anesthetized, as the surgical incisions into her top of her spine are still being worked on by the two medical men, but she shows no sign of pain. Despite this, she is obvious fully conscious.

"I would suggest administering another two millimeters of adrenocorticotropic hormone intrathecally," she says, in a very calm voice. "Then hypophysectomy will not be necessary."

The short doctor seems much surprised; the tall one, not so much.

[jp1885]

“It appears that you have taken on the qualities of your benefactor,” Tony says, raising an eyebrow at Lota. “While your beauty was already self-evident, your brains are equally as stunning. I wonder what else you may have gained?” he wonders, remembering that madcap episode in the gamma ray chamber.

[Mr. Handy]

"Fascinating," says Liz. "I suggest we take her advice, Doctors. She must know what she's talking about."

[SunlessNick]

"Probably better for her she got yours and not mine," Zara says, wondering how her psychic gifts and hauntings would manifest for someone like Lota.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“It appears that you have taken on the qualities of your benefactor,” Tony says, raising an eyebrow at Lota. “While your beauty was already self-evident, your brains are equally as stunning. I wonder what else you may have gained?” he wonders, remembering that madcap episode in the gamma ray chamber.

"An intriguing question," Lora remarks, apparently undisturbed by the injections and incisions happening to her body. "I am, of course, the product of self-perpetuating changes in mitochondrial ribosomes, although this condition suffers from reversal under conditions of adrenal stress. Has the blood donor been exposed to any unusual form of radiation during the last year or so?"

By this time, the surgical procedure is complete.

"There will have to be a period of recovery from such an extensive intervention," the short doctor explains. "I would not care to be separated from my Lota during that time. If these, er, gentlemen," he continues, referring to the SEALs, "would be willing to escort the patient and I to a secure hospital on the mainland?"

"Which leaves me in custody, I suppose," the tall doctor remarks, "Unless you would like to know the exact location of my colleague's island, where the submarine is now headed with its crew and passengers? I sure we could work out a mutually satisfactory solution."

[SunlessNick]

"Don't you know where it is?" Zara asks the shorter doctor. "You sounded like you were scared for them being alone there."

[jp1885]

“I’m sure they can manage perfectly well on their island without you ol’ chap,” Tony says. “What was your plan with them anyway? Take over the world with an army of animal men?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, I was exposed to gamma radiation recently," says Liz to Lota. "That could have altered the genetic material in my mitochondrial DNA, and those mitochondria were transferred to you in the transfusion. That would explain the phenomenon."

[Starspawn338]

Lew returns when the operation is finished.

"I'm sure someone will deal with the island." He muses.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The shorter doctor says "I was rather worried about them, yes. They might revert back to their original form. All my work wasted." He shakes his head sadly.

The investigators rejoin the SEALs. The leader has been on a walkie-talkie with some unnamed higher authorities.

"The word from upstairs is that you folks are calling the shots around here. I've been in the Navy long enough not to argue with the brass. What do think we should do with these two nutty docs? Not to mention the little cutie pie."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

“I’m sure they can manage perfectly well on their island without you ol’ chap,” Tony says. “What was your plan with them anyway? Take over the world with an army of animal men?”

The tall doctor rolls his eyes.

"Please. You read too many comic books. What the devil would I want with the world? It's a mess. Let somebody else handle it."

[jp1885]

Tony grins at Manchu.

“Oh I freely admit I’m a bit of a dunce and clearly need enlightening. What was all this about then?”

To the SEAL chap he says: “I suggest clapping the two scientists in irons. As for Lota... well my dear, I think perhaps you’d make a fine leader on your island.”

[SunlessNick]

With everything looking a bit calmer, Zara con no longer help looking around the room to see if there's any booze.

[Mr. Handy]

"I quite agree," says Liz. "Lota, you'll make a fine leader for your people. The scientific knowledge you've gained from me will help you to regulate their conditions, and I wouldn't be surprised if my decency and compassion rubbed off on you as well."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

With that settled, the SEALs gladly take the doctors into custody.

Over the next several days, after the investigators are safely returned to their home ground, secret arrangements, approved by President Johnson, are made to return Lota to her island homeland, the location of which is marked TOP SECRET.

Things calm down a bit for a while. The investigators enjoy the promised Eastern Orthodox Christmas party at the Yugoslavian Consulate, where Miss Dubrovna reveals that Kitten has been returned to her happy (?) home. Through the use of Transcendental Meditation, she has been able to keep her transformations under control.

While Americans are absorbed in the upcoming Presidential election, with peacenik Eugene McCarthy proving to be a serious challenge to LBJ -- rumor has it that the President will not seek a second term -- the investigators receive an urgent message.

Spoiler:

Here's some heavy vibes comin' at ya from Steppenwolf. Vroom, vroom!