"What I need is for someone to believe me and
help me!" Alex interrupted, shouting angrily. "I'm not
crazy and I don't need tranquillizers. I need someone to
investigate my problem. Someone who isn't afraid to look
into this whole thing, even if it means running afoul of
some very powerful people. Even if it means exposing a
cover-up."
Dr. Usher pursed his lips. "What the devil are you
talking about, Alex?"
Alex pointed triumphantly at his head. "I've
figured it out. Something is very wrong. We're being
threatened by a powerful, deadly force. Not just me. A lot
of people are affected. Maybe, in time, the whole human
race. At first I thought maybe there was an alien
intelligence at work here-- you know ‘Invasion of the Body
Snatchers' type of thing. But then I thought that was too
unbelievable, too far-fetched."
"Really?" the doctor murmured, raising one
eyebrow.
Alex continued, ignoring the other man's
skepticism. "Then I realized the answer is much closer to
home. What if our government or a foreign one for that
matter, has deliberately or unwittingly, released some kind
of virus or disease that's attacking the population?"
"I'm not sure I follow...You're referring to a skin
disease?" The physician frowned.
"Yes. But more than that. What if this virus
somehow mutated into something monstrous and
uncontrollable?" He paused. "Something sentient, with a
will of its own."
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