Sammie crossed her arms, thinking about what just happened with Sam. . .or whoever he was now.

She didn't even notice Henrik walking up to her.

"Are you alright?"

She flinched slightly but nodded, "I will be. That was. . . a lot"

Henrik nodded, "I appreciate your cooperation in speaking with him. I wouldn't ask you to keep talking with him if it wasn't important"

Sammie nodded, "Y-yeah, I understand, sir"

The doctor sighed, "I. . . why don't you come to my office with me for a moment. Hm?"

She was sort of surprised but followed him.

After a few moments, they came up to his office door and Henrik led her in, "Go ahead and have a seat on the couch"

Sammie noticed how luxurious his  office seemed. It was almost its own room but. . .better. She assumed he probably LIVED there full time.

She sat over on the soft couch and just watched as Henrik pulled out a couple of glasses and a bottle of seemed to be scotch or whiskey.

Henrik poured some in the two glasses and came back over to her with them, "Take one. You deserve it"

She didn't fight him on it. She took a glass and knocked it back like a shot, ". . .Thank you, sir"

"You're very welcome. I owe you that much, at least." he sat down next to her, placing the bottle on the coffee table in front of them, "What he said to you. . . I'd understand if you didn't want to speak with him again"

She thought about it but ended up shaking her head, "N-no. . it's fine. I think I can handle him. He agreed to be friends, after all"

"I wouldn't take what he said to heart" Henrik warned her, "Obsession doesn't quit that easily. I would know" he glanced over to the other side of the room.

Sammie followed his gaze and blinked. How she hadn't noticed that when walking in, she'd never know.

On the other side of the room was a large white board with what seemed to be thousands of different mathematical formulas. Papers were strewn about everywhere and there were other strange drawings she didn't quite understand.

"Uh. . .whatcha working on, boss?"

Henrik snorted and chuckled a little, "I've had this dream for years. . . for as long as I can remember. . . . Do you remember the old shows that'd play on TV late at night? There was a sci-fi show I'd watch all the time that was about going into different universes and exploring them. I know it was fake but. . .I've always wondered. . .  what if it could be real?"

Sammie stared at the whiteboard and things and then back to him, "You're trying to make a machine that will open up a portal into a different universe?"

Henrik grinned, "Not just ONE universe. . . .  ALL of them. . . I haven't tried making it yet. . . but I think the math is very close. It's what Iris is all about, really. Why I built this place. To discover the unknown and what better unknown is there. . . than one we couldn't even fathom?"

Sammie smiled, "Well if anyone could do it, I know you could, sir"

"Ah, don't try and butter me up now. If you want another glass of my whiskey, you could just say so" he poured her another and she laughed and took it.

After a little while, Henrik suggested that she stay at Iris for the night but she shook her head. All she wanted to do was go back to her apartment and sleep in her own bed. Hopefully cuddle with her boyfriend if he was there.

"Why don't you call him, instead?" Henrik suggested, "I don't want you going home alone when you've been drinking. I know my stuff is strong, Ms. Smith" he chuckled.

Sammie heeded his advice and called Jackie up. The hero didn't sound all that thrilled but she wasn't all that worried about it at the moment.

After a few minutes, Jackie arrived at the front of the Iris building and Sammie flagged him down.

"Hey there"

Jackie glanced to Henrik, "What's going on? And who are you?"

Sammie blushed, "Oh, this is my boss. Schneep. Schneep, this is my boyfriend, Jackieboyman"

Henrik sighed but greeted Jackie, "Nice to finally meet you in person. I hope you don't mind picking her up. I gave her some of my stash after what happened today. She was. . .in much need of it."

Jackie blinked, "Wait, what? Why? What happened?!"

Sammie snorted, "It's fine. I'll tell ya about later"

"Sammie" Henrik warned her.

She groaned, "With. . .some certain things left out. Point is I'm fine! It was just a rough day is all!"

"Right" Jackie glanced from Henrik back to Sammie again and shook his head, "Forget it. Come here. I'll take you home, Sammie"

"Okay!" she let him pick her up in his arms.

Sammie waved at Henrik, "See ya tomorrow, boss!"

Henrik waved her good-bye, watching them go.

When they got back to Sammie's place, Jackie set her down on her bed, "You wanna tell me what happened and why you had to drink with your boss to cope today?"

Sammie flung her shoes off her feet, "I. .  I can't" the ride over with him sobered her up a little, "Whew. . . you know I can't. It's confidential information. Top secret"

"If it's making you drink, then it's not good" Jackie pointed out, "I just wanna make sure you're okay"

"I'm okay" she repeated, "I want to tell you. I really do. . . . but you know I can't"

"Right" Jackie rolled his eyes, "Because of fucking Iris. Whatever"

"Hey" Sammie whined at him," Don't be like that. You know that-"

Jackie cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. . . I know." he nodded, "I know. It's fine. It's just, I had a hell of a day, too, I guess."

"Oh? What happened with you?"

He shrugged, "A wizard told me I needed to go with him back to London to help him investigate an old magic . . .thing. I don't know. I couldn't really keep up with what he was saying"

Sammie blinked, "Huh. . .I guess both our days were wild"

"I think I'm gonna go with him"

"Huh?" Sammie scoffed, "But. .  why? What if he's lying? You don't even know what he's talking about."

"There were some things he said though that just.. . made sense."

"Like what?"

"I. .  I can't really talk about it" he deflected, "You wouldn't understand"

"Why do you think I wouldn't understand?"

"Because it's about Iris, Sammie!" Jackie suddenly shouted at her.

Sammie stood up off the bed, "Iris?. . . What about Iris?"

"Look, you have your secrets about them and I have mine." he snorted, "The point is that Iris is doing some shady shit and what this magician said. . . it made sense. I'm gonna go with him to London to figure this shit out."

"But. . ."

"Come with me" he suddenly took her hands in his, "Come with me, Sammie"

She didn't know what to think, "I. . . Jackie. . . I can't just up and leave."

He sighed and let her hand go.

She continued, "There's something really important happening right now. I know you don't understand but-"

Jackie held up his hand to stop her, "No. . . . what you don't understand is that Iris isn't what they say they are, Sammie. They're hiding things. Bad things. Hopefully when I get back from London, I'll have evidence to prove it to you then. For now. . . I guess just keep doing what you're doing"

Sammie didn't understand why he was being this way. Iris was great and doing good things. Why would he say such a thing, "When. .  when  will you be back?"

Jackie licked his lips, "Honestly. . . I don't know. . . but maybe we should take a break while I'm gone, yeah? You're under enough stress. You don't need a relationship on top of it right now"

Sammie couldn't believe this, "Are you. . .. are you breaking up with me? Jackie, we've only been dating a few days and you're breaking up with me!?"

Anger suddenly overroad her emotions.

Jackie knew right then he fucked up, "What?! No! I didn't mean. . . that's not what I meant!"

"You fucked me enough ad decide you'll just leave to London with a wizard!? Do you KNOW how fucked up that sounds!? How do I know I can even believe you!?" she shoved him, "I thought you cared about me!"

"I do!" Jackie laughed humorlessly at this crazy nonsense, "Sammie, I DO care about you! That's why I'm going!"

Sammie turned away from him, "I . . .I don't know what to think. None of it makes any sense to me"

"Welcome to the club" Jackie snorted and then sighed, "I didn't want to leave on a note like this, Sammie. . . . please don't be mad with me" he tried to touch her shoulder but she lurched away from his hand with her back still turned on him.

Jackie took a deep breath, "Fine. . . . I'll call you when I get back. Stay safe"

With that, Sammie was left in silence as Jackie left without a sound.

Tears dripped down her cheeks and she hugged herself.

What Jackie said did sound crazy. . . then again, if she told him what she was dealing with, he'd probably think she was crazy, too.

It just seemed so suspicious to leave her like this and 'take a break' when they had just been dating for what? A week?!

'Maybe he's just like other guys, after all'

The next day, Sammie left back to Iris. She wasn't looking forward to it.

Not today.

It was just like yesterday. Henrik met her in the room with . . . Sam?

They appeared to be talking. Or rather Henrik was talking to him.

But as she walked in, 'Sam' took notice of her and smiled, "Sammie! Good morning, friend!"

Well, that was something. She stared at him and looked over to Henrik who just shrugged.

"Uh. . . hi. . .  Have you figured out a different name you want to be called yet?"

He shrugged, "Let's just stick with Sam for now. I'll think of something if it hits me"

"Okay"

Today, Sam was in normal clothes instead of the hospital gown. He was wearing jeans and a black T-shirt. It was astonishing how human he looked now.

So uncanny.

"Do you want Henrik to leave again like yesterday? Or is it okay if he stays?" she silently hoped he'd allow Henrik to stay.

Almost as if he read her mind, he nodded, "He can stay today, I suppose"

'Oh thank god'

She felt safe enough but she really didn't want to be left alone with him after their conversation yesterday.

Henrik also looked relieved but appeared to still leave Sammie in charge of this meeting.

So, she took the lead.

"It's nice that you're trusting more people" she stated and sat next to Henrik and across from Sam, "How are you feeling today?"

Sam nodded, "I'm doing good. How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing good as well"

"Are you, though?" he pressed.

Sammie stared back at him, concerned, "Well. . .yes. I am"

"It's a shame he broke up with you" Sam announced, "Jackie doesn't understand what an amazing woman he lost"

She wasn't falling for that today, "How did you know Jackie broke up with me?"

Sam shrugged, "I just know"

"But how? You can't just say things like that without an explanation, Sam" she argued, "Bringing it up alone is pretty rude"

Henrik glanced to her and poked her wrist lightly to warn her.

Sam suddenly tensed and glared at Henrik for a moment before forcing himself to relax.

Sammie took a deep breathe, "Sam. . . please"

Sam took a long blink and pause before glancing to the camera and then back to her, "Since we're. . .friends. . . . . . You asked me yesterday how I knew things about your personal life as well. . . I can see things. . . everywhere. I may be here in this building physically but I am EVERYWHERE. I watch and see everyone and everything" he glanced to Henrik, "I know the secrets Iris holds. . . doctor"

"Secrets?" Sammie asked.

Sam smirked but shook his head, "I believe it's above your pay grade, Sammie, or that's how Schneep here would put it . . . .  I see things through the eyes of the cameras, the easiest. Technology. Electricity. It's a force easily manipulated for me. Like the neurons in your brain. Or the veins under your skin" he frowned, "None of you could comprehend what I could really do"

"Well. . . thank you for trying to explain" Sammie thanked him, "So you can use electricity? Like some sort of superpower?"

"I'm nothing like your Jackieboyman" Sam snorted, "My power is more and wider. They are all connections in a large working mechanism too advanced for your species to understand"

And Henrik would take that as a challenge.

"Okay" Sammie nodded, "Can you give us a small example of what you can do?"

"Small?" Sam repeated, ". . ..  Very well."  he rolled his head around and his eyes rolled in the back of his head.

Suddenly, the lights all went out and emergency power turned on!

It only lasted around ten seconds and it all came back on.

Henrik grinned, "Amazing!"

"You think too small, doctor" Sam stared at him, "Give it a moment and you'll see what I've really done"

"What?"

Suddenly, he was being paged and he checked it, ". . . . That's impossible"

Sam just looked to Sammie and winked at her playfully.

"What is it?" Sammie asked her boss.

Henrik got on his phone and dialed Arin, "Are you sure?. . . and the radius? All of it at once?. . . I see. Keep it low for now. I'll talk to you later" he got off the phone with him and turned to Sammie, "Everywhere around for over 400 miles lost power at the same exact time. . . and turned back on at the exact same time"

He glanced back to Sam, "That was small to you? I don't know if I want to know what big examples you can give"

Sam smirked, "You don't . . and yet you're a scientist, aren't you, Schneep? You're SUPPOSED to wonder these things"

Sammie and Henrik looked at each other and then back to Sam, unsure  of how to respond.

Sam chuckled, "Well don't look so frightened! I already told you all I wouldn't hurt any of you. . . not unless there were any ill intents for ME. And trust me. . . I'd know if there were"

Henrik REALLY didn't want to know what it'd do.

"I just want to let you both know" Sam continued, "You're not keeping me in here anymore. . . . I CHOOSE to stay for my own entertainment" he glanced back to Sammie, "And boy, is there a LOT of it here for me. . .  we're going to have a lot of fun together, aren't we? My. . . friends"

The lights flickered for just a moment.

Time for the real fun to begin.

"Uh. . ." Sammie cleared her throat, "I think it's time for a break."

Henrik couldn't have agreed more.