**AEGIS command to Guardians.** Commander Dudley said over the team's radio, **We have two heavy lifting helos coming into move the big gorilla and move him to someplace more secure. Someone from Animal Control will be assisting you. No one is sure what's going to happen to him next; and no one has offered anything remotely palatable. As soon as the helos are here, we can get off site. Good work, team.** Her voice sounded back to normal now, the harried stress was gone and her usual commanding presence was back.

Louie hung close to Shimmer as she and Wild Lotus re-joined the rest of the team. Aegis agents, Denver Police and EMS, and Animal Control were now swarming the area: one form of chaos replaced for another.

Iron Maiden, Paladin, Singularity Man and Sniper got their first look at the grossly deformed gorilla who limped/drug one leg behind Shimmer. When they got close enough, the mis-shaped gorilla moved to the down one with tenderness. "Norman." He said in an all-too-human, emotion-filled voice filled. "What did he do to you?"

He turned to Wild Lotus, "I believe that I can reverse this -- if I was given a lab and several hours." Then, he turned to Paladin and Iron Maiden. "What will they do with him?"

Lotus gazed at the massive face of the giant gorilla thoughtfully, feeling the return of compassion as the remnants of her former fear fled. Norman, too, had been acted upon; without the sentience of his brother Louie, he'd REacted with predictable results.

**Dudley. Can we arrange it so that Louie gets access to a lab? He thinks he can undo what's been done to Norman -- the giant one -- but it's going to take a little time.** She reached out and stroked Norman's cheek gently. **He'll have to be cured or killed, Audrey. There really isn't much chance of containing the big guy humanely, not indefinitely. I think Louie can cure him, but he's going to need our help to get what he needs.**

**I will see what I can do about that.** The Commander said, **I can offer him access to the AEGIS lab -- so long as he's under your guard. If that's not good enough, you can contact Morgan and see if one of his will be available. But, your team is free to bring him to the River North Installation and give him what access he needs. We'll see to it that nothing other an tranqs are given to the big guy until Louie has something.**

Iron Maiden walked over to join Wild Lotus. "Glad to see that you're okay," she said. Leah looked at Louie, and then at 'Norman.' "It's too bad there's no Skull Island in the real world, or we could leave Norman there."

Huffing soft, relieved laughter at her teammate, WiLo smiled her agreement. "But you get to be his Ann Darrow," she said, then turned to Louie and briefly explained what she'd been told about getting both of them to the lab. "We'll be there with you, at least Shimmer and I will, until you can figure out how to cure Norman. This is Iron Maiden, by the way. Iron Maiden, meet Louie."

"Hello, Louie," Leah said. She wasn't sure of the protocol involved in greeting an intelligent ape. Did you offer to shake hands? Did you smile? Smiling was a friendly greeting among humans, but among most primates it was a threat gesture. After a moment's hesitation, Leah split the difference. She gave Louie a closed-mouth smile and offered her hand. "I'm pleased to meet you, though I could wish the circumstances had been different. If I can help put things to right, I will."

Shimmer was relieved that the situation had calmed down, but her spirits were low. She felt sickened by what had happened and very concerned for Louie's well being. She spoke softly to him and explained that she was going to be back in a little while. She wanted to speak to her superiors and help them understand what happened.

ooc: Anna wants to leave for a bit and do what she can to plead Louie's case. To see what power if any they have in bypassing the system on this one. No need to play it out on my part, just wanted to let you know what she was up to. :)

OOC: there's no need to RP out the watching Louie do his lab thing. Assume it'll take about 36 to 72 hours -- after getting to the lab. Then, we can pick it up after that. Feel free to RP some here -- or even at the lab while this is going on. But, as it winds down -- I'll be moving things along. Andy

Sniper glanced from one face to the next with a grimmace as he unloaded and stowed his gun attachment. He eyed the deformed chimp with unveiled suspicion.

A lull occurred, during which he shook his head and snarled. "Zomeone vants to tell me vat ze hell is going on here, dah?"

Wild Lotus waited for one of her teammates to speak, as was her wont, but then realized that with Shimmer's departure she was the only one who actually did know most of the whole story. So she took a deep breath and explained.

"Louie and Norman were the subjects of experiments, illegal experiments one hopes, by a certain zoo clinician who is now dead," she began, eyes drifting back to Norman's blissfully slumbering face. "You see what happened to Norman. Louie's changes were more subtle. He has great intellect now and the ability to control the minds of some animals. Shimmer and I persuaded Louie to trust us, and he's surrendered control of the zoo animals and has agreed also to surrender to the authorities in this matter. He understands the research that has been done to create the effect on Norman, and believes that with access to a lab he can undo it. Dudley is giving Louie access to AEGIS labs -- basically going out on a limb to trust in Louie's abilities while realizing we have no other good choices where Norman is concerned."

Her brilliant green eyes turned to the Russian's and met them calmly. "That is as much as I now know."

Sniper gave a skeptical nod, eyebrows still cocked. It wasn't the gesture of understanding - more one of resignation. He found himself sorry he'd asked.

Singularity Man ran a hand through his hair, more than once. He felt the need of a shower, more for the water running down his brow than anything else. Even though he'd done little more than fly, contact with the Ribbon always made him sweat. That, in turn, made him itchy and uncomfortable.

So what now? I mean, this is why we put this team together, right? So that we wouldn't have to make decisions about 'what now' on our own, right?"

Sniper smirked sardonically. "Dah, and to get group rate at ski lodge."

"Shimmer and I have volunteered to guard Louie while he works to find a cure for Norman, at the AEGIS lab," she replied evenly, mostly ignoring Sniper's sarcasm. "After that, he's AEGIS' problem, though I won't stand by to see Louie mistreated. I don't think Shimmer will either."