Agent Luc started his shift guarding the research offices of the National Laboratory. Gone was the cheerful Luc of yesterday replaced by the cynical Luc everyone knew so well. News of the kidnapping of Anaelle and Marielle spread to everyone at the office. The scientists and researchers who worked there were quiet and concentrated on their work. There was no loud talking or laughing or casual banter around the office. Although few of the employees knew the fifteen-year-old teenage girls personally, no one wanted to be in Dr. Renard’s shoes being the father of kidnapped daughters. There was nothing anyone could say in such awful situations such as this.

As Luc arrived onto the floor with its labyrinth of grey, uniform cubicle offices, he had the misfortune to run into Dr. Renard. Luc could not face him. He still blamed himself for the kidnapping of Dr. Renard’s daughters. He avoided eye-contact with their father.

“Oh, Doc Renard,” Luc’s voice was soft. “I, um, don’t know what to say in situations like this.”

On any other typical day, Dr. Renard was gruff to the point of rudeness. Other times, he appeared tormented as if batting inner demons no one understood but which others attribute to his genius. Today, however, was different. Dr. Renard appeared scared and panicky. He was not tormented as much as he appeared desperate.

“They know!” Renard shook at the thought of it. “That’s why they kidnapped my two girls. They know!”

Luc did not understand. “Excuse me, Doc? They know what?”

Desperation turned to anger. “You wouldn’t understand! You’re not a physicist!”

Luc did not know how to respond. After all, it was true that he was not a physicist.

Anger returned to desperation. “Agent Luc, you must help me!” Dr. Renard grabbed Luc by the arms.

“Um, sure Doc! That’s what I’m here for, right?”

“You know where Viviane is, correct? Please, bring her to me.” Dr. Renard pleaded with Luc.

Luc wanted to help, but it was not so easy. “Uh, sure I know where Viviane is hiding out, but I don’t have orders to bring her back. I don’t think I can just pluck her out of the sky and drop her in here, you know?”

“You MUST bring her back! My daughters, Viviane and myself, all of our lives are at stake here!” Dr. Renard was emphatic.

“Why? What’s so important about Viviane?” asked a bewildered Luc.

“She must know what is contained in the stolen data and my lab notebooks before it is too late! I need to tell her about those early Transportal experiments I conducted. She’s the only one who can understand! Please, Luc!” Dr. Renard begged Luc to get Viviane for him.

“Hey Doc, I’ve love to help you, but I’ve got my orders and if I don’t have an order to bring back Viviane, I can’t do it.” Chain of command was ingrained onto Luc.

Dr. Renard would not give up. “Don’t you feel any guilt for not being to stop Anaelle and Marielle’s kidnappers? You were their protector for more than two years!”

“Oh, I feel guilty, Doc. You don’t need to tell me about that!”

“Then if I told you that you can do something to help get them back, you’d do it, yes?”

“Yeah, you bet I would.”

“Then bring me Viviane!” Dr. Renard bellowed. “That will help Anaelle and Marielle more than anything else you can do for them.”

Luc did not understand what the connection was between Viviane and the kidnapping of Anaelle and Marielle, but he considered Dr. Renard’s request for about a minute. How could bringing Viviane to Dr. Renard help get the twin girls back? Still unable to come up with an answer, Luc decided that he did not have to understand what the Doctor was saying. Renard was the genius, not he. If Renard was asking for Viviane, then Luc owed it to Renard as the father of the daughters that Luc was not able to protect.

“OK, Doc. I might get court-martialed for this, but I’ll do it!”