"What the hell is happening?" Aimes barked.

Guards swarmed the stage and surrounded the not-so-happy couple. Confusion erupted all around us, exclamations of surprise, of fear.

"What are you doing?" Annecy demanded. "Step back, all of you!" She whirled on Stride. "What did you do?"

A moment ago, Stride was a slobbering, half-conscious mess.

Now? He was exactly who he'd always been. A clearly Photoshopped man standing straight and tall, lifting his chin. ...