The First scanned the lost eyes of Buffy's temporary astral form. Her time in 'The Clinic' was done.

"We've lost her."

A pity, really. Though its full assault was a ways off yet, it would have been nice to break the Slayer then and there. The demon-juice had been a good doorway to drag her in to a place that a lot of hero-types ended up. The First looked at 'Joyce and Hank'.

"Shift your forms for Mr. Allen."

It didn't matter where or when they ended up here. But once they were, the First could undertake a mental campaign. A campaign that always cost them, even when they won.

"Mr. Allen? Its me, Doctor Fursteinz. How are we feeling?"

The blonde man in the straitjacket struggled.

"I'm the Flash. What have you done to my powers?"

'Fursteinz' put on his best tsk-face, and turned to the 'visitors'.

"You see, Mr. Kent? Mr.Wayne?"

The bespectacled man nodded.

"His delusions are as deep as you said, Doctor. I only wish I were the demigod poor Barry sees me as. Maybe then I could help him."

The foppish man shrugged.

"Dad says he'll keep writing the checks for here. Unless I get killed by a clown!"

Feigning disgust with the bad joke, the other two left with 'Bruce' while Allen pleaded.

"Okay. Now shift for Ms. Sommers. With an O."

Inside, Doctor Seero pleaded with his 'patient'.

"Jamie, be reasonable. If either you or Steve had cybernetic parts, couldn't you just bust out of here?"

This part the First had to insert as a dream. But it would reinforce the real-world sedative the enemy agents had fed the cyborg. The two servants shifted at the next room, labeled 'Parker, P.' Mutterings were heard from inside.

"Chameleon did this to me. My life was not a dream. Not an illusion."

The First shook 'his' head, and let the room be.

"The idiots in his reality have subjected him to so many illusions, he's nearly immune. I should just bitch-slap Mephisto."

He checked his chart.

"Mister Crichton we'll let simmer for a time. The two of you check on Riker, using the forms of dearly sympathetic friends who want to free him. But make sure he doubts. That's where it all hinges. This never breaks them forever, so get your licks in now, and widen that chink in their armor as far as it will go. I'll take the last room, alone."

This one was trickiest, mused the First. It was one of a very few realities where it could assume any form and do so physically. If lost , then the focus of efforts would be solely on Buffy Summers.

"Might even have to close the Clinic for good."

'He' entered, and saw the pretty brunette strapped to her bed. She sneered, and asked a familiar question.

"Where are my sisters?"

He answered with a familiar refrain.

"You don't have any sisters, Piper."