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South East England. Circa 1995
Chief Scientist Green was on the telephone when Mark his assistant entered the office. He waited until Green had finished the call. "You've heard?" Mark nodded.
"Some big wig from central Government. Wants to look the place over. Usual inspection by those wanting to stir up the press into believing we invented the Black death." "Like that arrogant sod last time. What was his name?" "Larch or Batch, something like that."
"Well, we know why. I gather the latest figures on the cold virus sweeping the south is impressive. 1 out of every hundred dying from it. The others seriously affected. Any news on the antidote?" "Govenor says its not worth spending thousands on finding one. This will end soon enough. Like the last two outbreaks?"
"Well I suppose you have to give him top marks for optimism." "Better make sure those doing the visit don't hear that opinion! Or they'll have the press crucify us. They still suspect it was us that released it. Using the local populace as unwitting test subjects." "You laugh, but there's a lot of cranks out there that will still push the buttons on that to stir up trouble."
"I gather we have a new scientist joining our team?" "Keir from Rochester. Malcolm says she comes highly recommended. A stunner by all accounts. What was it he said, Penthouse Pet sprung to mind." He started to grin. "I wouldn't get your hopes up re scoring there though. I gather from him, that she put one of his guys in hospital, for attempted rape.
Luckily for him, she didn't press charges, but she did have witnesses. He was quickly moved to some lab in Scotland."
The moment Keir stepped into the underground complex, she had eyes on her. Smiling, she made her way to the main cloak area. Five minutes later to appear in Green's office. Loren was stood behind him as he introduced them. "Loren will give you the tour of the place. Well the parts that you've been given clearance for." He glanced at the badge that he now handed her.
"I see you're cleared to level 1, so it looks like the full tour Loren!" "I'm telling you. She was a stunner!" Meech shook his head as he passed Mark, turned to look back at Stan. "Is he right? They employing Penthouse Pets now! That'll be the day!" "Uhh well actually." His voice tailed off. Approaching them were Keir and Loren.
Introduced, albeit brief, Loren moved on past them. "OMG! Is she really a Scientist?!" "Stop being so bloody sexist you b'stard." Gita glared at him. "I know quite a few of my friends that are just as stunning. All of the top Scientists in their own right." She continued on past them, not stopping to engage in conversation. Nothing new to them! "She must have felt like the ugly duckling in that pond!"
Gita scowled, overhearing them. "Tossers." She hissed under her breath. "Ah Gita! Just who I was looking for!" Green stopped to hand her some files. "They're arriving some time tomorrow afternoon. Early, bout 1pm. Be a darling and look after them for me?" She nodded.
He passed her a slip of paper. "By way of a thank you." Seconds later he had opened a door, stepped through it and was gone. She glanced at the slip of paper. A printed copy of her expenses for that month? All of them approved. Phew!
She needed the money!
The following afternnoon, Gita was more than aware of who the inspection or visiting as they liked to be referred to, consisted of. Only one of them she did NOT know from previous visits? A guy from Cornwall called Leslie Richards.
The details on him were sketchy at best. It had aroused her curiosity.
Seeing him in the flesh as a middle aged but very intelligent individual? Engaging and quite witty? The tour went well.
They were all sat in the main reception area sipping on drinks and partaking of the buffet provided.
Loren and Keir had stepped into the room some minutes later, also to get some refreshments. Stood pouring Coffee, Loren had her back to Richards. Keir had sat down and was looking over to those sat talking in the far corner, close to where Loren was. As Loren turned, her eyes rested on Richards. His hand was inside his jacket and reaching towards his armpit?
He removed his hand and closed his jacket. How odd was that, might have crossed her mind but why did, what he had just done, remind her of a Bond movie? Uhh?! She handed Keir her coffee and sat down opposite her. "You know he's carrying a weapon don't you?" Loren stared at her. "When he moved his hand just now, it was habit. They do that you know." "Who? Security operatives from ORIAS."
"Never heard of them." "They are a little dark as one might say. Rarely into the light. Organisation for the Investigation of Alien Sciences?" "No! Can't say I have ever heard of them."
The visiting party had left. Late in the evening, Keir was climbing into her car in the secured area as Loren started her engine and seconds later they both left. Getting to the T junction Loren turned left whilst Keir headed off to the right, towards Guildford? Four mile into the countryside, what there is around there of green belt. She parked the car, stepped out and around to the back of it.
The rear hatch raised, she slid a small lever to expose an antenna. A soft humming noise that saw it raised and in front of her a screen illuminated. "Nyaki!" "Abika." "We may have a problem." She paused, glanced around her. Nervous? "I'm sending you over some visual data. You will know what the problem is after you have seen it." Seconds passed. The figure on the screen seemed pre-occupied?"
"How interesting Nyaki. You are sure it was him?" "Absolutely." "Then you may be compromised. Find out all you can about him! Report back when you have the information. Have Sef involved in this, do not do this yourself!"
"Certain?" "No mistaking her. It was Green describing her to me that had me alerted. Had to see for myself. Definitely one of them BUT, I have a suspicion she is one of those I saw that night, leave the craft."
"But that would mean, she hadn't aged!" Richards had finished his communication withe ORIAS HQ. He could relax, settle back and decide what to do next.
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