Calling short a dig and excavation for the sake of a meeting was something that, not so much irked Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway, but rather seemed a little pointless to them; to stop everything they were doing to have a meeting and discuss matters which could be done over the phone, or even mailed through.

The two of them looked like they were literally from another world, they walked through the clean grey and white foyer dressed in rather dirty jeans, shirts and boots. Admittedly, they were the cleanest clothes they had, laundry was often something which was forgotten about when on a dig. Those who were present did side eye them oddly. As if questioning who and why they were here. Charlie just smirked in return to any hard looks, whereas Elizabeth looked at the architecture around them with curiosity. Neither had stepped foot into this building before, and neither of them believed they ever would.

A meeting with Peter Weyland wasn't exactly something which could be ignored. No matter what they were doing, what little sponsors they had, or those figures who seemed as 'in charge' as possible liked to point out: Weyland was not a person to ignore. No matter who you are. Regardless, they entered the elevator, the soundless cubicle took them upwards before giving a small jolt when it reached the level they needed. Both peered out with dark eyes before exchanging a look to each other, hesitantly they left. Their boots made the slightest of noises on the carpet, frosted glass made up most of the walls up here, presumably this was the main hub for meetings, or offices.

"Bit rude not to be met, isn't it?" Charlie asked quietly, whispering almost as he leaned to the side a little to direct his quiet words to Elizabeth. She pressed her lips into a thin line, her eyebrows doing much the same as she mutely nodded. She did agree, just a bit. "Too good to have someone meet and direct us to the right place, huh?" Charlie's eyes rolled as he looked around them, the cold frosted glass just reflected the lights of the corridor, making them look more icy and cold. "Does this guy not care about two strangers just walking around his building?"

"Charlie, there is so many security measures in this place, I'm sure they're really not concerned." Elizabeth's eyes scanned the names on the plaques near the doors. Seeing the one they needed she stopped, nodding to Charlie he stopped beside her. "They wouldn't care because they'd catch us in moments." She lifted a hand up, but even before she could knock the door opened. Both doctor's eyes widened, the synthetic before them was tall, like most, blonde, like most, yet looked mildly amused by them and their confused looks. Elizabeth cottoned on quickly, perhaps quicker than Charlie, this was one of those new models. The ones which had kept being advertised and publicised about.

The David before them just smiled, amusement seemingly growing by the moment as Charlie recovered slowly from being caught out before even making their presence known. "Welcome." David tilted his head and stepped aside, "Please, do come in." He gestured a hand inwards to the room.

The pair shuffled past David uncertainly before looking up at the figure they were having this meeting with. Rather astutely Charlie said: "You're not Weyland."

Turning and looking over his shoulder, Charlie just received a rather thin smile from David, who had just slammed the door, or rather shut it with more force than needed. Charlie clearly didn't know the abrupt way in which he spoke, or even the lack of manners within his tone, had upset the synthetic. "Oops." David said quietly while moving past them, he silently moved, it was unnerving how neither could hear him. Yet he slowly came to a stop beside the desk, which was littered with papers, tablets, and a computer. The blonde woman leaped up from her seat, she was already looking and watching them come into the room, but since the door slam and Charlie's words, it figured she should spring to life and explain.

"Rest assured, I really am."

"What? The man had an op to change?" Charlie scoffed a little, Elizabeth looked at him with a frown whereas David tilted his head, his eyes growing darker by just staring at the male doctor.

"Er...no, last time I checked he was in hospital recovering from a stroke." Was the blunt reply given as blue eyes stared directly at Charlie. "Listen, I am not what you expected, that's fine. I've been asked to take over while he is in recovery. I was not even aware to this meeting happening, or existing before David found it jotted into a memo on a tablet." Charlie shifted a little from the simply spoken, to the point words. Even more so considering the reason as to why they weren't meeting the man himself, was because he was unwell.

"May I suggest you start again?" David perked up, cutting the awkward silence off. Both doctors looked at him, the woman sighed and hung her head. She nodded for a few moments before gesturing to the seats before her.

She stuck her hand out as they approached, now properly in the room. "Minerva Artemisia Weyland, trust me here, I may not be the one you were hoping to have a meeting with, but I am still one nonetheless. Please, sit," Minerva sat down with a sigh, she combed a hand through her hair, the slight curl made it flick back up and over her shoulders. "I have to admit this is quite awkward, I do not know what my father wished to speak to you about, but I could guess."

"Elizabeth Shaw, and this is Charlie Holloway," the auburn haired woman shook Minerva's hand gently, likewise so did Charlie before sitting down as well. He did glance at David, who looked curiously at both doctors, though of course he already knew who they were even before they came into the room. Didn't help being able to hear them coming along the corridor either.

"I know that much!" Minerva laughed and waved a hand in the air. "Just, introductions are polite and a must...it is good to meet you both though. I have to say that your thesis really did interest my father, and me too...my sister, perhaps not so much." Minerva explained while scooting things around on her desk. David leaned down and made neat piles before handing over the tablet she was seemingly trying so desperate to find. "Thank you, David." She smiled up at him, he returned the smile before standing back up and to the side again. Minerva flicked through files before rereading over some small section before looking upwards. "I suppose, really, my father would've been asking you how it was all going? If I knew this meeting was happening, I probably would've cancelled. I mean no offence, just...I could definitely have prepped better for this." Minerva laughed nervously.

Elizabeth smiled, the nervous aura was a little amusing. "You've not done this before, have you?"

"No," Minerva laughed quietly, "No...you two are my first solo attempt at anything near, or close to what could be seen as important, managerial..."

"Well, it could be going a lot worse." Charlie leaned back in the overly plush office chair and put one leg over the knee of the other. He crossed his hands on his stomach and looked to her, even rocking a little in the chair. "So far, you don't seem to know what to even say to us. Doubtful whether you even know what it really is we're trying to do. So really, we probably should cut this all short. We're busy people."

"Are you suggesting I'm not?" Minerva asked with a frown, "We work in different things, but do not misjudge how hard it is to take on a whole company you've been away from for nearly a decade."

"We have a lead," Elizabeth cropped up before David had the chance to clearly speak. She glanced at the blonde who sighed and shut his mouth, his arms staying crossed behind his back. "Scotland." Minerva's eyes flicked to look at her, Elizabeth fidgeted in her seat, eyes flicking to and from the Weyland before her and the synthetic to one side. The similarities between the pair were a little off-putting, same blonde hair, same bright blue eyes.

"You believe this lead is tying in more with this map, that you suggested in your work?" Minerva asked, finding that specific in the writings before her.

Elizabeth nodded, making her cropped hair bounce with the motions. "Yes, yes we do. But this meeting deterred us from flying out today."

Minerva's eyes widened, "I am sorry." She glanced at David, he looked curiously down at her. "Can we arrange some sort of fast travel for them? Something private? That would allow them to take their equipment, plus discuss what it is they're needing to do, plans of action and all that." Minerva shrugged simply and watched David glance at the doctors and then glance at her.

"Of course," he replied, bowing his head a little. His eyes opened and flicked to the other pair. "Preferably I presume you shall like to travel and arrive in the day?"

"That...that would be really good." Elizabeth said slowly while looking back to Minerva. "Thank you."

She smiled, "I've screwed up most of this meeting. At least let me make amends somehow." She looked at the desk and then handed David a phone, "Thank you, David." He smiled, taking the slim phone from her hand before walking off to arrange travel for the doctors. "Now, honestly, I suppose I am likely, or expected to report back. My father is incredibly curious as to what it is you are suggesting. To meet your creators."

"Our," Charlie piped up.

"Oh, sorry," Minerva laughed. Charlie just raised an eyebrow whereas Elizabeth just looked curious. "I've spent so long discussing this with David, you know, having a little debate each way. Slip of the tongue, and all that." Minerva looked up as David reappeared, handing her the phone. "Your travel is sorted," she smiled happily at the pair. "What would you ask them? If they were still alive?"

"What makes you think they're extinct?" Elizabeth asked, leaning against one of the arms of the chair.

Minerva looked at her flatly for a few seconds. "Because if they created humans, then surely they would've reappeared to gloat? To make it known, certainly, to answer that age old question: are we alone in the universe? People, look at all that has been accomplished, and, look at how much they like to remind and recall and go on." Minerva paused, pushing a lock of hair behind her ears. "What if they don't want to meet us?"

"Why wouldn't they?" Charlie asked, earning a raised eyebrow from David. Clearly he had already got a list as long as his arm as to why no creator would want to meet him. Charlie's eyes flicked back to Minerva, "Why wouldn't they want to meet us? Surely they've observed us and are curious? As curious as we are of them?"

Minerva traced a pattern on the desk, she was silent for a bit before drumming her fingers. She stopped, flattened her hand and slowly looked back at Charlie. "If we openly declare what is wrong with us, what is our deepest need, then perhaps the death and despair will by degrees disappear."

"J.B. Priestley." David said a moment later. "I think, what Miss Weyland is trying to say is that you all have such a need to be accepted, that by chasing this-"

"There is no chasing, this is happening, and what would you know about it?"

"I am merely trying to explain something." David said, gentle smile still in place, though his eyes hardened and narrowed at Charlie.

Minerva sighed, "Okay, this company is funding you; we will find a crew, each member meeting exact specifications, each with skills that will be needed and used in whichever situation we find ourselves in. Along with a crew, we will sort out a ship, I hear the engineers have been working on something new; state of the art, the best that we could make and afford. All you have to do is turn up, and be right, so I hope you do both...I don't like to be disappointed, now, your flight is in an hour, may I suggest you prepare for it? David?" Minerva said flatly, simply even as she spoke almost bluntly, she glanced at David and he nodded.

"This way," he gestured to the door and opened it for both doctors. "Until next time." David smiled and shut the door, leaving the doctors to finding their own way out of the building again. He turned and looked at Minerva, "That was fun."

Her nose scrunched up, "Charlie's a problem."

David smiled, "Now, now," he tutted and shook his head. "Don't be like that." He leaned his hands against the desk and looked down at her. "At least, keep up the pretence of humouring him." David shrugged and rolled a hand in the air.

Minerva stood, she shuffled around the desk. David frowned, even in proper shoes she was scuffling about. Stopping in front of him she looked at him with a small pout before reaching up and wrapping her arms around his waist. "I don't like how he talked to you." Minerva said, tucking her head under his.

David lifted his arms up and patted her back gently. "From experience, we know that them meeting whoever made humanity will not end well. How have we faired with our creator, hm?" He pushed her back by her shoulders, "Do not look so down. I for one thought you did good for your first meeting, there are points I could bring up which I think have areas to improve on, but for now may I suggest tea?"

That had Minerva laughing quietly, "Tea." She disentangled herself from his arms and walked back to the desk. "Only if you're joining?"

"May I try coffee?" David asked, tilting his head at her as she sat slowly back down.

She looked at him and nodded. "David, out of everyone, I do not think you need to ask for permission from me."

He smiled while turning on his heels, he walked steadily to the door, pausing in opening it and looking over his shoulder, he still smiled. "But you are in charge, you are the boss, I do not have free will of my own."

Minerva rolled her eyes, "Haven't you got tea to fetch?"

"Of course, Miss Weyland." David opened the door and listened to her laugh his name, he grinned at her as she pouted and shook her head, clearly despairing over him and his sarcastic words and ways. "While I am gone," he turned in the door, Minerva looked up curiously. "May I perhaps make the suggestion of sending a message to your sister? I suppose, in part, it is only right she is somewhat left in the loop; or else she will no doubt be making her unhappiness known."

"Ah, yes, you're right. Thank you," Minerva turned to the computer and her fingers started typing away. David sighed, watching her for a moment before turning and shutting the door. Turning on his heels again, he padded quietly down the frosted glass corridor in the search of tea and coffee. He wouldn't be surprised if he returned and she was asking him for aid, or even to grammar check the message to Meredith. David inhaled and entered the elevator when it arrived, as much as it would be tempting to be passive aggressive in the message, David supposed he could refrain from doing so, just this once.

——

Edited: 13/June/2021