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"Thank you, Dr. Elliot, for sharing all of your new information with us," Dr. Tomas said.

Elliot had shared his newly found hologram to a small group of select scientists and their students. After viewing the shortened segment, they too were convinced of a clandestine creature moving in the background of the recorded scene. It only confirmed what had already been suspected -- that Dr. Berman had been killed by a barbaric animal.

"How did one of the canines make it down to our underworld?"

"Was it only one animal?"

"Could it still be hiding on one of the levels somewhere?"

"Everyone, please," Dr. Tomas pleaded as he held both hands up to settle the chattering crowd. He waited until the group quieted itself.

"It is important that we stay calm and collected," the senior scientist urged. "Although there are unanswered questions, we still have a fairly good idea of what happened."

"What do we think happened?" a stern voice called out from the back of the crowd. It was Tober, Dr. Tomas' apprentice.

"A canine with a forearm fracture recently disappeared from one of our recovery bays after surgery," Dr. Wilem reported. "We have reason to believe that this was the perpetrator who reached the sub-level, and is likely responsible for Dr. Berman's death."

"In addition," Dr. Tuli spoke, "the preliminary results from Dr. Elliot's autopsy are consistent with death by intentional injury and violence; specifically, an animal bite at the victim's neck that led to complete hemorrhage, shock and eventual death. Hair fibers from the scene of the crime and genetic analysis have determined a non-human origin, likely canine, but further specifics are still pending.

"Dr. Elliot's diligent work has also led to the discovery of a hologram from our own pathology lab, clearly connecting a canine to the scene of the crime. Our ground level surveillance of the suspect is disrupted from the canine's use of a cloaking collar device. The sub-level video is also partially disrupted, but there is enough evidence to corroborate when the suspect got into the basement levels and where he went."

"There is a small chance the animal intruder might still be in the building," Dr. Tomas affirmed, "but we believe the canine left the premises shortly after the murder. The search teams have been looking for the killer ever since, and there's been no evidence to support their possible presence."

"The power cells have not been endangered," Dr. Stone spoke up, "and the Center's food stores have not been touched."

"Also, the daily censuses have been complete," Dr. Tuli appeased. "Everyone has been accounted for."

"Except for Berman," a student in the back muttered too loudly.

There was a lull in the discussion.

"We can't assume anything until we've actually caught the killer," Tober spoke up. "We should form a special operations unit, using our best technology and weapons, and hunt down the beast, whether it's still in the building or not."

A spattering of looks and whispers went around the room.

"Your concern is duly noted, Tober," Dr. Tomas replied, "but right now, we need to focus on protecting our personnel -- especially our students -- and our science."

"Agreed," Dr. Wilem said. "Regardless of whether or not the creature is in the Center, we have to assume the safety of the building -- the secrecy of the underground -- has been compromised."

"We must begin evacuation procedures immediately," Dr. Tomas said.

"No! No!" A few of the other scientists objected. "Let's not be hasty!"

"Yes, but we cannot allow our technology to fall into the hands of our enemies," Dr. Tomas emphasized. "Lest it be used against us and not for peaceful reasons."

"If we evacuate, however," a different senior scientist spoke, "we will certainly overwhelm the outer shelters with our numbers."

"Yes, we all knew the risks," Dr. Tomas conceded. "We all knew this day would come when we would have to abandon the Center, but none of us could have anticipated it would have happened so soon."

A silent murmuring went through the collective group. There was no place for the community to go. Once the outer shelters became crowded, the animals would take notice. The excess of people would risk exposure and death.

"There might be another way."

Everyone in the room snap-turned their head at the new voice.

"I know it wouldn't be ideal," Doctor Elliot started, "but we could use the same building where we found the human time capsules a couple of years ago."

The group of physicians listened.

"It has good size," Elliot explained. "Maybe it's not as large as the current building, but it has an underground for safe hiding. It's been excavated and explored quite a bit. To my knowledge, the animals have no clue about its location in the mining quarries."

There was a quiet but thoughtful consideration in the room.

Elliot continued:

"We've never really analyzed its full capacity, but it probably could hold a reasonable amount of our community, maybe half of the Center's population. Maybe more."

A growing sense of hope began to wash over the group.

"If we moved some of the emergency generators, the rations, some equipment -- it could function as a new base of operations."

It was as if a spark of light had been lit up in a dark room.

"That could work!"

All of the scientists turned to one another and clamored for their hopes at having a new Center.

"Okay, then!" Dr. Tomas finalized. "It is decided. We'll begin a change of headquarters. As long as the current Center remains safe from any attack, we can partially continue to operate from it during this transition period, but only long enough to assure everyone's safety. Perhaps the expansion to a second location has been long overdue."

Dr. Tomas began to organize and direct some of the younger members of the group: Kely to engineering for construction concerns; Lily to child care for transfer of the youngest students and their caretakers; Ian in charge of protective equipment from the armory; Vera, food supplies; Gram, power supplies...

"Tober," Dr. Tomas said, looking with blue eyes at his own student. "Contact the HPU. Let them know what is happening. Tell them about our plans. Collaborate on a move so we can safely transport everyone and everything. They may have to create some distractions to help us."

Tober nodded.

Dr. Tomas continued to designate evacuation responsibilities.

Away from the assignments, Tober approached his former classmate, Elliot.

"Don't act so innocent, Elle," Tober said out of range from the others. "I know what really happened."

"What?"

Tober grinned.

"You killed him."

Elliot stared.

"Just so that you could wear your stupid, fucking white coat."

Elliot turned away to ignore the remarks.

"Still think there'll be peace with the animals someday?" Tober mocked, from behind.

Elliot turned back, grim-faced. "Be careful out there, Tober."

Tober placed a hand on the gun at his hip and smirked. "I always am," he said with a wink and walked away.

"Everyone, work together!" Dr. Tomas urged. "Work conspicuously! Don't start a panic! We'll announce the proceedings as a kind of 'mandatory practice drill' to everyone else."

The scientists dispersed.

With the evacuation underway, Elliot started off to gather his own lab essentials.

"Dr. Elliot!" someone called from behind.

Elliot stopped his hurried exit and turned around.

"Dr. Elliot, may we have a word with you?"

Ha-ha! Who do you think is calling out to Elliot to talk to him? Take a guess and on to the next chapter! Thanks as always for your support.