Arlen read the text converted video on his wrist pad, watching the worried expression on Horace's face. The tests they ran on inorganic materials caused a general error and a warning. Their experiments were denied.

The next message read. "I must have that machine of Frost's!"

Arlen responded with his usual, I'm working on it comment and disconnected. Frost wasn't at his office and finding his home address had taken more time than he thought it would. He had arrived as Dr. Sommers and Hunter were leaving.

He waited until their autocab left then entered the building and took the elevator to Frost's floor. Arlen knocked and received no reply then he noticed the tiny blinking light in the door's header and realized he was on camera. Another knock yielded nothing and Arlen set his weapon on a lower charge and blew out the lock.

********

The park outside the HEEP building was busy with lunch break employees exercising, eating together in cliques or sunning on the heat pads that lined the massive pool. Security, in their arterial red uniforms, cruised the large area on airbikes, enforcing behaviour protocols for the more daring, and devious couples seeking privacy.

Hunter gathered the food wrappings from their lunch and inserted them in the combustible waste disposal. Diane had been quiet, offering only token responses and he was uncertain as to how he might get her to relax and stop worrying about Alice.

"You know with all the amazing technical advances," she said as he sat back down beside her, "Dr. Frost has jumped years ahead with Alice. As much as she frightens me I find that her ability to evolve and teach herself fascinating."

"You didn't sound so fascinated a while ago. And a virtual AI strolling around inside my head doesn't qualify as fascinating to me. More like the Big Brother of years ago."

"Yes . . ."

"Look, the Doc's working on a solution so why don't you just give it a rest and enjoy a bit of non-scientific thinking for a while."

"I have to get back in to work."

"Not for an hour or more yet. Let's take spin around the Haruspex Biosphere. It will help you clear your mind and we can see right there what you go looking for in space."

"I haven't been for years . . . maybe you're right."

Hunter ordered up an airlimo and saw the look on her face when it arrived.

"Just thought you would be more comfortable than in an autocab."

"That remains to be seen." She stepped into the spacious interior and sank into the luxurious fabric that lined the interior.

He spoke their destination then settled back beside her. They were silent for a moment then both spoke at once.

"Sorry, you go ahead." he said.

"No you, please. I was just- you go."

"Okay." He turned toward her, seeking her eyes and blurted his statement. "Diane, I've fallen for you . . . I don't know how you feel but I had to say this. I don't want to make you angry, mooning around like an idiot if you don't--"

Her finger pressed his lip and silenced him. "Hunter what we did before at your place- that wasn't- I didn't- it was just a- a thing."

"A thing."

"Yes. I mean it was great and all but--"

"But just a thing." He held her eyes, reading them. "Cab, stop."

The airlimo pulled to the side of the traffic lane and halted.

"What are you doing?" Diane sat up straighter.

"Finding out just how much of a thing it was." before she could react he leaned forward and kissed her, gentle at first then harder when the initial reluctance disappeared.

"Hunter I can't- I have too much work . . ."

"It will still be there, but moments like this need to be addressed immediately. Diane I love you."

********

"That was humiliating."

"It was a droid."

"Still, being told to move along like a pair of infatuated teenagers . . ."

The airlimo stopped in front of the HEEP research facility and Diane stepped out.

"Were you infatuated?"

"Hunter- oh, my God!" She saw her reflection in the limo's window and frantically tucked her top into her skirt then poked at her hair hopelessly. "I can't go inside like this."

"You look fine and you didn't answer my question."

"Ohhh!" She turned and strode determinedly toward the building, turning just enough to see the airlimo glide away. "Yes! Damn you!"

The optical scanner opened the gate and as she passed through a message light flashed beside her name on the screen. Diane checked her data pad and realized it was off; another mild curse for Hunter. She logged in and read the message with a mounting fear.

********

"You won't get away with this, Horace. This is madness!"

"I'm doing fine so far, Winston and now with your curious machine I expect to do much better."

"That's where you are very wrong . . . you don't know how wrong."

"We'll see." Horace walked to the cubicle wall and surveyed his lab with an unconcealed pleasure. "Did you know that Vatten Industries sent a ship to Galapagos after the HEEP disaster?"

"Yes."

Horace turned, surprise etched on his face. "You did?"

"Yes and that you foolishly brought back samples of what could be an unstoppable plague if you carry out your insane plans."

"How do you know about my plans . . . never mind, you don't know but I will tell you how I'm going to achieve them." He walked back to the table and reclaimed his seat. "You and your little machine there are going to play a big part."

"Never."

Horace gave a sharp nod to Arlen, who had been standing by the door and he silently departed.

"We have some time to spend so while we wait I'll show you how far we have progressed." He pressed a button on his console and asked for the samples to be brought to the cubicle.

Winston shifted uneasily as the lab-coated engineer entered the cubicle carrying a sealed glass container with several small black cubes inside.

"These, Dr. Frost, are first stage samples from the material brought back from Galapagos. With your machine we are going to transition it back to its original form, proving Dr. Sommers' theory wasn't a fluke. Then, with Empirium's assistance and funding, we will begin production."

"You're crazy, Horace. You've let greed take over your common sense."

"I call it power, Winston. Only I will hold the secret to the final stage and Empirium will bend to my will."

"You will never get it from me, you lunatic!"

Horace laughed. "We'll see, Winston. We'll soon see."

********

Diane read the message on her data pad from Hunter. It was urgent she meet him right way, outside so that he wouldn't be recorded entering. It was too dangerous. He would be by the bench where they sat before. With the frightening message she had already received about Dr. Frost, her heart jumped a few beats as she hurried from her office.

She hurried through the park and when she saw the bench was empty she stopped abruptly.

"It's okay, Dr. Sommers, I'm right here behind you." Arlen said. An autocab arrived and before she could think or respond she was inside with a weapon against her hip.

"What have you done with Dr. Frost?"

"You should be more worried about yourself."

"Tell me!"

"You'll see him soon enough, now shut up and sit still."

The cab sailed into Vatten Industries, clearing security and Diane was whisked into an elevator and delivered to the laboratory. When she arrived, Arlen steered her to the cubicle where she saw Horace, Winston and his machine . . . Alice . . .