Diane and Dr. Frost entered the Vatten Industries property and were met by a droid in a one piece, solid grey suit with a Gold V-I emblazoned over the front. They rode the elevator to the executive floor and met with Horace Torrance.

"An absolute pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Sommers. Your reputation is the envy of some of my people here that are working on the project. And, Winston . . . it's been far too long."

"Your invitation said you were finishing the first stage of the equipment." Diane spoke, exchanging appraising stares and uninterested in any fake old boy reunion.

"We are and I would like you both to see what we have accomplished. If you'll follow me."

A different elevator in the rear of Horace's huge office took them swiftly and silently to a sub-basement laboratory where several workers in the familiar grey suits, busied themselves about the room.

Near one wall stood a shiny new series of compartments that took up about 27 square meters with another larger area marked out on the floor for future construction.

"All according to your specifications, Dr. Sommers . . . via Dr. Frost of course." Horace wet his lips and coughed into his hand.

Diane gave him a suspicious look but quickly flattened her expression. This was just more confirmation that Vatten Industries knew a lot more than they let on.

"It looks wonderful, Mr. Torrance. Has it been tested as yet?"

Horace raised a hand and two men pushed a large rolling table toward them.

"We saved the maiden voyage just for your inspection, Doctor."

They watched as the men loaded the body of a pig into the first compartment.

"This part could take a while if I understand the process correctly so I have arranged some drinks and snack over here," he pointed to a clear glass cubicle that held a linen covered table with trays of snacks and bottles, chairs and a video panel showing readouts of all the important aspects taking place.

They seated themselves, poured drinks and relaxed as the first stage was set into motion.

"The subject is the approximate weight of a six-foot male in his middle forties so around two hours perhaps. We're also working on a method that might speed this end of the procedure considerably."

"We can't vary too much," Diane stated. "Retention of the subject's original properties is crucial."

"I understand. I was wondering, Doctor if you could perhaps tell us about the breakthrough you had with this."

Diane sipped her drink and glanced at Frost. "I can tell you about how it was presented to the other scientists once we knew it worked."

Horace blinked slowly and smiled. "That would be most enlightening."

She closed her eyes and summoned the memory before beginning the long story.

Howard assembled the team in the lab and excitedly made his announcement.

"My friends, you will be as excited as I am to hear that our transition project is a success."

Helmets all turned one way and another as the team shared wide eyes and smiles. Several began talking at once and Howard raised a hand for silence.

What you see on the table here" he said, pointing to a cube about the size of a single die, "is now the condensed version of sample PO712, formerly as it appears on the monitor."

The team gathered around the screen and stared at the specimen sample, sealed in a glass container the size of their vacuum desiccator - almost a cubic foot.

"And now for the highlight of our success." Howard picked up the tiny cube and placed it in a large collection tray, slipped it into the specialized core analyzer. Within fifteen minutes the screen showed sample PO712 had been restored to its original composition, matching exactly the image on the monitor.

"But how? There must be something else you didn't tell us, Howard."

"You are right and I am afraid I can't. Suffice it to say you will all be part of the announcement when we return but the actual process must remain classified."

"Who else has the security level?" Peter wanted to know.

"Diane and I are the only ones with the full knowledge of the process. It is imperative we keep it this way until we meet with our superiors back home."

"So they all witnessed the transition!"

"Yes. Unfortunately there is no one but myself now to speak to that truth."

"And uh, HEEP has all this information?"

"And just why would that be of interest to you, Mr. Torrance?"

"Hmm? Uh, oh--"

"The freezing is finished!" Frost pointed to the video display.

"Aah, good." Horace stood and indicated they go and watch the balance right by the machine.

A couple of hours later they had studied the results and Diane approved the new chamber added to condense the trapped evaporated water back into liquid form.

"You have done a commendable job, Mr. Torrance. Congratulations."

"Should we keep this- all this for future study?"

"Not necessary. It works and that's all I needed to know."

"Uhm- what about the next stages . . .?"

"That's my bailiwick. When I am ready I'll be in touch."

Horace blanched. "I thought you- we- you would be doing that here."

"I'm still in the calculating stages and I don't need your facility for that. But you have done an impressive job and we'll be in touch." Diane smiled and took Frost's arm ready to leave.

Horace saw them out and got straight onto the phone to Chesterton.

********

The door opened and Arlen jerked awake He sat up and watched Hunter busy himself at the console and he noticed the arm band light turn green. Quickly he took it off and tossed on the bench.

Hunter leaned on the counter, staring at the vidscreen and the news about the body of a man and a droid discovered in a unit in Bathtown. The photo was of Hargreave and it was followed by a brief biography. Empirium Security had no clues or information and were ending any investigation.

"Bastards! Not important enough to receive justice"

"Bad news?"

"Yeah . . . bad news."

"Are you letting me go?"

"In your dreams."

"Then what?" Arlen gauged the distance to the door and the odds of getting to it before Hunter reacted. He set himself on the bench.

"Go for it."

Arlen blinked. "Huh? I thought I was your ace in the hole."

"Not any more."

"Then why can't I leave?"

"Because I don't want to hear about you on the news . . . yet."

"Maybe you should try and stop me." Arlen stepped toward the door and heard the click of the lock.

"Sit down and behave or the band goes back on."

He sat. "What was that bit about me maybe being on the news?"

"Never mind."

Hunter selected a sandwich and coffee from the console and went to his favourite corner. He told Arlen everything about the deal with Vatten, how he had tracked his old executive officer and how it had cost the life of his source - the man on the news.

"Your exec from the Encounter?"

"The same. He and your buddy Horace are in league and Chesterton is the one who killed my source, Hargreave."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do and a credit will get you ten if he finds you, you'll be next."

"Why me?"

"You are a loose end with incriminating knowledge, pal."

"What does that make you?"

"Cautious." Hunter finished his food and tossed the waste in the disposal. "I have to go out again, do I need to put the band on?"

Arlen scrubbed his head and made a series of faces than sank back down on the bench, shaking his head.

"Smart move." Hunter opened the door and paused. "If you do change your mind Chesterton's address is on my contact data list in the console."

Arlen stared hard as the door closed and didn't lock.

Hunter summoned an autocab and smiled grimly to himself. Maybe two birds with one stone, he thought.