The elite entourage heads out of the room. Screaming Eagle smiles and agrees to push Aaron's chair. "Yes, we're to take you to Dallas, that's where the investigation is headquartered. When we were told to bring you there, we assumed it was to incarcerate you in the elite prison they have there. That seems pretty unlikely now, given the circumstances."
Before they get far, the reporter and the cameraman exit the elevator. They quickly spot the group and rush towards them. "Screaming Eagle," the female reporter says, moving up to her, "what can you tell us about the engagement you were involved in yesterday afternoon?" She sticks the microphone in her face.
Screaming Eagle smiles. "We were there to bring these other elites in for questioning regarding the happenings at the research facility yesterday morning. Unfortunately, Evolution had different ideas for these people, and a fight ensued."
"These elites in your custody are the terrorists that attacked the facility?"
"The terrorist label is completely unfounded. In fact, there is evidence that these people are victims, not attackers, of that facility."
She turns to Tyrone. "Tyroc, do you have anything to add to that?"
BioGen headquarters, Seattle, Washington
The older gentleman nervously looked at his watch as he sat at the conference table. Beside him, Ms. Nelson sat with a calmer expression.
The man shifted in his chair. "She could have video conferenced with us. But she's coming here personally. That doesn't bode well, Nelson."
"A very expensive, very important, project has been set back significantly," Ms. Nelson said, glancing down at the laptop in front of her. "I'm not surprised by the reaction, Dr. Anton."
"How can you be so calm about this? All of our asses are in a sling right now."
"As we have discussed, things are not as bad as they seem. I am certain Miss Walsh will see things this way, as well," Ms. Nelson replied, not raising her eyes from the monitor screen before her.
Moments later, the doors opens and a tall, dark-haired woman enters, and without saying anything, seats herself at the other side of the table.
The doctor tries his best to appear confident. "Good morning, Miss Wal..."
"I didn't come here to exchange pleasantries, Anton," Linda Walsh interrupts, a bit of a scowl on her face. "The events of the past two days have your investors very perturbed, to say the least. The media has named BioGen as the company behind this debacle, you could become this decade's Enron after the investigation. But that's not even the worst of it, is it?
"I'm told that your 'experiment' is no long viable. This has my employer, as well as a number of other individuals, I'm certain, quite upset. We were expecting some results very soon. Instead, we got this." Linda removes her glasses and slides them into the breast pocket of her suit. "My thought is you'll be quite jealous of Enron when all is said and done."
"On the contrary, Miss Walsh," Ms. Nelson replies, looking up from the screen. "We've made great strides in the past two months. Surely, this is a setback, but we still have the most important subject to the project. The project is expected to be back on track within the week in a new, secure location."
Linda thinks on this a moment before responding. "This had best be true. I'll expect some results very soon. The time frame for the two end products is growing shorter. I'll report back to the investors what you have told me and attempt to keep them all on board."
The doctor grins nervously. "Thank you, Miss Walsh. I assure you we will do our best to..."
"You'll do better than your best. I'm staking my own reputation on this now, Dr. Anton. If you fail, you might not be around to see the fall of your company," Linda responds coldly. As she rises from the table, she notes the small ball-like opbject in the corner of the ceiling. "I hope that you didn't waste your time attempting to record this conversation. VSC outfitted your office with its security, after all," she says, putting her glasses back on before leaving the office.
Dr. Anton exhaled loudly as the door closed. "Nelson, get a hold of MacDermott immediately."
"Yes, doctor," Ms. Nelson said, adjusting her glasses before beginning to type once more on her laptop.