The Clamp artists own CCD and this story is in no way meant to infringe on that ownership. It was written for entertainment purposes only.
This story is the sequel to Change and Revelation and Correspondence. To better understand this story you should read the stories in order.
Research and Discovery
Chapter 1
Three well-dressed young men stood looking up at a large laboratory building that was gleaming white and silver in the early morning sunlight. They formed a rough triangle. The man at the head of the triangle was tall and slender. His elfin face and compelling blue eyes were framed by short waves of sunlight colored hair. "Hmm, So this is the Modern Technologies laboratory. I hear that they have won several awards for their innovations in robotics. "
It looks quite impressive, doesn't it?," The man standing slightly behind and to the left of the blond who spoke, had slightly wild raven colored hair around his angular face," Nokoru Rijichou, do you think this lab will be any better than the first?"
Looking over his shoulder, Nokoru tilted his head towards his gray-eyed friend. "From here it does look like it might be better than the Destiny's laboratory." His wide azure eyes sparkled with mischief as they met and held Akira's, and he added innocently, "But appearances can be deceiving, can't they?"
"That's true," Akira blushed as his gaze shifted from Nokoru back to the building. He wondered if he was being teased. Did the chairman know of his double life? Most of the time he worked as a member of the CLAMP School board and helped Takamura Suoh look out for the CLAMP Campus Chairman, Imonoyama Nokoru. Very few people on campus or off would have believed him capable of being one of the greatest thieves in Japan. Every now and then he would don cape and mask to become the master thief, Twenty Masks. Biting at his bottom lip Akira gazed at the bright head of his friend as he worried about what Nokoru was thinking.
A calm voice sprang from just behind and to the right of the chairman distracting Akira from his musings. "Yes, Appearances can be deceiving, Nokoru-san. But I must confess, I hope its better than the Destiny labs."
Akira looked over towards the source of the voice as the man who had spoken turned to glance at him with golden eyes," I agree, Takamura-senpai. I was worried for Rijichou's safety the whole time we were there. The whole place had a feeling of substandard about it. It makes you wonder where they put all the money that was already granted to them."
"They don't use it for their projects, that's for certain." Nokoru's eyes narrowed as he remembered the low quality parts and ram shackle construction he'd seen the researchers use in the short time that he had been in the lab. Despite his reputation people still had the tendency to underestimate him because of his youth. "They probably thought that moving us through the lab as quickly as they did would keep me from seeing all the corners they cut."
"Mmmm, and the building was like a rabbit warren. I didn't think we'd ever find our way out. That wouldn't have been so bad, but there was next to no security. " Akira added nodding his dark head.
"You don't need to worry about me too much," Hearing the distress in Akira's voice, Nokoru turned to face both of his friends with a warm smile lighting his eyes. "After all I have the finest guardians in the world looking after me. "
Suoh's serious expression faded for a moment as he favored Akira with a grin before glancing back at Nokoru. Golden eyes grew serious once again as the ninja gazed into Nokoru's eyes." Thank you Rijichou, but I think you exaggerate. However, even if you were right I would rather we erred on the side of caution in such matters."
"Desperate people sometimes do desperate things." Akira added as he looked at his blond friend in concern. Sometimes he wished Rijichou would take these things more seriously than he did.
The humor fled Nokoru's blue gaze as he watched his friends. "Don't worry," Nokoru's voice was soft with a quiet sobriety that startled his friends." I wouldn't willingly do anything that could get either of you hurt." Nokoru said bowing slightly to his friends as he turned to back to face the building. "We should be going in or we will be late for our appointment. I want to get this over with as soon as possible. Both labs have been requesting that father make a definite decision about which lab he would be willing to support. So father is rather impatient for my report."
"Let's not keep them waiting then," Akira grinned knowing he could trust Nokoru implicitly. Especially when Nokoru was being serious. He and Suoh stepped to either side of their Rijichou as together they walked up the front path to the research facilities. When they entered the building Akira took the lead keeping Nokoru safely between him and Takamura-senpai.
The small lobby they entered was brightly lit and full of leafy plants. On the left wall there was a desk at which sat a guard. His strong face was rimed by close cut brown hair the color of a mouse. His eyes were a deeper brown and narrowly set in the large face. The guard looked down his stubby nose at the new arrivals. "This is a private residence and is off limits to anyone who does not have proper authorization to enter."
Walking up to the desk, Nokoru handed the guard a guest pass. After accepting the pass the guard nodded to the chairman of CLAMP campus. "All right you can go in." The man reached down pressing a button on his station. A buzz sounded and the door on the left side of the lobby opened.
"Hey, I didn't say you could go in," the guard called out in a huffy voice when Suoh and Akira started for the door ahead of Nokoru. Shrugging his shoulders at the blond the man continued," Only he has a pass. So only he may enter."
Suoh noticed his Rijichou's eyes narrow slightly. He felt sorry for the guard. Only someone who had known Nokoru for many years would have recognized the danger in that look. 'How long will it take him to get this guy to come around to his way of thinking?' He mused as he watched Nokoru work.
Nokoru gave the guard his most charming smile," There must be some mistake. I clearly remember the Chief engineer saying that having my own people here wouldn't be a problem."
"There's no mistake. Only people with passes may enter." The guard's face was set into a stony expression. "They only make exceptions for important people." He said with a sneer in his voice.
The Chairman turned on his heal and started back towards the entrance to the building startling Suoh and Akira. They were at his side a moment later. Before Nokoru reached the door he turned and looked back at the guard. "That is unfortunate. I am afraid I cannot make my meeting with the head engineer and scientist if my companions are not allowed to enter with me. Please give your employers my apologies for wasting their precious time. The Imonoyama group will just have to invest in Destiny laboratories.
"W..wait a minute. What do you mean, The Imonoyama group will have to invest in Destiny laboratories." The guard eyed Nokoru suspiciously.
Nokoru blinked his wide blue eyes at the guard as he responded calmly, "I was sent here by the Imonoyama to make a report on this facility on behalf of the Imonoyama group."
"B…but that would mean you're…no! It's not possible. You're too young to be Imonoyama Nokoru.
"Am I? Odd, I thought I was just the right age. I guess that means I shall have to give this back." Nokoru held up one slender finger. A golden ring bearing the Imonoyama family crest sparkled in the light.
The guard went pale when he saw the ring. Flying to his feet he bowed low in front of the young chairman. "I am so sorry. Please forgive my ignorance. I didn't recognize you. You and your companions are of course welcome here."
"You're forgiven. Though you may wish to exercise a little more caution in the future. Not everyone you insult will have a sense of humor. Takamura, Ijyuin," There was a slightly mischievous light in Nokoru's eyes as he watched the guard grow even paler as he called his well known friend's family names. Without a backward glance the three entered the lab proper.
The ninja leaned over to whisper into Nokoru's ear in a slightly amused voice," That wasn't very nice of you Rijichou."
"It was a little underhanded I suppose," Nokoru whispered back," But I think he will be careful not to pre-judge anyone in the future." The chairman looked around the empty hallway as the soft sound of the door sliding shut could be heard from behind. "One of the engineers was supposed to meet us here, but he or she appears to be running late."
"Ah, there he is." Akira motioned towards the end of the hall as he watched the stranger approach their little party.
A tall thin man with curly brown hair and small narrow eyes ran down the antiseptic white hallway. His lab coat flapped along behind him like some strangely shaped wings. Stopping just short of the three friends he gave Nokoru a respectful bow. "Hello! I am Engineer Takasama Please forgive me for being so late, I was working on a project and lost track of time."
Bowing his head graciously in greeting, Nokoru smiled. "Its all right, we only just stepped through the door a moment ago."
"Good! Then I haven't kept you waiting. If you would please follow me I can show you some of the projects we have been working on lately." The engineer bobbed enthusiastically as he turned to go back the way he had come.
The Chairman's eyes softened with amusement as he and the others followed the beaming engineer down the hall. 'It's obvious that Takasama loves his work.' Nokoru thought with approval as he compared the behavior of the workers he had seen at Destiny labs. 'If more of the researchers here were like this fellow then perhaps the modern technologies laboratory is the one we are looking for. It will also depend on their research of course but a good working atmosphere promotes better research.'
The room Takasama led them too was large and open. All around there room were workstations piled with wire and equipment that was strewn about in an orderly chaos. Nokoru's first impression of a happy workplace was reinforced by the way each station had been personalized by the researchers that worked at them.
Some had their names written in big glittery writing on the side of the station. A few had posters or wall scrolls attached to their station. Others had little stuffed toys and action figures taped or tied to their workspace. Here and there family photos were proudly displayed in places on honor on the tables and desks. Nokoru felt a satisfied smiled reach across his face. "I see they have made themselves comfortable here. With out a doubt the researchers enjoy working here."
Glancing around curiously Akira leaned back to stage whisper at his friends," What sort of research does this lab do? Is it the same as the last lab? Or do they do something different?"
"This laboratory researches artificial intelligence and robotics much like the last lab. Unlike Destiny labs who works on broad ranging ai and robotics applications, Modern Technologies tends to specialize in AI robots." Nokoru gave Akira a smile before looking around himself once more.
The engineer's face was glowing with pride as he stopped in front of a table that held a large robot. "This is our latest project. It's a robot specially designed to work in outer space. It will help to effect repairs to ships and satellites so that human life need not be endangered. This is just a prototype. The real thing will have to be built in space. But this one does function. Would you like to see it in action?"
Blue eyes wide with curiosity Nokoru gave his head an affirmative shake. "Yes please." This project was near to his area of interest. So it held more appeal for him than it did for either Suoh or Akira.
Seeing Nokoru's eyes light up at the project, Suoh gave a long-suffering sigh. "Rijichou," he said with a look," Please remember why we are here."
Nokoru winked at the blue haired man at his side when he saw the look Suoh was giving him. He knew he had to keep mind on his work. Seeing this lab's level and quality of work was after all an important part in what his decision would be. But he couldn't help teasing his very serious friend.
"Why don't I feel reassured?" The ninja asked himself as he turned away from the mischievous light in Nokoru's eyes to watch what the engineer was doing.
"This robot was specifically designed to assess damage and make surface repairs. A larger version will be constructed to handle the more difficult repairs." Takasama put a large mock control panel in front of the robot as he spoke. "There is a "Malfunction" In this mock panel. If everything is working the way it should the robot will find the malfunction and fix it. " The engineer turned the robot on and stood back.
The robot shivered moving into an upright position as the power was switched on. The motion of the robot created a soft humming that filled the nearby area. When it was upright it paused as is accessed it's programming. Then it did something unexpected. The long metallic arm reached out as if to grasp the mock panel instead it whipped around hitting the unsuspecting engineer on the side of the head.
To Be Continued . . .