Hello again. Sorry for the long wait, my life's a bitch. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and as for the question I asked last chapter, no answer yet, but I'll let you know who wins later, so keep guessing folks. And now for the story

Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

Identities

Chapter 7 – Just your average Day at the Institution

Week 1 – Initial Studies and Observations: Subjects appear to at least understand common language, and seem to respond accordingly, interactions limited and more study is needed. Subject 1 appears to posses the ability to fly and Subject 2 posses great stealth and grace, Subject 3 is quite the escape artist and seems to hold great skills for hacking.

Week 2 – Expediential Studies; Interactions, Initial Scans, Electro-Scans: Subject interactions with each other is more pronounced then with workers, they seem to hold there own language and "talk" constantly with streams of clicks, beeps, and whistles when put in the same cell, though what is being said will take more study, Initial scans reveal that creatures are pure metal nothing organic, Electro-scans indicate that they hold great fight potential and power capacity. Sally and Erika have named them; Project one: Butterfly, Project two: Bear, Project thee: Midget.

Week 3 – Actuality Test Midget; Internal Scans, Power Capacity; Electronic Flow, Metal Density: Actuality Test indicate that Midget was not made for fighting but possesses the ability if needed. Internal Scans show that his wiring is delicate and easily maneuverable, so it seems that he can gain access to places that would be hard for his larger companions to get. Power Capacity is greater then what we expected, and the Electronic Flow starts from the chest and expand in a clockwise motion of small pulses of energy, the strongest of these pulses being right in the chest, almost like a heartbeat. Metal Density is limited and about a quarter of an inch thick.

Week 4 – Actuality Test Bear; Internal Scans, Power Capacity; Electronic Flow, Metal Density: Actuality Test indicate that while Bear was not made for fighting, he could be a superb fighter if given the chance. Internal Scans show that wiring is more pronounced and almost thicker then with Midget, more made for fighting but not entirely. Power Capacity is much greater then Midget's, almost unheard of, and the Electronic Flow runs the same as Midget's, right down to the amount of time between each pulse of electricity and the almost heartbeat like pulses in his chest. Metal density is thick at about six inches thick.

Week 5 – Actuality Test Buterfly; Internal Scans, Power Capacity; Electronic Flow, Metal Density: Actuality Test indicate that Butterfly was made for fighting. Internal Scans show that is wiring is much thicker and seems to fall in a pattern of sorts. Power Capacity is the greatest of all three and through the roof to the point that when we tried to measure it the machine blew up. Again the Electronic Flow runs in the same pattern as Midget and Bear, but at a much faster rate and much stronger pulses, though the electronic beat stays the same. Metal Density is the thickest of all at about nine inches.

Week 6 – Lab Clean Up and Repot to Uppers

Things are going great in all sense of the word. They are half way through week six and far ahead of schedule. All that is left to do are a few computer and equipment checks and the report for Commander Havesta.

Which is why Truman, Alai, and Eli are sitting around one of the circular tables in the break room; notes they had acquired over the past five weeks spread out over the surface in what seemed like a chaotic pattern, but clearly made sense to them because the three scientists worked without falter.

Sherman is still in the main lab making sure that the last few checks went unhindered. Everyone wants to finish as quickly as possible because they would get the rest of the week off if they did. Everyone is looking forward to having a little time off after the crazy week.

Truman can not wait to get out of there. He wants to go to Tranquility to catch the drive-in movie tonight.

He has not told anyone but ever since going to the funeral with Sally he felt oddly drawn to the little town and he had wanted to go back. He honestly thought that it had a few good secrets to tell and he wanted to know them.

It was close to a half hour drive but it was also the closest town, the next city being two hours after that, so a want to go there was easy to hid so long as Truman did not ask to leave the base to often.

Truman was ecstatic when Richard said he could go, over ruling Commander Havesta's no. He was even happier when Sally, Eli, Alia, and Sherman asked if they could come to, They all head gotten really close over the coarse of the project.

Alia grabs something off the table and says, "The coding sequence that we got off of Midget is just amazing! The figures are through the roof and the signal almost seems to be imbedded is gibberish that if one truly looked at it they wouldn't know what to make of it! The mechanics of it are ju…"

Eli sighs and says, "Alia, dear! You know that Truman and I have no idea what your talking about, so just put it into the report and let's leave it at that."

Truman laughs, "Actually Eli, all she's saying is that the signal is unusually strong and imbedded in a code so that hopefully it can't detected."

Alai nods "Yeah, Eli."

"Oh be quiet so I'm the only one that doesn't understand what that means, sue me!"

"It's ok Eli, we don't hold it against you." Truman says, barely hiding his laugh.

A crash and a bang followed by loud yelling are the only things anyone outside the room hear. All heads turn towards the door but no one dare move, not knowing what was happening.

Sherman finds his courage then and runs headlong into the room, pulling out his gun in the process. The sight that greets him has him stopping dead in his tracks before he falls to the floor laughing.

Eli is almost lying on the table, literally nose to nose with Truman. Truman looks like he does not if he should look scared or laugh, so his face was blissfully blank. Alai was laughing so hard she had started to cry.

Even from his place on the floor Sherman could not resist putting his two cents in. "God, Eli! Lean any farther forward and you and Truman will be locking lips!" he says between gasps for breath and more laughter.

Eli looks up and at first Sherman on the floor then to Alai almost falling out of her chair. With a sheepish smile he climbs off the table and sits back in his chair.

Alai is sobering up, an occasional chuckle the only thing escaping her lips.

Sherman picks himself up off the floor and just stands there.

Truman looks very uncomfortable but clears his throat and tries to go back to work on the report like it did not just happen.

Sherman shakes his head, and says, "God! There's never a dull moment down here."

Truman looks at him, "Is there ever?"

Alai starts to laugh again, "Not if you put the four of us in the same room."

They just look at each other for a second before they all almost hit the ground laughing at the truth and absurdity of that one statement.

Sherman calms down first. Truman is next. Alai and Eli calm down at about the same time but it takes about five minutes.

Truman is the first to speak. "Come on and let's finish this report. It's almost done now and I would like the rest of the week off." He says, "Oh, Sherman, how is it going out in the labs?"

"It's fine, actually done aside from one small problem. I think we need your help for it though, Truman."

Truman is taken aback. "What is it?"

"There's a virus on one of your computers. Not to sure how it got there, but it looks like a time bomb. If we try to delete it, it's going to cause the entire system to crash. We need you to save everything important to a side disk, or make a hardcopy, or something because we need to wipe the entire system."

"Kal'lamei!" Truman hisses.

"What?" Sherman, Eli and Alai all say at the same time.

"Kal'lamei misa kor." Truman says again, getting up.

"GOD DAMN IT, TRUMAN! SPEAK ENGLISH!" Sherman snaps at him.

"What the hell are you talking about Sherman?!" Truman snaps back.

"You were speaking very strangely. You keep saying something like kol'lamy or kil'lami or something." Alai says gently noticing tensions getting high.

Truman looks at the lot of them, then sighs. "Sorry," he says softly, "I do that sometimes. Come'on Sherman, let's get this crazy thing done. Will you two be able to finish this?"

"Yeah, all that's left is the conclusion thesis and the expectations of future experimentation." Eli says softly.

Truman nods and walks out of the room, Sherman turning to follow him.

It took about half an hour to fix the computer problem. In that time frame Eli and Alai had finished the report and Truman told them to just get it to Commander Havesta. By the time all was said and done, the incident in the break room was forgotten.

Everyone is just meandering about when the elevator dings. All heads turn towards the sound, as most everyone was already down there and those who were not were only in either the break room or the up the stairs in the resting quarters.

Out of the elevator walks Commander Jason Havesta, Richard O'Shane, and a young woman that no one recognized.

Jason shouts, "Alai, Eli, Truman, Sherman! Front and Center!"

As one they turn and walk over to stand in front of the three people that just entered, each at attention.

"At ease soldiers." Richard says, "Just come to give you all an A-plus on a job well done."

Truman can not fight the smile that spreads over his face. "Thank you, sir."

Jason smiles back at him. Though he would not admit it out loud he had taken a strong liking to Truman above all the others.

"So it is with great pleasure that I give everyone the rest of the week off to do with as you please. You may go anywhere on or off base, but a small group must be down here at all times to watch the experiments. So make a shift chart and stick too it.

"Oh, and before I forget." He turns to address the four people standing in front of him, "You are now free to go to town. Hell, even spend the weekend there if you want. Just be back by 1600 hours (1) on Sunday. Now off with the lot of ya."

Truman, Sherman, Eli, and Alai all salute the superiors before turning to leave. Jason stops Truman before he can get far, though.

"Truman, may I talk to you for a second. Then you are free to leave."

"Of course, Commander. What is it that you want to ask?"

"Come, in the break room, I just have some personal questions that I need answers to."

ABABABABABAB

Ok, I think I'll cut off there, because this is getting kind of long, and it's really late and I have work in the morning and all that good crap. So already working on the eighth chapter should be up by tomorrow at the latest. Sleep well everyone and drop a review ok? See you later.

(1) – for those of you that do not understand military talk, that's 4:00 PM