"Project: Invitender"

Darien walked up to the keep, knocking twice before he slid open one of the heavy metal doors.

"Hey Keepie, it's shot time," he called out, slipping into the lab chair. He rolled up his sleeve and glanced around, waiting for Claire to appear.

She didn't.

So after a few moments, Darien called out for her again:

"Claire, the red-eyed monster's gonna make an appearance here pretty soon if I don't get a shot." When he still didn't hear any response, Darien climbed out of the chair and began walking around the keep, looking for any sign of her. Everything seemed normal: Claire's precious fish were swimming happily, Darien the rat was running in his little wheel, and the high-tech computers were humming constantly. The door slid open behind him, and Darien turned...

"You're running late, Keep. What's the matter, alarm clock not-" he stopped abruptly. A short, red-head stood in front of him. Her pale skin was littered with freckles and a pair of thick glasses sat across her pointed nose. Producing a clipboard from behind her stark lab coat, she glanced up at him;

"Darien Fawkes, I presume?" She reached up with one finger to push the glasses back up her nose.

"Uh, yeah.....quick question. Where's Claire?"

"Claire who?" the little woman blinked rapidly, clutching the clipboard to her non-existant chest.

"You know, my keeper? Tall, leggy blonde...British accent, super smart. Any of this ring a bell?"

"I'm not aware of anyone fitting that description. I'm Tara, by the way, you're new keeper," she smiled a bit, bustling past him to one of the lab tables, "I believe you need an injection, yes?"

"Hang on a minute, new keeper? What happened to Claire?" Darien followed Tara urgently.

"I told you that I'm not aware of any former keeper, let alone someone named Claire. All I know is that I was assigned to come here and supervise your treatment for the duration of the experiment. Now, have a seat and I'll give you your shot."

Darien slid back into the chair, rolling his sleeve back past his elbows. Someone had to know something about Claire. Hobbes was on vacation, Alex was on assignment....Eberts! He would know. Eberts knew everything, after all. Darien's thought process was rudely interrupted as Tara skimmed the side of his vein with the needle. He could've sworn that, judging by the expression on her face, she'd meant to, but he shook it off. When she was finished, he rolled his shirt sleeve back down and climbed off the table.

"Thanks...I ...uh...guess I'll be seein' ya around," giving a slight wave, Darien headed out of the keep and straight for the Official's office.

Meanwhile...

Angelo stared down at the Centre's new captive through the wire door of the ventilation system. She was pretty, the new one, with long blonde hair and a foreign accent. She seemed sad; earlier Angelo had heard her fighting against the sweepers to free herself. She had someone who needed her help, he could sense it. He tapped lightly on the vent door and the woman peered over.

Squinting slightly, Claire noticed someone inside the air conditioning system and crawled across her cot. Lifting the steel off it's hinges, she smiled slightly. Her face was bruised and cut, and a bit of dried blood was resting near her hairline.

"Hello....my name's Claire. Who are you?"

Angelo liked her accent, he smiled.

"Angelo."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Angelo. Do you think you could do me a favor?"

He nodded slightly:

"Angelo get friend, friend help English."

Claire felt tears sting the back of her eyes and she smiled, taking his hands in her own:

"Thank you, Angelo."

He nodded and turned, scurrying away to contact Jarod. Claire slid the vent back into place and turned as the door to her cell opened. Her heart was beating so fast she could've sworn whoever it was would be able to hear it.

"Hello Doctor."

Well? Did ya like it? Hate it? Please read and reply either way!

~Erica~

__________________________________________________________________________________________