"Okay, I've been awake for about..." Bernie glanced at his watch. "... Ooooh about thirty Beats now and you still haven't explained to me as to why. I don't like to be woken up unless it's morning, or important."
"You never used to complain when I woke you up for... You know." Quipped Marla.
Bernie blushed slightly. "That was... Different." He said tensely.
"Oh lighten up. Besides we're here."
Here was a nondescript grey-white building consisting of a single floor situated in the middle of the research block of Pioneer City. Since it was only Sixty Beats in the morning no one was around and only the lights from inside the building showed that there was any sign of life in the area at all. Marla reached for the buzzer but Bernie grabbed her hand before she could press it.
"Allow me. My neck remembers what happened the last time we did this." He said pressing the button.
"Yes?" Inquired a female voice.
"Er..." Bernie hesitated, he had no idea why he was there.
"Officers Decker and Tristane of the Hunter Criminal Investigation Unit. We're here about the incident." Interrupted Marla.
The electronic lock buzzed and the door popped open slightly. Bernie pulled it open fully and motioned for Marla to enter first. They threaded their way cautiously in the half-light through the piles of junk, equipment and machine parts that littered the floor from the front door onwards. Standing at the end of where the corridor met the main workshop was a pink and white RAcaseal. When Bernie saw her he began to grin but quickly wiped the smile off his face when Marla glared at him.
"The intrusion was logged at zero-zero-two Beats. Fifty-nine Beats have elapsed since your arrival. Would you care to explain?" Demanded Elenor.
"I had to mobilise the HCIU, to make sure the entire department is working on this matter. You do want this resolved as soon as possible right?" Asked Marla sweetly.
"Follow me." Said Elenor and then changing her tone, "Hi Bernie."
Bernie's reply was stifled once more by another evil look from Marla. He waited until Elenor's back was turned before whispering to Marla.
"The entire department?"
"Well... Sort of. You were almost the only one gullible to help me tonight."
-----
Following Elenor into the workshop proved to be quite difficult. With every step the pair seemed to step on something fragile or knock over another pile of junk. When they finally reached the clearing in the centre they found Elenor's owner, Doctor Montague, sitting on a low stool sobbing loudly. Elenor stroked his shoulder gently to get his attention. The newman looked at them with red-rimmed eyes.
"They took my baby."
"They took who?" Asked Bernie.
Marla took out a battered old PDA and tapped the screen a couple of times before speaking. "Are there any alarms on the building, you know; doors, windows that sort of thing?"
"There is no need for such security systems since the workshop always has either me or my master present at all times and the only thing that happens here is standard photon research." Stated Elenor coldly.
"And yet perpetrators unknown were able to break in undetected and unseen and steal your sister?"
"You have a sister?" Asked Bernie incredulously.
"Oh that... Well... It just so happens that I was busy servicing Elenor at... The... Time..." Said Montague tailing off at the end.
Several moments of awkward silence followed.
"Servicing... Elenor." Repeated Bernie with a far away look in his eyes.
"And you suspect that it was the work of 'RRR'?" Questioned Marla.
"It's pretty obvious, they left a calling card..." Said Montague indicating the room with a wave of his hand and deflating slightly on the stool.
"Wait. Rico took Elenor's sister? Why is everyone ignoring me?" Asked Bernie.
Marla observed the 'RRR' crudely spray painted in two metre high red letters. "And they trashed the place huh?"
"What are you talking about? Apart from the graffiti and the lock on the rear door, they left no trace that they were ever here. I don't understand why they would take Ult, both of my androids are very satisfied to be working for me..."
"Would you like me to satisfy you now master?" Asked Elenor.
"Ha ha ha ha!" Burst out Montague nervously, arms tucked behind his head. "Uh, don't mind her, some kind of glitch in her programming..."
"I have upset you master, I should be punished!" With that Elenor turned around and bent over, pointing her rear end at him.
"I think you'd better leave... I should fix this problem before it gets worse..."
"Sure..." Said Marla closing Bernie's gaping mouth and dragging him back through the piles of junk towards the exit. "We'll follow up these leads and report back as soon as we have some progre-" She stopped as she collided with a green and orange wall that was not there just a moment ago.
"Careful fleshies. My insurance doesn't cover collisions." Boomed the wall humourlessly.
Marla gave the wall a look over. It was a rather intimidating RAcast with a still-smoking hole in its chestplate. She stepped to one side and noted the ID stencilled on its ribs as it walked by.
"So, are you going to tell me what's going on or will I have to steal your PDA when your back is turned?" Asked Bernie flippantly once they were back outside.
"I'll let you steal my PDA later." Said Marla absent-mindedly as she typed out a BEE message.