Author's Note: …And now, for something…completely different….

Chapter Thirteen Finally Found

Doctor Thomas Beronard paced his office, his white lab coat flaring out with the speed of his movement. He stopped dead at the sound of his intercom buzzing, and held his breath.

"She's here, sir." Thomas nodded to himself, and walked in to the lobby, where a young woman sat, smiling softly. He sat next to her; and she turned to him, her almost demonic grin growing.

"I have it, Bero."

"Are you sure?" in response, the woman slid him a slip of paper with he address- oh the address- printed neatly upon it,

"Your payment will be given to you by Miss Alicia." He said, almost unable to repress his excitement. He ran down the corridors to the labs, waving the paper above his head. Scientists looked up from their projects and cheered, running up to the doctor and patted him on the back, the sterile workplace suddenly turned almost instantly in to a spot of celebration.

Bottles of drink, bags of chips and other such things slipped out of drawers, un-noted by heads-of-department, or the company's boss, who was beaming and boosting himself up on the balls of his feet- looking like an imbecile.

"Attention!" he finally called, his low, rough voice calling the attentions of his workers. "We will need a dispatch by this afternoon. I suggest we deploy 384 and 938. Objections?"

"938 is not ready for a field test. I still have some bugs to work out." Complained one nasal-voiced scientist loudly.

"Any other suggestions, then?"

"I propose you use number 289- very stable. Paired with 384, we should have no problems at all." Other scientists murmured and nodded in agreement. It was too early to use 938. Too dangerous, to chaotic.

"Who is the head of that department?"

"I am, sir." Said a young male scientist, his goggles propped up on his forehead.

"Begin processes immediately."

"Yes, sir." He said solemnly, sliding through the crowds as quickly as he could. He ran down to his unit quickly- if what Bero said was true…their research might turn from theory in to fact. Something might actually work for once- if that wasn't too much to hope for. He punched in the entrance code deftly, and looked at the two units without a trace of remorse.

"Wake up." He said impatiently. Two pairs of eyes blinked open, both void of life, and indifferent. Units 289 and 384. He reached down to their head-sets and punched in the coordinates. They both stood, and walked out of the doors, not seeing anything save for what their head-sets showed them. He was almost mulled-over by the larger one of the two, but was gracefully avoided by the second- he looked at their retreating backs with hope. Those units, and countless others had failed…but this new addition promised something. Something.