Livvy Saen sat in a Conference Room while she awaited the arrival of Dr. Velia Zarow, Head of Vanes Progression Institute. As Livvy waited, her thoughts wandered about her family, about her friends, about her career, everything. Then her thoughts settled onto Dr. Lauren Lewis. Livvy recalled how shell-shocked she was discovering along with the rest of the world that Dr. Lauren Lewis, the one who discovered the cure for Dementia was really Karen Beattie, an elusive terrorist. She and her Moms Ellie and Ophelia along with her friends, Penelope Houldsworth-Westling and Richard Westling watched the proceedings at their family home in Greenwich, Connecticut. Mason, however, was still in the Congo, a job he said consumed him, but said news of the trial had reached all the way there. Livvy and her parents were never entirely clear on his work there, but it seemed to keep him both busy and happy, and that was all that mattered. Livvy was excited about her work at VPI and burst at the seams to share it with Dr. Lewis, but instead had to settle with baffling her family and friends with all the science talk. Soon thereafterwards she was called back to VPI by Dr. Zarow for special project consideration and had to cut her extended weekend with family and friends short.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Ms. Saen!" Dr. Zarow greeted as she entered the room and shut the door behind her. Livvy quickly stood up. "Please sit down."

"Thank you!" Livvy replied as she resumed her seat. Dr. Zarow went to the other side of the conference table and sat in a chair opposite her.

"As you know, we are conducting frontier work here, looking to advance the human genome." Dr. Zarow said.

"Yes! It's the very reason why I applied here." Livvy replied.

"Well, we have people who are as excited as you are who are part of special project team that would be a perfect fit for your talents and enthusiasm. This project is exceptionally sensitive, and unlike some of our activities you've been able to share with loved ones, this is a project where discretion is of the upmost. You would have to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement which would include severe penalties should you violate your NDA."

"I understand."

"I want to make sure that you do. Some of the testing includes trials with extraordinary test subjects. Advancing the human genome comes with gambles that do not always pay off. Are you comfortable with…losses?" Dr. Zarow asked.

"The advancement of science is always risky, so yes."

"Are you sure?" Dr. Zarow asked. "We're not talking about just animal subjects here."

"I understand completely."

"Because once you commit there's no turning back. You will be elevated from the intern pool, hired on full-time, and expected to put all other considerations aside until the project is deemed completed." Dr. Zarow warned.

"How long are we talking?" Livvy asked.

"Depends on the progress of the advancements, but minimally speaking, a year, maybe two."

"I can hear Mommy now."

"I recognize you are very close to your family."

"My Mother would be fine. It's Mommy who is all about the maintaining the upward mobility track." Livvy replied. That made Dr. Zarow smile.

"Ophelia is quite the socialite." Dr. Zarow noted. Livvy offered a warm smile in return. "This may also entail missing a few holidays, socials, and events high society may deem important to advance one's upward mobility. I would be remiss if I didn't add that Ellie has affiliated interests with the Institute."

"I can handle my Mothers."

"Again, I ask, are you sure?"

"I'm excited that you even thought of me for this special project."

"I have thought of hardly anything else."

"Is there anything more you can tell me about this special project?"

"Not without ensuring confidentiality first. You can inform your family and friends of your new position, but that is about it. Are you comfortable with that?"

"Will our work here ever be known?" Livvy asked.

"That's the goal. If our work here is successful, everyone will know." Dr. Zarow replied.

"Then I'm fine." Livvy said.

"Good! Then let's get started with the administrative tasks before we begin."

Livvy spent the next hour with lawyers and Human Resources signing so many documents she felt like she was signing both her life and soul away. When she finished, Dr. Zarow returned to the Conference Room this time with Security.

"Is everything complete?" Dr. Zarow asked to wit both HR and the lawyers nodded in unison. Dr. Zarow nodded to Security who then took Livvy's Intern badge and handed her new badge as a full-fledged employee of VPI.

"That quick?" Livvy asked surprised.

"That quick. I take it the salary and benefits package were more than adequate?" Dr. Zarow queried.

"My Mothers would be proud." Livvy replied.

"Now, if you will follow me please." Dr. Zarow directed as she turned and headed out of the Conference Room followed by an eager Livvy who was followed by Security.

They walked down several hallways and corridors, and passed some of her fellow interns along the way, their mouths agape at the sight of her new employee badge. Livvy raised her fist up in small pumps as she passed by. She did, however, see one unhappy face. Her nemesis at VPI, so to speak. Perrine Batel. Perrine was brilliant and also came from money, but she was also highly competitive and stuck on herself. Livvy knew Perrine would not take this promotion lying down and would be promptly in Dr. Zarow's office peppering her with protests.

They entered a secure elevator, and it went down about 10 levels before it stopped, and the doors opened. They exited the elevator, walked down a long hallway and through another set of secured doors before it opened to what Livvy thought was effectively VPI, except underground. It had a large reception area, offices, conference rooms, and break rooms.

"Where's this been hiding?" Livvy asked in awe.

"Like I said, we take discretion very seriously here." Dr. Zarow replied. "Down here, not only do you have a reception area, but a pool of administrative staff who can tend to your every need. The objective is so you can focus on the project at hand."

"Including dry-cleaning?" Livvy asked.

"Including dry-cleaning." Dr. Zarow replied.

"I don't care how rich a person is. Nothing beats someone else doing your dry-cleaning!" Livvy commented.

They entered an office where an Administrative Assistant stood off to one side of the office.

"This is your new office. As you can see, your things have already been moved from the Intern Office area." Dr. Zarow said.

"This is big." Livvy replied.

"This is also a nice piece of tech." Dr. Zarow picked up a remote and depressed a button and the side wall slid down and on popped an outdoor scenery view with ambient nature sounds.

"This is to help with the ambiance, so you don't feel like you're working in a cave all the time."

"One could live here." Livvy said.

"The pursuit of science does make us forget we have lives outside of the lab." Dr. Zarow replied then nodded in the direction of the Administrative Assistant standing off to the side of the room.

"This gentleman is one of the Admins from the pool. If you need anything, you can call on the pool to assist."

"Nice to meet you!" Livvy said. The Administrative Assistant offered a smile and polite nod in return. Dr. Zarow then led them out of the office and down another hallway. They came upon a final set of secure doors and stepped through them to another elevator that took them down another five floors and opened to a series of labs as far as Livvy's eye could see.

"This is where the heavy lifting is done." Dr. Zarow said.

"Incredible space!" Livvy replied as she and Dr. Zarow started to walk down one of lab hallways while Security remained at the entrance to the elevator.

"Who's the Project Lead?" Livvy asked.

"I am, but Dr. Hug Dapali handles the day-to-day. You will report to him. Ah! Here he comes."

A man in white lab coat approached them with a 10-inch tablet in hand.

"This is Dr. Hug Dapali." Dr. Zarow introduced. "Dr. Dapali, this is your latest Team Member, Livvy Saen."

"Glad to meet you. Welcome to the future of Humankind!" Dr. Dapali greeted.

"I'm excited. It's a field that has been near and dear to me for years." Livvy replied.

"It's nice to see someone so enthusiastic and committed!" Dr. Dapali said.

"Your initial work will be on superficial testing, and then we'll progress you into areas where we think your skills will be best utilized." Dr. Zarow said.

"Understood." Livvy replied. Then one of the pool Assistants approached.

"Dr. Zarow, you have visitor." The Assistant informed.

"Thank you." Dr. Zarow said then turned her attention back to Dr. Dapali and Livvy. "I will leave you to it then." Then walked off with the Assistant.

"How much do you know of our little project here?" Dr. Dapali asked.

"Nothing really. I was called back by Dr. Zarow from my extended weekend to join up. I didn't even know this place existed down here." Livvy replied. Dr. Dapali chuckled.

"Then we are doing our jobs." Dr. Dapali said then looked at Livvy intently. "Dr. Zarow has mentioned you before. She's impressed with your work and believes your knowledge and talents can advance ours."

"I didn't realize she had that much confidence in me."

"She does." Dr. Dapali then turned and started walking down a curved hallway and Livvy followed. "I trust Dr. Zarow informed you we are working with some rather exceptional test subjects?"

"Yes, she did."

"Good! Then let's not waste any time introducing them to you right away. I always believe in ripping the band-aid right off." Dr. Dapali said as he stopped before blackened window.

"What do you mean?"

"Have you every heard of a genus called the Fae?"

"Fae? As in F.A.E Fae? As in Fairies?"

"Yes."

"They're a myth!"

Dr. Dapali pushed a button on the wall and the darkened window raised and revealed seven Fae strapped to tables, positioned upward at a 45 angle. Livvy caught her breath as she took a couple steps back.

"They are no myth." Dr. Dapali said. Livvy was glued in place as her mind took in the sight. Each Fae was unconscious, but their eyes were glossy white, and each one had physical characteristics that made her think they were more proto-human than anything.

"Are you sure they're not circus folk?"

"They could pass as circus folk, but I assure you they are not humans with genetic abnormalities. This is who they are."

"Impossible!"

"Let me show you." Dr. Dapali replied then pointed to a nearby screen and called up video test footage. "This one is referred to by the others as the Sheriff. He has the ability to make copies of himself."

"You said they were Fae."

"Yes."

"I'm thinking fairies. Like little creatures with wings." Livvy said.

"We have a few of those as well, although they are not as benign as one would think."

"This guy can make copies of himself? That does not sound fae-ish to me? More like alien or superhuman." Livvy questioned.

"We found our group of test subjects in a community they called Brazenwood. Some of them have what we commonly associate with the Fae mythos abilities associated with trees, woods, and nature, in general. But we have also discovered there are Fae who possess extraordinary abilities that may appear like they were genetically enhanced, like superheroes, except that was the way there were born." Dr. Dapali explained to a still skeptical Livvy. "I can see the skepticism on your face. Very well then. Let's start with this subject who is called the Sheriff."

Dr. Dapali pushed play, and the footage showed the Sheriff running through the woods.

"We found the way to induce these test subjects into demonstrating their abilities is to place them in an environment where they believe their lives are in danger and they have to defend themselves." Livvy's eyes remained fixed on the screen in front of her.

She watched as the Sheriff ran through the woods, not from someone but to someone who was screaming.

"Sheriff! Help me! Help me, please! Sheriff!" The female voice screamed.

"What's happening here?" Livvy asked.

"The Sheriff was not so easily swayed so we had to improvise." Dr. Dapali replied.

The sheriff ran through the woods towards the scream while at the same time trying to avoid his pursuers.

"The Sheriff didn't realize our guards were trying to drive him towards the screaming female who was intended as motivational bait."

"Who's the bait?"

"Someone they call The Landlady."

The Sheriff then suddenly stopped in his tracks, split himself into three versions of himself and they each took off in a different direction. Livvy's jaw dropped. Dr. Dapali then turned off the footage and Livvy turned her head so fast in his direction Dr. Dapali thought it would come off.

"Are you a believer now?" Dr. Dapali asked. Livvy returned her attention seven test subjects who were propped up before her.

"Are one of these subjects this Sheriff?" Livvy countered. Dr. Dapali pointed to the second bed.

"And which one of these subjects is the screaming woman?" Livvy asked. Dr. Dapali pointed to the fifth bed.

"I trust you aren't...fearful?" Dr. Dapali asked. Rather than being scared or even repulsed, Livvy found herself gripped as if all the possibilities of human advancement she ever conceived laid before her very eyes on those seven beds.

"I need data! I need to see more test subjects! I need to see all of this for my very self!" Livvy replied.

"Then let us begin." Dr. Dapali said.


"Who's our latest addition?" Dr. Zarow asked when she walked into the Observation Room.

"The Princess Mother." Rumlar replied.

"What?" Dr. Zarow blurted. "Which one?"

"The outcast one." Rumlar replied. Dr. Zarow relaxed.

"Whew! Had me worried there for a bit." Dr. Zarow said. "Does anyone else know she's here?"

"No." Rumlar replied. "How's your progress?"

"Coming along nicely. Not as many fatalities."

"We need this to work soon."

"I know."

"The Installation Ceremony is in a few weeks. After that, time will be of the essence." Rumlar said.

"I know. My parents came over with the Blood King, and yet are excited to see all the pomp and circumstance."

"I'm sure." Rumlar said. "Make sure whatever you develop works on her."

"Most assuredly." Dr. Zarow replied.

"I will contact you again in a few weeks." Rumlar said then turned to leave.

"Where are you off to next?" Dr. Zarow asked Rumlar, but instead he walked out of the room and shut the door behind him.