So just a brief note: Hope you all had lovely holidays/New Years! Sorry for the delay, but such is life! I especially wanted to thank the reviewers, your kind words give me all sorts of warm fuzzies, so thanks! Hope you enjoy!
"IT should get you your laptop and phone tomorrow morning." Jane informed Elizabeth as they left the office and walked down the rest of the hallway to a door labeled "Research Level 1, No Living Samples Past This Point'. "This is where the labs are; Level 1 is dead, nontoxic, non regenerating samples only. It's got the lowest safety and security requirements, but all incoming samples are vetted in level 4 first, to avoid turning someone into a fish person or getting eaten because the sample spontaneously regenerates. Each floor is a different safety level and has different procedures. You'll have to pass an assessment to gain security clearance for each level, with the exception of this one, all researchers have access here."
Jane held her hand to a sensor and it projected a holographic screen, which scanned her palm. "Jane Bingley, authorized." came the electronic voice.
The door slid open and Elizabeth couldn't help but to commented "Groovy!" She began to follow after Jane, but when she put one foot through the door a loud, blaring siren began and the electronic voice began yelling "Unauthorized. Unauthorized. Unauthorized."
"Ooops! I forgot-" Jane spun around, shouting over the noise, her eyes wide.
Elizabeth stepped back and the doors snapped shut. She heard boots coming down the hall towards her, she turned to see two black armour clad men pointing their carbines at her. Instinctively her right hand made for the small of her back, where she'd normally have her own firearm, then she remembered she wasn't armed. After a moment's hesitation Elizabeth raised her hands to the ceilings. "Identify yourself!" One barked as the other scanned his own hand and the sirens stopped.
"Doctor Elizabeth Bennet. I'm new here, Doctor Bingley is just on the other side of the door, if you'll-" She began explaining when the door behind her slid open again, and the agents shifted their aim.
"Sorry guys! I forgot to have her scan in!" Jane squeaked. The muzzles of the agents facing Elizabeth dropped to the ground immediately, and she released a breath she didn't realize she was holding and lowered her hands. There were two further agents on Jane's side of the door, though their weapons were not aimed at anyone.
"Really dear?" came the surprising response from one of the agents on Elizabeth's side of the door.
"I forgot to tell her to scan in." Jane repeated, shrugging sheepishly as she stepped onto the office side of the door. The agent speaking waved the two agents on the lab side off. "But what are you doing on patrol?"
"Did some work on pistol grips for Hernandez and wanted to get out of the armoury for a while. I left Philips in charge, it's been slow because most of the agents are in sims training today, and the more competent he is without me, the more leave we'll be granted to visit your parents during the holidays." the man replied. "So this is Doctor Bennet. I'm Charles Bingley, Jane's trophy husband. Are you looking forward to working on the Luska? Jane has been talking about it nonstop for a week now." he offered his hand.
"Umm yeah, I mean the monsters thing is reeeally new to me, but also really exciting." Elizabeth shook his hand, smiling at his own personal description, "I mean I would've been nice to have a choice in the matter, but I'm less freaked out than I was three weeks ago."
"I hear a lot of researchers feel like that, not that I would know first hand. Monsters are actually how Jane and I met, so I kind of owe demon monkeys for introducing me to my wife. And we had the choice to be stationed down here."
Jane smiled and took up the narrative, "I worked at a zoo and aquarium, doing some research in their shark tanks, and we got a shipment of monkeys in from the Dominican Republic. Turns out they'd been captured from the forest of a voodoo priestess who'd possessed them to be guards. They attacked a couple workers in the primate house, ripped their faces off and hung their disemboweled bodies from the roof to warn anyone from entering," she made a face at this, "So the zoo director called in MCB. Charlie was on the team in charge of removing them."
"I was filling in that day," Charlie grinned, "It was total luck that Schnitzler was sick that day, I'm more of a support guy than a point man, I was apprenticed to the MCB office's Master of the Armoury at the time." He grimaced, "I was supposed to be explaining to Jane that telling anyone what she saw would require us to silence her in whatever way we felt appropriate and it turned into asking her out to dinner."
"You really are too nice for witness intimidation." Jane raised her eyebrows, "And it was a rather confusing invitation; as I initially understood it I had to go out with you to dinner or I be killed because I saw the monkeys."
"I did manage to clarify that by the time we finished appetizers" Charlie added.
"When did this turn into the Hallmark channel?" The agent behind Charlie rolled his eyes..
"Hernandez, don't be jealous that you haven't conveniently got a genius wife who has the clearance and intellect necessary to work with you down here." Charlie told him, good naturedly.
"Wife? Hell Bingley, I don't even have time for a girlfriend, especially working down here." the agent replied gruffly, but smiling.
"Well I should continue giving Elizabeth her tour, but I'll see you at dinner, alright dear?" Jane asked her husband.
"Yes, and make sure to have her scan through every door alright? I'll have to write this one up, and I have a feeling Darcy won't be thrilled, he's been stressed lately."
"William needs to take up yoga or meditation, I worry about his blood pressure." Jane shook her head.
"The director shouldn't have brought those MHI guys down here, that would cut his stress in half." Hernandez spoke up.
"Do go there man," Charlie shook his head, "For starters you know he's a good friend, and second Meyers cleared it, so get over it. I'll see you at dinner Jane, you too Doctor Bennet, it was nice to meet you."
"Same." Elizabeth nodded and watched as the two agents returned to their station.
"Sorry about that, I haven't done a tour before, but since we're research partners they thought it would be a good idea." Jane turned back to Elizabeth. "Should we try this again?"
"Yes, let's." Elizabeth smiled, lifted her hand to the sensor and allowed the projection to scan her palm.
"Elizabeth Bennet, authorized." the voice announced, and she quickly stepped through the re opened door. Jane scanned her palm and followed suit.
"So if everyone is authorized for this floor, why have the scanners?" Elizabeth asked as they walked down the hallway.
"Well all researchers are, but agents are only allowed in the labs when they're on duty. A few of the administrators have full access, like Charlotte, William, or the IT guys, but the rest don't have any, so they can't get past the offices." They came to a door labeled 4, "And this is our space!"
Jane opened the door and Elizabeth was greeted by the sight of a truly pristine laboratory. There were rows of shelves containing glass beakers, flasks, and bottles with orange caps neatly lined up, side by side. Two laboratory grade fridge/freezers flanked a stainless steel door that was clearly a large cold storage room, The counters running around the edge of the room were loaded with innumerable instruments, all the latest models.
"Are all the labs this beautiful?" Elizabeth asked, her voice a little breathy, "Because I think I might be in love." One wouldn't call the lab spacious, however it was setup to maximize space while avoiding a claustrophobic feeling, and while it was clearly used, it was also obviously cared for and kept clean.
Jane laughed, "Well each one is kitted out differently, depending on need. For example there's this reptoid sample on level 3 that has to be stored at literally 700 degrees centigrade because it's from a subterranean species that hibernates in volcanoes and it regenerates at cooler temperatures. Poor Doug, he can only work on it for half an hour at a time before it starts twitching, even with assistance. Anyways, they worked out an oven system that's been attached to the nuclear generator; actually maintainence was rather pleased, because it helps vent excess heat off the system and reduces our thermal pollution."
"That sound amazing, is there any chance I can take a supervised field trip down to the lower levels? Or am I stuck up here until they get a giant, regenerating, sentient squid with dishonorable intentions?" Elizabeth asked, slowly walking around the perimeter of the room, peering at equipment and looking at labels.
"Well if you stay you won't alway be studying cephalopods or their relatives, I consult several other projects on other levels, and I've also got a lab down in Level 4 where I'm working on-"
Someone cleared their throat loudly, cutting off Jane "Doctor Bingley that's beyond Doctor Bennet's clearance." Came a sharp and familiar voice. The two women turned to see Agent Darcy standing at the doorway.