Eros Fletcher's Story

Giving a winning smirk, Eros watched as Cryoface spoke looks like the Board were right to get him this was certainly positive publicity and the fact this thing was so huge it was impossible to argue with what he said. Surprisingly there was few journalists, the weather had likely put them off, this fucking biting cold was torture, but one must maintain a sense of decorum and charisma for these affairs.

As the being finished speaking, he approached over clapping his hands as he returned to the podium, "Thank you, thank you Mr Cryoface, we at Logicroad take this very seriously and shall begin working on a cure. The data you provided is promising and very encouraging, from what we understand, it appears to heighten magical powers by switching off inner natural defences, of course this is merely a start." now at the podium he watched the figure walk away, thank god that thing was on their side, he would not want to be on the other end of that thing when angry, "As of today, I have my best scientists working on cure, of course a process like this is difficult without any samples and can take a great deal of time, but we are hoping that would not be necessary. If it is required we shall do the tests off the planet, but currently the results are very promising, what little we know is allowing us to construct an anti-toxin or antidote"

Shivering due to blasted cold he went on seeming once more in control, "Just note we are not halting any other operations on the planet, we have a lot to address, a great deal, but outside of any disasters we will continue to work on this issue of Elysium and if anyone can provide any of it so we can perform tests that would be amazing. Note though it is necessary and we do believe within half a year we will have results."

Matthew smiled at Eros' words. 'Sly devil you are, Mr. Fletcher' he thought to himself. He had kept his hand on his gun the entire time Cryoface had been at the podium, and even now he did not relax. As the speech finished and Fletcher took the stage again, Matthew stepped slightly forward to get a better look at Xiaolian, so to scan her face more accurately. As he did so his eyes would shine just slightly, the lenses rotating to zoom in on her better.

'What ever your secrets, Ma'am, I will find them.' He smirked silently to himself, using his net connection to begin searching for her digital footprint. Anywhere she's appeared on a camera, he would find her, and trace her to her origins and, he hoped, deduce her purpose here.

You could say he may be being paranoid, But he'd be quick to correct you. It's not paranoia, it's obsession, an obsession for information.

A sharp ping rung in Shadow-Sabre and Verhasst's helmets as Matthew was highlighted in their visors with a yellow tint. His handgun, along with any other weapons on his person, was tagged with a red glow. Though they made no visible reaction to his presence, the two Alpha Troopers kept a careful watch on the armed man.

<< P.O.I. Identified as "Matthew Tametson" >> a feminine voice spoke into their helmets while flashing a dossier of the man across their screens. << Mercenary. Records show he has been hired by subject Eros Fletcher to act as security at this event. Subject deemed a non-threat. However, caution is advised. >>

Amanda opened her mouth to retort Fletcher's obvious avoidance when Cryoface appeared on the stage. Her eyes widened in academic fascination as she lifted her tablet to take notes. She chewed on the inside of her cheek and wondered about the creature's physiology. What held it together? Was that real snow or was it just an illusion created by its unique cellular structure?

"Cryo?" Shadow-Sabre balked in recognition.

"Oy, Agares." Verhasst spoke to his colleague via their secure network. "Ya know this guy?"

"Affirmative. We worked together on occasion when Mr. Ereb ordered me to guard Gambit's."

Frowning, Xiaolian tucked her phone back into the safety of her coat. "There's more to this than meets the eye.." She muttered as she pushed her way back out of the crowd. Fletcher had been cagey when asked directly about Elysium, and that was never a good sign. 'I wonder...' Xiaolian thought to herself as she melted back out of view, eventually slipping out of sight.

There was a great deal to tell the Council, and whatever their decision was, it more than likely would call for a few heads. Xiaolian just hoped they didn't shoot the messenger this time, it was getting more and more difficult to get skilled people to work with them.

Arriving back from that meeting he noted on his console that the stocks appeared to have risen. The mastermind Eros Fletcher gave a knowing smirk as he discarded his overcoat on the floor of the Headquarters before swaggering over to the reception, "Viola, did I have any calls while handling the little people or did anyone come to see me?" pausing she scanned her computer before nodding, "Yes, Mr Fletcher that representative of Mars Corp is here now, he is currently waiting outside your office." nodding he turned away, "Get a message to our Factory and tell them now they have the go ahead to start working on Project Lux." again she acknowledged, clicking her mouse and putting the data into the computer, "Will there be anything else Mr Fletcher?" shaking his head, "I'll have Brenda handle anything else, but I promise good things Viola."

Turning away he started heading down the sleek modern halls while the lights shone on the white marble floors glinting with such radiance. He had always planned to work on an antidote for Elysium and had even arranged much of the work to be done on it, why the big charade then? Because he did not have to keep the little people so knowledgable, let them know only what they wish. Grinning he continued passing through the building before arriving outside his office where a man was sat, "Ah, pardon my tardiness Mr Weskit, unfortunately there are times you can't ignore the little people. Shall we enter my office where I can have a Scotch or something similar sent in for us. I do believe we have similar goals and what research I had performed on your corporation brought very interesting results, but let's not discuss these matters in public."

Douglas smiled as Mr. Fletcher finally showed and with a gentleman's quickness the Mars Corp. representative smiled and offered his hand regardless if Eros took it or not.

"Mr. Fletcher, the pleasure is all mine I assure you, there is no trouble at all as I understand you are a very busy man." Douglas took up a strange brief case only to follow Mr. Fletcher into his office allowing the man to get his drink while he himself began to set up his own display.

"Mr. Fletcher?" Douglas piped up as he produced a set of glasses from his jackets pocket. "I assume you are familiar with augmented reality? If not then you will be in need of these." Douglas offered the glasses while simultaneously turning on the wireless device within them. Regardless of his answer or if he placed them on at all Mr. Fletcher would suddenly be bombarded by information that filled not only the room but then some.

As he was ushered into his office with a man who clearly was use at control, Fletcher had to admit he was impressed with gall this man had, assuming he could act like he was without any repercussions, anyone else and he may have well have had words to say among other things, but this man was a guest and well you got to show some restraint towards them. Still he was not very amused to have glasses shoved on to his face as he was preparing a Scotch and was about to voice his irritation before the different screens appeared in the room all filled with various information it was certainly fascinating to behold and even he had to find himself staring in awe.

Of course he quickly reined in his enthusiasm to address the man, "Of course all very interesting, but now we are in my office." raising his glass he took a sip savouring the conconction, "I have heard a great deal about your organization through research and other methods and I shall be blunt here, I want in. I am not usually so eager for piece of anyone pie, but I feel my position in one of the biggest Pharmaceutical corporations I could provide useful data concerning Brillion and much of Illumene. I am well aware of The Council and the front you place to hide it, of course it was certainly interesting reading. Nonetheless, I have issues... well problems... my facility in New Canton gone dark, but here's why I called your corporation..."

He immediately removed the glasses walked over his desk as the screen behind lit up and displayed series of messages, "As part of the deal in New Canton I had each journal entry sent to me via some clever spyware, now here are the reports:


The subjects are currently training hard and improving. But destabilization is still an effect, Veronica is the only successful result.

Meanwhile the cure for vamperism is moving along excellently, I just have concerns with the current effects and what they pertain too. Then again I believe with right research this could be rectified, subject 0022-D5 was sadly a failure though and the testing on them appeared to cause some strange results.

CONFIDENTIAL

They stopped believing they existed...

Professor Mystic Brighton Head Researcher

******

Professor Brighton has vanished since the Subjects escaped, Louie is talking about how the last subject to die was found near a crashed space-ship, as research was done they began to percieve themselves as not existing.

When found they had been vanishing, Professor Brighton warned us of messing with this, now she's gone. Maybe Louie wrong but New Canton has the right to know...

Right...

Doctor Erin Duvall Medical expert.

******

None of us exist, none of us exist... none of us exist, we are simply lies.

*****

Everything is a lie, we are all illusions in the greater scheme of things. We are minuscule lies and should stop our lives, for we shall become nothing, not real, not dead. We are the true existence, the true meaning.

We are the nothingness, we are the nothingness

Doctor Petrov Ryans Psychological Department

******

Letting Mr Weskit read it over he carried on speaking, "What little data we had from crashed craft it seems to have a physical amnesia effect we believed in right hands this could be used for those who had been through traumatic events in their life. That was the preliminary understanding. Now here is photo of the ship we created when it was not crashed."



Letting him see the ship and schematics he once more continued speaking, "This has been my headache for past few months, we have nothing and well your group seems knowledgable in this field. I am really at a loss, I promised Ereb Industries the results in any advancements in weapons, I am essentially stuck with no answers. I don't often admit these things, but this is your field." taking another drink, it was easy to see this whole thing had really been taxing on Eros.

Douglas smirked for a second as Mr. Fletcher seemed in awe of the whole thing but for the few seconds it did last business as usual had to come first. It was only after reading and hearing about the events in full that Douglas simply made his way over to a seat and made himself comfortable for the time being.

"Before we even begin discussing the future of these two corporations and the truth behind the one I am apart of lets be very clear." Douglas kept a level gaze upon the man only to wave his left hand off to the side creating from thin air a delicate crystal decanter filled with an amber liquid along with a glass with two cubes of ice. "I have been around for sometime. The Council has a rather unique health insurance. Also if you have done any homework at all then you should be well to aware that I am pushing myself into the 90's by now."

The Gentleman simply poured himself a drink from his own stash before sending the decanter off into the unknown. "Furthermore I am a bit perplexed by such a giant like yourself. Truly you want to be affiliated with an organization that had Terra in its hands only to loose it to Aschen Forces and betrayals from those planet side?" The Gentleman smiled like a fox but simply shook his head and sipped his concoction.

"Regardless of your actions our expertise on this subject might as well be irrelevant. However, I am not saying we cannot be of assistance, there is a small consideration of what this company can do for Council relations and studies. What can you bring to the table that has already not been tampered with?"

Nodding with a delicious smirk he noted the interest and curiosity, "Well you can't research your organization without noting how long you have lived, so yes I was aware, not something I desire truthfully but then again that need not be a point of contention." taking his own scotch from the table he took a long swig as he mulled over and thought about what had been said, "The Aschen are both an ally and a nuisance, nuisance because they provide me money in grants secretly for Bioweapons, but it is difficult to get contracts elsewhere with the infamy they have. I have managed, but they are a pain and whether you gave up Terra to them, does not bother me, not my forte and really not my planet. So there is that, also I wish to have more control of my Corporation and not be stuck solely on Illumene or in Aurora sector, my Corporations needs to grow and not be held back by others, this is why your group interests me, it provides the bridge I need to reach further."

Taking another sip of his Scotch, he noted the whole rigmarole with the Decanter, "As to what I can offer, well once I have discovered what the fuck is going on with New Canton facility you are promised the research of the area as well as copies of the data from the crashed ship..." it was now he had to ask, "You seem surprised by what I showed you, in fact do you somehow know what is going on? I need to know, EREB Industries communicated with me and have sent a group to check it out, is it safe or do they have no idea what they are messing with?"

Douglas throughout the entire conversation smiled, nodded, and sipped his drink while he mauled over the entirety of what was said. Mr. Fletcher was indeed a very intelligent man with not only a long history of wonderfully delicious secrets. A wireless signal transmitting an encoded message traversed the portal matrix device that Douglas brought and before the Gentlemen stood the image of David Malachite standing next to his very own desk back at the offices located in the Cobalt Edge.

"Douglas." Mr. Malachite muttered his agents name in a low growl only to offer a level gaze to the man from beyond the stars and galaxies that separated the two at the moment. "Just get on with it. The files he has produced is enough to warrant a full security check along with our undying help. Move the deal along."

Douglas nodded to himself as he watched the image of Mr. Malachite suddenly vanish as the image the Augmented Reality provided began to fade but not before the images and files presented where duplicated and stored for further research. "Mr. Fletcher, I'm afraid as to what the Aschens might do if they knew what my companies true face. I was just informed by my employer to offer you this." Douglas suddenly produced from his hand a small datachip which he promptly rose from his own seat just to deliver it to the mans desk. "This contains the coordinates for the first Council meeting."

Douglas frowned slightly as he tried to think of a positive spin on how to answer that question. "The answer to your question is no. We will gladly send a team in and take deal with the entire situation while providing a report that will satiate your problems."

Seeming relieved he relaxed visibly while letting out long sigh, "To future business deals then... I do greatly hope the situation in New Canton is not as bad as been made out and whatever must be done we must make sure the information is not lost, if whatever happened can be weaponized I intend to do just that, but as of now I shall see what I can do about this Elysium issue." pausing he regarded the undying man, "Regarding information, how much do you know about Elysium, Mr Weskit? I know little since it never effected Illumene and we have none of the original stuff to make a sample and perform tests to see if there is a way to combat it. If you have any, I promise on my word as CEO this place, it would never be unleashed on the populace. I just would find it easier to give something like this to be scientists so they can perform battery of extreme tests on it, as you are no doubt aware."

Shrugging he drank from his glass, shaking the contents slightly as he sighed in contemplation, "It seems you and EREB Industries will meet one another, perhaps after this affair we could all meet and discuss further plans. I know EREB Industries is not above unlawful weapon creation and I think we could all benefit one another, as they say."

"The Council is fully aware of what EREB and Logicroad are capable of." Douglas smirked like the devil himself only to raise up from his seat and slowly made his way from his seat to the door. Douglas shook his head and turned himself slowly towards Mr. Fletcher only to shrug slightly. "When we get to the bottom of this. We will then decide as to what to do with this situation you have asked us to look into and then...."

Douglas paused slightly only to open the door and show himself out. "We will then deal with the problem in a more personal matter and add it to the list of things we have locked up."

As the door opened a man with stern but kindly features would be standing to face the door, "Many apologies Mr Jaunt, Veronica is new to the position after my last secretary was little too talkative. I sadly had to let her go. I do hope The Matriarch Volla is well and do hope we can continue to provide the supplies you are trading from us." nodding he gestured to a seat that seemed to have almost been constructed specially for this species. He himself sat on a seat nearby and regarded Jaunt with an intense stare yet full of warmth despite the roughage in those eyes, "I do not believe we have met, but I shall introduce myself. I am Eros Fletcher, Founder and CEO of LogicRoad Pharmaceuticals. I have been in a trade agreement with your species for almost a full year and I am finding it entirely rewarding although, I was not expecting to meet and greet your race. I would ask in future you are able to provide me with this information sooner."

Nodding, he went on, "I was informed the deals would be only discussed with Matriarch Volla, so may I ask what has changed? I am very busy and had to cancel a Charity Galla to raise money for those suffering in Ruula. I hope you understand that I don't do this for everyone and hope you are not going to waste my time."

It was this point a different side seemed to emerge, a darker more sinister appearance, he spoke softly but his eyes seemed dangerous and there was a slight worrying smirk on his features, a smile full of anything but mirth.

He went over to the stool shaped like a connected pair of spoons to cradle his lower half angled slightly upward for view. Each leg laid flat against the floor for comfort. Jaunt put his words together for a moment before speaking so he didn't stumble, "We are grateful to be seen by your hive, Mr. Eros, and Matriarch Volla sends her apologies. Since you last engaged Matrairch Volla directly your food has kept her current incarnation healthy enough to grow too large to fit in your building anymore. High Matriarch Volla is old enough to speak through my caste now. Just a moment for her to muster."

A warm waft the smell of petrichor rolls across the floor as Volla overtakes Jaunt's will. Named Vulcan organs by a Logicroad tech or two his respiratory system shed heat to support the weight of interacting with her psyche. Jaunt's cephalothorax and mandibles stretch wide as she gets used to his body. A female voice comes from the speaker instead as Volla transmits through him, "I might not quite fit in your attractive patriarchal section, Mr. Eros. I meant no offense sending the royal caste we value your trade with our people very highly. This is how we must interact with your small constructions once we mature. You can now interact with me securely from any of the royal caste anywhere given time for their Matriarch to alert me. I will keep my presentation as concise as I can."

Jaunt drunkenly made a mental note of at least that word, Patriarch, as Volla used his long arm to place the pad he carried onto Eros' desk. The first document showed a list of mature individuals of their healer caste numbering a dozen or so. It read like a personnel file and all of them were training in human medical disciplines. A special addendum read at the bottom of each by a Logicroad-controlled contractor still enclaved on site, 'MH Factor tested at 2%, insignificant immune response on implantation, no immune response after observation period, 95% histocompatibility observed in all blood types, all patients survived. 'adaptor' microorganism survives in the mid-term but eventually dies from dysregulation or apoptosis. Minor flu-like symptoms observed at terminal point for apoptosis with no notable complications. Need communicator off planet installed at research site for references.'

Volla's business involved dealing in everything so took pains to learn all the words she missed the first time they met, "Our adaptor colony and related venom injections allow immediate implantation without immunological response to the organ. Matriarch Hygieia and Matriarch Oculi have hybridized an organ vault caste that are suitable for non-dreamers not of our people. We also find it is possible to use the adaptor cells in humans as an anti-viral of limited effect to cleanse genetic damage though it requires dialysis through a healer. We offer them to you for non-lethal study for medicinal use if we are paid royalties. She is laying more but they are difficult to alter. Though they do regenerate we would ask you not injure our children more quickly than they can recover."

"To that end," she continued as if the soft voice never ran out of air, "The second document is an offered contract by High Matriarch Bvetin to empower you, or a trusted second, to dispatch available children of war from Matriarch Nemesis in pursuit of contracts for a 25% commission of the fee paid to the individual. It must include room and board though individual rooms are unnecessary. High Matriarch Bvetin and Nemesis reserve the right to recall children of war for national emergencies. There are other conditions but we are otherwise very permissive of their activities."

That document contained a database rather than a mere listing. While it looked much like the first it named things like munitions and intelligence activities. As well as current locations it was more than four million strong. Nemesis didn't have the means yet to move her and the matriarchy's children around in small groups so they could be effective as mercenaries and they needed food. She had to resort to paying transports to pick up soldiers when they delivered food to get the soldiers off planet to somewhere they wouldn't starve now that the High Matriarch Bvetin stabilized all the unminded hives. Delegating that trade to non-gardeners with means was an unfortunate but necessary option.

Of course, Eros had realized dealing with another species would result in some rather unique discussions and fortunately his scientists were capable enough to follow such a conversation. Although, he had the knowledge he needed a second opinion regarding this and it would be a good test of Dr Ruprecht new position as head of Science for LogicRoad.

Turning he spoke, "Please hold on Matriarch Volla I believe you must discuss this with my Head Scientist and perhaps they may be better. I understand a little, but would not dare to mistake this as knowledge. The brains in my various departments no doubt shall be more accommodating. I shall ask my secretary to call her in. While we wait, shall I call for some Lunch for both of us? Of course, taking into consideration your rather unique physiological differences. Just hold on and I shall make the call."

He approached the desk and pressed a strange electronic box, "Mrs Willows please send for Dr Ruprecht and make clear it is very important and she must certainly be quick." spinning to face the insectoid being he added, "So Matriarch Zolla what shall you be having while I wait for my Head of Science?" pausing he quickly interjected, "As for me Mrs Willows the usual will suffice with one of the bottles of Scotch." regarding the insectoid species he waited for their reply with patience and utter discipline.

Though she had a taste for one thing from human space they just couldn't grow it yet. The greenery of their world barely held on as ecologists of various description they found worthy tried to rebuild what the foreign army damaged. Other matriarchs worked to buy training for intellectual castes as soldiers returned income. Gardeners had an extremely capable understanding of biology it was technology they were new to. Also new to understanding of human science with which to communicate and employ their ideas.

Volla turned Jaunt's cephalothorax but the movement looked awkward as a quizzical head-neck shift he couldn't emulate, "Do you have baked watermelon with honey? We could only keep honeybees on The Pinnacle we built for trading with you but that is a very high mountain."

She wavers Jaunt's spindly hand,"They are not very healthy so we cannot harvest from them. Poor little babies. Matriarchs Hygeia and Oculi are still understanding their genome but the little ones die much less now. The ecologists require effective pollinators and larger places of study so we build homes for both."

She holds one hand in the air then moves one down slightly, "Your traders keep our workers fed so The Descent is almost done but higher gravity if you wish to inspect it. A place of safety is constructed there for you. We are moving some of your contractors there with the ecologists to stay more comfortably than on the surface."

The call had come into the lab earlier that morning, and she had told Fletcher's secretary that she would be in as soon as she finished the latest run of tests on the Mars Corp sample. It wasn't exactly something she was going to let one of the techs do for her, or leave unfinished to complete later. Whatever Eros Fletcher wanted, and had stalled on until now, could wait a few more hours until she finished this one thing.

But once she was finished, Marisol was good to her word and showed Fletcher's secretary, Mrs. Willow, a rather dour looking blonde, her badge. "Mr. Fletcher requested that I see him this afternoon." Marisol stated bluntly, making it clear that she'd rather be back in her lab instead of here, dealing with this sour faced secretary and the entirely too busy CEO of the company.

Glancing up from her computer she saw Doctor Ruprecht, "You are late Doctor. Mr Fletcher asked for you an hour ago." shaking her head she went on, "He's in there with Representative or Ambassador of Gardener Matriarchy. It is regarding matters of important nature. I shall let you go." still chewing her gum, she pointed to the door before opening it with her code, "He is expecting you."

Once the Doctor headed inside, Mr Fletcher would at once stand up, "Doctor Ruprecht, with your promotions you are the one dealing with these matters." gesturing to Jaunt he went on, "They have the data and information and all I need to know is manpower and amount of money it will cost. As well as what benefits they can offer. Find this out for me." he was holding a glass of Scotch in his hand, as he went on, "Once you have this information be sure to get all the data into storage and hand to Cosser as she is head of this initiative"

Turning back to Jaunt he added, "Now Matriarch, please recount all you told me to my Head Scientist and if necessary answer any questions. Consider her second only to me. I hope, with some extra information we can deal and do something. I would be most inclined to get anything you can provide. Of course, the cost is no problem. I promise you." nodding he took a sip, "Doctor Ruprecht you have the floor."

Matriarch Volla turned Jaunt to Marisol as his vulcan organ threw heat into his lungs again. Petrichor smelling breath across the floor. Volla's voice was tiring but still quite strong, "Very well. As I said I cannot fit in your buildings anymore now that I am mature. The royal breed handles your interactions with me unless you wish to come to my home. You can reach me safe from other awareness by my children or attentions from other matriarch."

She picked up the dataslate on Eros' desk handing it to Marisol. A fair while ago Volla purchased contractor time from LogicRoad and set him to work with Oculi. Two files were contained in the open document he'd produced one a list the other a sizable database. The first was a medical assessment of individuals of their healer caste. All alive and training in human medical disciplines each profile's notes had a linked lab note from some LogicRoad contractor. It read tersely, 'MH Factor tested at 2% producing insignificant immune response from organ implantation. No immune response after observation period. Blood compatibility at 95% for all blood types no deaths. Blood microbiota found stabilizing immune response and rewriting host antigens. All patients survived eros-class infections while connected to healers with minor flu-like symptoms and recoverable neurological damage. Expected genetic damage missing strongly suggest further study.'

A small video showed a horde of formation moving bacteria slowly withering as they moved through a plate. Its note read, 'Microbiota eventually dies from dysregulation and programmed cell death outside regular connection to healer caste. Terminal point of healer connection purged dead microbiota with no notable communications. Need communicator installed at study site to contact LogicRoad for reference data.'

Volla's business dealt with everything her people needed so a study of all the right words began since Volla met Eros. Thus she had a basic idea of what she was trading. A basic understanding of medical terms came with that as she explained, "Our healers have an adaptor colony so they can work on all gardeners. We have bred the children with venom to mark the organs so it can work on humans as well. Your contractor tried metal grafting though complained of no proper tools after doing it anyway. We were displeased he risked their lives in that way but they all survived. We were told all suffered infections but they passed as long as our healers were connected by dialysis. We offer them to you for non-lethal study if we are paid royalties from medicinal patents. Matriarch Hygieia is laying more though they are still difficult to gestate properly. Our healers regenerate but we ask that you do not injure our children to study them faster than they can recover."

She made her offer, "The second writing is also part an offer. High matriarch Bvetin is willing to empower you or a trusted second to deploy children of war from Matriarch Nemesis in pursuit of contracts for a 25% commission fee paid to the individual. It must come with room and board though Gardeners do not require individual rooms. They will tend to their own equipment with their commission. High Matriarch Bvetin and Matriarch Nemesis reserve the right to recall children of war for national emergencies. We are a neutral state and they will not divulge their activities to anyone but Nemesis and their nominated Patriarch. You are free to use them to defend the healers or your own needs but they must still be paid."

The second document itself was loaded with data as well as medical checkups. The list was one that named skills like munitions and intelligence activities. A list of their disposable military nearly four million strong. The contractor they'd hired had evaluated a great many of them with coded messages masquerading as hash tags. Whatever they'd meant would make sense only to Marisol. It was known the Gardners didn't have a very large fleet and didn't have the means to move their starving army quickly off planet. Delegating their mercenaries to a third party with means was an unfortunate but useful option.

Marisol just stared at Fletcher in utter confusion, what was going on here and what was this.. thing standing in his office? "Uh.. Mr. Fletcher, I don't think that's exactly the best idea... I mean my scope of knowledge doesn't extend to something like this." She tried to explain to her boss. But then the data slate was shoved into her hands and she found herself staring down the rabbit hole. "This is all very overwhelming.. Matriarch?" Marisol ventured as she continued to stare at the screen. She had only been looking at perhaps a small portion, a miniscule detail in her lab, and now she'd practically been handed a much bigger picture on a silver platter; or rather a slate full of reams upon reams of data.

"That's quite the offer... I think payment is something to negotiate with Mr. Fletcher though." She added carefully, trying not to let him dump the entirety of this on top of her.