Through Time, Darkly

[Pryce]

[color=#FFFF00]Pryce.Research.N101
Main Conference Room, Deck 2
New York System, Liberty Space


The door to the conference room slid open and Denise stepped through it.


".............over to the Navy, or perhaps the LSF would be more appropriate in this case." Doctor Ulysses Morris was saying, and he looked up from the conference table as she entered. He frowned. "There you are. You're late." He had a sour look on his face.


Great Denise thought to herself. "I'm sorry Doctor Morris, I had to get out of the enviroment suit. We really need t.."


She paused. The table has half-full of science staff. Doctor Hart was sitting next to Morris, Doctor Ross next to Doctor Owens, Doctor Donovan next to Doctor Graham. Nickatelli was sitting at the end of the table.


Why is he here?


"Never mind that Ms. Ellis." Morris said, interrupting her thoughts. "What of the subject? Is he what he's claiming to be?"


She answered, carefully, suddenly feeling the need to be on guard;


"I haven't yet reached a definitive conclusion Doctor Morris. I'll need more time to perform an analysis of Mr. Doyle and his craft."


Doctor Hart spoke; "Elias said that there is a strange temperature variance around the man and his vessel?"


Denise hesitated. "Yes. The hangar maintains a colder temperature than the enviromental controls should allow. I haven't removed the possibility that the enviromental systems in the hangar might be
malfunctioning an.."


Nickatelli cut in; "That's not exactly what it is, is it? Angela said the man himself was far below freezing at one point, and the ship he came in on keeps getting colder and colder."


The group looked at Denise, who was still standing next to the hatch. She saw Morris and Nickatelli share a look. Morris asked; "Is that true?"


Denise flushed , being caught in the lie; "I haven't seen all the scans yet, I need more time to enter the data into the computers. I just think we need to proceed slowl.."


"No." Morris interrupted. "We need information quickly." He frowned. "Very sloppy work Ellis. I had expected more from you." The comment cut her, and with so many sets of eyes on her, and she wished she could sink down into the carpet. Morris continued;"You are no longer in charge of this project. Doctor Ross is better suited to this type of work anyway. I want you back on the N102, on the Farsite project."


Densie protested; "Doctor Morris, please don't! I can handle this! I promised him that I would help him." She looked at Samantha Ross, a pleading in her eyes."


Nickatelli watched her from across the table. He was smiling faintly. Doctor Ross, an astute woman, noticed Nickatellis' expression, and realized there was more going on than met the eye. She turned to Morris and spoke, her voice calm and soothing, with a faint Bretonian accent;


"If you would permit, Doctor Morris, I believe Ms. Ellis is vital to this project. We may have difficulty maintaining the subjects' cooperation if the one that brought him in is sent away. I think it would be wise to keep her here."


Morris frowned again. Ross was a personal friend of Doctor Pryce. If Ross and the girl went to Pryce, the decision would be overturned anyway. Hmph "Very well. Ms Ellis may remain, however, Doctor Ross will still direct this project. I want a status report every six hours. Get to work."

The smile on Nickatellis' face faded. and Denise glanced at Ross with a look that said Thank you Ross nodded slightly.

The staff got up from their chairs, and began to leave the room.

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