Transition

Chapter 12 - Success!

Dr. Frost fiddled with the program on the mirror machine, setting dials and power levels while Diane checked the containers with her samples.

"Are you okay, Diane? You seem distracted."

"No- yes, I'm fine." She kept her face turned so he wouldn't notice the blush. "A little nervous I suppose. What about Alice?"

'The doctor has programmed everything perfectly, Dr. Sommers. I will be fully functional wherever you choose to initiate.'

"That's great. I didn't know you turned it on," she added, speaking to Winston.

"Just to make sure."

'I think your nervous state may be the result of your emotional doubt about Mr. Hunter.'

Diane flamed red and set her mouth. "Okay, that's enough. And you can turn that off please."

"Of course. Sorry . . . so uh, was she right?"

"Could we just focus on our purpose here and forget my private life."

"Certainly. Sorry again."

"I'm sorry too, Winston. I didn't mean to snap . . . I just- it's . . . it's confusing." She hefted the box of samples and headed up the stairs leaving him to bring the machine and lock up.

********

Security met them at the gate and escorted them inside and down to the research lab. Horace, in his lab whites, greeted them at the elevator.

"An exciting time, Doctors. We've all waited for this moment."

"I've brought everything we will need but there still remains the fabrication of the last stage equipment."

"Vatten engineers are standing by with everything you requested. They can begin as soon as you give them the plans." Horace eyed the odd looking machine Frost was carrying. "Can I put that someplace for you, Doctor Frost?"

"No thank you, this stays with me."

"May I ask what it is?"

"It is our remote lab assistant Alice."

"Your assistant is at another site?"

"In a manner of speaking." Frost smiled mysteriously.

Diane handed Horace the plans for the transition stage, interrupting his curiosity about the machine called Alice. He called his engineers together and they spent some time discussing the procedure. Horace returned to the others, explaining the work could take several hours; it had proven more complex than expected.

"What would you like to do meanwhile? We can stay and watch the construction or go up my office - it's quite comfortable. Or perhaps you want to leave and I can inform you when it's ready."

"I think we could pass the time profitably in your office, Mr. Torrance."

"Please, Horace will do. After all we are colleagues . . . Diane."

She nodded her acquiescence.

"Good, I'll just check once again with my people and we'll go up."

Horace spoke to his people then made a text call to his secretary telling her to get Arlen out of his office and into the security office and order him to stay there.

********

Word finally came up from the engineers that they had the fabrication finished and ready for inspection. Horace had the lunch dishes removed and allowed the extra few moments for his guests to finish their coffees and savour the excitement of taking the next step.