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The real factory level was being used for research, develop a tea scientists rather than a bunch of independent researchers I stayed out of there as much as I could It wasn’t that people were unfriendly--for the most part, they were perfectly nice, if a little distant and occasionally wary of my nonhu that was going on there, and I had long since learned to keep a safe distance froreat survival strategy

The false factory was located on the second floor, which had been divided into two levels by so The first level was a aysurrounded by a clear, waist-high plastic guardrail It was coentle turns and shallow ra the most circuitous path possible The elevator always stopped there first no matter how the buttons were pushed, since that here the tourists were supposed to get off, and then continued down to the actual work level

Once, the view beneath the ould have been all colorful, i tended by men and women in neon scrubs, with perpetual snancies, or visible tattoos were allowed in the tourist factory, although all three were tolerated and even encouraged in the real Captain Candy The good Captain didn’t care what you looked like, as long as you came to work and did your job the way that you were told to The Captain’s PR department was a little more fixated on appearances, and they insisted that he run a tight ship, if only to keep those birthday dollars rolling through the door

I think I would have liked Captain Candy You know If he’d actually been a real person, and if he’d ed to survive the rise of the SymboGen implants with his ed considerably since the factory switched hands, even if it all still belonged to the corporation on paper The colorful utted for whatever useful parts they happened to contain, and then left open to the air as they were converted into planters or se inhabitants of our private indoor farone, along with the people who used to wear them Instead, an observer would find Dr Cale’s assistantsT-shirts or tank tops and jeans, a feith dirty white lab coats thrown over the top, as if to say, "I’ in an indoor farm, but I’m still a scientist; I will always be a scientist" The number of lab coats had dwindled even in the weeks since I’d cos of the old world were less i a world, one piece at a tiely dysfunctional one, but it was one where we could be relatively safe, and relatively happy, and maybe find a way to save the huh--whichand taking care of the animals for the people likepart of it--there was still a chance that we could find a way for everyone to live in peace All we had to do was stop the cousins fro all the sleepwalkers and chimera who had already resulted from those takeovers The sleepwalkers were bitey, but maybe they could still be helped, if we could just keep them alive

It didn’t even sound easy I put lumly at the smears of syrup and berry juice that re He knew that whatever was bothering me, I’d share it eventually, and he needed to pack in as many calories as possible before his shift in the lab started There was no eating allowed near the active cultures, for fear of contaht both of our attention I turned inin the doorway to the area, eyes wide, a slightly poleaxed expression on her round, normally friendly face

"You’re both needed downstairs," she said without preamble

"I’m not on duty for another thirty minutes," said Nathan

"I know" Daisy sounded frustrated "But like I said, we need you both, and right now there’s no such thing as being off duty, because we have a situation Sal is required, and you’re not going to let her go out alone"

"Why won’t he let o alone?" I asked, beo out alone?" The unconscious echo hit me an instant later, and a thin worm of panic writhed in my stomach Everyone here at Dr Cale’s lab was steeped in the y of an obscure, out of print children’s book, and fro very concrete

Daisy looked at reen eyes "Dr Banks is here," she said "He’s asking for you"

The transfer of genetic materials was complete at 6:52 pm on October 18, 2027 The selected donor, a lab assistant originally attached to the tissue rejection research teaht sedation but remained conscious and able to respond to stimulus All remained normal within the subject area for approxian to experience confusion, disorientation, and some pain This continued for approximately fifteen minutes Pertinent parts of her final words have been captured and attached to this document