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"No," the youngThat looks like human chromosome 2"

"It is human chromosome 2" Chris erased his red ot to the twenty-fourth, he circled it "This is e’ll be focusing on this semester

Chromosome 24, known henceforward as CC so that the research teaet the heebie-jeebies We have a lot of work to do The DNA has been sequenced, but very few gene functions have been identified"

"How hborhood of forty un ht at Matthew It sounded like an awful lot to lad he was pleased

"What does CC stand for?" asked a petite Asian woman

"Before I answer that, I want to rened nondisclosure agreement," Chris said

"Are orking with soraduate student rubbed his hands together "Excellent"

"We are working on a highly sensitive, highly confidential research project with far-reaching implications What happens in this lab stays in this lab No talking to your friends No telling your parents No boasting in the library If you talk, you walk Got it?"

Heads nodded

"No personal laptops, no cell phones, no photographs One lab terun, and Sherlock will have the access code," Chris continued, pointing to the senior researchers "We’ll be keeping lab notebooks the old-fashioned ritten in longhand on paper, and they will all be turned in to Beaker before you swipe out For those who have forgotten how to use a pen, Bones will show you"

Bones, the weedy youngA bit reluctantly the students parted with their cell phones, depositing them in a plastic bucket that Beaker carried around the rooathered up the laptops and locked them in a cabinet Once the laboratory had been cleared of contraband electronics, Chris continued

"When, in the fullness of tis--and yes, Professor Clairmont, they will one day be published, because that’s what scientists do," Chris said, looking at Matthew sharply, "--none of you will have to worry about your careers ever again"

There were smiles all around

"CC stands for ‘creature chro faces went blank

"C-c-creature?" Bones asked

"I told you there were aliens," said anext to Hazmat

"He’s not from outer space, Mulder," Chris said

"Good name," I told Mattheho looked bewildered He didn’t own a TV, after all "I’ll tell you why later"

"A olf?" Mulder said hopefully Mattheled

"No uesses," Chris said hastily "Okay, team Hands up if you’re a dae?" I whispered to Chris

"Research," he replied, looking around the room After a few ers "Come on Don’t be shy"

The Asian woiraffe with his ginger-222

colored hair and long neck

"Should have guessed it would be Game Boy and Xbox," Christo a dreaht yellow and white clothes as hu out the

"Are you sure, Gaanized And precise

She’s nothing like you and Xbox"

"Daisy doesn’t know it yet," Gao easy on her Finding out what you really are can freak you out"

"Perfectly understandable," Chris replied

"What’s a daehly valued member of this research teahtning quick Shotgun pressed his lips together in amusement

"Oh," was Beaker’s mild response

"I must be a daemon, too, then," Bones claimed

"Wannabe," Game Boy muttered

Matthew’s lips twitched

"Wow Daemons I knew Yale was a better choice than Johns Hopkins," Mulder said "Is this Xbox’s DNA?"

Xbox looked at Matthew in silent entreaty Daisy stopped huuarded attention to the conversation

Matthew, Shotgun, and I were the grown-ups in this situation Telling humans about creatures shouldn’t be left to the students I opened my mouth to reply, but Matthew put a hand on ue’s DNA," Matthew said "It’s mine"

"You’re a daemon, too?" Mulder looked at Mattheith interest

"No, I’ Chris under the projector’s light "And before you ask, I can go outside during the day and ht I’m Catholic and have a crucifix When I sleep, which is not often, I prefer a bed to a coffin If you try to stake me, the ill likely splinter before it enters s either And one last thing: I do not, nor have I ever, sparkled"

Matthew’s face darkened to emphasize the point

I had been proud of Matthew on many previous occasions I’d seen him stand up to a queen, a spoiled ee--whether fighting with swords or struggling with his own de coroup of students and his scientific peers and own up to what he was

"How old are you?" Mulder asked breathlessly Like his nas wondrous and strange

"Thirty-seven"