Pen was a little alarmed when Dave mentioned something about scientists being right around the corner. Sure, she'd thought sneaking upstairs would be fun but this seemed a little more intense than she'd actually planned. Everywhere seemed so serious, so clinical. It felt as though the jokey mood had evaporated from the group within a matter of seconds. And she was fast realising it wouldn't be as simple to just mess around with a couple of rock samples.

When David announced the coast was clear, Pen sighed in relief. However loud she acted, she didn't want to be in [i]actual[/i] trouble. The air conditioning was on full blast on this level and she felt herself shiver slightly.

Pen caught Whitney staring down a side corridor at a stout, strong door that looked very secure for saying it only probably housed a bunch of lousy fossils. The hallway seemed empty - maybe because all the scientists were lecturing the kids downstairs. Curiousity piqued, she ducked down it.

"Guys - let's have a look down here"

At the very least, it seemed a tiny bit warmer.

"So, what do you all think this place REALLY is? Because I doubt a normal place would have a secret facility like this one."

Alvira had only voiced Pen's own suspicions - though her enthusiasm at it being an insane asylum was more than a little disconcerting. But surely this place had to be more about rocks. The security seemed extremely over-cautious and though she was sure rocks did have their value, there was nothing on the leaflet to suggest they had any particular fossils of any monetary value. The labs were in the middle of nowhere, anyway. It probably cost more in fuel to drive here than whatever stolen items from the building would sell for.

Jesse seemed to have gone particularly quiet. She noticed him seeming a little dazed and disorientated...which was not surprising, really, considering the odd location. Shrugging, she continued ahead. She stopped at the door. When she tried the handle, this time it wouldn't budge.

"Seems like we've hit a dead end," Pen said, her tone uncertain. The mystery had been laid and she needed to know what was behind the sturdy barrier. 

"So, does anyone know how we can get in?

---------------------------

Dr Goode smiled.

Pilot was passing every single test with flying colours. Just like he had the time before, and the time before that. But Dr Goode liked to be thorough with his examinations, so he always made sure he had repeated everything three times before accepting the evidence. So here Pilot was, even though three sessions ago, the scientists had confirmed he was Fixed, beyond doubt. Some called him pedantic but he merely called it professional. 

"Very good, Pilot, very good," Dr Goode murmured, trailing off. He zoned out for a second, as his brilliant mind so often needed the freedom to wander. He could picture his name beneath the long list of scientific geniuses now; Isaac Newton...Albert Einstein...Peter Goode.

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He would have plenty of time for that, later.

"Alright," he announced, clapping sharply "Time to get you hooked up on the treadmill and monitor that heart-rate."

Wait.

"But, Pilot; just one more thing. Where do your loyalties lie?"

He always liked to throw that in the end, to see if Pilot would stumble, one eyebrow raised.