Scalpel gave a short laugh and bopped her shoulder gently, “No need to act so respectful my dear, goodness knows I have argued my fair share with some of the greatest minds in Equestria, the older us researchers get the more we are stuck in our ways of archaic obsolete thinking.” He gave her a playful wink, “Innovation is a thing of the young, and I believe you have a bright career ahead of you if you explore new untrodden paths. The future is yours after all.”

“Anyway!” he announced, rising from the chair and setting himself down on his hooves again “I believe it’s time to escort you out, hopefully we can continue this conversation tomorrow, if all goes well.”

Levitating the candle once again before him, and casting a spell to end the flames in the centre of the room he continued his way back to the circular door through the web way of tall bookcases. Thoughts tumbled through his mind, most notably an interest in what Prancer would want with this book… he would have to investigate the old professor at some point, doubtless he was working on something intriguing, and Scalpel would have to spread his little birds through the organisation to find out.

Exiting the door he allowed Dr Lens through and then the Risen as they followed close behind them, before pushing it closed with a boom of metal upon metal and the sound of sliding locks. The walk through his old dwelling continued uneventfully until they emerged near the hallway and the door to the outer world once again.

Out of the shadows shambled a group of forms, emerging into the light the revealed the baseline forms of Worker drones, walking on two back legs and carrying heavy sacks over their shoulders.

The Doctor smiled “Ah-ha! A new batch has arrived.” Temporarily forgetting his guest he walked across and began to inspect the cargo. He suddenly frowned as he looked within the first sack, “Hmmm…. This is very badly damaged, bandit stock I assume?… a bit young too, well I suppose I will find a way around it. Thinking about it now I have an interesting idea.” 

Closing the sack he turned to face the rest of the worker Drones, “Take them down to the Labs, I will see to them in due course. I do hope the others are in better condition than that one.”

The machines whined with the sound of cracking electricity and twisting blades, almost like hounds which knew their master was disappointed, before continuing across the room and entering the left doorway to the Labs, disappearing into the darkness with only the sound of whirring metal remaining as they moved deeper into the house.

Turning back to his guest, his horn flickered with a slight touch of magic and the front door unlocked and opened, revealing the light of day once more. 

“Until another day Dr Lens. Goodbye.”