The GEC had been funding her project for the past five years and in the last year alone, her funding had quadrupled. She wasn't sure why the money was increased, and she never asked. It allowed her to finish work on TES three years ahead of schedule. Upon arriving at the front door of the GEC headquarters, they were ushered in like celebrities, offered drinks and muffins, and had been waiting quite comfortably for twenty minutes when a pretty, young receptionist strode into the lobby and flashed a smile.

"Director Heintz is ready to see you now," the receptionist said. "Please, follow me."

Connelly stood with Robert and Willard at her side and followed the receptionist to the elevator. The doors opened and the receptionist motioned for them to enter. Once all three were in, the receptionist joined them, hit the button for the tenth floor and then stepped back out. "Take a right out of the elevator. Director Heintz's office is the last door on the left." With that, the doors closed and the three were left alone.

"Do they pay them to act cheery?" Willard said with a grin. "I think that girl ate Happy Flakes for breakfast."

"Corporate complexes like this tend to be imposing," Robert said, "even to the employees. It helps to a see a happy face, even if it's fake."

"'Imposing' is an understatement," Connelly said. "And I have a long list of questions that need answers."

Robert played with his beard. "Like why they pulled us out two days before our first full test."

Kathy nodded. "Or the urgency behind the trip. Next day air from Antarctica isn't standard procedure."

"Or," Willard started, "why we're being treated like royalty. They were practically shoving those muffins down our throats."

"Fattening the goose," Robert said.

"And I take it you've never been picked up at the airport by a limo before?" Willard said.

Connelly shook her head, no. "Just another in a long line of questions we need answered. This better not be a waste of time."

Ding. The doors opened and all three put on phony smiles before exiting the elevator. They turned right and headed down the hallway. The impending sense of doom grew like a tangling vine. Connelly paused at the polished oak door before knocking. "You ready?"

Both men nodded. Connelly knocked.

"Come on in," came Nancy's voice from the other side of the door.

Connelly turned the handle and entered the gleaming office. Connelly squinted as she entered the massive corner office, two walls of which were windows. Nancy was standing by her boomerang shaped desk. Connelly noticed a few family photos on the desktop, but nothing else out of the ordinary. No schematics, no documents or even a laptop that might provide some hint as to why they had been summoned.

Nancy motioned to three plush chairs that faced her desk. "Please, have a seat."