Ted entered the meetingroom. It was late, and he was late. A dozen or so older men pretended not to notice the time as the new hire researcher sat down and got himself settled. Finding this room on the top floor of Valiance Science hadn't been easy, and it sucked that most people had already gone home for the night, so he couldn't have asked for directions at the last minute. Nonetheless, Ted quietly caught his breath and tried to focus on what the presenter was talking about.
It was older guy, already with white hair. Certainly a PHD, and with really dorky glasses that were far too reflective. He spoke rather smoothly about Obscurum Sanguis, mostly the basics that Ted was already familiar with. This lecture seemed to be mostly an overview of "the infection" that Valiance was focused on. But the lecture was not the primary reason that Ted has skirted his way to this late night meeting. The company president was supposedly attending. Rumor had it, that he was himself infected.
Indeed there was a guy at the far end of the table who drew Ted's attention like a magnet. It must be him, Ted thought. Even sitting in his seat, the man looked tall. He was sharply dressed, with long dark hair tied back behind him, fingers laced in front of himself on the table and god forbid... reflective, light-framed, sunglasses. Ted's heart nearly jumped out of his chest and he coughed awkwardly, then suddenly wished he hadn't drawn so much attention to himself. The presenter paused, and Ted pretended not to have been looking away from the power point slides on the main screen. God it was a tense moment.
Finally, the lecture went on to its conclusion, and Ted couldn't remember a damn thing. The chill at the back of his neck was still there, and it was all he could do to mask it in front of others.
"Thank you for your presentation, my friend." The voice came from the man with the shades. He had been silent all this time. "It is critical that everyone present understands the nature of our research, especially now, for I have an important announcement to make. Valiance Research has contracted with Soldier in a mutual effort to further our understanding of Obscurum Sanguis and to eliminate the danger it poses to society, to our families. Soldier has agreed to provide us with captured live specimines." The various scientists in the room all gave a brief round of applause. "These will be devolved victims, of course, heretofor incurable, suffering individuals. 'Live' material is essential to our experiments. You will all be required to take OSHA safety training and sign waivers and oaths to humane treatment of the infected. Involvement will be voluntary, with commensurate paygrades."
Ted was staring at the chair as he spoke. Clearly, he was the new guy.
