Unseen (2)

«Some people from the Government are visiting,» had said the secretary. At those words, Chris frowned. As did May.

She didn't need to meet anyone from her grandfather's party there. Nor from Chris's party, for that matter. She wanted to stay safe and anonymous while visiting the lab and checking how the research on bullet trains was faring.

Also, she was starting to understand why they hadn't found anything while hacking around. They couldn't find any real clue because it was not done in a Government facility but in a private lab. Owned by the last person she would have thought to check.

As she cursed her ill fate, she remembered the Government officers wouldn't see her face. Hopefully.

She looked up at Chris, and he seemed to read her worries directly from her mind.

«They aren't exceptions,» he said. «They can't see.»

Since the girl sighed, relieved, he decided not to dwell on it. If they met the officers, he would just greet them quickly and continue with the tour. They would see a woman by his side, and they would assume he was showing off.

Which, in fact, was true. Just, they couldn't realise he wasn't showing off wealth but possible scientific progress. The woman by his side sure was hard to woo.

«Let's go this way,» he said. «I'll show you the place, okay? The bullet transport is on a lower floor, so we need to change the elevator either way.»

«Oh, okay,» May said, forgetting everything about potential threats in the base. Who cared about the Government? «Are we really going to use it?»

«I'm not sure,» Chris said. «The final phases of safety testing are over, so the scientists are now using it for experiments.»

«Oh, I see. I understand if it's not possible, then,» she murmured. Even though, he could tell her about that risk before going all the way there! But still, he couldn't predict it. Unless he made a phone call and, as the owner, asked them.

«The bullet transport is even more underground, and there are additional levels of security,» he explained, using the same tone of a touristic guide. «Behind this door, there's the teleportation unit. They're already working on fruits.»

«Is it okay if you tell me so many things?» May said before the world teleportation got to her mind.

«I'm the boss,» Chris reminded her. «I can decide to dismantle everything if I want to. I decide whom to tell what.»

«Okay... But...» She then rewinded the last few words of before. About a door, behind which they... «They teleport fruit?»

«I can introduce you to the head researcher. She will be able to explain more than I know. Have some understanding: I'm a businessman, not a scientist.»

May bit her lower lip, trying to hide her enthusiasm. That place was like an amusement park, just that there was real amusement. Bullet transport, mind games to avoid seeing faces, and even teleportation. And she had been there for a few minutes only.

Who knew what she could find out if she stayed longer? Or, given Chris's mood at that very moment, she could just ask.

«Do you have a time machine?» she inquired as if she was asking whether he had a convection oven or just a boring, static model.

«Research on time travelling is forbidden. It's a policy from a few years ago, actually. Your grandfather strictly forbade it.»

«It's not like teleportation is safer,» May pointed out.

«You don't have to tell me,» Chris said. «As I said, your grandfather forbid it. There's a theoretical chance of creating black holes that would eat our world. Or something of that sort. I'm sure even those writing the law didn't know what they were talking about.»

«There's the same chance with teleportation. Time and space are not as different as we perceive them!»

«I have all the concessions. And my scientists are very careful,» Chris said.

«Oh, I'm sorry... Sorry, I wasn't doubting you.»

«Sure,» he chuckled. «No problem even if you were.»

«And... And the bullet transport? Is it under concession?»

«It's a joint venture with the Government and other companies all over the world. Since it's supposed to connect countries, we have contacts with other Governments or corporations. Our military is also deeply involved. They check on the signs of progress from time to time, as well as how we enforce the shared policies and security measures. Boring stuff.»

«I see.»

As they chatted about prohibited - and less prohibited - research, they turned the corner and met a group of people. May couldn't see any face, and she was too distracted to pay attention to the small details the system let her spot.

She was thinking about all the interesting stuff Chris Lindt had stashed in a single building. If she knew earlier he had such a lab, she would have become his friend way, way sooner. They had an enemy in common, after all - her grandfather - and they could get along well.

As her mind was a mixture of science thoughts, awe, and not-so-pure thoughts about Chris, she glanced at him for a moment only and realised that, maybe, she should have paid some attention.

«Senator Lindt,» said a voice from the other group. She couldn't recognise it, even though it did sound like something familiar. That system sure could mess with her mind pretty well. «You're here as well.»

Chris straightened his back, suddenly nervous. As if he had met someone he wanted to avoid at any cost. However, he had to look calm not to alert May.

It was better, a hundred times better if she stayed as clueless and distracted as she was at that moment. Better for everyone.

«Inspecting the word?» he chuckled, returning in shape. He was a politician, after all. Such a meeting shouldn't have troubled him.

The man in front of him glanced at May for a moment, just the time to notice she was a girl from outside. He didn't pay any attention assuming, just like everyone else, that he was showing off. Or it could be Chris's younger cousin since he was famous for spoiling her rotten.

«We have just finished reviewing the last results,» the man said. He didn't want to reveal anything in front of an outsider, so he kept his words vague and his sentences short. Not that a random girl could understand anything of the research going on there.

Likely, she was there to try some new beauty cream. Something of that sort. Chris did have a section with that kind of focus.

«Everything all right?» Chris asked.

The man nodded. «It seems so. Do you have time for a chat?»

«I'm busy right now. Maybe next time.»

«I see,» the man said. He glanced at May again, finding nothing familiar.

May, on her side, didn't feel anything weird in that gaze. Other than what was obvious: that man thought Chris had brought her there with unclear intentions. Which could be true.

In which case, she hated to admit it, it was working perfectly. She had warmed up to him enough to forget any misunderstanding of the evening. And the fact that she hadn't slept for the whole night was just a detail she didn't care about.

That lab was magical, wasn't it? Maybe, they messed with their minds enough to make her find Chris even more handsome and more desirable than usual. In which case, his impure intentions were turning unethical too.

As she lost track of her thoughts, she noticed how the man moved his arms to adjust one sleeve. She had seen that movement somewhere already. Not many were able to do it so elegantly, after all.

Oh, yes. She had seen it.

Suddenly, her attention was back on him. That gesture, combined with Chris's reaction at seeing them, made her wonder if she could have been wrong.

No way, she thought. He wasn't supposed to be there!

~~~

Author note: Who is the mysterious man? XD