Sunset; city blocks stood in sharp relief as commuters swarmed. From far above the Aglostarros University Museum, Curator Endelle Stroth often watched night fall. Some evenings she would have research in hand, others a glass of Adenean wine, a reward for a job well done. Stroth had always found wonder in the ordinary, and this view was truly wonderful.
Today, however, she could not be distracted. Meetings with Conglomerate agents always put her on edge, and military types were particularly volatile.
“This one here,” a stocky, leather-skinned admiral was saying, “this so-called ‘Living Wall’ - it’s really impervious to any damage?”
With rehearsed patience, Stroth replied, “nothing we’ve tested can pierce the plant’s skin. Except light.”
“Unbelievable,” an aging general to her right remarked. “We should hire you instead of our R&D nerds.”
Stroth restrained a sigh. They’d been asking for months, but her answer remained: “We don’t research weapons, General. Science is for progress, not destruction.”
She hesitated as the door opened abruptly. In the entrance, she recognised the University’s Vice Chancellor, her superior. “You’re right, Endelle,” he said, refined speech belying sympathy, “but progress must be defended. You’ve heard about the frontier attacks. Should we not work to prevent further losses?”
Off guard, Stroth began to stutter her response, but the Vice Chancellor continued. “It’s irrelevant. Officially, you’ve agreed to allow full military access to your Project’s discoveries. I just signed the papers.”
Turning to the others, he declared, “my friends, our data is now yours.”
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