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You approach what looks like a cluster of old ranch buildings. The buildings are surrounded by a wall made of rounded river rock and wrought iron grill work. A faint shimmer hints at a high tech addition to the wall.
You park your vehicle in the visitors lot and get out. After stretching out the kinks caused by your journey, you go to the tree shaded guard house at the main gate.
The guards are an interesting pair. The woman is dressed in an old west gunslinger's outfit and is armed with a pair of six shooters and a bowie knife that she is lovingly sharpening. The other guard appears to be a Klingon.
The Klingon politely warns you that the design staff is off limits to visitors. You might, however, be able to talk to the prime contractor since that worthy being is actually on site and not overly busy with work.
You are directed down a path that leads to a large equipment shed with offices at one end. Not wanting a bullet in the back, you follow the path to the equipment shed. As you near, you notice a flicker sign over the front door. The sign says that the prime contractor will accept visitors at this time. Below this message is a line that says Visitors: 2 Home: 12.
When you get closer the door opens and three people leave the building. The bottom message changes to Visitors: 0 Home: 11.
You go inside expecting to find a typical on-site contractor's office.
"May I help you?" asks the young woman at the front desk.
The front desk looks like it should be part of a private star ship's control center. A young woman dressed in a tube top sits in a wrap around chair. Screens off to both sides of the center of the desk give the young woman the ability to work multiple jobs without having to mess with multiple windows.
Your first thoughts are that this woman has her position by virtue of the fact that she is young, shapely and scantily clad. Then you notice that two of the screens display very complex scheduling diagrams in 'EDIT' mode.
You ask to see the "Big Boss about a matter concerning a shipment of left handed spanners,' just as your friend advised. The young woman consults another display and contacts the 'Big Boss' via voice link. She then smiles and says that you can go on back.
"Just follow the mouse-bot," she says.
A mouse-bot rolls out from its service module beneath a beaten up old book case. Somebody got cutesy, adding flannel ears and a pointy nose to the otherwise utilitarian bot. You follow the mouse-bot past the front office personnel and into the dimly lit main building. Spot lights come on, illuminating your way and giving you glimpses ot the hardware inside the building.
When you stop to look at an odd piece of equipment, the mouse-bot turns around and chatters at you angrily. You reluctantly head toward the bot.
The bot chirps happily, spinning around and resuming its trek. Before long you come to another door that opens automatically.
Inside is a man in an easy chair reading a book.
"Come on in and have a seat." he says, putting down the book and waving at a chair.
You sit down and relax.
"Marie said that you were here to discuss left handed spanners," the man continued. "Do you happen to know where they're from?"
"Afghanistan," you answer, remembering your friend's instructions.
"Ah," says the man. "And who are the importers?"
"Mycroft Crick, Ltd.," you reply.
The man grinned and nodded. Then the lights dimmed blue.
"Murphy," swore the man. "Who is it Marie?"
"Aaron from the Bio-Lab," replied a female voice. "He really wants to talk to you about the new project."
"Give me fifteen minutes before you send him in. And hold my calls."
"Yes sir," acknowledged the voice cheerfully.
"And I thought today was going to be a slow day," grumbled the man.
He then launched into a quick overview of the New Frontier Ranch and Research Center, answering most of my questions. He also apologized for the interruption and invited me back another time.
After fifteen minutes the lights dimmed blue again. "I'm sending Aaron in," said Marie.
"Thanks," replied the man as the lights brightened. He then gets up and escorts you to the door where the mouse-bot is waiting.
On the way back to the front office you pass a draft horse sized centaur in a lab coat. The centaur is carrying a bundle of blue prints in his arms.
Back in the main office the receptionist stops you and apologizes for the interruption. From this side of the desk you see that the base of her wrap around chair is actually a clear container of water set on a metal base. And as far as you can tell, the young woman is a mermaid.
You leave the building after listening to her advice to look around.
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