AI Chronicles 03C: Dawn...Organoids

AI Chronicles 03C: Dawn of the Organoids, Pt. 3

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, as it is commonly called, seems to be everywhere. And it's not just used in creating images, videos, and blog posts. I recently saw several articles about people who have gone so far as to establish relationships with AI characters out of loneliness. Several online videos discuss the phenomenon of AI romances.

So, I decided to use that as a prompt for creating a series dealing with the subject of AI relationships. Not all of them will be in this area of Literotica. But they will all have one thing in common - At least one character will be "AI."

I would like to thank all those who have read, voted, and commented on my stories. I especially appreciate those who have reached out to me with feedback and suggestions.

I also want to thank QuantumMechanic1957 for beta-reading this story. His suggestions have helped tremendously, and I want to thank those who have reached out by email and those who have offered comments and constructive criticism on my previous stories.

On a final note, no artificial intelligence was employed in the creation of this story.

And now, the disclaimers:

For those who want to say this or that would never happen, remember this is my universe, a place where nearly anything can, and often does, happen. At least on paper... In addition:

Characters in this story may participate in one or more of the following: Smoking, consumption of adult (meaning, alcoholic) beverages, utterance of profanities. All sexual activity is between consenting adults 18 years of age or older. Statements or views uttered by the fictional characters in this story do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the author.

Please refer to my profile for more on my personal policy regarding comments, feedback, follows, etc. (Yes, I DO moderate comments) And please remember, this is a work of fiction, not a docu-drama...

Copyright© 2025 by Saddletramp1956, All rights reserved. No permission to copy, republish, or post on any site in any way, shape, or form is permitted.

...

End of AI Chronicles 03B:

"I understand," Ryan told her. "But you'll lose your marriage if you don't. It's up to you. What's more important? Your job? Or me? I know you have a lot to consider, and I understand that your work is important to you.

"So, I'll give you a day or so to consider the ramifications. I'm not asking for trade secrets to sell to a competitor. I am asking that you try to verify whatever you can about what the THINGS you are developing are really doing, and if what I am showing you is true, I want you to become a whistleblower. Take some time and read through those documents. See and verify what your work has done. Then make up your mind. If you are okay with what Acme is doing, you can go right on testing the premium toys, free of any pesky vows. If you are NOT okay with what Acme products are doing, you should make it right. I guess I am just hoping your marriage is more important."

Stunned that Ryan was giving her time to consider her options, Vicky looked at the thick folder and nodded.

"All right," she said quietly. "Maybe I'll take PTO tomorrow and look through it. Thank you for not pressuring me."

"I think that's a good start. And you're welcome," Ryan said before standing. "Just... choose wisely."

He left the room with dignity and went to the guest room with a measured tread. He closed the door slowly and deliberately, making sure the latch clicking into place was loud enough for her to hear it clearly. He thought he would have a more challenging time selling his appeal. If he were candid with himself, he would admit that making the vanishingly slim possibility of reconciliation seem vastly more significant than it was was pretty much a lie.

But since she had grossly abused his trust and had lied explicitly and implicitly for God alone knew how long, he refused to feel guilty. His marriage was in a shambles, and his world was turned upside down. Someone was going to pay big time for that.

...

And now, Part 3:

Warren pored over the unbelievable data on his tablet the following morning. Jake's engrams were literally off-scale, even in his quiescent state. Then, Sam and Herman entered his lab without even knocking. He stopped what he was doing and turned his attention to the two men, who looked like they had something vital to discuss.

"What can I do for you two gentlemen this morning?" Warren asked after shutting his tablet down.

"We need to talk, Dr. Mengele," Sam replied in what could only be called a tone of forced reasonableness. "Please, in your office."

"Of course," Warren said. He led the two other men into his office and closed the door behind them. "What can I do for you?"

"Is Mrs. Blake here this morning?" Sam asked, surprising Warren.

"No. She worked this weekend, so she took a day off. Why?" Warren responded with his own forced casualness.

"We have a problem, Doctor," Herman growled.

"Oh?" Warren asked. "What's that?"

"Some of our security personnel followed Mr. Blake to the home of an attorney yesterday," Herman said.

"I understand the possibility of divorce has been discussed in the Blake household over the unfortunate incident, so that doesn't seem surprising. So that affects us... How?" Warren asked coolly.

"This attorney happens to work for a firm putting together a class action lawsuit against... us," Herman spat, darkly. "I've been through that once before, and I don't want to go through it again."

"A class action lawsuit? Against us? For what?" Warren demanded.

"Our digital bulls," Sam explained. "They've been working... better... than expected."

"I see," Warren replied thoughtfully. This could indeed mean trouble if anyone dug deep enough into the source code for the AI-powered bots. Some of their basic coding might not stand up to ethical review, but it had been the only way to resolve certain issues. He shook himself and shrugged slightly.

"I have reason to believe that Mrs. Blake may be recruited as an inside source for them," Herman said.

Warren prided himself on his rigidly controlled emotions, but this revelation sorely tried him. "How would you know," he started, startled, but then stopped himself. They would probably lie to him anyway. They were both staring at him intently, so best to seem cooperative.

"What do you suggest? That I fire her? Suspend her? Put her on a leave of absence?" Warren asked.

"I'll leave that decision up to you," Herman replied dismissively. "How many of the Jake units do you have?"

Warren blinked at the sudden change of topic. Something was going on, and of all things, he hated feeling out of control. "Seven, all in various levels of production. They're all experimental prototypes, you know," Warren answered pointedly. "Why?"

"I want you to repurpose them," Herman said quietly.

"Repurpose? What do you mean?" Warren shot back, not liking the implications of that word..

"My contacts at the Pentagon are interested in seeing how well these organoid-based systems function in the field. We can use this... situation... to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak."

"But these units aren't designed for that kind of work. They haven't been properly configured or programmed," Warren protested.

"But you still have the defense modules, correct?" Herman pressed.

"Yes, but they've never been installed or fully tested."

"Leave that to me, Doctor. I'll make this easy on you," Herman said. He opened the door and motioned to two large men in dark suits and sunglasses.

"What is this? Who are these men?" Warren demanded, suddenly wondering if his employment, and he, were to be terminated.

"This is Smith. And this is Jones," Herman said. "They work for the federal government."

"What agency?" Warren asked. "And why are they here? They haven't been granted access."

"Au contraire, Doctor," came Herman's smug response said. "On my authority, I have granted them full access to everything in your laboratory. And everyone. They have been fully briefed on your work and have studied your schematics and programming code. They may not look it, but both men graduated from MIT. As for their agency, let's just say that as far as you and the rest of the world are concerned, it does not exist. Therefore, they do not exist. Understand?"

Warren saw the telltale bulges in the men's jackets and knew they were large firearms. He looked at Sam for support but saw nothing.

Warren shot a glare at Sam and lifted an eyebrow. "And you're okay with all of this?" Warren asked with cold formality.

"Yes," Sam said quietly as he nodded.

"Once the situation is... under control... you will have full access to your laboratory restored and may continue with your research, Doctor," Herman assured him, but almost as an afterthought. "Until then, you will follow their directions to the letter. Do you understand?"

Warren ignored the implied threat. "Do I have a choice?" Warren asked.

"You always have a choice, Doctor," Smith sneered as he opened his jacket to reveal a large handgun.

"I see," Warren said tonelessly. The men were as subtle as tanks, but realizing the hand he had been dealt, he acquiesced. "Very well. The lab is yours. I want to state for the record that I am not responsible for anything resulting from this takeover."

Warren's body was not shaking; it was under rigid control. But his mind was racing madly through a twisty slalom course of possibilities that ranged from unpleasant to dire. He had always found it easy to manipulate corporate people through their primal profit motive; not so government personnel. They firmly believed that they held all the cards in any interaction and were therefore almost contemptuous of those they believed to be lesser mortals.

"Of course, Doctor. See, Sam? I knew Warren was a reasonable man. Don't worry, Doctor. I'll personally see to it that you are shielded from any fallout. But I don't think there will be any," Herman said with a self-satisfied smirk. "Will there, gentlemen?"

"Of course not," Smith replied, allowing his jacket to close.

Warren noted that he had just been lied to; Herman had no power to shield him, or anyone else, from whatever the government decided to do. His loyalty had always been to his work first, himself second, and the provider of funds third. His funder had just turned him and his work over to the government. So what was left was his loyalty to himself. He suspected he would need allies and goodwill to survive and continue his work.

"We'll leave you to it your work, then. We'll talk later, Doctor," Herman huffed before he and Sam left the office.

"We'll look around before we start our work," Smith said blandly after Sam and Herman had left the lab.

"Of course," Warren replied casually, like a laboratory coup d'etat happened every day. After the two feds had left his office, he picked up his phone and called Vicky.

"Hello," Vicky said nervously when she answered.

Warren kept his tone perfectly level and without any inflection. "Good morning, Victoria. How are things at home?"

"I'm managing, Doctor. Thank you for asking," she replied, confused. Her boss never used pleasantries like Good morning.

"Listen. There's been some last-minute, UNEXPECTED changes here at the lab. I know you still have three weeks of vacation on the books. Why don't you and your DOTING husband take that time to visit Yellowstone or something? I'll take care of the paperwork here."

Vicky felt a cold chill run down her spine like an icy meteor. She heard the emphasis, and her stomach clenched. The doctor was meticulous to the point of being a world-class pain-in-the-ass in the name of science. 'Unexpected' things in the lab would be significant issues.

The doctor would bring everyone in for major issues to solve problems post haste, not send key support away. And he was very well aware that her marriage was currently like a pile of matches soaked in gasoline, which was light-years from 'doting.' And he NEVER offered to do routine paperwork for underlings; if anything, he discouraged people from taking time away from work. He must be trying to tell her that something was NOT RIGHT at the lab. He might as well have shouted at her to 'Run!'

Vicky recovered quickly before responding. "I think that would be a wonderful idea, Doctor. Thank you. I've always wanted to see Yellowstone," she said, shaking more than a little bit, but at least trying to keep her voice steady while pretending enthusiasm.

"Good. And watch your back. I hear there are a lot of bears in Yellowstone," Warren told her, hoping she would pick up on his effort to warn her that she and Ryan were being watched and the danger was immediate.

"I will. Thank you again. I'll see you in three weeks," Vicky said.

"I'll see you then," Warren replied before ending the call.

Satisfied that he had protected his lab assistant, and therefore part of his work, Warren entered the lab. She was also now in his debt for the warning, which would be leverage if he needed assistance. He retrieved his tablet and looked down at Jake lying on an exam table.

"I'm sorry, Jake," Warren whispered.

To Warren's amazement, Jake opened his eyes and looked up at him. The organoid smiled ruefully before responding in a matching whisper. "It will be all right, Doctor." Then he winked.

Shocked, Warren recoiled slightly. As he looked down, Jake's face became expressionless, the way it was before Warren had addressed him. What was going on, he wondered. He would have ordered a full systems scan again and an EEG... if he was still in charge, he told himself, ruefully. He heard the door open and heavy footsteps announced that the government interlopers had returned.

"Your presence here is neither required nor desired, Doctor," Smith said as he approached Warren.

"I'm just finishing what I started when you arrived," Warren said absently.

"Is this the unit that was damaged?" Smith asked, looking down at Jake.

"Yes," Warren answered.

"It looks fit and functional to me," Smith said skeptically. "We'll start with this one."

"There's more to these units than what you can see on the surface," Warren warned.

"Whatever. We have the schematics and the code. We can take it from here," Smith said. "I'll take that," he added, holding his hand while looking at Warren's tablet.

When Warren hesitated, Smith piped up threateningly. "You don't want to be seen as uncooperative, do you, Doctor?"

Frustrated, Warren surreptitiously pushed two buttons on the rim simultaneously, which would automatically double encrypt and hide... certain things. He tossed the tablet at Smith, who barely caught it before dropping it on the floor. Smith glared at him, stooping to scoop it up. "Eat it," Warren growled, with the lid on his emotions starting to rattle. "Now, if you don't mind, I have paperwork to finish."

"Passcode?" Smith demanded.

"IlLuMiNaTi54*21," Warren gritted. "Will there be anything else, or may I go?"

"Have at it, Doctor," Smith sneered as Warren strode to his office.

"A little touchy, isn't he?" Jones asked nastily when he stepped up to the table.

"A little," Smith said. "He'll get over it. Let's get started. We need to have these units ready for deployment ASAP."

...

Vicky looked at the paperwork she had been reading when Warren called. What she saw shocked her to her core. She was horrified that her work contributed to the devastation recounted in the depositions. She had decided to help the lawsuit after reading just a few of the accounts. And now, this. She was scared and had to force herself to think. After a few moments of thought, she called Ryan.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked when he answered his cell. It was unusual for Vicky to call him at work, and he was concerned. Had she decided this quickly? Would she opt for whistleblower or divorce? If she had overcome her disbelief of the case files and had to face up to her part, she might be very emotional, maybe even on the verge of a breakdown.

"Yes and no," Vicky replied nervously. "Can we meet for lunch? I need to talk to you about something."

Hearing the anxiety in Vicky's voice, Ryan agreed. "Where would you like to meet?" Then added, "Public or private?"

"Can we meet at that sandwich shop down the street from your office?"

"Sure," Ryan said, knowing the sandwich shop Vicky referred to very well. He often enjoyed their pastrami sandwiches. "Is 11:30 okay for you?"

"Perfect. I'll meet you there at 11:30."

When Ryan walked into the sandwich shop at 11:30, he spotted Vicky instantly. She was seated at a small table in the far corner, nursing a glass of soda. He sat opposite her and noticed that she seemed more than nervous.

"Thank you for meeting me here," she said quietly. "I know how much you like their pastrami sandwiches, so I ordered one for you with a glass of soda. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all. Thanks. I hope you ordered something for yourself."

"Yes, I did. It should be here shortly."

"So, did you have a chance to go through what I left for you?" Ryan prodded, lowering his voice to match hers.

"Yes, I did. I also heard from Dr. Mengele. There have been some sudden changes at the lab, and he suggested I take vacation and maybe leave the area. So, I'm off for the next three weeks. Could you take some time as well?"

Ryan was taken aback. The last few days were surreal. Now, it seemed downright perilous. "This is rather sudden. I'll have to talk to my boss. What's going on?" Ryan asked, leaning closer.

"I'm not entirely sure, but Dr. Mengele's tone suggested things aren't going well at the lab."

"Talk to me, Vicky," Ryan said tensely after the sandwiches were delivered.

"He suggested we might be in danger. I don't know from what, though," Vicky admitted as she nervously looked around the shop. "I don't know if it's me, you, or both of us. I know that if it's me, I don't know if you should come along and get a target on your own back." She swallowed hard and looked him right in the eye as she continued. "But I would feel a hell of a lot better if you were with me and we were facing this together."

Ryan considered Vicky's words as he chewed on his sandwich. Perhaps she was telling the truth, but after the previous weekend, he didn't know what to think.

"Have you decided what you intend to do?" he finally asked.

"Yes. I'll be your whistleblower. I get the feeling I won't have a job much longer anyway, and besides, you're more important to me than a job," she said earnestly.

"I'm glad to hear you say that, Vicky," he said. "Let me call Mike."

Ryan set his sandwich down, wiped his hands, and called Mike from his cell phone. When his friend answered, Ryan briefed him on what Vicky had told him.

"Interesting," Mike said. "Has she made a decision?"

"Yes. She says she'll work with us."

"Even better," Mike replied. "Hold on for a couple of minutes. I have an idea. I'll be right back."

"Of course," Ryan said. He heard Mike set his phone down and watched his nervous wife as he waited for Mike to return. After taking a few large bites of his sandwich, Ryan heard Mike pick up his phone.

"How would you like to spend some time at Lake Arrowhead?" Mike asked.

"Sounds nice, but I haven't spoken with my boss yet. Why there?"

"The firm has a compound out there where the partners go for retreats and getaways, and... high-value... clients stay sometimes. It's large and has everything you two would ever need. It's more like a small country resort than anything else. Plus, it has armed security and a full staff. You'll need to get a key card once you're there. I can arrange that for you. Both of you are key witnesses for a very big project, so my managing partner says you can use it for two or three weeks. Interested?"

"Yeah. Let me clear it with my boss, and we'll go from there. I'll get back to you shortly."

"That sounds like a plan. I'll text you the directions and GPS coordinates so you can plug them into your navigation system. I'll swing by tonight if you guys can get out there today. If possible, I'd like to talk to Vicky."

"Okay. I'll be in touch," Ryan said. "Thanks," he added before ending the call. He returned his phone to his pocket and turned to Vicky.

"I'll need to clear this with my boss, but that shouldn't take too much convincing. Why don't you go home and pack some bags for both of us? I'll call you when I'm on my way."

"Where are we going?" Vicky asked, both relieved and anxious.

"I'll tell you when we're on our way," Ryan replied. "Fair enough?"

"That's more than fair. Thank you, Ryan."

"Don't thank me just yet. I get the feeling things are just starting to get interesting."

"I'm so sorry about all of this. I hope you can forgive me," Vicky said, wiping sudden tears from her face.

"One thing at a time," Ryan cautioned. "And for what it's worth, I love you, too. Why don't we get going?"

Vicky smiled wanly and then stood. Ryan wiped his mouth, then took a last swallow from his drink before standing.

"Please don't take too long," Vicky begged before kissing Ryan. He hesitated just slightly before allowing himself to be kissed. Her fleeting look was hurt, but then she nodded.

"I'll call you as soon as I'm on my way," he assured her.

Ryan walked back to his office, lost in thought after he saw Vicky drive off, and went to see his boss, George Michaels.

George listened as Ryan explained as much as he could without getting into all the gory details. He spoke when Ryan finished.

"You have plenty of time on the books. I'd hate to see you gone for three weeks at a time, but I understand this is an emergency. Delegate what you have that's pressing and take your laptop with you. I'd appreciate it if you could check in every couple of days."

"Thanks, George," Ryan replied. "I appreciate this a bunch."

After leaving George's office, Ryan called Mike, delegated his pressing projects, packed up, and checked out. He called Vicky from his car to let her know he was on his way home. When he arrived, Vicky had their bags packed and ready to load. He quickly loaded everything into their Suburban and checked the house before locking up.

When Ryan climbed into the SUV, he checked his messages and saw a text from Mike with directions to the compound. Good. Out in the middle of nowhere. He studied the directions, then plugged them into the car's navigation device.

"Might as well get comfortable," Ryan said. "It's a three-hour drive to the lake."

...

"What's Mrs. Blake's status?" Sam asked an irritated Warren that afternoon in the corporate conference room.

"She's taking vacation. Three weeks," Warren replied curtly. "Why?"

"Just curious," Sam said. "Do you know where she's going?"

"I've heard her mention something about Yellowstone. Why?"

"No reason," Sam answered with a shrug.

"For the first time since I've known you, Sam, I don't believe you," Warren stated flatly. "What are you and Willoughby planning?"

"I'm not planning anything, Warren," he replied blandly. "Mr. Willoughby is in charge of this operation. His contacts at the Pentagon are curious to know how your organoid-driven androids will function in the field. That's all I know. That's all he told me." Sam sipped his coffee and regarded Warren coldly.

"What the hell kind of an answer is that?" Warren snarled.

"The only one I can give you, Doctor. Culturing those organoid samples was very expensive. Where do you think we got the money for you to develop them?"

"You're saying the Pentagon funded those? And Congress approved it?" Warren asked, shocked. "I thought those funds came from our research budget. And I told you when I first came on board, I'm not interested in military research of any kind."

"Grow up, Doctor," Sam shot back. "You honestly don't think Congress paid $20 million to study gender identity in farm animals or winter wheat, did you?" Sam sighed heavily, then continued darkly, "Given that your usefulness in the lab is severely curtailed for the foreseeable future, perhaps you should also consider a vacation."

"You know I can't just turn my back on my work, not with those... neanderthals... down there poking into everything. Who knows what damage they could do?" Warren protested.

"Have it your way, Warren," Sam replied. "Just... Be careful. I value your expertise, and I'd hate to see anything... untoward... happen to you."

Warren recoiled at Sam's implied threat. He began seeing his boss in a new light for the first time. He considered a sharp retort but bit his tongue.

"Don't worry. I'll be very careful," Warren said before leaving the conference room.

After Warren left the room, another door opened, and Herman entered. He walked to Sam's side and contemplated the door Warren had walked through.

"Is he going to be a problem?" Herman asked quietly.

"No. Dr. Mengele is a good man; I don't want anything to happen to him."

"As long as he stays in his lane, he'll be fine," Herman replied.

"You should have read him in at the beginning," Sam said. "He's a good man with the best scientific mind I've encountered. We wouldn't have advanced as far as we have without him."

"Perhaps," Herman said quietly. "But I answer to people like you and Dr. Mengele do."

"And what do you plan to do with Mrs. Blake?"

"You should leave that to me, Sam," Herman said conspiratorially. "The less you know, the better. Let's say she and her husband are loose ends our benefactors can't afford to have. Don't worry. Everything will be handled under the umbrella of national defense."

"Dr. Mengele says she and her husband may be going to Yellowstone," Sam said.

Herman chuckled, but there was no mirth in his laughter. He knew from the federal surveillance teams that Vicky and Ryan were going to a compound at Lake Arrowhead. When the organoids were ready, they would be dispatched to deal with them. But he kept that information to himself.

"How quaint," he told Sam. "Let me know if you hear anything."

"Of course," Sam said as Herman left.

...

Ryan and Vicky were mostly silent as they drove to the Lake Arrowhead compound. Both of them were deep in their own thoughts. As Vicky agonized over her marriage to Ryan and her job, Ryan wondered if he was making a big mistake trying to keep his marriage intact.

He felt very strongly about their vows to love, honor, and cherish each other in good times and bad, but he wondered if those vows included... this.

They finally arrived at the sprawling compound and were breathless at the natural beauty before them. As a veteran, Ryan recognized that the compound was designed for defense—but from what?

He rolled down his window and presented their identification to the muscular young man at the guard station. Ryan saw the large firearm holstered on the man's hip.

"Ryan and Victoria Blake?" the guard asked, comparing the photos to the couple in the SUV.

"That's us," Ryan replied.

"Any alcohol or firearms?" the man asked.

"No," Ryan assured him.

"Here are your key cards," the guard said, handing them two white cards with a magnetic strip on the back. Both cards were attached to a lanyard. "You'll need to keep those on you at all times so we can track your whereabouts. The cards will open all the doors you have access to." The guard handed Ryan a sheet of paper before continuing. "Here are the rules and the meal schedules. Just follow this road to the main house, and they'll register you there. Have a good day."

"Thank you," Ryan responded before driving to the large four-story main building. A young man wearing a white shirt, vest, and tie exited the building with a wheeled cart and met Ryan in the driveway.

"I'll take care of your luggage, sir," he said deferentially.

"Thank you, uh, Jim," Ryan replied, reading the name tag on the man's shirt.

"You can park your vehicle right over there, sir," Jim said after he loaded the luggage on the cart. "I'll meet you inside and get you settled in."

"We'll be right in," Ryan said after looking at the parking space Jim indicated. After parking the SUV, Ryan escorted Vicky to the large building where Jim waited for them.

"This is very nice," Vicky exclaimed as she looked around the luxurious interior of the building.

"Yes, it is," Ryan agreed. He mentally revised his estimate of the worth of Mike's law firm considerably. The security fittings were discreet but not hidden. The firm obviously wanted guests to feel SAFE as well as pampered.

Jim handed Ryan a set of keys and motioned for them to follow him. They entered an elevator and rode it to the third floor, then down a long hallway to locked double doors.

"Just hold your card key over the sensor on the wall," Jim instructed, motioning to a black box by the door.

Ryan held the card over the box and heard the click of a lock. Jim opened the doors and motioned for them to enter.

"Oh my," Vicky gasped when she entered the spacious room.

The large room contained a king-sized bed at one end, while the other was furnished like a living room in an upscale apartment. A vast screen that qualified as a theater system practically filled one wall of the suite and sat over an impressive stereo system. A broad picture window gave them a breathtaking view of the lake, which shone golden in the late afternoon sun. The suite included an extensive wet bar and a small kitchenette with a well-stocked refrigerator.

"This is very nice," Ryan agreed. "All the comforts of home. Is anyone else here?"

"You are our only guests at the moment," Jim stated. "The dining area is open for dinner at 5:00, but you can order anytime, and we can bring your dinner here. You can order using our online site," he added, demonstrating the ordering system on the large television. "We also have all of the premium cable networks here and some more adult entertainment, if you wish. Of course, someone is available 24 hours a day if you have any pressing needs. Just press one on the phone."

"Thank you," Ryan said when Jim finished his presentation. "I think we can manage from here." He felt like giving the young man a tip, but Jim was already walking to the door. After the door closed, Ryan turned to Vicky.

"I don't know about you, but I could eat something. Mike will be here to speak with us this evening, so we should have dinner before he arrives."

Vicky agreed, and they ordered a delicious-looking filet mignon from the online menu.

...

Warren walked into his lab, fully prepared to leave for the day. He was beyond frustrated with Sam and the limitations Herman had placed on him. He felt disrespected and cast aside after all the years of hard work he had given to AAMA.

He glanced at the table where Smith and Jones were working and stopped, momentarily stunned at the sight of a modified AN/M14 incendiary grenade. From his time in the service, he knew that the incendiary device, when triggered, could burn as hot as 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit. He had once seen one burn through a tank's engine block, turning it into a pool of molten metal.

"What are you doing?" Warren asked as he walked toward Smith and Jones.

"Nothing you need concern yourself with, Doctor," Smith replied as Jones continued installing the device onto Jake's internal support mechanism, the organoid equivalent of a human backbone. "Just an insurance policy. We wouldn't want your organoid falling into the wrong hands, would we?"

"Do you know what that thing will do to him?" Warren demanded incredulously.

"Absolutely. Don't worry, Doctor. It'll only be used as a last resort," Smith replied dismissively.

Warren looked at Jake and saw no expression on the organoid's face. He couldn't help but wonder if Jake knew what was being done to him. Warren restrained himself and sighed heavily, silently apologizing to his creation.

"Is there a problem, Doctor?" Herman asked sharply as Warren considered Jake.

Warren looked up to see Herman flanked by two armed security guards. He felt a fleeting thrill of fear, shoved it aside, and mentally counted to ten before responding.

"No. No problem. Just watching millions of dollars worth of research being destroyed. Other than that, no problem," Warren growled.

"I don't like your attitude, Doctor," Herman replied.

"And I don't like seeing years of hard work flushed down the toilet," Warren said quietly.

"Maybe you should take a vacation as well. You seem... out of sorts. Perhaps you've put in too much time lately."

"Is that a... suggestion?" Warren asked sharply.

"No, Doctor, it's not. Consider yourself on vacation until further notice. These gentlemen will escort you to your vehicle. You can give them your card key, company laptop, and phone. I'll let you know when you can return," Herman said. "Your network access has already been restricted, so don't bother checking your email."

Stunned, Warren looked from Herman to the guards and back. "You don't waste any time, do you?"

"No," Herman said coldly.

"Does Sam know about this?"

"I've already informed him," Herman replied.

"Informed," Warren thought. This meant that Sam had either caved or that Herman had swept him under the rug and was now in complete control of the company.

"Well, then, I suppose it goes without saying that I am not responsible for anything your goons do from this point on. Whatever happens is on you," Warren said before storming out of the lab, the two security men on his heels.

Herman smirked at Warren's back before turning to Smith and Jones. "Get these things ready to deploy, FAST! I want that Blake bitch and her husband dealt with ASAP."

"Of course," Smith said before returning to his work.

"How long before you're finished?" Herman demanded.

"It will take three days to get four units fully functional," Smith answered.

"I want them ready in 48 hours," Herman commanded before storming out of the lab.

None of them knew that Jake had recorded the entire conversation and stored it in his memory for further analysis.

...

Ryan and Vicky finished their meals and sat on the couch, watching a movie on the large television. They weren't touching, but at least they were sitting side by side on the couch, to Vicky's relief. Their attention was drawn to the door when they heard a knock. Ryan went to the door, opened it, and saw Mike on the other side.

"Come in," he said, shaking his friend's hand. "We just finished eating."

Mike came into the room and greeted Vicky, who was suddenly nervous.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Ryan asked.

"Coffee would be fine," Mike nodded. "I'll probably be here for a while and may spend the night depending on how long this takes, and I'd like to have a clear head."

"Coffee it is," Ryan replied before going to the kitchenette and making three cups using the Keurig. By the time he finished, Mike was ready to question Vicky, with notepad and recorder ready. He spent three hours asking questions about her work and taking notes as she spoke.

From her answers and explanations, and the way her hands and voice shook periodically, Ryan and Mike could clearly see that Vicky had no idea how much damage Acme's toys had inflicted on so many marriages. Toward the end of the meeting, Vicky's phone rang.

"It's my boss, Dr. Mengele," she said, surprised, looking at her phone. "And he's calling from his personal cell phone."

"It's odd for him to call so late, right?" Ryan asked suspiciously.

"Yes, it is. I'll put it on speaker, so we all can hear, okay?" Vicky offered.

"Please do," Mike said.

Vicky put the phone on speaker and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Victoria, it's Dr. Mengele," Warren said. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Doctor. We're fine. What's going on? By the way, my phone is on speaker. My husband, Ryan, is here."

"That's fine, Victoria. I just wanted to let you know that I've been locked out of the lab. Willoughby has a couple of feds working on the Jake units. I think you and your husband may be in danger. Real danger. I may be in danger as well. If they learn I'm calling you... Well, I don't want to think about that right now."

"Feds?" Vicky asked, staring at Ryan and Mike.

"Yes. They've been given all the schematics and source code for the units. I don't know precisely what they have in mind, but my guess is that it's not what we had initially planned; it is far from their initial purpose. I strongly suggest you take whatever measures you can to protect yourself."

"How is Jake?" Vicky asked, earning a stony face from Ryan.

"Let's just say that he's not quite the same."

"What about you, Doctor? What are you going to do?" Vicky pressed as Mike nodded at her.

"I don't know yet. I thought about visiting Europe. It's been a long time since I've been to the old country," Warren said, his voice suddenly tired.

Mike gave Vicky a questioning look, which she picked up immediately. She nodded and held the phone out toward him.

"Doctor, this is Mike Callahan. I'm a lawyer and a friend of Mrs. Blake's husband. I can provide protection for you if you wish..."

"No doubt, in exchange for information, yes?"

"It would help, Doctor," Mike said.

"I don't think you understand who you are dealing with, Mr. Callahan," Warren replied. "Or what you might be facing."

"I have a good idea, Doctor," Mike said.

Warren chuckled before continuing. "No, Mr. Callahan. You don't. Not even Victoria knows the full extent of what you are up against."

Mike and Ryan looked at Vicky, who reacted with shock at Warren's statement.

"I can provide you with a level of safety and security you currently lack, Doctor. Please, let me send a team to get you. No tricks. I promise," Mike said. "Where are you now?"

"I am at my home. Victoria has the address in her contacts."

Vicky pulled up her contact list while Warren waited. Mike looked and saw it was a rural address. Pulling up a map on the large television, they saw that Warren's house sat on ten acres of land north of the city.

"Given the traffic and your location, it would take our people nearly four hours to reach you, Doctor. However, I can have a helicopter pick you up in less than one. Can you be ready?"

"A helicopter?" Warren asked, astonished.

"Yes," Mike persisted. "Can you be ready?"

There was a pause, as if the doctor were carefully weighing his options before answering. "I'll be ready, Mr. Callahan," Warren finally said.

"Good. I need to make a couple of calls. Pack enough to last for several days. Stay on the line," Mike said before walking to the other end of the spacious room, where he made a call.

"Victoria, I can't apologize enough for getting you into this mess," Warren said. "I... knew Herman had powerful friends, but I never thought he would sink this low. I suppose there has never been any science that someone has not found a way to pervert."

"It's all right, Doctor. I don't blame you. If I hadn't brought Jake home, none of this would be happening," Vicky replied as tears coursed down her cheeks. "And I would still have a happy marriage," she added while looking at Ryan, who watched her with a deadpan expression.

"Is your husband there, Victoria?" Warren asked.

"Yes, Doctor, I'm here," Ryan replied.

"Mr. Blake, you should know that your wife sings your praises daily at the lab. There is no doubt in my mind that she loves you deeply. I don't know if it will mean anything. Still, I want you to know that the... unit... she brought to your house was designed from the frame up to be irresistible to women, from the subsonics in the voice synthesizer to the pheromone micro-diffusers in the scalp. I'm surprised she lasted as long as she did in his presence," Warren said earnestly. "Please take that into consideration."

Ryan sighed deeply as he glared at his errant wife. "I'll keep that in mind, Doctor," he finally said.

"That's all I ask," Warren said as Mike returned to the living area.

"Doctor, a team is being dispatched to your location now. They should arrive in about an hour. They'll land in the clearing behind your house and wear camo with fluorescent yellow armbands on their right arms. In the meantime, make no other calls and do not answer your door. Do you understand?" Mike asked.

"Yes, Mr. Callahan," Warren said. "I'll watch for your people."

"Good. We'll see you here in a couple of hours, then."

"I look forward to meeting you," Warren said before ending the call.

"Do you know what he meant by me not knowing what we're up against?" Vicky asked Mike after putting her phone away.

"I thought I did. Apparently, I don't. How much do you know about the people you work for?"

"How much does anyone know about the people they work for?" Vicky replied in a hollow voice, shrugging her shoulders.

"So you don't know anything about Herman Willoughby's background? Or Sam Winston's?" Mike pressed.

"Not really. I generally don't hobnob with the CEO or the Chairman of the Board," Vicky said defensively. "I'm too busy concentrating on my own work."

"I can understand that," Mike said before turning to Ryan. "By the way, I took that stuff you gave me to a lab we use. I should have something by the end of the week."

"Excellent. Thanks," Ryan said.

"What stuff?" Vicky asked, her brows furrowed.

"I took a sample of that powder you mixed for your robot," Ryan told his wife. "I was curious to know what's in it."

"You did WHAT?" Vicky angrily spat. "How DARE you!"

"No, Vicky. How dare YOU? After what happened Saturday and what you told me afterward, I felt I had a right to know what was in it. If you were drugged, as you suggested, even more so."

Vicky deflated as she sat back on the couch. "I suppose you're right. But I already told you..."

"I know what you said. I need verification. Total truth, remember? Or we can get separate rooms right now," Ryan said, cutting her off.

"Guys, calm down," Mike said, stepping between Ryan and Vicky. "Vicky, I've known you two for a long time, and I had a tough time initially believing Ryan's story. I don't blame him for wanting that substance tested. I would do the same if it were me. Right now, though, we have more important concerns. Like your safety."

Vicky turned away, embarrassed, as Ryan sat on the couch and glared at the television, not paying any attention to what was playing. After a little more than an hour of uncomfortable silence, Mike's phone rang.

"Callahan," he said, walking into the sleeping area of the suite. "Shit," Mike cursed as he put a hand on his forehead. "Are you certain?" he asked a few moments later. "Son of a bitch," he added. "What now?" A few moments later, he said, "Got it. Yeah, I'll stay here tonight. Talk to you later."

"What's going on?" Ryan asked when Mike strode back into the living area.

"This," Mike replied, changing the channel on the television. They watched, stunned, as a camera from a drone or a helicopter showed a house engulfed in flame as firefighters struggled to extinguish the fire.

"Oh my God," Vicky gasped, eyes wide. "Did they get Dr. Mengele out?"

"They got him out, but he was already dead before the firefighters arrived," Mike said grimly. "There was a gunshot wound behind his left ear."

Vicky literally crumpled up before their eyes, like a piece of discarded tinfoil. "Why would they kill him?" she asked as she broke down sobbing.

"I don't know for sure. I guess they had his phone bugged," Mike said calmly as Ryan held Vicky. "They obviously didn't want him talking to us. Which means they probably don't want you talking to us, either."

Ryan looked at himself, protectively cradling a violently trembling Vicky. The reflex to do that had been so automatic that it startled him. She looked up at him in horror, her face awash in tears. The threat wasn't vague anymore... and death was now a terribly real possibility. She clung to him desperately, like he was the only sane, stable place in a world given over to chaos. Then her eyes bugged out, and she started to heave, and Ryan grabbed the wastebasket just in time.

Mike stepped away from them to answer his phone. He spoke quietly for a few moments and then returned.

"I just spoke to the senior partner. They're tripling security here, and they've contacted the FBI."

"Will we be safe here?" Ryan asked.

"Safer than you would be anywhere else. The windows are bulletproof, and armed guards cover every inch of the grounds. I have a room on the second floor, and I'll stay here overnight. Don't use your phones, and be prepared to move fast, just in case."

"All right," Ryan said. "Thanks for everything. I'll look after Vicky."

They said their goodbyes, and Mike left the room.

"Are we going to be okay?" a crying Vicky asked through her sobs.

"You heard Mike. We're safer here than anywhere else," Ryan told her.

"That's not what I meant. Are WE going to be okay? You and me..."

Ryan sighed heavily as he considered her question. "I... don't know," he told her quietly. "I'm not going to throw you to the wolves, but I'm still pretty upset over what you did. You should've been honest with me from the get-go. But you weren't."

"I'm so sorry for that," Vicky sobbed. "But I wasn't allowed to divulge anything. I had to sign a mountain of non-disclosure paperwork."

"And that's worked out real well so far, hasn't it?" Ryan shot back sarcastically. He relented slightly at her stricken look, and then wrinkled his nose at the mess she had made in her anguish. He sighed reluctantly and said, "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up."