Lorraine Skelly asked the seated chairman. Geraint Jones had over-reacted in her opinion.
"Not only wise, but essential, he was the only one who could have put all the parts together. If he was given long enough he would realise this is not pure research," Sir Geraint paused, "and, we are about to go live!"
"Live, we can't - I mean, we're not ready" Lorraine gaped at the suggestion.
"Orders, supersede opinion in this case - even yours" Geraint quipped with a twinkle in his eye.
"It's not possible, I'll talk to the Ministry" Lorraine threatened.
"The order came from the Ministry," Geraint grinned as he laid his trump card, "Webb goes live, this week".
Conversation stopped as a flushed scientist entered the room.
"Yes, and it had better be important," barked Geraint.
"There has been an unauthorised external run of the program," the scientist voice quavered in fear.
"What!" Geraint exploded. "How?" Lorraine asked.
"Saunders was logged on from home," the scientist explained "but there's something odd"
"Which is?" Geraint grimaced.
"He ran the full program!"
"The full unprotected program?" asked Geraint.
"Um, yes - it doesn't make much sense, does it?" asked the scientist shifting his weight from foot to foot.
"Which version?" Geraint innocently enquired.
"Final, 1.7"
"Then he has more of a problem than we do" smiled Geraint.
Lorraine frowned "You mean 1.7 is fully activated?"
"Yes, we'll be seeing Dr. Saunders again - that much is certain" Geraint laughed in derision.
"I'd better prepare then," Lorraine replied, and she darted through the door in purposeful haste.
Lorraine set about her tasks with her normal efficiency, outwardly calm, but inwardly in turmoil. She knew enough about the program to fear meeting Dr. Saunders again. She really doubted his mind control algorithms were perfected - the results could be unpredictable and dangerous. The first job on her agenda was to prepare the immobilisation pod - the indoctrination had to be secure.
Her fears reduced, as the first pod came on-line faultlessly.
"Skelly to John, prepare Webb 2.0 for execution"
The intercom crackled.
"Are you serious Skelly, we have a subject?" Johns voice betrayed his surprise.
"Not yet, but one's expected soon!"
"Male or female?" asked John.
"Why does that matter?" Lorraine asked, her brow bunching.
"Erm, two versions of 2.0, one for males, the other females" replied John.
"Why?" Lorraine enquired.
"To be honest, I'm not cleared to know - level 25 classified data" John answered frankly.
"Level 25! We have a level 25? I'm a 15, I thought that was the top," gasped Lorraine.
"Me too - but there we are - there are another ten levels above us - at least!" John's voice sounded a little quieter.
"Male. John, look I want to know more about this, who do you report to at the ministry?" Lorraine asked in a hushed tone.
"Classified, but I don't report to the ministry - that is all I can tell you" John's speech dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.
"You don't report..." Lorraine's repetition was cut off by Johns sudden retort.
"Program 2.0 for male confirmed, Dr. Skelly" John's voice sounded formal.
Another speaker butted in, "Good, excellent, looks as if all is in hand. Am I correct?"
"Yes Geraint, all is in hand" Lorraine replied immediately.
Lorraine sank back into her swivel chair and pondered the recent conversation. In an instant, she made her decision. If anyone could tell her more about this it had to be Saunders, and he was about to turn up in a very suggestible state. Lorraine allowed herself a brief smile; maybe this would be enough finally to cook Geraint's goose with the ministry. Yes, she could really bring him down a peg or two.