Valeri threw the soiled lab coat into the disinfecting bin. She scrubbed her hands with soap, even though she had been wearing gloves. She felt the need to wash away her involvement with the program. Her guilt for causing pain to the aliens was something that could not be washed from her soul. She wanted to believe that the experiments were a necessary evil. All her hopes and dreams depended on that being true. Deep inside, there was a growing suspicion that she was wrong. Her heart told her that it was all very bad and not the program that she had imagined. At least the aliens would remain untouched for the weekend. The scientists were going to a convention and would not step foot back in the lab until Monday. The nurses would rotate shifts and care for the aliens' needs.

Valeri had plans of her own. She was going to the empty lab over the weekend to find answers. With no one watching over her shoulder, she would look for the other aliens and any paperwork that told her what progress was being made by the experiments, if any. She knew there were cameras recording every move in the lab, but she also knew how to fix it so that no one would realize she had been there. Her palm prints were needed to open the doors, and her entrance would be logged into the memory. That could be changed with a little help from her brother.

Valeri's brother worked in the labs as well. His job involved the computers and medical equipment. He had no love for their father. They had been at odds for most of her brother's life. It was actually ironic that they worked in the same lab. They had not spoken to each other for years. Valeri loved them both. She refused to take sides.

Valeri stared up at the tall building. She was now aware of what lay behind its shiny exterior. She hated to know that she was out here enjoying the breeze and the sky full of stars while left inside were the pain-filled faces of the aliens. How many years had they been hidden away? They were probably not even aware of the year, much less the season. There were no windows to show them the sun or the rain. No way to feel the soft breeze on their cheeks. Guilt over their fate ate away at her mind. Her heart ached for the two she knew best. Akeila was so gentle and far too old to be fighting cancer. He was hanging in there and still optimistic. Ohber was young and deserved to live his life free from locked doors. He would really enjoy seeing this clear sky and breathing in the night air.

Valeri opened the door to her apartment. She hurried to each window and opened them as well, allowing the breeze and city noises to enter. She needed them that way to keep her from feeling locked away. She feared being put in a cage like the aliens. Ohber's question kept running around her head. Would she be okay with her family, or even her neighbors, being used in an experiment like the ones she was helping conduct? She wanted to be able to say that humans were different, but she knew that was a lie. Each of the aliens had parents, siblings, mates, and even children. They were alive, felt pain and sorrow, had dreams, and most of all had not agreed to this program. Their choices had been stolen. It made her realize that her life could change in an instant if someone out there decided she would benefit them in an experiment. Her own father was capable of it if she got in his way.

Valeri made a plate of snacks, sat on the sofa, and called her brother. Victor picked up on the first ring. That meant he was sitting at his computer. Perfect; she needed information, and he could find it quickly. His computer was so protected that no one would ever trace the inquiries back to him. He greeted Valeri with, "Are you ready to quit yet or has our father sucked you into the dark side?"

Not sure how to answer him, Valeri ignored the question. She told him, "I need your help. Are you willing to research dad's alien program? There are a few things that concern me, and I was betting you could help shed some light on the issues."

Victor roared with laughter. It took several minutes for him to calm down and speak. He shocked Valeri by saying, "I already have. I thought you might find a problem with what you saw, so I ran a quick search last week. I can go deeper if you want me to."

Valeri replied, "For now, just tell me what you've found. We can decide how much deeper to look later."

"Most of what I have is financial," he began. "There is a lot of money pouring into the program. It is then funneled into unnamed accounts all over the world. Very little goes back into the program. There also appears to be a second and third lab on the property. The paperwork claims that they are empty, yet the water and electrical bills are enormous. Dad is hiding something, or should I say someone. Nothing about this program feels legit. Get out before it's too late."

"It's already too late," Valeri answered. "I can't leave those poor aliens. I am the buffer between them and the scientists. I want to search for the other labs while the scientists are with dad at the convention this weekend. Can you help me get in without anyone being the wiser?"

"It would be a pleasure. Can I come with you?" Victor wanted to see the mess for himself.

The lab hallways were eerily quiet as Valeri and Victor searched each room. They found nothing in Valeri's lab or the experiment room. It was time to find the other labs. Doors that were usually locked and off limits were easily decoded and opened by Victor. Some contained old samples, and others were empty, smelling of bleach. They climbed the stairs to the next floor and carefully opened the steel door.

The hallways of this supposedly empty floor were brightly lit and reeked of illness. One nurse sat at a desk with her back to them. She didn't turn as they snuck through the hall. These rooms were unlocked, and they soon discovered why. All four rooms held an alien that was hooked to countless machines. Ventilators, dialysis equipment, IV's, and oxygen kept the poor souls alive. Valeri recognized a Reptilarian and a Milisarian, but the other species were unknown to her.

The third lab was on the top floor. It was bustling with activity. Valeri and Victor went unnoticed among the other lab-coated technicians. This floor consisted of one huge open room. It held testing equipment and thousands of samples. The techs appeared to be brewing potions. Here were the results of Valeri's work. If the experiments could make new cures, this was where it would be done.

Valeri and Victor left the building, none the wiser for their search. Yes, the labs listed as empty were filled, and there were some very sick aliens. This was not a huge surprise. The electricity bills had been enough to tell them the labs were occupied, and it was inevitable that some aliens would get very ill from the experiments or even just being away from their normal atmosphere. Valeri was disappointed and a little relieved. Maybe the program wasn't hiding as much as she thought. There was still a niggling doubt at the back of her mind. She was missing something and needed to discover what it was.

The rest of the weekend passed slowly. Valeri joined some friends at a club, but the noise and laughter got on her nerves. Her carefree days were behind her. Her friends could never understand the reality of her new world. She had seen far too much suffering to ever believe this world was perfect again. She left the club early.

Monday morning was a dreary one. Storms raged as Valeri entered the lab. She was soaked to the skin. It was a good thing that she kept a set of extra clothes in her locker. She slipped into a curtained changing area and slipped out of her drenched silk blouse and slacks. The dry jeans and t-shirt felt heavenly against her chilled skin. Valeri heard two of the nurses enter the locker room. One said, "That warrior is one hot specimen. I wouldn't mind being wrapped in those four arms. Too bad he's not assigned to me. The old lady gets to take care of him. What a waste."

The second voice replied, "It won't matter for much longer anyway. He will get weaker as the experiments go along and probably end up like the others before him. It's so sad. He's too beautiful for that. You're right: what a waste. Who knows, maybe he would appreciate a quickie before he gets too weak to enjoy it." They giggled nervously as they left the room.

Valeri wanted to know what they meant. Were they saying he would end up like the aliens in the second lab, hooked to machines that kept their bodies alive? Did they know of a different fate for Ohber? She had to find out.

Valeri hunted down the older nurse who was assigned to Ohber. She pulled her into the hall and asked, "How long have you been here? How many aliens have you cared for?"

The nurse nervously scanned the hallway for signs of listening ears. Though no one else was present, she whispered, "I have been here since the beginning. I have been assigned to care for four different patients. This Milisarian has been my assignment for the longest time."

The program had started earlier than Valeri had realized. She asked the nurse, "What happened to your previous patients?"

The woman hung her head, "I am not sure about all of them. One died in her sleep from a human disease. She was too weakened to fight it. She had not healed from the previous experimental disease. The others were taken from my care when they were no longer viable candidates for testing. I don't know where they were taken. I have to pray they were sent home or I can't handle this job."

Valeri asked, "What do you mean when you say they were no longer viable candidates?"

The nurse wrung her hands as she replied, "They were too sick or broken to survive any more experiments. Please, I must go now. I need this job." She scurried away on silent feet.

One of the scientists brought Valeri some blood samples to run. She decided to take a chance and ask him some questions. She began with, "What happens to the aliens when you are finished testing them?"

The man looked up in surprise and answered, "We replace them. There is always another one to test. Our jobs are secure."

Valeri tried again, "What do you do with the ones you are finished with?"

"I turn them over to Mr. Cavanaugh, and he has them removed from this lab. I don't know where they go. Why does it matter? They are of no use to us. If you have more questions, I suggest you ask the boss; although, I wouldn't advise being too nosy. He has been known to demote anyone who asks too many questions." The scientist turned his back on Valeri and entered information into the computer.

Valeri stopped questioning the staff. If Reginald caught her, he could toss her out of the program, and she would be unable to help Ohber. Helping the Milisarian Knight had become a priority for her. For some unexplainable reason, she felt responsible for him. Maybe it was due to how human he was. Or it might be his determination to live that drew her to care about him so much. The nurses were correct. He was definitely hot. It truly did make his treatments appear viler. She cared about all of the aliens, but Akeila and Ohber were special to her. She was well aware that getting close to any subject was a mistake, but it was too late. These men meant something to her. Yes, she considered them to be men, not aliens. That was surely mistake number two. She would have difficulty keeping her feelings out of the job.

Reginald watched everything through the cameras located in the hallways and lab. He saw Valeri stop the nurse. He noticed the fear in the woman's eyes and knew his daughter was asking questions that were better left unasked. He also saw Valeri speaking with one of the scientists. The man's response was one of confusion. Reginald guessed that she was once again sticking her nose in where it didn't belong. He didn't want to toss Valeri off of the program yet. She was excellent at her job and could do even better given a chance to get used to the program. She just needed to be distracted from the experiments for a while. Maybe he could find a way to bring back the excitement she had once felt about the experiments. Spending some time in lab number three could be just the thing to do it. The techs on that floor were on the verge of a new discovery.

Reginald talked to Ohber's nurse and reminded her not to gossip about the patients if she valued her job. Chastised, the woman kept her head down and refused to acknowledge anyone. Reginald then held a meeting with the scientists and went over the non-disclosure papers they had signed. He made it clear that there were to be no discussions with the staff about anything involving their government contracts. Their large paychecks depended on their silence.

It was time to make amends with Valeri. He needed to gain back some of her trust and stop the questions. Reginald entered the lab and surprised his daughter with a lunch invitation. He wanted to take her to a restaurant and give her a break from the lab. He further surprised her with a hug and the words, "I miss our little talks. I know I have been busy and ignored you. I am so sorry. Let's have a long lunch and catch up. You can tell me how you are getting along in the program and maybe how your brother is doing. He still refuses to answer when I call. I must admit, I have only tried to call him once in the last three months. I guess I'm not the best father out there."

If he expected Valeri to deny that statement, he was wrong. She agreed. Her blinders had been lifted. He was not the best father out there. He wasn't even in the top one hundred. She wondered if the lunch was some kind of ploy, but decided to go anyway.