Harlow left Dr. Gizzard’s lab immediately, leaving behind the items she had brought with her. They hadn’t mattered anyways, not really. She just wanted to return them. She rushed back through the hallways, rechecking every lab as she went. When she passed Beauregard’s lab, she went to check it, only to see that his lab was the same as everyone else’s. Empty, and everything left in a hurry. 

Is everyone okay? She thought. She was getting increasingly worried by the moment. And it wasn’t made better that she kept thinking back to the D00r-bots insistence on her leaving. She made her way back to the lobby, and instead of leaving the building she ran up the stairs and into the elevators of the first floor. Her idea was that maybe the only other place that still had lights on, the observation deck, would have more information. Or at least some one would be up there. 

She sat in the elevator, with its supposedly productivity-influencing music, for what seemed like forever. She had check her phone, and even considered calling backup should the situation need it. But what if it didn’t? What if she was being overly paranoid by everything she had witnessed simply because it was so dark outside. She kept her phone in her hand regardless and nervously tapped her finger on the screen.

Eventually the elevator doors opened to the top floor, the observation deck. When Harlow stepped out, she could see the now bright night sky right above her. And when she looked out, she could see the whole of Graves City from the nearest window. Even with the lights on, even with the fact that she was inside of the Citadel, hell, even with the fact that she was a superhero— Technomancer, she still felt very vulnerable.

At least she was headed to the most tech-filled areas of the building.

The observation deck had no real roof. Instead, opting for a large glass dome. It was probably some sort of reinforced glass, Harlow had to guess, to ease safety concerns. As she walked down the corridor towards the monitor area, she took note that she saw neither scientist or regular workers. “Where the hell…is everybody?” She said aloud, barely above a whisper. She tightened the grip on her phone. Surely there would be some people working right now. Crime doesn’t sleep. In fact, a recent survey suggest that 87% of Graves City crimes happen at night! So why isn’t anyone currently working right now?! 

She shook her head. Reverting to statistics was not a good move. In fact, the only thing it backed up was her fear that something horrible might have happened. What if she walks in on a hostage situation? She calmed herself for a moment before walking, with a little bit more urgency, towards the monitor area. The only other rooms on this floor were meant for meetings. Meetings of any kind for superheroes, investors, scientist, whatever you can think, of. The D00r-bots had said that Gizzard was in a meeting, so maybe everyone was?? It seemed unlikely, given the time of night, but it could be possible.

“Yeah,” she said softly, “yeah that’s it. I’m clearly psyching myself up because of that damn radio broadcast and now I’m freaking the heck out for no reason.” She began putting her phone in her pocket looking through the meeting rooms. “I’ll tell Gizzard i put the materials in her lab and then go home. Take a very long nap, and then come right back here.” She took a small breath. “To get scolded for tampering with company property.” She sighed, the weariness finally getting to her. Maybe i should have just came back tomorrow? Today?

Harlow paused when she heard a feminine, nasally voice loudly shriek through the halls. Not like an in-danger shriek, she realized, but more of a fuck-you-i-was-right shriek. It sounded like Gizzard. 

She made for a break in the right side of the hallway and followed the voice to the left-most meeting room, room 1D, and stopped. The doorway was opened, which was a little weird since it was a meeting room. The protocol for meetings was to enter a room, hit the button on the presenter desk, and present. Th button would signify that everyone who needs to be there was present, and then door would shut automatically and a little light would appear above the door to signify a meeting was happening. But that wasn’t happening here.

Maybe cause it’s so late? Harlow wasn’t sure that was a smart thing to do. But that’s because she knows, as a nosy person, that someone would absolutely eavesdrop on the conversation. Which is what she was gonna do.

No to actually eavesdrop, of course. Just to see if that was actually Gizzard’s voice. When she peered into the room, however she didn’t find anyone. Like, not a single person. 

“Was this the room or…?” She said, fully walking into the room. She stopped next to the presenter’s desk. “At least now i know why the door was unlocked.” She said. Then, in an almost comical way, she placed her hand absent-mindedly on the podium. Something clicked. And a pathway behind her opened. As the secret entrance door was sliding open, Harlow could hear the same nasally voice as before.

“No…” She whispered. “NO…”

Someone built a secret entrance in the Citadel? Who? Why? Harlow removed her hand from the podium and walk towards the entrance. She peered inside, and saw a staircase leading further down. She she walked up to it, she looked over the railing and found what looked to be another lab. Complete with desk, computers and the works. Harlow paused and frowned. Just how much was she supposed to pretend like this was somehow a good thing. She began to descend the staircase, but stopped dead in her tracks when she heard voices began speaking again. 

“And once I receive my materials back from Technomancer, I’ll be able to show you my fully developed research.” A woman squeaked out. Harlow paused. She was Technomancer. So that nasally,  high pitched voice really was Gizzard. She felt her stomach sink and crouched to get a better view between the staircase railing. 

Yes, it was her all right. Rachel Gizzard, a scientist studying the recent meta-physiology of super-humans. She was standing, not at all threatened Harlow might add, directly beside a lab table. Her voice betrayed her, because while she sound meek and unsure of herself, she was actually quite a commanding woman. She was about 5 and half feet tall, with long black, ringlet-like curly hair that was pulled behind her ears to show her full face, which was covered in freckles. She was pouting at some figure n front of her. 

“And, I’d like you to pretend that i came to this meeting a little more prepared. But really, could we not have waited until tomorrow Mr. Darrow?” She folded her arms across her chest. Harlow strained to look at the figure past her, but someone moved in her line of sight. It was Dr. Beauregard. 

Dr. Beauregard is an amazing general practitioner who works often hand-in-hand with Dr. Gizzard. He is the main doctor that works with all the heroes in the Citadel. So, both of them being in the same room isn’t all that surprising. 

But this third guy, Harlow couldn’t even tell who it was. Beauregard himself was over 6 ft tall, so she couldn’t see the third guy’s face. He was definitely wider than the good doctor though, so that was a good start. He seemed to be leading whatever meeting was happening here. Harlow strained her eyes to see if she could see past the drs. 

“That’s very disappointing to here, doctor.” The mystery figure’s voice roared around the room, even though he wasn’t yelling. A genuinely loud person, Harlow figured, so it was surprising that she couldn’t figure out who it was. He spoke again after a moment of consideration. “Dr. Beauregard, is there anything you’d like to add to make this meeting more…worthwhile?”

The taller man, cleared his throat, fussing over some papers he had in his hand. He stammered, “W-well sir, we’ve been working with C0023 and C00046 and I think they’re handling the process well. I-i have videos too, i-if that w-if that could help at all.” The mystery man must have nodded, because then Beauregard fumbled and stumbled across the lab room floor. He hastily put his papers down then reached in his coat pockets for a flash drive, walked to the nearest laptop to plug in the damn thing and pressed play.  Then he ran back across the room to where his coworker was and used one of the numerous remotes on the table to make it play on the projector. It was like watching a child play with a puppet. He walked like he had never known to walk before. 

It was nice distraction, Harlow guessed. She’d never seen Beauregard move so anxiously though. So whoever they’re talking to is our bad guy. She thought and began to slowly creep down the stairs. She stopped when she heard another, fourth voice fill the room. But this one was familiar.

“Dr. Beauregard, it’s good to see you. What tests need to be run today?” Harlow turn to the projection so fast, she feared she’d fall over the railing. Dr. Beauregard was apparently in his  lab. Or maybe it was another lab? Harlow couldn’t rule that out given this fun, new secret lab she’d stumble upon. But that wasn’t the most interesting thing on the screen. What was, was one of the missing Heroes. 

“Hello Henry. How’re doing today? Feeling better?” Dr. Beauregard asked, looking over some sort of files.

It was Henry Atoms, the Cosmic Lad.