<P><B><JC>TWIST
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<P><B><JC>CHAPTER FOUR: Blood and Tears
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<P>"He's gone, sir." Corporal Collins stepped into Manderley's office, with less than welcome. Manderley was startled - he swiveled in his chair, paused a moment, then snapped his attention back to the holographic man hovering over the stout generator tucked into a small nook in the wall. It was a device used for communication - A visual telephone. Collins noticed the figure and tried to make out who it was, but the image flickered and disappeared before he had the chance. "I'm, uh, sorry, sir."
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<P>A vain in Manderley's head began to pulsate. "Corporal. Make this quick."
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<P>Collins swallowed. Manderley had a reputation for his anger fits. "Dr. Reyes, sir. He's gone."
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<P>Manderley looked at him for a moment. "What do you mean, 'gone'?"
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<P>"He was supposed to be in his office today, sir. He's been gone the whole day. I've looked around the entire compound. Nothing, sir. Nobody knows where he is. It's like he just... vanished."
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<P>Manderley blinked. There was an awkward pause.
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<P>"Collins," he said finally, "You know damn well we've already taken care of this. Employees don't just vanish. We've taken precautions. Put them to use. And if you're still too inept to find him, then search the building again, search the island, hell, search the entire city of New York. Just find him and bring him back. But don't come bursting in on me like this ever again. You hear me, Corporal? I have important business to attend to. More important than your problems, or your job, or your life. Don't come pestering me every time you can't find Dr. Reyes because he's taking a leak in the restroom."