Gerhard Surov and Simian Morton rose up out of the horizon like gods stepping forth from the earth. They held their horses by the rains, guiding them gently, and walking beside them, as the poor beasts were so tired and thirsty. In the distance, they saw HQ, and simian let out a load whooping sound of excitement and grattitude.<br/><br/>Gerhard smiled as well. Cactus juice and flesh is enough to keep one alive in the desert, but after a while the taste begins to leave something to be desired. Thus, the two of them broke into a run. The horses leapt from their hands, and the two wouldn't have been able to keep them back in any case. Several men stood outside the tent, dirty and grimy, and smoking cigarettes.<br/><br/>"Friends of yours?" Gerhard asked Simian, who seemed positively delighted to see them again. Simian introduced Gerhard to Crayton Morton, who also seemed positively happy that simian was back.<br/><br/>"Simian! How are you, you big, fat bastard? Let me get a good look at you. My god, you've lost weight!" Simian chuckled and laughed, and the two embraced.<br/><br/>"This here be my protege, Crayton. The one I was tasked to bring. Gerhard, this is Crayton, don't you go now trusting a word he says, you here?"<br/><br/>Gerhard had hardly had time to extend his hand when a voice came out over the loudspeakers, "Simian Morton, Crayton Halloway please guide your escortees to the cafeteria as soon as possible." It seemed that Gerhard had made it just in time. A broad smile swept the face of Crayton. He shrugged nevertheless and shook Gerhard's hand.<br/><br/>"Please to meet you, Mr. Gerhard." He then turned to Simian and laughed, "Well, I guess I'd better go wake up the mouse." He and Simian embraced once more, and Crayton left both of them. Simian and Gerhard didn't move right away. Gerhard stood outside the entrance, surveying the construction of the massive tent complex. In the end, however, he let out a long sigh, and walked in.<br/><br/>Gerhard was shown into the cafeteria, where he was greeted by the thick aroma of stew, vegetables, and spices. A massive room, various tables had been set up. A few of the doctors and higher  ranked techs sat in a corner table discussing amongst themselves, but otherwise the table cafetera was almost deserted. There was a group of three others at another table, all of them young like him.<br/><br/>A large fan hummed along the side of the room, and the stew bubbled softly from behind the serving counter. Gerhard smirked. "Heh."<br/><br/>Gerhard walked up to the table where the three were sitting. They were currently in the middle of a conversation, but he couldn't tell what it was about from the door, and they all turned to look at him when he strode up.<br/><br/>"I take it this is where we're meeting, then? Might I ask to whom I have the pleasure of addressing?" He spoke softly, and sat down at the table.<br/><br/>They were young, all right. Two guys, and one girl. She was a brunette, dressed quite nicely and very fresh faced. There seemed a wildness in her eyes. "Hmm... interesting." Surov quietly thought to himself.<br/><br/>The one with the lab coat seemed an oriental. Surov hadn't seen too many of them, but he had heard all the old stories of samurai and chinese warfare from his father. The kid had a fascinating face to look at. Indeed, Surov had never seen eyes quite like that before, almost to the point of staring.<br/><br/>There was another, as well. A young male, with his hands on the table in front of him. Surov met his eyes, but the kid glanced quickly away after that. "Very interesting." Gerhard thought once more.