<div class="floatleft">(http://i49.tinypic.com/f43dok.jpg)</div><table class="bbc_table"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Character name:</strong></td><td>Nikita Stack</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location:</strong> </td><td>Château's library</td></tr><tr><td><strong>With:</strong> </td><td>Maria von Trapp</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Doing:</strong> </td><td>Mildly paranoid, weighing possibilities</td></tr></tbody></table><br/><hr/><br/>Disappointment was evident on Maria's face. Nikita cursed herself endlessly from the inside for not covering the scientific jargon and aspects thoroughly, despite of fully knowing the fact that it was such a complicated subject that she never would have been able to even scratch the surface of it, let alone fool someone with expertise of the kind which Maria von Trapp possessed. Yet again, an awkward silence hung in the air. Both of them at a sudden loss for words when Maria resumed. The sound, yet another hint of the poorly disguised emotions. Her mind, a maze of the most intriguing sort it must be, Nikita mused. Packed and perpetually fed with information, calculating the possibilities beyond the understanding of a common human. Living more in future than in the present and past completely erased for a harbinger of the future she was meant to be.<br/><br/>"You're absolutely right. There comes a time when you simply arrive at a standstill out of the blue you know? Lost in a labyrinth which is of your own creation as you keep on looking for a path out. A master key to it all, solution to gordians knot which keeps on eluding you. But with you, I agree. Together we can blend our approaches, concepts and have a crack at these complex natural puzzles which we have been wrestling with for the longest of time and marry them with technological advancements. Like I said before Maria, its an honor that you believe so much in me..future is something which is no longer only in the hands of the nature, but it is scientists like us who shall be the ones who shall bring about the next step in mankinds ever evolving nature. I am absolutely certain of that." Mention of monetary gains almost made her chuckle. Tisha was most definitely an opportunist, who for all her brilliance had always put financial gains ahead of her. Probably it had to do with being born in a supremely collapsed economy of Iceland where things were hard.<br/><br/>"Well we all need food on our tables, the good life which can offer us the comforts and joys we seek. Its small things really, but often for our minds, its these simple things which matter most." She murmured, in a nostalgic way. Ha! This was<em>good</em>!<br/><br/>"But yes..I am a bit exhausted right now. It has been a conversation most incredible but I can't wait to start tomorrow. You have no idea how much I have heard about your lab and all the incredible things you have been working on. I look forward to tomorrow Maria." Nikita stood up as well, finishing her drink and smiled, waiting for Maria to lead the way. Thank god this conversation was over. Now that this was going to buy her some time, she made a point to cram everything about Tisha's research she can, whether she understood the concepts or not so that she won't be as ill prepared for bluffs as she was today. Again, a longshot she was taking but something was better than nothing.