"Yes, Dirk, we really did miss you," Karla said, bending her head to kiss Villiers' hand. "This place has been very dull without you."

"A drag, a positive drag," Kyle agreed, putting his arms around the other man and trying to kiss him.

"Enough!" Dr. Villiers said, shaking them both off. "I have brought a new experimental subject. This is Marcy McCall, Number X-999. Is there a laboratory prepared where I can conduct my initial experiments with her?"

The pair looked hurt and disappointed, but managed to keep smiling. "Yes, Doctor Dirk," Kyle said. "Laboratory Number One is fully prepared."

"Fine," Dr. Villiers said. "Number X-999 and I shall go there at once."

Karla flashed a look of pure hate at Marcy, but when her eyes returned to Dr. Villiers they shone with worship again. "What a lucky girl she is! I shall never forget your initial experiments with us. It was such a shining moment in our lives!"

"Will you please quit chattering and get out of the way," Dr. Villiers said impatiently. "My scientific curiosity must be appeased at once!"

"Yes, doctor," Karla said, and turned to lead the way upstairs and then down a richly carpeted hallway. She stopped halfway down the hall and threw open a door. Marcy stared in surprise. Instead of the test tubes, metal table, and blazing lights she expected, there was a huge circular bed, softly glowing lamps, and erotic paintings on the walls.

"This is a laboratory?" she asked.

"Of course," Villiers said. "A laboratory for sexual experimentation. Did you think it would look like a place where they make cultures for germ warfare? Or a breakfast cereal plant?"

He turned to Kyle and Karla. "This is most satisfactory. You may go."

The two burnished heads bowed, and the golden-skinned couple backed out of the room.