Flowers.

Well, you weren't expecting that.

The room is about the size of a small kitchen. Along the walls are various shelves with equipment, monitors, and the like. In the middle are several large, stainless steel tables holding vast flower beds. Bright lights, focused on the flowers, hum overhead.

You walk closer and bend over to examine the flowers more closely. They are delicate, each about the size of an eye, with striking yellow-and-blue petals. The middle parts are coated in thick, fluffy orange pollen. You resist the urge to sneeze and pull back slightly, almost stumbling into Michael.

"What are these?" you ask.

"The company has an aphrodisiacs division as well as its makeup products, you know. Always on the search for the latest fragrances and ... other things. We found these babies in the Amazon rainforest. They bloom once a month. Their pollen contains a chemical compound we've found to be very ... potent."

Your eyes flit around the room, taking in the entire setup. This is just one room in the lab. You wonder how expansive this operation is. Suddenly, you notice a red case with a transparent cover on one wall, the kind that says "In case of emergency, break class" and has a fire hose or axe or something. Only in this case, you can't believe what you see inside....

Christina beats you to it. "Are those condoms?"

"I did say these chemicals were potent. Accidents do happen, and ... well, better safe than sorry, right?" When you fix a naughty look on Michael and blurt out, "But why do you need condoms?" he shakes his head. "Get your head out of the twentieth century, Ally. Sixty percent of our workforce is women. Was. Everyone got extra leave just before your father arrived. It's just me and the doctor now." A look of concern--confusion?--crosses his face before being replaced once more by a hungry smile.

"So, is there any danger of us having an ... accident?" Christina asks, coming up to Michael and putting her hands lightly on his arm.