Inspector Beth Lestrade growled in frustration, her dark eyes narrowed on the view screen. "Chief, I...."

"Lestrade, this is important. The Ministry of Defense is asking for our cooperation, and you are the best detective I have," Chief Inspector Grayson stated. "I know this was supposed to be your vacation time but I need you here."

Lestrade sighed. "Yes, sir. I'll be there as soon as I can," she replied. Grayson wasn't bad for a boss, and she knew she was lucky. Someone else probably wouldn't let her get away with half the things she'd done.

"Good. Grayson out."

The viewscreen went dark and Lestrade turned off the vidphone. She stretched and went to her bedroom to change into her uniform. As she finished brushing her hair, something gold caught her eye and she picked it up. It was a necklace with a half of a heart pendant. Frowning, she studied it. There was something important about this necklace, but she just couldn't put her finger on it. Shrugging, she put it back on her dresser and walked out of her room. Making sure all the lights were out, and everything was off, she left her apartment and got in her cruiser.

At New Scotland Yard, Lestrade left her cruiser and walked towards Chief Grayson's office. She wondered why the Ministry of Defense could possibly need the Yard's assistance. There was nothing she could think of.

When she reached Grayson's office, she knocked on the door. "Please state your name and rank," a robotic voice said.

"Lestrade, Beth, Inspector," Lestrade answered. This must be important, if Grayson was using security measures. A few minutes later, the door opened and she walked inside. Grayson was there along with two men dressed in military uniforms, and a man wearing a white lab coat. Grayson motioned for Lestrade to close the door behind her. "Have a seat, Inspector," the chief of police commanded.

Lestrade sat down on the edge of the only chair available. It was on the other side of the man with the lab coat.

"Now, gentlemen, perhaps you can explain what's going on?" Grayson asked. The two military men simply looked at each other, but remained silent. The man in the lab coat cleared his throat nervously. "I trust this will go no further than this room, Inspector Grayson?" the man asked, his accent decidedly American.

Grayson nodded and replied, "I can assure you that you can rely on our complete discretion in the matter, Dr. Gregson." Dr. Gregson nodded and began his story.

"I work for the Ministry of Defense to create new weapons. Two weeks ago, I created a substance that can turn any animal with an advanced nervous system into a robot. I've tested it out on reptilians, avians and some of the smaller mammals. It works on all of them. I was just getting permission to try it on some of the higher mammals, like dolphins, whales, and primates....when the substance was stolen from my lab. No one can figure out how it was done. It's almost like it...just disappeared. The higher-ups decided to turn to the Yard, to see if someone not involved with the Ministry could find something."

There was a silence in the room, when he had finished. Lestrade broke it by asking, "Why do you say it seems like it disappeared?"

"Because, the room was locked and there was no sign of forced entry. Also, nothing else was stolen or even disturbed. It was like it just disappeared," Gregson said with a hint of exasperation.

"Or like an employee who knew exactly where it was, and who had a key to the lab," Lestrade countered.

Gregson shook his head. "No one except me has a key to that lab. Not even the higher-ups."

"Who else knew about the substance?" Lestrade questioned.

"Myself, Captains Anderson and Harris," he motioned to the two other men, "my lab assistant, and Lord Darlington." Gregson was becoming more than a little irritated.

Grayson forestalled Lestrade from asking another question. "All right, we'll come to your lab to investigate." Lestrade looked at her chief in surprise. He almost never left his desk to take on a case, even one dealing with important people. Still, this substance could change the way wars were fought.

*****************************************************************************

Doctor Erika Slate sighed in exasperation. No matter what she did, it wouldn't quit following her. "Go home. little guy. I'm sure you have owners who are very anxious to get you back." The puppy just wagged its tail and sat looking up at her. It looked like a cross between a German Shepherd and a Collie. Sighing again, Slate picked the puppy up and walked into the Quark building.

Almost immediately she was accosted by Dr. Donovan, who had a frazzled look about him. "There you are, Slate. It's about time you got here. Do you realize how important this meeting is? And what is that thing?"

"Looks like a puppy to me, Dr. D," the monkey sitting on his shoulder quipped.

"I can see it's a puppy, Jenny! I meant what's it doing here?" Slate was spared giving an explanation when Rusty flew up behind Donovan, scaring the man. "Do you have to do that Rusty!" Donovan exclaimed.

"Sorry, Dr. Donovan. I'll be more careful next time. Hey Dr. Slate, what are you holding. Is that a new robot?"

Slate smiled at the boy robot. "No, Rusty, it's a puppy. It followed me here." As she said this the puppy jumped out of Slate's arms and ran to the robot. It sniffed at him, then began to lick his face.

"Hey," Rusty laughed, "Cut that out. It tickles." He looked up at Slate and asked, "Can we keep him?"

Slate looked over at Donovan, who shrugged. "Just keep it away from me." He walked off, Jenny following.

"Well, Rusty, I guess that's a yes."

"Wahoo!" Rusty exlaimed, "All right! Now we just gotta find a name for you." The boy sat and thought for a while, with the puppy looking up at him adoringly.

"Take him back to the lab with you, Rusty. I have to get to this meeting," Slate told him.

She smiled as he ran off, the puppy running behind. Then she turned and walked towards the conference room. Upon reaching her destination, she walked inside and sat in the chair beside Donovan. At the head of the table, was a tall darkhaired man. A man with disfigured features sat next to him. When everyone had come into the room and found there seats, Donovan stood up, and all eyes went to him.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce Professor James Mortan and his associate Dr. Fenton. Please give them your utmost attention." Donovan sat back down, and Jenny jumped up onto his shoulder, a frown on her face as she studied the guest speakers. Slate realized that she hadn't said a single word the entire time. Which meant that the simian didn't trust the two men.

The darkhaired man stood up and Slate transferred her attention to him as he began to speak.

"Thank you, Dr. Donovan. I am proud to be here speaking before you," he said with a cultured British accent. "As Dr. Donovan stated, I am Professor Mortan. I am a mathematician, but I also dabble in robotics. My associate is a geneticist. We have come up with a substance that can turn any animal with an advanced nervous system into a robot."