James high tailed it over to a naked and trembling Eric and wrapped a blanket around his shoulders.
Eric looked up "Dad? I don't understand?" he said and looked around the room and then back up to his father's eyes squinting. "How did you get so tall?"
James sighed. "It's OK son....er...Eric" and pulled him close to him.
"This...this is fucked up" Eric said softly and cleared his throat.
"Language!" Amy hissed
"Sorry Mom" Eric said, clearing his throat again. A few strands of hair had stuck to the corner of mouth, so he reached up to pull the offenders from his lips. "Why is everything so blurry?" he asked squinting and blinking.
James started to lead Eric to chair. "Let's go sit down"
Jules who had regained her composure came back into the room, walked awkwardly over to James and Eric. With one eye seemingly on James and one on Eric she tapped James on the shoulder.
"We need to talk" she whispered and leaned over so she could talk softly. "I got to thinking about the code you used to...uh...you know...this..." she gestured to Eric and over to Mia. "My guess is some of the code in development was accidentally moved to beta testing, Skink Works is also using the same encryption algorithm in other projects, proprietary and Top Secret projects."
"Yes, I know that, what is your point?" James asked
"It means, product derived by the Skink Works code....is.....uh...technically the intellectual property of Skink Works".
James let out slow breath through pursed lips. "They wouldn't....would they?" he asked
Jules looked at him. "Right now, nobody outside this room knows about this, but tonight when the graveyard shift analyses test output from today's testing runs...."
James cut her off "...Then the shit will hit the fan." He muttered.
Jules opened her hand to reveal a thumb drive. "Here, take this. This is the source code for the project, maybe you can dig through it and find away around or through the encryption."
"Jules, my equipment at the home lab is toast...it could be months before I could get things spun up again. And even if I could what then? The kids weren't scanned, I don't have a profile of them to restore to." James suddenly felt hopeless. He looked over to where Amy was quietly stroking Mia's hair.
"I understand that" Jules said "But, as long as they have MY profile there is a risk as you know, once they find out they'll surely take action. I'm sorry James but the code you used was for military and commercial use, what it produces is the property of Skink Works. You know these people, and I'm trying to help you out here. You know how this is going to go down." She looked at the clock on the wall. "In about 15 minutes the night crew will be here."
James because visibly angry because she was right. He grabbed the thumb drive. "Ok...I'll talk with Amy and we'll leave."
"Ok, I'll be right back" Jules said and ran out of the room.
"Amy, we need to go" James said "I'll explain later".
Jules came back in, out of breath and red faced. In her arms she had a gym bag which she set on the desk and opened.
"Here" she said and tossed a pair of sweat pants, a pair of cross trainers and a tank top toward Amy. "Sorry, but this is all I have with me" as she then set of leggings, a t-shirt and some flip flops on the desk. "But it's enough to get you out without much notice." She walked over to Amy and handed over her work badge. "Keep the lab coat and put this on her". Walking back to James she handed him as Visitors pass and her drivers license. "Doug is the front desk guy and his shift ends at 5:00 so he won't be too motivated to look closely at anything if you know what I mean." She looked at the clock. "You need to go now. James, don't try to contact me, I'll reach out to you when I have a clearer picture tomorrow".
Amy began to help Mia who wasn't being very cooperative with the clothing.
Jules cleared her throat as she caught James's eye staring at the scene which inevitably resulted in several unflattering and pornographic poses of Jules's naked body.
James looked away, clearly embarrassed at being caught. "Sorry" he said.
"I'll help Eric" Jules said and pulled a smelly t-shirt over Eric's head before struggling to get the leggings over his feet. "Eric, can you stand?" With James's support he stood on shaky legs as Jules knelt down to pull the tight fitting fabric over his thick calves knees and thighs. Jules was focused, but not so focused to notice that her face was mere inches away from her OWN red bush and close enough to catch her own scent.
"James, I'm going to need your help, can you lift your side?" she asked gesturing downward.
James grabbed a handful of the material and on the count of three they pulled up, eventually getting enough material up and over Eric's thick hips, belly and buttocks.
Amy walked over with Mia held by her arm who had slipped back into a semi state of shock.
James looked at them. "OK, you two go first, just head to the parking lot and get in and start the car. Eric and I will catch up to you."
"Wait..." said Jules taking off her glasses and handed them to Amy. She reached into the gym bag and pulled out as glasses case that she handed to James. "I keep emergency pairs, when you as nearsighted as me you don't take any chances"
"But how will you drive home?" James asked
"As I said, I have many pairs, including some in my car." She replied.
James nodded and handed Amy the car keys, hugged her and said "Go...go now."