The doors to the Rashoud facility closed behind Anne with a soft, automated whine. She looked out onto the hostile traffic of Manhattan and visibly shuddered, not used to being around so many people.

Anne Joy was a beautiful young teenage woman in the way that girls next door are beautiful, but more so. Even dressed in a long-sleeved pink blouse and ankle-length tan print skirt, her flawless complexion and modestly plaited brown hair drew the eye. All of her worldly possessions were in a small black duffel bag emblazoned with the Utopia device slung over her shoulder: a couple changes of underwear, some toiletries, a grey t-shirt and track pants with 'Manhattan Rashoud Facility' written on them, and a Gideon Bible... It seemed that Project Utopia didn't hold with the KJV.

Large, frighteningly innocent brown eyes looked around anxiously as she searched for the person she was supposed to meet.

Alexis lounged in the back seat of the car as Gerard drove through the bustling Manhattan traffic. She checked her watch, smiling when she saw that it was nine, and they were almost there. Were she in Boston, she would be starting English Literature 101. She was perfectly happy to play hokey.

Gerard slid the silver Rolls-Royce Phantom next to the curb, stopping square in front of the girl standing on the curb. The French-born driver didn't ask if this was the nova they were looking for; it was apparent from the white light that surrounded her. He exited the car and walked to the passenger side, opening the door for Anne. "Ms Joy?" he murmured softly, giving her a nod. "Ms. Layton is waiting."

Alexis leaned over so that Anne could see her. "Hello, Anne," she said, giving the other nova an encouraging nod.

Anne nodded and got into the Rolls-Royce, her brown eyes wide with gratitude and perhaps a little fear. She immediately obeyed the man's unspoken instruction; something too hard to break, so the Utopians didn't even try. "Good morning, Ms. Layton," she said submissively, putting her duffel bag on her lap after belting her seatbelt.

In the darker interior of the car, the glow was stronger, congruous with her skin as if she leaked light and was it. "It is an honour to meet you."

Alexis waved the last statement away with a sweeping motion of her hand. "It is not an honor," Alexis said with a smile. "You can save such statements for my mother and father. They're the ones who have achieved so much."

The car shifted as Gerard got in; after a moment, it eased out into traffic with the smooth acceleration of a professional driver. “Anne, if you’d like something to eat or drink, let me know. We can stop somewhere, have a quick break to refresh you.

“So, how was your stay in Utopia?” Alexis asked, tilting her head. “I was at that facility. Is Margie Sanders still a night nurse?”

"Thank you, but I ate at the Facility," Anne answered quietly. The Project had owed her one more meal for throwing her out so abruptly when she'd cooperated with every test they ran. Weren't they supposed to help novas?

"Yes, she is, but I dealt more with Juanita Sanchez. They treated me well, I guess."

"They do try to take care of new novas," Alexis said, but she was a bit concerned now. It seemed as though her experience with the Rashoud Facility had been better than Anne's and she found herself wondering if it was one more sign of social inequality. Of course, it could also be an expression of Anne's ability to make people feel uncomfortable with her religiousity.

Crossing her legs, Alexis leaned back. "So, have you thought about what you'd like to do with your life? What we're arranging today will be temporary, and that's understood. I mean after you earn your GED."

"I am focusing on completing my GED," Anne confessed, studying her fabric-swathed knees. Carlos was still not speaking to her, all of the novas who had spoken to didn't seem to share her faith, and those baselines which did seemed to consider her some kind of demon. "I have three skills: I can cook, I clean clean, and I can sing."

Alexis smiled, shaking her head. "I actually didn't mean that you should tell me what you can do, but tell me what you want to do," Alexis said. She pulled out her compact mirror and checked her face, looking for flaws that weren't there out of habit.

"I'm interested in more than what you can do for my father's company," Alexis stated. "I'm interested in what you want to do." After all, happy employees are productive employees.

Anne shrugged helplessly. "I have no experience outside of the home; the Project people suggested being a spokeswoman or something like that."

Alexis stifled an irritated sigh. “Anne,” she said, trying for the last time; soon they would be at Layton Biotech’s New York offices, and they wouldn’t have a chance to talk anymore. “Anne, I’m not asking what you’re good at… I’m asking what you want to do.” Alexis had put enough emphasis on the end of her sentence to clue in a deaf person; Anne should pick it up, even with the thick Christian-filter that the world went through before getting to Anne.

"What I want to do is make Carlos and my parents accept me," Anne answered with the hint of a snap in her normally subdued voice. "Seeing as that isn't an option, then I want to learn how to live in this world on my own and to be able to work."

She leaned back. "Is that better, Ms. Layton?"

Alexis raised an eyebrow and reminded herself to take it slow with the newly-released nova. She took a deep breath and nodded. "I meant more as a career of choice, but that is a start. At some point," Alexis finished, "that will be a true issue. Now, we'll start with the first step."

The car rolled to a stop and Gerard got out, hustling to open first Alexis' door and then Anne. They were in the circular drive in front of a skyscraper; 'Layton Biotech' rose on three-foot letters over the door.

Alexis didn't pause to gape upward; she didn't even wait to see if Anne was keeping up. She walked up to the doors, which hiss open mechnically when she entered their proxmity. She bypassed the front desk and went straight to the elevator, calling it to her floor. Only now, when she waited for the elevator to descend, did she pause to see if Anne was behind her.

(OOC: Sorry for the lateness of the reply; I've had assignments and a minor eye operation).

Anne looked up and gaped as she followed Alexis into the building. She kept up easily with the stranger who had offered to help her.

Once in the elevator, Alexis pressed two buttons at once and inserted a key in the console. Once she twisted the key to one side, the elevator started up. "Dad wants to meet you in the lounge," Alexis said, "and the lounge isn't available to the public."

She turned as the elevator glide upward. "Time for any last questions."

(OOC: My bad again - damned assignment).

Anne merely shook her head, adjusting the skirt she wore and twitching her other clothing into place for an entirely modest effect (as if she could get more so).

She wasn't sure what to expect with everything.

The elevator rose for a relatively long time, and it ran out of floors before it stopped. The doors opened directly into a room. The wide windows caught the eyes immediately, as they looked out onto the New York skyline. The lounge was filled with posh leather seats; somewhere, a fountain burbled softly, filling the air with a soft noise.

A handsome older man with a familial appearance to Alexis was waiting, and he stood up with a smile. "Ms. Joy?" he said, stepping forward and extending a hand. "Eric Layton. It's a pleasure."

Anne's eyes took in the luxurious room in one sweep, her expression visibly awed as she shook Eric Layton's hand. "An honour to meet you, Mr. Layton," she finally managed to say.

She then looked down at her feet nervously.

Over Anne's bowed head, Eric glanced at his daughter, asking her a question with his eyes. In answer, Alexis nodded: yes, this is normal for her, I think.

"Hmm, well, an honor is it?" Eric chuckled, grinning broadly. His white teeth were perfect as he smiled, and there wasn't a thread or a hair out of place. "That's always a good way to start."

He moved toward a bar set in the wall, saying over his shoulder, "Would either of you like something to drink? I have a variety of drinks - wet and dry."

"Water, please," Anne asked humbly, sneaking another peek at the elegant room she was standing in. Alexia and Eric lived in great wealth, but what about their spiritual health?

"Whatever your parents have taught you, shoving the gospel in someone's face is only going to irritate them," Carlos had once explained. "Wait for the quiet moment when you can bring it up."

Since she was reliant on these people for a living, being silent on the subject of faith might be a good idea.

"Just water?" Eric clarified, nodding his head. "Coming right up. Alexi?"

"I'll have a pop, please," Alexis said. She didn't clarify what exact flavor she wanted, and he didn't ask.

Eric worked at the bar for a couple of moments, then returned, placing the three drinks on the low coffee table before handing them out, Anne's first. "How was your stay at the Rashoud, Anne?"

"Thank you, sir," Anne said, dipping her head humbly and feeling uncomfortable as a man served her first. She sipped from the glass, finding her water infused with some kind of fruit juice, and figured it was 'designer water'.

"It was... interesting. I think I made people a little uncomfortable there."

"Well, I can understand that - novas are a powerful, frightening force of nature. I love that my daughter has become one, and I hope that Davian will as well," Eric said. He leaned forward and clasped his hands and said, "They are the future, and I am proud that my child will be a part of that future."

Alexis looked a little surprised; the smile that touched her face was gentle and sweet. It was an unusual look for her normal stern expression.

Eric continued without looking at his daughter, "And since novas are part of the future, I want to include them in my company whenever possible. So," he finished, sitting back and crossing his legs. "What do you want to do, and how can Layton BioTech help you?"

"I am not yet certain what I wish to do," Anne confessed with a sigh. "When I tell you I was sheltered, I was home-schooled by devout Christian parents with the purpose of being someone's wife one day."

The softly glowing nova sighed again. "I want a proper education, I find, and to do something to help your business. Do you need someone to take care of everyday things like food and housework?"

Eric chuckled, gazing at her with shrewd eyes. "I have housekeepers," he told her gently before sipping a bit of whatever he'd poured for himself. "And I certainly wouldn't waste a nova in that position.

"As for a proper education, I have a proposal. You start on your GED, and we'll pay for it," Eric said. "When you finish your GED, you enter college, getting a Communication degree. We pay for that, and during that time, you will intern with us, learning about Layton and our public relations department. At the end of that degree, you work for us for a year for a fair wage, though less than what we'd pay a nova. After that year, you can continue with us, but your debt would be paid." Eric shifted a little and finished, "If you don't finish your degree, you'll have to pay us back, naturally. Is this something you'd be interested in?"

Anne nodded, gratitude shining on her face. "It is perfect, sir," she answered. "God bless you."

It was the answer to her prayers - a purpose, and somebody telling her what to do.