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Sabin cheked his watch. James, as usual, was right on time. Sabin had become rather impressed with the stony pilot. Despite his surge of independence, he had gone back to doing his job, and doing it well, without complaint. And for a couple hundred mile flight in a chopper over the ocean, he kept to good time.

Today was an interesting one, according to the files. An Australian courier, bringing a rare sample of Thylacine DNA. He was servicing as a courier for some museum curator that the labs were supposedly bribing a great deal of money... but the man he was sending was a nobody, with no attachments and a rather shifty character. the labs were originally actually going to payup, meeting the curator in Florida with a suitcase of money.... but when he was 'too busy' and too worried about being caught to go himself... well... Moreau found a way to save a great deal of money, and get a new subject while he was at it.

Sabin steadied his top hat out of habit as the chopper touched down, and waited for the rotors to slow and finally stop and the door to open before approaching with a genial smile.

"Mr. Callaghan... a pleasure to meet you. My name is Dr. Duvert." He reached out a hand to help him down, taking in the stubble on his face and the... girth of the man.

Sabin returned the grin, helping him down the steps and going for any luggage tha the wasn't carrying.

"Yes, something like that. They are both French, you see. Only my name does not mean 'downy feathers'." He added with a chuckle.

"And I must say, I am rather fond of the hat. Not many are, but they can go .. well, you know the rest." He caught himself before elaborating, still not knowing the man well enough.

"And you have come to the right place. We've been expecting you, Mr. Callaghan. Just follow me up to the labs and we'll... inspect the goods."

He gestured to the jeep, the passenger door open.

Sabin took his seat by Seth in the driver's chair and gave him a grin. "throw rug? I think that there's a bit more in the works for the pelt than that... but admittedly, it would make for a conversation piece!"

Sabin gave a nod to James, and the helicopter began to lift off.

"Well, this isn't the palce to take a look at it. All the humidity would be bad for it. So just sit tight, and we'll make sure everything's in tact, and get you your money." He gave him a wink as he shifted the jeep into gear, and headed down the dirt road.

"Ohhh.... I dunno... it just takes acclimitazation is all." Sabin replied to the car comment as he maneuvered the car through the narrow, twisted dirt road. The jungle, encroaching tightly on either side made it very obvious that it was barely wide enough for the jeep. Sabin, however, appeared undaunted as he took the curves at white-knuckle speed.

To which Sabin just laughed. "I shall take that as a compliment!" He called back, raising his voice to be heard over the motor and the wind.

"Not very far, though... just a couple miles up the road.... you'll see... and then I will have to see what else you've brought!"

And indeed, it wasn't very much further. The trees stopped abruptly at a large gate with the Feral Labs logo emblazoned across it. Then, the gate swung open as if it anticipated their arrival, opening into a parking lot, and a massive laboratory facility built into a mountain.

"Here's our stop!" Sabin announced as he found a place to park and got out of the jeep, grabbing Seth's extra luggage.

If anything, the complex smacked of, it was a company that had a great deal of money to throw around. There was no other reason that the complex should be out in the middle of no where, on the most lush tropical island Seth had likely seen, on or off film. The beaches he had seen flying over the island, the whole, massive, mirrored complex, and the fact it was literally built into a mountain... that did not come cheap.

Sabin led him into a sliding door, that took them into a very plush lobby. Leather and wood couches, a huge bay window that overlooked the beach, thick carpeting, an (empty) receptionists' station... all of it seemed Very expensive... and also very new -like it was setting up for something that wasn't yet here.

"Feral labs, yes. The company's been expanding in leaps and bounds over the past few years... I wouldn't be surprised if there werent' a few branches in Aussie-land." Sabin beamed. "I won't bore you with the specifics, but we started out as a veternary supply company, but... have expanded well beyond that to human medicine and genetics. But we don't forget our roots. And thus, yes, your object is of much interest to us."

"And it really is a holiday here... great beaches, jungles - it's like an adenture out there. Maybe you'll get the time to look around before your flight back."

He led him past the lobby and into a sterile, hospital-like corridor, and to steel elevator, which opened quietly as they walked up and Sabin put his hand to the metal plate.

"Floor four." Sabin pronounced, and the elevator leaped to life, surging upward.

Sabin slid his hands into his pcokets with a proud smile. "Well, I'm sure if we don't already have a good foothold there, we will soon. We're pretty proud of our growing company."

"And I can understand why. I've read about the non-native species introduction and how it's decimating the natural wildlife. I hope that we are able to make ourselves a tiger. It would be a great leap for science... the first to bring back an extinct species!"

The elevator opened into another hallway, and Sabin led him down another corridoor, and to an office that had "Dr. Sabin Duvert" On the nameplate.

"Annnd... here we are. My office. And a good place to talk" Sabin opened hte door and stepped inside. The office, unlike the hallways, was dark, with solid oak desk and bookcases lining the walls. The subjects ranged from science and genetics, to anthropology, to myths and legends and monster books and even gaming books. Comfortable-looking chairs were in front of and behind the desk.

Sabin took a seat behind the desk, moving the desktop off to the side to open up more space.

"So... let's see what you've brought us."

Sabin's fingers twitched as he made to open the wrapping of the parcel. Despite having been part of so many amazing projects here, still, the thought of opening up one of only a few very intact thylacine hides was still fascinating to the anthropologist.

Carefully, he peeled open the paper, and unrolled the furry bundle. He reached into his desk, pulling out a pair of rubber gloves and snapped them on as he looked over the hide. Indeed, it looked to be in very good shape.

"Excellent... Excellent." Sabin murmured to himself. This is in great condition.. and I bet we'll be able to extract some DNA from this." He then carefully rolled it back up and replaced it in the parcel, pulling the keyboard closer and typing in a few notes. "And... the offer was... six million, am I correct?" Sabin said it so casually...