are going to start full force in the morning. That sounds like good news to me. So what's bothering you, Eric?"

"We just lost an entire unit. Nevindoss killed three men. Their vehicle was destroyed. We couldn't get there in time to help them."

"We've lost men before Eric. Vampires are killing people every day. Almost a third of L.A.'s population is either dead or undead. That's why this project exists. To put a stop to the death," Whitley said.

"You hired us to save the city and we can't even save our own," Eric said defeated.

"I didn't hire YOU to save anyone. That's Victor's job. Years ago I hired you to head advance research at the facility up north. I transferred you down here because the technology you dream up is going to rid Los Angeles of vampires. Winning this war means a lot of money for me down the road, but your mind is the most valuable asset here. And I'm beginning to worry about it," Whitley said.

"If you really want to win this thing you've got to put a little more money where your mouth is."

"What are you talking about Eric?"

"These towers we just put up are slow. The system can only canvas about a quarter of the city in a twenty-four hour period. If we're ever going to catch and kill Nevindoss, we need to be able to scan faster. To track vampires in real time. You need to get those satellites in the air."

Whitley sat stoned faced for a moment. Then he nodded.

24