�RoboCop-Transformer freaks,� Lilah repeated Raina�s characterization of Warren and Travis.  She didn�t completely get it because she didn�t go to the movies much.  Lilah was a dyed in the wool company gal who didn�t get out much.  �Freaks for sure, especially Warren.  But if all goes well, Travis will simply be the same man in an improved body, and that�s the point of it all.  I�m sure you see the implications of this.  Anyone who could apply this technology could, essentially, live forever.  There are both benefits and downsides of this technology.  A genius in some technical field could go on forever and build upon his or her accomplishments indefinitely, rather than being cut short by physical degeneration and death.  But imagine Madonna still singing the same tired songs in the year 2350.  Or some of our Senators or Representatives serving their 213^th term in office.  That is why Warren�s technology must be kept under wraps and contained here within the walls of Wolfram and Hart.�

Lilah arose from her desk and walked to the picture window, turned and leaned into the sill.  �So for these same reasons, we need for you to be discreet with the information about Warren�s robotic bodies.  If this information got out onto the street, it would be front page news and the rich and powerful would be clambering at our door to acquire the technology.�  She crossed her arms under her breasts.  �We don�t need that sort of publicity or the headaches that would follow.�

�Wheaties and nails,� Lilah grinned awkwardly as she laced her fingers together  atop her desk.  �Well, yes.  Isn�t that nice.  The breakfast of champions as they say.  As far as experience, I suspect you have what it takes to accomplish the tasks we have in mind.�  The woman certainly had the physical credentials � the strength and other superpowers, and the beauty to pull this job off, but what about intelligence and craftiness?  Was she sleuthworthy?  �Let�s cut to the chase, Miss Kent.  I potentially have a job for you, if you�re interested.  It�s a temporary position, but if it works out we would be interested in either hiring you full time or on retainer as a, shall we say, consultant.  Wolfram and Hart has a reputation for treating its valued employees exceedingly well.  I�m sure you�ll find the pay scale and the benefits package, including full health and dental coverage, per diem, expenses, a company car, and an office here in the building  most satisfactory.�  Lilah wrote a number on a piece of paper and slid it across the desk to Raina.  �This would be your monthly salary.� 

Lilah pressed a button on the underside of her desk that caused a recorded video clip to be fed into the security cameras that monitored her every action.  Those viewing the images would find that Raina had left and Lilah was working on her computer and taking phone calls.  She had a need for privacy now and then, and this was one of those moments.

Lilah focused her gaze, which now exhibited a new intensity, on Raina Kent, �We have a contractor by the name of Warren Mears.  He has an office and laboratory here in the building.  He is both brilliant and eccentric, probably the world�s best robotics designer and engineer, but his brilliance is not limited to robots.  If the truth be told he�s more than a little crazy � not hitting on all cylinders.  Damaged.� She smiled, but it wasn�t a happy smile.  �Yet we need him.  He�s currently building a robot for the Chief of our Property Management Division, Travis McGee.  Travis� essence will be transferred to the robot, so he�ll in effect have a new body, and one with super strength that will never grow old and never die.�  She thought briefly about the Tarabot that Katarina had destroyed. �More or less.  Oh, and did I mention that Warren is living inside a robot, himself, as he tries to repair his own body that was flayed by an uber witch?�

�No, she�s not a higher being.  Just a damsel in distress.  That�s what Angel does.  He rescues damsels in distress.�  Lilah was on the phone with one of Archduke Sebassis� blue blood minions.  A guy with a cork in his wrist.  Team Sebassis had gotten wind that Team Angel had gone dimension jumping to bring back some powerful entity.  Sebassis had moles everywhere and when anything interesting happened at Wolfram and Hart, or even if they heard rumors of rumors of something interesting, they called Lilah, who they were sure was on their side and would tell them anything they wanted to know.  But it was ok, she�d talked it over with Angel and the big guy had agreed for her to be the �clandestine� liaison to the Archduke.  In fact, she would feed them slightly edited information now and then.  It was a little dangerous, but Lilah could handle it.

�The dearly departed Cordelia Chase.  Yes, that�s right.  She�s as dead as Anthony  Weiner�s political career.  Trapped in Abaddon for 150 years.  She�ll be loonier than Joan Rivers in drag.�  As Lilah listened to what Blue Blood was saying, a frown began to furrow her brow.  �Crossroads demon?  Are you sure?  Who got her out?  And more importantly, why?� 

A young woman knocked on Lilah�s door, opened that door a smidge and peeked inside.  Lilah invited her in with a wave of her hand, covered the receiver with one palm and said in a hushed voice, �I�ll be with you in just a minute.  Have a seat.�

Blue Blood was not forthcoming with additional information about who sprung Cordelia Chase from Abaddon or why.  But Lilah was kind of surprised he�d shared information at all.  Usually the minions of Sebassis just mined Lilah for juicy tidbits and offered nothing up in return.  �Yes, I�ll let you know when they return.  Give my regards to the Archduke.�  She terminated the call.