Around noon.
While Aria Sterling was still holed up in the lab, Landon Hawthorne arrived.
The lab door was closed. Landon Hawthorne glanced through the window, then asked Ethan Swift, "Professor Swift, how long has she been in there today? When do you think she'll be done?"
"Miss Sterling has been in there for almost two hours. I really don't know when she'll finish." Professor Swift shook his head. "Miss Sterling has a lot of ideas. After reviewing your report data, President Hawthorne, she proposed many constructive suggestions and theories. Verifying them will require a great deal of experimental data."
"President Hawthorne, Miss Sterling is really going to great lengths for you. All of our technicians have come out for a break, but she's still going. You two must have a wonderful relationship."
Landon Hawthorne was overjoyed to hear that. 'Is Aria really doing all this dedicated lab work... for me?'
