The morning dawned bright and clear, a glorious day, as yet unmarred by explosions, mangled corpses, or science gone wrong. Not that Pierce noticed the daylight. He'd been up all night and was now sitting in the kitchen. There was a webwork of wires crawling along his face and head, contact pads looking like little feet all across his skin while he contemplated...a plate of cookies.

These were ideal cookies. Cookies that defined every kids' dream of chocolate chip; large, soft, tempting. The smell alone would make a weaker man tremble at the knee!

And he hadn't touched them yet because he wanted to make sure all the senses were registering properly and that anticipation readings could be taken as well. Was it any wonder he was a little zoned out?