Francis could sense that Marcus was not gelling with Chad. Perhaps making the visit short and sweet would be the best option. Sadly, Chad was still talking, about a mile a minute as well. What he was saying had not much to do with anything, it was a about a Norwegian woman he met once.

"And then I told her, sorry, but I don't want what you're selling. I only wanted a coffee!" Chad finished and began laughing.

Francis gave a token chuckle before quickly interjecting "Shall we get down to business then?"

Marcus was utterly lost when Chad began his little joke. It made no sense to the German what so ever. So the best and easiest thing he could do was to reach for his glass of port and sip it, rather often. This way he didn't have to speak nor laugh at the joke he did not understand.
When Francis tried to get them to business Marcus smiled happily, silently thanking the man for saving him from a tremendous headache. "Yes, I think that would be the right thing to do..." he sighed softly.

"But we've only just got started," Chad complained, but Francis neatly cut him off with an excuse of having a long day. "Fine..." he relented. "What project are you two starting?"

"A medical one," Francis said pleasantly. "We'll be making something to improve the medical world."

"Sounds good. What have you got so far?" Chad asked.

Francis looked to Marcus, unsure if they had anything.

Marcus could really hug the other man for cutting the American off for him. And since he was closer with Chad, Marcus allowed the man to talk for them. He was basically just the engineer and was just here for the designs and the building. He was fine with whatever kind of project they had.

When he felt the eyes burn onto him he scratched his head. "Well, you see, that's where our problem is. We are quite free in what we want to achieve. I was thinking on starting with something at least I know, and see what we can do from there." he looked at Francis a bit unsure. "Basically, start with fake limbs and perhaps try to make an organ after the first has succeeded. Maybe some other medical devices could be made for Operationen?" Of course his German slipped in again.

"No market for that sort of things," Chad said bluntly. "Scientists everywhere are making fake organs and limbs. What you'd want to try would be actual equipment...or, if you were up for a challenge, something a little special."

Francis could see a twinkle in Chad's eyes as he mentioned the word 'special'.

"Care to elaborate?" Francis pressed.

"Well...ever thought of creating...a surgical aid?"

Marcus blinked a bit at that. So what he had done was just...nothing? Had he actually earned his title? Or was it just all formalities because he saved a Nobleman? With a slight pale face he just listened to the others.

"I can make a Wächter, adjusting it so that it could operate a human...Isn't that hard at all." he spoke as he rubbed his head. Then he looked at the two English speaking gentlemen. "It just comes down to it's form...Is all."

"I was thinking more...a second person, an automatic person..." Chad said simply. Francis snorted with laughter. "What?"

"An automatic person? Never have I heard the likes in my life. You want us to build a surgeon?" Francis said ludicrously. Perhaps he had been wrong about Chad, he seemed to have lost his edge.

"Yes. That is exactly it. Times are hard, Darling. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The country can't afford to train new surgeons. Building one is the easiest thing to do."

"Easy for who, exactly? There's no way we can build a person. It's more likely I conceive a child!" Francis argued.

When the two began to argue with one other Marcus sighed before he stood and clapped his hands once, loudly. So loud that it could easily be mistaken for the cracking of a whip on a horse's back when it got a fair beating. Just to get the blabbering of the two others to stop
"Wächters are automatiks." he spoke. "They are used to guard homes and streets, they can follow easy orders. And do not require full human attention."
The man picked up his journal and shifted through it, only to find a smaller photograph, one of what seemed to be a very young girl. However, it wasn't just a girl. Her face seemed human enough, but her arms were full mechanics, that was what the picture showed. Carefully Marcus handed the piece of paper to Chad. "You were thinking of something like this, am I right?" Then he simply tilted his head. "What you're thinking has already been done in Germany, only we use them as aids for heavy duty, such as construction, guarding and fire fighting." Marcus then sat back down. "For surgery...I doubt that someone could write a good protocol, for no human body is the same."

Francis stared at Marcus, utterly gobsmacked. He didn't think that such a thing could be done, or that such a thing should be done. It was highly controversial to him and he was unsure whether he wanted to be a part of it.

"Yes!" Chad shouted. "That is exactly what I meant! If you get a top surgeon to help with the programming it will be a piece of cake!"

Francis kept quiet.

Marcus grinned, but it faded once he saw Francis' face. Then he just turned to the American. "We could start off with something simple. Eventhough the programs hardly contain faults...We cannot risk a machine going wild while operating...It seems to be more right that we would build a helper instead of the actual surgeon. Humans should heal humans. Machines should assist." he stated. Then he rubbed his head a little bit before frowning. "Besides...I bet there are laws against such machines." he stated looking at Francis.

Chad looked at Francis. "Oh ignore him," he stormed. "There are no laws against it. None whatsoever. In this economic climate, the best thing to do would be to create the, uh, what did you call it? A Wächter?"

Francis took a drink of port before clearing his throat. "I'm undecided on this..." he said softly.

Marcus looked at Chad in his turn before he nodded to the man. "Wächter, ja." he corrected the man's pronunciation but left it with that. Then he nodded. "I could design one, just to run as a test before we will have the university to approve for it." he stated before he looked at Francis. "A simple test might clear things up for all of us. And a test can do no harm." he smiled almost sweetly at the other man.

"Yes. If you like. I'll of course help," Francis said slowly. "But still. I'm undecided on it. Are you sure this is the only way, Chad?"

"Yes. Most definitely. No other country, bar Germany, are doing this. It's what your university wants and needs. What more do I need to say to swing your vote? Need I say that machines do not need paid, or fed or rested as humans? Need I mention that one machine can free up money in the hospitals? Need I say that it entitles even the poorest person cheaper healthcare?" Chad said, speaking very loud and fast.

"Need I say that machines malfunction? That they could be programmed wrong? That they could put lives in danger?" Francis refuted. "I'm undecided, Chad. Nothing you say will make me decide any faster. This is my situation to think on and you shall let me think on it."

Marcus moved over to Chad and put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Let Francis sleep over it." he smiled. "He probably just needs to get used to the thought." he smiled before he retreated back to his seat and crossed his legs, finishing his port with a much...lighter heart. Smiling he looked at Francis. "We still have some time to decide and if we are going through with this, I will need some things from home."

Francis nodded before resting his glass on the table. "Of course, if you tell the Dean what you need I'm sure he can organise them to be shipped over with no charge to your family," Francis said with a smile.

Chad stood up, placing his empty glass on the table with a clatter.

"Best be off. I've got a prior engagement. Farewell dinner with some team-mates. Nice seeing you again Darling," Chad said and shook Francis' and Marcus' hand one last time. "Good luck on the project gentlemen."

"Need shown out?" Francis asked, inwardly hating being addressed by his last name.

"No no. I'll find it. Good day," he said with a final bow of his head.

As soon as he left the room Francis sat down on the seat and drained his port, giving a large sigh.

Marcus nodded. "I'm sure as well." he smiled. For the last time he listened to the train of words before his ears caught up the other's last name. But he only knew the word 'darling' as a name you would say to a woman or child when being affectionate. He was silent before he shook Chad's hand and allowed the man to be off.

When they were alone again Marcus raised his brow a bit but did not ask anything. He too just sat down and yawned. "Mein Gott..." he sighed as he rubbed his temples. "That man gives me a headache... "

"That man gives everyone a headache. He really is not how I remembered him at all. It has clearly been too long..." Francis said slowly and looked into the fire. "Sorry about him. Needless to say, it's unlikely you'll ever meet him again at any rate."

Francis stifled a yawn and looked to the clock in the corner. It was only nine, but somehow he felt drained.

"If you excuse me, I'm going to head off to bed now. I'm worn out. I'll tell Margaret to wake you up for breakfast in the morning. Good night Marcus, sleep well," Francis said pleasantly before bowing his head slightly and exiting the room.

Marcus had chuckled sweetly at his friend. "Ah. well. I think I could manage him, but not on a frequent basis." he spoke before he looked up at the clock as well. "Gute Nacht, Francis." he wished him before he too got up and put the glasses on the dresser, cleaning up after them a bit before he too headed for bed. There was not much to do for him now, so sleep was probably the best thing he could do.

After he had gotten into his pyjama's he decided on a small smoke before crawling into bed and curling up in the warm sheets. He could get used to this bed. It was nice and soft. Not to forget it smelled very clean!
The next morning Margaret woke him up, a firm knock on the door to make him aware and for the last bit, she drew the curtains. It was late summer so the sun flowed in happily, waking the German gently.
Once the maid left his room, Marcus washed up and headed for the dining room. Where he was greeted by the loving scent of coffee.

Francis got undressed and slid into bed, falling asleep almost instantly. Francis was not much of a dreamer. Since his childhood he went to sleep and woke up, no recollection of any fantastic dreams or escapades that occurred in his down time. However, that night was different. All he could see in is mind while he slept was glory and pride and adoration, all because he aided in creating a robotic surgeon.

That had made up Francis' mind. He was to participate fully.

The next morning Diana woke him up by rapping loudly on his door and throwing open the heavy fabric curtains, letting the summer sun stream into his room. He groaned from under the blankets as she left the room.

After a quick wash and getting dressed in his suit pants, a white shirt, waistcoat to match his pants and a red tie, he left his room and padded down into the dining room where several rounds of hot buttery toast and coffee was sitting on the table waiting for him and for Marcus when he arrived.

Francis poured himself a cup of coffee with plenty of milk and sugar as he helped himself to a slice of toast. He was just spreading on some jam when Marcus entered the room.

"Good morning," Francis said brightly. "Sleep well I hope?"

Marcus simply stretched before he heard his host greet him. "Morning." he replied happily. "I have slept wonderfully." he said before he took his seat and poured himself some coffee, added a pinch of sugar before he got some toast on his place. "I can't say that I've slept this well in a week." he chuckled. "What about you?" Marcus took a bite from the toast, liking the simplicity of just plain toast.

"I did sleep well, thank you for enquiring," Francis said pleasantly. "Do you not want anything for your toast? I'm sure there is some condensed milk or something in the pantry if jam is not to your liking?"

Francis finished up his toast and sipped at his coffee, looking towards the door to the dining room, hoping that someone would appear with his morning paper soon.

Marcus shrugged. "I'm not a big eater when it comes to breakfast. Usually just coffee does the trick." he spoke softly before he just rested back in his chair and toyed a little with his cup.
Soon enough he just finished his toast and sipped away at his coffee. He should write a letter home, so that they knew the address and could send him things, if they wanted to.
With that thought the door opened and a maid skitted in, handing the paper to Francis before handing another one to Marcus. Strangely enough, it was German. With a sweet smile the man nodded to the girl. "Thank you."