Cyrus leaned back into the plastic chair at the round break room table. The location was a bit farther away from his work quarters. He liked it because it had a window that overlooked the small park that was next to the facility. It also removed the chances of running into anyone and them stealing his coffee. He closed his eyes and took in the aroma from his cup.
Finally.
Heels clicked and he squeezed his eyes harder hoping they would move along. The chair in front of his slid across the linoleum floor.
Damn.
He opened his eyes. As soon as he saw her and registered who she was, he gasped, eyes wide and mouth open.
Ada Noether, the genius of their era and one of the most brilliant minds the world had produced, had sat down in front of him. He had never seen her in person before, but had heard the rumors.
“What is your name again?”
“Doctor Cyrus” he closed his mouth and gulped “I am working on the Mental Mapping and emotional dissemination protocol” he straightened up in his chair.
Ada leaned closer over the table at him. Her eyes hazy but focused. She observed, took him all in. He could feel her aura envelope him. He had heard the stories of her carefree, but deadly serious nature. A contrast of bubbly fun with adventure caught in the throws of a new world. She didn’t switch on a dime, but slowly descended into one or the other. People resented her because of her brilliance, her beauty and her self expression. She had it all and used it all to her advantage.
“How is it going?” She locked eyes with him.
“Oh, uh well, it’s going as you expected. We are gaining traction. Some real breakthroughs here and there.” Cyrus stuttered. He was top of his field, the forefront of this expedition he was on, but for some reason he felt small in her presence. A smile came to her lips, and she leaned back in her chair, her eyes searching up into her mind, then back at him.
“Your protocol, I’ve read your work, Doctor Cyrus. It’s good, and I think you are on the right track. I wish I could help you out, but my own trials are taking my time. I keep having to go through all unnecessary red tape to get anything done now. All the money I could ask for, and a snail’s pace to use it. Fear, Doctor, they fear the future. And for me, I-I” Ada batted at her coffee cup. “I don’t know what I feel. Maybe I should step into your chamber.” She laughed, and Cyrus almost passed out from even the thought of her brilliant mind being subjected to his experiments.
“Do you know what I am working on?” Her eyes lit up “No, right?” Cyrus shook his head. She was the top research lead for the company. While his experiments were driving parts of the public division and gathering much data, the military funding that he knew of, went some where else. They went to her. Ada knocked on the table. “There is a place somewhere else, a wild unbearable maddening place, It doesn’t make sense, doesn’t understand, but it exists. The material we have made, somehow, opens doors to it. The material, it has incredible properties too.” She hushed herself “It’s so unstable right now. I want to keep people safe, but this frontier, it’s full of monsters” she was beaming like a child now. “What do you think is in the Gaitic Pyramid that powers your experiments?”
Cyrus’s eyes widened and Ada put a finger up to her lips.
He took a sip of his coffee and racked over his mind what it implied.
“Mmhm. They need to make money as fast as possible, prove some worth, but you know these things take time if you don’t jump all in. They want to rush for profit, but slow of progress, makes no sense. If they could all just get out of my way” Ada pouted setting her chin on her wrist. “What about you Doctor Cyrus, anything impeding you at the moment?”
If he could get Philman from stealing his coffee and ..”Just more subjects” he sighed before even thinking.
“Your wish is my command, Doctor,” Ada’s hypnotic voice gently rolled over to him. She peered at him from the side with a sharp smile. Her mind was already whirling away.
“Oh, I was just -“
Ada stood up and stretched her arms in the air letting out a groan.
“Doctor, please, your company was needed more then you know.” She brushed her hair back behind her right ear. “Thank you, and good luck with your research. I am expecting big things from you” Her eyes flashed at him.
Then heels clicked down the hallway and as soon as they were out of his hearing he collapsed over the table.
What in the world just happened. He stared out the window taking in the sunshine.
Maybe the other break room wasn’t so bad.
Stories set in the same universe -
Liminal Haze
Playing Around The Ground
Syncing The Hemisphere
Get Well Soon
Plastic Yarn
Doctor Cyrus is a fun character. He is brilliant in his own way, but at his wits end with work. He gets a bit absent minded sometimes, especially working long hours. In my game that I would like to make one day, his error is what sends you into the liminal zone haha
He is not the best under pressure or long hours.
Which is completely the opposite of Ada. She thrives in all situations. Long hours, late nights and days, massive pressure. She handles it all. She is ruthless in her endeavors.
This encounter takes places before Plastic Yarn, before any material is moved into the public space. We explore more as we go along.
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Cheers!~