Yuma Robotics HQ, Central Dome, New Astarte, Planet Yuma, Coronado
10 Aug. 824 A.S.
After the initial greetings, everyone listened to Doreen's explanation. The moment she showed them the difference between past and present, Valders was shocked beyond words. She just stood, mouth agape. Desay and Corvin were also taken aback, but managed to maintain themselves. "Well I'll be... That Rejuvenator must indeed be a piece of work." Clark commented with a slight grin.
While Lieutenant Davidson was leaving, Erik nodded slowly, pondering, then he spoke "So a Rejuvenator is in the Republic's hands now... Well, this is clearly an opportunity." - he smiled - "Mister Desay and I can surely take a look at it. Would you mind having it sent to our HQ tomorrow?" - and Clark quickly replied "I doubt power-consumption will be a problem with our resources. It's making sure the technology can fit with our equipment that'll be a pain."
That being said, Erik patted Samantha on her shoulder, so as to wake her from the astonishment, and chuckled "Now then, let's get to work, ladies and gentlemen." Valders and Desay perked up instantly, and each took a seat at their respective work-stations within the laboratory.
"I doubt power-consumption will be a problem with our resources. It's making sure the technology can fit with our equipment that'll be a pain."
"It is already on it's way to HQ as are the technical schematics and instructions," she answered. "And don't be too sure on the power issue. The other one is on a Nephilim colony ship which has to shut down other systems to provide enough power and the Nephilim is no slouch." She then smiled sweetly to Clark, "But I have no doubt in Crayter engineers. I've seen just how good they are."
Doreen herself had made her rounds for the day and pushed all the paperwork she needed to. Quietly, she was taking an easy day by soaking in knowledge in Erik's laboratory. What she saw with Nanotechnology was pretty spectacular. It was almost as if she wanted to see it work it's magic again but battle casualties were nothing anyone wanted. She was quiet as she watched and learned asking simple but random questions on it. She yawned and looked at her watch and went over to Erik who was at his station. She kindly asked him, "Shall we do some lunch?"
The following few hours were spent in a slow, but steady, stream of calculations and tinkering. Samantha was coding on her screen, trying to organise the nanite sub-routines for future uses. Clark was laser-cutting microscopic pieces of material and piecing them together with care, while Erik was analyzing holo-projections of all nanite prototypes. Sometimes he would zoom in on one single version, then peruse its attributes and try to figure out where the faults were. Chatter wasn't out of the picture though, considering each one would occasionally need some data from the others. As for Doreen, they tried to help her catch up with everything that's been done so far, so that she may soon begin helping with the next phase in the project.
At one point, Samantha asked about Richard and Catherine, to which Erik replied "They're off on another exploratory trip on Planet Baja. I was told they'll be back next week."
"Shall we do some lunch?" echoed in Erik's mind, as he was just finishing up with another analysis.
He looked away from the hologram and then checked the time. Almost three in the afternoon. "Come to think of it..." - he began, while turning to Doreen - "I haven't eaten anything since morning." He rose up from his chair, then exclaimed "Lunch! Anyone else coming?"
Both Clark and Samantha denied the offer, saying they'll join up a bit later, once they're done with their respective tasks. As such, Erik took the lead and showed Doreen the way to the Research Academy's cafeteria, in the nearby tower.
They sat at a two person table, face to face. She had her hands atop each other with an orange seltzer to her left. She wasn't eating heavy so it was a simple tuna salad sandwich for her. She was enjoying some easy time with Erik. It was really the first time no one was around them. No kids and no co-workers. She felt relaxed and her smile showed it. It was an easy, natural smile that occasionally went to a soft face of compassion, concern or caring, depending on the subject.
For the moment, she spoke little of work. When away from it, she tried not to speak of it. They spoke of the kids and got some laughs out of it and a few head shakes as well. One thing she didn't speak a lot about though was her family. She missed them. She loved them but the exile was a bitter pill. She did her best to put on a good face about it. Besides, Benjen WAS her family and had been for the last nine plus years.
"He loves Peter," she said with a giggle, "Peter is all he talks about when he's not around him." She then gave a kind look to Erik, "He thinks a lot of you too, Erik. He's never said that about anyone before."
After a sip of seltzer, she put her hands atop one another again and looked at Erik, "Listen, I don't have to be at the office tomorrow. If you want, you can bring Peter to my place."
But as they sat across from each other, lost in conversation, she had the chance to look into his eyes. There was something about them. With a look of concerned kindness, she asked him, "Erik, if you wouldn't mind, take off your glasses."
Aithne Research Academy, Central Dome, New Astarte, Planet Yuma, Coronado
10 Aug. 824 A.S.
The cafeteria was rathere quiet. Only a few people spread out across a large number of empty tables. Erik was peacefully enjoying his algae salad - a quite nutritious food, it turns out - along with the ongoing conversation. Naturally, his expression would also change from point to point, with an occasional chuckle popping up.
"He thinks a lot of you too, Erik. He's never said that about anyone before." "In that case i'm flattered. And Peter talks about Ben all the time too." - he snickered - "He's kept asking me when they'll get together again." "Listen, I don't have to be at the office tomorrow. If you want, you can bring Peter to my place." she added. "If you're sure you want the extra hustle... Ok. I'll drop Peter at your place around noon, after Ben's home from school. I'm sure he'd appreciate the company." he replied, smiling a bit wider than usual.
As he was just finishing his meal, his general smile dropped to a neutral, partially confused look. Doreen's request came as completely unexpected. Nonetheless, he was curious to her intentions, so he took his glasses off, placing them on the table but still holding them with his right hand. He looked at her, waiting.
"I'll be expecting him around noon then," she answered. "With those two keeping each other occupied, I won't have as much hustle as one might think."
She then leaned forward a bit, her hands still atop each other on the table. She just gazed into his eyes. His eyes were deep and she looked in as far as she could. She didn't really know why she was doing it but she was. Her mother once told her that a person's eyes were the gateway to their soul. For Doreen, maybe it was the first time she had been close enough to someone that she could look in. They were co-workers and friends but she enjoyed his company.
He was an intellectual, a caring father and buried within all of it, a still grieving widower. It was nice being able to sit with someone so gentle in such a hostile place. Her smile was soft as she stared before she finally leaned back a bit and gave a soft nod followed by a barely audible, "thank you."
She was satisfied and more relaxed. She took a sip of her seltzer and maintained her gentle smile. Yes, there was something about him that she liked.
Aithne Research Academy, Central Dome, New Astarte, Planet Yuma, Coronado
10 Aug. 824 A.S.
An old proverb once said "Eyes that do not cry, do not see..." It is indeed a human being's struggles that forge him or her with the ability to see life more clearly, to think more deeply. Loss, pain, rebirth... a cycle through which all of today's Crayterians went through, each in their own way. Erik's silvery-blue eyes met those copper irises of Doreen's with enough restraint. It was mostly his curious mind, his love for discovery, which convinced him. So he gazed back into the same dark dots that were trying to pierce his sight and search beyond it.
He didn't know what he was looking at, nor why... but one thing he knew now: the person in front of him was just like him - someone who didn't let life's struggles put her down. This short moment of clarity felt much longer than it really lasted, and its abrupt end left Erik slightly perplexed. "Thank you." he heard.
"Uhm..." - he put his glasses back on and managed half a smile - "You're welcome."
A few minutes later, the cafeteria door was being opened by Clark and Samantha.
She was still a bit mesmerized by him as Clark and Samantha entered. Casually, she cleared some room at the table for them.
"I trust all went well?" she asked them. After some small talk, she praised them both.
"I have to admit, I've enjoyed seeing the projects that you have been working on. I've heard of nanite therapy before and have had little study in it myself so from a medical standpoint, it's pretty sensational," she told them.
At this point, she just mixed in with the tableside chat. All had a good time over a light lunch and drink.
With chit-chat and lunch over, a few more hours of work ensued. Erik would occasionally glance at Doreen, just seeing her take in the information she was being presented. In the evening, almost everyone went home satisfied with another day of small progress. Clark stayed behind to close off the lab, but more importantly to work a little extra on some idea of his.
Apartment 6, Residential Complex T-4, New Thessalonica, Planet Yuma, Coronado
11 Aug. 824 A.S.
~Beeeep~ the doorbell rang. In front of doctor Naggar's apartment two silhouettes were now standing. Peter was a bit jittery, with eyes wide and expectant as he had been missing Benjen these past few days. Still, his hands were made of stone as he didn't want to drop the box he was holding. Erik's attire was overly formal today, with a dark-blue suit, cyan shirt and a tie to match his glasses' tint. He was holding a suitcase in his left hand and kept his right arm on Peter's shoulder. They were waiting for the door to open.
She met them at the door. Unlike Erik, she was loose. She was wrapped in a pink bath robe and bare feet.
"Well good...." she took at the clock before turning her head back to them, "....late morning. Come on in."
Upon the sight of Peter, Benjen came running, "Peter, Mom is going to take us to the beach soon."
She then turned a face of being found out to Erik and sighed, "Well, the secret is out. I figured I'd get them out. It's a perfect day for it."
She took a look back to see where they were before turning back to Erik, placing a hand on her robe, "And um, sorry. I haven't gotten myself ready yet. We slept in." She took a few steps, asking as she walked, "Do you want a drink of anything before you head out?"
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Benjen was excited. He had never been to a beach. Between the cold of Hamburg, living on stations and the deserts of Houston, he had only seen one in pictures. "This is going to be so kool!" he shouted to Peter, "We can make sand castles and everything," he said.
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Doreen could only laugh as she sipped some coffee. She turned to Erik, "I hope you don't mind. He'll be fine."
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