Kyou froze mid-press, staring at Gero.
« Finally! » She exaled, shoulders dropping in visible relief. « You are alive! That saves me a few very unpleasant forms. »
Geri Blinked, He was glad he took a shower and changed into new clothes before going out, otherwise that would have been embarrassing, again.
« At least you don't look like a cave goblin, good, that will make it marginally easier! »
« What is going on? »
« You have been unreachable for weeks! Pager? No answer! Lab line? No answer! And every time I came here and person and rang the intercom, no answer! » Nothing! The only reason I didn't call emergency services is because no one else than you can walk trough the lab's doors! » Then she jabbed the folder she carried in her handbag at his chest.
« The pager was annoying, I was in the middle of something. » Explained Gero.
Kyou closed her eyes, channeling all her inner power into containing her rage and frustration, then after a moment she reopened them with professional calm glued back on.
« Of course the pager was annoying. Well, anyway, congratulation Dr. Gero. You are now the proud recipient of the Royal Academy's Prize in Sciences. »
Gero blinked, then asked: « The Academy? »
« Yes! » She snapped open the folder and thrust the richly designed letter under his nose. « The Academy. The one whose members write the textbooks you skim and insult in the margins. The ones having the favour of the king. They love your their about the autonomous long-life core architecture, and T1 blew the mind all every customer that pre-ordered after witnessing T0's performances. Furbolg is shifting all it's production line to it, we are making a killing and the demand outgrew what we can provide by atlas a thousandfold! You are a celebrity now, the medias are speaking non stop about T1 and it's inventor. So of course you have been nominated and selected! There will be Ms. Anzu, the board, at least half of the government. The king! And guess what! »
«No way. What? »
« Yes way, it's tonight! »
Stunned, he took the letter, and absentmindedly closed the door on Kyou and went to the couch to read it. Of course, from eh outside he heard a « Fuuuuuuuuuck! Fucking shit, god I swear… » followed by some undistinguished curses, as he was reading the thing. Prize… endowment… keynote address… blablabla… « for this pioneering work on persistent energy cores. » There were numbers attached, but they were almost trivial compared to what he already siphoned in materials. He may need to check with Kyou how much money he had on his account. Kyou…
« Fuck! »
He run back to open the door and invite the poor secretary inside. The only thing about this event and prize was recognition and prestige. The Royal academy meant more than money. It meant that when some future accountant dared question his budget, Anzu could smash them with his prestige until they dared no longer even think about how much he was about to spend. And more importantly, what he would spend it on.
« Did you calm down? » Asked Kyou.
« Yeah. » He replied.
Then she clicked the folder closed. « My remit, per Ms. Anzu , is as follow: find you, verify that you are not dead, ensure that you are wearing something other than a lab coat, get you to the venue on time, and the thing written in red ink: « strongly encourage Dr. Gero not to terrify the investors, insult dignitaries, and spit on the other 'dumb nerds ' at sight.»
Gero's mouth twitched. « She really wrote that? Did I ever… »
« She really wrote that, and with my colleagues we counted each time you employed 'dumb nerd' in your T1 schematics and instructions. Seven thousand and twenty six time.»
Gero contemplated this fact and confirmed that the prolonged stress and exhaustion nearly drove him insane.
« Very well, I'll get ready. »
They went to check his wardrobe.
« This is… » Kyou was speechless seeing same lab coats and same clothes in every closet. Even the shoes were the same. From his past Victor took the habit to only get the same kind of clothes, the way Einstein did, because having to chose was a waste of time. As the exasperation reached it's peak, Gero finally pointed to another closet and she finally discovered that he had hidden a custom-made suit and fancy shoes. After a quick confirmation, he changed quickly. When he left the room, she was pleased. He looked smart. This was it! She stepped closer and handed him s small card detailing the program of the ceremony. The plan was to arrive with Ms. Anzu, walk the carpet, and not say anything quotable unless it is on this little sheet. Then pretend to listen while sitting on the front row. When called, go on stage. Shake hands, accept medal, parchment, smile, short acceptance speech and that was it.
« The speech is in this bottom right drawer he said, pointing at his room's desk. As she read the speech, he glanced at the clock. Night Dog would be eating books for at least a few more days anyway, and he didn't plan to work on anything else right away. He was also glad he could attend the ceremony. Kyou then checked her watch. It was time to depart. The black sedan was sleeker this time. The city rolled past in reflected neon, there were signs in kanji and the local glyphs, sky-rails and the early hoverers. Kyou opened yet another folder again, and took another set of documents.
« Dr. Gero, At the post-ceremony reception people will approach you. There will be our investors, officials, journalists, all with their own agenda. I have prepared three safe topics, when in doubt, please circle back to these. »
He confirmed he will do as she said after checking the document. Meanwhile the car slid to a halt in front of the Academy hall. It was an old castle like structure with banners hanging from it's façade. There were crowds, cameras, a red carpet, and Kyou sent a message to confirm Gero and Anzu would be in sync as they stepped out of their cars.
« Right, let's go. Go earn your medal doctor. I'll be three steps behind with a fire extinguisher for PR. »
He stepped out of the car and smiled at the flashing cameras in a polite way, before advancing forward with Anzu. Somewhere, decades in the future, Trunks would arrive in this timeline assuming Dr. Gero was a bitter and recluse old man, rotting in a lab in the middle of nowhere. However, here and now he was walking up the Academy steps in a tailored suit, as a prize-winning genius. The public darling of the energy sector, while a machine called Night Dog ate quietly and grew steadily it's data base. He speed run Gero's life, and rocked it.
The Academy hall looked different inside. From the street it was a relic from the past, while inside, the decor was modern. Sophisticated and abstract chandeliers were suspended on the hight ceiling, and modern painting were enveloping the walls. A jazz orchestra was playing in a corner, and waiters drifted trough the crowd with trays of food that probably had names so researched one would bit his tongue twice the at the first attempt of pronouncing it. Gero stood next to Ms. Anzu, with a persistent cluster of Ferbolg executives near the main aisle. The noise of a few hundred important people trying to out-important one another reverberated around hime like a sea of radio noise.
« Remember, » whispered Kyou from behind, her eyes never leaving the flow of guests. « When they call you, do not rush, just walk slowly, smile and get the prize. » She seemed more nervous than he was at least.
After a moment the lights dimmed a fraction as some subtle cue rippled trough the hall. People began drifting toward the main auditorium doors, the conversations were folding and reforming in the motion. On the upper balconies, cameras on elevated rails were moving, their red lights blinking. As they were guided by a friendly staff member to their sits at the front, Gero's gaze swept over the crowd. Every one here was wearing expensive fabrics, tailored fits, hair cuts that it took hours to achieve. In the back third of the of the the ground floor sits, tough, he spotted a pocket of different texture. Brief and Panchy. He nodded at them as his friend-scientist waved energetically at him. They looked ok enough for the event, but one could see at a first glance they purchased their clothes in a low-end store. The auditorium itself was a horseshoe of dark wood and red velvet seats. The stage was half filled by a curved row of dignitaries and Academy members, and behind them was gleaning a large crest flanked by banners. In the central front row, atop a slightly raised platform of his own, sat the king. He was an energetic young man. At least one could have called him a man if he was not a humanoid dog. Like many in the world of Dragon Ball, he got some kind of disease that transformed him in a man-animal. Later during Dragon Ball Z, the animal-people just disappeared, without any explanation. Maybe some one did invent a cure, or maybe they were not resurrected after some humanity's extinction by the dragon balls at some point. Gero could not respect that king though, after the appearance of King Demon Piccolo, he would lose everything he has right now.
Then the ceremony officially began. Like the Oscars, but completely boring. The Academy chair was rambling about tradition and innovation. Then someone from the science council talked about the new era of sustainable progress or something. Gero was fighting the sandman as it was his thirty-fourth hours of the day, and these men were undoing all the holly work the saint coffee accomplished until now. Anzu was seating next to him, and masterfully tricked every one in the attendance, making them believe she was really enjoying the speeches. Then:
« And tonight, we honour a researcher whose work promises to redefine how our civilisation thinks about energy. His autonomous long-life cores are already known in the trade as T1, and are certainly a landmark achievement. It is my honour and privilege, to invite His Majesty the King to present the Royal Academy Prize in Sciences to Dr. Leonid Gero of Ferbolg Laboratories! »
Every one started to applause and a spotlight snapped on, centring on the stage steps where an usher gestured. Kyou's whisper brushed his ear: « Go!. »
He rose smoothly, eyes already mapped to the route: the the central aisle, then four steps, turn left, stop at the light marker just in front of the King. The king stepped forward as Gero approached, a velvet-lined box in one paw. Up close, one could nearly discover a spark of intelligence, but someone with a bit of braincells could see that in fact that dog just obeyed instructions longly rehearsed, like a dumb dog he was. Gero bowed shallowly but respecting the etiquette, and said: « Your majesty. »
The King incited his head in return, and spoke in the microphone.
« Dr. Gero, our Academy assures me that what you have built is quite… extraordinary. » Then the King opened the box revealing a medal and a ribbon, shining brightly under the lights. « For your contributions to the Crown's realm of knowledge, and to the comfort of its people, we are pleased to bestow upon you the Royal Academy Prize of Sciences! »
Gero bent slightly so the King could place the ribbon around his neck. The medal's weight settled against his sternum. It was made of platinum and gold and silver embellishments. They turned slightly to face the audience and the cameras flashed, the hall was filled with applause once again.
« A few words, esteemed doctor? » Prompted the Master of Ceremonies while the king went back to his sit. Gero took the microphone that was extended to him.
« Your Majesty, honoured members of the Academy, colleagues. » He began, his voice sounded steady. « I am grateful for the chance I have to stand here in front of you all. I am grateful to the royal family who maintained stability, justice and prosperity that allowed me to study everything I wanted to learn in West City's University. T1 was not created from nothing, it is the product of years of efforts and testing, and I have to thank especially my colleague and fellow WCU Alumni Dr. Brief, who helped me testing the theory and its application outside of the world of ideas. I am very glad to see him tonight. Dominic please stand up, every one a round of applause please for this brilliant guy! » Brief stood up and the tech team focused the lights on him. Everyone cheered for a little while before the crowd calmed down. In this kind of situations it was important to spill some of one owns prestige on the deserving people, otherwise no one would want to acknowledge you, and he needed Capsule Corp shares to go up. After this ceremony he intended to get a personal broker handle it for him. A little bit after the crown was focused again on him, he continued.
« I want to thank professor, doctor and mentor, Nira Yasuhara, who believed in me and supported me during my studies. Please another round of applause for her, as she is also present, and is a very esteemed member of the scientific community. » Again the scene repeated itself but now with Yasuhara in the center of attention.
« I am very grateful to Ferbolg Corporation for the unconditional and unwavering support, it is the most human and the best working place possible. I am proud to say that I work for a company with high integrity, and with a vision for a sustainable future. » He went on thanking other colleagues and telling again that he was happy to take the prize. Gero ended up his speech with humility stating that he hoped T1 could help other searchers to get breakthrough in other domains, but each time he pronounced T1, he was thinking 'trash' in his head. After the ultimate round of applause, he handed back the microphone and shook hands with the Academy chair, exchanged some words with the other honoured members as they went to con graduate him, then followed the usher down of the stage and back to his seat. Kyou was really happy about his performance and told him it was perfect.
The reception that followed unfolded trough three rooms: a grand salon with chandeliers and many mirrors a slightly quieter adjoining space with high tables and a bat, and also the garden terrace under strings if light where the real political conversations were happening. Alas Gero never made it to the terrace. As soon as the formal part ended, he was engulfed by a crowd. Officials with small lapel pins and large smiles swarmed him. Then it was the turn of leaders and shareholders, smiling and very enthusiastic about the money flow T1 generated. Sometimes a fellow scientist or two got mixed in, displaying real curiosity with palpable professional jealousy. They arrived in waves, if he could build towers that would have been a tower defence game.
« Doctor Gero, Minister of Infrastructure Halberg. We're very interested in pilot deployments in the northern grid… »
« Doctor, doctor! I'm Osato from Steel United Manufacturing, do you have any licensing plans for… »
« Fascinating work, Doctor. Professor Hwang, energy materials. In your paper's appendix… »
He answered, always with just enough information to seem forthcoming, while Kyou accepted the incessant flow of contact cards and Anzu deflected anything else too bothersome to handle. Every time he thought he spotted a gap he could slip through, someone else materialised with a handshake and a card. On the edges of his vision, he spotted some familiar faces. Brief and Panchy, near the dessert table. The scientist had a plate piled with anything that looked free and sugary, and his fiancée was trying to keep him from overdosing on chocolate squares. They noticed him too, as it was not too hard, but made no move to approach immediately, abandoning him to the swarm. He also spotted Vomi, further back. She was wearing a dark green dress that suited her far better than she probably thought. Her hair was pinned up in a practical twist that still left a few rebellious curls around her face. She had that look of someone who had been invited on the strength of her own work but couldn't ignore the fact that half of the room saw her as someone's ex before fellow scientist, as she used to attend scientific events with Gero, before Gero wasn't Gero anymore. Their eyes met for a heartbeat across the cluttered space, and each time he couldn't believe how a woman's gaze could be so captivating, even from afar. He tried to stop the thunderstorm that submerged him, and he still couldn't believe in what he felt, again, this time without remains of drugs and alcohol in his system. Like dynamite, she blew his mind and heart to pieces, but he got saved by one and only thing. Her name meant vomit. Only that fact prevented him to fall under that red head flag that caused the original's life to turn into blind hatred and obsession. Even if he pulled it off, walking that dark path, Beerus would be his final stop. While he was mesmerised, there was a complicated set of things in her expression: worry, annoyance, something like reluctant pride, and the brittle coolness of someone determined to not cause a scene. Gero who got finally a hold on himself, inclined his head in the barest of acknowledgements, feigning he was thinking about a scientific problem before that. Before she could attempt to cross the gap, another cluster of officials flowed between them and he was pulled into another round of « Doctor Gero, if I might ask… » She hovered at the periphery for a while, clearly waiting for an opening that never came. Twice she took a half-step forward, then halted as some new dignitary intercepted him. Eventually he saw her shoulders drop, jaw tighten, and she retreated toward a group from her own acquaintances, folding herself back into a safe orbit.
Finally when things calmed down, he had the infortune of hearing someone mention the Red Ribbon.
« We have several-sector clients watching with great interest. » Said one of the attendees. « Red Ribbon Security Solutions is on the verge of becoming an independent army, their reputation is really good. »
Gero said to himself that he had to fuck away from here as soon as possible, additionally Kyou was not nearby, and Anzu got dragged somewhere else by a group of partner representatives. And as it was not enough, he heard about this shady group once again, but this time it came with a handshake that lingered just a fraction too long for his liking.
« Doctor Gero, yes? » The voice was very gentle and enthusiastic. « An honour at last, I am Dr. Flappe.» The man in front of him looked like someone had aged a disco dancer with an afro haircut and wrapped him into a business suit. It felt so wrong. His places were transparent but shaped like Ray-Ban's, and his moustache screamed boogey boogey dance.
« Your name is familiar, robotics, isn't it? » Politely answered Gero, trying his best to think how to get away.
« Among other things, » Flappe said modestly. « I have the privilege of leading the advanced systems group at Red Ribbon Security Solutions. We have started a research on non-human assets for high-risk tasks recently. Drones, automated fortifications, and we are about to start working on bio-synthetic hybrids… » He let the words trail off invitingly. « I've read your old publications and study papers, it was very interesting, to discover that years ago you were thinking way ahead of the scientific community. »
« I've read your publications too, on self-repairing actuators. » Gero said. « The bone-mimicking lattice was really interesting. »
Frappe chuckled, apparently delighted by the mention of his work. « Yes, yes, when you are trying to keep soldiers alive, once in a while you may want to consider to take a detour. But your previous papers removed the soldier from the equation entirely. Think of it: forward bases, operating for decades without resupply. Automated defence networks that never sleep because the power supply is infinite. Our generals are quite enthusiastic when I presented your papers during the last meetings. » He leaned in a little, as if sharing a joke. « To be frank, Doctor, we rather wish we had discovered you before Ferbold did. »
Gero really wanted to throw his glass of champaign into Flappe's eyes and run away fron this other red flag. Damn, does he need to be afraid of everything with red on it to avoid the original's finality?
« Ferbolg was financing me and my studies from my first year of masters. I don't consider myself found, but encouraged and supported by them. »
« Of course, of course, » Flappe said smoothly. « And let me assure you, we have no intention of poaching you. That would be crude. However… » He produced a card, a simple thing, black with a red emblem in one corner, his name and contacts were embossed in silver. « Our company often engages in joint ventures. Special projects that may require… discretion, and a certain appetite for pushing boundaries traditional contractors shy away from. Your talents would be welcome in such collaborations. If, for instance, you ever wished to test your cores.. under more dynamic circumstances than a laboratory grid, and maybe if you wanted to make your previous theories… reality… »
Gero slid the card into his pocket without looking at it. « I'm not especially interested in weaponry and other military stuff. They tend to explode and they tend to attract people who like making things explode. And then they tend to explode themselves. »
Flappe's smile didn't falter, but his eyes cooled by a few degrees.
« Our focus is security, Doctor. Stability, deterrence, and someone must stand between civilisation and the… chaos beyond it's borders. The stronger the tools, the safer the average citizen sleeps. I suspect a man like you understands that power and safety are intimately linked. »
« I understand that more powerful a tool is, the more fear it creates. My cores are designed to be boring. They do not scare. They just power things up. Lights stay on, machines continue to work, Mr. Everyday has less bills to pay. I have enough variable disasters on my schedule without adding military's. »
There was an hostile flicker in Flappe's eyes, but then respect. He recognised a fellow colleague obsessed by his work and refusing to budge from his priorities.
« A pity. But the future is long, Doctor Gero, and the circumstances change. Keep my card, if you ever find yourself in need of alternate funding streams, or test in environments outside the public eye, we can offer both, and more. Red Ribbon keeps it's doors open for promising mids, and especially for exceptional ones, like yours. »
« I prefer to keep my mind out of the range of a firing squad. » Gero said blandly.
Flappe laughed genuinely this time. « You have a dark sense of humour, I really do like it. Enjoy your evening doctor, and once again, congratulations. »
Flappe disappeared into the crowd, drifting to a knot of military uniforms near the terrace doors. Kyou reappeared out of nowhere, nearly startling him.
« Who was that? » She asked quietly, eyes tracking Flappe's retreat.
« Dr. Flappe from the Red Ribbon. He invited me to work on illegal stuff.»
Her mouth tightened.
« Of course I refused. I have complete freedom and Ferbolg gives me everything, why would I need to become an outlaw ? »
« Good. » She said. « Because otherwise Ms. Anzu would have killed me, and the board would have absolutely murdered her. »
Later, much later, the crowd started to thin out. The bar though, was as busy as ever. The jazz band stopped playing, and were packing their stuff. Gero found finally himself in a small eddy of relative emptiness near one of the tall windows. The lights of West City spread out beyond the glass.
« Gero, here you are! » Brief appeared, dragging Panchy in his wake like a polite anchor. His suit jacket had acquired a stain of unknown origin, his tie was gone entirely. Panchy looked like she had spent the last hour alternating between being proud of him and preventing him from dismantling the chocolate fountain just for fun.
« Congratulations, you didn't trip and didn't insult anyone on stage either. I'm really impressed. Thank you for the shoot out thought, I really appreciate it. »
« Thanks. It was well deserved, I would not be here without you. At least it would have taken more time for it happening without you. »
« You're truly hopeless… » Sighted Panchy. Then her gaze flicked to the medal at his chest.
« Looks good on you Gero, gives you an heroic aura. »
« Thank you, by the way, when will I have the pleasure to call you Ms.Brief? »
Panchy reddened and stammered about it being planned for the next year. He was obviously invited. It also meant that the capsule tech was nearly completed and ready for production.
After catching up they decided it was time to go, and on his way to the exit, he caught sight of Vomi again, talking to Nira and a small group of younger researchers. Kyou returned at that moment and guided him back to the car. Under his house, under the hill, a giant servitor-shaped computer was awaiting him. On the way back he contemplated the starry sky, a kind of sky Momonga would like to snatch, and the whole world en passant.