Capítulo 4: Research and Development
The scientists all stare at me, in more disbelief than shock.
Saul questions, "Where do you see that exactly?"
I point towards the beginning of the problem, where it's easy to overlook such a mistake when you've been working so hard to come up with an answer.
Danny once again interjects, "There's nothing wrong with any part of my work. I've double checked and there are no errors."
I can see why they've struggle to come to a solution for so long.
There's always one of "those" guys in every group.
As I'm about to reply, Barbara speaks up, "Sorry Danny, but he's right. There's an error in the math. It's fine, everyone makes mistakes."
Danny snaps towards her, "Mistake? No, a mistake is thinking omnics needed jet packs.
In my opinion, I'm sure the mistake is in the substances that you suggested Steve. They look wrong."
"The substances have been tested and each provide the correct reactions.
He's right and the sooner you accept that you made a mistake the sooner we can move on." Steve calmly addresses.
His words infuriate Danny. "My work is right; you guys are just being swayed by a kid.
I've been doing this job longer than you were in your father and you have the audacity to try to say I'm wrong. Who do you think you are?"
Of course, the smile never leaves my face as I calmly respond, "You're not a very good listener. It's ok, I'll repeat myself for you just this once.
My name is Shawn Rose. Son of President Rose. Your boss, who I don't think would appreciate the news of hearing that you yelled at his only son.
You keep going on and on about not making mistakes, but you fail to realize that you're currently making one.
All I have to do is start crying and say you were mean to me and that's your job."
His eyes grow wide as the logic behind my words sink in.
"I've been with Omnica for 10 years, even if you are the President's son, that has to account for something?"
He looks to Saul, "Right?"
Saul doesn't return his gaze, and looks off back towards the whiteboard.
Danny refuses to give up and rushes towards Barbara hoping to get her support, grabbing both her shoulders as he pleads.
"We did so much for Omnica, our fate cant be left in the hands of some brat."
Barbara gives him a solemn expression, moving his hands from her shoulders.
"After the development of the original Omnics models, our work has staggered, Danny. We haven't contributed any usefulness in seven years. I'm surprised we haven't been dealt with sooner."
Processing the information she just gave him, he remains undaunted.
Meanwhile, I couldn't believe they thought my dad wouldn't just outright fire them.
I knew the moment I saw the state of this floor that he was just trying to get me out of his hair, or what's left of it, again.
"Presidents son or not, I refuse to take orders from a kid who probably has yet to lose his first tooth." He says defiantly.
Shrugging my shoulders I nonchalantly respond, "That's fine, I'm not here to give any orders. You guys have the wrong idea about why I'm here.
I wasn't put here to get rid of you guys, it was for another reason that has nothing to do with you.
But I can tell by the way you guys are struggling over a problem so simple, I decided to offer a guiding hand.
The Golden Age hasn't ended yet and changes are coming, and whether or not you want to be a part of that change is up to you."
Everyone else is on board after hearing what I have to say, even Danny remains quiet.
"So I can assume that the formula on the board is for a new metal that you planned on incorporating into omnics?" I question.
The scientists are once again stunned, then Saul breaks the silence by asking, "Yes that's right but how could you know this?"
Waving his question off I responded, " I studied Chemistry."
Seeing her chance, Barbara chimes in, "And how old are you?"
Expecting these kinds of questions, I patiently respond, "I'll be turning 7 this year."
I pause as I wait for any more questions before I continue.
"What year is it?" I ask.
"2038." Steve replies.
Oof. We had about roughly six years before Aurora was built and sacrificed which would give other Omnics sentience.
Then Omnica and their omniums would be shut down the following year
The year after that would be the initial invasions of the Omnic Crisis.
"We have a tight schedule but if we work hard, we can get great things completed within six years."
I assure them.
"What's going to happen after six years?" Barbara asks.
"Change." I vaguely respond.
Saul steps forward, "Well what do you have planned? I for one, am excited to see what innovating ideas you have for Omnic upgrades."
"Oh about that, we'll be moving our focus into other areas." I respond.
Danny interjects, "This is a department for Omnic research and development. What other areas could there be?"
Not being fazed, I respond, "Well Danny boy, after improving their metal to make them more efficient at moving, there's not much left to improve on Omnics is there.
However, there is the need for robotic parts.
We should turn our focus to the improvement of robotic prosthetics, making them more humanlike in appearance and raising its efficiency."
When Omnica Corporation shuts down, many smaller companies scavenge whatever they can from it's corpse.
I was hoping to keep their focus on things that didn't improve Omnics to give us a better chance when the war started.
Of course I couldn't do anything about the other Omnica Corporations worldwide, but at least the Omnics in North America would be easier to take down.
Saul begins to pace back and forth while thinking deeply on what I said, "Well even with the fusion reactor cores and internal batteries, an Omnics life expectancy is 15 years. I think we could try to improve that, before moving on to prosthetics."
"Ok but that could take up to a decades worth of research. Do you think the company is going to run on the promise of an improvement to battery life?
No, you need results now before they lose patience." I contradict while slightly annoyed he found a hole in my logic.
Danny once again bares his fangs, "Oh now our jobs are on the line again? I thought you said you weren't trying to get rid of us?"
" This is a multi-billion dollar company. You think if the President of said company wanted to fire you, he would send his six year old son to do it?
I'm just reminding you that like with any job, they require results for what you get paid for."
Not having a good rebuttal to my statement, he merely narrows his eyes at me, quieting back down.
Saul looks at Barbara who nods at him, then at Steve who shrugs.
Looking back at me, he says, "Well, I guess we're in agreement then."
We spend the two months developing a more efficient prosthetic, which quickly gets approved for general use.
The product is well received with little to no critics, earning me a summon to the Presidents office.
I get escorted by the same two bodyguards to an elevator where they input the same sequence they did last time.
Walking through the double doors, I find my father sitting behind the desk, waiting for me.
I quietly slide into one of his chairs facing towards his desk and remain silent.
He remains quiet as well, as his eyes start scanning mine as if looking for something and I keep his gaze unfazed.
After a minute of this, he says abruptly,
"Almost a year ago, when I first adopted you, I did this same thing to you.
Expect back then, you were basically terrified of everything.
You would constantly hold your head down, much less look at someone when speaking to them.
And now, you walk with such a confidence like you own the place.
You couldn't answer what 2+2 was, and now your doing linear equations.
I know you're not Shawn.
Tell me, what do you want? What do they want?"
The way he says "they", has a level of fear to it, which throws me off slightly.
My mind races at the possible suspects but there's just a clear answer.
"You mean Tal...." I begin.
"Don't!" He screams looking around the room frantically. "Just... don't."
Confused, I shrank further into my seat.
Talon wasn't supposed to have a presence until after the war.
While I was studying months ago, I often considered joining Talon.
I ruled it out because from what I knew, it wasn't going to be an enjoyable experience.
Especially when Moira joins and they know I have powers, and they get her to experiment on me.
Plus, there were only three people I could say I would actually like to meet in Talon, them being Baptiste, Sigma, and Sombra.
If I wanted to join Overwatch, I knew I shouldn't have anything to do with Talon.
As I was about to deny my association with them, I realized I shot myself in the foot.
How would I explain knowing the name of a shadowy terrorist group that literally is the guiding hand of almost every crime or disaster in this world?
"Ok I know what you're thinking but it's nothing like that.
Think about it, if they wanted something from you why would they send the kid you left bed-ridden for 8 months and not once checked on?" I counter.
His face is stricken with grief as my words sink in.
Turning his chair so I can't see his face he shakenly says, "I called you here for two reasons.
You're not an employee but have spent months of hard work for a product that you personally oversaw, therefore warranting you a reward.
Second, I just needed to know.
So, state your terms and begone."
" I want a ten thousand monthly allowance."
He waves off my offer, "Granted, next."
"Sebastian." I quickly respond.
"Who's Sebastian?"He asks confused.
"Our omnic butler. I don't want him replaced when a new line of omnics come out." I say adamantly.
"Whatever." He says dismissively. "Anything else?"
I open my mouth to say that he has to come home at least once a month to spend time with me but I close it back.
My plan was to help him get past his grief in the next six years before Omnica has to shut down but I understand now that's not going to happen.
From the memories, I could remember when he first adopted me, he actually made an attempt to recover.
We would eat dinner together and he would share his stories, he even managed to smile once.
But it all went downhill one night when he came rushing into my room with a pile of books, demanding that I learn how to replace him.
Ever since that night, we became strangers once again.
Standing up and walking towards the door, I take a look back at him once more.
He didn't attempt to turn his chair back to me as I leave so I say, "No. That'll be all."
As the double doors close softly, the sounds of a man crying can be heard but I ignore it.
Heading to the elevator, I push the button for the first floor and wish him luck in the future.
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