It was an average lunchtime in the Aperture cafeteria. Same old grey and light grey walls and floors, almost without any people or noise. Doug was busy pretending to listen to Henry's endless raving about the AI that he'd recently been working on.
"… Like this could revolutionize mankind! I think we've really got something here, and they chose ME to work on it with them! I can't believe…"
Doug was looking elsewhere instead of listening to his friend's ranting. Chris Pharm and his posse were crowding around the new guy. They all work on the AI together and they'd just hired an assistant to be their pack mule and servant. Doug heard that they told the guy to go and get coffee for everyone, and when he came back he ended up spilling the scorching beverage all over the core of the AI. They were all furious of course, and they haven't stopped giving him shit for it since it happened earlier that morning.
Henry suddenly cut off and said he'd see him later and left. Once he was gone Doug got up and went over to the crowded table.
"Come on Chris, it's his first week. Give the poor guy a break." He said calmly, as he took a glance at the man. He was tall, impossibly tall actually, with sandy blonde hair and square-framed glasses. Even with his huge stature he still seemed incredibly intimidated by Chris and his lackeys, which had him twitching and looking down out of fear and embarrassment.
"This guy's a fucking moron; he was probably dropped on his head millions of times by his drunken British parents." Exclaimed Pharm, which caused his little friends to chime in immediately after he said it.
"Just get out of here. I'm sure there are much better uses of your time elsewhere." Doug said, with a kind of hardness in his voice that was really just telling them to fuck off.
"Whatever nut job. Have fun with your little faggot friend." Pharm walked off in a huff with his posse trailing behind him.
Once they left he pulled up a chair next to the man. Doug looked at him and saw his face. He had these startling, ocean blue eyes.
"Er, umm… thanks for that. I'm useless when it comes to confrontation, so, um, thanks for that." He stuttered out.
Doug smiled, "Don't mention it. Pharm can be kind of a dick most of the time, so don't waste your time on him."
"G-good to know…" he said, fiddling with the food on his plate.
"So, I know you're new around here, what brings you to Aperture?" Doug was trying to change the tone of the room.
"Well, I was working as a researcher at the Aperture in London, but they said that I was better qualified for a job here, in America, so I just came. And apparently my intelligence isn't appreciated here. But I can't go back. I basically brought my whole life here to be ridiculed and get coffee. It's ludicrous."
Doug noticed that he talked faster when he was wound up.
"I've been here a few weeks and all people have done is call me a moron." He looked down at his plate, incredibly flustered with his situation. "I know I'm not the most graceful man in the world, but I do know a lot about research and technology. These blokes just don't get that."
Doug paused, looking for the words to say to him. "I'm sure that you're a very educated man. But the superiors here like men who take charge and don't take shit. Even if they are gorillas, it helps them gain notoriety. Maybe you should try being more forceful and just do whatever they say for now. Gain their respect. Then maybe you'll get the researching job you deserve."
The man looked at him, with a sort of look in his eyes of hope and respect.
"Thank you for the advice, mate." He had a look of alarm in his eyes. "Oh! Sorry, I didn't catch your name."
Doug stood up and put out his hand. "Doug Rattmann. And yours?"
The man stood up as well. He shoved his hand out. "Jonathan Wheatley. It's been a real pleasure meeting you."
"Same here." Doug said with a smile.
