CHAPTER TWO

Welcome to MegaCorp

"Twelve."

"Again?"

Dexter grit his teeth, then twisted his mouth into an attempt at a smile. "Certainly, madam. That would be seven, three, nine, U, four, eight, dash, twelve. Would you like to see my ID?" Dexter slipped the lanyard over his head and held out the ID card for the secretary to see. "There it is. Right at the top. Or possibly…I could type it for you?"

No, no, he had to be patient. With significant effort, Dexter kept the smile plastered to his face. Could the woman even read? She certainly couldn't type. And she was the head secretary at the headquarters of a multi-billion dollar corporation. Great. Just keep smiling.

The woman punched his employee ID number into the computer and returned his card before squinting at the screen. At least this wouldn't be a daily occurrence. Dexter knew they just had to get him authorized as part of the system, and once his personal information was transferred to the company databases then he could come and go as he pleased. Assuming they ever succeeded in the process.

At last the reflection of a white screen flashed up in the spectacles of the middle-aged woman. "Ah, there we go. 739U48, number 12, research physicist, Dexter…oh, it looks like they forgot to put your last name. Let me just key that into your file."

"Will that be all?" he ventured.

"Yes. Mr. Magnus will see you now. Please, step right in."

The helpdesk, a six foot-tall structure, slid aside on what Dexter presumed must be some invisible track on the floor, and a pair of automatic doors etched with a large, bold "M" swished open before him. This was it. With one steadying breath, Dexter clutched his briefcase in his hand and stepped into the office.

During his follow-up interviews Dexter had received a tour of the facilities, from the humble cubicle farms to the gourmet cafeteria to the tennis courts for the athletically-inclined, and best of all, the beautiful, state-of-the-art research laboratories. But he had never caught a glimpse of the executive office until now. It was very spacious. Dexter knew that it had been designed and furnished to appear even larger than it was. The gleaming white walls and tiled floors gave way to huge floor-to-ceiling windows at the far side of the room. Through the amber-tinted glass he could see they were at the top of Mega Tower, the other skyscrapers in his view of the city skyline practically dwarfed in comparison. Sky cars and taxis whizzed past the windows, and he could even see the commuter train streaking along on the monorail in the distance.

Within the office, however, Mr. Magnus was nowhere to be found. Tentatively Dexter took a seat in one of the two chairs placed in front of the CEO's desk. He wasn't sure if that was rude or not. He never had mastered those little social graces most people insisted upon.

He was pulling his Computer out of his pocket to check the polite protocol when he was distracted by the nameplate on Magnus' desk. It bore one word, "Executive."

Executive Chairman, CEO of MegaCorp and all its dozens of subsidiaries, the most influential corporation in the world. One day. One day, he thought, with a premature beat in his heart, that will be me.

Somewhere a toilet flushed. Dexter blinked, adjusted his glasses, and looked around. A side door opened and a man in a light grey suit stepped into the office, wiping his hands on his jacket.

"Beg your pardon, my boy! I hope you haven't been waiting long!"

Mr. Magnus strode over to his leather desk chair and hopped up onto the seat. He pulled open a drawer in his desk and took out a polished wooden case. "Cigar? Oh, you don't smoke? Good for you. I can't get a thing done without a stogie in my teeth, don't suppose I ever will."

In that case, maybe I will be CEO sooner rather than later, Dexter considered as Magnus lit the cigar with a silver lighter and puffed it into action.

Magnus was a short man. Dexter had seen photos of him in all the top science periodicals, but apparently none of them had a reference for scale. His legs didn't even touch the floor, just dangled beneath his desk. Dexter couldn't help but feel a certain kinship, though. Perhaps he'd like to sample some of my growth formula? He'd gotten most of the kinks ironed out in his own personal tests. Now there was just the sweating. And that weird mole. He probably needed to get that checked, actually….

"Well, Dexter, my boy – is it all right if I call you Dexter?"

"Absolutely, Mr. Magnus," he smiled, a genuine one this time. "Everyone does."

"Good to know! So, Dexter, how do you like it here at MegaCorp? Are they treating you ok?"

"Why, I have only been here an hour," Dexter hinted, "but my treatment thus far has been commendable."

Magnus paused and scratched at his thick moustache. "What part of the country did you say you were from?"

"I didn't specify, sir."

"Huh."

"I grew up not far from here," Dexter supplied, somewhat mystified. "In the suburbs. Just outside the city?"

"Oh. Never heard a suburban accent quite like yours before, I'll tell you that! But times they are a-changing and we gotta change with them." He tapped the ashes off his cigar and leaned back in his chair. "We're certainly glad to have you here, Dexter. Two doctorates, and a world-renowned physicist at your age! I'm sure you know there aren't a lot of smart young men to go around these days."

Tact. Tact. Dexter cleared his throat. "Yes, the sciences are, sadly, somewhat overlooked these days. A true shame."

"And I bet there aren't many that'd give you a run for your money, either."

"I doubt you could find even one, Mr. Magnus."

Magnus took a draw at his cigar again. "Well, we've come pretty close. That's why I called you in for a chat today, Dexter. You see – oh, there he is! I was wondering where you were, boy!"

"My deepest apologies, sir," Dexter heard a voice behind him whine. He instantly gripped his chair until his knuckles were white. "I hope you can forgive my tardiness, it was certainly no fault of my own. These cab drivers, you know, they simply have no regard for... "

No. No. Not here, no, for the love of Einstein, anywhere but here!

"I believe you two have met." Mr. Magnus glanced back and forth between the two supergeniuses, both on their feet, grim faces only inches apart.

"You could say that," Dexter managed through clenched teeth.

Mandark was equally confounded, but was evidently unable to produce a single sound.

At a gesture from the executive, Dexter returned to his seat, while Mandark threw himself into the empty chair next to his. Unacceptable. Must he plague me my entire life?

Dexter forced himself to pay attention to Mr. Magnus' words. He knew he would betray his disgust if he looked his employer in the eye, so he stared at the crown-shaped pin on his lapel instead. "…two brilliant minds, our research division will be thrilled to have you on their team. You are both starting out as senior research physicists, thanks to your excellent educations. It says here you are both W.I.T. alumni?"

"Yes," Dexter and Mandark said at once, both sounding strangled.

"If I understand correctly, you were also joint valedictorians in your graduating class?"

"Yes."

"Ah! Then you should be perfectly used to one another's company, which will work out very well, since you'll be sharing an office."

It was all Dexter could to do keep from bounding up, knocking his chair across the room and protesting the suggestion with utmost revulsion. Fortunately, he was saved the effort as Mandark jumped to his feet instead. "Share an office! Withthis…this…" he struggled to find an insult. "This colleague?"

Dexter bit his tongue hard. Yes, let Mandark make an idiot of himself. He could still achieve his own objective through the other's impudence. He just needed to preserve his composure.

Mr. Magnus stood, his bushy brows contracted in the beginning of a frown. He was probably two feet shorter than Mandark, but Dexter could see the gangling fool was clearly cowed, and he sat down without another word.

"You boys may be scientific geniuses, but you are still boys, and you are still on your trial period here at MegaCorp. We know you've got the brains to work here, but we have to make sure you've got the stuff too." Magnus paced behind his desk. "For your first three months on the job, you will share the office, as senior research physicists. However, after that point, you will each have the opportunity for promotion to the head of the department. That's only one opening, mind you."

Dexter could hear Mandark's hurried breathing, and hoped his rival couldn't hear his.

"Your job is to design and test new technologies for the betterment of the future, so in three months, in addition to your regular work, I want you to bring me an idea that will knock my socks off. Something that the corporation – and the world – has never seen before. That is how you will move up in this company. Till then, you'd better not let your egos get the best of you. I know you brainiac types. Sometimes you have smarts, but not sense, and that will never do."

"No sir," said Dexter, and Mandark immediately echoed, "No sir, that would never do."

The executive broke into a smile behind his moustache. "Good, that's what I like to hear! Now get out of here, both of you. I know you're jumping to get started on your work!"

He offered his hand. Dexter shook it and Mandark pumped it up and down, then he ushered them both out the great sliding doors.

Dexter held his head high as he passed the secretary at the front desk, kept walking without a word, made his way over to a convenient watercooler with great dignity, then whirled upon his archenemy.

"You." They locked eyes again, each young man sending out a deadly laser glare from behind his glasses.

"I thought I was rid of you for good," Mandark spat. "But you just had to follow me here to my new career, try to one-up me the first chance you got!"

"I follow you? Keep dreaming, Mandark. We know which of us has the hopelessly derivative work, the one that imitates his superiors at every possible opportunity!"

"Yeah, you just make crap up and everyone's supposed to worship you, supposed to go right along with it, is that how it works? Let's see how long you last with that method. Research physicist, ha! You've never done research a day in your life!"

"Remind me exactly when was the last time that you gave credit for work that clearly belonged to someone else?"

"Don't you start with me – "

"I start nothing, but I guarantee I will be the one to finish – "

"Um…excuse me?"

"What?" Dexter and Mandark simultaneously snapped at a small man who was timidly pointing toward the cooler.

"C – can I get some water?"

"Oh. Sure."

The coworker plucked one of the paper cups from the dispenser. They all watched as drops of water trickled from the jug.

"So…are you guys new here?"

"Yes."

"Hm…that's nice. I've been here 25 years this Friday. I'm going to get a commemorative watch."

"Congratulations."

The little man sipped from the cup while Mandark and Dexter glared daggers over the top of his head. He smacked his lips, wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve, and stammered, "So, uh, welcome to MegaCorp!", before making his escape.

Dexter smoothed the stiff starched cotton of his new lab coat with one hand. He'd discarded his favorite Howie coat for something more presentable in the corporate world, and settled for a generic three-pocket model with lapels, since his normal attire suggested he was a scientist of the unstable variety. Mandark was not going to make him lose his carefully orchestrated credibility. "Listen, Mandark, we must stop this bickering at once."

"Right, like I'm going to take orders from you – "

"I'm serious." Dexter stamped his foot. "If we keep on in this way, neither of us will succeed here at MegaCorp. As Mr. Magnus said, when I signed onto the job, I intended to work for the betterment of the future and I assume you did the same."

"Of course!"

"Then I propose we make…the best of this inopportune situation, and allow our rivalry to heighten our efforts, rather than allow it to be our downfall as it has threatened in the past."

"What a noble proposition. But don't underestimate yourself, Dexter. I'm certain any mistakes you make will be entirely your own." Mandark filled up a cup of water and tossed it back. "Now I am going to go find my office."

Their office was located in the corporation's research department, not far from the glorious laboratories. It was moderately sized, fitted out with two desks, two computers, two ergonomic desk chairs, and four beige walls with large glass visibility panes.

Mandark sprang for the desk on the right, but Dexter could tell it was easily the inferior model and settled at the desk on the left. There were two plaques on the door – "Dr. Mandark Astronominov, Ph.D, Sc.D" read one, while the plaque above showed Dexter's own name and titles. Very proper. Dexter focused on his plaque until Mandark's almost disappeared from his vision.

It doesn't matter, he reminded himself. I won't be here long. In three months I will be able to harness the power of my Neurotomic Protocore to improve the lives of the uneducated masses across the globe, and I will instantly be catapulted up through the corporate hierarchy. With the power of the core in my hands, MegaCorp and the world will wonder at my genius. It won't be long.

He pulled out a mechanical pencil, a straight-edge, and a sheet of drafting paper. For now, it was time to get to work.