Chapter 10
The LA TechFair, an annual event to display the most recent technological advancements, was just around the corner and Chuck had been authorised by Roark to exhibit the AI system.
While they showed off the medical applications they anticipated to be available for hospitals within the near future, it was perhaps not the most engaging. To remedy this, Chuck and his team had created a demonstration consisting of an interface that could plan out a cost-efficient but exciting holiday through simply inputting a destination.
It was apparent to Sarah that Chuck was doing his utmost to accommodate for the sudden changes in his life. But his best remained a struggle that was beginning to assimilate into his physical appearance as well as his mental fortitude. While his endurance was commendable, having to deal with cataclysmic disasters since his early teenage years, there was a clock above his head counting down the time to when he would burn out.
His disparaging outburst a few nights ago was evident enough.
As soon as the fair was over, she had planned to offer him a day for the two of them to relax and unwind. But until then, she was tasked to watch Chuck speak on the wide stage in the convention centre, detailing his project, while attempting to identify possible Fulcrum agents.
The large amphitheater was brimming with an amalgamation of people of differing ages; parents with their children, teenagers and young adults made up the comprised the majority of the crowd, all enthused to see the leaps in technology from acclaimed companies.
Several spotlights were pointed towards the stage, contrasting the rest of the obscured room. Cameras were recording the scene, projecting Chuck onto an enormous screen above him. An identical screen showed the digital capabilities of the AI system.
He had a certain bravado in his step, though short of pomposity, as he strutted across the platform, exuding passion in his work. His rich but youthful voice appropriately matched the frenzied hand gestures that he waved about.
Perhaps this was the last time he could freely call the cherished masterpiece his, before the Government would snatch it off his hands and he would be forced to search for inspiration in another nascent idea.
If he made it out.
Sarah blanketed that thought, admonishing herself for even allowing it to well about in her mind.
A cacophonous round of applause sounded through the room as Chuck, aided by other Roark employees, packed up their displays and electronic hardware, making space for the next presentation.
She stood up from her seat, ardently stretching her cramped legs, and began navigating the crowd towards Chuck. When he came into view, he was speaking to a slender, brown-haired woman, donning a smart pair of rectangular, black-framed glasses.
They were walking up the aisle together towards the exit, approaching her, with Chuck carrying two laptops stacked on top of each other. He seemed apprehensive or perhaps anxious, which intensified when he saw Sarah.
Quickly exchanging greetings, she heard Bryce curse through her earwig from the surveillance van parked outside. Both her and Chuck had been fitted with miniature cameras and microphones before the event, attaching them to their chests.
Casey, who was browsing the stalls outside, secretly performing reconnaissance of the fair, enquired if something was happening.
"Nothing urgent, Casey," Bryce said.
Sarah was searching for a name to put onto the brunette's face, but was answered when Chuck introduced them.
"Sarah, this is Jill Roberts."
Jill, his ex-girlfriend. Sarah had always wondered how their relationship had deteriorated, not believing that anyone could walk away from him. But then again, she did as well. Nevertheless, it remained a mystery to her, especially taking into consideration the easygoing nature and flirtatious smile that she was shooting him.
Sarah politely shook hands with her, Jill's grasp tightening around her.
"Sarah Walker, I've heard much about you," she said, tone inconsistent to her vice grip.
"Jill's representing a biotechnology firm here," Chuck said, answering Sarah's unspoken questions.
"And you, Sarah?" Jill asked.
"I'm here with Chuck. I'm conducting an audit for the Government to evaluate Chuck's work since they're interested in it."
Jill huffed quietly, relief flooding her feature momentarily, before covering herself.
"Auditing? Sounds… stimulating."
She was not impressed, almost debilitating, but Sarah could not find a suitable retort without becoming the villain in the situation.
"Sarah's the most brilliant person I know," Chuck said, almost as a reaction.
She was flustered from the praise, her cheeks heating up. Even with the current state of their relationship, Chuck defended her pride without a second thought.
Chuck and Jill continued walking again while Sarah refused to follow.
However, Chuck must have sensed her reluctance since he halted after three steps and decided to stay with Sarah.
Victorious, she raised her fine eyebrows at Jill, who asked Chuck for coffee. His responses in the negative did not deter her and through sheer persistence, he caved in to her request, leaving his phone number with her.
"If I recall correctly, I'm still up two games in a row."
Although wary at first, she had eventually coaxed Chuck into spending the late afternoon with her at a park, watching the sunset, phones turned off.
Using an access card that Chuck surreptitiously had overwritten, Carina had taken the weekend to infiltrate the near-empty office, populated only by security guards, janitors and the rare employee catching up on work. Thus, they could only wait for her findings to plan their next step, leaving them time to rest after the hectic week.
A chessboard was laid out between them, reminding Sarah of their teenage years and how fortunate she was to have Chuck. But, at that time, she was too distracted by their impending separation to fully relish each moment she spent with him.
He chuckled, an action that seemed so indicative of him but had recently become a rare occurrence, Sarah realised.
"Can't believe we haven't played since that day."
She immediately remembered that day, one of the fondest tucked away in her memories. It seemed so juvenile now, but to a more-or-less normal high school student, being asked out to prom by her closest friend had been indescribable, exhilarating.
As soon as her mum returned home from work, Sarah had told her the news, but she downplayed the whole event, as if unsurprised. That did not stop Sarah from replaying the moment in her mind until she fell asleep that night, only to be met by the sweetest of dreams.
They were reclined back towards the ground, propped up by their elbows on the open field, legs facing the sun.
"Seems like everyone wants to jump back into my life," Chuck said after a couple minutes, more to himself than Sarah, "What are the odds?"
Extraordinarily low, but not beyond belief considering what Chuck had created and who was funding his project.
"What happened between you and Jill?"
He turned away from her, tantalised by the thought of it, face scrunched up in physical pain.
"After Stanford booted me, she left me for someone better."
Like a toy that outlived its usefulness, he was tossed aside without remorse. She wondered where Jill could have found a supposedly 'better man'.
Reading her mind, he decided to continue, "Even back then, your boy, Bryce, had a way with women."
Her temper was flaring uncontrollably, fists clenched until her knuckles turned pale, muscles tensed like she was ready to lash out; but she cooled down when Chuck appeared resigned to that fact.
"Well, she's the one that's missing out."
He nodded meekly, not quite agreeing with her statement and then moved his rook, attention returning back to the chess game.
"Are you going to agree to meet her?"
There was a burning desire for her to be there to protect him from Jill. Although not living up to the appearance, she gave off a clingy femme fatale vibe.
Chuck nodded slowly again. "Closure would be good," he ventured, "Thanks for being here, Sarah, even if it's just for a short while."
She would have to eventually tell him that she was not going anywhere, slowly building the courage as the days passed. Leaving once was the toughest decision she made; twice would be enough to send her into a mental asylum.
Ten chapters, albeit short chapters (I find it helps the pacing since my writing can be quite slow, as well as the editing). Never would have guessed I would have written this much. If anyone's wondering about the LA Vice story that I've started, I'll hopefully get back to that at some point but I want to continue with this.
Cheers again for all the support and for giving your time to read this.