Chapter 4- Special Science

The Central Lab was a very special place. It wasn't actually located in the center of anything, but it was the biggest, most important, and had the best equipment, scientists, and substances going out of there. It was built as an open air industrial concept with high rafters, bright lighting, lab tables and desks skewed in an orderly maze across the room.

And at the far end, was a larger, singular desk spaced apart from the others, surrounded with the blessing of hologram screens. This was the lead scientist's desk- and no, they're not a mad scientist, or really anyone who you'd think fit in here at all.

But, they were a great mind. Quiet and obedient too. And they were expecting great things from their department, it being a progress report day.

Their name is Dr. Aireen. They don't know their last name and that always bothered them, despite that being common among test subjects. They're 6'1", incredibly thin, and had unique tentacles with little rows of suckers lining the inside, with a slightly purple tint that was hard to tell from the sanitized navy blue. They were so soft-spoken and sweet too, with a stutter that came out under any sort of stress.

There's one of their scientists now, walking up to the front of the lab, straightening their singular piece of kelp as they do.

Why are there so many meanies in the Metro? It's unknown really, but this is one of them. A diligent one, but one of them.

"483- Oh, right, Aireeeeen? Finished with one of the reports you wanted." ...At least they corrected themselves. This was Ena, Subject #1416. Chopped tentacles and a sour smile.

"Finally.." The lead scientist takes off their glasses, getting a slight shiver from being called their number. "You haven't submitted your records twice this week, Ena- I h-hope that's all here now?"

They were extremely on top of things. They would always give you an extension if you asked for it, up to a point- and even help, if you needed it. But they liked things to be orderly.

After all, you never knew when an inspection could happen.

"Yeeeep. There should be all the records here-"

They hold it up to hand it to them, though just out of reach of sitting in the desk. Despite them all being formatted with the text aligned to the right (they always do that, and it drives at least one person who uses them nuts,) they're all here from the last records they should've had to submit- just late.

Ah well, moving on- Aireen didn't like confrontation, and even less, punishment.

"How has your work been-? You're assigned to..to-'' they quickly scroll through a quite impressive virtual clipboard, "-to th-the Commander's special project, r-right?"

There's that stutter. It's at least one reason they didn't get the respect they could-

"Yep! It's going well, not much that I'm sure you haven't heard a million times." They lean on the desk a little, flipping through the right-aligned text papers summarizing the current status of their research- "Right, 483?"

Now they're doing it on purpose, aren't they.

"Don't call me that."

They can't really give a scolding beyond that right now, as trying to keep their voice level was taking a lot of focus. They swallow, to try again.

"Since this matter involves the Commander directly, I-I could very well report your behavior when I present to him these pages…"

"Fine, fine. You might get judged for not dealing with it yourself, but whatever floats your boat I guess," they shrug, continuing to themself, "I'm sure you'd get more respect if you just dealt with all this stuff yourself, for once… I mean, that's what most of the higher ups do. They never get pushed around, now do they?"

They… they were right. That really was how it worked, and him running around just telling things to the Commanders looked really weak. But… they hated issuing punishments, especially with how creative the ones in the lab could be. It was always better for someone else to handle that, right? Aireen just had to focus on science.

…But they were right.

"F-fine. Next time I hear you address me as anything except Dr. Aireen, I-" They click open a thin drawer that extends the length of the desk- revealing their sleek, icy blue and snowy white, custom-built Kamabo charger.

"I-I'd like a full report on our respawn pad's functionality."

"That's the spirit, Dr. Aireen. Expect it in exactly 72 hours." And with that, they walk off, satisfied. That was really all it took to get Ena to leave, huh? ...Not normally, but practice makes perfect~

That was just enough to please them, anyway.