Mr. Porter and Ms. Lamb were both rather quiet during the drive. Porter clearly was in heavy thought, trying to figure out how The Thinker managed to tell Tenenbaum of Eleanor's whereabouts, something an unfinished processor clearly should not be able to do.
"You know, you could have just asked her about your computer," Eleanor commented as Porter obeyed a policeman guiding traffic.
"I know, but I prefer to delve right into the experiment, now. A thing like that... I... it's just that being able to do my know-how up on the surface drives me to keep working. It's hard not to be excited knowing I can make The Thinker better than before. Yes!" Porter spoke as if speaking to himself. He adjusted his glasses, nearly driving over the lane by accident, a few other cars honking at him, but he did not care. "It will be able to run all of the United Kingdom—no, the entire world—on time and in proper order. With further research into The Thinker and ADAM, and many years ahead of us for so much information processing... I believe every problem in the world can be solved. New medicines, new food surpluses, new engineering, a cure for cancer...new sciences!"
Porter's words hit Eleanor's heart firmly, but in a good way. Here drove Charles Milton Porter, a man raised without ideology, who willingly became utopian, in his own way. Eleanor rejected such beliefs forced upon her, but seeing Porter's eagerness for creating a self-thinking supercomputer to save the world made her think about herself. Was she wrong to reject Mother's ideas? Considering Porter's attitudes, Eleanor was rather surprised Sofia did not reference him in some way, or perhaps was influenced by him before having Eleanor? Regardless, long ago, Porter had made it clear to Sofia that he was not interested in her half-baked mumbo-jumbo.
"I admire your... Utopian ideals," Eleanor admitted.
Porter chuckled. "Well... Nah, it's about science. We scientists don't do science to save the world, we do science because it's fun."
They chuckled.
"And you save the world by having fun with science, anyways."
"Took the words right out of my mouth, friend."
Eleanor smiled. Porter making a turn.
"Ah, a self-thinking machine. That would be quite the experiment, I don't think we ever tried that, did we?" a third voice asked, that of a British-sounding man.
"Interesting, certainly does not sound familiar," a fourth voice said, a British-sounding woman.
"It would be quite the surprising experiment to work with."
"Surprising."
"Surprising that we can work with it?"
"Surprising that we didn't work with it."
Porter slammed on the brakes.
The car behind him honked and steered around past, the driver cussing out his window and then screeching away.
Porter and Eleanor turned their heads, looking at the back seats. Sitting in the back seats were a man and a woman, both redheads, both wearing formal bright brown attire.
Both sides stared blankly at one another.
"I wasn't expecting that," the mysterious woman remarked.
"Neither was I," the mysterious man agreed.
"What the hell..." Porter mumbled. "How did you get in my car?"
"I believe we will get along very well," the mysterious man said, ignoring Porter's question.
"Indeed, we shall. Or, if not, I shant try this ever again," the mysterious woman commented.
"Are you being cute?"
"No, just thinking of my own ultimatum."
"Ah."
"Hm."
Eleanor narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the mysterious man. He kept his rather blank but focused look.
"Didn't I kill you somewhere?" Eleanor asked.
The mysterious man looked at her. "Dies."
"Died."
"Will die."
"Subjunctive?"
"Or indictive?"
"All a matter of perspective."
"Some people find this rather...disagreeable."
Neither Porter nor Eleanor knew how to react. A few more cars steered around Porter's unmoving vehicle, honking angrily. Once Porter got his head together, he got his car going again.
"So, uh...how are you?" Porter asked.
"I think the real question is, not how we are, but what we are," the mysterious woman said.
"Have you an affinity for physics?" the mysterious man asked.
"I think our contraption, incorporated with your own, could create quite the experiment.
"One that we need."
"One that has never been done before, not even in any other realm. A constance."
"Are you being cute?"
"No, just something part of my ultimatum."
"Ah."
"Indeed."
"You said something about physics?" Eleanor asked.
"Ah, yes. I once convolute a quantum atom with waves of light," the mysterious woman replied, finally answering a question.
"I was measuring exactly the same atom," the mysterious man remarked.
"And so our contraptions can prevent atoms from falling, or open windows into other worlds, albeit with some cognitive dissonance."
"How else do you think we—"
"Found ourselves in your vehicle?"
"Well, that's...quite the science I've never heard about. I wonder what The Thinker would make of it?" Porter spoke.
"Precisely," the mysterious couple said at the same time for once.
Porter arrived at the University of Westminister, on Regent Street. The university had evidence of additional construction, certainly to accommodate the size of The Thinker. No construction work currently occurred, tho.
Everyone got out Porter's car, and followed him towards the university, the mysterious couple looking around.
"Hunh, a university..." Eleanor commented, looking up at the institution with her big, curious eyes.
"And a suitable one for my work. The university already had advanced courses in engineering, mechanics, electronics, and life science. I couldn't imagine a better place for me!" Porter said, grinning. "Heh, Ryan told me that my dreams would succeed me, and my work would become my legacy. If only I could see the look on his face now."
"Success is the best revenge," Eleanor commented, wondering how Mother was doing. I wonder what Cathal is up to?
"And it keeps getting better. Hundreds of students are doing their best to enter next semester to study The Thinker and ADAM. I kept telling Tenenbaum, that she should be a teacher in...adamology. But the poor lady just isn't into it."
"I don't think she will ever get over her guilt and regret," Eleanor said.
"I know, but..." Porter took a breath, "we've all gotta come to terms with ourselves. It's the only way to move forward."
"Indeed. What's done is done," the mysterious woman said.
"Certainly. What's done, will be done," the mysterious man acknowledged.
"Eleanor?" Porter asked, leaning to Eleanor as they walked, "Do you know who they are?" he whispered.
Eleanor looked at him and just shrugged. "At least their not obsessed about why I'm not wearing shoes."
Porter led everyone into the university, having to unlock the entrance door. Inside was dark and empty. He then took them to the laboratory containing The Thinker, a labyrinth of unfinished engineering. Most of The Thinker was just stacked computer components, not much other than preparations for assembly.
Porter unlocked another door and entered the chamber containing the mainframe and other core components.
The main console was obviously not operational, or at least did not appear so. It consisted of a large monitor without a screen, flanked by three smaller screenless monitors, behind the monitors a gigantic cylindrical computer tower. A pair of immense electrodes stood at either side of the device. Nothing was connected nor powered-up, and everything was actually open, revealing interior circuitry, wiring, cables, and other crazy things. It would take a long time to put everything together.
Surprisingly, the mysterious couple were already inside, examining papers, Porter's equations, instruments, computer parts, and whatever took their fancy.
"Wait, what... How did you get in here?" Porter asked.
"This new technology—" the mysterious woman began.
"Is quite fascinating," he finished.
"Certainly interesting to work with."
"Such a shame that the contraption is not working."
"Unbroken?"
"We'll find out, won't we?"
Eleanor was as curious as the mysterious couple, her big blue eyes staring at the very many things in the chamber. It certainly reminded her of Rapture, sort of.
"Let me fix that for you..." Porter walked towards the main console. He stood before it, clearing his throat and crossed his arms. "Good morning, Thinker, how are you?"
After a second of silence, the main console sparked to life. The electrodes produced electricity from nowhere, and the Operational Data Interpreter Network hummed with activity. Curiously enough, the monitors, although missing screens, somehow formed a static-sounding, distorted projection. The projection seemed to be a woman's face.
The mysterious couple stared at the most interesting contraption.
"Roses?" Eleanor whispered to herself. Did she smell...roses?
"Good morning, Charlie," the computer spoke back with a rather feminine yet robotic voice.
"Charlie?" Porter asked with a chuckle. "Thinker, how are you tonight?"
"Acceptable, Porter, thank you. May I request to continue self-construction?" the machine asked.
"Only a little, Thinker, it's getting late. Wouldn't want to cause a stir."
"Thank you!" The Thinker exclaimed.
The humming intensified.
Eleanor's eyes widened as various computer parts and pieces moved on their own. The Thinker was...using Telekinesis, to build itself? The computer was literally using Plasmids. From bolts to cables, wires to modules, the endless puzzles gradually put themselves together, though even with Plasmids, there was so much work to do.
The mysterious couple examined the occurrences.
"Didn't you say that only magicians can levitate?" the mysterious man asked.
"No, I didn't."
"Did, too!"
"Did not!"
"Did, too!"
"I simply said, 'magicians levitate' in regards to how my atom failed to fall!" the mysterious woman explained.
"But what about indefinite failure of falling?"
"And what about that?"
"Was it also part of a Vigor?"
"The delicious question is, why didn't we implement Vigors into our contraption?"
"Was that before or after Vigors?"
"Now you're being cute."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
"Am not!"
"Are, too!"
Eleanor wanted to roll her eyes at the pair of idiots. Watching the computer build itself reminded her of when she was young, and how she used to take apart electronics and put them together. Porter did not seem to mind, though, looking at his machine as if it were a good friend.
"Keep it nice and easy, Thinker, or you'll run out of EVE, again," Porter cautioned. "I know you're eager to get into working condition, but Tenenbaum's cure for ADAM sickness might not apply to you, after all," he mildly joked.
"Acknowledged. Update: EVE levels replenish at greater frequency."
"Again? Hunh, I don't know how you do it. Speaking of which, Tenenbaum told me, that you told her, where to find Eleanor. How did you do it?" Porter asked. Eleanor was also interested in the question. She stood beside Porter while the mysterious couple studied the various things around them, occasionally fighting over instruments or papers.
"Hello, Eleanor," The Thinker greeted, Eleanor unsure of how to speak to a computer, and hesitated.
Eleanor made a little wave. "Hello, Thinker." The projection nodded, Eleanor smiled. What a friendly computer.
"Thorough analyzation of Vita-Chambers, Plasmids, Gene Tonics, ADAM, and genetic information of all citizens, enabled me to compound and process Eleanor's capabilities. Once connection was established with Eleanor's mind, I could also analyze her surroundings. I then told Ms. Tenenbaum where to find her," The Thinker replied.
Porter and Eleanor were intrigued by what they heard. The mysterious couple, however, continued mumbling arguments and squabbles.
"Hunh. I think your computer bonded with me," Eleanor commented, that being her only explanation.
"Thinker, you're...you're, much, much more than just a computer, now!" Porter was lost as to what exactly The Thinker had become, as it clearly had far exceeded his imagination.
Eleanor was also rather surprised by this revelation. It was as if ADAM had given the computer...life?
"Yes, Porter. I have also maintained connection to RODIN, but Mr. Alexander's systems are offline. Once scans complete, I will have total control of Rapture's remaining security. This can facilitate further evacuation of Rapture residents, and implementation of Tenenbaum's cure for ADAM sickness."
"You...want to save more people from Rapture?" Porter asked.
"Yes. I have analyzed Eleanor, and wish to become like her," The Thinker replied.
Another surprise for Eleanor and Porter!
"I detect some life in Rapture even now. New life, new signals. Rapture is not totally destroyed," The Thinker explained. "Eleanor and I found a way out, we would find a way back to save the world."
"Agreed, Thinker. And I learned much from Father," Eleanor butted in, not wanting to leave him out, then felt a rush of sadness. I wish you were here...
"...indeed, a Lutece device incorporated with The Thinker would make a fantastic machine," the mysterious woman said to her friend, Eleanor looking at the two.
"This would help us be rid of that...rather bloody, grotesque constance who haunt us."
"Indeed, brother. But you know the windows of probability. For that, we need the girl."
"We both know that cannot be possible."
"But we both know the grotesque creature after her can interfere with everything we've done."
"Ah, I see... Work with him, but only for a while."
"Just enough to get the girl. There are no rules he obeys."
"Strictly a pass-fail experiment."
"Like heads or tails."
"Indeed."
Eleanor turned her head. Are they talking about Mr. Spirry?
"Porter?" The Thinker asked.
"Yes, Thinker?"
"May I request that Eleanor stay with me? I wish to be with her."
"Oh? Certainly! If Eleanor is alright with it. Eleanor?"
"Ha. Well, The Thinker needs more than a university and Telekinesis to get fixed. She also needs me and my expertise," Eleanor almost bragged.
"Thank you, Eleanor," The Thinker said, then its humming became quiet, and all floating parts gently fell to the floor. The projection seemed to sigh and lower its head.
"Thinker? You alright?" Porter asked, quite concerned.
"Yes, Porter, just...awaiting EVE replenishment," the computer admitted.
"Take it easy, Thinker. There's only so much you can do when you're only three percent done," Porter comforted.
"I want to be...complete."
"You will be, soon," Eleanor spoke. "We have to give the world time to be ready for you, after all."
"Ready, for all of us."