Chapter 2: Placating the hungry beast

Ada fiddled with the small prototype in front of her, pressing buttons and making notes about what noises it made and why. At least she had progressed from her grade school days where she'd write, 'it seems to go beep because there's a noise box in there that goes beep.'

Her teacher thought she was being cute, but her mother knew her sarcasm started from a young age.

"Damn!"

She looked over at her 'new teacher' and found the frustrated Doctor with his hands flat on his desk and glaring at a piece of paper as though it said the most offensive series of words in the world upon it.

"Incorrect equation or just another note from Norman?"

Disgruntled eyes suddenly looked at her and had she not learned to take ire from males from sixteen-up, she probably would have been a little frightened.

"SOMEONE has made a mistake," he grabbed the paper, quickly crumpling it, and tossed it up into the air, "but it is not me. And if I didn't know for a fact you haven't seen this yet, I'd probably say it was you…probably someone from the accounts department claiming we ordered new equipment. Which we have but NOT what's noted down here."

One of the tentacled claws reached out and grabbed a microscope, waggling it in front of Ada.

"Does that look new to you? It's ten years old, one of the lenses doesn't work and I'm sure all the slides are contaminated with something but have I gotten a new one after requesting it fifty times?"

"No?" Ada took the microscope before he had a chance to throw it down again and placed it cautiously in front of her.

"No," he sighed heavily and rubbed his face, "this just means I'll have to talk to them and straighten it out."

"OR," she offered herself before he had a chance to think about it, "you make your assistant do it since your time and work are rather precious."

He looked at her again and squinted.

"Ms. Daly, I hope THAT wasn't sarcasm."

"No. Sincere compliment."

"Hmm."

He turned away from her and busied himself with his filing cabinet.

She could tell he was still tense, but after a few days of working with him, she was already starting to get a pretty good read on her boss.

She noticed he only ever got truly agitated or grumpy around a certain time: lunchtime to be precise.

But unlike her, he never seemed to go to eat or even prepare a packed meal for himself. Occasionally, he'd disappear and come back with an apple or something small, but she had a feeling he just forgot to eat and would only do so when he felt faint (or his stomach made a noise so loud even she heard it).

So, she decided to try a little experiment. Since Norman had made the point that hard work deserved reward, he had given her the leaflets for the top takeout in the same block.

'It's all paid for. Sponsors and if it's below one hundred dollars a week per person, we're happy that you're happy.'

So today, she decided to order takeout. The only issue that arose was as soon as she offered it as an option to him, he said no and dismissed her with a wave of his hand. She had a feeling if she asked him again, he'd probably berate and just get angrier.

But she had to get him to eat so she was going to order anyway. She was just deliberating on how to get him involved. She didn't know him well enough to know his tastes.

She spread out the floors before her and looked between them and his back.

"So…do you have any recommendations or advice for what ones I should stay away from?"

He made a sort of mumbled attempt at an explanation but there seemed to be a touch of annoyance to it.

But she noticed, as he and his claws were working together, shuffling papers and moving equipment where it needed to be, that one of them seemed to have a mind of its own. Did it seem to be…watching her?

'Interesting.'

She decided to test a theory and picked up one of the leaflets, holding it in front of her.

"Hmm, let's see…pizza or salad?"

The claw made a motion which she took for a 'nod'.

Otto turned to look at her, frustration evident on his features.

"I said I did not want any," he sounded a little like a petulant child, but she shrugged her shoulders innocently at him.

"Oh, sorry, I'm talking out loud as I write. Helps me think better."

Otto arched one brow, looking like he didn't quite believe her, but turned away to get back to his work, apparently not realising that she still had the attention of one claw.

"Ok, definitely pizza….hmmm, do I want plain cheese?"

It made a 'shaking head' motion and she smiled.

"Pepperoni?"

It nodded again.

"With meatballs?"

Another nod.

"Might get an ice cream…if I'm good."

It nodded almost excitedly but hurriedly retracted when Otto turned again, this time with a confused expression.

"No one is stopping you."

She pretended to be invested in the leaflet and shrugged again.

"No. Just rewarding good behavior."

He turned again, shaking his head and this time, the claw worked in perfect rhythm with him and the others.

'Fascinating. So, he can control them, but they are sentient. They work with him, as part of his consciousness. And part of him really wants Pizza, despite him saying no.'

"Absolutely fascinating," she mumbled and turned away to call the takeout, not noticing when Otto looked at her one last time.

'Strange girl.'

A short while later…

"You've ordered a lot," Otto noted as he walked by Ada's desk.

She had in fact ordered a large pizza and a small tub of ice cream, but surely, she couldn't be that hungry?!

"I always do," she sighed heavily and gave him an innocent look, "I suppose I could put some away for later, but I'll probably not be in the mood for it."

As soon as she turned back to her work and continued to write, Otto knew what she was doing. But…had HAD been thinking about the pizza earlier. With Icecream. He hadn't given her any hint of what he liked so how could so know?

Maybe she was a good guesser.

"I know you're not hungry, but help yourself," she took a slice without looking, "you might as well, otherwise it will just sit in the fridge and go bad."

He took a slice anyway and walked over to his desk without a thank you. He didn't know why but he was very suspicious of how she knew. He had a few theories and ideas but he'd have to wait to see if it happened again.