Super Science
Ch 11: Coworkers
"Okay, I'm sorry. Can you run this by me one more time?" Egon asked his employee as he took off his glasses to wash his eyes.
Sitting in front of the professor were two animals sitting in their chairs. The first was a White Leghorn hen with a brain so massive it looked like it would belong to an overly sarcastic portrayal of a super genius. The second was a male Atlantic Giant Octopus who looked normal but was holding itself up on its right tentacle. Both animals were hooked up to a large machine that had something connected to their heads. According to Izuku, he made a translator for them since they couldn't speak.
After taking a breath and putting his glasses back on, he laced his fingers, put his chin on them, and started, "You did experiments on animals."
"Yep.", Izuku replied.
"You used a chicken and octopus, respectively.", Egon continued.
"Yep.", Izuku confirmed.
"During which…they both gained human-level thought and understanding?", He motions to the two animals.
"They do.", Izuku admitted.
"And now they look for employment…here?", Egon asked while pointing to his desk with both hands.
"Yes, yes, as if the boy just didn't get through explaining that the first time around.", Doctor Orpington chuckled through the translator.
"Hush! It's a lot to take in all at once.", Professor Cephalopod barked at her through the machine.
Egon looked at Izuku and said, "I think I should start watching over your experiments."
Doctor Orpington squawked and argued, "If anything, you should be giving him more freedom! Why has it taken him just a month and a half to find out perhaps one of the many secrets to evolution and quirks as a whole?"
Egon sighs and tells her, "Normally, I would be and should be. But I just can't get over…you two and your…desires?"
"What's so strange?", Professor Cephalopod asked back.
"You want to work. Here, for us, at this very facility?", Egon firmly asked them.
"We're we not clear?", Doctor Orpington asked back, a bit irritated.
Egon shakes his head and admits, "I just don't get it."
Professor Cephalopod argued, "What's not to get? You need workers, and we want to work."
"If anything, we crave it!", Doctor Orphington excitedly exclaimed.
"Yeah, but…your animals.", Egon begrudgingly told them.
"So are you.", Stated Professor Cephalopod.
Getting a bit irritated yet still holding his nerves, he argues, "No, well yes, that's not what I'm trying to get at here! I'm just saying that it seems kind…cruel."
"How so?", Doctor Orpington asked.
Deep in thought, Egon pushes away his hair before trying to explain, "Look, you're both animals, so you don't have rights like we do. You're not like us."
"We think like you.", Professor Cephalopod states.
"That's different!", Egon yells while slamming his hand on his desk, finally losing his cool and causing the two animals and teens to jump. Calming himself down and leaning back in his chair, he sips his cold coffee before explaining, "Look, I don't wanna say no, but we as a species have had our higher intelligence for the past few hundred thousand years. You two gained it through external means just a few days ago. The rules aren't going to just change for you two; trust me on that."
"What are you trying to say?", Inquisitively asked Professor Cephalopod.
Egon sighs, fearing having to explain this, and tells them, "We bought you, made you live here, and did experiments that heightened your awareness. We own you! And now you're saying you want to work for us? How am I supposed to pay you? Shrimp and corn? What would two animals, with no concept of money, even want with it? To me, it seems more like servitude, animal cruelty even! You'd have to live here full-time, and that just doesn't seem right."
"So you're concerned about the morality of the situation?", Professor Cephalopod inquired.
The two creatures looked at one another and smiled or something similar, and Doctor Orpington spoke on behalf of both of them: "You truly are a good man, professor."
"Also, I'm not sure if you're aware, but you two have stupidly short lifespans.", Egon admits to them with an uncomfortable expression on his face. "Doctor, you'll only live about ten years if you're lucky. And, professor, you'll live for only half of that. And if you mate, forget it! Plus, you both are already adults of your respective species, so you don't have much time." He tells them in a serious tone.
Izuku spoke out once again and informed him, "Actually, I did some tests, and it turns out that in addition to their intelligence being more human, they also have similar life spans."
Egon blinks, his body posture becoming calmer as he says while pointing at the professor, "Well, that solves that problem, but no sex for you!"
"I will restrain myself.", the professor agreed, doing a mock salute.
"As for our payment, food and boarding are nice, but perhaps we can use the company funds for our interest from time to time?" Doctor Orpington offered.
Egon took out a paper and pen from his messy desk and wrote down his thoughts. He told her, "That does sound like a good trade-off, but if you two want to buy something, you'll have to bring it up with me first, and I'll give the green or red light on it."
"That sounds perfectly fair.", she agrees alongside the professor's offer.
Egon then looks up from his writing and tells them, "Just one other thing. Respectfully, neither of you is a doctor or professor."
"Well, you're not a professor, doctor Egon.", Professor Cephalopod gurgles a laugh while vexing him.
"Professor rolls off the tongue better.", Egon pouts before wiping a hand across his face and telling them, "Fine, fine, just do some online courses in your free time.", The two agree, and Egon shakes a wing, and tentacle while saying, "Welcome to the team."