28- New Beginnings… chapter twenty-eight

Happy drove Walter and Lynn in the cart to the main complex to return to the conference room where Gene was awaiting their arrival. "I'm just dropping you off. I am working with Tina, Jack and their crew getting things put together. You will be notified when ready."

"Afternoon, Walter, Lynn. I went over that report and sent it on to Richard. He said he has some things to do- mentioned something about crazy German financial people being difficult, but may fly over in another day to see how things progress. Think he just wants to join the party." Gene said. "By the way, Walter, Richard said thanks for getting on the issue so quickly."

Walter put his laptop case on the table, and sat down. "Gene, you said you would have something to eat when we got up… is it on the way? You read slow and now the food is slow- this how you treat guests? Haven't had anything but coffee since the Italian place with Richard in LA before we hopped on the plane."

Gene leaned over to use the desktop unit's keyboard. "Here is the menu, order what you want and it will be delivered. I am not familiar with what LA goofballs eat. Lynn, want to place an order? This is a very good steak and seafood place just off property and used to delivering here."

Walter chuckled, "you buying, slow reading Gene?"

Gene stood up from the keyboard, "why yes, LA goofball, my treat."

"Come on over Lynn, let's see what is most expensive, Gene's buying." Lynn sat next to Walter to look over the menu.

"Don't worry, I won't embarrass you and get the lobster," Lynn whispered. "Think the sirloin, medium-rare and salad….. need the protein after all the energy I expended a couple hours ago…. old man wore me out."

Walter smiled, leaned toward Lynn, to whisper back, "you certainly do lead me astray, young lady. Think I will try the stuffed flounder- protein but not too heavy a meal in the event more energy is needed later." They placed their order and Walter looked up to Gene. "So what is next on the agenda?"

"Quinn, Tina, Jack and their crew are putting things together in the test lab. Been working on it while you were getting some shuteye. Three, maybe three and a half hours and the Quinn system will be fabricated for the air test you proposed. The first run will ensure the fitments and if good to go then a data taking run so you can work your computer model."

Walter nodded, "Better to take three data runs to ensure repeatability- no, I do not use averages, so stable data is necessary. Then I can work the math through the night with the computer modeling and be ready for actual fuel run in the morning, afternoon at latest, so we have three to three and a half hours to kill before the unit is ready?" Walter sat back in his chair, "Funny, Gene, I do not see any bruises on you or did you have some poor underling contact Happy to save your skin? Did I warn you she was rather difficult or did I forget to mention it?"

Gene sat down across the table, "yeah, you did kinda' space that little bit of information in your messages. But, a bunch at this facility ride bikes so Quinn is a known quality. I ride, but mine is new, not old iron- she has a knucklehead that is quite something. Had no idea of the scope of her abilities- yes, mechanical, but thought it was limited to motorcycles. If she was not so difficult to work with would like to get her on board, as Richard puts it, but putting a loose cannon in a close knit team can blow things up. Have any suggestions on how to get her in line? The complex could use her expertise, but can do without the hate and discontent she may cause."

"Could always go contract work rather than try and fit her into a regular nine to five gig." Walter suggested. "She is in a difficult time right now, money is short, family is buggered. Get her into a stable situation and she might surprise you. I worked with her for years without too many bruises- she did some amazing things, and you saw a couple of her patents- certainly thinks 'outside the box'"

Lynn spoke up, "putting her into a contract situation, she would work with a number of people depending on the issue- over time there will be those who can work with her so in time you would have a well meshed team working particular issues." She snickered, "when off property, someone can whack her up-side the head and give her some instruction on social manners. Find it hard to believe you worked with her for years, Walter. You are so much more pleasant, understanding, and easy to get along with."

Walter laughed, "you did not know me back then. While less prone to physical confrontation than Happy, I had my social problems and difficulty in the 'working well with others' sphere."

Gene laughed at that comment. "Why do I find that NOT surprising?" His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket, "ah, your food is here, just delivered to the gate someone is bringing it over in a few minutes."

"Good, I am ravenous," Walter said getting up to get some coffee. "Want some coffee, Lynn?"

Within minutes a person came into the conference room pushing a server with covered plates. "Who has the medium-rare steak?" and handed it to Lynn at her signal along with a cloth napkin rolled up holding steak knife, fork and spoon. "Stuffed flounder?" to hand it to Walter along with the napkin wrapped utensils. "Enjoy."

Gene sat and looked at Walter. "You ever think of getting out of the LA craziness, Walter? Very nice here in Arizona, and a lot fewer fruits and nuts running around."

Walter glanced at Gene, "you are trying to lure me away from LA? You may find I would be more disruptive to your tranquil domain here than getting Happy hired in."

Lynn laughed, "You familiar with the main space think tank gurus in the LA complex? Walter upset their apple cart to put it mildly- made them look like fools. Have to admit all the engineers enjoyed the show, though….. matter of fact, don't think they have scheduled another conference since that 'incident. Do believe they quit trying to redesign O'Brien designed components, too."

"I keep in contact with a bunch of managers over there in LA- your security programming for the data centers has been lauded by one and all. Think you might expand to Phoenix?" Gene asked. "While an overwhelming amount of our data storage is on site in a closed system, some is in outside data centers in the area." Gene's phone buzzed again. Picking it up, he read a text. "That is Tina to let us know the mock-up is buttoned up, torqued to specs, data sensors hooked up and ready to run the air through, when you are done we can head over to the test lab."

Lynn covered her plate, "that was a big steak, I will finish it later. I will put it in the break room fridge down the hall. How about you Walter? Save the rest for later? We be coming back here for you to work the math, right? Can nuke it for late snack."

"You just in a big hurry to see the test labs here? OK, covered up and into the fridge." Walter picked up his laptop and the three headed for the door. Lynn took the plates to the breakroom and caught up with Walter and Gene at the door. Getting into the cart, Gene drove them to the test labs.

Pulling the cart up by the steps to the test lab building, Gene led the way to hold the door for Walter and Lynn, "take the left hallway down to TestLab three control room. Everything is set up there. They may still be working data sensor hook-ups, but should be ready soon."

Walter opened the control room door for Lynn and Gene. Happy was looking over the screens for all the ambient readings, turned when they entered, "Hey, O'Brien, like old times, huh?"

Lynn glanced at Happy then Walter as she took a seat by the door out of the way of the control room data stations. Gene sat down next to Lynn to observe his crew while testing will go on.

"Very old with just the two of us," Walter replied quietly setting his laptop on a counter to pull it out of its case, opened it up to then sit and start typing. "How familiar are you with this data taking set-up or will the hourly crew be handling it? How long to stabilize the equipment and system- three runs to take data- as long as readings are within .5 per run."

"Still don't do averages, eh? Would make things easier if you did," Happy quipped sitting down by Walter and putting her feet on a second chair.

Walter looked up at her, "real numbers, Happy, not made up ones for true and accurate computer modeling. You never have had respect for precise numbers…. it is the mechanic in you."

"Yeah, this is my first design and build in quite a while, so you better get it right, O'Brien. Your math best not be buggered."

Walter typing on his laptop to start a new file for the data taking smiled, "Yeah, Happy, when was the last time my math was buggered….. three years before you were born?"

"Yeah, 'bout right, but it was epic and still talked of," Happy laughed. "To be honest, do miss working with you, O'Brien- not many have your sense of humor." She rose to stand behind Walter. "They have a coffee mess just down the hall, want some? Shall I see if there is any cinnamon around?"

Walter quit typing, rose to his full height, turned to look down at Happy, to quietly say, "the humor just left, do not bring up such again."

Happy spun around on her heel and walked out the control room so Walter sat back down to continue typing. Gene and Lynn, having seen the interaction, Gene turned to Lynn about to ask when Lynn shrugged her shoulders and shook her head so they both sat back but wondered what that was all about.

A few minutes passed and Lynn got up, "Gene, I am going for some coffee, want some?" He shook his head so she raised her voice a bit, "Walter, like some coffee?"

Walter turned, "I have a new file set so just waiting for preliminaries to get done, I'll go with you." He rose to open the control room door for Lynn and followed her out. "You already know where the break room is?"

Lynn laughed, "I am an hourly worker bee, I can sniff out the coffee mess, break room, crapeteria in any Elias Enterprises complex, no matter how big. There is a natural order to such things- coffee and food keep the corporate wheels turning and getting things done- especially if there is more than one shift working. I cannot imagine there NOT being a second, possibly even a third shift keeping this place humming 24/7. Too expensive a facility to have it sitting idle for any length of time, and Richard does like keeping his people happy…. therefore productive."

Walking into the breakroom, there was free coffee (donations accepted in a small box to pay for the coffee and creamers) as well as refrigerated vending machines along the wall with juices, sandwiches, even ice cream bars. "You know," Lynn said, "some orange juice sounds good- how about you?"

Walter got his wallet out, "one orange juice coming up for the young lady," he said putting a five in the vending machine which dumped a bunch of quarters in change. "The old man will stick with coffee- may need the caffeine later- going to be a long night." And he dumped the handful of quarters in the donation box and poured himself a cup. "There seems to be a lot of get here and wait, go there and wait. How about we go get some fresh air as we may be stuck in there for a few hours." They went out the front door, as the cart was still parked by the steps they went and sat comfortably in it. "This is quite a complex- engine test facilities way over there so the noise is reduced- would like to observe engines being tested. These smaller component and system test labs are quite nice- air conditioning is needed here in Arizona," Walter chuckled, "plenty of breakrooms all around."

Lynn looked at Walter, "just think, the structural engineers are there at the garage, hope the place isn't a pile of rubble. But, you did say the place was built in 1947…. like old cars built before the seventies- they were made to last. That garage has made it through a lot of earthquakes without being damaged… as far as you know, anyway."

"Have no idea if Dave is actually staying at the garage all the time we are gone or just there when the engineers are there- no message from him so all must be OK." Walter said. "I was thinking of extending the far loft's floor space to half the length of the bay. Will have to have real remodelers handle it- permits and inspections in the state for the slightest up-grade and improvements on privately owned property…. state has to get their share every step of the way."

"Or the place is a pile of rubble around his ankles and he is too paranoid to message you about it- bet you are scary when really angry."

Walter glanced at Lynn, "I don't get angry- what is the point? If the place falls down I will just have to rebuild rather than remodel. If I have to rebuild from the ground up, if I pay rent could I stay at your place? I like the ground floor bedroom and bath….. and the company."

Gene, opened the door to see them sitting in the cart, "HEY YOU TWO, we be waiting for you!"

Walter helped Lynn out of the cart, going up the steps to Gene holding the door open, Lynn said "Thanks, Gene, WAS having a pleasant coffee break, never thought you would be such a slave driver."

Gene said as they went down the hall to the control room, "we went ahead and ran the preliminary, everything is buttoned up, no leaks, all ready for your three data runs unless you need more- your decision when scoping the data." Entering the control room, Gene sat down, Lynn sat next to him while Walter walked around the control room looking at the monitoring readouts, graphing and sensor inputs. Happy was present sitting in a seat against the back wall, watching Walter familiarize himself with the data taking.

Walter turned to Gene- "you give directions? May as well get started."

"We are here to collect data for you, Walter. You are the conductor here, so have at it." The following four hours Walter gave directions. Twice was necessary to stop to make adjustments and re-torque fittings, to then continue with retest. The third, fourth and fifth test run gleaned static readings for flow, pressure. The reams of data for those three test runs was gathered, the graphing and vibe signatures compiled and entered into files. Data Walter entered in his laptop for specific inspection at certain points.

Gene got up, "so you going to go over the data tonight or wait until morning?"

"Have all the files available on the conference room computer, drop off all the graphing and paper work there and I will get on it tonight while fresh," Walter said while closing up his laptop and put it in its case.

Gene, Happy and two of the crew loaded everything up in boxes and put them in the cart while two others of the crew made files and transferred the data to them so available on the complex computer system. Wrote down the file names and numbers and gave the information to Walter. They then proceeded to shut the test lab down. Walter, Lynn, Gene and Happy got in the cart for the drive to the complex conference room so Walter could start reviewing and setting things up for a computer modeling format for actual fuel runs.

Everything was put on the conference table, the desktop computer powered up. Gene sat on a chair against the wall, Lynn sat next to him, Happy sat across the room facing Walter. Walter pulled his laptop out of its case, opened it and set it at the side of the desktop's flat screen to again hear and ignore Happy's chuckle. Walter sat at the desktop and brought up the files the crew gave him, and started reviewing the data while referencing his notes on the laptop. The graphing he spread out on the conference table, marking certain points and making notations.

Two hours in Lynn got up to get coffee and put a cup on the table within Walter's reach. "Thank you, Lynn." Sipping hers, she returned to her seat to see Gene in a doze. Glancing at Happy, saw she was slumped in her seat but eyes open and watching Walter. Walter then powered up a second desktop computer farther down the conference table and started typing in the modeling format. From there he went to the whiteboards and started working formula for fuel parameters, ratio of fuel to oxygen, flow rates and pressures. Lynn went to the breakroom and got another cup of coffee to put within Walter's reach. "Thank you, Lynn," he said drinking some. For the next two hours she kept coffee available while Walter went from whiteboards to one computer or another to make entries. One trip to the breakroom Gene got up to go along.

Looking at his watch, "over six hours he has been at it- take any breaks at all?"

Lynn smiled, "he is focused, just drink coffee and keeps at it until done, no matter how long it takes. See the math on the whiteboard? Quite beyond me."

"What did he do to make Richard's space think tank gurus look foolish? They are supposed to be some of the best and brightest individuals in the nation."

"Yeah, they are, but they treat engineers and science guys like we are stupid when they have those conferences- it is like they want to impress everyone with their smarts. They were doing their typical blather and asked if anyone had any questions so Walter bowled them over with science, especially mathematics for theoretical space travel. Compute using Tensor calculus in the dynamics of chaos theory. Something like that. Anyway, kinda' left them in the dust so they went off stage with tails between their legs."

"Richard told me about Walter- super smart to put it mildly, genius in a number of disciplines. I was always surprised with his messages- informative and humorous. Unusual for super smart people, as so many come off superior and are lacking in the humor department."

"Well, you are seeing a genius in action. You are aware Happy is also in the genius ranks- mechanical. Have no idea why she is so antagonistic with Walter- they worked together for a number of years- did some pretty incredible things I saw on the news. But, that is all past, now so don't bring it up as it is a sore subject with him. And I wish Happy would quit prodding him- I may grab a wrench and take her out to the woodshed if she does not back off. Well, he must be ready for some fresh coffee by now." Lynn poured a fresh cup and took it back to the conference room to put within Walter's reach to again have him say "thank you, Lynn," and drink some. Another hour twenty minutes and Walter sat at his laptop made a couple entries, got up to the second desktop unit with the modeling format and hit the print key to return to his laptop and sit down to finish the last cup of coffee. He stretched his legs and raised his arms above his head.

"So what is the verdict, O'Brien?" Happy asked.

"I printed out the computer modeling for fuel parameters for actual runs. According to the math, your design should garner you a decent paycheck, discuss it with Richard when he makes it over here." Walter got up, looked to Gene, "the modeling parameters is printing out for you and your crew to look over. I could use a ride to the room for a while- no time set, I will see you when I get up." He closed up his laptop and put it in its case. "Ready?"

"After you," Gene said holding the door open for Walter and Lynn to go to the cart for the ride to the rooms to get some sleep. They each went into their room to shower, in short order Lynn tapped on Walter's door, and opened it a bit, "Walter? You up for some company or just want to get some sleep?"

"Just been waiting for you, young lady, come in and join me, it has been one long night."

"I brought my clothes for tomorrow and put them on the chair- we can sleep as long as you want."

"Sleep is not what I am wanting right now," Walter said capturing her mouth in a long and passionate kiss. "Gods, you feel good…"