Dr. Swers has given the students, a tour within the university and lab facilities. They proceeded to the official class's lab. Dr. Swers required everyone to meet up with their groups. Hearing this, Elora felt nervous. As Elora scanned the room, she noticed the Raziel already sitting in their designated table. She looked down and followed the white path. The table had two parts, one side on which there is black paint, and one side on which there is white paint. As she looked up, she saw Raziel looking over as well. She also noticed a short petite girl approaching him. As Elora caught up to the table, she heard their conversation.
"Hey guys, my name is Ami! Ami Malis!" the petite girl cheerfully waved and said.
"Hi Ami, my name is Elora Arivae." Elora replied back with a smile.
"My name is Raziel." He straightforwardly responded with a nod.
"Nice to meet everyone!! Let's work hard in the future!" Ami replied back.
Elora thought that Ami was really cheerful. For Elora, Ami could be like her little sister. Elora felt reassurance, at least there wouldn’t be that much awkward silence between them. There were plenty of times where Elora felt like it was just her and Ami talking. Raziel was definitely a quiet guy. Although Elora does respect his silent personality, Elora thought that if he talked, it would've been an uneasy for her as well. Both Raziel and Elora had a secret to hold. As the class went by, their group did so much brainstorming since it was required by the professor. When the class was almost over, the group agreed to meet at the library in the following weekend. Dr. Swers had given them the task to think about their next research proposal. Not to mention, Elora is excited that they are given a chance to enter the University's library. Elora is looking forward to this "meeting."
The bell rang, and everybody in the room went out in an orderly manner. Men walking in the black hallway and women walking in the white hallway. Left in the room are Elora and Dr. Swers. Elora didn't want to leave the room just yet. She approached Dr. Swers and asked,
"Uhmm, doctor, my name is Elora, I'm both a student and an intern for the research lab facility in this university. I am supposed to start next week, but if it's possible may I get to know the head scientist?"
Elora was nervous and excited. She just couldn’t wait to meet Dr. Fadigan. She had been expecting this since she was a teenager.
"Why sure thing! If you can follow me to the main lab, I can definitely introduce you" Dr. Swers answered.
Elora thanked Dr. Swers, she was so grateful to her professor. Actually, she was grateful enough at the moment. She started the morning with panic but then, she met a lovely friend and as well as a good professor. She was wondering who Raziel really is and why hasn’t he also reported to the sector? The thought of the government knowing her crimes at any moment frightened her. Elora felt a little anxious as she has no control over what could possibly happen. She checked her AU-watch and it seems that there isn't any problem with her body's vitality statistics so far. "Weird" she wondered.
She then followed Dr. Swers. Since the hallways don't have huge spaces within them, hallways are divided into 2 colors. Again, black and white with grey walkways for intersections. The university was huge, she followed him and passed plenty of hallways as well. She noticed plenty of "black" rooms. There weren't literally all black, but the door was black and as well as the floor. What about "grey" rooms, she thought. She seldom saw any "white" rooms. She knew getting a job here in the University was hard, but the thought of fewer women having the same opportunity bothered her a little as well. As she also noticed the look on the scientists' faces. They looked dreary and tedious. She wondered, "will this be my future?" She shrugged the thought.
Before they made it inside the main lab, Dr. Swers had pulled out an ID and as well as inputted a code. She looked somewhere else, just to reassure Dr. Swers, she wasn’t peeping. A robotic voice said, "Welcome Dr. Swers, Please enter." The metallic doors opened. The main lab was a huge room that had a tall ceiling and as well as plenty of equipment. The floors were grey. Elora noticed something however, at the edge of the room there were two big thick grey metal doors. Most of the doors were ordinary sized and either had the color, grey, black or white. Curiosity began circulating Elora's mind. Elora was enthusiastic, but she tried to show no emotion.
She followed Dr. Swers near the office areas, and there she stood appalled.
"Oh, Dr. Swers! I didn't know you were dropping by!" The scientist with grey hair and a slim figure stood up from his office chair and approached Elora and Dr. Swers. This scientist didn't look that old, Elora thought. He stood 1 meter away from Elora as distancing is required, but Elora felt his astonishing presence.
"Not a problem Dr. Fadigan! I was just dropping by to introduce to you in advance, one of our new interns!" Dr. Swers replied. As Dr. Swers introduced Elora, he said his farewells and left the room.
Still, in awe, Elora stuttered, "Greetings Dr. Fadigan! My name is Elora Arivae, I am so honored to meet you!" as she slightly bows to show respect.
And Elora continued to compliment Dr. Fadigan, "I have read so much of your researches! Although I have found some irregularities oh-." Elora couldn't get a hold of herself and she covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, I just noticed it while reading them!" Elora explained while gesturing a small bow.
"Oh? dear, don't worry about it!" Dr. Fadigan reassured Elora.
"There is no perfect research. Error is needed for improvement!" Dr. Fadigan stated confidently.
Indeed, Elora felt relieved. Just as she thought, Dr. Fadigan is one of the best professional scientists. Dr. Fadigan added, "If I may ask miss Arivae, what research were you referring to?"
However, as she glances up, she swore she saw a different facial emotion. "or maybe not…" Elora thought that maybe because of today's events, she's probably just seeing things. As Elora continued with their topic of blood maturation, Dr. Fadigan seemed astonished that Elora knew quite significantly.
When their conversation was finished, Dr. Fadigan toured Elora inside the chemistry lab. Elora saw a lot of high technology equipment. She learned that the lab had a genetic engineering section too. There stood, scientists that were studying artificial manipulation and modification of a variety of plants and test animals. This topic had interest Elora since she was in high school. She wondered what's like for environmental artificial change. As Elora and Dr. Fadigan were talking, they didn't notice the time. "Well, I'm glad we had a talk about your future studies and researches! Very interesting topics" Dr. Fadigan said with a smirk.
"I am really excited to work with you, doctor," Elora exclaimed. She was excited as her main research was originally about DNA combination influences and molecules. For some reason, Elora had felt a familiarity with this topic, probably since it's all she ever read when she was a young kid. She wondered.
Elora was about to leave when she notices a small picture on one of Dr. Fadigan's shelf. The picture seems familiar and consisted of 3 people. Dr. Fadigan noticed Elora's wandering eyes. He explained "curious eh? Those people are just my coworkers. They're scientists."
When he had said the words "scientists", there was a sense of disbelief.
He continued slowly, "Back then, I had 2 close friends, and we all had same the goal, to become brilliant world changers!" Dr. Fadigan was smiling however, Elora felt that there was something more.
Dr. Fadigan chuckled, "nonetheless, we decided to just be scientists."
Elora curiously asked, "just scientists? how so?"
Dr. Fadigan leaned his back on his table and replied "People back then didn't have that much faith in scientists, they rather listen to popular people, high social classes, or influencers." with a joking tone.
As Dr. Fadigan continued on with his story, Elora was bothered by her own thoughts.
She thought about how hierarchy and status really affected the society's development. She refused to believe that scientists were just mere researchers because they were worth more than that.
The responsibility, a scientists' burden are heavier than most. This is why they aren't "Just scientists."
Comments (0)
See all