Going Around

Building a Foundation (Vera's pov)

I've always enjoyed science. It's in everything we do. For example, Newtons First Law of Motion.
"When viewed in an inertial reference frame, an object either remains at rest or continues to move at a constant velocity, unless acted upon by an external force."
The "object" is your car, the "external force" is your brakes. This basically states that if your car is moving, it will keep moving until you use the brakes. Eating food is science! Name anything, it's science. Even builders and construction workers use science. They know that without a good foundation, they aren't going to be able to build their project. This is something my parents didn't know. See, families work just like buildings. You can't build trust and communication skills, or even love without a good foundation. I've been in this orphanage since I was 3 years old. I don't know much about my parents, but I was told my mother was always beaten and my father was a drug addict. I guess it's just the way life goes, but I can't complain. Without them dumping me here, I wouldn't have so many opportunities. I wouldn't have had the chance to go to the best school around, I wouldn't have been in a science fair or participated in drama club, or even made a good reputation for myself. I'd be in the streets somewhere, begging for money. Or worse, working the streets for money. Just thinking about my skinny, black long haired, 17 year old self standing half naked on a corner sends a cold shiver down my spine. I'm happy with my life the way it is now. No, I don't have many friends. No, I don't have parents, but I have a future. And I have an interview at 5 at a lab for air wave technology and time studies. This could be my big break. I've been working at restaurants and hotels since I was 12 and I'm getting sick of being looked at like I'm some dead beat idiot who needs to be told which shaker is for salt and which is for pepper. I'm ready to show everyone who I really am.

*a couple hours later.*
So, I'm nervous. Like, really nervous. What if this out fit is too dressy? Black pencil skirt with dark blue ruffly shirt? What if it makes my blue eyes too distracting? It's not like I can help that I was born with blue eyes. Should I wear short heals or flats? Flats. He said we might be taking a tour. Okay, does a straight pony tail or my hair in it's normal wavy self seem more professional? Pony tail. Which résumé should I bring? Both. I'll bring both, and my science paper on time travel. Or is that too much? I'll bring it just in case. As I nearly run into the door to the lobby of the lab, I decide I need to calm down and I take a few deep breaths before entering. I step inside to this all white room with a single desk in the back, Beside a single door and an elevator. The lady behind the desk seems small and fragile, I can tell she's petite and she has a tight, white shirt on and tight black slacks. Her blonde hair is pulled tightly in a French twist and I realize I've been staring when her eyebrow above her right, green eye raises ever so slightly and she asks, "May I help you ma'am?." "Yes hi, I'm here for an appointment with Dr. Duggary Lance?"
"Hold on just a second."
As she types away on her computer, I can't help but look out the wall-high window to my left at the gorgeous garden of Genetically Modified Organisms. They seem to have every flower and vegetable in the world, and it's all organized by the plants scientific classification. Before I can walk closer to the window, the secretary clears her throat. She's now standing with a clipboard in hand and I wonder how long I've been drifting off on a cloud of thoughts.
"Follow me, Miss Reden."
"Um you can call me Vera."
"Okay, Vera. I was told to take you to the library and from there I believe Mr. Lance will show you around and start the interview process. You're mighty young to be working here, but with how you drifted off into your own world of thoughts, I'm sure you'll fit right in."
She says that with a wink and although I'm still nervous, it gave me a boost of confidence.
"Thank you Miss..." I hadn't caught her name.
"Call me Hannah."
She says this while using every muscle in her petite frame to open two large wooden doors with an amazing grace about her. Something my clumsy self knows nothing of. Inside these doors is what I guess to be the library and it is gorgeous. Sitting at a round table in the back is a man with thick, but greying hair, and a bit of a midnight shadow.
"Thank you Hannah, I'll talk with the girl alone now."
"Of course, my love." She says with a wink. As she walks out the door.
And in that moment my jaw drops. As I put pieces together, Duggary says, "That's my wife, Hannah Lance. She's the strongest and the most stubborn woman I know. She may look small and fragile, but she can tear a roof off a building quicker than a tornado. She's a feisty woman. Drives me insane. You must be Vera, tell me about yourself."
"Well, I'm a dedicated, straight A student. I'm hardworking, and use-"
"No." He cuts me off with a hush. "Tell me about the real Vera Reden. What are your hopes and dreams, what's your favorite song? What college are you planning on going to?"
these questions make me uncomfortable. This isn't what I practiced in the mirror or with my college and career counselor at school. "Well, um, I love science. I like how nothing could exist without it. I like drama and theatre. I'm in love with the 1920's and one of my favorite books is The Great Gatsby. I love classic books and movies. My favorite movie is Donnie Darko because it's a bout time travel and some of the theory's that are in it are actually correct and this was way before people actually knew anything about time travel, even now we have no idea how to time travel but we know it happens. Like when one of NASA's cameras caught star #253-3815-484937 come out of that worm hole a couple years ago and just recently they did tests and found out that the star had time traveled. That, in my opinion, is one of the most amazing discovery's ever."
"Yes I'm familiar with the theory's on Donnie Darko and with star #253-3815-484937. You are a very smart and fascinating girl, I'd like to show you something that only 3 people have ever seen. By the way Vera, you're hired. You can go home and tell your parents that tonight if you'd like. You start tomorrow. I know you're in school so I am giving you flexible hours as my assistant and you may get to move up from there."
"Already? It was that easy? And I don't have parents. I live in the orphanage."
"Well I've spoken to your school and one of your physics professors is a dear friend of mine and gave you a good word or two. And I'm sorry to hear that, but look at you. You've beat all odds against you."
"Oh my gosh, it was that funny old Mr. Carlisle wasn't it? He's my favorite teacher. And thank you."
"You may want to thank him later. Follow me."
As we walk through these halls, I have a grin from ear to ear. I can finally quit my job at the cafe. My pay is $22 an hour and I'm only 17 years old. And, I don't have to quit school. Oh this is great. As we reach the end of this hall we walk into a small room to put on lab coats and safety glasses.
"Okay Vera, you can't tell anybody about this. This is a recent invention of mine. It is supposed to use brain waves to teleport the person from where they are, to whatever place it is they're thinking of."
As I look at this small micro chip that I assume is controlled by your brain and a small button on a handheld remote, I can't believe what I'm seeing.
"Dr. Lance I-"
"Please, just call me Duggary."
"Okay, um, Duggary? I have a few questions. First off, what age range and/or lifestyle of person is meant to buy this? Secondly, has it been tested yet?"
"The technology used for this is very, very pricey. We were meaning it to be sold mainly to government officials. They could use it to transfer people like the president safely without running risk of assassinations or transportation crashes
And/or failures. We were also thinking about using this in battle. It would change war so much. And we would be the only ones who'd have it. But no, it has not been tested. Nobody is willing to test it yet."
"Do you think you'll ever find a test subject?"
"I'm thinking of a pretty good idea right now."