Cipher [A Gravity Falls Tale] #Wattys2016

One

Stanford Pines beamed with pride as he soaked up the applause of the admiring crowd. He gave a small nod of appreciation and stepped down from the podium, papers in hand. He had just delivered his award-winning doctoral thesis, the thesis that had not only earned him a PhD but also an enormous amount of grant money. He was being hailed as one of America's next big thinkers. The year was 1975, and it was a great time to be alive.

As Ford walked to the door, he was flooded by reporters.

"Stanford, do you really think there are infinite universes out there?"

"Mr. Pines, how do you manage to work through the doctoral program so quickly?"

"What about all this grant money? What are you planning to do now, Stanford?" Ford paused at this last one. He turned to the reporters.

"I don't know yet," he said frankly before walking through a door.

"Very good, Stanford, very good," nodded Professor Trembley, who had been waiting on the other side. Stanford's favorite teacher had awarded him with the large check before the young genius had gone on to deliver his thesis. Trembley had become very fond of his exceptional pupil over the course of his short time in the doctorate program, oftentimes encouraging the latter's hobbies and interests.

"I had heard your thesis before," the professor continued, "but it was even better in front of such a large crowd. You have a great mind, Stanford. I'm so excited to see what you'll do with it."

"That's the problem," Ford sighed. "I don't know what I'm going to do. I have no idea."

Trembley chuckled. "Stanford, my dear boy, you have your whole life ahead of you! Rome wasn't built in a day, after all! Take heart; all will work out."

"Thanks, professor," smiled Ford. The short professor with a crown of straw colored hair smiled back and gave Ford a pat on the shoulder.

"I'll see you at the dinner, then," he concluded before walking off. Ford continued to smile. Professor Trembley had been quite the teacher. He was always there for the young man, which Ford always welcomed.

The scientist was turning to walk down the hall when another voice stopped him. "That was quite an interesting thesis, Mr. Pines." Ford wheeled to see a man in an expensive looking suit emerge from a corner. He looked to be in his thirties, and suddenly, Ford recognized him.

"Richard Northwest?" gasped Ford. He was flabbergasted at the sight of someone so famous. Richard Northwest was the current CEO of Northwest Enterprises and one of the richest men in America. He had also sponsored many scientific start-ups, being an avid supporter of endeavours to discover the unknown.

"The one and only," chuckled Richard. "But for once, I'm not the most famous one here. You're one of the most talked about young people right now."

"It's an honor, sir," Ford honestly replied.

"I had read your thesis, but seeing the passion you delivered it with made it all the better," Richard informed him. "Your ideas on quantum relativity, the multiverse-- they're quite incredible. Between your mind and your grant money, you could go into anything. Astrophysics, theoretical physics, biotechnology-- the choices are endless."

"Well, that's certainly true," Ford agreed. "I believe, if anything, I'd like to investigate the possibility of other dimensions. However, there are several fields in which I can do that."

"Certainly."

"I'm so glad you're here, Mr. Northwest, but may I ask why?" Ford questioned.

"Bright boy," complemented Richard. "I'm mostly just here to congratulate you, but I also wanted to remind you of something. I love helping out young minds to see how they can change our future. Support from my company, though, does have a price, but that is now a price you're able to pay. And while partnership with my people is expensive, the results could double or triple the money in your pocket right now."

Ford nodded, processing all of this. It was one heck of an offer, that was for sure. Billionaires didn't walk around offering advanced technology to just anyone. "Thank you very much, sir. As I try to decide just what I do with my life, I'll keep that offer in mind."

"Glad to hear it, Stanford," Northwest nodded. "Just excellent. See you at the dinner."

"Please," interjected Ford. "Call me Ford."

"I look forward to what's in your future," remarked the billionaire, "and, perhaps, our future." Ford beamed at this as Richard walked off.

A Northwest willing to invest in him! Of course, Richard had made it clear that Ford would have to make a considerable payment to get this support, but that didn't matter with his exorbitant amount of grant money. His future held so much; if only he could figure out what to do with it!

With a sigh, Ford discreetly dodged reporters and snuck into his dorm room. Stacks of books sat on desks, while memorabilia was pinned on the walls. There was a Backupsmore pendant, along with a group picture of his college buddies. His eyes swept over the faces of Fiddleford McGuckett and all his other colleagues.

A faded picture of his family also caught his eye. His mother and father stood to the sides, the former holding a baby Shermie in her arms. Between them stood Ford and his brother Stan, Stan's arm thrown around Ford's shoulder. Ford sighed. It had been months since he had seen his parents and years since he had actually seen his twin brother.

An idea popped into his mind. He grabbed his phone off the hook and dialed his home.

"Pines' Pawns," answered a feminine voice.

"Hey, Ma," Ford said.

"Stanford? Is that you? How'd your speech go?"

"Well, it was a research paper, not a speech, but it went great, Ma. I just figured that, as I start this next part of my life, I should check in on you guys."

"Oh, we're just fine here," gushed Ma Pines. "Shermie's growing up so fast. Your father and I still aren't sure what he's gonna do. He really isn't taking after either one of his older brothers."

"Have you heard from Stan?" wondered Ford with hope. Stan had cost Ford his dream college, but he was still his twin brother, and they hadn't made contact in a long time.

"No," admitted Ford's mother. "Nothing since he sent us that postcard about how he was going to 'prove' himself. I see him on the news, though. They talk about everything this unnamed man is doing, but I know it's got to be him."

"Yeah, I've been trying to follow him through the news. I can't imagine what's happening to him out there, having to abandon his identity and all."

"If he really needed us, he'd find a way to let us know," pointed out Ma Pines. "He's got that much smarts."

"Well, anyways, I was calling to let you know I'm trying to decide what to do with my life."

"Oh, Stanford," sighed his mother, "you're so special in your own way. That's what I've always told you. Anything you choose to do will be unique."

"Thanks, Ma," Ford said. "Goodbye."

"Bye son! Call soon-- maybe next time you'll catch your father!" Ford smiled and set down the phone. His mother had always encouraged his forays into the unknown and strange, as he had been born with six fingers on each hand. Ford's love of the unknown had stayed with him, and now, he almost wished--

Wait! That was it! Ford rifled through his stack of books to find one of his favorites. It dealt with how unexplained phenomena may have originated from other points in time or space and had come to be through tears in the fabric of space-time.

As Ford flipped through the book, he grinned. Yes, this was exactly what he was going to study. He would begin the first scientific human voyage into the strange, weird, and unexplained.