Genes and Tech

Big Feet

November 17th, 2041 2:00 pm

"Doc, how much longer?  We've been here for two hours."

"Lollipop, we are almost done.  Dr. Robinson has a presentation at the end and then we can go," he says tiredly, massaging the temples of his forehead.

It must be from irritation.  After all, Doc has been trying to figure out what causes my glitching, and a sixteen year old found that out without using me as a lab rat.  I don't know how he figured it out, but it explains everything.

Except why Doc lied about the time it had started.  I had this ability for as long as I can remember, and my parents brought me to him as a little girl in hopes of finding out why I glitch.  I need to find out what happened that day so I can figure this out further, because that date is significant.  The look on the Robinson kid's face said it all.  I also need to find out how that sixteen year old activated his power.  His eyes are still blue.  Maybe he can deactivate mine.

"Lollipop, what are you thinking about?"  Candy stares at me suspiciously and I stare right back.

"What's so important about March 30th four years ago?"

"It's a random date I pulled out of a hat, don't worry about it," Doc lies, obviously trying to hide something.

"Doctor Candy?"

The both of us turn around to see the sixteen year old who surpassed the doctor... Hero... Honda?  I don't know, it had alliteration in it like Peter Parker or something.  "Ah, the prodigy professor!  I must apologize, I had no idea who you were when I first talked to you.  Professor Hamada, wasn't it?"  Oh.  Not Honda.

"Please, call me Hiro," the prodigy says, holding his hand out to the doctor.  "I was hoping the two of us could team up, continue our research together?  I think we could make some incredible groundbreaking discoveries together."

At this, Candy seems to lighten up a little.  "You really think so?  I gotta admit, I was worried that I wouldn't be of any help."

"Of course.  I would find it hard not to think we could do wonders together."  Professor Hamada then glances to me before returning his attention to Doctor Candy.  "May I talk to Lollipop privately for a minute?  I have some questions for her, and I'm sure she also has some questions for me."

Candy hesitates, his smile faltering and I already know what his answer is going to be.  "Hey, Doc.  Don't wait up, I'm going to talk to the nerd."  I give Candy a wave goodbye before clutching the teenager's hand and glitching off, bringing Hiro with me.

We finally reach the roof where we can get some privacy, the sun still high in the sky yet fog disguises the ground below, giving the area some sort of a mystic feel.  "Now we can talk."

"Thanks.  Your name is Vanellope, right?"  Hiro asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Ooh, the smarty pants does his research.  How did you know my name?"

"I got it from a friend, who got it from a government agent.  You know, totally normal," he jokes, smirking.

"Uh huh.  How did you activate your power?"  I step up close to him and place my hands on the sides of his head, examining his unnaturally vibrant blue eyes with curiosity.

"Eh, the device is still in the works.  This is only meant to be temporary.  Despite this, my theory is that the formula which prevents a person's ability to activate wasn't generating as much as I had predicted, so the device had actually overridden everything and got rid of the formula altogether."  His eyes start glowing for just a fraction of a second, glazing over at the same time before the glowing fades away just as fast, a look of confusion passing across his face afterwards.