Dimensions

Veronica:

I sighed in aggravation. “Tobi,” I said it quieter so the others wouldn’t hear over the music. “Stop acting like a child and come meet them. You’re going to have to work beside them, you can’t be like this the whole time. You could at least try a little civility.” I tried to keep my tone calm but I couldn’t help showing my irritation.

"Bah. I can keep this going for months. You know I could. But fine...". Sighing I pushed away from the counter, letting the wheels on the stool carry me away until I could peer around Veronica. "Is he as pompous of an asshole as I believe?"

I looked up at her with a frown. "Look I know I am an asshole, but I know what I'm doing and talking about."

Veronica:

"My job doesn't involve caring one way or the other. Suck it up, Tobi," I muttered close to him before finding the remote for the speakers and turning the blaring music off. I motioned for the other two to enter the room. Dr. Kepner was eyeing the white board with squinted eyes.

"This is Dr. Marin," I introduced him with a plastic smile. "This is Dr. Lang and Dr. Kepner." I gestured to the two of them in turn. Dr. Lang held out her hand to Tobi.

I stared at Veronica then slowly a smile spread across my lips.  "Suck it up?  Alright."  Standing from my seat I reached out and shook Dr. Lang's hand.  "Dr. Marin, I'll tell you all the things about me already before you work your mumbo jumbo.  I'm arrogant, an asshole, smartest person in any room, and yes I am as good as I think I am.  And no my ego isn't the only thing that's big."  Releasing her hand with a suggestive motion of my brows, I turned to look at Dr. Kepner.  "Ah the man who built an entire reputation on one equation.  Should I offer you a chair?  Would you like to sit down?  Maybe take notes?  I'm sure this is an eye opening experience.  Or is the whiteboard distracting?"

Veronica:

I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. It was all I could do to keep from hiding my face in embarrassment. At least, I thought, I was no longer married to him.

Dr. Lang’s eyebrows went up just the slightest. Before Kepner could respond she said, “My interest lies in the DH alone. Since this is the reason we are all here, perhaps we could bring her in?” I took her instructions and immediately went to fetch Danny.

"And that makes you boring. Practical, driven, but boring." Dismissing her as she went away I turned to regard Kepner again. Oh it would be so easy to break this poor little man. And oh how fun.

"Is...is this my work?"

I walked over and stood beside him as he frowned and practically glared at the work. "Oh if the shoe fits perhaps it is!"

Demi:

When Veronica came to get me and told me that there were doctors here to see me, I shrank into the corner of my room. It took some coaxing to get me to come out. When I did my ears were laid flat and my arms were crossed over my chest. I eyed the two doctors before they ever saw me then my gaze went to Tobi with uncertainty.

“This is Danny,” Veronica said when we entered the lab. The woman approached me first and introduced herself. I shook her hand hesitantly.

I tuned out the man as he rambled on. Something about how he was insulted, how upset he was, how he was going to get revenge on my work for this slight. Yada, yada, blah, blah. I wasn't interested it was boring for the most part. Making him do it was fun though.

Eyes upon me had me glance over towards Danny, giving a nod of approval. She was going to be fine. Smart girl, good head on her shoulders and all that.

Demi:

Dr. Kepner asked me a million questions on how I used my power, most of which Tobi had already asked, but some were new. Then we wanted to explain things to me, things I didn’t understand. When I wasn’t asked a question, I was looking at the ground.

After the doctors began to interview and inspect Danny I returned to my station and did what was necessary to complete my current project. Recording the data I wanted took some time but I saved it to the computers and put everything away before finally turning to watch them all again with arms folded.

Danny:

The next day I met the other doctors, Wood, Albane, and Anderson. The way Dr. Anderson looked at me made my skin crawl. It was just in his eyes, but I didn’t like it. Each of them asked me a few questions. Anderson wanted me to extend my wings which I did with great displeasure. He touched them and bent them at the joints. The whole time I had my arms crossed and my eyes on the floor. Dr. Wood wanted to see the scans of my brain. He didn’t speak to me much. Dr. Albane was an older man and spoke mostly in grunts. Like wood, we wanted to see what work Tobi had already done that pertained to his field. So I was left alone with Andreson while Dr. Lang watched with a clipboard in the corner of the room.

Tobi:

I didn't like having so many people in my lab. Using my things. Already each had made their presence known, each had commandeered sections of my lab and certain equipment. Not only that but I was pestered by each of them for the logs and data I'd gathered already in my time alone with her.

I gave them everything though, if nothing else it was to stop Veronica from glaring at me. Still I did what I could to make things uncomfortable as possible. Making ridiculous passwords for my files before I gave them out, and changing all the settings on the machines before they'd all gotten there.

Demi:

The next week was exhausting. Every day I was put to work. It wasn’t just Tobi now, everyone got their own time slot to work with me. Dr. Lang was usually there watching, and Tobi was almost always in the lab trying to make whoever it was that day uncomfortable.

My only down time was when Simon brought me my meals. It was a relief to be with someone who didn’t want something from me. In our conversations I started telling him about the way things were at home. I would give him little details about my life because he didn’t directly ask for them. When the doctors asked me, I gave as little information as possible. But with him I felt like I was with a friend.

Simon:

I knew I had an odd job. I didn't work directly with my boss most of the time. I was a secretary in name only while really I was more of an informant. I was paid decently for my troubles, and more often than not Tobi was a source of entertainment. But my days up until recently had always been slow. I had all day to study for my night classes. And as I was trying to become a lawyer I had plenty to study for.

However ever since Danny had come to stay with us, things had been different. I actually had work that needed doing beyond just ordering new office supplies and answering the infrequent phone calls. There were more phone calls now. And I found it was a distinct pleasure to put high ranking officials from other nations or even our own nation on hold while I finished the chapter I was reading.

To top that off I had to let in half a dozen top doctors all hours of the day. Each was different in personality, style, and after I'd volunteered a few times to prepare coffee or order a few things they would need, some of them had become almost overbearing with demands for me to do other things. I hated dealing with them. And I adamantly refused to do anything while I was on lunch break. If one of them happened to be out of the building and wanted back in they had to wait. I wasn't going to take any of their crap.

My one solace was my lunches with Danny. At first neither of us said anything and at the time it had only been Tobi and myself. But now we spoke at length about our lives to each other. In my own way I was fascinated with her life. It was so far different than my own and she had the freedom to just up and leave, a trait I envied.

Demi:

After a week of Simon coming to my room for meals, a camera showed up in the corner. It was aimed at the table and away from the bed but it still creeped me out.

“So you’re watching me now?” I asked the next day when Tobi came to get me. I didn’t feel comfortable enough talking back to the other doctors. “I can’t even have privacy in my own room? What’s next, are you going to put one in the shower too?” I crossed my arms over my chest. I could think of one of them who might even push that.

"If you don't want one in the shower, or if one shows up in the shower. Tell Veronica. She is the one who can put a stop to that." I glanced up at the camera mounted in the corner. "That one however doesn't move. And I've seen the feed." I moved to stand right out of view of the camera and for emphasis I covered my face and mimed being hidden.

"But in other news, you are mine for the day. Be happy and thankful. What I want you to do is simple." I returned to the table where I'd set a box down. From inside it I pulled out a helmet. "Wear this. We can do whatever, but this little gadget goes on your head and the box in the back reads brain wave activity. That's it. You can think what you want, do what you want. Just have to wear this for me. Look I even brought cookies." Also from the box I pulled out another bag of cookies.

((http://www.robaid.com/wp-content/gallery/gadgets/emotiv2.jpg for reference of helmet))

Demi:

I glared at him for a moment before I went and put the head gear on. Much of the things the doctors wanted me to do unnerved me, but I had learned to swallow it. They would do it regardless of my discomfort. If I cooperated, I might just get out of here sooner.

“Tell me, Doctor, do my brain waves spell ‘screw you’?” my arms were crossed and I was giving him my best impression of my mother.

Both brows raised at her. Her tone, her words, even the way she was standing. I folded my own arms for a moment before nodding. "Really. Not bad. I mean your delivery was solid, how you are holding yourself, even that steely glare in your eyes. Really it's impressive. Still your word choice could use some work. Next time try 'fuck off'. Better delivery, good impact."

Demi:

I sighed deeply and rolled my eyes. “What do you want me to do in this stupid thing?” I asked. I eyed the cookies but refrained for now. I could share them with Simon later. “And do we have to stay in my room. It’s creepy having an old guy in here.”

"Pfft, I'm not old. You are just young you child." Folding my arms I scowled at her then shook my head. "No. We can go out if you'd like to do something in the lab. Can't go anywhere else. Rules are concrete at this point."

Demi:

“I thought you didn’t follow rules? Or was the night you made cookies just part of another experiment?” I asked. I glanced at the camera in the corner of my room as an afterthought. Could I get him in trouble for his actions? And if so, would I be willing to do that the one of the only people I was comfortable working with? He could be replaced by someone less willing to accommodate me.

"I follow rules all the time. Only when they are useful to me however. Science is nothing but rules. Alchemy too. Mass must always exist. It is not lost. Something must come from something else. And if you don't follow some rules of chemistry you die." I moved to the wall and lounged against it. "The cookies were a gesture of peace...also I was drunk. Rules get all hazy when you introduce alcohol."

Demi:

“It seems like you introduce it fairly often,” I muttered and I grabbed a cookie. Without waiting for him I walked out of my room and into the short hallway that leads to the lab and the doors to get the stairs. Because it was the first shift of the day, no one else was here. I preferred it that way. I preferred to be alone with the doctor, or Simon, to anyone else.

I ignored her comment on my drinking. I was fine, I didn't drink too much. Or so I told myself as I grabbed my own cookie and followed out after her. Shoving the whole thing in my mouth I shoved my hands into my labcoats pockets. "'O wha' 'ou wa'a 'alk abou'?"

Demi:

I turned my head to narrow my eyes at him. The head gear felt weird when I moved around. I didn’t like it. “Since when do you like to talk to me? If this is part of your experiment, then you have to lead the conversation.” Unlike Simon, Toby wasn’t my friend. He was something, but not a friend.