Chapter 2 REX IN THOUGHT

Natasha was to meet with the board of directors in an hour and a half before she met with Dr. Stella. So, she hurriedly marched to the boardroom which was on the second floor of the administrative office. She was glad to see all the directors sat and waited for her, with KG-13 standing somewhere around the corner of the room.

KG-13, on spotting Natasha, walked over to her to lead her to her seat on the top table. Her side of the desk had a gold-plated plaque with her full name nicely written on it. On the right side of the chairperson's seat, there sat a middle-aged man in a dark blue fitted suit, black buttoned-down shirt, and dark blue trousers. It was Dr. Grant Griffin as the plaque on his side of the desk informed and he was the Secretary-General of the board.

"Ladies, gentlemen, and bot-droid," Dr. Grant began. "I welcome you all to yet another board meeting. Once again, we are here to deliberate on matters concerning this company and also to suggest new ideas that would take the company to the next level,".

"Before we proceed, I would like to note that the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Toney, is apologetically absent. He has important business to attend to in Austria. However, the Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Natasha Toney, will represent him in this meeting." The man turned to Natasha and nodded to her, gesturing that she could now address the directors.

"Thank you, Dr. Grant," Natasha nodded to him in appreciation and turned to the room, clearing her throat before speaking. "To add to what the Secretary-General just noted, in today's meeting, we would not only discuss the future of FT industries but also, we would evaluate our current situations. "

They nodded in agreement as they noted down the suggestions and challenges they had on their mind.

"So, are there any suggestions or updates on any matter?" Natasha asked, checking the time on her watch.

The blonde lady sitting close to Dr. Grant raised her hand. She stood up when Natasha granted her permission to speak. She was elegant in her black long-sleeved buttoned shirt and blue tailored skirt.

"The weapons we created for Kazakhstan have been delivered: Two nuclear detonators, a full crate of light explosives, and a completed transaction."

"Thank you, Dr. Katherine! That is splendid news!" Natasha commented, still expressing her expectancy. "What about our supply of polonium salt? Has it arrived yet?"

"No, it hasn't, ma'am," the man on the last seat on the left answered, rising to his feet. "It will arrive by Friday."

"Thank you for the information, Mr. Jacques, but please, could you make sure they arrive by tomorrow? I require it for a project."

"I will make the calls," the man promised his boss, nodding politely as he took his seat. Another lady raised her hand and Natasha signaled her to speak.

"We plan to begin upgrades on the hoverboards, which will allow the user to travel anywhere with increased speed and durability. "

"Splendid plans!" Natasha exclaimed with a soft clap of hands, which quickly turned to a pleading gesture. "However, whatever you all decide to do, please ensure the hoverboards run on nothing but organic power."

"Duly noted, ma'am," the lady stated matter-of-factly, still on her feet. "But, if I may ask, why not nuclear power?" she inquired, posing as though she was ready to write Natasha's reasons.

"Smart of you to ask, Dr. Raquelle! The hoverboards are one of our most successful gadgets because they do not run on toxic fuel." She paused for a while to allow the directors to finish writing what she stated.

"Besides that, hoverboards are for our underage demographic. Why should the fuel be nuclear?" she asked rhetorically, waiting to make sure she carried everyone. "Am I understood, Dr. Raquelle?" she asked.

"Yes ma'am," Dr. Raquelle replied and bowed her head as she took her seat.

"Alright then!" Natasha clapped her hands again. "Anyone else? Yes, Dr. Gray?" she said, granting permission to the young man sitting in the middle seat on the right.

"One of our investors has offered us a billion-dollar contract..." Excited whispers from members of the board interrupted him. However, Dr. Grant brought them back to order.

"...I understand that this is really exciting news, but we know that the task before us is not so easy," Dr. Grey continued. "We have to invent a time machine."

"Time travel?" came a skeptical remark from Dr. Grant. "We all know that time travel is scientifically impossible."

"That doesn't change the fact that we can do it," Dr. Katherine commented. "This is actually a positive challenge for us, especially because we have invented many devices science deemed impossible. Also, it is a very lucrative offer."

This caused a divide between the directors in the meeting with some saying that they should accept the offer while others. However, when Natasha raised her hand in mid-air, the room fell silent again.

"Thank you, Dr. Grey, for the update," she smiled at the man respectfully. "You may take your seat." She waited for him to sit down, then addressed the directors.

"Scientifically, time travel is only theory and speculation. So, until we know for sure that time travel is possible, we will leave the offer on hold. I am open to all forms of research on the subject. Is that understood?"

"Yes, ma'am," the directors answered in unison.

"Good!" she commented, satisfied with their cooperation and proud of her leadership abilities. Noticing that Kai raised his hand, she signaled to him to speak.

"Ladies, gentlemen and bot-droid, most of what we have dealt with is on updates for the company," Kai started, using the most civilized charisma in the world to address them.

"I am more concerned about how this company can move to the next level, and I'm sure you all are, too. Unfortunately, some people aren't. They break the company's code of conduct without remorse and by they I mean the junior staff, particularly among the janitors. If they continue like this, FT industries will not move forward."

"Then send a memo to all junior staff supervisors so they can handle the issue," came a suggestion from a director. "Or is there a particular person you've seen behave this way?" he asked.

"Yes, sir, there is," Kai answered. "It's no other person than Mr. Rex Fleming."

Natasha's expression turned sour at the mention of Rex's name. She should have known Kai would act on malice than reason. Such a douchebag, she thought.

"Dr. Steve's boy?" Dr. Grant asked.

"Yes sir," Kai answered. "He's one of the bad eggs in this company. If he continues to disrespect those above him, his colleagues would join in and this company would suffer."

"Besides, that he is "Dr's Steve's boy' doesn't give him the right to be disrespectful," Dr. Katherine said, "He's a disappointment to his father's legacy. He lost the opportunity to be just like his father by drinking and deciding to not take school seriously. He should be grateful that we employed him as a janitor rather than throw him on the streets."

"He's becoming a nuisance!" Kai remarked, successfully pretending to be rational. "It's high time we relieved him of his duties."

"We cannot relieve him of his duties!" the woman nearest to Natasha fired. "Why not, ma'am, if I may ask?" Kai demanded to know. "Please, don't say it's because his father played a huge role in ensuring that this company reached the height it's at now."

"I think it's an irrational solution to an insignificant problem. I'm very sure all he's done is refuse to say good morning or something. Why don't we go with Dr. Reynolds' idea and send a memo to his supervisor?"

"What do you say, Dr. Natasha?" Kai asked, turning from the other woman to his boss. "What course of action do you suggest we take on him?"

Natasha sighed heavily, completely unable to form reasonable words for a moment. The discussion about Rex was so bothersome to her. She held her head with both hands.

"I agree with you, Dr. Stella," she stated, referring to the woman nearest to her. "Relieving him of his duties simply because he erred by omission is not a rational solution. I have spoken to him and I'll handle any issues with his behavior henceforth," she promised the directors. "Until then, I want you all to be nice to him. He's a member of staff here and deserves to be treated like one. Be tolerant of his actions and his improvements will come," she advised, focusing more on Kai. They all nodded in agreement, though Kai and Dr. Katherine did so reluctantly. Natasha, ignoring them, rose to her feet and said, "Today's meeting has come to an official close. Let's get back to work. My office is always open in case of an issue."

With that, the directors rose to their feet and one by one exited the room, murmuring amongst themselves as they did. Dr. Stella, however, drew close to Natasha.

"Are we still meeting later, Miss Toney?" she asked.

"Yes Stella, we are," Natasha answered. The two women and the bot-droid left the room together.

***

It pleased Rex when the time finally struck 6 pm. It has been an endless day today. He wasn't the only one so eager to go home after all. Unlike most days in the company, everyone excitedly filed out of their offices. Seems it was a hectic day for everyone, Rex thought. He went to the janitor's office to drop his cleaning equipment and pick up his hoverboard, then moved out of the administrative building. A part of him was relieved that he was finally going home, but another part reminded him he had no food and that he had until Friday in the apartment. As fate would have it, this reminder caused him to be depressed about his situation.

He snapped out of his thoughts when he almost tripped because a man in suits behind him pushed him impatiently.

"Out of my way, Cleaner Boy!"

"I have a name, you asshole!" Rex spat, after regaining his stance.

"Yeah, I know that," the man replied as he walked with his colleagues. "But no matter what you are called, you are still a disappointment to your father's legacy!"

Rex's skin went cold with the invasion of goosebumps. He wanted to jump at the man and beat the living daylights out of him, but he held himself back. Even though he was a douchebag, the man wasn't wrong. He had messed up big time.

He galloped to the back of the Parts Production building to inspect some of the spare parts or any unused scrap there, picked up a round rusty engine and a conductor amongst other things and put them in a nylon bag then rode out of the estate on his hoverboard. Looking back at the company made his head fog and his heart heavy. He had tried to keep at bay for a long while so that before he could stop himself, tears slid down his cheeks. Not wanting to attract that kind of attention to himself, he kicked-started his hoverboard and zoomed off. He was grateful to Natasha for giving him the hoverboard after FT industries produced them earlier that year.

She initially gave it to him to test how it worked, but Natasha let him keep it. They were her idea, brought to life by the company as a smooth yet clean means of transportation that everyone, especially minors, could use effortlessly. Although it sold for $400 at its launch, FT industries made about two hundred thousand sales per week. The rate remained the same even with the increase in price to $520. Rex had considered selling his for a lesser price, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. This was the only gift he had received from anyone since his parents died.

Rex rode to a junk shop that belonged to a friend of his. It was not so far from his apartment. He entered the shop and greeted the short black man standing behind the counter. He was between thirty to forty years of age.

"Andre!" Rex hollered at the man.

"Rex!" Andre lit up, delighted to see him. He flung a rag on his shoulder and walked around the counter to meet Rex. He was all smiling. "What's up, man?"

"Tsk, Dre," Rex hissed. "I'm not here to talk about myself. I brought you some of the usual stuff," he announced and dropped the nylon bag on a table nearest to him. "Maybe you could see how valuable it is."

Andre opened his mouth in awe when his eyes landed on the contents of the bag. "What you have brought me today is worth a lot more than usual," he said. "I'll give you $0"

He dropped the bag back on the table Rex had placed it on earlier, reached into his pockets, brought out his wallet, and handed $20 to Rex as promised. "Here you go! Use it well! Bring more of these tomorrow and I'll continue to pay you," he said with a smile on his face.

"Don't worry, I will," Rex replied with a simple smile as he put the money in his pocket. "Goodnight, Dre!".

"G'night!" he hollered from behind, then shrugged and went back to his position behind the counter.

Rex rode his hoverboard to the grocery store, got a few things from there, especially a few bottles of beer, and rode back home. He made a small but nice sandwich, then spent the remaining hours of the day binge drinking in his misery. The way things were going for him made him angry. His life should have been better. But, like everyone else kept saying, he had screwed it up. As he laid in bed that night, pondering on his situation, even in his drunken state, he concluded that it most probably wasn't his fault entirely. But he couldn't blame his father. Everyone idolized him.

While Rex wallowed in self-pity, Natasha worked in her lab at home with Dr. Stella. They had both met earlier that day and had discussed a lot about science, research, theories, and tests. They had met again at Natasha's place to execute what they had planned together, and were now in their lab coats, gloves, face masks, and bonnets.

"Okay Doctor! Experiment four in reproductive cloning! Bring the DNA sample," Natasha ordered.

"Alright ma'am," Dr. Stella responded. She shakily stretched forth her hand to push a button on the machine in front of her. When she did, there was a sizzling noise as smoke filled the room. The doctors coughed and waved their hands like windshield wipers, trying to clear out the smoke. It took quite a while until the room was completely smoke-free.

Turning to Natasha, Dr. Stella asked, "Did it work?" Her voice was shaky. She was hoping against hope that they had succeeded.

"Only one way to find out," Natasha responded, gesturing to her colleague that they moved closer to the machine. It was a long incubator-like tank. Dr. Stella nodded in agreement with Natasha and then together, after a count of three under their breaths, they took some steps forward and peeked into the tank.

"Yahtzee!" Natasha exclaimed excitedly when both their eyes recognized a baby inside the tank. "Experiment successful!" she stated again, turning to Dr. Stella with a smile wider than the Grand Canyon.

Dr. Stella was staring into the tank, completely fascinated. She couldn't believe it had worked. Before she could stop herself, she sobbed.

"Aw, Dr. Stella!" Natasha cooed as she drew closer to her colleague to wrap her arms around her reassuringly.

"Nat! I have endured many years, worrying about the complications of my uterus, wondering if I should sign up for adoption. Now, I, I uh..."

"... hey, hey, hey Stella!" Natasha chipped in, holding her shoulders tighter in comfort. "Look at me. It worked. Okay? Our experiment worked. Now, thanks to science, you don't have to worry about your uterus or adoption. You're now a mother, like you've always wanted to be," she continued. "KG-13!!!"

"Yes, Miss Natasha," the bot-droid answered.

"Take the infant and run all necessary tests on it."

The tank screen slid open. KG-13 reached in and picked up the baby, then went to another side of the lab to do as its mistress had asked it to do.

"Come on now, Stella," Natasha urged her colleague again when she sniffled. "Wipe your tears!"

"I didn't think this would be possible," Dr. Stella confessed, chuckling as she wiped her tears.

"Well, I did," Natasha remarked, boastfully. "I've spent time researching reproductive cloning and asexual reproduction in humans. I'm happy to have helped you. Heck, you helped me too! This is my first experiment on the theory!"

"You truly are the brightest scientist of this era," Dr. Stella smiled.

"Come on, Stells... I'm not that bright. After all, my father and Fleming revolutionized technology in America," Natasha replied, taking off her lab coat, gloves, and bonnet one after one. "Hey, let's keep this experiment as our little secret, okay?" she whispered, looking around the room as though the walls had ears. Stella nodded in agreement.

"If this turned out a success, perhaps time travel would too," she stated as she took off her bonnet.

"We'll just have to see," Natasha said