Still Doing Science

Rias had ended up just sitting on the floor, by the statue base, sitting with Gortys effectively in her lap, though the little robot after they had spoken about Loader bot seemed to move on to the subject of old friends, a subject many times before Rias tried to avoid. 

But during this talk, it seemed even little Dumpy, her as she called him head of security - mind you the little robot wasn’t but from his screaming it seemed he was happy with his title - and was always around to check on Rias when he felt the need to and most days she had him active. 

While he was here though she did however ask for him to come to her so she could add Rena into the friend files and not have him try to electrocute her if he saw her while she was trying to make her calls. 

She was in the middle of tinkering with Dumpy and mumbling about how she was one of these days going to fix his voice modulator when she heard Rena, again calling her Boss, it felt nice but off and not exactly as she thought it would when someone would finally call her that. 

Rias listened to the requests of the flame fire friend, that would be a good front-line strategy and if Rena could make the suitable weaponry, well Rias couldn’t see the harm in it, so she let’s Dumpy go back to his duties, which seemed to be sticking by Rias right now and let Gortys drive herself off her lap and back to where she needed to be so she could stand and smile with a nod. 

“As long as I can trust you to handle making our fire-wielding front-liner a flamethrower, then I am all for agreeing to her terms.” 

She was planning on making or arranging a little extra payment as a one off at least to the newest and first recruits to the company, so it was working in her line for this to happen, considering the shared loot from the vault that the gang had sold and split, she’d have enough to get the ball rolling. 

   “I, personally, would be delighted.” Rena honestly lights up a little at the mere thought of it. Gosh, making a custom flamethrower?! Now THAT is a start to a new company~! But aside from the basics, what else could be applied? Separate chamber for incendiary ammo? What about a fuel booster, to coat the ground in flammable oils...?

   Excitement warms every vein in her body, humming with excitement and an itching need to get to work. Find the parts she needs and to build the most hardcore of flamethrowers Pandora has ever seen...and will never see again.

   “Ugh, it’s gonna be so good,” she murmured to herself, hands rubbing together. Momentarily forgetting herself until her eyes locked onto Rias again. Right! Job things!

Rias and Gortys were both smiling when Rena agreed about contacting the others. She was happy to have her on board and hoped in some ways if most of the people or at least some of them so far were people she knew and comfortable around, that she would feel better about mixing with anyone else who joined the company in the future. 

This was a good step forward. 

“Rena, I’ll see you in the main foyer when you are done!” 

Gortys and Rias would leave at the same time Rena did from the office, Rias locking the door behind her as they walked in the opposite direction, so she could get the information from Gortys about LB. 

It seemed he had found them a ship and some supplies to be able to leave for Promethea when they wanted to, and as soon as Rias wanted to it seemed it might be either doing that in one or two trips with her employees or waiting for them to arrive and all go at once. 

They would walk to the main foyer, even if the statue was still broken from their daring escape before, well she was glad that she had cleaned up and from that encounter and the bodies from before. They at least kept the wildlife by Old Haven happy. 

“Gortys it’s been a whirlwind of an adventure, I’m glad you decided to stay with me.” 

Rias would speak to the robot as she let on the base of where the statue once was and smiled looking to the big room to the right of her, where her and Fiona had first put Gortys together, at this point she would feel the little robot hold her leg in a tight hug, Rias placing her hand on top her head as she looked down to her.

“Thanks Gortys I feel the same, Oh I do hope Rena doesn’t get lost to come find us.”

   Rena would be absent for some time, giving Rias and Gortys more than ample time to talk about not only LoaderBot, but anything else, as well. Mostly because calling up so many people was not only a chore in and of itself, but... Well, as predicted, Pyrotech was being stubborn. Meowzer was fairly easily convinced, but leaving Pandora? Much less joining a company like Atlas? Safe to say, Pyro didn’t wanna invest.

   ...Her tune decidedly changed when Rena promised she could work something out to make Pyrotech a frontliner to mow down first “guests”...and also a fancy flamethrower. Pay was but a bonus to the pyromaniac, who ended up agreeing.

   Pops was easy to convince, Scotty was stubborn, but missed being able to make quality glasses (and knew enough about medicine that Rena deemed him worthy...at the least, for the time being)... Scabbs was also called up. Though he said he’d like to join, there was still really no telling if he would, wild child that he is.

   So by the time Rena was through with the calls and walking back to Rias, she felt like a worried mother hen!

   She’s exhausted... Of course her breakdown today stems from exhaustion, some minute, human failure that makes her say just a bit too much while someone else is in the room. Rena might be a damn coffee addict (though nowhere near one of her pilot friends), but she almost wants to deny him for the sheer sake of being stubborn and petty.

   ...She can’t do it to Rhys, though, eventually taking the cup. One of the few people who’s, like...an ass, but nice about it. The dorky kind of genuine that will likely cost her more slip-ups in the future. Dammit.

   Take a sip of the coffee and sigh. Sweet as ever...just how she likes it.

   “...Wish I was as lucky as you,” she mutters, giving a soft, bitter laugh. Then, louder, “I can’t face what I’m running from. If it’s not one thing, it’s another... Look, I’ll tell you this much.” Rena turns in her chair, looking up at him fully. Aside from her glasses, she’s staring him down, exhausted expression making the whole thing more intense-feeling than it probably should.

   “My dad... He was never kind to me. He used me for testing and didn’t care how much it hurt. How much I begged him to stop... I stole a project from him, Rhys.” A pause, looking more somber and afraid now; looking away as her right hand clings to her left arm, gripping the sleeve tight. 

   “you only say that cause you don’t know how to reprogram ‘em... Not like I do!” Gremlin rolled up her jacket sleeves, eyeing them with mad, scientific delight. Getting her hands on even just one of those would be so damn cool~! “Got a way to put ‘em on pause? I can RIP THE FLESH from there!!”

   “Oh... You two?” Rena looks up to him, blinking in surprise. Laying on the floor with her hands cushioning her head. For what reasons? Who knows... “Heh, could be... Though in my experience, Hyperion was just...full of assholes you couldn’t trust anyways. The good people in a bad spot were few and far between...”

Gortys of course was curious of what was happening to Rena’s eyes, seeing the liquid to form, from them and making them all shiny, she hadn’t really seen anyone do that in reaction to her before. So the little robot is getting a little closer, the only time she had seen such a reaction was when someone was sad.

“Are you okay?”

Of course while this was all happening, Rias was reviewing some things and wanted to know what was happening with Gortys and why she had come here, probably as she had thought she had come to tell her she’d heard from LB. 

Her shuffling did seem to cause Rena’s attention to be caught back to her, which she hadn’t meant to interrupt at all. A hand held up as Rias would now smile a little wider now. 

“That would be wonderful if you could, I need a moment with Gortys if you don’t mind, but when you have called them perhaps me and Gortys could show you around here a bit? Considering just outside is where we first met right Gortys?” 

She would wink at the robot as she turned so the robot did the same and confirming that to have happened here. 

   Gosh...that robot could be the death of her...and Rena would totally be okay with that. She gives a small, warm smile to Gortys and nods reassuringly, before refocusing on Rias. Man... It’s been awhile since Rena worked on robotics, but this meeting? It makes her itch for circuitry and welding. The heat and curve of metal. The building...! She aches to make things again!!

   Soon enough, with any luck. Just...gotta be patient.

   “Oh... Nah, I don’t mind at all. Dealing with Pyrotech... Well, that’ll take enough time in itself.” Rena shook her head, frowning a little. That woman could be so stubborn....but Meowzer was nice, at least. Unhinged, but sweet enough. That was Rena’s only real in to convincing the Firecats to join up with Atlas. Everyone else should roll with it pretty well.

   Hmm...

   “Mm... O-Oh, yeah! Sounds good. I’ll, uh, get on that. Gimme a mo.” Rena lifts a finger, tracking her way back out to somewhere quiet enough to make some calls... Sighing, hating the fact she has to own up like this, but knowing it’ll benefit everyone in the long run. Getting her contacts out, and pulling up Scotty first.

   One step at a time.

Rias would carefully listen to the information being given to her, recording it into her memory banks to review later, impressed with the connections that Rena had made while she was here. 

A smile is offered at the realisation the other had that she had been paid a compliment. She could already tell having Rena on her team was a good idea, a positive one, which is something she wanted for Atlas, she wasn’t going to try and be on a high horse for who could work for the company like Hyperion was, so she was already considering asking Rena to contact the people mentioned to ask if they would consider the job offer and move. 

The biggest thing that really sells Rena for Rias, is her reaction to Gortys as the little robot rolled up into the Room, as normal to check on Rias and give her an update from LB who was away making preparations for their move. 

A chuckle from the CEO as the interaction began between Rena and Gortys. The little robot began to wave at Rena now. As Rias watched. 

“Thank you! It’s nice to meet you!” 

   “It’s nice to meet you, too!” Her eyes are shining not only with unshed tears, but also pure curiosity. Hands going forward without thinking, before Rena catches herself and stops that motion. She wasn’t going to pry at Gortys! That’s not very nice! Especially not without asking first... Guess she’s too used to working on nonfunctional bots...

   You can’t exactly ask a broken down Claptrap for permission to modify his body, right? You just...take him home, work on him, and hope for good results. Maybe a thank you, if you’re lucky.

   But Rena. Is. Entranced. Perfect sphere! So cute!! Those screen eyes for the ability of showing emotions... WAIT, is that a little mouth-screen? Damn, that’s good... Oh, and that blue glow? Chef kiss~! Tiny arms and tiny hands...!!

   A bit of shuffling catches Rena’s attention, noticing Rias’ shoes... Shit. Right. Job interview. Maybe? Kinda sounds like she already got the job. Still, she flushes brightly in embarrassment, standing up hurriedly. Push her glasses up higher and drag her long, low ponytail to the front, in order to fuss with hairs.

   [[After that, post this AND the project long will be posted, as well as Rena’s playlist...that I completely forgot existed, I’m not gonna lie. Despite listening to it....a lot recently. Oops. Once that’s done... Updating the blog with new verse tags and the aforementioned Google Docs.

“Sorry Rena, my mistake, I could use some advice on R&D too if you don’t mind?” 

Seeing the other smile now, the CEO is smiling softly too. The laughter and excitement that seemed to radiate from the other now, it made Rias happy to see for sure. Though the being called Boss did feel off a bit. 

“Well guards and security is always a good thing to have, and well good for making sure our weaponry works effectively in the field by experts, it would be useful.” 

Rias pondered aloud, but in her mind she was going to wonder if she could trust bandits, but Rena seemed trustworthy and eager. If she had survived this long with them, then she’d have to give them the benefit of the doubt, even if they only ended up joining for the guns and fighting. 

Rias did tilt her head to one side at the other’s comment of not being a people person. Which while Rias did her best to radiate confidence, when it came to people it wasn’t always the way she really was around people.

“I have to say I think you are very brave, having come here to see about Atlas coming back and talking with me.” 

She was doing her best to encourage and compliment the other female. A small chuckle from her lips now, she had experienced enough of Pandora to get a taste of how it drives one’s mind to a place they would probably not want it to go to. She may not have been around it for as long as Rena, but it had dealt it’s scars to her too. 

“Yeah, I think you are extremely strong to have survived, I know I wouldn’t have been able to keep my mind this long. having almost lost it after being here for an afternoon. But it seems getting away might be the best thing for us.” 

This would be the moment a small little ball like robot would roll herself into the room and up to Rias before even realising someone else was here too. Of course the robot curious asked Rias who it was that was here, the CEO kneeling down to the little one. 

“Gortys, this is Rena she’s going to be joining us to go to Promethea. Our new Head of Sciences and Advice giver for R&D though possibly head of that too maybe?” Rias looked up at Rena hopefully as Gortys rolled over to say hello. 

   “Say no more,” Rena assured with a nod. “Honestly... All you really need to do is point me in the direction you want this company to go and I’ll getcha there. I can even mildly direct builders when it comes to Atlas guns! Hyperion asked R&D to work on gun effects for some time, so I have rudimentary understanding of guns... Specifically, how they should be working with the elemental compounds. So you have that, too! Along with...anything else. Personally, I’m always fond of biology, evolutionary biology, and what genetics we can tamper with.” A pause. “...I used to do a lot of mutantion side projects, is what I’m saying.”

   Note to self for later: has Rias seen any dragons around? There should be dragons... Surely Silverstreak and Apophis would’ve survived the crash of Helios? Thoughts like this make her anxious, but they should be enough of a hardy bunch to survive...she hopes.

   “Okay, so. Pops. He’s a robotics expert, best I’ve ever known. He’d make any circuitry board sing... I wouldn’t put it past him.” Rena pulls out a dirty old ECHO device, clicking it on with an incredible rendition of a near-full scale map of Pandora. “Pyrotech and Meowzer are bandit leaders that typically work out of the Dead Sands, but they wander Pandora quite a bit. Gained quite the following, too! No idea why they didn’t shoot me dead at first meeting, but... We’re cool now.

   “Finally, I know a man called Doc- Scott- over in the upper North. Got one of my bots and... Well, not sure of his entire medical history, but he fixes my glasses.” Rena tapped the wire frames on her face. “An optometrist and ophthalmologist all in one. So... Hey! If anyone else needs glasses, he’s a start. But, uh... If you need an actually useful doctor, I’ll hit him up and ask his full qualifications.” She’d understand if Rias had some, ah, concerns.

   ...Though it sinks in that Rias payed her a compliment and Rena looks up with surprise, blinking at her. Huh? What? Did she.....mean that? Might as well assume she did.

   “Oh... Um! Thanks. Yeah... Definitely the better decision I’ve made in my life.” There’s cogs turning in her head, but they stop when a...ball rolls in? A metal ball? What is-?

   Her eyes widen just so, lips parted as she stares at Gortys. It’s hard to pin any other emotion aside from shock...but tears gather in her eyes?! Rena puts her hands up, covering her mouth and nose. Oh my stars. That’s the cutest fucking droid she’s ever seen. Rena loathes crying in front of others, but Rias is so quickly forgotten in honor of Gortys.

“Yes that’s correct, it was me who made the decisions that lead to it happening. It was my fault and my mistake to correct, crashing Helios was the only way to do so in the end…” 

Rias wouldn’t hold it against her. Actually it was a refreshing change to see the reaction of surprise, well after the practical creepy levels of praise she had recieved from the others who had survived the crash, it was a welcome change to have this reaction to the news of who was the one who brought it all down. 

Maybe at a later date, or whenever Rena had questions, Rias would be open to answering them, about what happened but right now she had the job of getting the new employee settled, well she would have a job in mind for her. 

“Well Rena I’d like to offer you the position of head of Science, if you’d like to have that job?”  Yeah Rias sure liked to tinker and create, but science was something she wasn’t all that knowledgeable on. Having a person like Rena heading her science team was something she would be more than happy to take on, and in extension anyone Rena wanted on her team, she’d be happy to have them also. 

“With this position I shall also let you hand pick anyone you want for your team, I think I can trust your judgement, I know this might be an old Atlas Facility, but we have been making do here so far, Oh I should introduce you to the rest of the team here.” 

Well it wasn’t just her here, there was at least three other people here, though they were at least two of them helping in moving things and sorting them for the move to Promethea and away from Pandora, hopefully at least for Rias, for good. 

“Thank you Rena, It would be a pleasure to have you join us here, as long as you wish to.” 

   “It’s, uh... R&D. Research and Development. Not just Science,” she corrects, but that smile is finally showing through, eyes softening. This... This seems like it might be good for her, after all. Maybe good things can finally come from this? “But you’ve got the right idea.

   “...And yes, I’ll happily take the position. Thanks, boss.” She laughs a little at that, fully relaxing and placing her hands on her hips. A bit of that old confidence rising up, already excited to get back to work. Oh, man! This was! Definitely going to be good!!

   “I only know a few places to start...but if you need more guards, I can recommend you a bandit group I met. Rowdy, as all bandits are, but a tight-knit group all the same. Loyal.” Rena nods at this; at what, specifically, who knows.

   “I’ll meet people, but I’ll have you know...it’ll be awkward the whole way through.” Might as well be upfront about it. Rena does terribly with new people and if it hadn’t been obvious with the way she slunk in, it would become so soon enough, when Rias tried to introduce her around. You got the best scientist in the galaxies, not a people person!