Inception - Ascension Paradox, Book 1
Copyright© 2023 by L.R. Thornton
Chapter 11
The electric atmosphere buzzed as people ambled about the labyrinthine halls of Cobo Center. Jillian had already walked most of the floor where the VEX conference took place. She studied the numerous offerings by various companies, intrigued by some of the things she saw. Robotics clunked and lumbered all over the place. Most of them autonomous, some still controlled by operators.
She’d seen nothing that made them feel any less awkward about not having the words to turn down a hundred thousand dollars. They had gone on line. It seemed strange that no videos existed to such specificity. With all the information out there cramming up servers with gigabytes of useless trivia, one would imagine a video would exist about how to turn down lots of money.
However, she and Jack did learn how to write thank you letters for every occasion.
Jillian, after she did a once through, walked back to their booth, stopping by various media outlets along the way. The media personnel did obligatory interviews with most of the vendors there. They would use the interviews to spin a narrative and use up air time. Even those who had inquired politely had done so with one eye on the clock.
Very soon, the next time one of these people shoved a mike near her mouth, they’d be riveted to what she had to say
Which is why they should have already written a rejection speech!
“Why are you scowling so hard?”
Jillian started and found herself back in the booth, surrounded by the computers, wires, chairs, and other devices. Mark Berry stood above her, his brown eyes filled with amusement. “Something’s got you upset?”
“No, Mark,” Jillian grumbled, lips pursed. “I’m just ... irritated we don’t have a polite rejection speech ready.”
Mark laughed. It was a raspy sort of sound which she found comforting. She’d heard it many times in her life. “Well, some of the best speeches comes when you least suspect it.” He reached out to give her cheek a fatherly rub. “Don’t sweat it, Jill. Things have a way of working out.”
Her shoulders relaxed, the tension melting away. Mark always knew what to say. “You’re right, of course.”
He grinned. “I know.”
“How’s it looking out there?” Jack asked as he peeked from around their booth.
“Like we’re still going to have to figure out how to turn down a hundred thousand dollars.”
“Tech’s pretty amazing but still the same as before. Bells and whistles, new paint, but nothing to blow you out the water.”
“Snob,” he grinned.
“Well, she can’t help it.”
“You’re not supposed to agree with him, Mark.”
Mark grinned, the smile bright white against his dark skin. “Snob,” he repeated.
She rolled her eyes but allowed herself a small laugh. “Well, I do sound aristocratic but I can’t help it.”
“Have the judges arrived yet?” Jack asked as Mark went over to the wiring laid out on the floor.
Jillian lifted her shoulders and sat back in the temporary cubicle they had built to access her computer. “I think they’re all here but I’m not sure yet. The competition doesn’t begin until one o’clock.”
“So, like, a half hour.”
Fingers typing furiously on the keyboard, she pulled up the algorithms and checked once more. “Did you make sure about the aberration we found in—”
“Jill,” Jackson clasped his hand on her shoulder. “Calm down. Everything’s going to be fine. We’ll be on the map after this.”
She heaved a sigh and then patted his hand. “You’re right. She’s going to be sensational.”
Ten years of work lay on the line. They had to succeed.
“I hope he’s here,” she said, finding a brush in her purse to tame her curls one more time.
“Who?” Jackson asked, distractedly, eyeing his computer with a frown.
“Professor Lawton. Why are you staring at the computer like that?” She rushed over to him. “Is something wrong? Did—”
“Yeah!” He exclaimed.
Jillian groaned as she saw the animated character from an old 2d game jump up and down. “Very funny Jack.”
“You love me anyway,” he said, comically waggling his eyebrows.
She let loose a laugh and kissed his cheek. “Yes I do.”
“Excuse me.”
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