Chapter 34
1779 Words
Chapter 34 - Isa'ng Trait ng Magaling na Scientist ang Pagiging Paki-elamero
“Professor. It is time to wake up.”
“Mmm...”
“Wake up, we need to leave soon.”
“Hmm... gutom na `ko...”
“That’s why you need to wake up. Hurry up, your coffee is waiting for you.”
He sits up and places his head on my shoulder. I nozzle his hair and take in his scent of old clothes.
I guess I am getting fond of this musky scent that is unique to the professor.
“Hurry up and go the the toilet, I’ll wait for you down stairs.”
Ten minutes later, the professor has taken his morning cup and is busy packing the things he worked on through the weekend.
“Haay, kaya ayoko’ng umuuwi, eh, kailangan ko pa’ng dalin ang mga gamit pabalik sa opis!”
”You can stay here, if you wish to, I can talk to Dr. Gonzaga and tell him that you prefer to work at home,” I told him, “that way, I would no longer need to wake you up early each day.”
“Huh. Ginawa ko na `yan dati, nang bagong salta pa lang ako sa UL,” he muttered, “akalain mo ba namang pag-isipan ako na nag-uuwi ng equipment sa bahay?! As if naman wala ako’ng pambili?! Eh, mas magaganda pa nga equipment ko rito kesa sa opis nila noon!”
“If that is the case, then we better hurry before we get there any later. But first,” I went to the corner of the laboratory and pushed the fake shelf. “I need to get more pheromone samples from your DOME.”
“Ha? Nanaman?” he frowned at me, “Kagabi lang humingi ka na rin ng samples sa `kin, ha? Kahapon, semen ang hiningi mo, at nang isang araw naman pheromone at urine samples! Naubos na nga PPE’s ko dahil pabalik-balik ka, eh!”
“Of course. You know that I can only take fresh samples out, one at a time to make sure that they are in excellent condition. And I have become quite interested in your DOME. I have been comparing his samples with mine and have noticed several differences in our pheromones.”
“Is that so?” the professor asked with interest. “Sa paano’ng paraan?”
“Well, for starters, I have noticed that his calming pheromones are thinner than mine, then I remember you saying before that your DOME was not as good at controlling his calming pheromones as I was.”
“Yes, mas madalas n’yang tirahin ng matapang n’yang pheromones ang mga kalaban n’yang alpha, to the point of sending them on a coma, or even killing them on the spot.”
“Hmm, is that so?” I frown, “I do not believe I have ever sent an alpha in a coma, or killed one either... I guess it comes from the military training you said he recieved.”
“Bakit? Wala ka ba’ng kilalang ibang DOME na nakakagawa noon?”
“None.” I answered back. “It is something worth looking into, but for now, we are running late. Please open the door for me, professor.”
“Hmph!” he went to the hidden doorway. “Mamaya nga pag-uwi natin, paalala mo `tong lock, ha? Ipo-program ko na sa `yo para `di ka maya’t-maya nagpapabukas sa `kin.”
“Thank you professor.” I answered back.
I excused myself as soon as we reached the Universal Laboratory building. I told the professor that I was going to discuss something with the accounting division. He simply waved me away with a bored look in his face.
I made my way to the top floor of the east wing.
The main building of Universal Laboratories have two towers. The west wing is the alpha division with its 80 floors that is dedicated mainly to alpha research. Most of the people working here are alphas, particularly those in the Alpha Research program. It also houses the developmental teams that caters to the creation of other types of medicine.
The east wing, on the other hand, is mainly occupied by beta and omega researchers. The Omega Research teams head by Prof. Antonio are located from the 35th to the 70th floors. The lower floors are for other divisions like accounting and marketing, while the ones on top are corporate rooms for the CEO and other high ranking personnele. That is how small the omega research division is.
“I am here to talk with Dr. Gonzaga.” I told his secretary when I reached the 79th floor. “I made an appointment yesterday.”
“Yes sir, Dr. Abdel, please go right in.”
I closed the door behind me and saw Dr. Gonzaga stand from behind his desk.
“Dr. Abdel, welcome, please take a seat.”
I went closer and sat on the chair in front of his desk.
“Dr. Gonzaga, I know you are a busy man, so let me get straight to the point,” I told him. “I would like to take Prof. Antonio back with me to UACME.”
“Prof. Antonio?” his eyebrows rose, “Well, as a representative of your country’s Universal Laboratory branch, you do have the right to scout and recommend him to your superiors,” he said, “but that depends upon the professor. I believe he has family here that he‘s reluctant to leave behind.”
“Yes, I am aware of that,” I answered, “but I know that there is another reason why he cannot leave.”
“Has the professor told you what that reason is?” he asked, cautiously.
“As a matter of fact, he did,” I smiled at him. “I think you know which department I came from, back in Universal Laboratories UACME. The sole purpose I had for visiting this country is to scout the professor. But just recently, I found out that there is something else holding him back.”
The doctor looked away.
“I am afraid I am not authorized to talk about this.”
“Then who is?” I asked.
“I am not authorized to answer that either.” he replied.
“Then please tell who ever is authorized to contact me,” I said, standing up. “Tell him that I will take the professor with me no matter what.”
I left the doctor’s office and went to our laboratory on the 68th floor.
“Habibi! Sa wakas, umakyat ka rin, pagawa nga ako ng kape, pampagising,” the professor greeted me as soon at I entered his workstation. “Pakuha na rin ako ng matamis na p’wede ko’ng mangatngat.”
I went to the pantry, taking his patched-up mug with me, and made him coffee. I found some chocolate covered pretzels for him to munch on and brought a handful in a bowl.
“Will there be anything else, professor?” I asked.
“Wala na. Salamat,” he said, closing the door to his station.
I went to my preffered workstation. It was right next to the professor’s, and was the second largest in the floor. I took out the pheromones I brought from the professor’s secret room and labelled it `volatile pheromones’, then placed it in my personal storage for later use.
I have learned quite a lot about the professor’s past DOME. I know that he was 20 when the latest samples were taken about two years ago, so he would be at least 22 years old today. He was slightly underweight, and has a sweet tooth, based on the level of blood glucose in his samples. Other than that, he is quite healthy.
I was about to start my work when I heard someone tapping on my door.
“Prof. Abdel,” Pedro called, popping his head inside my room, “Pinapatawag po kayo ni Dr. Gregorio.”
So, the ring leader finally decides to reveal himself.
“I am on my way.”
“Saan ka pupunta?” the professor steps out of his station.
“Pinapatawag po s’ya ni Dr. Gregorio.” said Pedro.
“Bakit?”
“May message daw po galing UACME main branch.”
“Hm. Cge, sama na `ko sa `yo,” said, the professor, bringing the bowl of pretzels along.
“What for?” I asked him.
“`La lang, nababato lang ako.”
“Suit yourself.”
We went our way to the higher floors. Dr. Gregorio’s office is on the 78th floor, just one floor below Dr. Gonzaga’s. He shares the floor with Dr. Francisco who is head of HR and public relations.
“So, ano ba’ng ginawa mo?” the professor asked while inside the elevator.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Kanina, nagpunta ka sa accounting, ngayon pinatawag ka ni Grinch. Pinaalam mo ba sa kanila na one fourth na lang ang natira sa pondo natin?” he whispered. “Nagalit ba ang accounting?”
“Not really,” I told him.
Actually, I have already sent our expenditures to their department a week ago. They did not seem to mind.
“Hmm... ba’t ka naman ipapatawag ni Grinch? Since s’ya ang head ng accounting and finance, naisip ko baka sesermonan n’ya tayo...”
“Actually, Dr. Grogorio specifically asked for me only,” I reminded him.
“Oo nga, may message ka raw galing sa inyo... `di kaya sinumbong ka ni Hitler kaya sila nagparamdam?”
“I highly doubt it,” I replied as we stepped out of the elevator. “Dr. Heathlow is currently under probation and is at risk of loosing his job. Our branch does not care about him.”
“Hmph. May punto ka. Baka naman pinauuwi ka na dahil paso na ang passport mo?”
“My passport is good for 6 months, professor,” I informed him.
“Eh, bakit ka nga pinapatawag?” he frowned.
“Professor, I just realized that you are a very nosey person.”
“Op kors!” he said, “isa `yang trait ng magaling na scientist – ang maging matanong at paki-elamero! Mas nakakagulat na ngayon mo lang `yan nalaman.”
- Writer
