*Content Warning: Depiction of firearms in illustration and moment of gunfire at the end of the episode.*
Back down the hall, Lance reached his table. When he stopped, he promptly face-palmed himself.
“You idiot...” he scolded himself.
“You didn’t tell her your name!”
“Didn’t tell who your name?” asked Adam as he overheard Lance and came across from his table.
“One of the newer students,” answered Lance.
“Her name is Melody. She’s mostly been hanging around Noel since she came to NAU.
"Dude, did you ask her out?” pried Adam with a mischievous smirk.
“We just met!” exclaimed Lance. He then toned down a bit. “But sort of... I invited her to join us all later tonight.”
“Close enough!” said Adam as he slapped Lance on the back. “Oh, you’ll never guess who I met while you were gone!”
“Was she gorgeous?” asked Lance slyly, trying to get back at his friend.
“I’m sure that if you made such a comment to him that he wouldn’t appreciate it,” laughed Adam. “No, it was Dr. Julius Mythos.”
“The geneticist? I’ve heard of him,” said Lance.
“The very one. He seemed interested in my project.”
“I saw someone we should know myself,” mentioned Lance.
“I feel like he is famous for something, but I couldn’t put my finger on a name or where I’ve seen him. Didn’t talk, just noticed him in the parking lot.”
His pondering was interrupted by a brief high-pitched beep, signifying that the overhead speakers had been activated.
“Attention everyone,” spoke Mrs. Brown’s voice through the sound system. “May we please have everyone to the central events room? President Knight will be giving the opening talk and announcements in five minutes.”
Lance checked the time on his watch.
“That time already?
The two friends followed the mass flow of people as everyone headed to the huge auditorium in the center of the complex. For events such as this, there was no expense spared to accommodate: the chairs and risers all folded either into the walls or the floor to make space for tables or simply to open up the space. Lance and Adam filed in with the crowd, soon finding Noel and Scott once again. Moving between tables and displays, the audience settled in, but far from settled down as the anticipation grew.
“Where have you guys been?” Adam asked their friends.
“We walked through the entire hall around the auditorium before they called everyone in,” said Scott, almost having to yell because of the noise around them.
Lance scanned the crowd, spotting several other friends and classmates. He continued to look about until he saw Melody, who was a good distance away amidst the crowd. She caught his gaze and smiled at him. He smiled back but was suddenly caught off guard by a quick bump to his chest.
He looked to his right to see Noel looking up at him innocently, being a head shorter than he.
“What was that for?” he asked his obviously guilt friend.
“I saw what you were doing,” she stated with an authoritative tone. She then smiled. “And I must tell you that she is very nice.”
“Who? Melody?” asked Lance.
“No, the other new girl that you were just staring at...” said Noel with a roll of her eyes.
Lance gently nudged her in response.
“Okay, yes, I met her,” he admitted. “But you’re not that innocent yourself, young lady. You failed to invite her to our get-together tonight.”
“Well, you certainly beat me to it, mister!” retorted Noel, playfully putting her hands on her hips. “But as a matter-of-fact that was the idea,” she added with a twinkle in her eye. “I was going to bring her around later to get you to talk to her.”
“What???” asked Lance. “Are you trying to set me up or something?”
Noel simply smiled, then looked forward as an applause rippled from the front, catching on like as if contagious to all around.
Lance looked forward to see N.A.U.’s president, Robert Knight, making his way up the stairs to the podium. Knight gave a slight wave at the top of the stairs, then spoke when he reached the mic at the podium.
“Thank you all for coming to this momentous event, our first ever Science and Arts Expo here at New Atlantis University! As you know, and may have noticed by the banners we hung up this year...”
He briefly gestured to a banner which resided across the platform above his head which read: “Science: The Engine Which Propels the Future!”
“... science and technologies are a huge focus here. We do offer a wide variety of course options, and technically the term ‘science’ is very broad in and of itself, but we do push in those areas most. This being the tenth year of N.A.U.’s operation, we got together with several of our original founders and came up with something special! But rather than hearing it from me, I’ll turn it over to one of our biggest investors, the CEO of Midas Corp., and a very close friend of mine, please welcome Mr. Bartholomew Midas!”
With that, Knight began clapping, all others in the room following suite as a man clearly up in his years came across the platform. He wore a fancy white suit and walked with a fancy cane, but it was clear to see that it was more of an accessory than to assist movement. Mr. Midas approached Knight with an extended hand, but rather than shaking hands he pulled him close for a half-embrace between close friends. Bartholomew Midas stood in front of the mic, yet remained silent for a moment, taking in the sight of the audience.
“Wow!” he stated simply as he adjusted his round-rimmed glasses. “Ten years already?”
He turned briefly to the president standing to the side.
“Has it really been ten years?” Midas asked again.
President Knight simply smiled and nodded.
“Wow... So many people! Welcome! It is so good to see each and every one of you! As my good friend, your university president Knight here said, I am Bartholomew Midas.”
“Since the founding of this wonderful institution, and even since that of New Atlantis, Midas Corp has invested a good bulk of our donations and resources into what we consider the future of science and technology: not just the future for Midas Corp, but for that of the entire world. To cut to the chase, this day is very important to us all, as big things are ahead for each and every one of us. Therefore, in honor of the tenth year of New Atlantis University, the winners in the judging for certain fields of the expo will be granted a scholarship to continue their studies here AND will also have a paid summer internship at Midas Corp in the department of their choosing!”
An excited murmur rippled through the audience at hearing this.
“Now I’ve gone through and have seen quite a few of the projects many of you have spent countless hours to complete. I must say it may be tough to decide which is best, as everyone has presented very good ideas and all deserve a chance,” mentioned Midas.
“In other words, good luck to you all!”
Once again, an applause erupted through the crowd. President Knight stepped up again, shaking hands with Midas.
“Thank you so much, Bartholomew,” he said. “So, there you have it, folks! We will be going around soon for the judging. Mr. Midas, his secretary, Miss Jade, Mrs. Brown, and I will make up the judging panel, which will begin shortly after we finish up here.”
Before the president could say any more, the bark of a gunshot rang out from the back of the room.
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