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<span class="mu-b">“There…would be a bit of a catch, however.”</span> Edison continued. <span class="mu-b">“My reason for contacting you was almost entirely motivated by my desire to acquire funding and support for my research.”</span>
You leaned forward and rested an arm over your left knee. <span class="mu-r">“What kind of research?”</span>
The Inventor swung one leg over the other and began to bob it up and down as he spoke. <span class="mu-b">“You see, human beings are constantly producing a weak, electrical field, as well as a not insignificant amount of body heat. My goal is to harness that energy and put it to use by repurposing it as a power source. Now, this phenomenon is strongest with teenagers, but-”</span>
<span class="mu-g">“Hold up.”</span> Flint interrupted, pointing a thick finger at the hologram. <span class="mu-g">“You experimented on kids?”</span>
The Inventor held his hands up in a placating gesture. <span class="mu-b">“Rest assured. They were all volunteers. But if you think about it, this could solve the energy crisis that we’ve been facing as a species.”</span> he said, clearly including himself in that “human” descriptor. <span class="mu-b">“No more squabbling over oil, or worrying about our energy consumption’s severe impact on the environment! Families could get paid for their children’s contribution to maintaining a new global power grid, which would grant them benefits when they eventually grow too old to be of any real value to the grid. You see-”</span>
You held up a hand to shut him up before he rambled on any longer. There were some serious ethical and logistic issues with his plot, and you weren’t sure how comfortable you’d be with funding something that used kids as test subjects, but if he could at least convince you of his value as an inventor, then you might try to work out some sort of deal with the mad scientist.
<span class="mu-r">“We can save that discussion for later. Tell us a little about yourself. I want to know who I might be working with.”</span>
He gripped the armrests of his chair and took a breath for what felt like the first time since he’d started rambling. <span class="mu-b">“Alright. My name is Thomas Edison, I specialize in mechanical engineering and physics, but I have a very solid grasp on the fields of biology and chemistry. My expertise also extends to some of the more formal branches of science, such as mathematics and computer science.”</span>
He was speaking much more calmly now, so it was easier to keep up with what he was saying.
<span class="mu-b">“I have also made multiple modifications to my body and brain, reinforcing my previously brittle bones and adding built-in weaponry and equipment to further augment my abilities.”</span>
He demonstrated this by rolling up his sleeve and extending one of his arms, revealing the smooth, segmented chrome hidden under his feathers. His talons extended several inches as well, vibrating dangerously fast to the point where they began to shimmer on the holographic display.
You let out a sharp whistle, not afraid to admit that you were genuinely impressed by the display.
