Intern at S.T.A.R. Labs

Mrs. Powel , the personification of elegance, beauty incarnate, long black hair tied in a bun, suit with white shirt, tight skirt till the knees revealing just enough with child bearing hips, walking with high heels , style and sophisticated, beautiful and business. Her spectacles resting on a slender nose covering eyes which could allure anyone who stared at them for too long. Lashes which could flap like wimgs of an angel, lips so delicate even a feather could harm them but wouldn't dare. Not a hint of her age on her face, a goddess on earth , some might compare her to Hellen of Troy. While besides her is our protgonist.

Prancing happily at the thought of meeting his idol, Dr. Wells. The nervous wreck who barely could get a few words to her was now smiling like an idiot walking with her. She held back a chuckle but a smile spread across her face. That feeling of being ignored felt comforting for her, she for better or worse always felt the center of attention, so she did everything in her power to hide that beauty, bland clothes, rough corporate speak, cold attitude , but within a few conversations with him she felt.. different. She couldn't pinpoint that feeling just yet. It felt like she was--

" –on cloud nine".

" Huh, sorry?" Mrs. Powel was distracted in her thoughts and taken aback by Adrain's sudden comment. As if he had read her mind.

" I said I'm on cloud nine. I get to meet him and talk to you in the same day." Adrian spoke with zero filter as his brain is overloaded with the thought of his idol, enough that he didn't notice his words left a smile and a faint blush on her cheeks.

They walk in to the room, it was big enough to cause their first steps to echo throughout. Awards , newspapers framed , photos and some fancy paintings; is what you would expect the room of a CEO of a reknowned scientific establishment to look like,but no. The walls were white and dark grey, blinds on a large window half drawn letting in barely enough sun to light up the room, lights in the ceiling giving off dull blueish white rays, a vinyl record player on a small table besides the only single sofa on the side, above it a large portrait painting which was the only piece of decoration and the man himself sitting behind a slightly big desk on a padded chair. Some may call it minimalistic and humble others may call it dull and lifeless.

Upon walking a bit further they notice a few more details, the wrinkles on his face, his eyes twitching as he types something maybe unpleasant, not a bead of lint on his black sweatshirt, a dvd of "Back to the Future 2" and a photo-frame. He hasn't spoken a single word since allowing them through the door, Adrian stayed shut as Mrs. Powel didn't say anything either. A whole minute has passed and not a single word has been spoken. Adrian worried about seniority of command didn't say anything , to distract himself he stared at the only other thing in the room, the painting.

'Looks old, some Michelangelo type shit , lot of warriors and horses and spears. They really didn't have much to do back then huh' the views of a modern day kid who clearly didn't pay much attention during history class. Soemthing about the painting drew him so he tried walking closer to it only to be immediately grabbed by Mrs. Powel, her eyes still fixed onto Dr. Wells.

"Like the painting?" The words that finally broke the silence came from Dr.Wells who finally seemed to have taken a break from his work.

"Oh, Dr. Wells! I didn't mean to get distracted. It's just... I don't know much about art, but this one... it's like it's pulling me in. It's so... intense" Adrian startled by the sudden voice replies hesitantly.

"Intense, yes. But there's more to it than chaos. It's a story—a warning. Do you know what it's about?" Dr.Wells asked with a smirk.

"Not really. I mean, I see angels and monsters, but I don't get the bigger picture." Adrian replies non chalantly.

"It's called The Fall of the Rebel Angels. It depicts the moment when Lucifer and his followers were cast out of heaven. A rebellion against divine order. A fight for power, for freedom and a catastrophic failure." Mrs. Powell responds with the information.

"Thank You Rosalind, after all you were the one who curated it for me. Always quick with the answers." Dr.Wells said in low chilly tone. Mrs. Powel nods.

"A failure? But the angels look strong enough to win, aren't they also blessed by God?" Adrian questions.

"Appearances can be deceiving. The rebels were powerful, yes. Brilliant, even. But they underestimated the forces aligned against them. They reached too high, too fast, and paid the price."

"So it's about... ambition? And the consequences of going too far?"

"Precisely. But it's also about defiance. The rebels didn't simply accept their place in the hierarchy. They challenged it. They believed they could reshape the world according to their own vision. Tell me,... do you think they were wrong to try?"

"Dunno. I mean .. sir, if they were fighting for something they believed in... maybe it wasn't entirely wrong. But if it caused so much destruction..."

"Destruction is often the price of progress. Think about the world we live in today. Every great leap forward,every revolution in science, technology, even society, has been born from someone challenging the status quo. Someone who refused to accept the limits imposed on them. Even we here are trying to bring the future of 10 years to tomorrow." Dr. wells Seemed angered now.

"I guess that's true. But... isn't there a line? A point where ambition becomes... dangerous? Isnt what we do here for the betterment of people and not just our quest of of the future?"

"Ah, the eternal question. Where is the line? Who gets to draw it? The rebels in this painting were condemned for crossing a line they didn't believe in. But what if they were right? What if the system they fought against was flawed, corrupt, or unjust?"

"I... I don't know. I've never thought about it like that."

Dr.wElls leaning closer, his voice dropping "Most people don't. They accept the world as it is, never questioning the rules, never daring to imagine something greater. But the rebels... they saw the cracks in the system. They saw the potential for something more. And they were willing to risk everything to achieve it."

"Do you think they were the rightfull heroes, then?"

"Heroes? No. Heroes are bound by morality, by the need to be 'liked'. The rebels were something else entirely. They were visionaries. They understood that true change requires sacrifice.Even if the rebels were to do good the heroes were the only ones that get praise. Sometimes, you have to break the rules... or even break the world... to rebuild it."

"Do you think that's possible? That they were... misunderstood?" Adrian curious about Dr. Wells opinion.

"I don't think it, son. I KNOW it. Because I've seen what happens when the so-called 'right thing' becomes a prison. When the rules are designed to keep the brilliant in chains. And I've learned that sometimes, the only way to break free... is to burn it all down."

"Dr. Wells!" Her voice louder than before but still soft breaking the both of them out of the argument. Dr. Wells turns slowly and looks at her.

"Yes, Rosalind?" He says in his low eery voice, his words hiding his anger in a cold smile.

"I was here to remind you of the gala tomorrow. It is important for us to talk to the investors and hopefully get in talks with Mercury Labs for help in future projects. We need to pick your suit for tomorrow and since Mr. Rathaway isn't joining us I will have to sub in".

" Hartley's not coming? Then again galas were never his thing ." Dr. Wells sighed and looked out the window. After a few moments another silence fell as Dr. Wells stood there by the window. Suddenly he turns around and points to Adrian.

" You, you're the new hire right?" Wells asks Adrian.

" Yes , he is the newest of interns, currently stationed in the fabrication department, also he needed this form signed—"

"Rosalind! I was talking to the young man over here. I'm sure he doesn't need mommy to speak for him." Wells smiles as he interrupted Mrs. Powel and looks back at Adrian.

"No- No sir. My name is Adrian , Adrian Brown." Adrian stuttering now, confused , angry, scared and a lot more.

" Good, he'll accompany you. Both of you will attend the gala tomorrow." Dr. Wells goes back to his seat.

" But , sir! This is an important event for the company you have to be there. Wh-what about the deal with Mercury Labs?" Mrs. Powel sounding genuinely worried and frustrated by this wish wash behaviour.

"Right as you entered I was in a tough deal with Tina, her demands were .. challenging but the deal is set. The gala now is just for upholding the image and saying a few nice words. You two did an interview together, you'll do just fine. Dismissed". DR. Wells now going back to his chair facing away.

" Sir, if you could please reconsider –"

" I said Dismissed Rosalind, please don't make me repeat myself." Wells still facing away as Mrs. Powel reaches his table.

" This is a sanction form requiring your permission for ordering some parts, please sign it at your earliest convenience." She said in a defeated tone.

" I will."

They both walk out, changed . Quite the rollercoaster of emotions.