Recruitment

Vanessa made it halfway up the driveway when a sudden and garbled voice from the backyard caught her attention as she made her way towards the side of the house. She couldn't hear the words entirely, but she could tell the voice was Oliver's and a soft smile appeared on her face. Stopping in her tracks she looked at the wooden gate when a thought crossed her mind, "Should I pretend to have a valid reason for coming over instead of just barging in and annoying him. Do I have anything that needs to be fixed…oh I could break my phone and see if he could fix it up for me, but that is crazy."

A smirk appears on her face as she pulls out her phone and places it in front of her, jumping directly onto it, which stuns the two boys looking out at her from the mailbox. She turns to them shooting off a wide grin and puts up her phone before turning to the gate and walking towards it. "That will have to do." Vanessa presses her hand on the gate as a warmth radiating from it causes her to smile softly, and for a moment she stands there until she pushes through and makes her way towards the backyard. Crossing the gate felt like walking into an outdoor lab, but the biggest difference was how much time and care was given to the backyard compared to the front of the house. Tables were spread out all over the yard but placed in a way that made the bench Oliver and the woman were sitting at the main focus of the yard. All along the tables were tools of different shapes and sizes, blueprints for different designs, devices she's never seen before, on opposite ends of the backyard are two generators, and at the table he's currently at Oliver is tinkering with the small device and tools all around him. Her eyes scanned each and every one as a thought pushed past all the others causing a huge smile to cross her lips. "Maybe he hasn't given up entirely."

She looked at the woman sitting there with Oliver and noticed something off about her, something artificial as a thought flashed across her mind. 'It's the A.I. Eli has been telling me about, he created a moveable body that is nearly discernible from a real person in order to house the matrix. Amazing.'

Her eyes drifted to Oliver's as he is hard at work with the machine while simultaneously having a conversation with the woman. She looked at his back that looked so small as he was leaving the park but now seems to be giving off a powerful, unwavering, and confident aura that made her excited for what the future could hold. 'He seems different. Staring at his back it felt like one we could all pin our hopes on just like he said. Oliver Watson, you are the one I have been searching for.'

"Who does he think he is, Tor? We haven't hung out in over 2 years and the moment we do he has the nerve to ambush me with an enrollment form and some girl to make me change my mind. A pretty face is not going to make me change my mind." Vanessa blushes slightly at the compliment as she quickly darts behind the trash can hoping not to be seen while Tor's face has a mischievous look on it. Oliver's hands haven't stopped moving since she first appeared in the backyard. They appear to be moving quickly and without care, but the more she looks she can see the careful and precise movements he is making like he knows what the next move is before the current one is already finished. "Incredible. I can see what Elijah meant when he said the machines seem to speak to him."

"So the girl was pretty, Master Watson? That's a strange thing for you to say." Tor says in a playful manner.

Oliver, unfazed by the question, placed the tool he was using away and looked around for a new one picking it up and continued working and talking seamlessly without missing a beat. "Yes she was, but that's not the point Tor. Are you even listening to me, and I thought I told you to stop calling me that, Ollie or Oliver are perfectly fine. Elijah knows better than anyone that I'm not emotionally capable of going to school again, but I guess he still hasn't given up on me. You know what I'm like Tor, it's not that I'm against going or anything like that but where I'm at right now it's just not possible for me. I know I messed up leaving like that and he is my best-friend, but still that was underhanded right?" 

Tor looks at him softly trying to find the correct words to tell him and also trying to take in everything she's hearing as Vanessa is sitting on the other side of the trash blushing lightly listening to him compliment her again so openly. Tor reaches out and grabs his hands softly, the tool and machine in his hands pressed into the table, "Mas…Ollie, I love you like family, but I genuinely think it would be good for you to get back out there and join the real world again. You have too much to offer the world to be stuck here with me slowly killing yourself. Mr. Wylan mentioned if you help him this one time you could be done with that dirty business of his for good, why don't you take him up on the offer? You were extremely rude to him this morning because you stayed up all night working on this device, but you tossed away his concern like it didn't matter. It would be good for you to get out there and maybe rekindle your love for robotics again, because the last time I saw you genuinely happy was when you were working on this body for me. Don't get me wrong, you're a genius when it comes to these devices like your parents, but your work on robots is unmatched even by professional standards. It's just you seem to want to give up before you can even begin to have a life? How is that okay, sir? I know you and I know this world deserves to have you back out there in the field, because who else would challenge the status quo. I'm sure Mr. Andrews agrees with me, and that's why he did what he did today. He knows better than anyone how much pain you're in, because he watched you nearly drown in work to the point of exhaustion, dehydration, and starvation during that first year. Did you even give him the chance to talk to you or did you do that thing you always do and flash your intelligence and walk away hoping he got the message? I'm sure above anything else he has your best interest at heart."

Oliver sighs heavily pulling himself free from Tor's grip and looking at his gloved hands shaking heavily. He pulls off the gloves and looks at the scars running up his fingers to the middle of his forearm snaking their way up. "Tor, if I could I would rush back into that cellar and build until my heart explodes, but these markings are a reminder of everything I lost in there and all the pain I went through trying to bring them back. I nearly killed myself trying to rebuild the device they made in hopes they would walk right back out and into my life, but no, all I have are these reminders up my arm and the images of their scorch marks in my mind every single day. I--"

Listening intently with tears in her eyes Vanessa tried her best to stay still but she leaned a little too far dropping the trash can with a loud thud surprising her and the two sitting at the bench. Her hands shot up to her mouth and the two of them looked at her deeply reddened face as she stared back at them trying to figure out what to do. Too stunned to speak or move Oliver just stared at her and as Tor was about to say something Vanessa pulled out her crushed phone from her pocket. "I'm sorry for barging in on you too like this, but I was hoping to get your help with something before I left back to New York. I was going to talk the moment I stepped back here but I got nervous and then I started listening to you two talk and then it got to a point where it was too personal for me to make my way in. My phone is broken, it fell while I was leaving the park earlier and Elijah said you were the best person to ask about getting it fixed, so we came here."

Oliver is doing the best he can to catch his breath as his chest feels tight and his hands haven't stopped shaking. Her sudden appearance in his backyard caught him off guard and his bare scarred hands out in the open caused his breathing to stagger. 'W-what the hell!? What the actual hell!? Wh-why is she here? What will she think of the scars? Can she see them? Sh-should I run? No I can't do that, it would be pointless. Maybe just stay silent and hope she leaves, but that look in her eyes is strong. She reminds me of myself years ago. Tor, help me. Elijah, please. Mom, Dad. Think. Think. Shit. For the first time in my life my mind is blank. I really am stuck.'

Vanessa can see the fear in Oliver's eyes as she drops her hands taking a few steps back knocking over a few potted plants which startles him. Her eyes dart to the scarred hands as a look of shock and sympathy wash over her causing him to flinch and his eyes grow colder and darker breaking her heart a little. "I-I am so sorry. This was so stupid. I shouldn't be here at all. I-I-I'm just going to leave. I'm sorry."

Oliver shoves his hands into the pockets of the coat he's wearing causing Vanessa to feel horrible about the look on her face as he looks at her and the image of her sitting in front of him with a worried look on her face at the park flashes in his head, calming him. She reaches out but stops herself as he tries to say something, but the only thing or sound he could mutter was a single word. "Don't."

Once the word left his mouth a sense of relief fills him, and Vanessa has a bewildered look on her face while Tor who was looking on not saying a word has a mildly surprised look on hers as the word stops them in their places. She looks at him trying to figure out if she heard him correctly while Oliver is trying to figure that out for himself. 'Don't? Did I just say that? Why would I ruin the best chance I had of getting rid of her? I do want her to leave, right?'

Oliver feels his hands shaking softly as his chest starts to feel lighter and he hears Tor attempting to interject, but Oliver puts his hand up to her. "I thi…"

His breathing seems to steady with every second that goes by, and his mind starts to get cloudy as he struggles to say, "I...got this Tor. Please don't go."

Tor looks at him softly and back at the girl with a happy look on her face as a sudden realization crosses her mind, "Oh, this must be the girl from the park. She really is pret.."

Vanessa's ears get a little red as Oliver turns around quickly stopping the sentence from finishing causing Tor to smile at him and stand up abruptly. "I understand Ollie, I will leave you too to talk. Does lemonade sound good for the two of you?"

Oliver nods softly, as Tor looks at Vanessa directly causing her to nod just as softly, before turning away and walking inside the house. Oliver's dark and hardened blue eyes cause her to tense up but she builds up the courage to walk over to the bench where he's at and sit on the spot Tor had just left. He takes a deep breath pulling on his gloves and finding the courage and the words before saying, "I am sorry for causing you to freak out a moment ago, you just surprised us." 

She smiles softly reaching out and gripping his hands again causing his face to redden slightly, "No, I am the one that needs to apologize for coming over unannounced. Let me introduce myself. I am Vanessa Davis but most of the time people call me Van or Ness. I am the Manager of the Robotics Club at Elextrian Academy, and I came here to speak with you directly. Although since you already gave me your answer I was hoping you could fix my phone for me before I left.

She shoots out her right hand as Oliver looks her in the eyes and places his hands on the table; his index finger is fidgeting slightly, but ultimately decides to reach out and shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you Ms. Davis, and I'm sure you know my name is Oliver Watson. I have this tendency to push everyone away because it just makes things so much easier for me, but since you helped me at the park I think I could fix your phone for you. 

She takes a deep breath and pulls out her phone from her pocket and places it on the table in front of them as Oliver gives it a once over and a smile appears on his face and he starts laughing genuinely for the first time in a long time. Tor looks from the window with a smirk on her face as she goes back to making the lemonade and Vanessa looks at him curiously. "Uh, why are you laughing like that Mr. Watson? Did I do something funny?"

Oliver tries to stop laughing but when he looks back down at the phone again he looses it and starts laughing again."I-I'm sorry for this, but it's been a while since anything has genuinely made me laugh like this. I just think I figured out your problem. It would seem you might have jumped on it a couple times which usually leads to a broken phone." 

Her eyes are trained on him trying to figure out how he knew she had jumped on it in order to create a reason for her to have come here, but when she looks down at the phone she notices the faint outline of a red shoe print from the dirt that is outside the gate. Her face flushes a deep crimson trying to come up with a valid reason she would have stepped on it, but something boils up inside her and she bursts out laughing just like Oliver. "Oh my god, I'm so embarrassed. I must seem like a crazy person right now, but I swear I only meant well. I didn't have an actual reason…" 

Oliver smiles softly as he shakes his hands in front of her to try and calm her down, "Ms. Davis, if you went through all this trouble to come and see me and on top of that destroyed your phone just for a simple conversation I guess I should at least hear you out. I can't promise anything will happen, but I will give you my full attention until you finish your spiel."

Vanessa tries to hide her embarrassment, but smiles widely at his willingness to hear her out. She takes a deep breath trying to collect her thoughts as Oliver watches her intently, his eyes fully on her which makes her more nervous, "Uh, where to begin. Recently the robotics club suffered a humiliating defeat during the preliminary round that cost the school upwards of 3.5 million dollars, and the student council is on the verge of closing down the club. Nearly the entire team has quit in solidarity because the current captain was expelled for making a bet with the rival school and allowing them to take our machine after the loss. I was struggling for the past few weeks trying to figure out the best way to recoup our losses and when I was close to giving up Elijah told me all about you. He described you as this unparalleled genius who has a complete understanding of robotics as if the machines were talking to you directly. He told me that if anyone is worth betting everything on, it was you. I know that if you were to join the club you could give the 5 Monarchs of New York a run for their money."

She notices that his once cold and distant eyes have a slight light running through them which causes her to smile as they are focused on her. Oliver's love and respect for robotics is starting to show across his face as he does everything he can to hold it back. He takes a deep breath and says with complete conviction, "The 5 Monarchs? Who are they?"

Vanessa looks at him with a mischievous smile as she says, "Well, in New York there are 5 schools that stand at the forefront of the Robotic Scholastic League, and within those schools are the 5 seniors who lead them there. Elizabeth Drake from STEM High, Ryan Baxter from Armstrong Academy, Crystal De La Garza from Orion High, Jack O'Brien from Litrial Academy, and the undisputed Monarch Wyatt Anderson from Rancin Academy. Those are the 5 Monarchs."

Olive's blood starts pumping faster which makes him smile as a shock shoots up his back. He does everything he can to hold back the part of him that loved being around other kids like him but images of the scorch mark and the aftermath flood his mind, causing his eyes to dim and the smile is locked away again. "If these Monarchs are as good as you say, then why waste your time on some random nobody like me? I'm just some kid from Chicago who dropped out of school and gave up on himself and his dreams, so I apologize but I think you have the wrong guy."

She looks at him softly understanding what Elijah was talking about as she says, "You really believe that don't you? Oh, you really are an idiot. I was watching you work on this device right here not missing a beat while simultaneously having a conversation and from what I could tell you were just going through the motions and not taking it seriously."

Oliver's eyes darken as he slams his hands on the table, "Don't ever say that. I take each and every thing I do seriously. I would never treat my creations like they were nothing."

Vanessa jumped a bit, but a smirk formed on her face as she looked him deeply in the eyes. "You truly believe that don't you, but we both know that's just a lie. If you truly cared about robotics as much as you say then why are you sitting out here and not in the lab? I don't say this about anyone but you are truly one of a kind, and if you gave it your all then nothing could stand in your way. Eli believes you can be so much more and honestly that kind of belief makes me believe in you too, because we both know he's no idiot.

Oliver looks at her intently as he takes a deep breath before getting up slowly and making his way over to the desk behind them. He opens up the middle drawer, pulls out a black metal box, and places it in front of her his eyes watery as he struggles to look at it for too long. "Look, I appreciate your words, but to me they will only ever be just words. I find some value that you feel like I would be a good fit for your team but I can't do it. You came all the way out here so I guess I should give you a valid reason, and in that box is my reason."

Oliver sits down, his eyes looking at anything but the box as he places his palm over it causing the side to light up a bright teal color. " I have only ever shown two people what's in this box and one of them is an android, but something about you makes me feel like it's okay to have you look inside. It could be the kindness in your eyes that makes me want to trust you."

Her hands slowly grip the sides of the box as she runs her fingers over the sides of it before looking up at him and understanding the weight of what's inside the box. "Are you sure you want to show me, I'm just some stranger?"

"Open." Oliver ignored her question.

The box opens at his words and inside are burnt and broken pieces of metal spread throughout the box. She reaches in and picks up a piece as she begins to study it, her eyes start to get watery from the emotions connected to the pieces. "I didn't tell you this because I wanted your sympathy Ms. Davis, but because you deserve an answer. The moment of the accident everything in my life went dull, and for a while I drowned myself in my work trying to bring them back but to no avail and I nearly killed myself in the process. I gave up on myself, people, and a future because it's not fair for me to have one when they lost theirs. I hope you can understand even a little why I can't join you at Elextrian, but under different circumstances I would."

Vanessa looks up at him, tears streaming down her face as the piece falls from her hands back into the box. Without a single moment of hesitation she gets up and walks over to him and wraps her arms around him tightly, which made me stiffen up, unable to move or speak. "I'm sorry you have had to deal with this all alone. No one deserves to live with this kind of pain. I could never hope to understand what you're struggling with, but I need to make sure you understand you don't have to live with the pain forever."

Oliver brings his hands up to his face and feels tears streaming down his cheeks, but still unable to say anything she lets go of him and walks over to a different set of tables studying the tools and pieces littered all along it. "I feel like an idiot for trying to force my own problems on you, again I'm sorry. Would it be at all rude for me to ask what happened that night?"

He still hasn't moved an inch as the tears are still sliding down his cheeks his mind and heart are clouded from the events of that night when something brings him back to reality. Two voices are making their way through the back gate as Elijah and Tyler make their way in. Tyler walks over to Vanessa who is still looking at Oliver and says, "Hey baby, is everything okay?"

He looks over at Oliver who has tears lining his cheeks and says, "Woah, what's with the tension? Did someone die?"

Oliver shoots a quick look at Tyler, anger, pain, and loss plastered on his face causing them all to stop in place as he says, "I think you should all leave. Elijah, I am glad to see you were able to make some friends, but I am extremely busy. Ms. Davis, it was nice meeting you, but I don't think I am the right fit for your school. The other, you seem like a nice guy, but you need to learn to read a room before you open your mouth or else someone will close it for you. Tor, cancel the lemonade and get out here we have work to do."

"Uh..are you sure?" Tor says from the watch.

"Yes." The words came out sharp like a knife.

"What did you say you little hermit?" Tyler exclaims anger tinged in his voice.

Tyler clenches his hand as Elijah grabs his wrist and pulls him away shaking his head. They slowly make their way to the door as Vanessa is still standing where she was just watching Oliver work as Tyler calls out to her, "Babe, what's up he already said he won't come, so let's go. He's pissing me off anyway, let's get our stuff from Eli's."

Elijah leaves the packet on the table as he makes his way up to the gate, but notices Vanessa walk over to Oliver as she notices his hand come up to his eye and rub. She places her hand on a cube sitting at the table and accidentally presses the button creating a clear oval space surrounding them. Surprised by the sudden shielding she exclaims, "Woah, what the hell?! Oliver, what is this place? It's so weird in here."

Oliver looks around trying to hide the face he is crying and then looks at the cube in her hand, "Oh, I see you pressed the power button by accident. It's a device I created called a magnification cube. It creates a perimeter where the laws of space blend together. I use it to fluctuate the size of materials and things I am working on to make it easier to handle."

He starts to stretch and minimize some things that were on the table, and then starts working on the device in his hands again. "You see, when something is too small for me to get a good look at like these batteries, I use that and it helps me find out the problem. Look, thanks for listening but I need to work on this, so could you press the button on the box again. You should really head back to the academy and find someone else for your team."

Tyler is banging on the glowing wall trying to figure out a way to break into it. "Let me in you asshole. What do you think you are doing there with my girlfriend? Dammit, it doesn't open."

Oliver turns around and looks Tyler in the eyes as he tries to break through the barrier and smirks and he waves at him softly. "He seems like an interesting person. It's always good to have someone willing to stand by your side, because being alone isn't something I would wish upon my worst enemy."

Vanessa smiles at Tyler, causing him to stop, and then she looks back at Oliver, "H-He's amazing and I appreciate having him by my side."

Oliver looks at her and starts messing with his key with his right hand. "I don't mean to pry, but you hesitated there for a split second. Sound can come in, but it can't leave so if you have anything you want to get off your chest go ahead I won't tell."

Oliver goes back to fixing the batteries not wanting to pry more than he already has. She looks at Tyler and then back at him and sighs, "Sometimes I wonder if I'm good enough for someone like him. It hurts to think that, but I wouldn't want to lie to myself. I'm just happy to have him with me for now."

Oliver looks at her and sighs as he puts his tools down. "You might be the single dumbest person I have ever met. Having met the two of you I can promise that you are 10x the person he is, and he should be lucky to have you not the other way around. I said more than I should've on the subject, out of curiosity, does anything come after the Monarchs you were talking about?"

Vanessa smiles softly, her cheeks redden at his words but she catches herself and pulls out a flier from her pocket. Unfolding it and laying it on the table she says, "The 5 Monarchs are only the first step towards the Legacy games. There are 4 stages this coming season rather than 3. District, State, Nationals, and for the first time ever a world tournament. If you were to beat the 5 of them you could face people way better and more skilled from all over the country and even the world."

Oliver looks at her, his eyes showing the first signs of life they have in a while imagining everything she said, which causes her to blush and look away quickly. After a few moments he shakes his head slightly and his eyes start to dim as he says "If this were a few years ago that would've sounded like so much fun, but that's not a life I deserve to live. When my parents were alive all I wanted was to become a fighter for the Robotic League Championship while also opening my own lab and inventing devices that would make everyone's lives easier, but I gave it all up."

Vanessa looks at him her hands trembling a bit as she looks back at the table and speaks up, "I know you barely know me and nothing I could say would make you feel better, but why do you torture yourself so much? I understand you blame yourself for the accident, but would they be happy with how you're living your life?"

Oliver slams the tools on the table startling Vanessa as he takes a deep breath, after a few moments he unlocks the barrier. He points at Elijah and gestures for him to come over as Oliver walks over to the desk with an orange box sitting on it. "Please explain to Ms. Davis what happened that night. I-I just can't."

Tyler rushes to Vanessa, holding her close and inspecting her to make sure she's okay, and when she gives him the okay he lets go and they turn to Elijah. "Ollie, if you're okay with it, I don't mind."

Oliver shakes his hand slightly in the air indicating to get on with it as Elijah sits down, "Well to start off with, his parents were inventors and created some truly unbelievable devices that you would only find in a science fiction novel, it was insane. One night during a monstrous thunderstorm they were down here working when Oliver was talking to me and a friend of ours. He took it upon himself to sneak down to the lab at our persuasion and investigated why his parents were up so late cheering, but on his way to them in the cramped lab he bumped into a table dropping something and causing them to turn around. At that exact moment a bright light engulfed them and sent him flying into that back wall and his parents were never seen again. The gloves…"

Oliver stands up slowly and in a low and broken voice trying to stop himself from crying says, "Elijah, that's more than enough. The only thing I have left of them is this stupid orange box that was damaged heavily in the blast. I tried my best to fix it but I can't seem to find the problem."

Oliver sighs loudly as he slams his fists into the desk causing everyone to turn around quickly, he plops himself onto the chair in a defeated manner. The orange box falls with a heavy thud and begins to hum and glow as it shoots out a giant holographic video of Oliver's 6th grade science fair. "My little Ollie, I hope you never have to hear this but your mother and I are working on a theory we have regarding teleportation, and the results have been temperamental at best. If you are seeing this then something terrible must have happened and we were unable to complete the project, because in this cube are videos that we hope you never have to see. I'm sorry we can't be there for you, but let me leave you with some Jack wisdom. Who knows how long it's been since I recorded these but I know by now your intellect and problem solving has reached the level of your mother and I. Now don't you get a big head there kiddo. You see over there, look how happy you are talking about your inventions, because I need you to know that no matter what that has always been who you are. A Robotics geek. Hey you come from a family of geeks so don't take it as an insult. What may happen to us is no one's fault but our own for trying to do these kinds of experiments understanding the risks involved, so stop hiding your talents from the world, son. I know you better than anyone and losing us will mortally break you and cause you to hide yourself away, but you shouldn't. Go out and see the world and show them what the son of Emily and Jack Watson has to offer. Keep striving for bigger and better moments in your life, but don't forget who you are. A kid who loves inventing as much as he loves being our son. I love you Oliver, and to my future grandkids, daughter in law, please take good care of him. Little Eli, I know you're out there so please take care of my boy for us, you're all he has left. We have always thought of you as part of our family, so I hope you can make him feel that same sentiment with yours. Be the kind of person who could make us and your parents proud, boy. Oliver rememeber you are a one of a kind inventor, so be proud and make them all recognize the name Oliver Xavier Watson. Goodbye, boys."

An automated voice says something but Oliver is in his own world and doesn't hear it. "Message 1 of 3 complete."