Morning came, and the sunlight, through the window. It was the second day on this vast island. Dianne's work started today. The clock ticked to 8:30 AM, not too early to go to work. She looked at the mirror, checking herself, her white blouse matched with beige trousers. Not too formal and casual for work. The weather here was chill throughout the day, it could be cold at night.
Dianne looked at her married ring, reminding her of Markus. His call last night, joking about her guacamole, had ended sweet—Rest, honey—his face floating in her mind.
She grabbed her tablet, filled with motion modeling notes for her team. Her previous position was designing an algorithm for a robotic leg. At that time, she was part of a team. This time, she had to lead her team.
Could she do it?What if she messed up? Her stomach fluttered—new job, new faces, new place.
Wish you were here, dear, she kept rolling her ring.
No way back now. She slapped her cheek gently, mind set.
Slipping on flats, tucking her hair back, she packed a light jacket for the evening chill. The sea's hum called her forward. Granitz felt big, but today was her first step. Dianne stepped out, eager for what lay ahead.
While Dianne was approaching her lab, she pictured her team—quiet faces from yesterday's tour, waiting for her lead. There were four members in her team: one computer engineer, two mechatronics, and one bioengineer. Leading felt heavy, unlike coding algorithms back home. Her stomach felt uneasy again.
Would Elena aid her this morning again? She recalled Elena's bright smile, and how everyone was attracted to her orbit.
Cannot rely on others forever.
Her memories of Markus warmed her, Markus's I'm proud of you a soft push.
The right wing's labs, buzzing with tech,and mechanical sound, called her. She was now in front of a room where her team was waiting inside. 9:00 AM.
It's time, Just do it, she thought, heart steady. She opened the door, stepping into her new role.
Elena's blonde hair flashed in the room, blue eyes twinkling, rocket pin glinting.
"Surprise!" she chirped, grin wide, startling Dianne. "Thought I'd pop in for your first day."
"Elena! Glad to see you" Dianne said with a smile, Dianne's pulse jumped, her stress, a minute ago, relief washing over her nerves. Besides Elena are her team members. The four engineers—computer engineer fiddling with his glasses, mechatronics duo murmuring, bioengineer jotting notes—looked up, their faces easing at Elena's glow. Leading wasn't coding; it was guiding people, a new puzzle.
"Morning," she said to her team, voice firmer than she felt. A little handshake to all teams. With Elena present, she felt much confidence. After greeting every member, she had a quick glance at Elena, smiling, giving a nod – You can do it, a speechless message from Elena. She tapped her tablet, motion modeling specs lighting the screen. "Let's get started."
The meeting room hummed with the institute's tech pulse as Dianne Scholz faced her team, tablets glowing with cybernetic arm specs. The project was about creating a cybernetic arm, unlike her previous work on a robotic leg, where motion relied on wires and cables. This limb used organic tissue wrapped around a bone-like core, its motion driven by artificial nerves linked to a chip. Nearly all organic, save the chip, it was safer for patients who'd lost limbs—less tough than robotic models but subtler, its motion nearly matching a real arm's response. Ambitious and promising, it fired Dianne's nerves and excitement. Elena's blue eyes focused, listening closely as Dianne explained, her calm presence steadying the room.
"Why don't we grow our own limbs, like a lizard, instead?" Elena raised a question.
"That is also an alternate option." she answered.
"Why don't we grow our own limbs, like a lizard?" Elena asked. Dianne paused, caught by the idea. "That's an alternate option," she said, gathering her thoughts.
"But growing a whole limb takes massive energy and nutrients, especially for instant regrowth. It's not practical yet." Elena nodded, her grin warm. They exchanged smiles, the moment easing Dianne's nerves. The team's eyes stayed on her, ready for more. Dianne pointed to the specs, voice surer, diving deeper into the project.
She assigned tasks to her four engineers—computer engineer on chip coding, mechatronics duo on nerve integration, bioengineer on tissue compatibility—her voice steadier than her nerves. Their quiet nods felt like a small victory. She walked out, exhaling deeply, the weight lifting. Everything's okay, she thought, heart settling.
"That was excellent, Dianne!" Elena's voice rang out. Dianne turned, a grin breaking free
"Thank you for being here, Elena," she said, pulse easing. "You really saved my nerves." Elena's surprise appearance in the meeting, her warm nod during the cybernetic arm pitch, had steadied Dianne's shaky start.
"Save your thanks for Pierre," Elena said, her smile widening at his name. "He texted me this morning to rescue you from a fresh-start crisis." Dianne raised an eyebrow, amused.
"An unexpected request from Pierre, to order me, or thinking about others," Elena teased, her laugh light and infectious. They burst into giggles, Elena's gossip about Pierre.
"He had not worried about me," Elena said with a teasing tone.
"You came by his request, he trusted you, Elena!" She cheered Elena up.
"Yeah, in his view, he has no one to trust anymore," Elena laughed.
The noon party flickered in Dianne's mind, Elena's laugh sure to fill the canteen. They walked down the hall, Granitz's walls gleaming, Dianne's first leadership step feeling solid, thanks to Elena's spark.
Dianne's watch blink – How you first day? – a warming message from Markus. Dianne's mind was very much filled, lovely colleagues, and cheerful husband. The time went by. It was nearly noon and the welcome party was calling her.
Party held in a conference room on the fourth floor. It was decorated fairly. A big welcome banner, Dianne Scholz hanging on the wall. Upon stepping into the hall, decent people were already there. Elena led her close to the stage. Food was neatly prepared, vegan, meat, dairy, non- dairy products, alcohol, and non-alcohol drinks are provided. Quite too much just for a welcome party for a single employee. Not too long, Pierre entered the hall, dark green shirt, black trousers, covered with his blazer, and few people noticed him. He blended into a crowd. Walking straight to the stage where Dianne and Elena were.