The lab

Walter, the old scientist, tells everyone else in the group to head to the reception meant for you while he leads you and Rose to an elevator at the corner of the building. It's a weird elevator since you can see it doesn't go up even though you're on the ground floor, and even to press the down button requires Walter's thumbprint. Once inside the elevator, he leans forward on a panel and removes his glasses, seemingly for a retina scan. There's a loud beep and the doors close and you feel the elevator start to move. Walter hadn't pressed any buttons; there were no buttons in the elevator, and the screen which scanned his retinas is plain and doesn't show what level you're going to.

Though the elevator is very fast, it still takes about a full minute in transit before it comes to a stop. You must be deep underground as you look over to Rose, who merely smiles confidently. The elevator doors open into a laboratory with pristine white walls and some mechanical equipment all around, not too different from what you had already seen on the tour. As you exit with Walter and Rose, you notice a brunette with long hair in a white lab coat to the left and her back towards you all.

"Venus," Walter calls out to the woman, who turns around from her workbench. She's quite pretty with medium dark skin, likely of mixed descent, but that's not the most surprising thing about her. Compared to everyone else you had met in the facility, she looks too young to be working here. You wonder if she's an intern.

Your question is immediately answered when Walter introduces her. "Mister mayor, this is Venus Amari, 1 of the lead engineers at the company. Don't be mistaken by her appearance, while Venus is only 22, she's actually been with us for 6 years."

"6 years? You started working here at 16?" you ask incredulously.

Venus shrugs, likely because it's a question she's used to. "Yup. I guess you could say I'm really smart."

Walter chuckles at her nonchalance. "You could say that, but that would be an understatement. Some people might call Venus a prodigy, but I say she's a 'prodigy plus.' She has 3 PhDs, and single-handedly created some of the most groundbreaking tech this company has produced. Those robots you purchased, she created the prototype 1 afternoon a few years ago out of boredom and then moved on."

"Robots were a phase," Venus chimes in.

"I guess they were for you," Walter says.

"So... what are you working on? Walter mentioned a Beta model of something that he wanted to show me," you say. stepping closer to Venus. Unlike Rose, she doesn't seem to put too much thought into her appearance. She has no make up or perfume on and she's just wearing a plain black t-shirt and jeans under her lab coat, which actually emphasizes her effortless beauty. Actually, she looks to be in decent shape in the slim figure she cuts, and she stands tall at your height in her sneakers. Venus looks at Walter curiously, as if wondering why he would want to show you whatever project they were working on, and it's only after he nods insistently that she steps aside and motions at a large open cabinet next to her workbench. You see several slick pieces of bronzed metal lying around, not exactly scraps, but they look more like spare parts than anything. On 1 shelf, interestingly enough, is a large syringe gun filled with a silvery liquid substance that looks almost alive.

"Well... have you seen the Iron Man movies?" Venus asks.

"Sure. Is that what you're building? An Iron Man suit? Looks like you're a far way off," you say. In response, both Walter and Rose chuckle, but don't say anything, allowing Venus to continue.