Page 47 of Dream Mates (Into The Parallel Omegaverse #2)

That was a thought, since most of the sessions that day weren’t my field. I loved how they had such a complex network of ultra- fast trains here. Even the planes and cars were faster than back home.

Spencer left for his meeting as the session was ending and everyone at the table started talking about what they were going to do next. Margie began assigning workshops for the duration of the symposium so we could take notes and share .

“Tomorrow I’m attending the student symposium, I also hope to catch Dr. Harlowe’s talk,” I said. As well as Narif’s.

“Student symposium? It would be better for you to attend something else so you can share notes with the group.” Margie frowned at me.

Deb rolled her eyes. “I’m pretty sure she’s going to the student symposium to recruit interns.”

That I was.

Afterward Deb caught up to me. “Margie isn’t your boss. I am.”

“I don’t want her to be mad at me,” I said softly. Co-workers being mad at you made work life harder.

Deb shook her head. “You know what you’re here to do. Go do it. I’ve got your back.”

“Thank you.” I went off to catch a session.

Later, I entered the ballroom where lunch and the afternoon session was being held. I was looking for Deb and the rest of my co-workers when I heard my name being called.

“Come sit with us.” Dr. Harlowe waved me over to a table with a bunch of people I didn’t know.

Why not? It wasn’t like I had to sit with my co-workers. I saw Narif with a bunch of other people. Also, I really didn’t want Margie to try to make my schedule. I was here more for networking anyway.

“Thanks.” I joined everyone. “I’m Dr. Grace Ellington.”

Dr. Harlowe led some quick introductions, which included Dr. Alfonso from the Research Circle Collaborative and Dr. Mariano from BaySci.

From what I understood the techies were sort of like if MIT had siblings. Most were creatively named, like the Bayside Institute for Science and Rockland Technical Institute, nicknamed BaySci and Rock Tech, respectively.

Though there were plenty of good universities that weren’t among the techies and an extensive network of state universities and community colleges.

“Grace is interested in seeing your project, Dr. Alfonso,” Dr. Harlowe said. “Maybe, if she’s free Thursday, she can come along when you give Dr. Mariano and her students a tour of the construction?”

“Oooh, I’d love that, if you have room,” I replied. From what I could tell, a CeCe was essentially a cold copper collider–and this one was almost finished. I might be able to meet some interesting people, too.

Dr. Alfonso, who was older, and balding, nodded.

“We could probably work that out. They were also interested in seeing the visualizer, which one of our member institutions has developed, and will be used in conjunction with Sissy. That’s what we call her, since she’s the bigger sister to the one overseas. ”

“That sounds amazing. I have time on Thursday.” That made me excited and hopefully would prove fruitful–or at least interesting.

Dr. Mariano gave me a smile, which lit up her entire face. “What is Compass BioTek doing? You seem to have a very large amount of interesting research going on for a biotech company.”

“Not building our own super collider or particle accelerator,” I assured, as a server brought around salads for everyone.

Dr. Alfonso shrugged, pouring dressing on his salad then passing it around. “Given Nick Thanukos’ field of study, it really doesn’t surprise me that Thanukos-the-younger has an interest.”

“True.” I nodded. Of course. Some of the older people might know of Spencer's dad and his work.

“Are you continuing Dr. Thanukos’ research?” He gave me a sly look, taking a roll, and passing the basket on.

I shook my head as I added dressing to my salad. “Dimension mapping isn’t my field.”

Not anymore. And honestly, I didn’t feel that sad about it.

“Right,” Dr. Harlowe said softly, taking a bread roll then handing me the basket. “His dad was a particle physicist.”

“Speaking of fathers, your father’s a chemistry professor, isn’t he? I can’t remember which university, but I’ve seen him around,” Dr. Mariano continued. “Nice guy.”

I passed the bread basket on. “No. But you’re the second person today that’s asked me that. Now I’m curious.”

Especially since I’d also been asked that at the science dinner–and at a Daedalus Society function.

We chatted as we ate lunch then the program started. After, I caught a couple of sessions, then headed over to the other side of the hotel where the Daedalus Society reception was.

I texted Spencer.

Me

Off to the reception, see you at the party. Hope your meetings are going well.

The lobby and bar area were filled with people talking and drinking. A lot of them weren’t even wearing symposium badges. But this was probably a good place to network.

An omega sat at a table with a Daedalus Society sign, checking people off a list. There was delta security present. Deltas were about as big and strong as alphas and often used as security. A few alphas sat nearby chatting and having drinks.

“Students aren’t free? Usually, students are free. Are we at least half price?” the young woman in front of me asked.

“I’m sorry. This place is really expensive so we can’t do that for this one,” the woman at the table said.

“Oh. Should we just go? If we leave now maybe we won’t have to pay for parking?” Her shoulders drooped and she turned to the guy with her.

My heart went out to them. I remembered those days. How many networking events had I missed because I didn’t have money for gas or parking or a drink at the bar?

“I’ll pay for them. Also, I’ll pay for any students that don’t have tickets. Here.” I fished one of my brand new business cards out of my pocket and wrote my cell number on it.

“Really? That’s very kind of you,” the woman behind the table said, as I scanned my phone, paying for their tickets. I’d already paid for mine ahead of time.

“Thanks, but why would you do that?” the guy asked me.

“A couple months ago I was eating instant noodles for dinner every night, and now I have a job that pays me ridiculously,” I replied, checking myself in.

We went inside and I headed for the bar.

“Thanks,” the woman called, as the guy said, “I’m going to text Ina.”

The reception was a little uncomfortable. The couple of people I recognized from my chapter were not very welcoming and a few others dismissed me because of who I worked for. Maybe I should just head over to the Compass BioTek party.

“Thanks again,” the guy I’d paid for said. He was at a table full of what were probably students. “This is the person who paid for our tickets. I’m Russ.”

“Um, you can sit with us, if you want. We’re just students though,” the young woman who’d been with him added.

“Thanks.” I took an empty chair. “I’m Grace, I work for Compass BioTek, and I’m feeling massively out of place here.” I laughed and took a pull of my beer.

Someone leaned in. “I didn’t expect it to be stuffy. Our stuff is fun, but I’m also in a university chapter.”

The students were chatty. Most of them went to university in the area, were presenting tomorrow, or were here with professors.

Russ looked at me. “You have a PhD, right? Do you have a pack? Did people give you shit about getting a PhD when you’ll Just get packed up like a good little omega ?”

Several people grimaced.

“I hate that fucking question,” someone muttered.

“Um, I’m actually a gamma. I didn’t really get any of that during my PhD. But I mostly did directed study.” It felt weird to lie like that, though that’s what my fake record said. “But I did get a little of that during undergrad.”

Not from classmates but from church people, especially since I went to a state university and not a small Christian college. Why go to college if you’re just going to stay home with the kids? I didn’t even find a husband while in college, either.

More heads nodded.

“You’re a gamma? I’ll have to tell my friend Enid. She’s a gamma, too, and would love meeting another. She’s not a scientist, though,” Russ told me.

“Please. Maybe we can all have pizza tomorrow night or something,” I said. “I’ve never met another gamma.”

“Your pack supports your work?” someone else asked, eying my ring from Wes.

“Absolutely. The whole reason why I’m here is because one of my alphas knew that I wanted to see the particle cutter at PIIP, so he arranged for us to come.” I smiled shyly.

Someone put her hand to her heart. “That’s so sweet.”

“Any food? I’m starving.” A young woman rushed in and pulled up the chair. “Thank you so much for letting me know it was free. I can’t believe someone paid for all our tickets. Someone has a rich alpha.” She grinned.

Everyone else laughed.

“What?” She looked around and I realized it was Inara, the one yesterday that had given me the tea.

“Yeah, I guess that, too.” I chuckled. “I’m Grace. You’re Inara right? You’re a fellow at PIIP? Dr. Harlowe says that you’re presenting tomorrow.”

“Oh, it’s you. You toured PIIP yesterday.” She smiled. “Dr. Harlowe told you about me?”

“She did.” I jerked my head over to the snack table. “Get some food before it’s gone.”

The students told me all about the work and studies. Just being around people like this made me miss my cohort. Where were they all now?

Inara kept staring at me, it was a little weird.

I caught her eye. “Do I have food in my teeth?”

“Um, sorry,” she blustered. “It’s weird, but do you, um, have a–”

Oh. “Sorry, no but my dad’s not a chemistry professor.”

She shook her head. “Actually, I was going to ask if your brother’s in engineering school at Natty. You look just like him. But his dad is a chemistry professor.”

“No, I don’t.” I shook my head, belly twinging. Someone else who looked like me? But then there were only so many variations in the universe.

“Creed’s my best friend from undergrad. He’s the one who encouraged me to apply to PIIP.” Smiling shyly, she pulled up a picture on her phone.

I took a look at the smiling blond young man, with blue eyes. Who looked absurdly like me, only his eyes were bluer.

Shit. Had I actually found this dimension’s Grace? Who was called something else? And a dude. Creed. Also, a virtue name.

Engineering? I’d always found Wes’ engineering talk interesting and it did use a lot of math. Creed was younger than me, but my mom had also had me when she was in her early twenties.

Mind. Blown.

“That’s why I was staring at you when you toured PIIP,” she said, passing the phone around to the others who echoed her sentiments. “I was going to ask you, but Dr. Harlowe intimidates me. Then you were with Spencer Thanukos, and well…”

“He’s actually really nice,” I assured.

“Creed’s taking the train down tomorrow to see my presentation and to hang out in the bar and see if he can make any contacts.

He’s graduating in a couple of weeks and looking for a job.

” She ducked her head. “Okay, he’s hoping to get some sort of fellowship at Compass BioTek, but he hadn’t heard yet and figured a little networking wouldn’t go amiss after I told him there was a whole battalion of you here. ”

“Is he close by? I can get him into the Compass BioTek party tonight.” I sort of wanted to meet this dimension’s me. Hopefully it wouldn’t cause an incursion or some other anomaly. If that’s even what he was. Genetics were weird. It was probably just a coincidence.

As long as I didn’t meet this dimension’s version of my mother. If there even was such a thing. Yeah. That probably wouldn’t go well. Especially if she was kind.

Inara shook her head. “He’s not leaving until morning. But I’ll introduce you to him tomorrow.”

“Can we go to the party? Is the food better?” Russ laughed.

“Yeah, we can all blow this and go get better food,” I replied.

“Seriously?” one of the others asked.

“Let’s go.” I stood.

I settled my tab for the student tickets at the check-in desk, then we went over to the ballroom where the party was. Someone from marketing frowned as we approached.

“They’re with me, that’s not a problem, right?” I flashed my badge.

“Not at all, Dr. Ellington, go right in,” she ushered us in. Music played, the liquor was flowing, and food was everywhere.

“Have fun,” I told them. “Good luck tomorrow.” I went to find Spencer.

“Grace.” Dr. Mariano waved me over where she and Dr. Harlowe were drinking glowing drinks.

“Hey.” I looked around but didn’t see Spencer.

“If you don’t mind traveling with students, you’re welcome to take the train with us on Thursday,” Dr. Mariano said. “A couple of other people are going, too. You can also make your own arrangements.”

“I’d love to join you. Thanks.” We talked for a bit then I went off to find Spencer.

“My good doctor.” Spencer beamed when I joined him.

We made the rounds as he introduced me to people.

Finally, he looked at his phone. “Shall we leave and get some food?”

My belly rumbled as he took my arm and led me toward the door. “Sounds fantastic.”