Chapter 265: Sheldon's New Challenge
According to Engineer Howard, it would take at least two months to build a test model for Ron's "power suit," and even longer to put it into actual combat.
As Ron left the lab, he received a call from the Air Force Research Laboratory. They expressed interest in Ron's full-body exoskeleton, believing it would be a promising technology for special operations forces, but Ron declined.
Of course, the military, with whom Caltech has long collaborated, couldn't hide the fact that Ron was looking for someone to develop new equipment. In fact, in the original timeline, when Sheldon and his team developed the gyroscopic stabilization system, they were immediately targeted by the military.
This is perfectly normal. Since its founding, Caltech's many areas of research have always been tied to the military, especially their aerodynamics laboratory. Many prominent scientists have worked there. The challenges they faced during various historical periods can be seen in documentaries, so I won't elaborate here.
So, don't believe any nonsense about complete academic freedom. Anyone who believes institutions operate in total isolation is naive.
Of course, Ron didn't forget to give the little nerds a reward first. He fulfilled his promise, not only taking the three of them to lunch with Stan Lee, but even getting Lee to take them on a tour of the Marvel Studios soundstage.
"'To my friend Leonard - The Amazing Stan Lee,'" Leonard excitedly boasted, looking at the newly developed photo. "Look, I even have my arm around his shoulder!"
"I got the same inscription, but I was even closer. I was practically touching Stan Lee!" Howard said, holding up the photo.
"I got 'To Rajesh - Stan Lee,'" Rajesh said somewhat dejectedly.
"Who told you to keep obsessing over the names of his comic book characters? You annoyed him, buddy," Ron grumbled. In exchange for convincing Stan Lee to take photos with his friends and tour the filming locations, Ron agreed to overlook some of his company's creative accounting practices.
He just hoped the exoskeleton system they'd developed would be as useful as they claimed. Otherwise, Ron was going to be at a real loss.
"We're back." Penny pushed open the door, followed by a sullen Sheldon.
Seeing Sheldon's dejected appearance, Ron couldn't help but feel amused and asked, "Sheldon, how was your day in court?"
"You already know everything, why are you asking?"
"Yeah, but I'd rather hear it from you. It'd make me feel even better." Ron asked happily, lying back on the sofa.
"I was found guilty and fined $533."
"I'll write you a check," Penny said quickly, "as long as you promise me to file it away and not cash it, just like the checks Ron writes you."
Sheldon glared at Penny fiercely: "I don't have a driver's license yet, but I've already had three points deducted, and was forced to make an insincere apology just because I refused to use a stainless steel fixture in front of a group of other offenders. I repeat, that thing is definitely not a proper restroom!"
Sheldon had obviously suffered a lot of indignities in traffic court, but Ron had no intention of letting him off easy. It was a rare opportunity to tease him openly, how could he miss it?
"If that fixture isn't a toilet, what else could it be? You didn't think they would install a decorative fountain in a courthouse holding cell, did you? My dramatic friend?"
"Hahaha!"
Ron's teasing drew a burst of laughter, and Howard picked up the photo and added fuel to the fire: "Besides, you missed meeting Stan Lee, and Ron even had us take a photo with Stan Lee~ The three of us together, without you, Sheldon."
"Okay, Howard, don't provoke him. The poor guy has it bad enough. He's been in court all afternoon and dressed like this."
Leonard advised, but Howard showed off even more: "That's right, so let's not mention that after the autograph session, we also had lunch with Stan Lee and went to Marvel Studios for a tour. That would be too cruel."
Howard's words were sympathetic, but every word pierced Sheldon's fragile heart.
Sheldon's eyes widened. "What?! You had lunch with Stan Lee?"
"And he gave each of us a prop from the movie. Look what this is?" Ron pulled an Iron Man helmet from behind the sofa and put it on his head. "Jarvis, activate display mode."
"Yes, sir." The electronic voice of Jarvis echoed from the helmet, and the visor automatically covered Ron's face.
Sheldon's eyes widened. This collectible was simply incredible for a nerd like him, not to mention...
"By the way, did I tell you that this helmet has Robert Downey Jr.'s signature on the back?" Ron held the helmet close to Sheldon and pointed it out.
Sheldon swore that if he could beat Ron in a fight, he would have grabbed that helmet and put it on his head right now!
"You...you all have them too?" Sheldon pointed at the others with a trembling hand, not even realizing that his voice was shaking.
"Of course, mine's Thor's hammer," Howard said, pulling out his props.
"Mine's Captain America's shield, signed by Chris Evans." Even the usually nice Leonard couldn't help but brag at the chance to show off in front of his friends. "Rajesh has one too, but it's unsigned."
Rajesh shrugged, a bit disappointed, but then brightened up when he realized Sheldon had nothing.
"Guys, these are your compensation for helping me. If you can finish my new equipment soon, I promise there will be even better gifts for you," Ron said proudly, taking off his helmet.
He was now absolutely certain that he had these nerds completely motivated, and the Air Force would never poach them.
"Look at what you've done!" Sheldon shouted at Penny, then turned to Ron and, for once, pleaded, "Ron... well, I helped you there, too, you see..."
"You want one too?" Ron smiled, a knowing smile.
The fish had finally taken the bait, and Sheldon nodded frantically.
"That's certainly possible, as long as you continue to help me with that project later..."
"I promise, I absolutely promise!" Sheldon said, and was about to grab the Iron Man helmet from Ron's arms, but Ron nimbly dodged it.
"Wait, I'm not finished yet. This alone won't do, my dear roommate, Ron handed the helmet to Howard for safekeeping and took out a box from behind the couch: "Unless you complete a small challenge for me~"
Inside the box was a ridiculous costume that Howard had bought as a gag gift, but for motivating Sheldon, he didn't mind lending it out first.
(End of this chapter)
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