The next presentation began.
This time, two sisters walked onto the stage together.
They looked remarkably similar, both carrying the unmistakable confidence of experienced inventors. One carried a large tablet while the other pushed a compact machine toward the center of the stage.
"Mary and Susan Test," Dexter quietly said to himself.
The sisters began their demonstration.
Their invention was a modular technological platform designed around rapid construction and experimentation. Rather than being one single machine, it consisted of interconnected components that could be rearranged and configured for different purposes.
Mary explained the engineering behind the system while Susan demonstrated how quickly its configuration could be altered.
A robotic arm detached from one section and connected to another.
A sensor module activated.
The system automatically recognized the new configuration and adjusted its software accordingly.
Several scientists visibly leaned forward. The machine wasn't necessarily the most powerful invention in the room, but its versatility was impressive.
It was designed around one simple concept. Build, modify, test, and repeat.
The presentations continued.
Another scientist demonstrated an advanced energy-storage system capable of efficiently retaining and releasing large quantities of electricity. A medical researcher presented a non-invasive scanning device designed to identify abnormalities without requiring conventional surgical procedures.
Then came Professor Utonium. The familiar scientist stepped onto the stage wearing his white lab coat, carrying a specialized container.
He calmly introduced his work and demonstrated a chemical stabilization system designed to regulate highly reactive compounds.
The presentation was considerably more controlled than Flint's. There were no jokes.
No dramatic flourishes.
Just careful explanations, precise measurements, and a demonstration conducted under strict safety protocols. Then another figure approached the stage. A short, bespectacled man in a suit stepped forward.
At first, the audience simply assumed he was another scientist.
He adjusted his tie, looked toward the crowd, and cleared his throat. "Good evening. My name is Mr. Peabody."
A few people nodded politely.
Then Peabody stepped out the demonstration table. The audience suddenly noticed something strange.
Because he was a dog.
A talking, upright, highly educated dog wearing a suit and glasses.
Several people froze.
Peabody ignored the reaction. "I'll be discussing my research into advanced educational technology and temporal mechanics."
The hall became considerably quieter.
Peabody began explaining his work with complete seriousness.
The large display behind him showed complex schematics involving temporal displacement, spatial coordinates, and a sophisticated mechanical system designed to interact with time itself.
The shock gradually gave way to fascination.
Even the scientists who had initially stared at him in disbelief were now watching the presentation carefully.
Mr. Peabody calmly explained the theoretical framework while demonstrating the device's interface.
Dexter couldn't help but smile.
The fact that Peabody was a sentient dog wasn't even the strangest thing Dexter had encountered in this world. Still, watching an entire room of world-class scientists silently accept that fact after only a few minutes was amusing.
The presentation ended with another round of applause. Peabody gave a polite nod and stepped down from the stage.
Then came Dr. Cockroach.
The audience's reaction was almost as confused as before. An insectoid figure wearing a lab coat walked confidently onto the stage.
Dr. Cockroach adjusted his coat and smiled. "Good evening, fellow scientific minds!"
Several scientists stared.
One looked at the person beside him. The other simply shrugged.
Dr. Cockroach activated his presentation. A series of diagrams appeared across the screen, showing an elaborate technological system involving miniaturized machinery, advanced robotics, and compact energy systems.
His presentation was energetic and enthusiastic, with his explanations moving rapidly between theory and practical applications.
Unlike Peabody, who presented with quiet professionalism, Dr. Cockroach seemed delighted to be surrounded by people who actually understood science.
By the time he finished, even the skeptical members of the audience were applauding.
The showcase continued for several more presentations.
Some inventions were highly advanced.
Others were unusual.
A few were still clearly prototypes but none of them were pointless.
Every invention demonstrated something valuable about its creator.
Their imagination, technical knowledge, problem-solving ability, willingness to explore ideas other people might dismiss.
Eventually, the final presentation came to an end.
The hall erupted into sustained applause. The scientists who had spent the last several hours sitting quietly were now looking around at one another with renewed interest.
Dexter stepped onto the stage.
He waited until the applause gradually faded before speaking "I want to thank every one of you for sharing your work tonight."
He looked across the hall at the scientists.
"What you've shown us isn't simply a collection of machines. Every invention here represents years of thought, experimentation, failure, revision, and persistence." He paused briefly. "Some of these projects are already highly refined. Others still have considerable room for development. That's not a weakness."
Dexter's expression softened slightly. "That's science."
Several scientists nodded.
"You don't discover everything on the first attempt. You experiment. You fail. You learn. Then you try again." Dexter stepped away from the podium and slowly walked across the stage. "That is the kind of environment I want Dextrotech to provide."
He looked toward the scientists who had just demonstrated their work. "Tonight, you've had the opportunity to see what each of you can accomplish individually."
A small smile appeared on his face. "Tomorrow, you'll get to see what happens when those ideas have the resources, equipment, and people necessary to take them even further."
That caught their attention.
Dexter continued. "Some of you have probably already noticed that I haven't shown you everything Dextrotech has to offer."
A few amused smiles appeared around the room. "That's because I wanted tonight to belong to you."
Dexter gestured toward the enormous doors at the far end of the exhibition hall. "They'll open shortly. From there, I'll personally give you a tour of the facilities and show you what I've been building."
The room filled with quiet murmurs. Dexter turned toward the doors.
They began opening.
Beyond them was a long, illuminated corridor leading deeper into the Dextrotech complex.
"I hope you're ready," Dexter said as he stepped down from the stage. "Because you've only seen the beginning."
The scientists slowly rose from their seats. One by one, they began following him toward the corridor.