Research scientist Mark Simpson put down his bag momentarily and took off his lab coat, placing it on a counter near the circle. Picking up his bag again, he placed it on his back for maximum contact with himself and the shrink ray that would momentarily reduce him to the insignificant size of an eighth of an inch tall. Moving to the direct center of the raised circle of metal, he looked up at the quiet young man. "Fire when ready, Corey," he said with an approving smile. "If all goes well, I'm treating you to dinner and we can talk about your post college career."
Corey approached the table with the shrinking ray, making a tentative reach for the device. Professor Simpson had already downsized his original machine into a more mobile device by the time Corey had won his internship. He had watched the professor program the device dozens of times. The controls were, as they often refer to computers and smart devices, idiot-proof. He made the necessary calibrations and then raised the device, which looked very much like a ray-gun from some Trek show. His smile was completely disarming. Mark seemed excited, but Corey could barely breathe. "Well, here goes nothing," the intern said in a jovial tone.
Corey approached the table with the shrinking ray, making a tentative reach for the device. Professor Simpson had already downsized his original machine into a more mobile device by the time Corey had won his internship. He had watched the professor program the device dozens of times. The controls were, as they often refer to computers and smart devices, idiot-proof. He made the necessary calibrations and then raised the device, which looked very much like a ray-gun from some Trek show. His smile was completely disarming. Mark seemed excited, but Corey could barely breathe. "Well, here goes nothing," the intern said in a jovial tone.