Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sex, Substances, Sin, Salvation ❯ III - I - Professors are Assholes ( Chapter 24 )

“Sex, Substances, Sin, Salvation”

How these 4 s-words are intertwined with one another

By Masamune Reforged

WhenShootingStarsFall.com

Disclaimer: Don't own any of the Gundam characters, they are the property of Bandai, Sunrise or someone else, but not me. I use them for no-profit whatsoever, but for entertainment's gain.

Warnings: Yaoi (including graphic lemon, multiple multiple pairings) cursing, drug use, violence, angst, insanity, cameos, AU, lunacy, sanity.

 

Part I in “In the Concrete Jungle”, Page III in the s4 arc

“Professors are Assholes”

Wufei's POV.

 

“Hello, professor.”

 

“Hello, Wufei. How are you today?”

 

“Fine, thank you. You know, nothing to complain about.”

 

“I suppose our strenuous classes keep you busy most of the time.”

 

“That's the reason for our meeting, isn't it? I need you, as my academic advisor, to sign off on my intended course of study for this semester.”

 

“Indeed, your proposed courses are exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”

 

Professor Tsubarov had a massive nose, one of those long, gnarled noses that curls downwards like a sudden cliff on a canyon. In fact, the man's nose was only the most pointed- pardon the play on words- and pronounced feature showcasing his unpleasantness. In short, Tsubarov was a very ugly man. Despite this, everyone in the University knew that he was a very conceited man, and although it may be physically impossible, he was often turning his nose up at others. Today I was the subject of his distaste.

 

“You've done very well in the past three years here, Wufei,” Tsubarov began nicely. It was a sham to lure students into confidence before he tore it all down. Studying under this man, and the fact that he was my advisor, had revealed all of his distasteful conversational techniques, which I secretly swore not to adopt in my own behavior.

 

“I have a perfect 4.0 grade point average,” I said rather abrasively. I wasn't going to let him just ignore my hard earned past achievements.

 

“Yes, yes you have.” Tsubarov took a look at my transcript. The completed courses ranged from neurochemistry to advanced psychology, all science courses, all very difficult. My grades weren't fluff, like certain humanities students... “That's why I volunteered to become your academic advisor. I want to guide you in the right direction, Wufei.”

 

I said nothing. I was going to be damned if Tsubarov or anyone else led me by the nose- (I'm sorry about the constant puns. But have you ever seen how enormous that man's nose is? It's as if he inherited it from an ancient bird of prey!)- or whatever `guiding' Tsubarov wanted to do for me.

 

The man was a leader in his field, constantly receiving sensitive data from corporations on the cutting-edge of physics, chemistry and biology. His opinion held a lot of sway in many academic circles.

 

“Let me see...” Tsubarov lifted his reading glasses up, pretending to need to reread my proposed course of study for the upcoming semester. “Independent Study: Chemistry, Independent Study: Biology, Psychology and Medicine, Advanced Neurological Psychology, The Psychosomatic Effects of Drug Use.” Tsubarov put down the paper. He wasn't smiling.

 

“Is there a problem with that selection?” I asked defiantly, knowing damn well there was, at least in the eyes of the narrow-minded man facing me.

 

“Well...” Tsubarov leaned forward, making me back away for fear that he would poke me in the eye with his nose. “I couldn't help but notice that there are no Physics courses there.”

 

“I know that,” I replied coldly.

 

“Wufei, I thought you and I had come to the understanding that, to make the most out of your time here at the University, you were going to pursue a triple major in the applicable sciences.”

 

“Chemistry, biology and psychology,” I couldn't help but say the last with a smile. Tsubarov had gone off on many rants bashing psychology as a crackpot occupation, hardly comparable with the true sciences like-

 

“Not physics?” Tsubarov tried to sound surprised. Instead, he sounded angry.

 

“No,” I answered firmly.

 

“Wufei, how do I say this?” Tsubarov massaged the bridge of his nose. It could span the Avalon Bridge. “You will find that a thorough background in physics will be far more useful to you after college than anything else. The world is changing, but it must always obey the laws of physics. Engineers the world over are required to have at least a concentration in-”

 

“I don't intend to be an engineer after college.” I dropped the bomb.

 

Tsubarov stared at me as if I'd sprouted horns. He'd done that once, when I came to lecture tripping on acid, or at least I swore I'd seen something resembling horns sticking out of his greying hair. How was I to explain to him that my goal was to create the most potent psychosomatic drugs that the world had ever seen? How was he, a man with no imagination, supposed to understand my goals?

 

“Wufei, I seriously ask you to reconsider...” Tsubarov came out asking nicely. That was somewhat of a shock to me until he added, “I had already pegged you in as one of my personal assistants in the lab for next year.” The hidden threat was implied in the way he spoke the final bit, like one holds out a child's toy with the intent of pulling it back and stashing it on some high shelf at the first sign of disobedience.

 

“I would greatly like to continue researching with you, Professor Tsubarov.” I threw the old dog a metaphorical bone, forcing a very thin smile.

 

“You'll need more of the next level of physics to do so. If you don't get that, starting this semester, I'm afraid I won't be able to include you in as many experiments.” He cut to the quick. The threat was delivered as an ultimatum.

 

I was ready to call his bluff. I was the brightest student assistant he had, sometimes even catching his mistakes. He needed me in the lab. There was no way he would go on without me over this petty departure in interests. He was an arrogant and narrow mindedly stubborn man, but he was a scientist, and with all the cold, rational logic of one.

 

I stared Tsubarov in his old, crotchety face and threw the dagger. “I'm ready to leave the lab, with all due respect Professor, if that's what it takes for me to pursue my path.”

 

“You...” Tsubarov cut himself off, his scowl doing the cursing instead. He leaned back in his chair, regrouping.

 

“And if you don't agree to sign off on my intended course of study, then I have no problem asking the Engineering College here at the University to assign me to an academic advisor that will.” I kept him on the defensive, hoping to back him into the corner. “Dean Hendrickson is quite understanding about students wishing to pursue their respective academic paths.”

 

I got up to leave. The ball was in Tsubarov's court now.

 

“Wait!” Tsubarov caught it with his mouth, like a dog. “One moment, I've just thought of a compromise.”

 

I sat down again, giving him a hard look that said, “I'm willing to hear your plea, but make it good and make it fast.”

 

“I will personally be your tutor for your independent study in physics,” Tsubarov offered. His ego knew no bounds. Like that would get me to bite...

 

“I can't keep up with six courses in one semester.” I shook my head. Although I honestly could... I simply chose not to...

 

“Drop that-that druggies and psychology garbage you intend to take. You'll thank me! That Professor Izquiarda, who teaches that class, is, you'll find, nothing more than a burned out, hippie libertarian with only the wildest of lessons and ideas.” Tsubarov tried to use his leverage as my elder to sway me. That wasn't going to happen.

 

“I'm sorry. My mind is made up.” I got up to leave.

 

“A shame...” Tsubarov said as I hoisted my book bag over my shoulders and walked toward the door. “And you always seemed so eager to use the equipment in the Einstein Memorial Wing...”

 

I stopped dead in my tracks, facing the shut door. The EMW! Was he serious?

 

“You would clear me to use the EM Wing?” I turned around. The Einstein Memorial Wing housed the University's most expensive and advanced equipment and materials. It was for professors' research only, absolutely off limits to students... unless they came in with the professor, of course. “Can you even do that?”

 

“Of course! Of course, my boy.” Tsubarov smiled triumphantly. Suddenly his defiant, genius pupil was like a puppet on strings. “As my personal research assistant you'll have to spend quite a bit of time in that wing, I dare say!”

 

I could taste the restricted chemicals and forbidden compounds on my tongue. They would taste like a cold piece of metal, but in liquid form. It was a sensation somewhat akin to swallowing death whole. Well, I mean, that is what most drugs do to you, poison you straight towards your physical and mental limitations until...

 

“I also want clearance to the EMW to pursue my Independent Studies in biology and chemistry,” I added another condition.

 

At that, Tsubarov frowned. “I can only clear you for my personal research studies,” he said, feigning sadness. “Not even I can get you in there to play mad scientist, or whatever you wish to do, unless it's on my watch.”

 

“Then agree to chaperon me into the EMW when I need materials for my other classes,” I tried.

 

“We'll see. I'll do what I can,” Tsubarov answered cryptically.

 

“...done. I'll need to drop Professor Izquierda's class, of course,” I smiled. Access to the EMW was worth giving up any class! And besides, with access to that treasure trove, I'd surely be having an Independent Study of my own on the psychological effects of drugs!

 

-end Wufei's POV

-end “Schoolteachers are Assholes”

Part I of “In the Concrete Jungle”, Page III in the Sex, Substances, Sin, Salvation arc.

 

Next: Politics as Usual - Zabi Investigation into Secret Group in Metro City

WhenShootingStarsFall.com

 

ID Notes:

Professor Tsubarov is a quite important character from Gundam Wing. He invents the Mobile Doll system, develops the Virgo MS and puts a bullet in Lady Une. He really has a huge ugly shnazz.

 

Professor Izquierda is nobody. Izquierda is Spanish for “left” referring to the liberal leaning of anyone who'd teach a class about drugs.

 

Dean Hendrickson is nobody.

 

Einstein was a genius.