Thomas's Links
Oh, it's him again.
Thomas would have stopped letting Alistaire commission him long ago, but he admits he likes the breaks from building lethal weapons to make the whimsical bizarre devices Alistaire wants. It lets him ignore his ever-present deep moral turmoil and also is a lot like an extension of his day job -- in many ways Ali is another kindergartner. Where are his mentor figures?
Thomas makes all Ali's gadgets and he loves doing it! Alistaire is his favorite client hands down! When Alistaire shows up unannounced and disrupts Thomas's projects it makes his day!
Thomas is sort of a jack-of-all-trades, but his main focus is robotics and engineering, so he finds himself out of his depth when it comes to some of the more biological inventions he's been asked for. It's not entirely uncommon for him to collaborate with other scientists in these situations, and Sycamore is one he really enjoys working with. He finds it refreshing to talk shop with someone who doesn't judge him; it's a relief to drop the act for a bit and just be himself. Plus, Sycamore is smart, and Thomas can finally just explain things without having to simplify them like he does for his clients and his kindergartners.
Sycamore was a huge part of the development of the seed and fertilizer starter that led to the Palladium Golf Course Anomalous Temperate Rainforest (an Alistaire scheme to destroy a golf course that accidentally led to a biodiversity hotspot and local landmark).
Vic works at the same school as Thomas, and his friendly, confident nature flusters him sometimes. Thomas finds the former astronaut fascinating and wishes he could connect with him more, but he can't let his passions for engineering and science emerge in front of him.