Scrutiny

The 1970s was a bleak time for technology with the computer still in its development phase. Notable film companies such as Lucasfilm and its Industrial Light and Magic subsidiary are still at their starting point.

Catching up or getting ahead of them is the best course of action for the Creed family.

Alexander knew how his father has a certain fixation with sci-fi films and it is also the genre in which the toy merchandise has undeniable appeal.

Essentially, his grandfather and father plan to make a splash in Hollywood and develop a toy empire alongside it.

They had the vision but unfortunately, they would likely fail in the execution. The young boy had visions from a future timeline and could tell that the Creeds were not able to challenge the strength of the major filming studios.

Old Sullivan's toy enterprise had no international or even national appeal. Mark's works would remain at the level of numerous unrecognized independent filmmakers of the future. Even future Alexander has no notable marks in history that he knows of.

Alexander's main goal is to change that fate with help from the glimpses of Other Joe's futuristic life.

An exemplary example is that scrapbook he made that is now being treasured in the hands of his father. It was entirely impossible to make something that innately comprehensive from just reading twenty or so books.

It contains all the filming theories and tips that were made available on the web that his parallel universe counterpart has the curiosity of skimming.

"Anyways, Mark! What has gotten you excited about?" Sullivan could infer that his grandson did something amazing and wanted clarification. "Is there something in those papers that is on a need-to-know basis?"

"Not just something! It may be the very thing I have been looking for!" Mark was quick to respond while tapping the pages in his hand. "The compilation of tips in this thing is helpful but what is precious is Alexander's last page of curiosity! If this train of thought is followed, he might just arrive at the right answer."

The filmmaker inside him was shaking from getting hold of the path that he urgently sought for years.

From the golden age of Hollywood to the current year, Mark was drifting along in the industry with a sense of tackiness from the projects he made.

To think that his lifelong obsession could be answered by his late-born son, making it quite the end to his tiresome journey.

"I've always felt that the current visual effects and so-called sci-fi fantasy films are too artificial. They are also a bit marginalized and undermined. At least with Alexander's help and exploring mind, maybe I could have an edge over others." Mark muttered as he reminisced on his past.

"Interesting." Old Sullivan had to calm down the melancholic Mark while focusing back his attention on his primary goal of coming here. "Alexander, you have some explaining to do."

The little guy jolted after hearing his grandfather's words and it dawned on him that he messed up... a lot!

He quickly drilled his brains for explanations but Sullivan was quick to interrupt with his eyes squinting in scrutinization. "Who taught you to read, my boy? Who also taught you how to organize and write notes that even an expert like your father would find helpful?"

Alexander gulped at the obvious flaw in his supposedly-perfect disguise being pointed out. He was just a four-year-old so someone should cut him some slack.

Sure! He had a mature mind but he was still a naive kid... a month ago. The young boy panicked and blurted out. "I guess I'm a supergenius!!"

Mark and Sullivan were dumbfounded by his statement and they had nothing to say for a while.

It was what was at the top of a guilty boy's head while at stress. It was clear that he has no teacher and he has his fingers crossed that being at Einstein's level would be enough to explain the impossible.

Sullivan had to knead his temples from the surprise that his grandson is giving him today. "Well, I guess you must be one if you say so, Alexander."

Mark looked fondly at his son and felt his worries fade away. "Supergenius or not. Grandpa and I, are here for you, son!"

The Creed family had not much trust in scientists quantifying one's wit with numbers, so they never really took Alexander to test his IQ level. Even if they did, they would never take it too seriously.

Life is unpredictable and using baseline criteria such as intelligence to dictate one's life possibilities is quite contradictory.

The panicked boy had fortune shine on him today as his elders casually took his overblown explanation as fact.

However, something tells him that their true scrutiny is yet to come!

Although there was no stopping him from telling them the truth about Other Joe, he still kept it to himself because of all the uncertainties that this multiverse phenomenon might develop into.

There was no need to tie his father and grandfather with a probable time bomb. It was much more favorable for him to lie in this situation.

With this confrontation done and dusted, the Creeds went on as they usually have but Alexander's words now have a certain weight with their decisions.

"Why don't we have dinner with the super genius now?" Mark suggested as it was already nearing that time of day.

With Helena excusing herself from her duties, the trio was free to enjoy their weird family dynamic.

Everyone had their stations and the utensils and water pitcher was laid out. The food was ready and another round of conversation commenced.

Instead of the easy talk that they usually take earlier at this dining table, Sullivan had to change things up, given the recent turn of events. "To sum up all the necessary points, the branch store's robbery problems are down to a null but customers are at an all-time low with the low reputation that it accrued from those incidents."

"Legal battles are being fought with some victims blaming the store for their troubles and earnings at this point are practically at the negatives."

"What about you, Mark?" Sullivan had an implicit meaning within his gaze and his son followed suit with his plans.

"As for me, the production company is at a halt with staff leaving for other opportunities. The distribution side of things has also come to a pause but has a stable staff. The halt is due to the lack of projects and the... failure of my last work." Mark was embarrassed by the end there despite his tough exterior act as someone being at a serious executive meeting.

Sullivan nodded like a well-grounded chairman and quickly turned his attention to the newcomer to their executive team. "Now, then! Supergenius, what advice could you give to this troubled corporation that we have?"

The true scrutiny finally came as Alexander's guts told him it would!