Aligned: Ryan Ackles Adrianne Santa Romana DJ Wolfson Shendo Yafuso

ALIGNED
RyanAckles
AdrianneSantaRomana
DJWolfson
ShendoYafuso
Aligned
Ackles,SantaRomana,Wolfson,Yafuso
Prologue
Atthefarendofthehallway,thecriesofjubilationechoedthroughoutthefloor.The
threeintelligentstudentshadfinallycompletedtheirproject.Aftermultipledraftsanddesigns,
revisionsandmistakes,theydaccomplishedtheirtaskforProfessorCorneliusWalton.The
brightraysofthesunandclearskiescouldbeseenthroughthelargewindowpanes.Inthecenter
oftheroom,stoodtwomechanicalobjectssurroundedbytheprudenthandsoftheirinventors.
Thesoundoffootstepsapproachedthelab,andwithaclickofabuttontheroomwas
spotless.Whatwasonceinthecenteroftheroom,vanishedrightbeforetheireyes.Theclicking
ofthefootstepsabruptlystoppedrightinfrontofthedoorasknucklespoundedthreeloud
knocks.Oneofthestudents,rushedtounlockthedoorforthedemagoguewhomanypeoplecall
ateacherorprofessor.Tomanystudents,hehasawarmandfriendlyattitudetowardslife,
howeverthesethreespecificstudentshavealwaysseenacompletelydifferentsideofhim.As
theyworkedontheproject,hewouldstopbytocheckonhowtheyweredoingandcensurethe
manyflawshesees,makingtheworkmoredifficult.Thesestudentshadnoideawhattheywere
gettingintoasProfessorWaltonwouldntimputeontheirwork.
Theshakingbodiesformedalinewithfeardeepintheireyesastheprofessorwalkedin
withsuchhighpoise.Hecalledfortheproject,andonceagainwiththepressofabuttonthe
mechanicalobjectsroseoutfromunderthefloor.Hequestionedwhathadhappenedtothefourth
memberofthegroupasheinspectedthemachines.Simultaneously,thethreebowedtheirheads
andapologizeonbehalfofthefourthmemberwholeftthegroup.Theprofessorwentonabout
howitwasaperfidiousactuponthegroup,butheknewitfromstart,someonewasboundto
leave.Thefourthmemberhadsuchaquerulousattitudethatitwasdifficultfortherestofthem
tomoveonwiththeproject.Thelabworkerhadnothingbuthackneyedideas,andProfessor
Waltonwassurprisedthatnoneoftheremainingthreekickedtheirformercolleagueoutofthe
labbeforehefinallymadehisdecisiontoleavethegroup.
Fromthestartoftheproject,(whenthegroupwasconverged)untiltheend,thethree
currentmembersformedatightbondwithoneanother.Thetriohadputtheirsweat,blood,and
tearsintothesetwolittlerobotsandwerenowabouttobeinformedofwhetheralloftheirhard
workpaidoffornot.Theprofessorlookedasthoughhewasjustabouttowrapuphisinspection.
Aftertakingonelastcircuitouslook,heavertedhiseyestowardsthestiffbodies.Forthefirst
timeever,agenuinesmileappearedacrossProfessorWaltonsfaceandtheyknewthattheirfinal
producthadbeenaccepted.Histransientvisitleftthegroupwithanothercelebration,asthe
soundofhisfootstepssoftened.
Walkingdownthehallway,ProfessorWaltonmetupwithalobbyistwhohadaspurious
name.Waltonwasuptosomethingdeleterious.Hereachedintohiscoatpockettogrababulky
envelope,andhandedittotheman.Atthecornerofthehallway,allthatwasseenwasthe
shadowofthesurreptitiousmeeting.Thequitetallermangrabbedtheendofhisnecktopulloff
whatseemedtobeamask.Thefaintwhisperoftheconversationcouldbeheardbutwasntloud
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enoughtounderstand.Aquicknodcamefromthemanwiththemaskastheypartedtheir
separateways.Tuckinghismaskawayinhiscoatasifnothinghappened,heleftthebuilding
headedacrossthestreet.M.E.T.S.
Thethreestudentshadnoideawhatwasinstoreforthem.Beforetheywereabletostart
theircelebrationthefloorbegantoshake.Theylookedatoneanotherinconfusion.Thesoundof
crackingwallsandglassshatteringturnedtheconfusionintofear.Thecriesforhelpcouldntbe
reachedfromoutsidetheroom,formetalwallsrosefromtheground.Beforetheynoticedasmall
blackballhadbouncedtothecenteroftheroom.Thestudentskeptyelling,astheballgrew
bigger,absorbingmanyobjectsincludingtherobots.Thesoundofafemalescreamhad
unexpectedlystopped,leavingonlytwostudents,butitwasntlongbeforeonlyonewasleft.
Theorbofblackbegantoshrink,untilitvanished.Atthispoint,thelabwasacomplete
anduttermessandanunconsciousbodyrestedstillinitscenter.
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SkyandBlue
ChapterI:TheArrival
Skysvisionwasclearingup.Inseconds,themetalcreaturewouldbeabletomakeout
thefiguresandobjectsinthelab.Worriedfaces,brokenglass,andspilledcontentsinvarious
colors.Skywouldbeokayandatthispoint,wassimplyprayingthatBluewasokay.Therobot
smoothlygotupfromalyingdownpositionwhilemaintaininganactiveviewofallits
surroundings.Withoutevenahintofconcernorworry,therobotcalledout,lookingleft,right,
andaheadwithoutseeinganysignsoflife.Skyscompanionrespondedusingitsstandard,
emotionlessandmetallictoneofvoice.
Sky,isthatyou?
Blue,whereareyoupositionedincomparisontomyself?Areyouingoodhealth?
Iamlocatedpreciselytwelvefeetbehindyou.Myconditionislistedas,strong.
Thatnewsmakesmefeel,satisfactory,SkystatedsquarelybeforegivingBluean
awkwardembraceandspeakingoncemore.
However,whyisEarthsupperatmospherevacuous?
Accordingtomyinternaltrackingdevice,wearecurrentlybasedontheterrainofBlank.
SimilartoEarth,thisplanetissphericalinshapeandalsohasasurface,whichwearestanding
uponasofthisexactmomentwithinthecontinuousspanoftime.AllofBlanksmatter
however,iscurrentlystoredunderneathitslandscape,thatisexcludingourselves.Blankwas
formedpreciselyoneminuteandfortysevensecondsuponourarrivalbyaspeciesentitled,the
M.E.T.S.Asonemightsuppose,M.E.T.S.isanacronym,whichstandsforMath,Engineering,
Science,andTechnology.Presently,wearetheonlylivingcreaturesuponthefaceofBlank.
MayIobject,Blue?
Youcertainlymayobject,Sky.
Iremindyouthatwearenotmembersofthehumanrace.Wearerobotsthatwere
recentlydesignedbyProfessorCorneliusWaltonandhisteamoflabworkersonApril7,2077in
theFreeStates.Withthatsaid,arewetechnicallylivingcreatures,Blue?
Bydefinition,arobotis
amachinecapableofcarryingoutacomplexseriesofactions
automatically,especiallyoneprogrammablebyacomputeror(especiallyinsciencefiction)a
machineresemblingahumanbeingandabletoreplicatecertainhumanmovementsand
functionsautomatically.
Thisisbesidethepoint,aswearetheonlymatteronthisterrain.
Iunderstand,Blue.Ihavealsodiscoveredthrough
my
databasethattheM.E.T.S.,arean
evilgroupofindividualswho,oneminutesandfiftysevensecondsuponourarrival,implanteda
grenadewithintheinteriorwallsofWaltonLaboratories.Oneminuteandthirtysevenseconds
uponourarrivaltoBlank,thegrenadedetonated.M.E.T.S.currentmotivetoputthisactioninto
placeisstillunknown,asisthereasonwhywehavebeentransportedtothispeculiarlocation.
Sky,thisseriesofeventscertainlysoundssuspicioustome.
Blue,thisseriesofeventssoundssuspicioustomeaswell.Whatdowedonow?
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ChapterII:AGameChangingDiscovery
Sky,youbringupanadequatestatement.Iproposethatwewalkacrossthislandscape.
Basedonourcurrentperspective,itmightseemthatBlankstretchesinfinitelyinlengthandthat
itpossessesnotraitsotherthanitslackofcolor.Afterall,anysourceofdepthorlightis
currentlynotvisibletous,evenwithourproficienteyesight.Inrealityhowever,these
observationscanneverbeprovedfactual.Itisundermypersonalbeliefthatnotangible,nor
intangibleideacaneverbeproved.Thoughifweexaminetheworldarounduswithcare,wecan
begintocreatefactsratherthanimaginehowthisworldwasintendedtobeseen.
ThatwaswonderfullyputandIbelieveintheexactpointsthatyouhavevoiced,Blue.
Ourbeliefsarelikelyidenticaloratleastsimilartakingintoconsiderationthefactthatwewere
constructedbythesameworkersandcreatedwiththeuseofalmostidenticalbuildingsupplies.I
believeweshallheadourseparatewaysinordertoviewdifferentregionsofBlank.Doyou
agreewiththisproposal,Blue?Ormightyousuggestanalternateone?
Icertainlyagreewiththisproposal,Sky.Ialsohighlyrecommendthatweincreaseour
innerDecibellevelstoamaximumvolumeinordertocommunicatewithoneanotheraswe
crossthefaceofBlank.Doyouhaveanalternateproposal?
Ido,Blue.Iwasabletorecognizethatasyouwereexplainingyourcomplex
philosophyabouttheideaoffactsandopinions,Iwasprocessingyourexactthoughts.I
processedyourexactthoughtsattherateasyouwere,notevenanattosecondbeforeorafter.
Thisnewdevelopmentiscertainlyinteresting,Sky.Ironically,Idobelievethatthis
outlandishideaisindeed,afact.Shallwetrytoproveyourconceptioncorrect?
Indeed,Blue.Weshalltestmytheorynolessandnomorethanthreeconsecutivetimes.
Areyoureadytotestthispotential,lifealteringadvancementinourselves?
Letuscompletethistaskinfrontofuswithgreatintegrityandmight.
Fairlyput.Blue,Iamthinkingofanexactmoment,person,place,object,orabstract
thoughtasofthisverymoment.Icanalsotellyouforcertainthatthisthoughtwillremain
unchangedforthedurationofthisfirsttrial.WhatamIthinkingof?
Sky,youarecurrentlycontemplatingtheglimmerhiddenwithintheeyesof
Professor
WaltonasbothyouandIwereactivatedintotheworldknownasEarth.Accordingtoyour
relativelyshortdatabaseofcomputedinformationregardingyourexperiencesfromthepast,
Waltonseyeswerethefirstsightyoueversaw,andasexpected,theywillremainthiswayuntil
theconclusionofyourexistence.AmIreadingyourthoughtsaccurately?
Youcertainlyare,Blue.However,nowIamprocessinganewidea.
ItisprobablethatIamawareofthisidea.Atthisverymoment,youarethinkingaboutthe
matterthatwewilltrytouncoverbelowthesurfaceofBlank.Andbymatteryoumeanthe
literalmatter.TheonlythingthatweneedtosurviveistheSun,whichofcourseBlankdoesnot
currentlypossess.Therefore,weneedtocreatethisnecessaryresourceandbeforewemoveon
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tothenexttopic,youwouldliketoaddanotherthoughtinregardstothisone.Additionally,you
askthatIpausethisgameandlistentoyouspeakaboutyourconcern.
Thisiscorrectbut,survivalismoreimportantthanthisexperimentthatweare
performing.IbelievethatwecansurviveanothertwodayswithouttheSun,butafterthe
fortyeighthhourincomparisontothisveryhour,wewillbeatriskofdeactivating.
ChapterIII:SearchingForASolution
Mostdefinitely,Sky.Frommycomplexdatabaseofscientificfactsandlocation
history,IcaninformyouthatapproximatelyseventytwopercentoftheSunismadeupof
hydrogengases,andtwentysixpercentofthehotmeshofgasesishelium.Theothertwo
percentoftheSunismadeupofacombinationofcarbon,nitrogen,oxygen,andotheratoms.
HowevertheSunweighs
1.98910^30kilogramsandhasacircumferenceoftwo
million,sevenhundredthirteenthousand,fourhundredelevenpointeightmiles.Howcouldwe
possiblyrecreateitinanestimatedtimeperiodoftwodays?
Thatcertainlyisadifficultquestiontoanswer,butIpropose,thatwemakeasmaller
versionoftheSun.Perhapsitwouldbethesizeofabaseball.Andwithinthewhole,complete
sizeofourballoffire,ninetyeightpercentofitsmakeupwillbehydrogenandheliumwhilethe
othertwopercentwillbemadeupofsomeoftheotheratomsIpreviouslymentioned.The
proportionsdonthavetobeexact,butjustcloseenoughtosustainourseparatelives.Ofcourse,
wewillbecreatingtwoversionsoftheSun,oneformyselfandoneforyou.
Whilealloftheseareexceptionalpoints,Blue,thoughIdofinditwrongandpossibly
unfairtolabeltheseinventionseachasSunsAfterall,thereisonlyoneSuninexistence,itis
unabletoberecreatedinitsexactform,andweshouldcometorespectthissimplefact.Why
dontwesimplyrefertothemasmicrosols?Theofficialdefinitionofmicrois,
extremely
small
withthemeaningofsolbeing,
Sun.
Justliketheirdefinitionsconvey,wearecreating
extremelysmallSuns.
Whenwearethroughwiththeconstructionofthesepowerfulorganisms,
wewillcarefullyremovethesolarpanelsfromeachofoursystemsandreplacethemwiththe
newlyinventedmicrosols.
Yes,indeed,Sky.Carefullyconsidertheideathatthemicrosolscouldnotbeplacedinto
ourstructuresiftheyweretobemadespherical.Theyhavetobemadeusingtheexactshape
andsizeofthepanels.Fromthispointonwards,wemustworkwithprecisionandquickness.
TheremustbesomewayoutofBlankandsomerewardforouractions.Evenifthisideaturns
outtobenothingbutafalsebelief,timeisoftheessence.WemustworktomeetFranz,Dani,
andDon,andProfessorWalton.Wemustworktofindanewfuturebecausewecannotspend
therestofourlivesonBlank.
Whilethesepointsarecertainlytrue,Blue,wemustnotcreatethemicrosolsandexpect
theleavetheotherwisebarrenouterlayerofBlank.OtherformsoflifeonEarthmustbe
reproducedaswell,includingthesoil,water,plantlife,andtrees.Oncethepurestaspectsof
Blankarecreated,humanlifecanwalkitssurfacetomodernizethisplanet.
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Thatexplanationwaswonderfullyput.InowproposethatweexploreBlankand
communicatetooneanothertelepathically.Doyouagreewiththisproposal?
Idoagreewiththisproposal.Letuspaceinourseparatedirections.
Activateyourdatabase,Sky.
Yourcommandisalreadyaccountedfor,Blue.
Withthatremarkactingasanendingtotheirlengthyconversation,SkyandBlue
simultaneouslytriggeredtheabilityforthemtohoverviatheircontrolpads.Withoutasound,
theyglidedthroughtheairjustafewinchesabovethegroundatarelativelyfastyetsmooth
pace.Now,theywereeasilycommunicatingtheirthoughtsandideasthroughtelepathy.
Blue,Ifeellikewecouldbemovingaboutfiftymilesperhourfaster.Doyouthinkwe
couldbothaccomplishthisfeat?Thetwoofusareequippedwithinternalspeedometers.Would
youbeinagreeancewiththeideaofexceedingseventyfivemilesperhour?
Sky,Itruthfullyfeelasthoughthisriskisnecessarytotakeandpossibletoachieve.Let
usaccelerateaheadwithanincreasedspeedoftwohundredmilesperhouronmycountuptono
moreandnolessthanthreeseconds.Areyouready,Sky?Onetwothree
Aftertheircounttothree,SkyandBlueflewfasterawayfromoneanother.Unlikethe
movementofacar,therobotduomiraculouslyracedforwardfromzerototwohundredmiles
perhourinjusttwotothreesecondsandthisspeedcontinuedthroughouttheirquickpacedtrip.
Surprisingly,SkyandBluesjourneywouldsooncometoanend.
Blue,Ijustreceivedamessagethatwewouldbereachingtheendoftheworldin
whatisatthisverymoment,lessthanfivemiles.
ButSky,thatdescriptionhastobeatechnicalerror.Noplanetsimplyends.For
example,approximatelyseventyonepercentofEarthssurfaceismadeupofwaterwhilethe
othertwentyninepercentofEarthisland.Withthisfactinmind,landdoestransfertowaterat
acertainpoint,buttheworldneverends.Holdonemoment,Sky.Isincerelyapologizeformy
previouswordsasIjustreceivedthismessagethroughmyowndatabase.Whatdoyoubelieve
thisstatementnowimplies?
Thisnewdevelopmentmustmeanthatthisworldisnotspherical.Blue,thisisthe
discoveryofalifetime.Wealsoarenowawarethatthisplanetisextremelysmall,spanningno
morethanonehundredmilesinitscompletewidth.Letusstopandprocessthisinformation.
Yes,Sky.Mygenerallocationtrackerreportsthatwestartedatapproximatelythe
centeroftheworld.IfwelookatBlankfromtheperspectiveofaquadrantplane,itseemsthat
webeganourindependentjourneysattheexactpointof(0,0).Ifwevieweachunitonthe
planeasamile,wehavetraveledadistanceoffortyeightmiles,youatapproximately(48,0)and
myselfatpoint(48,0).Blankextendsnorthandsouthforexactlyfiftymileseachway,meaning
thatitstotalareaistenthousandsquareunits,orinreallifeterms,tenthousandsquaremiles.
Nowthatweknowmostofthespatialdetailsinregardstothisplanet,weshallmeet
backatthecenteroftheworldtodigdeeperintothismysterytitledBlank?
Yes,weshall,Sky.
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ChapterIV:DiggingDeeper
SkyandBlueshoveledthroughthesmoothsurfaceofBlank,usingthecuplikeshapeof
theirhandstocutthroughthegroundssurface.Thesidesofeachoftheirsixfingers(threeon
eachhand)wereassharpasfreshblades,knivinginmechanical,yetrhythmicmotions.
Althoughtheearthandskywereaswhiteasarabbits,thelandscapeunderneathwhatwasvisible
toSkyandBluehadtheoddesttexture,likesandhardenedbytheconstantbackandforthof
wavesagainstashore.Forrobotslikethemselves,sleepwasbynomeansencouragedoreven
necessary,thoughwithoutthecontinuousenergyoftheSuntofuelthem,SkyandBluebeganto
growincreasinglytiredastheirfirsthouroftheirintenselaborledintothesecond.
UnlikeatomsexistingonEarth,theatomsonBlank,althoughextremelysmall,were
visibletobothSkyandBlue.Diggingforatomswaslikesearchingforgoldinagoldmine.
TheywererarewithinthemidstofthewhitesandofBlank,butwhenfound,theminuscule
atomswerevaluabletotheeffortsofSkyandBlue.Eachelement,aboutthesizeofabead,was
labeledinblackwiththeatomicsymboloftheatom(ex:KrforKrypton).TheonlywayforSky
andBluetoseeexactlywhatthesetranslucentelementswerewasiftheyusedthemagnifying
toolimplantedintheireyesight,whichcouldviewobjectswithuptotwentytimesmoreclarity.
AfterlivingonBlankforalmostthreehourswithnothingbuthundredsofseparatedatoms,Sky
andBluetookpleasureincommunicatingnonverballyastheyhadjustacouplehoursago.
TheygenuinelyenjoyedthelackofnoiseonplanetBlank.(Allnonverbalconversationswillbe
writteninitalicsfortheremainderofthenovel).
Blue,couldyoucompleteasimplefavorformeandprocessthenumberofhydrogen
atomsyouhavecollectedinthishuntasofthisverymoment.Accordingtomyindividual
calculations,Ihavecollectedsixhundredsixtyoneofsevenhundredtotalhydrogenatoms
throughexactlyonehour,fiftythreeminutes,andfortysevensecondsofoursearch.Howmany
totalhydrogenatomshaveyoucollectedatthispointintime?
Sky,Ihavealsocollectedpreciselysixhundredsixtyoneofsevenhundredtotal
hydrogenatomsthroughexactlyonehour,fiftythreeminutes,andfortysevensecondsofour
search.Ihavediscoveredthatouractionsandoccasionallyourthoughtsareidenticaltoone
another.Doyouagreewiththisclear,factualstatement,Sky?
Icertainlybelieveintheideathatourmindsarepracticallyintertwinedgiventhe
evidenceoverthecourseofourfirstdayinexistencethatverifiesthisintriguingpoint.However,
Ialsobelieveintheideathatyoupresentedearlierwhichisthatnosingleaspectoflifecanever
beproven.Withthisbeliefinmind,areourmindstrulyintertwined?
Youarecertainlycorrect.Althoughwecommunicateintermsofcalculationsandfacts,
theseideaswillnevertechnicallybeabletobeprovenastruecalculationsorfacts.Imisspoke
whenIstatedthatourthoughtsandactionsareintertwinedandthatbyeverymeans,thisis
consideredafact.However,Ithinkitissafetoconcludethatwebothbelievethisisthecase.Is
myassumptiononthismattercorrect?
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Thatassumptionisindeedcorrect,Blue.Letusmovebacktoourinitialtopicof
discussion.Iremindyouthatthetwoofusneedtocollectonethousandatomseach,asweare
tryingtomodelourmicrosolsafteronehundredpercentoftheSun.Inthisinstance,weareeach
responsibleforcollectingsevenhundredtwentyhydrogenatoms,whichequatestoseventytwo
percentofthehydrogenatomsthatmakeuptheSun.Followingthistask,wewillgatherfive
hundredtwentyheliumatoms,twohundredsixtyformyselfandtwohundredsixtyforyou.The
remainingtwopercentofatomswillbeestimatedandusedforthesolepurposeofreachingthe
onehundredpercentofthemassofthemicrosols.Afterwecollectallofourresources,our
finalpercentagestheseelementswillbedeterminedbasedontheirmassincomparisontothe
totalmassofthetwomicrosols.Buttrustme,everythingwillworkoutaccordingtoplan.
Sky,youjustprovidedmewithexcellentinformation.Inaddition,Iwouldliketo
mentionthattheseproportionsdonothavetobeexact.Intheend,wearesimplysubstitutingthe
Sunwithourmicrosolstosurvive,notnecessarilytothrive.Besides,wewillonlybeonBlank
foralimitedamountoftime.Icanassumethistimewillbeacoupleofweeks.
Atthesametimethough,wewanttomakesurethatwetrulyareabletosurvivewith
thesemicrosolsimplantedinoursystems.Furthermore,youmentionthatwewillonlybeon
Blankforalimitedamountoftimeyetwhowillsaveusfromthisworldoutsideofthedeep
swirloftheMilkyWay.Oncewefullycompletethisworld,willwemagicallymoveontothe
nextstageofourlives,orwillwehavetobuildanaircrafttotransportusbacktoEarth?I
recognizethatIamplayingdevilsadvocateinthisinstancehowever,Icanthelpbutthink
aboutwhatwillhappentousafterthispointinourlives.
Dontworryaboutathing,Sky.Iknowthatourfutureisuncertainasofrightnow,but
Ibelievethateverythingwilltakecareofitself.ThatsthemindsetthatbothyouandIneedto
maintainmovingforward.Fornow,letuscontinuethetaskinfrontofusbysearchingforatoms
underneaththegreatexpanseofBlankssurface.
ChapterV:TheFinalTouchofEnergy
SkyandBluecontinuedtosortandcollecttheiratoms,makingquickworkaseach
second,minute,andhourpassedby.Afterfinishingtheirassortmentofthehydrogenatoms,Sky
andBluemovedontodiscoveringthetwohundredsixtyheliumatomseachofthemneeded.
Thisprocesswouldhavebeenjustastiringfortherobotduoiftheyhadnotalreadyfoundsome
heliumatomsenroutetothecompletionoftheirfirsttask.Aftercrossingthefivehundredmark
intermsoftotalheliumatomscollected,therobotsspokeoncemore.
Sky,shallwecombinetheatomsfollowingoursearchforalltwothousandofthem,one
thousandpermicrosol?Orshallwecombinethemstartingnow?
Iproposethatwecombinealloftheatomsataftercollectingalltwothousand.We
mustholdoutduetothefactthatitwillbearewardforallofourhardwork.Weshallfusethe
atomsalltogethertocreatethemostaccuratesimulationoftheSunsinitialformationas
opposedtomergingthembyatomtype.Fortunately,ouratomsarealreadysplitupbetweenthe
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bothofusandwewillnotlosethemduetothefactthatthereisnowind.Speakingofwhich,at
whatpointwilltherebewindonBlank,ifever?
Accordingtomysources,windisformedbytheSunsradiationacrosstheEarths
roughsurface.Earthhasmanylayersandelevationpoints,whichiswhywindmovesinall
directions.Inotherwords,ifBlankisacompletelyflatworldwithnotevenasingletraceof
sunlight,thenwindisnotcapableofforming.Youcouldhaveprocessedthisinformation
throughyourowndatabase,Sky.AmIcorrectinsayingthis?
Yesindeed.Iapologizeformyactions,Blue.
Verywellthen,Sky.Withthatbeingsaid,Iamunsurethatthecreationofwindcanbe
achievedatthismomentintimeconsideringthatBlankstexturehaslittlehardnesstoit.
Thereforemountainouscliffsandrockyhillsideswillnotbeinexistence.Ipreviouslystatedthat
IdreamofhumansonedaywalkingacrossBlanktobetterindustrializeit.AndItrulymean
industrializationwhenIsayit.ItisinmyopinionthatyouandIaresimplyheretoconstructa
livableenvironmentforpeopletoinhabit.Fromthere,itisuptothoseresidinginBlanktotake
thereignsandcreatetherestofBlanksfeatures,naturalandnonnatural.
Yes,Blue.MankindmustlearnfromitsmistakesonEarthsandseizethisopportunity
tobetterthemselves.Globalwarmingandoverpopulationareleadingtotheslowbutdefinite
destructionofEarthandthisplanetneedsmankindasmuchasmankindneedsit.
Exactly.OncewearedonewithourportionofthecreationofBlank,Ienvisionthe
greatestleadersfromaroundtheworld,theirfamilies,andofcourse,translatorstogatherhere.
GivenBlankssmallsurface,theseareallofthepeoplewecanaffordtobring.Oncethey
arrive,willpracticallybehandedthisblankslatetoworkwith.Thisplanetspurposewillbeto
giveEarthsscientists,innovators,andpoliticianstheopportunitytoexperimentwithefficient
andenvironmentallysafesurvivaltechniquestotakebackanduseintheirrespectivecountries.
Sky,isitpossiblethatBlankisthekeycomponenttothepreservationofEarth.
Blue,asmuchasIwouldliketoagreewithyou,wemustnotgettoofaraheadof
ourselves.Ourlocationandinformationaldevicesareincapableoftrackinghowfarplanet
BlankisfromplanetEarth.Iwillrepeattheexactwordsthatyousaidinanearlierconversation
becausetheystillholdtrue.Iknowthatourfutureisuncertainasofrightnow,butIbelievethat
everythingwilltakecareofitself.ThatsthemindsetthatbothyouandIneedtomaintain
movingforward.Fornow,letuscontinuethetaskinfrontofusbysearchingforatoms
underneaththegreatexpanseofBlankssurface.
PreciselyonepointtwoEarthdayshadpassedsincetherobotsovertookthesurfaceof
Blank.SkyandBluekeptonsearchingthroughtheabundanceofatomslaidoutbeforethem.
Witheachsmallpieceofthepuzzleundertheirpossession,SkyandBluesconfidencegrew.
Thoughasthehourspassedby,therobotsenergylevelsdwindled.Atthispoint,SkyandBlue
werebasicallyfueledbythemotivationtofinishastheyclosedinontheirrespectiveone
thousandatoms,thegrandtotal.WithtwentyatomsleftforeachofBlanksfirstinhabitants,Sky
andBluessystematicslicing,searching,andsortingtechniquesloweddown.Onlycarbon,
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nitrogen,oxygen,oranyotherelementslocatedintheSunwerenecessaryforthemicrosolsat
thisstageintheprocess.Thefinalatomsbegantoshowthemselvesthroughtheelementless
bedoflandtheywerediggingthrough,onethatwasaboutthesizeofamediumsizedbedroom.
Oxygen,nitrogen,nitrogen,iron,magnesium,carbon,nitrogen,carbon,oxygen,silicon,carbon.
Andjustlikethat,thesearchforsurvivalwasover.Afternearlyeighteenhoursoftediouslabor,
twothousandatomsneededtocreatejusttwosufficientmicrosolshadbeenfoundandseparated
intotwogroupsofonethousand.OneforSkyandoneforBlue.
ChapterVI:TheMomentofTruth
ItwasnowtimeforSkyandBluetofusealloftheelementscriticaltotheirsurvival.
Anditwasdifficulttodeterminewhatwouldactuallyhappenintheformationofthesemicrosols
orevenifitwouldprovetobeanoutcomethatwaseithergoodorbad.
Sky,howdoyousupposetheseatomswillcombine?
IpersonallybelievethattheseatomswillmeshtogetherjustastheactualSunhad
approximatelyfourpointfiftysevenbillionyearsago.Asbothofusobviouslyknow,theentire
solarsystemisessentiallymadeupofgasesandinitsearliestofforms,theSunwassimplyaball
ofhelium,hydrogen,andtheotherelementsaforementioned.Overthisenormousperiodoftime,
theSunreallybecamewhateveryonerecognizesitastoday,increasingintemperatureandin
density.Idontbelievethiscollisionwillbeprettytospectate,certainlynotlikeanorganized
bondingbetweentwohydrogenatomsandoneoxygenatom.
AndSky,whatexactlyleadsyoutothebeliefthatthisexampleoffusionwillnotturnout
tobeanexampleofacovalent,ionic,ormetallicbond?
Whilethesethreetypesofbondscouldoccurbetweensomeatomswithinthesystem,I
assumethattheoverallreactionwillbefartoopowerful.Forexample,inacovalentbond,
electronsaresharedbetweentwodifferentoridenticalkindsofatoms.Byformingacovalent
bond,twohydrogenatomscanbecomeonehydrogenmoleculebysharingthesingleelectron
eachofthemhavestoredintheirrespectiveshells.Additionally,CHcanbecreatedthrough
thismethodbecauseonehydrogenelectronfromeachoftheatomscanformabondwithoneof
thefourelectronslocatedincarbonsoutershell.
Sky,isitpossiblethatametallicbondcanbeformedinthislifechangingexperiment
thatwillhavealreadytranspiredinamatterofmoments?
Onlyafewwouldoccurconsideringthattheonlymetallicatomsinvolvedinthe
creationofthemicrosolsaremagnesium,iron,andsilicon.Inametallicbond,multiplevalence
electrons,electronsintheoutershellofanatom,clingontopositivelychargedmetalions.An
ionisanatomthathaseithermoreelectronsthanprotonsorviceversaandthistypeofbonding
mostlyoccursbetweenionsofthesametype.Finally,ionicbondingisachievedwhen
oppositelychargedionsarelinkedbyanattractionthatiselectrostatic.Thistypeofbond
typicallyexistsbetweenatomssuchasfluorineandchlorine,butinanexperimentation/invention
processofthismagnitude,anythingislikelytohappen.
10
Aligned
Couldseparatebondspotentiallybetheonlythingthatleadstothemicrosols?
Iamunsureoftheanswertoyourquestion,butwewillknowinamatterofseconds
orless.Ormaybewewontevenhavetheopportunitytoseethisreactiontakeplace.Blue,amI
correctinsayingthatyoucouldhaveprocessedthisinformationthroughyourowndatabase?
Yes,Sky.JustlikeyouIdoindeedapologizeformymistakes,butwemustmoveonto
ourmainitemontheagenda.Doyoufeelasthoughweareonehundredpercentreadytocarry
forththetaskofcreatingthisinvention,onethatwillhopefullysaveourlives?
Ido.Letusmovetheseatomsinourseparatepilesclosertooneanotherandletthe
magichappen.Ireallydontknowwhattoexpect.
NeitherdoI.
Simultaneously,SkyandBluemovedtowardstheprojecttheyhadbeenworkingonfor
whatwasnowalmostaday.Therobotswerejustinchesawaynowfromwhatcouldverywell
bethemakeupofthemostrevolutionaryproductofalltime.Amicrosol.Itwasaminiature
versionoftheSunandcouldbeusedtohelpmankindyearsfromnowinliteraltimesof
darkness.SkyandBluewereplanningtokickthealreadycloseatomsevenclosertooneanother
andbackoutofthewaybeforegettingburned,singed,shocked,orelectrocuted.Theriskofthis
movewashigh,butsowasthereward.Andtherewardatthispointwastheabilitytolivea
normallifespan.Theyhadnochoicebuttocarryoutwiththislifethreateningmission.
Lessthanasecondaftertheirfeetmadecontactwiththeatoms,sparksflew.Throughthe
immenseamountofsmoke,flames,andhotgases,SkyandBluewereunabletoseeathing.But
afterjustfiveseconds,thereactionsthatcamewiththeresultoftheexperimenthadcompletely
stopped.Onthepure,texturelessterrainofBlanklaytwosmalldevices,identicalinsize.
Aftertwentysecondsoflisteningtothedullhum,Skyfinallyspokeinanaudible,verbal
mannersothatBluecouldhearwhatwasbeingsaid.Andforthefirsttime
ever
,
she
,thefemale
robot,spokewithtrueandalmostpoeticemotion.
Blue,thismightbethemostbeautifulthingIhaveeverseen.Sopure,brightandround.
AnddespitethefactthatthereisnodarknessinthislittleworldwecallBlank,thesemicrosols
somehowglow.Ihaveabsolutelynoclearideaastowhythesefeelingshavesuddenlyrisenout
ofmysmall,helplessbody.ButI
do
recognizethattheyaretrueandmeaningful.Justlikeyou.
Youknow,themomentIlaideyesonyou,Iknewyouweremorethanjustafriend.Thatyou
wouldbeacompanionIcouldseekintimesoftrouble.ThatyouwouldbealeaderIcouldcount
onwhenunsureofwheretoturn.Andthatyouwouldbetheloveofmylife.Allofthese
qualitiesstillholdtrueandyouhaveneverdisappointedme.Notonce.Andwhetheryoulikeit
ornot,Icouldntimaginespendingtherestofmylifewithoutyou.Iloveyou.Irealizethat
thesethingsarecompletelyuncharacteristicofarobottosay,buttheemotionsspillingoutofme
andmyloveforyouarebothfacts.Fromthismomentforward,Ivownottoconformto
societysexpectationsofwhatarobotshouldorshouldntbe.AndthatsnottosaythatIwas
hidinganythingbeforebutthisistheversionofmethatItrulywanttobe.Iwanttospendthe
restofmylifewithyou.DoyouagreewiththisproposalandeverythingthatIhavesaid?
11
Aligned
TobehonestImshocked,infact,speechlessbutIcouldnotagreewithyouany
more.Thereisnothinglefttosay.IloveyouandIvealwaysadmiredyourhighintelligence,
positiveattitudetowardslife,andrelentlessnesstowardseverythingthatwehaveachievedsofar.
Imbeyondexcitedtocreatemorememorieswithyou.Iknowthisspielisntnearlyas
exceptionalasyourswas,butitsallIvegotrightnow.Althoughournerdy,roboticvocabulary
hasbeenlostfornowandpossiblyforever,ourtrueselveshavebeenfoundandIcouldntbe
morecontentwithlifeonBlankatthemoment.Butwehaveajobtodo.Westilldonthave
thesemicrosolsinoursystemsandourenergylevelsarerunninglow.Sky,weretakinganother
risk,butitstheonlychoicewevegot.Areyouready?
Blue,itfeelslikeIvebeenwaitingforthismomentformywholelife.Which,isnt
sayingmuchconsideringthatwevelivedforpreciselytwentyfourhoursandelevenminutes.
Butyouknowwhat,Imreadytoseizethismoment.Carpediem,right?Accordingtomy
sources,thispopularphrasemeans,seizethedayinLatinandwasfirstusedinwritingbya
Romanpoetnamed
QuintusHoratiusFlaccus.
Comeon,Sky.Dontnerdoutonmenow.Butseriously,areyouready?
Areyoukiddingme?AsIsaid,Iwasbornready.Letsgetthisshowontheroad.
12
Aligned
DonandShay
ChapterI:GoodMorning
Thesoundofdistantscreamscameringingthroughhishead.Heawokewithajoltanda
largeinhalewhichseemedtohavelastedforthreeseconds.Eyeswide,andheartbeating,he
musteredthestrengthtoslowlygetupfromhispositiononthegroundwherehewaslying.
Ashegotontohisfeet,hebrushedoffwhatwasnowadustybrownlabcoat.He
coughedafewtimesafterinhalingsomeofthedustthatflewoffofhistornlabcoat.After
rubbingoffhisface,helookedaround.Hewasinthelabwhereheworked,everythingseemed
tobefine.
Thesmallroomhadonlytwoflickeringceilinglightsthatbarelyilluminatedtheroom.
Fourdeskswereplacedevenlythroughoutthelab,eachoneofthemshouldhavehadsomeone
standinginfrontofthemperformingresearch.Butnoonewasthere,exceptforhim.This
wasnttheonlythingwrongwiththelab.Theentireroomwasoncepurewhitetilesbutnow,
theroomwasfadedandrusting.Thewallshadcrackswherewaterwasdripping,causing
erosionandmoss.
Themanmadehiswaytothethecenteroftheroomwhereoneofthetworemaining
lightsflickeredoverapuddleofmurkywaterdownstreamfromthewallitwasconnectedto.He
lookedintoit.Hesawahazyreflectionofayoung,cleanshaven,brownhairedman.Hestuck
hishanddowntograbahandfulofwatertowashoffhisface,butjerkedhishandbackassome
bubblesfloatedtothesurfaceofthepuddle.Hethenfollowedthelittlestreamofwaterthatran
throughthecracksandcrevicesbetweenthetiles,andmadehiswaytotheholeinthewallwhere
thewatercamefrom.Thewaterseemedabitcleaner,andwasfarlessmurky.Hecuppedhis
twohandsbelowtheholeandgatheredabitofwatertowashhisfaceoff.Thewaterwascold
enoughtogivehimthatlastboostofbeingawake.Hestretchedabitandletoutayawn.
Nowwhereiseveryone?hesaidaloud,andquicklycuppedhismouth,embarrassed
forhavingnotkeptquiet.Aftereyeingtheroominembarrassment,heheardsomething.From
thecornerofhiseye,hesawtwolegsstickingoutfrombehindafadedwhitedesk.Helooked
overatthetwolegswhichwerebarelyvisibleinthedarklab.Thesoundcameagain.
Thistime,hecouldhearthesoundmoreclearly.Itsoundedlikeamoan,andoneofthe
twolegstwitched.Hecouldnthelpbutwalkingcloser.Everystephetookincreasedthespeed
ofhisheartsbeats,everystephetookthemorethelegsbegintomove.Finally,hewasonthe
othersideofthedeskwherethetwolegswerestickingoutfrom.Sadly,hewasntthetallest
personsopeekingoverthedeskwasanoption,especiallysinceitwouldtodarktoevenseewhat
hewaslookingat.
Beforehecouldmakeanymovearoundthedesk,twosmallarmsswungupfrombehind
thedesk.Themanimmediatelyjoltedbackwards.Boththehands,andthemanpausedforafew
seconds,thehandsbegantomove.Asoftvoicecamefrombehind,
WhycantIjustsleep?thefemininevoiceexpressedasthehanddisappearedfrom
behindthesmooth,browndesk.
13
Aligned
WhoWhosthere?themanstuttered.
Noanswercame,theroomfellsilent,withtheonlynoisebeingthesoundofwater
drippingthroughthecracksintheceiling.Finally,oneofthehandscamebackupandgrabbed
thesideofthedesk.Thehandpulledthefigureoutfrombehindthedesk.Itwastoodarktosee
exactlywhatthemanwaslookingat,buthecouldmakeoutsomefeatures.
Thedarksilhouettewasalittleshorterthanhim.Onehandwasstillholdingontothe
desk,andtheotherheldontoitshead.Thefigurestumbledbackwardsabit,butpulleditself
forwardswiththehandthatfirmlyhelddesk.
Crap,myheadhurts,thevoicesaid.
Whoareyou?Themanasked,thistimewithmoreconfidenceandconcernforwhohe
wasstuckwithinthisdarkroom.
WhoamI?Well,whoareyou?thevoicerespondedasitslowlybegantostumble
aroundthedesk.
IIaskedfirst,themanresponded.Asighcameoutfromthefigure.
MynameMynameisShay,Thefigureresponded,Sowhatisyourname?
MynameisDon,
Asshewalkedoutfrombehinddesk,DoncouldgetaclearerlookofwhoShaywas.
Shesayoung,shorthairedbrunette.Shehadadusty,fadedwhitelabcoat,withbluejeansthat
hadwetmarks,andapairofdirtyblacksneakers.
Forsomereason,Donfeltlikeheknewthisperson.Thoughatthesametime,hewas
confusedonhowhecouldknowShayifhecouldnttellwhoshewaswhenhefirstheardher.
Thisboggledhismindforbitasheawkwardlyjuststaredatherwithwideeyes.Aftersnapping
afewtimes,ShaygrabbedDonsattention.
Hey,youjustzonedoutthereforabit.
IImfine,Donresponded.
Donlookeddownathisdusty,wetjeans,andremembered.Hehadhisphoneinhisleft
pocket.Hereacheddownintohispocketandpulledouthistouchscreensmartphone.After
clickingtheonbuttononce,thentwice,thenmultipletimes,hefinallygaveup.
Damn.
So,doyouhaveanyideaonwherewemightbe?Shayaskedassheslowlylooked
aroundthemessyroom.
BeforeDonresponded,hetookalookaroundtheroomhimself.Alreadyknowinghe
wasinthelabthatheworkedat,hewantedtotakeanotherlookforhimself.Healreadyknew
somethingwaswrongwiththelab,thewallswereleaking,mosswaseverywhere.Thelabdidnt
evenhaveitsstereotypicalwhitewallsandtiledfloor.Mostofthewallsandthefloorwas
eithercrackedorfaded.Thelablooklookedlikepeoplehaventtouchedtheplaceinalongtime,
butthatwouldntmakesensesinceforsomereason,heandshewerethere.
Howwasshehere,
andwhoisshe?
weretwoquestionsthatjustranthroughhismind.
Well,this
should
bethelabthatIworkin.
14
Aligned
Should?Shayinquired.
ThelabdidntlooklikethisthelasttimeIremembered.Itlookedalot,Donlookedat
thecrackedceilingwhichdripwater,andhadamossclingingtoit,Cleaner.
Iwouldhopethatitwascleanerwhenyouworkedinit.But,thatdoesntexplainwhy
wearehere.IhaveafeelinglikeIknowthisplace,butIknowIdontworkinalab.Shay
respondedasshebegantowalkalongoneofthedesks,andfoundablackdesklamp.After
tryingtoturnitonafewtimes,shegaveupandkeptlookingaround.
Ifyoudontworkinalab,thenwhyareyouwearingalabcoat?Donsaidashelooked
atherfaded,dirtywhitelabcoat.
Thatsagreatquestion,Shaysaidasshelookeddownandchuckled.Shetookoffthe
dirtylabcoatsinceshehadacleanerblueshirtthathadacartoongraphiconit,andwasfar
largerthanherunder.Shedroppedthelabcoatonthefloorwithoutmuchcareasitlandedina
puddleofmuck.
Donsmiledattheideaofsimplydroppingthingsyoudontcareaboutonthefloorno
matterwheretheywouldland.Hewasalwaysinterestedinpeoplewhocouldbesononchalant
aboutthings.Itsnotthewayoflifethathewantslive,butitsalwaysamusedhimtowatch
peoplelikethat.
Anyideaonhowtogetoutofthisplace?Shaysaidassheturnedaroundtolookat
Don.
Turnaroundagain,Donrespondedwhilebeginningtosmile.
Shayturnedaround,andatfirstdidntunderstand.ShelookedbackatDon,hegestured
forhertoturnbackaround.Finally,Shaylookedupandsayabrokenexitsignwithonlythe
letterEworking.Underthesign,waspitchblack.Thelastremaininglightsinthelabcouldnt
illuminatefartherthanwhereShaystood.DonbegantowalkpastShayandstretchedouthistwo
handstofeelforthepushhandle.AsDonfeltthehandleofthedoor,hegaveitonepush.It
didntbudge.Hegavethedooramoreforcefulpush,nothing.
HeyShay,Donsaidwithasenseofjustgettingbeatenbyadoor,Doyoumind
helpingmewiththis?Itsadoubledoor,sojustpushtheother.
Withoutanyresponse,Shaywalkeduptothedoorandfeltaroundtillshefoundthe
handle.Shefeltaroundforamomentandfoundthehandle.DoncouldntseeShay,buthe
lookedoveratwhereheguessedshewas.
Three,Two,One.
ChapterII:SomeFreshAir
Asthedarkhallwayscametoanend,thesoundoftwopairsoffootstepsstopped.Itwas
toodarkforDontoseehowfarhewasfromthedoorinfrontofhim.Heoriginallyheldhis
handoutinfrontofhimtofeelaroundforanywall,orobject.Thoughthisswiftlycametoan
endafterShaydecidedtostopinfrontofhimwithoutwarningandhegrabbedsomethinghe
15
Aligned
shouldnthave.Thetwohaventsaidawordsincethathappenedotherthanaquicksorryfrom
Don.ThiswasjustbeforeaswiftslapfromShayhithisface.
Donhadagoodideaofwherehewasinthelabsbuilding,sincehesworkedtherefor
abouttwoyears.Hereferstoitaswork,butmostofthescientistswouldcorrecthimandsay
heinternedforthetwoyears.Ashecalledouttoturnleftorrightasthetwoofthewalked
throughthedarkhallways,hefinallyknewwherehewas.Theexit.Thoughhelovedhisjob,
andwassohappytobedoingitforthetwoyearsthathedid,helovedwalkingoutofthatexit.
Thisisit.Donsaidwithacheerytone,ashethoughtofthememoriesofheandhis
peers.
Thefasterwecangetoutofthisplace,thebetter.Shaysaidasshefeltaroundinfront
ofherforthehandleofthedoor.
Withafinalpushfrombothofthem,thedoorslowlycreakedopen.Therefirstpushleta
beamoflightshineinbetweenthem.Thoughthelightwasntpurewhite,itburnedtheireyes
thathavebeentunedtothedarkcorridorsofthelab.Notonlydidlightfloodintothehallway,
butagustoffreshairaswell.
ThelightandairthatflowedinfeedadeephungerofDon.Ahungerhedidntknow
existed.Thehungertoescapethiscoffinofalab.Withinsecondsofbreathinginthefreshair,
andlettinghiseyesattunetothenewlightfromoutside,hegavethedooronefinalpush.The
doorswungopenwithDonstumblingoutquicklystoppinghimselfbeforehittingabrickwall
onlyfeetinfrontofhim.
Aftertakinginadeepbreath,asmileappearedonDonsface,Iveneverhadsucha
wanttobeoutside.ashebegantochuckle.
IknowIyouworkinalab,butyousurelooklikeyoudontlooklikeyouvebeen
outsideinyears.ShayrespondedaftershegotabetterlookatDoninthenewlighting.
Doncouldnthelpbutkeepasmileashelookdownathishandsandnoticedhowfairhis
skinwas.Wasmyskinalwaysthispale?wasaquestionthatranthroughhishead.Thelight
thatshineddownontohishandflickeredafewtimes.Donlookeduptoofindthelightsource.
Thelightwasverybright,similartoafloodlight,buttheonesusedforgrowingindoor
plants.ButthatwaswhatkeptDonsattentionashestaredstraightupinawe.Shaywas
focusingonthesignthathungoverthelabsentrance.
S.T.E.M.huh,whatdoesthatstandfor?
ShaylookedatDonwithcuriosity,wonderingwhyhewasjuststaringupintospace.She
decidedtolookupwonderingwhatcouldpossiblybesointeresting.Hereyeswidenedin
shock.
Athickgreysmoglayercoveredtheskyabovethem,itwasonlyafewstoriesabove
themrelativetothewallsthatpuncturedthroughit.
Wherearewe?Donsaidashestaredattheoutdoorceiling.
Wellyousaidwewereatalab,soarentweinjustoutsideofit?
16
Aligned
OutsideofthelabIworkedat,wasntsomealley.Donrespondedashelookedfrom
hislefttoohisright.Bothtoohisleft,andhisrightwerenearlyidenticalexitstotheallythat
theywerein.
Herememberedleavingthelabeverydayandwalkingdooracourtyardoftheuniversity
itwasin,thenhewouldwalkdownoneofthemanytrailsofthecollegespark.Thenhewould
finallymakeittohiscarinthemainparkinggarageandheadhomefortheday.Butnowabrick
wallwasmerefeetinfrontofthelab.Thoughitmatchedthesamearchitectureofbrickwall,he
knewthiswall,orbuilding,orwhateveritwaswasntherebefore.
Donlookedbackatthetwodoorsthatweretheentrancetothelab.Herememberedthem
beingglassandwhichwouldmakesensewhylightdidshinethroughitwhenthewereinside.
Thedoorhadathicklayerofmoldandcrustovertheglassasthoughithadntbeencleanedina
longtime.
Wellthatsnottheonlythinginyourlabthathasntbeentakencareof.Shaysaid
walkingovertooneofthedoorsandwipingafingersontheglassandinspectedallthegunkthat
stayedonherfinger.Quicklywipingitoffonheralreadydirtyjeans,shelookedovertoherleft
andfocusedforamoment.
Noneofthismakessense,thelabbeingdarkanddestroyed,noneofthelightsworking,
uswakingupinside,andthentheresyou.Donsaidashestaredinsidethelabsentrance.
Shayspunaroundoffendedbyhisstatement,
DoIneedtosmackyouagain?holdingupherhandstiffly.
Wait,noIdidntmeanitlikethat,Donquicklyrespondeditsjustthat,well,He
pausedforamomentfindtherightwords,Inthelab,wewereworkingonaproject.Therewas
alotofpressureonusforkeepingthelabworkasecretuntilwefullydeveloped
it
.
Donbegantopacebackandforthashetriedtoputtogethermemoriesthathehad
escapedhismind.
Nowthelabisdestroyed,everyonewhoworkedinlabisgone,aswellresearchand
project.Therewerethreeofus,workingontheproject.Countingme,notyou.
Shayheldupherhandagaininthesamepostureaslasttime,IfyouthinkIm
responsibleforwhateverhappenedinthatlab,thenyourewrong.Imjustasconfusedasyou
are,andwanttoknowwhyIendedupinyourdeathtrapofalab.
Imnotaccusingyouforanything,itsjustIhavenoideawhoyouare,andwhyyou
wereinthelab.
WellifyouwanttoknowwhoIam,Iguesswecantalkoversomefood.Shaystarted
towalkdownthealleytowardstheemptystreetandsidewalkthatwasattheendofit.
Wait,holdon.
Weregettingsomefood,Imhungry.Alsoyourebuying.
AtfirstDonjuststoodthereinpureconfusion,thisgirlwhohejustmetistheonlyperson
whowasinthelabheworkedatthatsnowdestroyed.Nowshesaimlesslywalkingoutofthe
alleythatneitherofthemknewaboutwithoutacareintheworld.
17
Aligned
Donlookedatthetheskyonceagain.Thatthicklayerofsmogblockingoutwhatever
wasaboveit.Itsentashiverdownhisspine,henoticedShaywasjustabouttoexitthealleyand
outhissight.
Hey,waitup!
ChapterIII:EatUp
AfterasometimeofDontryingtokeepupwithShaywhowasonamissiontofind
someplacetoeat,theyendedupatacoffeeshoponthecornerofanemptystreet.Thetables
outsideoftherestaurantwereflippedover,andsomewerebroken.Asmallred,neonlightnear
theentranceoftheplaceflickeredonandoff,OPEN.Thewindowswereboardedup,and
curtainscoveredthedoorssmallwindowwhichhadbeenshattered.Shaywalkedtowardsthe
doorbodywitheverystep.
Whatmakesyouthinkanyonesgoingtobeinthere?Justlookattheplace.Donsaid
standingbytheentrancetooutdooreatingarea.Shaygesturedherhandtowardtheflickering
opensign,andgaveDonalookasthoughhewassomeidiotwho'sneverbeentorestaurant.
Sheopenedthedoor,andasmallbellrungfrominsidethecoffeeshop.Shewalkedand
Donquicklyfollowed.Soon,theywerebothstandinginsideofadimlylitroomwithdustall
overtheplace,somelightbeamedthroughthecracksintheboardingofthewindows.Most
tableshadaclothorsheetcoveringthemandthechairs.Ithadthefeelingofanattic,yetwas
soothingtoDon.
Youbetterhavecash.Camearaspyfemalevoicefrombehindacrackedopen
EmployeesOnlydoor.
Yeah,ShaylookedoveratDonwithasmirkMyfrienddoes.
Thedoorswungopen,andoutcameadarkskinnedladywhoquicklywalkovertoa
dustycashregisterandgavethetwoyoungadultsasternlook.Sheworearipped,tan,Tshirt,
andawrinkledgreenapronoverit.Theapronhassomegraphiconit,mostlikelytherestaurant's
logo,butwasfadedandcouldntbecompletelymadeout.
Youtwodontlooklikeyourefromtheseparts.Shesaidlookingcloselyatthe
clothing.
UpperWorldersarentalwayswelcomearounddownhere.Shepausedlookingatboth
ofthereclothing.Butmoneyismoney.Ihavecoffee,andfood,whatwouldyoulike?
Food?Shayrespondedwithachuckle.
Yeah.TheladyrespondedangrilyIsthereproblem?
Illjusthaveacoffee.Donspoketobreakthesilence,andevilglares.
Andhowaboutyousweetcheeks?Theladysaidasshestartedwalkingtowardsthe
EmployeesOnlydoor.
Illhavecoffee,andShepausedforamoment,andlookeddownatherstomach,
Food.
18
Aligned
Thetwoofthemsatonsometorn,cushionedbarstoolsnexttothecounterandwaitedfor
theladytobringtheirfood.Afewmomentslater,theladycameoutwithasteamingcanisterand
aglassmugsthatdidntmatchtheoveralldesignorcoloroftheshop.
Yourfoodiscomingupinabit.Theladysaidwhilepouringsomecoffeeoutofthe
canisterintothemugs,Sowhatbringstwoupperworldershere?
UpperWorlders?Donrepeatedhopingforsomeclarificationashetookasipofthe
coffee.Itwasmorewarmwaterwithabrowntintthatcoffee.
Yeah,UpperWorlders.Thatswhoyouguysare,unlessyouvestolensomeclothing.
Theladyresponded.
Listen,wehavenoideawhatyouretalkingabout,wejustwokeupinsomedestroyed
buildingandwanttoknowwhereweare.Shayrespondedslamminghermugdownsplashing
thecoffeeonthecounter.
Wellyoutwodolookdumbenoughtowakeupinadestroyedbuilding,andnotknow
whereyouare,theladyrespondedslammingaclothdowninfrontofshay.Cleanit.
Canyoujustexplainwhereweare?Donsaidascalmaspossiblebeforethetension
betweenthemescalatedanyfurther.
YoureatTheCityongroundlevel.theladyrespondedwatchingShaycleanupthe
spiltcoffee.
TheCity?Doesntithaveaname?Donasked.
Namesareforthingsthathaveduplicatesorsimilarthingsinexistence.Whyshouldthe
onlycityhaveaname?
Theonlycity?Shayaskedaftercleaningupthemess,andhavingtheclothquickly
snatchedawaybythelady,Whathappenedtotheothers?
Imnotahistorian,allIcareaboutisthisshop,andthattonotleavethecityborders.
Whynot?Donasked.
Wehaventleftthelimitsofthecityinyears.Asthepopulationgrewinsize,wejust
builtup.Thebuildinghasntstopped,butthehigherupyougo,themorerichitgets,shesaid
thenlookingatthereclothingagain,soareyouguysfrom2ndfloor,maybe3rd?
Donlookedattheladycluelessofwhatwashappening.Floors?Hesneverheardofthis.
AndallthistalkaboutTheCity,the
only
city.Noneofthismakessense.Hethoughthewas
gettingsomedumbprankpulledonhim.HewaswaitingforsomeT.V.producerstocomeout
fromsomehiddendoorandlaughatShayandhimforwhateverwasgoingon.Hewasntafan
ofthistypeofthing,andwantedtogettothebottomofthis.
Wearentfromanyfloor,alsoDonlookedaroundforaclock,Whattimeisit?
Theladylookeddownatherwrist,therewasntanythingonit,andthelookedupat
them.
Itsnoon,andImguessingyoudliketoknowthedateaswell?sheturnedaroundand
whereovertoafadedcalendar,April2nd,3224.
19
Aligned
Holdonasecond,Shaysaidstartingtosmile,yougotmetobelievethiscity,but
3224?Noway,itsstill2077.Thisdumbjokeyoureplayingwithusisover.
Theladystartedtolaugh,sheheldupherhandasthoughforthetwoofthemtoowaitfor
hertospeak.
Listenyoutwo,Igetthattheworldisdestroyedandall,but2077waswhenitallbegan.
Andtrustme,shegotveryseriousthemomentshesaidthat,TheCityistheonlythingthat
survived.Idontreallycarewhereyourefrom,butsayingcrazystufflikethatwillgetyoutwo
hurtouthere.
Asmallring,camefromtheemployeesonlyroom,Yourfoodisready.shesaid
walkingtowardsthedoor.
Arewereallysupposedtobelievethisgirl?Shayaskedinanotsoquietwhisper.
Imnotsayingweshouldblindlyagreewithher,butthiscitywasmuchmorealive
beforewewokeupinthatlab.Whateverhappened,shecouldtellus.Iwanttoknowwhats
goingjustasmuchasyoudo.Donsaidtakinganothersipfromhisnowroomtemperature
coffee.
Theladycameoutwithawhiteplate,withsomethingsteamingontopofit.Shewas
holdingittoohighforDontoseewhatexactlywasontheplate,butquicklybroughtitoverto
Shayandgrabbedatinspoonfromoneofthepocketsinherapron.
Eatitbeforitgetscold.shesaidandwalkedbackintotheroom.
Donwatchedtheladywalkawayandwatchedthedoorshutbehindher,andheardalock
click.
Iguesswewontbeseeingmuchofherforsometime.Donhadntlookedatwhatkind
offoodShayhadgottenyet.HelookedoveratShaywhowaspokingherspoonatherplatewith
afaceofdisgust.Donlookeddownexpectingsomeeggs,ormaybeham,itwasneither.Infact,
hedidntknowwhathewaslookingat.
Shaysfoodwasamixofgreyandblackmush.Therewereafewhardchunksof
somethingandtherestwassimilartomashpotatoes,butdefinitelywashadadifferentsmell.
Howistheevenconsideredfood?ShaysaidlookingatDonasthoughhehadan
answerforthismysteryfood.
Wellifitmakesitanybetter,youdonthavetocallitfood,youcanjustcallitorganic
chemistry.Donchuckledtryingtomakeajoketothewrongtypeofperson.
Idontcareforyoursciencemumbojumbo,Shesaidpokingoneofthechunksonher
plate,okay,maybeifyouexplainyouorganicchemistrytome.whileshefiddlewithher
foodsomemore.
Okay,Donsaidashestartedtotwiddlehisfingersthinkingoftheeasiestwayof
explainingittoher,organicchemistryistheresearchandstudyofcompoundsthatinvolvethe
elementcarbon.
DonlookedoveratShay.Shewasplugginghernosewithonehand,andattemptingto
putaspoonfullofherfoodinhermouththeother.Donfeltqueasyjustwatching.
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Itsaprettybigsubject,coveringalotofthings.
Shaystartedtochewonherfood,andDonsworehesawhereyeswaterup.
Itcoverssomepartsofmedicine,biochemistry,food,paints,materialsscience,anda
fewothers.Donstartedtopickupsomemomentumonwhathewastalkingabout.
Thereasonthatanentirechemistryisdedicatedtothestudyoftheelementcarbonis
becauseitsthefoundationofalllivingorganisms.Dondidntnoticethatshaywastryingtoeat
anotherspoonfulofherfood,andthistimetheredefinitelywassweatandtearsrunningdownher
face.
Withthestudyofcarbonandorganiccompounds,scientistsareabletolearnmoreabout
thehumanbody,andhowitworks.
Shayquicklygrabbedhermugofcoffeetookalargegulpofithopingitwouldhelpwash
downherfood,butitonlymadethetasteinhermouthmuchworse.
Theaverageorganicmoleculeismadeupoflengthyrings,orchainsofcarbonsatoms,
andafewothers.Someelementscommonlyfoundinorganiccompoundsotherthancarbonare,
hydrogen,oxygen,nitro
Shaysfacebegantoblushheavily,andshewaslookingaroundfromsomething.Shesaw
Donsmug,andquicklygrabbedit.Shebegantotakealargegulpofhiscoffeewater.Mostof
thecoffeeparticleshasfloatedtothebottomleavingamurkywaterabove.Aftertakingagulp
sheshakilyleftmugsonthetablewhereshethenrestedherheadagain.
Continue.shemumbled,assheslowlygrabbedthespoonagain.
RightDonhadtorethinkofwhathewastalkingabout,Afewexamplesoforganic
moleculesinclude,carbohydrateswhichareonlybuiltofcarbon,oxygen,hydrogen.Theyalso
includesugars,andstarches,theyplayaveryimportantroleinourdailylives.
Shayliftedherheadandstillhadthespooninhermouth.Sheletoutaquiveringsigh,
andspoondroppedontoherplate.Shehadonehandonherfacetogiveitsupport,andtheother
wasreachingoutforDonsmugagainsinceherswasempty.
Thereisalsolipids,Doncontinuedtryingtokeepthisawkwardonesidedconversation
fromjusthimwatchingShaynearlyvomit,lipidsareusuallyfats,andwaxes.Theyareusedto
storeenergyforalongterminlivingthings.
Shaylookoverthebarthattheyweresittingatandsawasink.Shegrabbedbothmugs,
andliftedherselfoverthebar,andovertothesink.Shebegantofillbothmugswiththenotso
crystalclearwater.
ThelasttwoorganicmoleculesIcanthinkofareproteinsandnucleicacids.
Everyoneknowswhataproteinis,justskiptotheotherone.Shaymumbledinasickly
assheclimbedbackoverthebarandsetbothmugsinfrontofher,andgrabbedherspoon.
Nucleicacidscreatebigchainsofcomponents,twoexampleswouldbeDNAandRNA.
DNAbringinformationsuchasgenesfortheproteinmoleculestouse.TheRNAhelpstohaul
theDNAcodefromitsstoragetowhereitsused.
Shaystartedtostabherspoonintoherfoodrepeatedlybeforescoopingupabitmore.
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Therearemanyorganiccompounds,soscientistdividethemupintofunctionalgroups.
Thegroupsaredividedbytheirtypeofmostcommonelementsinadditiontocarbon.Allthe
groupsareprettysimilarsincemostofthemhavethesimilarmolecules.
Soorganicchemistryisjustbiochemistry?Shayaskedaftertakingagulpfromoneof
themugs.
Well,organicchemistryisthestudyofcarbon.Biochemistryisthestudyofthe
chemicalprocessesinbiologicalsystems.Essentially,theytendtooverlapinwhattheybothdo,
buttheyhavetheirdifferences.
SoMr.ScienceMan,canyourorganicchemistryexplainwhatthisis?Shayslidover
hersemieatenplateoffood.
Hmm,Donsarcasticallyputhandonhischinasthoughhewasthinking,Ibelieveits
somethingyouregoingtofinishsinceyouveforcedmetopayforit.Donsaidasheslowly
slidtheplateovertoShay.
ChapterIV:Goodbye
AsShayslowlyfinishedherplateoffood,theladybargedoutofherroomwithwhat
musthavebeenacheck.
Beforeyoutwogetoutofmyrestaurant,canIaskyousomething?
Whatsthematter?Donsaidassheslappedthecheckdowninfrontofhim.
Youtwolooksimilar,areyousiblings?
Nonono.Shaysaidimmediately,Webarelyknoweachother.
Well,mostsiblingaretheoppositeofeachother,ShelooksatDonthentoShay,and
thatsdefinitelywhatImseeing.
Wearent.Donsaidashetookacloselookatthecheck.
Itwasacrumpleduppaperwithafewnumbersandthenamesofthethingstheyordered
crudelywrittenonit.Thankfullythereorderwasprettycheap,bothincost,andquality.Justas
Donwasabouttoplacedownthemoneynexttothecheck,alargenoisecamefromoutsidethe
restaurant.BothShayandDonturnedaround,Donquicklyplaceddownthemoneyandthetwo
ofthemranoutthedoor.
Whentheexitedthedoor,bothofthemwerehitbyagustofwindandablindinglighthit
themfromthemiddleoftheroadinfrontofthem.Asthewindandlightbegantofade,ablack
silhouetteappearedinfrontofthelight.
Noway.Donsaidasheslowlywalkedtowardthefigure.
Thelighthaddimmedawaygivingthesilhouettecolor,anddepth.Thefigurehada
metallicbody,andbroughtbacksomanymemoriesofDonspast.
SkyIsthatyou?Donsaid.
YesDon.Skyresponded.
HowdidyouWherearetheothers?Donsaidstartedtorememberhislostpeers,
betteryet,hisfriends.
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Iwillansweryouqueries,butbeforethatprocessisstarted,thereisataskIhavegiven
myselfthatoverridesyouorders.Oncemytaskiscomplete,IwillansweryouqueriesDon.Sky
responded.
Whoisthat?Shayaskedfinallywalkingtowardsthetwo.
Shay,thisisSky.HewasthelabworkersandIwereproducing.Donsaidbeginningto
feelalonglostemptinessinsideofhim.
ThatsCool.ShaysaidlookingatSky.
Don,ourwindowisclosingeverysecond,wemustgo.Skysaidwalkingtowardthe
lightthatwasdimmingeversoslightly,asDonfollowed.
Wait,whataboutme?
DidIsayyouwerentcomingShay?Donsaidsmilingather.Letsgo.
AfterSkyhadtapthesmallfloatingorboflight,itgrewinsizeandbrightness.Sky
steppedthroughandsodidDonandShay.
Hey,wheredidshego?
Don,whoareyoutalkingabout?
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Franz
ChapterI:MakingSomeCoffee
Franzjustmadehiscoffee.Hewasveryspecificabouthiscoffee.Helikedittobe
lukewarmandextradarkwithnothinginit.DrowsilyFranzwentovertohisdeskinthelabto
workonadesignonhiscomputer.FranzhadbeenworkingatS.T.E.M.Laboratoriesforonly
threeweeks.S.T.E.M.wasaplacewhereFranzfeltathome.Thelabwasacollectionofhigh
potentialandtopscientistsfromaroundtheglobe.S.T.E.M.wasahighlyregardedlaboratoryin
WashingtonD.C.thathadaccesstoeverythingknownonandoffearth.Ifyoufindyourselfone
oftheveryfewworkingatS.T.E.M.youwerenotanaveragejoe.S.T.E.M.hadmassiveamount
offundingduetothefactthatthetechnologythattheymadewaspoweringtheearth.Theyhad
beeneyeingFranzsincehewasayoungchild.Franzwasatechnologicalandengineeringgenius
asachild.SoafterFranzhadfinishedgoingtoUniversityS.T.E.M.quicklypickedhimup.
Franzdiligentlyworkedonhisdesignbutsuddenlywhenhewasabouttograbhiscoffee
therewasanemergencyalarmforthehighestemergencylevel.Therewasalargenoisethat
resultedinabreechintoFranzsworkspace.DeafenedbythenoiseFranzsawafewpeoplewith
combatgearonwithbrightwhitelettersontheircheststhatsaidM.E.T.S.Franzscrambledtoget
toadifferentroom.Themenchasedhimdownthehall,Franztriedtoenteroneofthedoorsin
thehallwaybutitseemedtobelockedduetotheemergencyprotocol.SomehowFranzssleeve
gotcaughtonthedoorknobcausinghimtofall.ToFranzshorrorhesawoneofthemenfirea
weaponthathurledagrenadeathim.AsthegrenadeflewtowardsFranzheknewthiswasthe
end.Asthegrenadedetonatedinfrontofhimhewitnessedablackholeforminfrontofhim.
Franzwasviolentlysuckedin,thenhefaintedduetotheforce.
ChapterII:ANewWorld
Franzwokeuplyingonthegroundofhislab.Heseemedtobealright.Franzpatted
himselfdowntocheckforinjuries,thenslowlyhegotup.Hecheckedhiswatchtofindthatit
hadstoppedthenhelookedaroundtheroom.Therewerefourdesks,allinthesamepositionof
thelab.Butonlyhisdeskhadhisbelongingsonit.
Franzwalkedovertohisdesktoexaminethedesks.Hiscomputerstillrunningwiththe
dxffilehehadopen.Therewasaflashingnotificationonhiscomputershowingthathehad
savedanewfile.Franzlookedaroundtheroomagaintofindthatitwasthesamelabthathehad
beenworkingin.HerealizedthatwheretheM.E.T.S.intrudersbreachedthewallthewallwas
stillintact.Franzfinallysatdownandexaminedthefile.Itwasnamedworld.dxf,hetriedto
openthefiletofindthatitwasemptyexceptforanoddlyshapedfacility.Exploringthefilea
littlecloserhefoundthatthereweremillionsofpastrevisionstheyjustkeptscrollingfasterthan
hecouldread.Allhadtimesanddates.Franzlookedathiswatchtofindthatithadstoppedata
datethatwas4yearsfromtheM.E.T.S.incident.Hescrolledbackthroughtherevisionsbutonly
gotto4hoursearlier.Hequicklyrealizedthatheneededamuchfastercomputer.Sototryto
solvethisproblemhewalkedaroundthelabwhichwasaseriesofconnectedfacilities.He
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checkedalmosteveryroomthenrememberedthattherewasasupercomputerthathewasn't
aloudtousebecausethecomputerscientistswhoweretophackersandprogrammershadbetter
usesforit.Itturnedoutthathisworkplacewasnotthatfarawayfromthecomputersohespenta
daywiringthecomputerdirectlytohisdesk.Hehadunlimitedsupercomputertimenowwithno
onetotellhimwhattodo.WhenhetriedtoopenittheprogramsaidMissingElements.Franz
gotupveryconfused.Hewalkedovertothewindowtothink.Heopenedthecurtaintofindthat
therewasnothingoutside.FrightenedFranzclosedthecurtainandscrambledbacktohis
computernowthesupercomputer.Franzopenedtheworldfileagainandrealizedwhatmissing
elementsactuallymeant.OutsideofS.T.E.M.laboratoriesnothingwasinexistence.Franz
pulledoutaperiodictablefromhisdesk.Helookedathiscomputerandstarteddesigningthe
universeagain.
Inthelabtherewasnomoreworkingdaysitwasalwaysashutdownlab.Therewasno
sunoutsideornoises.Franzwasactuallyenjoyingthesilencesincetherewereoccasionalnoises
fromotherfacilitiesthatweredistractingtohim.Franzdecidedthatitwouldprobablybebetter
togettoworkstraightawaysohecouldgetoutofthisstrangeemptyplace.Franzknewasolid
amountofchemistryandknewenoughaboutanatomtoconstructone.Franzscrolledthrough
thedesignprogramoptionsandfoundanaddmaterialoption.Hechoseitandnamedit
hydrogen.HeusedSchrodinger'smodeloftheatomtobasehisdesign.Heputoneprotonout
withanorbitingelectron,thenheappliedittoallofthemodelsinthecomputer.
Whilethecomputerwasprocessingthedesignhedecidedtosolvehis17by17by17
rubixcube.Afterhydrogenhadfinishedhewentthroughdesigninghelium,lithiumand
beryllium,arrangingtheelectroncloudsalongwithalloftheprotonsandneutrons.ThenFranz
gottiredofhanddesigningalloftheatomsanddecidedtowriteupasetofcommandssothe
computerwoulddoitforhim.Franzdecidedthathewouldgofindsomethingelsetodosince
thiswouldtakealotoftime.Sincehiswatchdidn'tworkandhiscomputerclockdidworkFranz
decidedthathewouldrecreatehiswatchtotellthetimefromhiscomputer.EventhoughFranz
wasnotacomputerexpertcomparedtotheonesS.T.E.M.hadfound,Franzstillknewalotof
systemcommands,programminglanguages,andhowtobuildelectricalcomponents.AfterFranz
modifiedhiswatchtotelltime,hedecidedtotakeanapsincehehadspentaverylongtime
modifyinghiswatch.
ChapterIII:Progression
Franzwokeup24hourslaterandsohelookedathiswatchtofindthathehadsleptfor
25.5days.Hewentbacktohiscomputertofindthatithadonlyprocessed7%oftheelements.
Franzverygroggyagainwenttothekitchentogetcoffee.AfterFranzgothiscoffeestartedhe
wentovertothewindow,lookedouttoseeabsolutelynothing.Afteralittlewhilethecoffee
makerstopped.Therewasnowater.Franzwentbacktohiscomputerandcreatedanewfileto
designanewwaterfiltrationsystem.Heusedgraphenetofilteroutthewatersincehehadan
unlimitedsupplyofthefirst8elements.Heknewthatgraphenewascarbonstructuredina
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Aligned
hexagonalshapesoheslowlycopiedandpastedeachatom.Healsoknewthattheonlythingthat
itwasaperfectfilterbecauseonlywatercouldtravelthroughit.Franzfiguredoutthatsincethe
buildingdidnothaveanywatersupplynowhewaswonderingwhereeverythingelseheneeded
wascomingfrom.Hethenrememberedthattherewasasafetyfeatureinstalledinthelabincase
therewasaneventofahazardousmaterialleak.Eachpartofthelabhadafewmonthlong
supplyofoxygen,food,andwateralongwithdoorsthatwerefire,water,andradioactivedecay
resistant.Hedecidedtoexaminethelabthroughthecomputertoseewhatotherthingsthe
buildinghoused.Hefoundabunchofemptyplacesandchosethebiggestonetoprocesswater.
Healsopipedittothelabkitchen.Franzdecidedtowalkaroundthelab.Hewenttoallthe
utilityandstoragelocationsinthelab.Hemadehimselfathomeinthekitchen.Hedecidedto
createadevicethatwasconnectedtohiscomputertomove/createthingsintherealworldfrom
hiscadprogram.
Creatingthetooltoremotelycontrolhiscomputerwasalongprocessandalotoftrial
anderror.InthefirstweekofdevelopmentFranzdesignedthetool.Thenhecreateditandtried
touseit.Hetriedtomovetherollingchairinthekitchenusinghistool,butthetoolwasinbeta
testinganditstartedspinningthechairsofastthattheplasticthatcomposedthechairmeltedand
thechairessentiallyexploded.InthenextmonthsoftestingthisdeviceFranzdecidedthathe
wouldaddasafetymechanismtooverridethecontrolleranditwouldshutitoffimmediately.
AfterafewmoremonthspassedFranzscontrollerdevicehadsomanybuttonsthatthe
controllerwasbiggerthanthemonitorhiscomputerutilized.Franzthendecidedthathewould
changethecontrollersothatthecommandswouldbevocalandhandgesturessothathewouldn't
havetohavesomanybuttonsonthecontroller.Afterafewmoreweeksoftweakingthe
controlleritwasfinallyafinishedworkingproduct.
Bythispointthecomputerhadfinishedroughly18%ofelementprocessing.Hedidsome
calculationsanddecidedthatthecomputerwouldtakesomewherearoundayearorsotoprocess
everything.Franzinhislimitedworldwascomingtogether.Eversincehecreatedthecontroller
tohiscomputerthelabwaslookinglikeaplacethatsomebodycouldactuallylivein.Franzwas
definitelynotainteriordesigner,buthemanagedtocreateacomfortablelivingspacefor
himself.Franzwasasimplemanheonlyneededadesk,abed,anightstandandacoffee
machine.AtthispointFranzwasrunningoutofthingstodo.Hehadawholeyear'sworthof
timeandhewasn'treallysurewhattodowithallthattime.
ChapterIV:GoingHome
OnemorningwhenFranzwokeupherealizedthattheappleonhisdeskthathebrought
forlunchthedayoftheM.E.T.S.attackwasstillonhisdeskandwasnotrotting.Theninhis
mindsomethingclickedandherealizedthatthereasonhiswatchwasntworkingwasbecause
theuniversewasstandingstill.Hewasveryperplexedbyhowhiscomputerwasstillkeeping
trackofthetimesohewentintoS.T.E.M.sdatabaseandlookedupeverythinghecouldfindon
theoreticalphysicsandtime.
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Franzdidresearchontheoreticalphysicsandastronomyforweeks.Franzwasextremely
thoroughinhisresearchpartlybecausethatisthewayhegotintothisalternateuniversebutalso
justbecauseitwashisonlypossiblewayout.Franzfoundinhisresearchthateverythingwas
reallynotwellunderstoodaboutblackholesandjusttheuniverse.Thethingsthatwere
documentedhadalotofmissinggapsthatFranztriedtofillusingelementsthatwerepossible
butneverexistedbackintheotheruniverse.UsingthecomputersimulatedworldorhisCAD
programonhiscomputerFranzmadearealizationthathecouldusehiscomputertosimulate
designsandtestthemvirtually.Butsincehiscomputercontrolledtherealworldfranzrealized
thathecouldspeeduptimebyacceleratingthemovementofearthtofastforwardtoayearlater.
AfterFranzsentthecommandsofftothecomputerheimmediatelywasinthefuture.The
computerhadaflashingsignthatsaidprocessingcomplete.Franzwasveryexcitedaboutthis
becausethatmeantthathecouldsimulatetheatomsthatnoonecouldcreateinsidehiscomputer.
Hehadtheabilitytotesttoseeifhecouldfillthemissinggapsinthescientistsresearch.Healso
couldgobackintothecomputertotryandfigureouthowhegottothisuniverseunscathedby
theM.E.T.S.weapon.HewentbackthroughthetimelinetofindoutwhatdamagetheM.E.T.S.
weapondidbutFranzfoundthatitwasaverycontrolledeventandhewastheonlypersonor
thingthatgotsuckedintotheblackhole.
Franzspentmanyweekssimulatingblackholesandformingwormholesbacktothereal
world.Helearnedmanynewthingsabouttheatomshehadcreated.Theatomsthathefound
explainedtheconceptofdarkmatter,Howblackholesactuallywork,butmostimportantlyhow
hecanutilizeblackholestoroutehimselfbacktotheotheruniverse.Franzknewthatifhecould
pulloffthefeatofgoingbackthroughtheblackholehewouldbethefirst.Healsoknewitwasa
hugeriskbecauseifsomethingwentwronghewouldbelostforever.
FranzdesignedacontrolledblackholesimilartotheonethattheM.E.T.S.used.Itwould
onlyaffectacertainareaanditwouldbeopenforanextremelypreciseamountoftime.Nowthe
onlyproblemwasbuildingthecontraptionwhichwouldemulateastarcollapsingonitselfthat
wouldonlyaffectasmallamountofarea.Franzsdesignwasverylargescalebecausehehadno
wayofharnessingthedensestelementpossiblewithoutactuallycondensingastar.Afterthestar
wascondensedintothisatomtheblackholewouldformandthentherewouldbealargeparticle
colliderthatwoulddestroytheatomafterithadenoughtimetoconsumeFranz.Theevent
horizonoftheblackholealsohadtobeintheexactsamespotofthelastoneorelseFranzwould
betransportedtoadifferentuniverse.
OnceFranzpositionedhiscontraptionheactivatedit.Ittookaminutetospoolupthen
Franzwasinstantlysuckedinandbehindhimhewitnessedtheblackholecloseinafterthe
particledestroyedtheatom.ThenFranzstoodupinwhatwasleftoftheS.T.E.M.laboratories.
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Dani
ChapterI:Fault
Threehourshavepassedsincetheybrokeintothetallglassbuilding,insearchof
something.Aplantogetoutoftheworldtheyrein.Aftersomanyroomsandlocks,sheglanced
atthesmallpininthepalmofherhandandtothelockontherestricteddoor.Theweightonher
shouldersgotheavierasthetimepassed.Shewasbeginningtothinkwhythetwoofthemwere
doingsuchatask.Hereyesthenavertedtowardsatall,slimfiguretotheright.Helookedather
withreassurance.Hishandplacedonhershoulder,andasmilethatremindedheroftheir
mission.Outofnowhere,shewhisperedintohisearwhileherarmslockedembracinghim.The
lookofconfusiononhisfacedisappearedasheplacedhisarmsaroundher.
Shequicklypulledawaytogetbacktoherjob.Thepininherclenchedhandsbeganto
movearoundthelock.Aclickwasheardfromtheinside.
Illwaitoutside,hesaidassheenteredtheroom.Herfootstepswereincrediblyquietas
ifshewerewalkingonthinair.Theroom,pitchblack,shewasunabletoseeanythinginfrontof
her.Althoughitmayhaveseemedlikeanemptyroom.Sheheadedbacktowardstheentrance,
butbeforeshecouldexit,aglowinggreenlightcamefromtheground.Therewasaseconddoor.
Shenavigatedtowardstheunusualglow.Thedoorwasntlocked.Slowlyandwithoutmakinga
sound,sheopenedthedoorwithcuriosityinhereyes.
Thedoorswungopen,shewasspeechless.Thedoorbehindherclosedshutasshewalked
towardsthetankofgreenglowingliquid.Whenthedoorslammedshut,thenoisedrewattention
tohim.Hefeltasifsomethingwerewrong.Tohiscuriosity,hedecidedtogointheroom
lookingforher,butallhecouldseewasnothing.Shegrewmorecuriousoftheroomasshe
walkedaround,lookingforwhattheliquidwas.Alltherewasonthetankwasascratchedout
note.Shecouldntmakeoutwhatthefadedwordssaid.Ontheothersideofthetankseemedto
beanemptydeskinthecorneroftheroom.Therewasnothingbutdustontheunuseddesk.She
heardthedooropen,andquicklyturnedherhead.Therewasnothingbehindthecloseddoorthat
isnowopened.
No.No.No.Whereareyou?Notawordwasresponded.Whereareyou?!Hervoice
gotlouder,andeachtimetherewasntaresponse.Dylan!?Sherepeatedthenameoverand
over.Herhandsoverherfaceastearsdrippedfromtheinbetweeneachfinger.Herheadshook
vigorouslyasshecontinuedtowalkbackdeeperintotheroom.Withonefootdirectlybehindthe
other,shetripped,crashingintothetankcausingaleakfromthetankthatcamefromasmall
crack,whichgrewbythesecond.
DANI!Hepushedhertowardsthedeskinthecornerandthedoorslammedshut.Her
eyesgraduallyclosingasshesawafaintimageofatallfiguregettingdrenchedinthegreen
liquid.Onceitmadecontactwiththebody,itbecamehardforhimtomove.
Thesmellofburningfleshfilledtheroom.Theglasstankthatstoodinthemiddleofthe
room,nowshattered,andliquidspreadacrosstheroom.Poundingfromtheothersideofthedoor
andfootstepsrunningtowardstheroom.Thefaintsoundofsirensoutside,andthechatteramong
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spectators,newsreporters,andemergencypersons.Shedidn'trememberthedoorbeinglocked,
andwonderedwhytheydidntentertheroomalready.Hershakingbodyslowlymadeitswayto
herdamagedbrother.Hetriedtosaysomething,asshesawhislipsmove.Shortsoundscameout
ofhismouth,butshestillcouldntunderstandwhathewastryingtosaytoher.Theclosershe
gottohim,thelouderthesoundshemadebecame.Shehadntbeenpayingattentiontothegreen
liquidspreadacrossthefloor.Hereyesfixatedonherbrother.Thetearscamerollingdownher
cheeks,inhopesthatshewouldntlosethepersonshelovedthemost.Beforeshecouldmake
anotherstep,thedoorburstedopenandabouttenpeoplecamechargingin.Afewwenttocheck
thesurroundings.AcoupleofmenwentstraightforDani,helpingheroutoftheroom.Thewere
wearingheavygear,coveredfromheadtotoe.Strugglingtogetoutofthehandsofthepeople,
justtostaywithherbrother.Shewatchedasmultiplepeopleliftedtheinjuredbody.Themore
shestruggledthetightertheyheldher.Kickingfeet,flailingarms,andtheloudscreamsjusttobe
besidehim.Eventhoughshetriedashardasshecould,theykeptpullingheraway.Thewaterin
hereyesblurredhervision,makingherunabletoseeaclearvisionofhimwithscarsandburns,
itwasjustalumpcoveredingreenliquid.Afigureshecouldnolongerrecognize.
ChapterII:Idea
Daniseyeswerefloodedwithtearsasshewatchedthemtakeherbrotherintothe
operatingroom.Shestruggledtobebyhisside,butitwasnouse.Shehadnoideathatitwasthe
lasttimeshewouldseeherbrother.Onlyhourspassedtilltheycameoutwithalookadespairon
theirfacesabouttotellherthetragicnews.
Theradioactivewastecausedsomeserioussomaticdamagetothebody.Animmense
amountoftheliquidmadecontactwiththeexposedskin.Imafraidtosaythathewasntableto
makeitoutaliveafterthatincident.Wetriedeverythingwecould.Imsorry.
Shewouldnt
believewhattheysaid,asshefelltothegroundsurroundedintears.Herhandscoveredherface,
mumblingthesamethingoverandover.
Itsallmyfault
Oneofthenursescamedowntoherside,andexplainedthesituation.However,toDani
thewordsjustslippedpasthermindbecauseallshecouldthinkaboutwasherdeceasedbrother.
5,000radsshockinghisnervoussystem.Internalbleeding.Acomahewasn'tdestinedtowake
up.Herheartshatteredintoamillionpieces,regrettingthatmomentshewalkedintotheroom.
AsDaniwept,theyoungnursestayedrightbyhersidewithonehandplacedonhunchedover
back.
Itwillbealright.Hewillalwaysbewithyou.ThenursepointedtotheleftofDanis
chest.Rightthere,inyourheart.Shewipedthetearyeyesandwrappedherarmsaroundthe
nurse.Slowlythenursepattedherback,returningthegesture.Hertearskeptrollingdownher
twitchingcheekstryingtomaintainagrin.
Forweeks,Danistayedlockedintheapartmentrarelyeating.Everytimeshelookedin
thedirectionofthekitchenshecouldfaintlyseeimagesofherdepartedbrother.Shewould
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wonderwhatherpurposewasinlife,becausewithouthimtherewasnopurpose.Shecompletely
forgotabouttheirmission.Noonestoppedbytoseeher,shenevermadeanyotherfriendssince
theyarrivedthecity.Thetwoofthemweresodedicatedanddeterminedtogoback,thatthey
didntallowanydistractions.Itgrewlonelyintheapartment,allyoucouldhearwasthe
televisionchatterandtheliongrowlingfromDanisstomach.Movingonwasnteasyforher.
Theroomwascoldanddark.Theblindswereneveropened.Hereyesdarkenedandcondition
worsenedafterdaysandnightspassed.
Aftervegetatingintheapartment,thesoundoffootstepsapproachedthefrontdoor.Dani,
alertedbytheunusualvisit,wenttoseewhoitwas.Ashadowcastedatthebottomofthedoor.
Herhandreachedforthethedoorknob,butbeforeshecouldopenit,anenvelopewasslipped
underneath.Thefootstepsbegantomoveoncemore.Shewasintriguedastowhoandwhatthe
notewas,sheforgotaboutthepersonstandingrightontheothersideofthedoor.Theonewhole
hadalltheanswers.Sheopenedtheenvelopeandunfoldedthepaper,andstartedtoreadthe
message.Huh?Daniflippedthepaperfromonesidetoanother,butthepaperwasblank.
********
Joltingfromthebed,Danihadnoideawhereshewas.Inanunfamiliarorganizedroom,
sheknewthatshewasnolongerinthelab.Itwasclear,thatsomethinghadhappenedwhilethe
groupwasworkingontheirproject.Thefirstthingshenoticed,assheroamedaroundtheroom
wasthefactshewaslivinginadifferenttimeperiod.Shereachedforthephonethatlayonthe
desk.
2006Jan30843Tokyo,Japan
Seventyoneyearsinthepastandmilesawayfromthelab.Alabthatdoesntexistyet
andthetechnologynotyetinvented.Shekeptwonderingwhyandhow.Allshecouldremember
wasthecompanythatwantedtostoptheprojectfrombeingcomplete.Suddenly,shehearda
knockonthedoor.Slightlyconfusedtowhoitcouldvebeen,sheslowlybegantoopenthedoor.
Atallyoungmanstoodatthedoorway.Oh,Iamsogladtoseeyou!IthoughtIwasalone
here.
Howdoyousupposewegetback?Themanasked.
Ihavenoclue,Dylan,shesaidsounsure.
Hegrabbedherarmanddraggedhertothebreakfasttablewherehehadpreparedanice
mealtostarttheday.Astheysatatthetable,Danisplatewasbarelytouched.Sheseemedto
havelostanappetite,buthereyeslookedsolostinthedistance,anddeepinthought.
Sis,Iveneverseenyousolost,Dylansaidasthesinkswaterstartedtorun.
Imnotsosurewhattodo,
Youllfigureoutsomething,youalwaysdo,hesaidwithapositivetone.
Notthistime,
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Thetwowentsilent.Danisheaddirectedtowardsthetablewhileahandonherhead
twistingasmallsectionofherhair.AsforDylan,hecontinuedtowashthedishes.Hismouth
openedashewantedtotalk,buthequicklyshutit.Daniwassodeepinthoughtthathedidnt
wanttobreakherconcentration.Hecontinuedtofinishthetask,andplacethecleandishesinthe
dishwasher.Pickingupaplate,itaccidentallyslippedoutofhishandscausingDanitojoltoutof
herchair,andrushstraighttothescene.Dylanimmediatelybegantopickupthepieces.
Stop,shepulledhishandawayfromtheglasstopreventanycuts.
Imsorry.Youjustseemedlikeyouneedabreakfromthinking.
Youcouldvejustsaidsomethingyouknow,shesaidreassuringly.
Iknow.Iwasjustthinking,whatifwecouldtimetravel?Hesaidwithpositivity.
Daniwaspuzzledbythequestionhehadjustposed.Itwasanabsurdidea,judgingthe
factthatthetechnologyisntasadvancedandtherehasbeennorecordofonebeingabletotime
travel.Ifonlythatcouldhappensherepliedtohimwithacalmtone.Hearchedhisbackand
droppedhishead.
********
Daniwassofocusedonthetheblankpapermeant,whensheforgotabouttheenvelope.
Whensheplaceditonthetable,faintnoisewasmade.Click.Puttingthepaperdown,she
realizedthattherewasmoreintheenvelopethenshethoughttherewas.Asmallbrokenpieceof
glass,probablyfromaplateorcup.Sheexamineditcarefully,knowingtherehadtobesome
kindofmeaning.Buttherewasnothingengravedinthestoneoranythingwritten,therewasonly
halfofaroseandafloralpattern.Itlookedfamiliartoher,asifshehasseenitbefore.However,
shecouldntputherfingeronit.Herlazyandmourningdayswereover.Sheknewthat
somethingwasup.Whilefixingthedishesandreturningthemintothecabinets,theroseonthe
outerrimoftheplate,lookverysimilartothethebrokenone.Thesamefadedcolours,and
artisticdesign.Itwasdefinitelyapiecefromoneofhercollection.Thelasttimesheremember
oneofthembreakingwasthefirstdaytheyarrivedinTokyo.Rightaftertheincidentinthelab.
Dylanhadbrokenone,tobreakthesilence.Heaskedsomething.Somethingcrazy,ridiculous.
Shecouldntrecallthemoment,ifonlyshecouldgoback.
GobackSherepeatedgettingsofterandsofter,whiletwistingherhair.
Thatsit!
ChapterIII:Time
2012April12Tokyo,Japan
Fiveyearssincethedeathofherbrother.Stilllockedawayintheapartment,and
occasionallygoingout.ItwasnoteasyforDani,withheavyamountsofresearchalongwithtrial
anderror,shewasntgoingtostopuntilshewouldfindasolution.
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HeyDani!Checkthisout!
avoicecamefromthefigureatthedesk.Thecomputer
brightlylight.Shewalkedtowardsit,andplacedherhandonthechair,examiningthewebsite.
Hmm,Iguesssomeonehastriedthisoutbefore.Doyouthinkitwillwork?
Well,wejusthavetogiveitatry.
Danithenfacedtheladyinthechair,andgaveheranod.Aftermorecountlesshoursin
theapartment,thetwoworkeddayandnighttofinishtheproject.Shehadbeenwaitingforyears
tofindalead,andnowtheyhave.Thereisnogoingback.Daniwasjustonesteptoseeingher
brotheroncemore.Sheknewthatgoingbackto(insertcity)cantwaitanylonger,butshe
couldntreturnwithoutoneoftheirteammates.
Iwonderhowtheothersaredoing
She
thoughttoherself.
TheM.E.T.S.Shesaidunderherbreath.
Huh?Didyousaysomething?
Huh,oh...no.Heyonelastthingtodo.
Hmm?Okay.
Daniknewshecouldntgetdistractedatatimelikethis,butsheknewthattheywould
mostlikelyhaveinformation.puttingonthefinaltouches,itwascomplete.Experiment101.All
thatwasleftwastotestitout.Theyhadtakenabananaandplaceditinthemicrowave,and
adjustthetimetotwominutes.
Asuddenbeepingnoisewentoffinthedirectionofthemicrowave.Danirushedtowards
themachine,andcarefullyopenedit.Alookofshockfilledherface,herjawdropped,andeyes
wideopen.Shecouldntbelievehereyes,themicrowavewasempty.Shebegantopacebackand
forthintheroom,withonehandtwirlingasectionofhair.Sheturnedtowardstheladyinthe
chair,shetoowasconfusedatthereactionofthedevice.Theywerepuzzledbythefactthefruit
mysteriouslydisappeared.Theirheadsturned,nowseeingeyetoeye.Theexpressionontheir
faceswerebothclueless,lookingforananswerfromoneanother.Simultaneously,thepair
directedtheirattentiontothebananabunch.Assumingthatdoinganothertestwouldanswertheir
questions.Buttotheirknowledgeonbananashouldbemissing,howeveritwascomplete.All
fivebananasbackinabunch,notonemissing.Itwasifthebananawentbackintime,tobefore
theytookoneoff.Itwasunharmed,notascratchwasfound.Thetwowithwideeyeslookedat
each.
WhoaThewordcameoutofbothoftheirmouths.
********
AsDaniwalkedoutofherapartmentforthefirsttimeinalongtime,ayounglady
appearedinfrontofher.
Icouldnthelpbutnotice,yourlightsarealwaysoff,andthisisthefirsttimeIve
actuallyseenyouaroundhere.
33
Aligned
Hertonewasupbeat,andthevibeshehadwasveryenergetic.Herpigtailsswayedback
andforth,asshewaitedforaresponse.Danijustlookedatherwithwideeyes.Shewasshocked
andconfusedtowhyshewassointerestedinher.Sherepositionedherselfandbegantowalk
awayinsilence,notgivinganyattention.Wait!Danistopped,astheyounggirlposeda
question.Sheturnedaroundandgaveherasmile,replying,Dani.Withagenuinesmile,the
ladywavedback.
Mirai.MynameisMirai.
Daniwaved,turnedaround,andcontinuedtowalk.
Mirai.Future.Thatname.Danihadbeenthinkingabouttheladyeversincethey.For
somereason,Danifeltsomesortofconnectionwithher,itwasasifshesmetherbefore.
However,itwasimpossiblethatsheknewher,shehasntbeenoutoftheapartment,andwhen
Dylanwasarounditwasonlythetwoofthem.Miraissmileremindedherofherbrother,and
thewayshetalkedwasjustlikehim.
Itcantbe...Danishookherheadgettingtheideaout.
********
Thatbanana...wetookitfromthebunch.Howdiditgetback?
Daniwassilentandhadnoanswertoherquestion.Shedidnotknowhowtoapproachthe
situationathand.Allthatwasonhermindwasitactuallyworked.Eventhoughshehadnoclue
howithappened,shesgettingcloser.Whileexaminingthebunch,Miraiwentbacktothedesk.
Therapidclicksofkeysonthekeyboard,andthesilenceintheroommadethetwoquitebusyin
figuringoutwhatexactlyhappened.
Teleportation.Danijoltedfromherseatwhileholdingthebunchinherhand.The
keyboardclicksabruptlystopped,MiraisheardturnedtoseethegrinonDanisfacewhileshe
staresatthebananas.
Thatmicrowavehastheabilitytoteleportobjectsbackintimetowheretheywere
before.Howeverthereisalimittohowfarbackintime.Tryconnectingyourphone.
Miraiplacedherphoneontheattachedholderbythemicrowave,thenturnedthe
microwaveon.Danireachedintoherpockettopulloutherphone.Herfingersquicklytexteda
messagetoMiraiphones.Nothinghappened,tothemicrowaveorthephone.Itdidntevenring
oncethetextwassent.Unconsciously,Daniopenedthemicrowave,completelyforgettingthatit
wasstillrunning.Sparksstartedflyingaroundtheroom.Thewholeroombegantoshake,asif
therewasanearthquake.Thetworushedoutofthewayfromtheshockwavescomingfromthe
device.Oncechaoscompletelystoppedthetwoopenedwindowstoventilatethesmokeoutof
theroom.Failingtheirarmsaround,attemptingtopushthesmokeawayinordertoseewhat
causedtheuproarfromthemachine.Danipickedupthephonethatdidntseemtobedamagedat
all.Alightseemedtoblink,notifyingthatthemessagewasreceived.Whensheopenedthetext
34
Aligned
hereyeswiden.Miraiwascuriousastowhathappened,butcouldntconfronttoDani.Shewas
sointriguedatthetextthatshecouldnttakehereyesoffofit.
Received:26April2012
Danihadtakenalookatherphone,andthedatesdidnotmatch.
1May2012
5days...
Dani,didyousaysomething?
Themessage...itwasreceived5daysago.Itwentbackintime.
TimeTravel.Didwereallyfigureitout?Didtheyfigureitout?
Miraisaidasshe
glancedatthecomputerblackcomputerscreen
ChapterIV:Remember
Theresnothingstoppingusfromtryingitthough,shetoldhimashebegantowalk
away.Hisfacelitup.
Really?
Idontknowwheretobeginwith,butIknowthatwithyouwecanaccomplishalmost
anything,Danisaidwithalighttone.
Heapproachedherandgaveagentlesmile,beforehegaveherahug.Shepattedhisback
andwhisperedinhisear.Hepulledawayandonherfacewasonegenuinesmile.Thetwowere
caughtupinthemomentandforgotaboutthebrokenglass.Danishandslipped,accidentally
cuttingherselfwithabrokenpiece.Shegraspedherhandtightlyasthecutspainshotupher
arm.
Whoknewthisplateissodangerous...Danisaidwithapainfulsmile.
Youaresoclumsy,yaknow.Dylanrushedtogetthefirstaidkit.Shegiggledand
smiledathimwhilehetookcareofthewound.
Sis,youhavegottobemorecarefulnexttime.Hesaidassheletoutasigh.
Soabouttimetravel?Howareyougoingtodoit?
WellIhaventthoughtaboutitthatmuch.Theideajusthitme,pluswehaveonlybeen
hereforaday.Hiseyeswidenashecompletedthesentence,addingmoreemphasis.She
scratchedherheadandrolledhereyesathim.
There.Hesaidashefinishedwithaidingthecut.
Thankyou,shesaid.
Danistooduptograbthebroomanddustpaninordertocleanupthesmallerpieces.With
hereyesdirectedtothefloorandbrokenglass,shepickeduponepiece.
Forremembrance...shesaidtoherconfusedbrother.
Sheplaceditasideandfinishedupcleaning.Dylanturnedthetelevision,lookingfor
somethingtowatch.
35
Aligned
Iwonderhowwegotthisplace.Imean,weliterallyjustappearedoutofnowhere.We
dontevenknowhowwegotinthissituation.Hethenletoutaloudmoanaftersurfing
channels.Anotherproblemweneedtotakecareof.
Thatsright.Danisaidjoininghim.Weneedtolearnanewlanguage.Ihaveafeeling
wearegoingtobehereforquitesometime.
********
Didyoufindanythingelseonwhatthatgroupdid?
No,thatwasit.Therewasnoothertracesoftheauthoranywhere.
Letscleanthisplaceup,
DanididntseemtoohappywithMiraisresponse.Shewas
puzzledastowhyitallhappened.Theelectromagneticwavesfromthephoneandmicrowave
mustvehadsomekindofreactionwithoneanother.
Oh,butIdidfindsomethingontimetravel.Theirworksarequitesimilar.
Dani
completelystoppedwhatshewasdoing,andhereyesavertedtowardsMirai.Shewasinterested
inwhatshehadjustsaid.Miraiknewtokeepgoing.
Well,tobehonest,Icantrecallthenameofthecompanyorgroup.AllIknowisthat
itsasmallgroupofpeople,andtheyareexpanding.Hmm...
Miraitriedtorememberwhat
theywerecalled,itwasonthetipofhertongue.
M.E.T.S.?
Daniinterrupted.
Mirailookedatherandnodded.
Thatstheone!Howdyouknow?
Iveheardaboutthembefore.Itwasjustrecentlydeveloped.
Daniknewthatshe
couldnttellhershewasfromtheyear2077.Itwasbesttokeepitasecret.2008.Theyear
M.E.T.S.started,shewonderedwhattheirpurposewas.Theyhadsecretsandshewantedto
knowallofthem.Shethoughtthatitwastheonlywaytofigureouthowtimetravelworks.She
lookedatMirai,thenwentbacktocleaning.Assoonastheroomwasspotless,Danibeganto
speak.
HeyMirai,youregoodwithcomputers,right?
Yeah,Ifinishedwithadegreeincomputerscienceandprogramming.Whydoyouask?
Ineedtoaskyouafavour.Youcanhackintosystemsright?
Iguessso.Dani,whereisthisleadingto?
shesaidwithconcern.
IneedyoutohackintoM.E.T.S.
MiraididntunderstandDani,forshespokearapid
pace.Daniputachildishgrin,hopingshewouldsayyes.
Please,
Daniaddedwithhopeinhereyes.Mirailetoutasighandagreed.Shewent
straighttothecomputerandbeganthetask.
********
36
Aligned
Dowereallyneedtobehere?
Well,thisistheplacethathasthethingsweneed.
Howdoweknowwhereitis?
Wejusthavetogoineveryroom.
Whatisthisplace?
Itssomekindofcompany.Idontrememberthenamebuttheyreclosetobeingfully
develope.Thinkofthisasasneakpeak,hesaidwithagrin.
********
WhileMiraiworkedonhackingintotheM.E.T.S.system,thatgaveDanitimetothink
aboutwhatcouldhappennext.Shelookedoverhershoulder,takingapeekattheresearch.Once
again,Danieyeswidenwhenshethephotoofthecompanybuilding.Sherememberedthe
horribleincident.Shehadnoideathattheysnuckintothetheirbuilding.Flashbacksplayed
throughhermind.Thegreenliquid.Burningflesh.Thedeathofheronlybrother.Hereyesbegan
towater,andtearsstartedrollingdownhercheeks.
Iseverythingokay?
Yes,everythingsfine.
Shesaidwipingthetearsaway.Shehadamissionto
accomplishandgoingthinkingaboutthepastisntgoingtotakeherthere.
Well,accordingtothisdocumentIfound,therewassomeonewhoinventedtimetravel,
buttheydisappeared,alongwithallthework.
Iguesswearejustgoingtohavetosolveitourselves.
********
Thesoundoffootstepsechoedthroughthehallwayofdarkbuildingandnotasoulwas
present.Thestarsintheskywerescatteredacrossthenightsky,withthemoonprovidinga
brightlight.Rightaroundthecorner,twoshadowswerestandingrightinfrontofalabdoor.
Closerandclosersheapproachedthepair,andtappedtheyoungmansshoulder.Withaworried
lookonhisface,heturnedaroundtoseewhoitcouldhavebeen.Daniknewthatsheshouldn'tbe
messingwiththepast,butnowshehadfinallymetherbrother.Pullinghimaway,preventing
youngerDanitosee,shewantedtospeakwithhim.Dylanhadbeengoneforsolonginherlife
sowithoutthinkingsheembracedhim.Confusedatwhothewomanwas,youngerDylanpulled
away.
Whoareyou?Hequestionedher.
Danihadforgottenwhathermissionwasatthemoment.Hewaslookingimpatient,for
shehadnotansweredhisquestion.Withfoldedarms,hewidenhiseyesandraisedhiseyebrows
inhopeshewouldanswer.
Well?
37
Aligned
Shetookinadeepbreathbeforeshespoke.
Dylan...Sheresponded,buthisfacewasshockedathowheknewhisname.Itsme
Dani,butfromthefuture.
ChapterV:Completion
Days,nights,weeks,months,evenyearspassedsincethediscoverythetwohadmade.
Theywouldbeworkingdayafterdayonthemachine.TherehadbeentimeswhereDaniwanted
togiveup.Shethoughtthatitwasimpossible,themotivationinherdrainedeverytimethey
couldn'tgetittowork.Itwasifshegrewtiredoftrying.However,Miraiwasalwaystheretoget
heraboostandgetherbackontrack.ShewouldsitnexttothesulkingbodyandrubDanisback
withthepalmofherhand.Reassuringherthatitwouldwork,whilegivingherplentyofreasons
whyshehadtokeepgoing.Danicouldn'twaittoseeherbrotheroncemore,andmore
importantlygobackinherowntime.
Everypassingdaycupsofcoffeepiledupandtheroomwasanuttermess,buttheywere
gettingclosertofinishingthemachine.Therewereupsanddownsduringtheprocess,butit
didn'tstopthemfromcompletingthemission.Miraistilldoesn'tknowaboutDani'spast,and
viseversa.Alltheyknewabouteachotherwastheywerewillingtohelpeachotherout.Dani
stillcouldn'tfigureoutwhyMiraiseemedfamiliartoherdeceasedbrother,fromtheenergetic
attitudetohercalmingsmile.
"
Finaltouchesandthenwe'redone!
"Miraisaidwithexcitementwhilewipingher
forehead.
"
Huh?I'msorryIwasn'tlistening.
"
"
Isaid,we'realmostdone
."Mirai'seyeswerewideandwithachangeintoneherposture
didaswell.
"
Really!?
"Shesaidwiththrill.Mirainoddedandgrinned."Butwillitwork?"She
questioned.
"
Ihaveagoodfeelingaboutthisone.
"Shelookedinthedirectionthethecompleted
machineandasmirkappearedonherface.
Itwasn'teverydaysomeonebuildsatimemachine,butforDanisheneededtodothisfor
herbrotherandlabmembers.Withthesoundofbuttonsbeingpressedandtheengineturningon,
themachinefinallyworked.Butthequestionwas,willitgobackandforthintime.Ittakesfast
andnegativeenergy,tobeabletobuildawormholethatwillopenandcloseoncommand.
AccordingtoMirai'sresearchabout50,000milesperhour.Asitstartedup,Daniwatchedthe
lights,butrushedquicklytoMiraiandthecontrols.Shestoppedthemachinefromgoing,
withoutanyhesitation.MirailookedfrustratedandconfusedatDani'sdecision.Itfinallyworked
yetDanididn'twanttokeepitgoing.MiraiquestionedwhyshedidthatandDanijustreplied
withlookingatherwithworriedeyes.
"
Wecan'tgoonwiththiswithoutyouknowingwhyIaskedyoutohelpme.
"
38
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********
Daniapproachedthecloseddoor,thatrangjustafewmomentsago.Shewonderedwhyit
wouldberingingatsuchtime.Itwaslateintheeveningandnowoneusuallyvisitsher.She
didn'trecallinvitinganyonenorbefriended.Standingonhertiptoesshepeekedthroughthe
peepholetofindaladywithpigtailsontheotherside.Daniopenedthedoorandgreetedthelady
withagentlesmile.Quicklysherealizedthatthepersonstandinginfrontofherwasthesame
personwhogreetedherwhenshecameoutoftheapartmentforthefirsttimeinalongtime.
Mirai?
Theladynoddedwithasmile.Danithengesticulatedinafriendlymannertoenterthe
apartment.
********
Thetwotookapauseontheirworktohaveaproperconversation.Danihadnoidea
wheretobegin.herbrainscatteredallovertheplace,thatnothingseemedtomakesense.Her
headwasdown,shewasafraidtolookMiraiintheeye,forsheknewthatshewouldbeangry.
AcrossthetablethesoundofMiraiclearingherthroatreachedDaniseyes.Shejoltedfromher
seat,andmeteyetoeyewithMirai.Thetwoweresilent.Miraibegantolookimpatient
meanwhile,Danihadnothingtosay.Shetriedherbesttokeepapositiveattitude,butshewas
disappointedatthefacttheywerentabletocompletetherun.Thesilencecarriedoutforsome
time,andtherewasnothingTakinginadeepbreathandlettingalltheairout,Daniwasreadyto
speak.
Mybrother...
Hediedandknowyouwanttostoptheaccidentfromeverhappeningsoyourebuilding
atimemachine.
Miraihadspokenthewordsrightoutofhermouth.Daniwasamazedthather
jawdroppedandeyeswiden.
Howdidyou.know?
Daniquestionedherwithastutterinhervoice.
Miraiansweredwithouthesitation,
Itwassimple.RememberthefirsttimeIvisitedyour
place?
Daninodded.
Well,whileIwasinyourapartmentInoticedafewthingsthatseemed
outofplace.
Shedescribedhowtheplacelookedunorganized,likenoonetendedtothe
cleaning.Fromherobservations,sheconcludedsomethingterriblehappenedinDanislife.A
tragicmomentthatchangedherlifecompletely.ThatDaniblamedherselffromwhathappened,
andregrettedeverymomentbeforeandafter.ShementionedthatassoonasDanisaiditwasall
becauseofherbrother,MiraihadputtogetherthepiecesbeforeDanicouldsayanother.The
talentMiraipossessedremindedDaniaboutherbrother.Alwaysfinishinghersentences,and
alwaysthinkingonestepahead.TherewassomethinggoingonwithMiraiandthatshedidnt
appearinherlifefornoreason.
Soyeah
,Miraistoodupandwalkedbacktothecontrols.
39
Aligned
MirainotonlysaidthatbuttoldDaniwhatherperspectiveoftimetravelwas.Shedidnt
agreewiththeideaofgoingbacktothepasttochangeit.Therewereplentyofconsequencesthat
wouldbecausedbychangingthecourseoftime.Anothertherewasnostoppinghisdeath.Itwas
hisfate,nomatterhowmanytimesshewouldtry,herlovedonewillkeepdieingoverandover.
However,MiraididntcompletelygoagainstDanischoiceingoingback.Shedidntpersonally
careaboutwhathappens.Itwasonlyasuggestion,shewastheretosupportDani.
ChapterVI:Past
Areyouserious?!Dylansaidinaloudvoice,butthenquicklyrealizedthattheyneeded
tostayquiet.Sowereallyinventedatimemachineandweactuallytraveledbackintime.How
cool!Helookedaroundtoseeiftherewasanyoneelse.Isoldermewithyou?Iwannasee
whatIlooklike!
YoungerDylanglancedtoseeatearrollingdownDanischeek.Hequicklygrabbedher
shouldersandlookedherintheeye.
Areyouokay?Becausefromthelooksofit,youdontseemokay,hesaidwitha
worriedvoice.
Daniwipedherthetearoffherface,Yeah,everything'sfine.
Thatsnottrue.EventhoughyouarewayolderthanIam,Iknowwhomyoldersister
is,andyouarenotokay.Didsomethinghappen?
Danisatdownonthefloorupagainstthewall.Hestaredatherforafewmomentsnot
knowingwhattodo,butitclickedthathehadtositbyher.Shegiggledathisslowreaction.
TheresthesmileIwanttosee.Socaretotellmewhathappened?Makeitquick
becauseImsureotherDanihasalreadynoticedImmissingandisgoingtolookforme.
Youdieinanaccidentthathappenstonightbecauseyousavedmefromharm,Danirapidly
spedthoughaftertakingadeepbreath.
What?Imdead,Idie?
Yeah.
Whydyoucomeback?
BecauseIwantedtostopitfromhappening.
Butyouknowthatitcanalterthefuture.
YeahIknow,Danisaidasshehidherfaceinherknees.
Dylanstoodup,andbegantowalkback.Daniheardtheshufflesandfootstepsofhis
movementsandbeforehecouldgofar,shereachedoutherhandandgrabthebottomofhisshirt.
Thetwodidntsayaword,thehallwayswerecompletelyquiet,andtheatmospherewascalm.
Daniwhisperedsomethingbeforelettinggo.Helookedbackathissisterwhowasontheground
andsmiled.Shesmiledbackasasingleteardroppedfromtheireyes.Shestoodupandwithout
hesitationshegavehimahug.Onelasthug.Shewasthankfulthatshewasabletosaygoodbye
tohimproperly.Butjustbecauseshesaidthosewordsdoesntmeanshellforgetthetimesthey
sharedtogether.Hepulledawayandsmiledonelasttime.Theirlipsweremovingbutinaudible.
40
Aligned
Theybothwenttheirseparatewaysknowingthatitwasthelasttimetheyweregoingtoseeeach
other.Danireturnedtothemachine,andwentforwardbacktotheyear2013.
********
Areyouready?
Yup,letstestthismachineout!
Miraibegantopressbuttonsandswitchongears.Theblueglowinglightbrightenevery
second.Themachinewasupandrunning,theyhadfinallybuiltit.Amachinethatwouldtravel
backandforththroughtime.Afteryearsofhardworkanddevotiontotheprojectitascomplete.
Allthatwaslefttodowasuseit.Danihadsteppedintothemachineinhopesthatitwouldwork.
shejustwantedtoseeDylanonelasttime.
Takemebacktotheyear2007,thedaymybrotherdied.
Miraiwassomewhatdisappointedinherdecision,butshedidasshewasrequested.
Enteringthedigitsofthedateandthecoordinatesofthelocation,Daniheldontight,andsoon
enoughshehadtraveledbacktobeforethedeath.
ChapterVII:Forgotten
Heythismaysoundcrazy...
Yourefromthefuture.
Daniwasnotassurprisedasbefore,butratherirritatedatthefactMiraikeptcuttingher
off.
Youhavegottostopdoingthat.Whatgaveitaway?
Yourknowledgeintechnology.ThereisnowayIcouldvefiguredallthiswithoutyour
smarts.Also,IhaveafeelingtheM.E.T.S.havesomethingtodowiththis.Well,itseemslikeyou
shouldbegettingbacktothepast...Imeanfuture...Oh,whatever.Itwasgreatknowingyou.
ImsogladthatIwasabletobefriendyou.Youweresuchagreathelp,knowingelse
wouldvewantedtojoinmeinthisridiculousplan.
Itwasmypleasure.
Oh,ifyoudontmindIwouldliketotaketheblueprintsalongwithme.Toshowtomy
labmembers.
Thatsnotaproblem,heretakeit.
Danisteppedintothemachine,whileMiraistartedituponcemore.Thebuttons,along
withenteringthedateandcoordinatesofthelocation.Shehitonelastbutton,lookedatDaniand
wavedwithagenuinesmile.ThemachinedisappearedalongwithDaniandtheapartment,which
neverseemedtoexist.ThenameMiraiwasneverrecorded,andnotraceofherwasfound.The
incidentatthelabneveroccurred,andDanisbrotherneverdied.
41
Aligned
ChapterVIII:Future
UponDanisarrivalalongwiththetimemachine,herlabmembersgreetedher.Asshe
walkedoutthelabhadbeencompletelydestroyed.Thedesksweredamagedandcrumbleddown
tothefloorandbrokenglasseverywhere.Thelightshungfromtheceilingflickeredasthewater
fromthepipsleakedoutofthecracksinthewall.Danilookedateachmemberwithaquestioned
look.Oneofthemembersspoke.
HeyDani!Whatdoyouhavethere?
Oh,theyreblueprintsforthe...shepointedinthedirectionofthemachinethatwasno
longerthere.Umm...Thenglancingatthepapersshenoticedthattheywereallblank.Ibuilt
a...umm...with..ShecompletelyforgotwhathadhappenedinTokyo,likeitnever
happened.Huh,itsjustpaper.
Wehavetofindoutwhodidthis.
OhitwastheM.E.T.S.!Daniinterrupted.
Oh,Imsorry...
Whoa,Daniwhendidyoulearnanewlanguage?
Idontknow,shesaidwithconfusion.
Shepulledoutherphone,andnoticedthattherewasatextthatwasreceivedintheyear
2012.Shehadnoideahowshecouldvegottenthemessage,butitwasaphotoofherandit
lookedlikesomeoneelsewasinthephotobutshecouldnttell.Inthebackground,wasthe
micro
waveandthebananathatwasinthesmallapartmentinthetownofTokyo,Japan,butDanihadknowidea
whatthemeaningwasorwhereitwastaken.Sheturnedoffherphoneandwentbacktowork.
Wehavetorememberthatinordertodestroythem,wehavetogetclosetotheirheadstaff,theoneswho
starteditall.
Allsurroundedbyacomputerthephototheywerelookingatwastakenintheyear2008,
inTokyo,Japan.Fourmembers.Danilookedverycloseattwoofthem,shehadafeelingthey
lookedfamiliarbutshejustcouldntremember.
THEEND
42
Aligned
Epilogue
Aftersuccessfullyimplantingthemicrosolsintoeachotherssystems,SkyandBlue
spendthenexttwotothreeEarthweekscreatinggreengrass,bluebodiesofwater,talltrees,and
astunningbluesky.ThroughouttheconstructionofEarthsmostnaturalelements,Skyand
Blueusedthesamestepstheyhadcompletedtomakethemicrosols,researchingwhatatoms
theyneeded,searchingforthem,andfinallycombiningthem.Withfullenergylevels,therobot
duowasmiraculouslyabletocompletethesetasksthreetofourtimesfasterthanthetimeittook
forthemtocreatejusttwomicrosols.Inthemidstofthebuildingprocess,SkyandBluecameto
thedecisionthatitwouldbetoocomplicatedtorecreatenightonBlank,andtherefore,itisnota
partofBlank.Butwhoknows?Somedayitmight.
AfterthedemolitionofthenewlyconstructedS.T.E.M.Laboratoriesandthe
transportationofscientiststoseparateareasoftheuniverse,itwasrevealedthatProfessor
CorneliusWaltonwasoneofseveralM.E.T.S.allalong.ItwasWaltonsideatonotonlyactas
amemberofS.T.E.M.anddestroyalloftheirhardwork,butalsotoeliminatethesestudents
fromthefaceofEarth.ThisobviouslydidntworkintheparticularcaseofDon,whohappened
toturnupinthelabwiththemysteriouslycreatedShay.
ProfessorWilliamHopkinsofaneighboringlaboratoryimmediatelynoticedthat
somethingwaswrongwiththerobots,scientists,andS.T.E.M.Laboratoriesasawhole.Before
thingsgotoutofhand,Hopkinsmanagedtoorganizethegroupofscientists,engineers,and
environmentalleadersthatwouldnotonlybuildaspacecrafttorescueSkyandBlue,butalso
stayanextendednumberofdaystosupportthemintheirambitionsandseewhattheywereup
to.Bythetimetheshuttleandteamarrivedonthisunknownplanet,SkyandBluewerereadyto
showthemtheworktheyhadcompletedduringtheirstayandevenallowedtheprestigiousgroup
toassisttheminthecreationofanalternateSun.Fromthere,theentiregroup(includingSky
andBlue)headbacktoEarthtoformasuccessful,environmentbasedrevolution.
Duringthistime,Don,Shay,Dani,andFranzhadalreadyconqueredtheproblemsof
theirworldandwerepreparedtotakedowntheM.E.T.S.onceandforall.Afterrediscovering
theblackorbintheirseparatelocations,DaniandFranzbothuseittoregroupwithDonand
Shay(whomysteriouslydisappears)backintheremainsofS.T.E.M.Laboratories.There,the
threescientistssuitupinheavygearandmanagetoconjureaquartofsodiumcyanide.They
thentransferthebeakeracrossthestreettoM.E.T.S.headquarterswheretheysplashthedeadly
liquidontothetiledfloorswherealloftheevilmenaregathered.Afterseveralwhiffs,allnine
M.E.T.S.liedeadasthefoursurpriseattackersracebacktotheirfacility.
Withinjusttwomonths,anewerversionofS.T.E.M.Laboratoriesiscreatedtosuitall
theneedsofDon,Dani,Franz,Sky,andBlue.Theirplanmovingforwardistocreateefficient
andenvironmentallysafeproductsforhumansonEarthtouseaswellastocontinuetodevelop
thecomputerized,blank,andsketchyworldstheyhavegrowntoloveandappreciateoverthis
time.Everythingisgoingasplannedatleastfornow.
43

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