Beginning of Prologue

Staring into classroom 102 would make one question the prestige of the university. Laughter and chatter overwhelm the senses, study is nonexistent.

“Settle down class.”

Professor Elena quiets the students at will. Prestige returns, the student’s eyes yearn for class to begin.

“Good. You all have done well the past month, today we pivot. We have a new professor taking over the seminar.”

Murmurs begin. Who else but professor Elena, a leading mind in nuclear fission and body augmentation, can lead the discussion. Only the greatest minds can, but most are too busy flaunting their own genius for wealth with no regard for developing the minds of tomorrow.

“Professor Bell, introduce yourself.”

In walks professor Bell, a lanky lad wearing boots half his body weight. He stumbles in, fixing his glasses as he continues his stride, and stands before the 11 students inside.

Disbelief fills the room; professor Bell is the youngest in the room.

“What’s this child doing here?” Zara asked.

“Is he supposed to teach us? Or is the young lad a sibling?” Artem asked

“I think he’s carrying his primary homework with him.” Orion said.

“Alright, alright, that’s enough. Timid he may be, but just you lot wait.” Professor Elena turns to professor Bell. “Bell, it’s difficult to stand before others, especially geniuses, but even I can teach the lot. I know you can as well.”

“How do you do it?”

“What makes the mind learn?”

“Repetition, trial and error.”

“Ever technical. No, silly, you captivate it.” Professor Elena takes a seat and gives professor Bell an encouraging smile.

“Yes, yes. Captivate it, right. Ahem… Hello… hi.” The peering eyes of the room make it difficult to continue. Their minds will not churn to simple jargon, he must rely on much more than that.

One student raises their hands. A young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes from Europe. Elizabeth, touted as the greatest mind European soil can create.

“Yes.”

“What are you here to teach us?”

“Teach you… whatever I can really. Well, no. There is a focus, erm, before that I must understand what you all… understand. No, what you all see and believe. I…”

“Bell.” Professor Elena speaks. “Remember that this is a seminar. Unfortunately, it does mean you have to begin the discussion, but I know you can do it.”

“Right, then I have a question. 5 years ago, what ended World War II?”

“The nuclear bomb.”

“No, mobilization.”

“I disagree, it would have to be superior resources.”

“All worthwhile answers that hold merit, but there is one that trumps them all.”

“Science.” Professor Elena answered.

“Correct, thank you.” Bell rushes over to the board and draws a circle. “Science is not a single topic; it is all encompassing, our desire to create and understand.”

“But hasn’t science caused more harm than good in recent years?” Elizabeth asked.

“An excellent question, but one that each must decide their own answer for. The previous generation did what was necessary. Unfortunately, it does mean that much of science today has tilted towards warfare. A stagnant, but understandable venture; however! Thanks to wonderful minds, like professor Elena, arguing to keep increased funding we have welcomed in a new era of science. You all are here because you have been selected as the next generation of great minds. I thank the previous generation, their efforts etched in stone. But the next era is for us to bring forth.”

“And what will be our main discussion?” A young man named Anastasia asked. A tall, local genius, one renowned for his studies on the mind. “Creating more weapons is hardly a new era.”

“Yes, I believe that as well. We have been gifted the opportunity to explore, to discover. Elizabeth, you have done wonderful work on the development of exoskeletons. Who else… ah yes, Akihiko, the foremost advocate for transportational advancements, often called a lunatic for researching speeds never reached before but here you are simply a great mind. Must we even discuss professor Elena’s achievements? If nothing else we all owe her and her husband for the era they have brought, thank you.”

“Oh please.” Elena covers her blushing face.

“All of you have great minds, all of you will lead science to heights unknown, but we are still bound. Resources and funding like never before, the opportunity to gather. Yet, something still holds us back. Would anyone like to take a guess as to what that is?”

“Effort?”

“Time!”

“Subjects.”

“Great guesses, but there is common denominator.”

“Energy.” Professor Issac, Elena’s husband, walks inside. “Good to see you, Bell.”

“Likewise, my friend. Energy. The most prized resource. With it we could power vehicles to reach light speeds, we could power equipment to transform or aid the body, it is the key.”

“But we have nuclear energy now, as it expands won’t we have enough?”

“A wonderful resource yes, but dangerous and proven to not be enough for what we dream of. I would love to aid you all in your efforts, but I come here with here a request. I am Xavier Bell; my focus is fusion. I’ve come here today, to ask for all your help in harvesting this power. Where fission will power cities, we will power planets. Where fission has taken life, fusion will allow it to prosper. I cannot do it alone; I need you.”

“Fusion was considered impossible by the previous generation. What do you have to say to that?” Elena asked.

“Well, I’ll say they weren’t creative enough.”

Bell places his suitcase on the large desk at the front of class and opens it. Inside is a figure with two orbs attached to a rotating piece of metal wire.

“To begin, we must force the hydrogen nuclei to collide, creating a small space using basic physics. Any ideas for doing this?” Bell gives one of the orbs a flick, rotating it until it hits the other.

“Rotation.” Anastasia answered.

“Yes! Thank you. Rotating forces them to collide. The increasing speeds will force them into a close space while also being a catalyst for heat. But we must still overcome their electrical repulsion. Doing so will allow them to fuse, creating the energy we seek. But the question remains, how do we do that?”

As expected, no one inside the class has an answer.

“Yes, I was the same… I am the same. What are we if not curious minds with insatiable appetites. I present to you, my idea; with your help I believe we can achieve consistent results.”

“You have succeeded?” Liang asked.

“Twice, yes. Very safe experiment, very small results, but a start. Would you like to see?”

The room remains silent, but their eyes ask for more.

“Very well.”

Bell reveals a specialized microscope form his suitcase and a small box made of strange alloy which he places under the stage of the microscope. Wires from the box connect a light bulb and small fan across the table.

“First, our two hydrogen atoms stored inside this container. You are right to pull back, but if our reaction is right, we only need that level of heat for a moment we can’t even process. We give them a spin.”

Projecting the image of the microscope to the wall, the room watches two hydrogen atoms collide. They never break past their magnetic resistance but they are close and the heat is increasing.

“Next, I’d like to introduce a manipulated atom. I’ve yet to name it, why not B atom. The atom has a simple task, manipulate the atomic fields of the hydrogen atoms and then step away. I have created it to do just that.”

Introducing the new atom creates a strange image on the wall. The hydrogens, once colliding, now stick to the B atom. They tremble as they do, the reaction one the students begin to understand.

“Impossible.” Anastasia mutters.

The hydrogen atoms come closer, squeezing the B atom upward until they once again come into contact. They do not repel each other, the powerful magnetic field produced by the B atom forcing them together.

A bright light shoots from the top opening of the box, the projected image blurred until it returns. The B atom remains, a single, fused atom, next to it. Across the table, the fan spins at dangerous speed and the light bulb shattered.

“Well, we’re still in the principal stages.”

“Incredible.” Issac mutters.

The students rush to the front. Amazed and excited, the future of the world begins inside their classroom.

Three years later, the body of classroom 102 perfects fusion and introduce humans into a new era.

Humans were gifted infinite power.

Five years later.

“Bell!” Liang rushes into classroom 102 who gather to celebrate their achievements since meeting.

Their group, now known as the fated generation, move to comfort their distressed partner.

“What is it?” Bell grabs a single newsletter that Liang holds. “No… they didn’t.”

Humans abused it.

Fusion bomb set off in northeast.