I have two shadows. What the hell is happening?
Hearing high-voltage electricity flowing in the vicinity, he looks around and sees sparks fly from the neodymium laser.
Fei arrives close behind. “I can’t believe we’re free. Why did they release us, Dr. Sanders?”
“Don’t ask questions. We have to find Anil.” They sprint into the warehouse to find thick, black smoke billowing from the X10. A sulfuric odor permeates the air.
Fei covers her mouth and nose. “We should have brought gas masks.”
“It’s too late for that.” He shouts over the raucous tremor. “Anil, where are you?”
Beth catches up with the team. “Is the reactor still running?”
“It sure sounds like it,” Fei replies.
“Those noises don’t mean anything. We have to inspect the machine.”
Austin scans the laboratory. “I’ve been through enough already. I just want to find Anil and get out here.”
The hall rocks with a thunderous roar. They run through the facility and find the neodymium laser frying a semi-molten reactor. Liquid zirconium oozes from the shell and melts the concrete floor as black smoke rises to the ceiling.
Fei points at the vibrating transformer. “Look, we’re still creating energy!” The ultra-high-voltage line shakes as it sends electricity into the nearby power plant.
“Amazing,” Beth says. “That means the laser is maintaining a temperature above 100 million degrees. The gravity engine worked! We’ve recreated the conditions inside the sun here on Earth.”
“Anil was right all along,” Austin proudly states. “The gravitational wave gave the extra boost to hit our magic number. That was the missing piece of the puzzle.”
Beth snaps a photo. “This is the longest fusion reaction in history. We are generating 500,000 gigawatts per hour. Imagine the possibilities…”
“Not now. We have to find Anil.” Austin follows the cable to an opening in the wall and looks outside. Soldiers writhe in pain on the mud field. He grabs a first-aid kit hanging from the wall. “He might be out here. Let’s hurry and find him.”
The team climb from the hole and fan out in search of their colleague. They cover their eyes from the blinding starlight as roaring currents flow around them.
“Anil!” Austin screams across the field.
There’s no response. They scour the area and inspect the bodies scattered on the ground.
“He’s over here,” Diego exclaims.
The team rushes to find Anil badly injured and covered in debris, his wrists cuffed and his hands black with bruises. Blood drips from his face and his shoulder appears dislocated.
Austin feels his pulse. “Can you hear me?”
Anil broods in silence.
Beth nears. “Is he alive?”
“Yes, but he’s badly hurt. He suffered a head injury.”
Anil blinks his dust-filled eyes, mouthing something inaudible.
“He’s awake!” Beth sits next to him. “Anil, are you okay?”
“He needs water,” Austin says, removing a pack from the first-aid kit. “Drink this.”
Anil opens his mouth and slowly sips from the canister. The team wipes the dirt from his face.
Austin wraps a cloth around his associate’s wounded hand. “I am so proud of you, Anil. You single-handedly solved Project Titan. Without your insights, we never would have succeeded.”
A tear streams from Anil’s eye. His face strains as he tries to speak. “Lu—”
Austin leans closer. “What did you say?”
“Lumi…”
“Your daughter?”
Anil slowly nods, frowning as he tries to move his neck.
Austin turns to the team. “Oh my God, his wife Prisha is due any day now. Anil, is your wife in labor?”
Anil grimaces as he nods.
“We have to hurry and get Anil to his family.”
“Stay here,” Beth says. “I’ll bring my helicopter around and take you to San Francisco. Don’t worry, Anil. We’ll get your wife to the hospital as fast as we can.” She runs back into the laboratory towards her chopper.
Anil blinks with sand in his eyes. A smile comes over his face. “We did it…”
Austin beams. “Yes, all thanks to you. Somehow, you caught the gravity wave right as it hit Earth. You’ve made history!”
Anil lifts a thumb. “We did it together.”
“This is the world’s first fusion reaction, a hundred and fifty years in the making!”
They lie silently waiting for Beth, listening to the electricity flowing into the world. Anil covers his eyes from the bright star in the sky.
An incoming call arrives in Austin’s smartglasses. “Excuse me for one second.” His heart beats madly in his chest. He walks away and takes a deep breath before answering the call. “Hello?”
A soft female voice answers. “Austin…”
His voice cracks. “Olivia?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
Austin sits and stares in shock. “You heard my message?” His eyes well up with tears. “I miss you so much.”
“It’s been so long, Austin…”
He puts the line on mute and cries for several seconds, then tries to get himself together. “I think about you every day.”
She is silent.
“Olivia, I’m sorry. I treated you so badly…” Austin weeps. “My behavior was irrational and out of line. I was devastated when Matthew passed away. I couldn’t control myself…”
“It’s not your fault, Austin. Losing a child is the most difficult experience for anyone.”
He wipes his tears. “I’m a mess without you, Olivia. I have dreams about you and our son every night. I miss our little angel. He was so sweet and innocent…”
She sobs. “I think about him all the time.”
“I’ve wanted to hear your voice for so long. Can I see you?”
She grows quiet.
“Please Olivia, I want to make it up to you.”
“Let me think about it,” she says quietly.
Moments of silence pass. “My heart bleeds for you, Olivia. I apologize for my behavior.”
After some silence she replies, “I accept your apology.”
“You do?”
“Yes… and I will see you.”
“You will? Are you sure? I don’t want to force you.”
“You’re not. I do miss you also and I want you back in my life.”
He appears shocked. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Can I take you somewhere special?”
“Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
She giggles softly. “Sure, I look forward to it.”
“We’ll do it soon. I love you, Olivia.”
She pauses for a few seconds. “Thank you for calling me.”
He disconnects as a helicopter descends on a concrete platform away from the electrical wires. Looking up, he covers his eyes from the blinding star and then runs back to Anil. “Let’s get you home.”
Anil winces as he tries to get up. “What about the reactor?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Austin shouts as he lifts his associate off the ground. “It will stop when the fuel runs out.”
The team carries Anil toward the copter, strapping him into a back seat. Diego shouts above the engine noise. “There isn’t enough room for us, Dr. Sanders. Why don’t you fly Anil back to his wife and I’ll take everyone else home?”
Austin gleams. “Thank you, Diego.” He boards and closes the door. “Let’s get out of here!”
Beth looks back from the driver’s seat. “Anil, where is your wife?”
“Cupertino.”
She taps the screen and the helicopter lifts and speeds to the west. “We’ll be there in ten minutes. Hold on tight!”
The San Francisco Bay Area comes into view. Austin glances below and spots a crowd dancing in the streets of Livermore. “What’s going on over there?”