Hosein Kouros-Mehr - Extinction 6

Manos’s brow relaxes. “What if there’s gold and silver there?”

“Imagine if it contains oxygen or fresh water. We could lay stake to a virgin planet!”

“New Earth?” Manos’s eyes widen. “We can take it all for ourselves. No one knows about this!”

Gareth snickers. “Yeah, let China colonize Mars for all I care. If we do this right, we can clinch full control of a planet that looks just like ours. Imagine the possibilities…”

Manos hoots. “We’ll definitely be great again.”

“Listen, we have to be strategic and tread carefully. The Russians and Chinese must not know about this. We have to keep our findings confidential.”

“But can’t they see the planet for themselves?”

“No, it’s only visible from space. I repeat, don’t tell anyone about this.”

“My lips are sealed, Gareth. What do we do next?”

Several seconds of silence ensue. “How would you like to be the first explorer of New Earth?”

Manos’s jaw drops. “You want me to go up there?”

“Yes. There are too many spies in the CIA. If I announce this to my team, it will leak immediately. I trust GoldRock to keep it secret.”

“That’s very noble of you.” Manos rubs his chin and stares in contemplation. “Thanks to you, I do have a Falcon 12 in New Mexico.”

“Yes, I gave that you as payment for one of our missions. Didn’t I say the rocket would be useful someday?”

“It’s sitting idle in Spaceport America. You want me to fly it through the wormhole?”

“Would you?”

Manos grins. “Absolutely. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m honored, Gareth. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome. I want a detailed account of your discoveries. Bring back samples from the planet.”

“You got it.”

“We also need to understand why this portal opened up in the first place.”

Manos stands and heads for his chopper. “I know the reason. Andrews is behind it.”

“Bethany Andrews?”

“Yes. Apparently, she developed the first functional fusion reactor here in Livermore. We had an enormous blast when it went online. The star appeared right afterward.”

Gareth leans forward. “You mean her nuclear project was a success? That explains everything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oil prices are down $10,000 per barrel, Manos! Take a look at natural gas and coal commodities. Fossil fuel prices are lower across the board. We are scratching our heads wondering what’s going on.”

Manos stops walking. “You mean she’s telling the truth?”

“Apparently so. Her reactor is filling up our energy reserves.”

“I threw her in jail just now. I thought she was lying to my face.”

“That’s a mistake! Let her go, Manos. We need her on our side.”

“But she’s an anti-war liberal. You want me to free her?”

“Yes. If Andrews has solved nuclear fusion, the President will want to speak with her.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

“Please do. And hurry, Manos, get to the Falcon 12. A new world awaits!”

“I’m heading to New Mexico now.”

“Good luck!”

Manos disconnects and approaches Felina. “Get our helicopter ready. We’re going on a flight.”

“Yes, Mr. Kharon. Where are we headed?”

“Spaceport America.”

“To your rocket, sir?”

“Yes. We’re about to go on a wild ride.”

Copter blades start to spin and kick up dust. Outside the Livermore Laboratory, a steady flow of electricity runs from the reactor through the heavy cables and into the heartland of the country, powering a world in desperate need of energy.

Manos sees the prisoners marching through the dirt field. Soldiers escort them single file onto the military transport plane. He turns to his assistant. “Felina, send a message to the lieutenant over there. Tell him to release Andrews and her team. They are free to go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. There’s no need to take them to Las Condes. They are no longer under arrest.”

“I will let him know immediately.”

“Now let’s get out of here.”

He boards and buckles in for the flight to New Mexico.

AUSTIN STANDShandcuffed about to enter a military transport plane. Kwame and Fei wait in single file behind him. As he prepares to board, the lieutenant arrives and yells to the group. “Uncuff them!”

“What was that, sir?” a soldier asks.

“The captors are to be discharged.”

The officer shrugs. “If you insist…” He frees Austin and gives him back his smartglasses. “You can go.”

Austin stumbles. “…what’s going on? Why are you releasing us?”

“Get lost before we change our minds.”

He turns and races through the dirt field towards the laboratory, confused by the intense luminescence of the second sun. He looks back.

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.