As George and I walked into the retired lab, now our makeshift meeting place, the air was thick with anticipation. The room was quiet, with everyone seated in the student section, except for Kevin, the supreme for the day. He stood tall, his short stature belied by his commanding presence. His serious expression seemed to dare anyone to disrupt the proceedings.

I took my seat, aware of the weight of the single rule that governed our meetings: the supreme held absolute power. Kevin's word was law, and he could dismiss anyone at will. This rule had tested our character, both as supremes and as common members.

Kevin Otter, with his distinctive short stature, stood up abruptly. "As the supreme of this meeting, I hereby declare the meeting to begin. I, Kevin Otter, take up the prestigious decoration for the allotted time of one and a half hours." The room erupted into synchronized applause, four claps that echoed through the space.

"The topic for the moment will be renewable energy," Kevin announced, his voice firm. "Everyone may speak freely." With that, he sat down, and the room seemed to hold its collective breath.

Rob stood up, his broad shoulders squared. "Currently, the world relies on approximately 84% fossil fuels, 4% nuclear, and 6% renewable energy sources, including wind power. Our energy use is indeed unsustainable due to the dominance of fossil fuels."

Macy and Tory both stood up, but Kevin asserted his authority. "Tory may speak; Macy, please seat yourself until further notice." Macy glanced at Kevin, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face, before sitting down.

Tory spoke up. "Nuclear energy can be a viable option for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as it provides a significant portion of the world's low-carbon electricity. However, concerns about nuclear waste, safety, and cost must be addressed."

George immediately roared with passion from his seat. "I fail to agree with nuclear energy, given its risks!"

The room tensed, with Kevin watching silently. Tory's eyes narrowed, his expression thoughtful, before he sat down.

I took the opportunity to glance around the room, counting the attendees. There were 13 of us, with a few notable absences. I made a mental note to invite Sophie to our next meeting.

Brenda stood up. "While nuclear energy has its benefits, its long-term sustainability is uncertain due to concerns about waste management, safety, and public perception. Renewable energy sources like hydroelectric power, wind energy, and solar energy offer promising alternatives."

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

I couldn't resist interjecting, my passion for the topic getting the better of me. I stood up quickly, my words tumbling out in a rush. "Many current energy solutions have significant environmental and economic drawbacks. Nuclear energy, in particular, poses risks related to waste management, accidents, and high upfront costs."

Brenda retaliated, her voice sharp. "Why didn't you let me finish my point?" Kevin watched silently, his expression a mask.

Macy spoke up, her voice calm. "Max, that's a bit rude, don't you think?" I felt a surge of frustration, wondering why she hadn't spoken up when Tory interrupted her.

Kevin's gaze never wavered, his hands resting on the table. I decided to ignore the tension and finish my point. "We need to think outside the box, consider new solutions that prioritize sustainability and environmental stewardship."

Trisha stood up, her eyes shining with excitement. "While colonizing other planets might be a long-term possibility for humanity, it's not a feasible solution for our current energy crisis. We should focus on developing and implementing sustainable energy solutions on Earth."

Otis stood up, countering Trisha's point. "Establishing a human settlement on another planet is a complex, long-term endeavor. While significant progress has been made in space exploration, many technological, logistical, and financial challenges must be overcome before colonization can become a reality."

Maya Patel stood up. "I think we're overlooking the potential of advanced biofuels," she said. "With the right technology, we could be producing sustainable, carbon-neutral fuels that could power our transportation systems."

Carlos Ramirez shook his head. "Biofuels are still a relatively new technology, and we don't yet have the infrastructure to support widespread adoption. Instead, I think we should be focusing on improving energy efficiency in our existing technologies."

Leila Hassan jumped into the conversation. "I think you're both missing the point," she said. "The real challenge isn't finding new energy sources or improving efficiency – it's developing technologies that can be scaled up for mass use. Take, for example, the case of supercapacitors. We have the technology to create incredibly efficient energy storage devices, but we still can't manufacture them at a cost that makes them viable for widespread adoption."

As the meeting drew to a close, Kevin stood up, his voice commanding attention. "Time's up, everyone. Meeting adjourned." The room erupted into applause, with students milling about, discussing the topic and exchanging ideas.

As I filed out of the room with George, I turned to him and grinned. "That was intense. Can't wait for the next meeting."

George chuckled, clapping me on the back. "You and your passion for renewable energy. I'm just glad we could have a civilized debate."

I nodded in agreement. "Definitely. And who knows? Maybe one of us will come up with the solution to our energy crisis."

George smiled. "I wouldn't count on it, but it's nice to dream."

We walked out of the lab, into the bright sunlight, feeling inspired and motivated to tackle the challenges of our generation.