The experiment of Nuel chapter 4- An unwelcome pressure
It had been almost a quarter cycle since they had obtained Plasma essence, and experimentation had become the order of the day. They had managed to obtain all types of advanced Essence derived from primary essences. The presence of two new and energetic, at least speaking of Laria, resources had put a boost to the times and now the whole team was proceeding faster than ever.
Because a change had formed, given that advanced essences derived from a single element had ended, and relationships between different essences had to be addressed, now the whole team was dealing with one part of the same experiment. The various groups would decide which types of output to use on a mutually agreed upon relationship, and this was done until milestones were found to be marked.
The relationship that was being pursued at the time was that between air essence and fire essence, both used with equal percentages. Theoretically, their union should have resulted in the advanced essence of lightning, a highly prized essence sought after by the elité soldiers. The problem was that after several days and trials, there were currently no tangible results. Each trial had culminated in an explosion each time, and they could not figure out what the problem was, almost every hoop had been tried, and the chances of finding the right one were dwindling.
Sisap had to find a way out of this loop, team morale was critical, and not having results several times in a row could sap morale. Today he would have a talk with Neid about how to find a solution. He, therefore, decided first to go through the restroom and afterward to go to his colleague.
As he prepared to get a hot drink to start the day off right, Sisap was intrigued by the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs. Almost no one was using the stairs, as there was the presence of a freight elevator, and he wondered who was crazy enough to walk all the sub-levels before the lunch break.
Soon he had his answer, barely a man had appeared from the stairs. This one as soon as he reached the penultimate flight began to move his gaze over all the people in the room, evidently looking for someone. A slight tinge of anxiety touched the scientist's stomach.
The man was wearing a fine gray suit, the white shirt stood out slightly with the suit and was adorned with a tie, also gray. A very different code of dress compared to the one in the place where they were. Chance would have it that the person sought by the elegant individual was Sisap, for after observing the man, with a more brisk stride, he walked toward him and after walking down the last flight of stairs and arriving in front of him, with a slight smile, extended his hand, clasped in dark leather gloves.
"Sisap Kol I presume" the proximity of the man allowed him to get a better look at him. The distantly gray suit was furrowed with dozens of lines of a lighter gray that emphasized its elegance. His beard was finely trimmed and perfectly followed the contours of the person's face. Something about the man bothered Sisap and he did not want there to be an informal tone between the two of them.
"Dr. Sisap Kol," pointed out the scientist, not wanting to have an informal tone with the latter, served to put the right distance and take time to ponder the situation. "To what do I owe the honor Mr...?"
"Teor Alonfir, working for Senator Shera Neal."
Suddenly all of Sisap's security vanished.
"you'll remember her I guess," the man continued, with a slight, almost imperceptible grin.
He nodded. How to forget her? Shera was the hand that had made the Essence artificial development project possible. Had she not interceded with her great influence in the Ksamin government, the experiments would have begun many years later, if they had ever begun at all.
"Let's have a walk, shall we?"
Sisap would have very gladly refused. He had already walked the morning route and the stairs to the underpass but unfortunately for him, he did not have much choice, a lackey of Shera was like Shera herself and with her, he could not afford whims.
He followed Teor around the third level.
"Dr. Kol, the progress you and your team have made has been very fruitful. The government approves of science progressing in this way by supporting Ksamin's development... However."
Sisap was beginning to see where the man was going with this.
"The government expected something... more. Especially, given the funds and years invested in the Artificial Essences project."
Here was the terrible feeling he had felt as soon as he had seen him. Not letting his feelings get the best of him, he replied in a calm tone
"Mr. Alonfir, I understand that you are the spokesperson for this message, but the developments achieved in recent years have been nothing short of amazing. We have completed almost all known common advanced essences and begun to develop those between different primaries. I do not understand what more the government is asking for "
Arriving back in the common room, the messenger interrupted his pace and turned to scoff at him, changing his ways until just before formally
"Come on doctor, I thought you knew as well what the primary objective of this research was. The government can care up to a point about being able to make the basic army stronger, bringing it closer to the elite army or vice versa to have less cost for the latter. However, much we see the short- and long-term use of this we are still talking about a secondary goal. The government does not want ten thousand more average elite warriors. The government wants one or two more Hisey."
At those words, Sisap had turned red, no longer able to contain his manner.
"BUT... BUT YOU.." He could not complete a single word given how indignant he was.
what
WHAT?
Hisey???
Did they expect that in fifteen cycles they could create a subspecies of a young god? They could have directly asked for the sun and might as well have entered the hemisphere of impossible requests.
His outburst had been too direct, and he noticed that numerous glances were now staring at him and the government lackey. Good thing they needed to start the day on the right foot...
So as not to arouse further emotion and doubt in his staff, Sisap decided to wait a moment to regain his earlier composure and find the right words to express the impossibility of the request.
Sighing he began. "Theor, I understand well that having a being as strong as Hisey, in addition, would make Ksamin the most dangerous superpower of all, effectively placing it with a greater defense and offensive to threats. But what is required with the current resources is sheer madness!"
He waved his hands as he spoke, to better convey the concept he wanted to convey namely 'You are asking too much, you are insane, get treatment
"We are not yet able to obtain a single combination between three basic elements, and you expect one to be created whose complexity is on the four, five times higher? Do you perhaps realize the dangers associated with a test without proper precautions? Moreover, we know nothing about Hisey's essence, so how should we do it?"
"Doctor I, personally, have no idea of the practical complexities of the idea, as I can assure you that the government itself does not either. But you know what? The government doesn't care." Teor's gaze was now icy "You have prospered through the efforts of Mrs. Shera Neal and the resources of the government for long years."
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A short pause to emphasize his first point.
"it's time for you to give concrete results to the government. And I think we understood each other on the type of these. Congressman Shera would be very sorry to lose a figure of your caliber. I hope you understand my words."
Oh if he understood them well.
Sisap was terrified of the man's implications. In case he gave a negative answer in the best case he, and perhaps all his collaborators, would be fired on the spot, thrown out of the research center to which they were now devoting so much time and passion. The government would have found other groups of scientists on to weigh their absurd demands, although this would have had the advantage of the results they had already achieved.
In the worst case, Sisap would be made to disappear from the scene. A person with his knowledge could not be left around to tell the wrongs of the government. He dared not even imagine what cruel ways they would use to make him disappear.
No the answer to give was positive. But perhaps he could improve the situation they were in. He and his whole group were certainly not indispensable but they were useful to the government. Find more people, and give them time to understand the experiments. They would have lost money and resources. It was also not convenient for the government to make them disappear.
It was a long shot, but Sisap tried, he had to try.
"One and a half cycle. I ask for this time to bring tangible results for the Storm Essence. Before that, it is impossible for me. And you can assure the government that no one would be able to do that. Moreover, we'll need more funds to do the experiments."
If they were going to break their backs at least had to do all the rehearsals in the world, and for that, they needed more funds and resources
The messenger, who now seemed anything but that, seemed to ponder the request for a moment. Long moments of silence punctuated the passage of time, in which Sisap had now begun to break into a cold sweat.
Finally, he decided to answer.
"A cycle, Sysap" the finger raised ominously, "the government will not be willing to postpone any longer."
Finishing the clear ultimatum the man turned " Ah there will come to you in a few days a report on what we know about Hisey, it should simplify things" and finished the sentence, as he had arrived, he left.
Sisap did not deign to say goodbye, he was too busy thinking about how he was going to solve this big problem that now out of nowhere hung over his head, as well as that of his old and new collaborators.
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"Who was that man?"
"What did he want?"
"Why were you shouting so much? It's fucking morning."
Sisap had been surrounded by a plethora of his staff in a very short time, after his discussion with Shera's 'messenger' it was not even that surprising. He was lucky if people in the second sublevel had not heard his rant...
Well now came the shittiest part. He had to tell them about the impending deadline, without alerting them
Guys we don't even have two cycles to get a result that would take ten, but come on it's no big deal. and in a worst-case scenario, the best thing that can happen is to end up on the street
He almost said exactly that, fortunately, his brain took those few moments to reconnect with reality, and catching his breath he began to speak "Okay, calm down everyone. As you may have guessed from my rant just now, there is some news. The government wants more tangible." the gazes were fixed on him "okay, needless to dance around, the demand is to have an essence of the caliber of Hisey's by the end of... Well in a cycle and a half."
A series of voices rose up
"But we don't know anything about those types!"
"What are they thinking?"
"The government people can go fuck themselves."
This situation reminded him a lot of his childhood when as a boy he and all his friends used to lash out at the group's spokesman when he bore bad news, for example, when they were no longer welcome in a club or a particular place, not realizing that pouring out their frustration on that person would not change anything.
For a while he let them vent, and when the intensity of the tones began to decrease he seized the ball and continued the speech
"I know very well what this implies believe me. I know that until recently we all believed that we had no deadlines. That the important thing was to get results to step by step. I how much if not you have been baffled. it is an absurd and borderline request. But our place in the research center depends on it, unfortunately."
He paused briefly to give everyone a chance to absorb his information.
"We are the greatest minds present in Nuel and I dare say in all of Ksamin. I implore you for yourselves and everyone else, to try harder from now on." although he didn't want to make it out as a public square speech it was essentially what had happened. whatever, the important thing was that the concept had gotten through.
So it seemed at least, people had stopped talking and now a slightly awkward silence had fallen.
A voice broke the lull and asked, "Sisap where would you like to start?" Laria had stepped up to the whole group of people.
praise to you Laria
Taking advantage of the proper moment he began "First of all let's try to understand the basic elements of Hisey's essence. His nickname is pretty clear, isn't it? Hisey of the storm so I would say wind, lightning, and something else will be the elements that make up his uniqueness. In a few days, a report on this should come but I want to start right away with the obvious elements" a small pause to catch his breath "We need to divide into three groups, one to understand the elements of which Hisey's essence is composed, one to develop these in the lab and one to continue the theory on the relationships between essence. Dans, Giosc to you the first group, take five people and start. Neid, your task is to form the second group together with Weilen, I will form the third with the remaining resources."
He finished his speech and waited for the nominees to start calling resources to form the various groups. Not feeling like waiting, being full of sweat and nervousness, Sisap concluded, "Resources who remain outside or want to deal with bonding theory come to my station," and headed to his station, accompanied by Laria who followed him as always.
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"Sisap I was thinking" Laria started to get his attention "maybe it would be better to solve the problem of the relationship between the different essences first? We haven't gotten any results yet and I would have an idea about a test."
the scientist left the documents he was consulting on his desk and raised his head "Laria, that is already being taken care of by Neid. If you think you can contribute to him, you are welcome. I have to continue the study on the theory because if the basis is wrong then the practice will be wrong too."
She was quick to retort "But there is no need for further study for the relations of two essences. the theory is sound, there is no counter-evidence, it all adds up" the girl was pushing too hard, and that was not good on Sisap's already present nervousness.
"Then why aren't we getting results?" he blurted out, perhaps in an even higher tone than he would have liked.
the girl as usual never missed a beat and replied promptly in the same high tone, "Because I think we are delivering the energy the wrong way!"
This statement caught him off guard for a moment and he stood for a few moments with his mouth half open not knowing how to retort. Finally, having calmed down, he decided to inquire, "Elaborate."
Laria with her usual smile began to explain "I'm not saying that the ritual is wrong it works and is also efficient considering in several experiments we have to do. What I'm referring to is the fuel given by the crystallized essences" she had caught his attention, and the girl knew it, she grinned almost imperceptibly before continuing "Each time I've seen that the crystallized essences we put are each different by an angle to keep a balanced situation. and this for a relationship between equal essences works. But what if the argument changes for relationships between two different essences?"
"It would sound very strange to me to tell you the truth. That of putting different crystallized essences is just a precaution, we don't have proof of inefficiency," it wasn't to say the opposite of what Laria was saying but to him, it sounded sincerely strange to think that there was a part of energy going to impact the relationship during the process.
"What if instead, we tried to put only crystallized essences of the elements we are trying to unite? What if we used crystallized essences of fire and air instead of using all four types? I'm not saying I'm sure about this hypothesis of mine, but it doesn't hurt to try, right?" concluded the girl in reply
Sisap pondered for a moment. He was not very convinced by Laria's theory, but neither could he say with certainty that he was wrong. and as long as something could not be proven, it could not be ruled out a priori.
Finally, he heaved a sigh and decided to follow his student, "okay Laria, you know what? Maybe you're right, maybe you're not. But you have to have evidence to say that. So" she set about writing on a paper, as soon as she finished she handed it to the girl "take this and take it to Neid, tell him it has priority over other things. I'll give you six days of experimentation with your idea to give me decent results, otherwise, we'll continue as we always have. okay?"
"Thank you Sisap!" taking the paper Laria disappeared from the station, heading for the lab.
With another sigh Sisap went back to check the papers, time was tight and she could not afford any distractions.
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Exactly eight days later on Sisap's desk was a medium-sized parcel, wrapped in light blue foil. On the foil was an ochre paper note that read 'I know I took an extra day. this was to make up for it.' It was clear that it was from Laira, the process had failed, and now she was trying to sweeten him with a present.
Extremely unprofessional but clever.
Placing the card down he began to unwrap the package, the foil of which came down easily, leaving Sisap free to remove the lid. As soon as it was removed he was speechless, as his gaze scanned the interior of the cardboard box. A glass cube almost as large as the parcel occupied its space, but the thing that had caught his eye was the faint blue light that was emitted. Sisap was speechless... in his hands, he was holding the container of a crystallized essence.
The crystal was continuously crossed internally by small celestial lightning bolts that brightened its color now and then by emitting a greater beam of light. There was no need to read the tag that said 'lightning essence' to realize that Laria had sensed the right thing and in seven days had managed to finish what had been holding them back for much longer.
Now Sisap knew what the first thing of the day was.
He had to find Laria, apologies, congratulate her, and offer her a raise.