Prologue
“Its done?”
“Yup. Pretty much.”
“What has to happen before we can test it out?”
“Hugo wants to be here when we test it out for the first time, so he has to get back from his Alaskan cruise.”
“How long till he gets back? I’m kinda excited to see what happens.”
“He gets back in a week…and just kinda? I’m super excited! This is gonna change everything!”
“I will admit. If this works, our names would live forever in every physics textbook made.”
“Pfft, if this works, we could literally live forever.”
“We won’t know until we try it out though…and even then I bet it will take a long time for us to smooth out the bugs.”
“But just think…We could be kings. I know it sounds childish, but we could litterally take over the world!”
“Can anyone say, “War-lord-power-monger?”
“Shut up. You know it’s crossed your mind once or twice.”
“Ehh, not really. I think I’m gonna call it a day….I’m pooped.”
“Oh. Ok. Seeya tomorrow then.”
“Yup. You too.”
David Straight closed the laboratory doors behind him. The winter sun was just starting to set over the hills of Mayfield; casting an eerie twilight setting. David casually scanned his suroundings as large snowflakes softly flitted down around him. This was the third day in a row that David had gone home early, and it was starting to make him feel irresponsible. All of his co-workers had been staying extra late, sometimes even working through the night and into daybreak. He had done a few all-nighters himself, but as their latest (and greatest) project was coming closer and closer to a finish, David found himself getting unnaturally exhausted. He told himself that once the machine was complete he would, in theory, never be tired again. He could work extra on other things to make up for slacking off now.
He sat down on the waiting bench on the side that was protected by the bus-stop shelter. The shelter was in no way meant to protect from the elements, but it was at least successful in keeping half of the only bench clear of the wet snow. David shivered slightly; it was times like these that made you wish you had put on that extra jacket in the morning.
“Can I sit here?” an elderly man asked, pointing to the snow covered half.
“Be my guest.” David said. The geezer seemed like a nice guy, but if he wanted to get his pants cold, he wouldn’t stop him.
“Thankyou, David.” The old man said. He made a sweeping motion over the bench and swiped the snow off. He then sat down as an old man would: slow and labored.
“I’m sorry, do I know you?” David said. It was the oddest thing…even though the man brushed off the snow, his thermal sleeve hadn’t gotten wet. not in the slightest.
“I know you…but you don’t know me. let’s change that, shall we?” he stuck out his hand, “Otis Manuel, at your service.”
