Prologue

In the year 20XX science and technology made many advancements on planet Earth. New elements were synthesized, virtual reality became a common thing and even A.I. became affordable to middle-class households. Space travel and settlements on different planets became feasible despite the varying climatic conditions. Earth's environment became much cleaner and only people of high-class and intellect remained there. Wars were a thing of past as science made great progress.

The lower and middle class were transported to different planets to reduce the burden on planet Earth and although the climatic conditions greatly varied on the different planets life was flourishing under the scientific developments. These people worked in different forms on these planets. Some worked in mines, some worked on artificial farms. Standards of living improved and to make life more comfortable on these planets different scientific societies and research centers were established and funded.

On a planet where humans had yet to establish themselves, various labs and research centers were established to carry out experiments. One such lab was centered around an active volcano. The newly synthesized metals were built to resist the high temperatures of the sun. These metals can easily resist the temperature of a volcano.

On this specific volcano which was given codename VOL5597, the temperature reached half as high the temperature of the sun. The scientist in charge was a genius prodigy from planet Earth whose revolutionary ideas brought a massive change in the present era of technology.

At a mere age of 21, Horacio Long had a Ph.D. in three subjects, namely Thermonuclear astrophysics, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. He had Masters in classical music and astronomy.

With a height of around 6 feet, sharp cheekbones and long hair he looked more like a singer than a scientist. Though the glasses he wore gave him a scholarly look.

He has been on this project for the past half year and within a week it was going to start. Today was the day of test run and Horacio had to make sure that everything was perfect.

So he was personally experimenting in his lab. With a look of concentration on his face, Horacio tested the magma samples brought in by the workers when his personally customized A.I. buzzed.

"Master, there is an unknown metal present in the sample", rang out the sweet voice of his A.I. named Rachel.

His brows furrowed as he said+

,"Analyze it."

His left eye lights up as the scanner gets to work.

His left eye was synthetic and fixed with a scanner with the ability to scan, recognize, analyze and store data.

What came up after analysis made him scrunch his brows with worry.

Though the element was present in very small quantities in the magma as it, it had a hard exterior but the interior was filled with a liquid.

"Separate the element and analyze the liquid present." Horacio says to Rachel.

"Yes, Master."

His left eye lights up again and the result blew his mind.

Horacio ran towards the control center as fast as he could, hoping that nothing happens during the pre-test preparation.

"Rachel, contact the control room," he says while running.

"Master connection could not be established due to starting of the nuclear power plant."

His heart pounding, he reaches the elevator. Flashing his ID card he enters it and tries to calm down.

Suddenly the elevator lurches to a stop. Sounds of alarm start blaring as he feels the elevator shaking. The transparent glass of the elevator gives him a view of outside the as he sees magma boiling more than usual.

He presses the emergency button, and the elevator starts again. He disembarks on the next floor and makes his way to the control room through the stairs.

Sweat dripped down his face as he hurriedly walked through the passageway leading to the control room.

The red lights and the sound of alarm made him feel faint as what he feared came to be true.

"How can this be happening?" he wonders.

"How can they be so careless in testing the magma?"

"Master, your pulse rate is above the normal limit, do you need medical assistance?" asked Rachel, hearing the imaginary concern in her voice he smiles wryly and ignores her.

Thinking of the past he smiles a little and straightens himself as a look of determination passes through his eyes.

"I have done things as perfectly as they can be done, I'll make this right", he murmurs while making his way to the control room.

Entering the control room, looking at the grim faces of other scientists causes his face to fall.

"What's the situation?" he asks.

"Sir, the temperature of magma is rising by an astonishing amount." reported one of the lead scientists.

"Switch off the nuclear reactor immediately," he ordered.

"Wait for a second," intervene a cold voice. Horacio turns to look towards the person and an expression of disgust flash through his face. Xiao Chen was his contemporary and if this was any other age and time he would be said to be a prodigy. Sadly, he was older than Horacio Long by 7 years.

Xiao Chen had a lean frame and a feminine face. His voice was also a little high pitched. His eyes turn into crescents as he says,

"Wait a second, dear Long'er. Might you share with us what prompts you to order the shut down of the nuclear power plant?

The look of disgust becomes apparent on Horacio's face as he ignores it and he ignores Xiao Chen.

"Why are you not turning off the nuclear reactor?" says Horacio, this time in a louder voice.

"Sir..."

"What?" says Horacio, his brows furrow in annoyance.

"My-my Long'er, that's some temper you got there," says Xiao Chen again in a creepy voice.

"There is an unknown element in the magma, which is hard on the outside but is filled volatile liquid inside, though it is present in very small quantities. I have to make sure that everything is fine. "explaining to others in exasperation Horacio moves toward the control panel to turn off the nuclear reactor when...

BOOOOOMMMM!!!

The control room starts quaking as we all turn towards the screen as we see a mushroom cloud coming out from the volcano. The sounds of alarm intensify as the volcano erupts as I hurriedly try to shut down the nuclear reactor. The control center can easily handle the explosion of a volcano but in case of a nuclear explosion, the temperature reaches as high as 100,000,000° Celsius.

"Everyone evacuates, I'll meet you at the HQ," Horacio orders everyone.

What he fails to notice as everyone was turning away was the sinister smile on the face of Xiao Chen.

"Rachel connect to the mainframe computer and shut down the nuclear reactor immediately!"

"Yes master"

BOOOOOMMM!!!

Another explosion rings out as more smoke and magma erupts from the volcano.

"Sir, the connections to the nuclear reactors were cut off," says Rachel after a while.

"What!!! How can this happen? Those cables were built to withstand a volcanic eruption!"Horacio was frantic.

"Sir the cables are secure but there are bugs in the mainframe that is not letting me pass through to connect to the reactor," replies Rachel.

"What!!!" exclaims Horacio.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!

A mushroom cloud of fire rises in front of Horacio's eyes as the nuclear reactor explodes.

"How beautiful!" he murmurs as he closes his eye.

"Thanks, Rachel," he whispers softly.