Chapter 10: Cupcakes

The next few months were full of long days and sleepless nights. The entire team worked on the project and none of them gave up. We got annoyed with each other when we disagreed or the calculations didn’t turn out. Alveera turned out to be the most valuable member of the team. She made sure we all stayed fed, hydrated and got at least 4 hours of sleep a day. She was basically our mother and kept us sane.

We had exactly 123 failed test runs, and today felt no different. We had given up on waiting for natural storms and made an artificial method to manipulate the weather. That was a nightmare to perfect. There was a time we couldn't figure out how to make the storm stop and the facility was flooded. Luckily Gazala constructed a water catchment and storage backup plan. We sent the water off to arid areas in Africa. I guess you could say it was a win-win situation.

I walked over to Alveera's apartment and knocked on her door.

"Taylen my boy, come in." Her Dad cheered when he opened the door and saw me. "Vee is just finishing up in the kitchen."

"Okay, no problem." I smiled, we had 3 minutes to spare.

"How's that leg of yours doing?" He asked. Right. I had been cut by a piece of metal from a small explosion while we tested out the storage facility to hold the current. Alveera called the scar (that was now on my right leg) a battle wound.

"It stopped leaking, thank goodness. Just a bit tender but much better."

"That's good news at least. Hopefully, today's test run isn't also a fail."

"Yeah." I laughed and heard the clicks of her heels as Alveera walked into the lounge.

"I'm ready!" She excitedly squealed. I noticed she had a container full of cupcakes in her arms.

"Who's that for?" I asked. She was so beautiful. Every day I seemed to catch myself staring at her, but luckily she never noticed. Every night Alveera visited me in my dreams and I stared at her some more.

"Just thought we needed something sweet to keep our hopes up." She shrugged. I noticed she had a bit of icing on her chin. I reached over and wiped it off with my thumb. The world seemed to slow down as I touched her skin and her eyes flickered up to meet mine.

"Thanks." She smiled. Taylen focus. Right. I nodded and walked to the door, I held it open and allowed Alveera to walk out. My hand brushed the side of her arm as we walked over to the control room. I made a mental note to not walk this close to her.

"The cupcakes are a kind gesture," I stated after clearing my throat. I had to break the awkward silence as the only sound was from the clicks.

"I made both chocolate and vanilla. I know you prefer the vanilla, so I made that batch just for you."

"Which flavour do you prefer?"

"Chocolate." She giggled. "The vanilla is also good though."

"I remember as a child my mom would always make these red velvet cupcakes on special occasions. They were good."

"You must miss her."

"I do." I sighed, "This project is literally my entire existence."

"I don't think so. You have many great qualities. Your kind, hardworking, inspirational, funny and such an amazing boss."

Right. Boss. There was that word again. I nodded as we reached the lab.

"Are those cupcakes?" Vivian asked as soon as she saw Alveera. That was the end of our conversation. We always had short conversations while walking. I made it a constant that I would walk with her from her apartment. It gave me a few minutes to spend alone with her.

Everyone gathered around her and took a cupcake from the container. I walked away from the crowd and went to stand by the glass wall. I just wanted this to finally be over. I just wanted to send everyone home and never see her again. It would be easier that way.

I heard the clicks and she walked over to where I stood.

"Tay, I, I mean Mr Nova." She softly stated. I looked up and saw she held a cupcake in her hands. "I saved one for you."

I gave her a smile and took it from her. Tay. She called me Tay. That was the closest she had ever come to saying my name. I put it down next to my journal then turned to face the team.

"Okay team while you enjoy the delicious cupcakes listen up," I ordered and the team fell silent. "We have all been working hard to complete the Tanencha experiment. It is honestly such a privilege being able to work with such a dedicated team. You are all amazing people and I can never repay you for your efforts."

"Mr Nova we all work so well together because of you," Matthew responded and the team agreed.

"Thank you. So are you ready for yet another fail?" I laughed. Humour was good to add in serious situations and it also helped calm the nerves that I knew each one of us felt.

"Right. This is the 124 test run, dated 12 November 2021." Matthew called out then explained the whole procedure once again to the video crew.

"Activation of the neutron detector in 3…2…1," I stated then pressed the red button on the control panel. Thunder roared and lightning hit the generator that supplied power to the equipment.

The turbine was now activated and started spinning faster. The team watched amazed as sparks started to form, it was working! A beam shot from the turbine and hit the impenetrable wall. More thunder cracked and the sound of the equipment increased. Sparks then started to fly from the bean and an electric current bolted around the room.

"Switch it off! Switch it off!" I yelled. It had almost worked, we were getting closer.

"Sir I cut the power but it won't switch off!" Gazala shouted back over the noise. Another current broke away from the beam and struck the glass wall. A small crack formed. The glass wasn't going to hold for long.

"All of you get out of here!" I order and hit the emergency button. This was to inform all residents to leave the facility. The team hurried out of the lab but Alveera ran up to me.

"Taylen! We need to get out of here!" She screamed.

"I need to try to turn it off!" I replied.

Everything suddenly slowed down as I saw another electric current head straight for Alveera. The glass was already cracking so another blow would force it to give in. My body seemed to also react slowly.

"Move!" I yelled and pushed her out of the way. I felt a massive voltage run through my veins before everything around me disappeared. Leaving behind complete darkness.