New Exotic

As the M-Probes kept going deeper underground following the Energy lines, they kept transmitting the data to their nearest shuttle so that it could be transmitted back to the shore. The shore kept track of all the M-Probes and all their scanning data. The data was quite clear.

Although the forests were far apart from each other, and on different sides of the continent. Their energy lines kept going deeper and deeper underground.

"What are these energy lines using as conduits? It's nothing we've come across before. It doesn't have any recognizable signature to it.", Dr. Helen said as she was looking at the projection of the planet that was being mapped in real-time.

At the first glance the material that made up the energy was entirely alien. It was made up of some unknown exotic or Composite. The energy it held inside it wasn't in heat or electrical form. It was just pure energy that was moving though it. The only reason they were able to identify it as energy was cause when the lines pulsed, they produced electromagnetic radiation. But that didn't made any sense cause when the researchers inspected the lines for electricity, it came out negative. It was a previously undiscovered mode of energy storage and transportation. And all of it was possible because of the material the lines were made up of. The researchers took some samples to take back to the shore. The specialized equipment there would be able to provide a more detailed explanation about the exotic.

"Is Dr. Keen here yet?", Dr. Helen asked. Dr. Keen was the top material researcher aboard the shore. She wanted his opinion on this.

"Yes he is here."

"Where is he?"

"He's currently studying the trees."

"Let's go find him."

Dr. Helen and the Assistant made way to Dr. Keen who was currently standing on a floating platform atop a tree. He was busy studying the trees and how they did what they did.

"Ooh, The radiation levels are remarkable! The amount of radiation it emits double every time it reassembles the atom! Ooh, This is so exciting stuff!", Dr. Keen was currently having the time of his life! As a material researcher, This was really exciting stuff for him! The process of breaking up the atoms was easy enough but then rearranging them? That was beyond humanity! So figuring this out might become the biggest achievement of his career!

"Dr. Keen, Can you come down from there?", Dr. Helen called out to him through the comm.

"Ah, yes. Dr. Helen! Might I just say that these trees are just a wondrous existence? I've never witnesses something like this!"

"Yes, Quite. They are indeed really fascinating! Being able to replicate them or their methods will propel the Arcorn empire at least a millennium in the future and open up many fields of research!"

"Yes, I'm thinking of writing up a report about the whole process. Although I might need some time observing the trees."

"That won't be possible I'm afraid. We're on a time limit and time is of the essence."

"Yes, I understand, The mission takes priority."

"Ok, The reason I was looking for you was I want you to let me know your thoughts on the Energy lines. What kind of material are they made up of?"

"Well, from the initial reports, The material doesn't match any of the signature of known exotics. It's possibly a new exotic that can store energy it it's rawest form. The energy inside them also isn't seem to be deteriorating. So They should be some kind of superconductor of energy. There's also a really peculiar thing about them."

"And what's that?"

"They begin to lose the energy stored in them once they are separated from the main lines. And it produces an insane amount of electromagnetic radiation in the process. Although the process is a bit slow. But it's still visible. If we can replicate the way the energy was infused into the exotic then we could make strides in the energy storage field."

"That's quite remarkable.", Dr. Helen nodded.

"Indeed!"

"So, the electromagnetic radiation seems to be a byproduct of energy loss in the exotic?"

"Probably. But it doesn't seem to be the case during the pluses. The lines do produce electromagnetic radiation. But no energy seems to be lost during the process."

"Is there a change that the energy is being replenished?"

"That is a possibility yes, But I need more time to research it."

"Well, That's one thing we don't have. Please keep researching the power lines."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Dr. Helen left Dr. Keen alone as she made her way back to the Yuki.

"How is the mapping coming along?"

"We're still going straight down. We're about 17 KM underground on average and still going."

"Any changes in the direction of the lines?"

"Only one has changed it's direction and is going in a straight line parallel to the surface."

"What about the others?"

"They are still going straight underground."

"Keep me updated."

Dr. Helen said as she moved on to another terminal to see on the reports of the various things. When Kita called him. She saw his image in the pop-up and smiled before picking it up.

"Hey honey! You won't believe what's going on here! It's really exciting. The energy lines are really interesting and.." This was when she noticed that Kita wasn't in a good mood. And there was something wrong with him.

"What happened honey? Did something happen aboard the Shore? What's going on over there?"

"Everything's fine on the shore. Nothing happened."

"Then, What's wrong?", She knew something was wrong with him. She could tell just from looking at him.

"It's about Sam."

"About Sam? What's going on with Sam?", Sam was Kita's younger brother and his only family left except for Helen.

"Sam's dead."

"Dead! How? Wasn't he back in Jetris IV?"

"His ship was sent on a secret mission to the Empire of Ytias, They go ambushed. They're saying that it was an anomaly or something. But the whole crew of the GHT Moonshiner died."

"Oh, Honey, I'm so sorry."