The Evolution of Genius: Every Night, I Get Smarter!

Lord’s Cluster, Crisis Laboratory

We arrived at the bunker, which turned out to be an extension of the lab I had previously visited with The Lord and also, at some point, with Zytharion.

This time, we entered from a different side, where the corridor was significantly taller and wider, dozens of people moved through at once.

"The expansion happened faster than anticipated," The Lord explained, turning to me with a grave expression. "We had to add accommodations at the last minute to accommodate everyone."

As we entered the laboratory, I was struck with awe at the sheer scale of the place. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. The vast expanse stretched out before us, dwarfing even the largest military barracks on Earth where planes are stored.

There were hundreds of workstations scattered throughout the room, each equipped with various testing devices and instruments.

In the center of it all, there was a particularly prominent area, elevated above the ground with a white hovering desk and seats arranged around it.

In the middle, there was a screen that made it possible for information to flow easily between the different control desks.

I mentioned it, because that was where we were headed.

Up ahead, I could see a few figures gathered around the desk. Three, to be exact. And among them, I recognized one unmistakable face - Scholar Emanuel.

As we approached the central hub, I realized that my family wouldn’t be able to enter the restricted area. I left them for just a moment to acquaint myself with the individuals gathered there.

Scholar Emanuel was not the only Scholar. Scholar Jonathan was the oldest. He was known for his expertise in mathematics. He kept to himself, speaking only when absolutely necessary.

Also present were the lead engineer, Rudolf, and the General of the Cluster-wide military, Naomi.

General Naomi was a middle-aged brunette with an athletic and muscular build, but not overly so; she looked like the kind of woman who would definitely not let anyone question her authority.

Scholar Cesar joined us soon after.

We were only missing Scholar Goran.

After a brief conversation, I excused myself for a moment, knowing there was something I needed to attend to before diving into work.

I thought about it deeply, and I ultimately chose to reach out to Alex.

With a special device provided by The Lord, I was able to call Alex despite the distance.

"Hey, Alex! How are you holding up?"

"Hey, Max! I’m alright, just a bit overwhelmed with everything happening. It’s like we’re back in 2020 with all this stuff happening"

"...Listen, I’m actually not on Earth right now. This crisis is really much bigger than what’s happening back home."

"Really? What’s going on?"

"It’s a long story, but it’s not safe here. I was wondering if you wanted to join me."

"Oh, wow. That’s tempting, but I’m worried about my family and my girlfriend. I can’t just leave them behind."

"I understand, Alex. But bringing your family... I don’t think that is possible right now. There are strict rules in place."

"That’s tough..."

"It’s okay, Alex. I’m here for you. If you need any help, just let me know."

"Thanks, Max. I think I need to stay with my loved ones, no matter what happens."

"I get it, Alex. Take care of yourself and your family."

We conversed for a few more minutes before ending the call.

After the call with Alex, I called Cassandra, offering her the opportunity, but she declined, she wanted to stay with her father.

Finally, I called Rick and asked if he would be interested. Rick said he was willing to come as his parents left him to fend for himself a few years ago, so he wasn’t really leaving anyone behind.

My brother and sister would come here tomorrow, together with Oliv’s and Veronica’s loved ones and Rick.

After arranging for them to stay in the bunker, I informed them that I would spend a few hours with the team. Returning to the massive laboratory, I headed back to the main hub.

With the leading figures, we moved to a smaller compartment, where I was confronted once again with the imposing barrier I had encountered over a year ago.

The Lord explained that they had relocated it here for strategic reasons.

This barrier was basically ’NOT HERE’, in the literal meaning of the word, it was not physically in the place it was visible; it stood on the edge with the Zytherian Cluster. Through the use of an Observer positioned on the edge of the clusters, we were able to perceive and interact with it.

The barrier itself lacked direction or physical space, appearing as a complete black void—a non-dimensional null-brane break in space. Only quasars could traverse it.

Scholar Cesar suggested that any particle passing through, would appear on the Zytherian side. Regardless of whether we passed the particle through the front or back, as it was non-dimentional.

I started to think about how to combine what we know about particles that Zytherians have passed having spins that are not integers with what we know about the quasar’s spin, which was also not integer.

This is when I realized that we need to find a way to use Quasars to pass particles as if we were hiding them behind the Quasar.

Suddenly, Scholar Emanuel interjected, revealing that they had attempted a similar approach before. However, when they passed a particle alongside the quasar, only the quasar traversed the barrier—the particle remained behind.

Curious, I asked, "Have you tried passing the quasar alone and observing it in time rather than in space?"

Scholar Cesar replied, "Ye, yes, that was done...um, 11 years ago. If left right at the barrier, it, it does create sort of a gate into what we think is the 3-brane Zytherian Cluster, moving through 1-brane at a time. However, the Quasar always passes first, leaving whatever is attached to it behind and unbound."

Time passed relentlessly as we, the Scholars and I, sat down, contemplating a solution. Minute after minute, hour after hour, we brainstormed tirelessly, seeking an answer.

I worked tirelessly, scarcely taking a break. They got to know that I actually don’t need to sleep, which they were envious of.

As night descended and exhaustion threatened to overtake us, I found myself fixated on a potential solution: tricking the barrier into believing the Quasar was passing through, when in reality, it would be another particle.

Night came and I worked on it alone while the others retired to rest.

Morning arrived all too quickly, and despite my girlfriend’s concerned pleas for me to rest, I brushed them off, consumed by my work. They hugged me to try to get me to take a break, but I really needed to solve the problem right at that very moment.

As the Scholars returned early in the morning, before we could fully regroup, another alert sounded.

The Lord materialized at the main hub.

"The Zytherians have passed a bosson through the barrier," he announced gravely.

The implications were clear to all of us.

If they completed the last step, combining those particles together, they would possess the capability to bypass the barrier entirely.

Any galactic-level destructive weapon, people, viruses, anything.

The probabilistic nature of the events in those two clusters has greatly diverged. We were no longer equal; they were leading the race.