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The car pulled into the parking lot of the city’s top lab. The morning sun was casting long shadows on the concrete. The engine hummed to a stop, and Dr. Aurelius turned to face his passengers. “We’re here,” he announced, his voice echoing in the silence of the car.
Nickolas, lost in his thoughts, barely registered the words. His gaze was still fixed on Aurelia and Gallus, their peaceful slumber a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging within him. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy, a longing to be in Gallus’s place, right next to Aurelia. But he quickly pushed these feelings aside, reminding himself that they were all just friends, and that Gallus liked Selena and not Aurelia.
Besides, even it wasn’t like Aurelia liked him back or anything…
And he had better things to do with his life, than geek out over his math professor’s daughter.
She was more of a playful type. He preferred more order in his life.
She once asked him whether black holes had existential crises, while the weirdest thing he ever asked her was if she could be any kitchen appliance, what she would be.
He had work to do anyway, and powers of his own to explore.
Like whether he could use his power of making anything repel away from him could be used to make him hover in the air as if he was hydrogen.
Or helium.
Her element.
Everything reminded him of her.
He could calculate the exact amount of repulsion needed to defy gravity, but he couldn’t calculate the amount of repulsion needed to keep thoughts of her away.
He was a grumpy old electron, stuck in his shell, while she had a more positive charge to her.
He had once been told that his jawline was just as structured as his life, but all it took was a gust of her oxygen to topple the perfect Jenga tower.
He was the type to have a favorite element on the periodic table (it was carbon, for its versatility). She was the type to ask if a metal ever got sick of generously donating all its electrons, and how greedy the non-metals were for accepting them.
While he wondered if his repulsion could ever mimic the free floating of helium, while she wondered if helium was conscious of its voice, or afraid of heights.
They were like two opposite magnetic poles.
Which he studied on a daily basis. ‘Like poles repel, opposite poles attract’ was the name of the game.
Yet, this attraction didn’t make sense.
His major aside, whether or not they would ever get along as anything other than friends was like the Schrodinger’s cat experiment. A fifty-fifty chance of either watching something beautiful bloom, or certain doom.
As he kept thinking, the analogies overflowing in his mind, he heard a voice disrupt his thoughts. But this time, it was Selena’s. “Wake Aurelia and Gallus, will you?” she asked.
His glance shifted - for the trillionth time (at least) on their trip - to the two of them. “Hey, Gallus, wake up!” he called, disrupting what may have been a peaceful dream.
“Five more minutes, Mom…” he mumbled.
“Come on, man. We’re here!”
Gallus slowly opened his eyes and looked around. “Here? Where?”
“The lab, duh. You’ve been sleeping for an hour.”
He felt a slight discomfort on his shoulder. It was a gentle weight, warm and steady. Gallus turned his head and there she was, Aurelia, still asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. His eyes widened as he saw her there, sleeping peacefully.
“Come on, wake her up. Let’s go.” Nickolas replied, sighing softly, a depressed look in his eyes.
Gallus’s surprise was palpable, his voice a mix of confusion and sleep. “Aurelia?” he repeated, as if saying her name would somehow explain her presence on his shoulder.
Nickolas watched the scene unfold with a bittersweet twist in his heart. He nudged Aurelia gently. “Hey, we’ve arrived,” he said, his voice softer than intended. He was never known for a soft voice, but somehow it felt softer.
Aurelia stirred, her eyes fluttering open to the sight of the lab’s parking lot. “Oh, we’re here already?” she mumbled, her voice laced with the remnants of dreams.
The car door opened, and the morning air rushed in, carrying with it the scent of possibility and the subtle hint of antiseptic from the lab nearby. They all stepped out, the weight of the morning’s potential pressing down on them.
As they walked towards the lab, Nickolas couldn’t help but steal glances at Aurelia. Her hair was tousled from sleep, and her eyes still held the soft glow of her dreams. It was in these quiet moments that Nickolas found his resolve wavering, the lines between friendship and something more blurring ever so slightly.
“Nicky,” she said, yawning. Even in her half-asleep mode she never neglected to tease him. “What do you think is going to happen? You know, with Gallus’ test. Are we sure he’s radioactive?”
Nickolas chuckled, the sound mingling with the morning breeze. “Well, if he starts glowing green or his hair stands on end, we’ll have our answer,” he joked, trying to keep the mood light.
Aurelia’s laughter rang out, clear and bright, dispelling the last shadows of sleep from her eyes. “That would make for an interesting lab report,” she quipped, her steps gaining a playful bounce as they neared the entrance.
Gallus, now fully awake and alert, joined in the banter. “I just hope I don’t end up like one of those comic book characters. I’m not sure I’m ready to be a superhero,” he said, adjusting his hair with a smirk.
“Relax, you’ll be okay.” Dr. Aurelius replied. “It’s a simple identification test, followed by a few…” she rambled.
As they entered the lab, they were greeted by the hum of machines and the sharp tang of ozone. It was a world of precision and analysis, a stark contrast to the whimsical conversation they’d just shared. Yet, as they donned their lab coats and prepared for the day’s experiments, the possibility of the unknown lingered in the air, as potent and charged as the particles they were about to study.
“Excuse me, Dr. Aurelius,” one of the lab scientists asked him. “You’re here for an identification test?”
“Yes. I was told that I would meet Dr. Palladium?”
“Right this way, sir.” the scientist nodded, leading the professor and his students to Dr. Palladium’s office.
The lab scientist led them down a sterile corridor, the fluorescent lights casting a clinical glow on the marble tiled floor. Nickolas adjusted his glasses, his mind racing with anticipation. Dr. Palladium was renowned for his expertise in elemental identification, and this was their chance to unravel the mysteries of Gallus’s newfound powers. As they reached Dr. Palladium’s office, the door swung open, revealing a tall man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes. His lab coat was pristine, and his expression held a mix of curiosity and skepticism. “Dr. Aurelius,” Dr. Palladium greeted, extending a hand. “And these must be your students. Selena, Nickolas, Aurelia, and… Gallus, I presume?”
His gaze lingered on Gallus, assessing him with the precision of a seasoned scientist. “Yes, that’s correct,” Dr. Aurelius replied, shaking Dr. Palladium’s hand. “We’re here for the identification test.” Dr. Palladium motioned for them to enter his office. The room was cluttered with scientific equipment—microscopes, spectrographs, and vials of various substances. It was a place where elements revealed their secrets, and today, Gallus’s secret would be laid bare. “Please, have a seat,” Dr. Palladium said, gesturing to the chairs around a glass table. “Now, Gallus, tell me about your francium powers. How did you discover them?”
Gallus shifted nervously, his eyes darting between Dr. Palladium and the others. “It was during a power surge I caused,” he began. “My other powers are electronics and liquefaction. Selena’s platinum acted as a catalyst. My hand dashed into hers and somehow, I liquefied. It was weird… I was a liquid the whole night. Dr. Aurelius and his wife came in to check up on me, but when she gently touched me, there was another surge. I was back to normal, but I ended up getting her power temporarily - which is to see past things and find out truths. I used that and found out.”
Dr. Palladium nodded, scribbling notes on a pad. “And your symptoms?”
“Radioactivity,” Gallus replied. “I emit radiation, and I can copy other elements’ properties temporarily.”
“Fascinating,” Dr. Palladium murmured. “Now, let’s begin the identification process.” He held out a syringe containing an unknown substance. “I’ll inject a small dosage of this, and…” Gallus took a deep breath, his eyes closing in concentration as he felt the needle pierce through his skin. The room seemed to hum with energy as the syringe’s contents mingled with his own. Nickolas watched, his heart pounding. He clenched his fists, afraid of what was to come next.
The anticipation in the room was palpable as Gallus sat there, the syringe’s contents coursing through his veins. Time stretched, each second an eternity. Dr. Palladium’s eyes remained fixed on Gallus, studying every nuance of his expression. The air seemed charged, as if the very atoms were holding their breath.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Dr. Palladium leaned back in his chair. His silver hair caught the light, and his blue eyes bore into Gallus. “Remarkable,” he said, his voice steady. “Your elemental signature is unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s as if you carry the essence of multiple elements within you.”
Gallus shifted, his palms sweating. “What does that mean?”
Dr. Palladium tapped his pen against the table. “Your powers aren’t limited to francium alone. You’re a living fusion of elements. The radioactivity you emit—it’s not just from francium. It’s a blend, a symphony of atomic energies.”
Selena leaned forward, her eyes wide. “But how is that possible?”
Dr. Palladium’s gaze shifted to her. “Remember the surge when your platinum touched Gallus? It triggered a reaction, a fusion of your powers. And when Dr. Aurelius’s fluorine-wielding wife touched him, it amplified the effect. Gallus, you’re a walking chemical experiment.”
Aurelia’s fingers trembled. “What does this mean for him, doc?”
“It means he’s a bridge between worlds,” Dr. Palladium said. “His ability to copy other elements temporarily—it’s not a mere mimicry. It’s a fundamental connection. He can tap into the very building blocks of matter.”
Nickolas swallowed hard. “Is that dangerous?”
Dr. Palladium’s expression softened. “Not inherently. But it’s uncharted territory. Gallus, you must learn to control this gift. With great power comes great responsibility.”
“How do I control them?” Gallus asked, voice barely exceeding a whisper.
Dr. Palladium leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled. “Controlling the surges,” he began, “is difficult. You’ll have to undergo a five-year stabilization process. Given that you’re in college, it won’t be easy.”
Selena’s mind raced. Her friend, a bridge between worlds, teetering on the edge of something extraordinary. She wondered about the twists in his school life, the evenings when he’d take his medicine. Radioactive people had shorter lifespans, and Gallus was caught in their cosmic dance.
“I have to talk with Dr. Palladium alone for a while… we need to come to a more definite conclusion. Meanwhile, you three can go out and explore the city.” said Dr. Aurelius, lost in thought.
Aurelia’s eyes beamed. “Really, dad?”
“Yes, now don’t make me change my mind,” he replied, reaching into his pocket and handing her the keys to the six-seater car. “Be careful out there,”
“We will,”
[A/N: Meanwhile Gallus's inside out emotions be like: "Don't leave mee!!"]
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