For those of you not following me on twitter, first of all, you should, but more importantly, you should know that I've finally finished this piece, after two weeks of working on almost nothing else. It is complete at 32 chapters. Such a relief, now I can move on to other things. Any suggestions?
Chapter Four – Secrets
"This isn't gonna work," Henry said, as he and Tesla fiddled with the equipment in the lab.
"Your positive energy is astounding."
"You're going to get killed," Henry said.
"We'll all die one day. Except dear Helen. And If I had my way-"
"If your calculations are off by even a fraction of a-"
"Don't you think I know that?" Nikola shouted. "I've been working on this for over a year, and because you come waltzing in and figure out what I'm doing, you think that makes you some kind of genius. I hate to break it to you kid, but I'm the genius, me. You're just fortunate. Now kindly shut up and let me work!"
Henry growled at him, baring his fangs slightly, and Nikola desperately wished he could snarl back as he once could.
"Stop bickering, both of you!" Helen exclaimed, feeling rather like a grade school teacher.
The duo worked in silence for a while longer, much to Will and Helen's pleasure.
"I can't believe you won't tell me what they're up to," Helen said.
"For once I agree with the ass," Will shrugged. "It's probably better if you remain blissfully unaware."
"I don't particularly like the way that sounds."
"It is what it is. Though, I'm still trying to figure out exactly why he's doing it. I mean, there are obvious reasons, yes, but it's always more than meets the eye with him."
"It always is," she agreed.
(The Way of the Universe)
"I think we're done," Henry announced.
"By we, he means mostly me," Nikola input. Helen and Will both rolled their eyes. They had done nothing but bicker for over two hours.
"Are you going to tell me what you're up to now?" Helen asked.
"Absolutely not," Nikola said, moving to the empty space in the middle of the lab.
"And you're sure you'll be able to generate a pulse on the right frequency-" Henry asked.
"Yes," Nikola answered, annoyance in his voice. "Now, do me a favor, and vacate the area. Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt. Anyone but me that is," he added with his signature smile.
"Let's go," Henry said, nodding for the other two to head out and up to the observation area. "Good luck," he said to Nikola, before closing the doors.
"Luck has nothing to do with it," he said to himself. He raised his hands and prepared to create what would probably be the biggest magnetic pulse he would ever create.
(The Way of the Universe)
"What's he doing?" Helen asked as they stared down at the genius from the observation room.
"If it works, you'll know, if it doesn't, be glad you don't," Henry replied.
Suddenly there was a flash and most of the lab was destroyed in a wave of magnetic force. The only thing that remained untouched was Nikola himself.
"Now aren't you glad we weren't down there?" Henry said, nudging Will.
Nikola then dropped his hands to his side and turned to face the glass behind which he knew they were standing.
"I love you, Helen," he reminded her with a smile. In that moment, they all knew what he knew: that he wasn't going to survive.
He raised his hands again and closed his eyes. A wave of electricity ran through the room, causing Nikola to start twitching madly. Then he let out a scream of pain and fell to his knees.
"We have to stop him," Helen said, taking a step toward the door.
"No," Will said, grabbing her wrist.
"I can't watch him die, Will," she said.
"I know," he nodded. "I know. But you've gotta trust him on this one."
Nikola sent out another burst of magnetism before collapsing to the ground. The surge reverberated around the room, building. Then there was a brilliant flash of red-white light, which forced the observers to look away.
