The Real Big Brainy

by Gary D. Snyder

Part 5:

Jimmy spent the rest of the lunch period picking at his food and trying to unravel the meaning behind Cindy's words. While he usually would have dismissed her claims as mere boasting the events of the day thus far had shaken his confidence. It was clear that Cindy and Libby knew something that he didn't. But what? What could Jacques be planning that was so brilliant and awe-inspiring that they were sure that Jimmy's project couldn't possibly compare to it?

"Don't worry about it, Jimmy," Sheen told him cheerfully. "After all, it's not what you have that makes you great. It's how you use it. Just like in Episode 89, where Robo Fiend manages to steal all of Ultra Lord's powers. But they didn't make him a hero. He only used them for evil," he concluded sadly, shaking his head.

Carl nodded in agreement. "That's right, Jimmy. You always have lots of good ideas on how to do things. There's no way that Jacques could possibly have something better than you, no matter how smart he is."

"Yeah, like that black hole you photographed. I'll bet Jacques would never had thought to do something like that," Sheen observed.

Jimmy nodded, but was far from convinced. He started to say something when Carl spoke up. "Uh, Jimmy? Aren't all holes black?"

Jimmy sighed. "No, Carl. A black hole isn't really a hole. It's actually an intense gravity well so powerful that nothing, not even light, can escape it. That's what makes it black. But you can think of it as a hole so steep and deep that nothing that get can out again."

"Kind of like math camp," explained Sheen.

"Oh," Carl said in dawning comprehension. "Now I get it."

Jimmy tried to set Carl right but was again interrupted, this time by the bell marking the end of lunch period. He shelved the explanation, made a mental note to correct Carl's misconceptions later, and headed back to class with his friends. When class resumed Miss Fowl seemed much more like herself again and she proceeded without delay with the afternoon's scheduled activities. Because the Science Fair was scheduled for Friday, this consisted of each student describing and discussing his or her planned project for the fair.

As Jimmy waited for his turn he decided that if frivolous geegaws like meteoric glass impressed the class that he would give them a presentation that would do justice to P.T. Barnum himself. As soon as Carl had finished describing his project to trace the evolution of the llama from something called a llamasaurus, Jimmy walked slowly and deliberately to the front of the class, turned with a flourish, and made his announcement in a manner decidedly worthy of the great showman himself.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Children of all ages!" he boomed. "Isaac Asimov once proclaimed that any sufficiently advanced technology would be indistinguishable from magic. My project is to prove this claim. Come one, come all, and behold the Great Neutrino - meaning me - as he performs before your very eyes deeds of enchantment and mystery that will both thrill and amaze you! This Friday night only, come and experience the awe.the wonder.the excitement incarnate that is - the MAGIC OF SCIENCE!" And with those words Jimmy bowed low before his transfixed classmates and teacher. His words had the effect he had desired, for the class broke into spontaneous applause when he had finished, just as it had for Jacques that morning. Even Cindy seemed impressed.

Jimmy made his way back to his desk with satisfaction. "Let's see Jacques beat that, Vortex," he remarked as he took his seat.

Cindy smiled that infuriatingly smug smile. "You may have won a battle, Neutron. But the war is far from over."

The presentations went on, progressing though Sheen's project to set up an Ultra Lord episode database, Nick's project to develop a scale to accurately measure cool, Cindy's project on alternate energy sources, and Libby's project to enhance the audio performance of her personal sound system. Finally, it was time for Jacques to give his presentation for the last project.

"My friends," he said with his characteristic smile, "I have the honor to present to you a most wonderful device. It is a refinement of the project that won for me the European competition. I propose to present for you this Friday a working model of the MAMBO reactor."

At this Jimmy leaped up and strode to the front of the room to confront Jacques. "Now wait one Neutronic minute!" he said, stabbing his right forefinger in the palm of his left hand for emphasis. "The rules of the fair state quite clearly that no project can use or produce any radioactive materials. Isn't that right, Miss Fowl?"

"Well, yes," answered Miss Fowl. "While there have been no real problems with that in the past, I'm afraid that some of parents were rather conce-e-erned about some of Jimmy's previous entries and the school board insisted."

Jacques seemed unconcerned. "It is quite all right, Miss Fowl. The reactor does not involve any of these radioactive materials of which you speak."

That set Jimmy back. "What do you mean? Every fission reactor uses -"

"It is not a fission reactor," Jacques responded.

Game, Cindy said to herself with satisfaction.

Jimmy tried again. "Well, even a fusion reactor -"

"It is not a fusion reactor."

Set, thought Cindy.

"Well, what kind of reactor doesn't involve fission or fusion?" Jimmy demanded to know. Jacques' calm answer left him and the rest of the class stunned and speechless.

"It is a matter anti-matter reactor."

And match, Cindy concluded, smiling beatifically.

End of Part 5.

Author's Notes:

Someone once said that history never remembers the easy victories. It's when the odds are all against you and things look hopeless that the real heroes are born. Before it's all over Jimmy and the others will see that Sheen really was right about greatness.