"What we are trying to accomplish here." Bruce explained in the kindest voice he could. "Is the archive a form of energy! Latest research has shown that gamma energy potentially could be as powerful as nuclear. Unlike nuclear though there wont be any nuclear waste!" he beamed. "The issue with nuclear that ones something goes nuclear, it is going to stay radioactive for a very long time. We are talking at least a few thousand years. And it's harmful to humans. Gamma energy though, even if it did escape has shown that it could even be beneficial. There actually is a healing factor!"
General Ross glared at Bruce. "Sound to me like another Chernobyl waiting to happen."
"Oh no not at all." Bruce waved his hand. "Unlike Chernobyl we have the finest experts from across the world working on it! Isn't that right Yuri?" he asked the russian scientist next to him.
"Dah." Doctor Topolov nodded. "China, England, Mexico and even Poland is represented here."
"China and Russia, what a great combination." General Ross huffed. "Two different communist regimes working to infiltrate and subvert."
"DAD!" Betty objected horrified.
"I assure you." Bruce then cut in. "If this works, it will benefit everyone. We'll be energy independent and we can start researching the healing factor in more detail as well. It may even be a way to treat cancer."
"That's wonderful." Betty beamed and Bruce smiled back at her.
Doctor Sterns cleared his throat. "Today will be our first test." he said. "We will allow the reactor to release a burst of energy so we can measure the exact output as well as any potential contamination. Though I doubt contamination will happen. My design is flawless."
"We're just making sure!" Bruce cut in. "That's why we are out here, to make sure it is absolutely safe before we just start building gamma reactors across the country." he pressed a button and behind him a big door opened to reveal a room filled with panels and all sorts of beeping machines.
"This is the control room." Bruce informed. "The people running the test, that means the three of us and other scientists will be stationed in here. All the walls has been coated with led, the only material able to block any gamma radiation if an accident should happen. And there are shudders also made of led able to shut down at a moments notice protecting the people inside."
"And yet you say it's safe?" General Ross asked.
"The government demanded these security measures." Bruce explained. "Many of these scientists are practically celebrities in their own countries and if anything happened to them the US didn't want to be blamed."
"Bowing to China again. I see." Ross huffed.
"Yes." Doctor Sterns agreed. "Indeed."
Soon the tour was over, and Ross in a grumble nodded his head as the security measures was indeed improved. Finally he gestured his hand at the sergeant whom had also been following him.
"This is sergeant Emil Blonsky." Ross presented the younger man. "He will be stationed in your control room while the experiment is under way. If anything is out of order, he will be reporting directly to me."
"Fine fine." Sterns sighed deeply. "Have it your way then. I keep telling you. Everything will run perfectly!"
Ross glared at Sterns one last time, then finally turned and walked out with the hands behind his back.
Betty shook her head. "Honestly dad." she couldn't help but say then glanced up at Bruce. "I hope he didn't scare you to much."
"Not at all." Bruce assured. "Hey, I want you to show you something. Come on!" he grabbed Betty's hand and pulled her with him through the facility.
Betty grinned as they entered the section of private offices finally landing in front of Bruce's own door. "Okay… wait till you see this. This is going to blow your mind!"
"I'm waiting." Betty smiled and Bruce grinned as he opened the door gesturing for Betty to walk inside.
Betty did as asked and as she stepped in her eyes widened.
For there, covering the entire wall was a massive rose bush. The rose heads were the largest ones Betty had ever seen. But strange as they had a bright green colour that almost seemed to glow on its own. "Wow…" she breathed.
"Yeah." Bruce nodded. "The seed I planted and fed small amounts of gamma energy was from a common white rose. It was never supposed to get that big."
Betty smirked. "For how long have you been hiding this in your office?" she asked.
"Actually." Bruce turned to Betty. "I planted the seed three days ago."
Betty's eyes widened. "What?"
"Amazing it isn't it. This shows the life giving affects of gamma." Bruce smiled as he walked to the Rose bush and plucked one of the large green rose heads. "Not only did the bush grow at an amazing rate. But it is both bigger and stronger than it would have been if it had grown normally. He turned back to Betty holding the rose in his hand. "Think of the possibilities! Crops grown in just three days! Bigger and stronger than before, able to withstand illness and pests. World starvation will be a thing of the past! And the medical possibilities, gamma affects living tissue in all these amazing ways!"
Betty though stood still. "It sounds to good to be true." she commented then glanced up. "Are you sure that…" she halted.
Bruce smiled, then put the rose in Betty's hair, before touching her cheek. "It will work." he said. "And it will be to the benefit of humanity."
"Well…" Betty breathed. "If you say so."
And Bruce smiled as he leaned over, letting his lips brush over Betty's which she gladly accepted.
"Today." Bruce breathed as he stood back. "Is a day that will go down in history, as one of the most important days in human history. You'll see."
Betty nodded. "Okay."
It was with a sigh that Bruce bid Betty farewell as she stepped back into the armoured vehicle which would take her off base before the big test.
The green rose though was firmly attached to her hair, and she smiled and she gave Bruce a last little kiss before vanishing into the car.
That left General Ross whom was glaring at Bruce, his eyes sending daggers.
"Heh." Bruce smiled awkwardly. "I hope you'll have a good journey back to base sir." he said.
"I never approved of this entire thing." Ross then informed. "I was against it from the start! Actions have consequences. I have seen it all with my own eyes. The destruction because people on the top were careless and dismissed any warnings. Of course they never had to see the consequences of their own thoughtless orders or dismissal of warnings. Me how-ever? I was the one who had to see it! I have seen people, innocent citizens meeting a fate far worse than death because of that kind of arrogance! Easy to just send agent Orange to Vietnam. It was me who had to clean up afterwards! And hear the children screaming as their skin was burned off and their eyes disolving into their skulls because someone thought using napalm was such a great idea!"
Bruce was stunned quiet as Ross continued his speech.
"Chernobyl, Fukushima, the three mile Island. It was the same story told three different times. Greedy politicians thinking there would be no consequences and narcissistic scientists who wanted to play god but could never admit they weren't right about something."
"Sir… This isn't like those places. This is not nuclear energy." Bruce assured. "Or napalm or agent orange! Gamma can help things heal."
"Then if it was safe, why are we out here in the middle of nowhere?" Ross asked. "I don't trust this, I don't trust any of it or any people involved with it! Now, I will indeed be driving back to base and I will take my daughter as far away from this place as I can before the test! If anything goes wrong, I will be holding you personally responsible Doctor Banner."
"I understand. I promise sir, everything will be fine." Bruce assured.
Ross though just huffed as he grabbed his hat and pulled it down, then turned to step into the car as well letting a soldier close the door and go to the drivers seat before they drove out.
As they were driving, Ross glanced at Betty then at the plant in her hair. "What in god's name is that?" he asked.
"This?" Betty asked reaching up a hand. "It's a rose. Bruce grew it using gamma energy."
Ross frowned. "It doesn't seem right." he commented.
"What do you mean?" Betty asked.
"It seems unnatural." Ross finally said. "That's what this gamma radiation can do?"
"Dad it'll be okay!" Betty assured looking up at him. "Bruce is a wonderful man who really cares about the safety for those around him. He wouldn't certify this test if he didn't think it was safe! And he's a brilliant scientist, they all are!"
Ross sighed deeply as he closed his eyes. "I hope you're right Betty." he said. "I know how I can appear, but I just want to make sure that everything is all right and that you'll be safe! I know you are a grown woman, I can't stop you from doing what-ever it is you want to do. But I worry."
Betty smiled warmly, then leaned over and kissed her dad on the cheek before sitting back. "I know." she said. "Thanks Dad. And don't worry." she grabbed his hand. "Bruce said it would be fine. And I trust him."
Ross sighed deeply as he leaned back. "Yes… I suppose you do."