AUTHOR'S NOTE

Quickly written up after a dream. Also kinda suffering with Senku on this one. Freaking sinusitis xD

Equilibrium – that's what happens on death.

Every single process in your body stops, every cell's energy state stops changing, no more chemical reactions whatsoever. Your body decomposes until there's nothing left.

People tend to make a big fuss about dying, but that's all that really happens, according to science.

We've come from stone.

We rebuilt society, one step at a time.

We defeated an enemy so fantastic that you'd only read about it in a manga.

We even went back in time in order to save those lost in the stone wars and before.

In retrospect, I should have stayed at least a billion steps away from the time machine instead of submitting to my curiosity.
We learned things I'd rather forget - not that it would've changed anything at all.

I'm not a normal human. Not trying to brag there.

My so-called father once was part of a secret genetics program, run by the government. Cloning was all the rage back then so they created humans.

It shocked me to learn that Byakuya was my actual biological father; it was his DNA they changed up a bit, then created a handful embryos of which most never made it to the point where they could be put into a woman. The other three were given to a volunteer to be carried out. Two of them never developed, one survived. Me.

All clones were implanted with a kill-switch, as law required. Around the 20th year, the clone would suffer from aneurysms that would burst all at the same time, killing them off quickly and almost painlessly. Some pseudo-ethics thing, about human creatures not having to suffer unneccessarily. How it is neccessary to even kill them is beyond me. I always hated killing humans. My stupid morale compass helped me make enemies that didn't have to be; Tsukasa wasn't all wrong back then, I now realise. Sooner or later science will again turn to genetics, repeating the cycle. If I'd have let Tsukasa do his thing, we would still be in our primitive paradise.

And I'd still be dying. With no achievements to mention. We'd never found out who petrified all of humanity and "survival of the fittest" would've returned.

Cursing silently I lie here, as pains that shouldn't be there wrack my body, blood pooling where it shouldn't, suffocating tissues that direly need oxygen. Bitterly I realise that even the petrifying device can't prevent the inevitable. I've been in stone at least twice and this whole, dare I call it defect?, wasn't fixed. Getting petrified would maybe save my life for now, but it would only be a matter of time until the genetic bomb, placed in me by my own father, goes off again.

Pushing the thought away I focus on breathing, lying on the floor of my lab, well hidden behind my desk. I've fallen barely a few minutes ago, but it could've been hours.

I don't expect anyone to find me until I'm dead. After all, the other scientists are long gone, probably home with their families. I never found my special someone. I couldn't care less I'm not one for love. Never been. And with all things accounted for, never will be. I don't regret dedicating my life to science, even now when it's literally killing me.

With a sigh I notice the earth beneath me shaking from the familiar footsteps of one of my oldest friends. Back in the stone world, we woke up at nearly the same time - plus minus a few months - and it's plausible that without his help science wouldn't be where we are now. He's one monster of a man, with insane stamina and power, almost a cheat code come alive. His monstrous physics and constant help enabled me to focus on progress rather than survival and in all likelihood, if he hadn't popped up from the ground, I wouldn't even have made it through my first winter. His name's Taiju and he is the best friend I know and I regret what I'll be doing to him.

As the door to the lab opens I hear him mumble for a bit, something about a request, but then he must've spotted some part of me not hidden well enough as he breaks into a loud serenade of calling my name and runs towards me, causing all but a little earthquake. His hands quickly are on my shoulders as he keeps shouting and proceeds to panic when I don't answer – I can't. I guess it hit my brain first. Likely somewhere in the left hemisphere. I try to convey this to him but I can barely open my eyes. He lifts my slack body on his arms and carries me off, probably to the nurse to see what's wrong. But little does he know it's too late anyway. I never told anyone about my findings, made my team promise to keep it hidden. Taiju probably thinks I've got one of my sudden fevers - overworking tends to have that effect on people and I've never been one for giving up until I'm done - and doesn't seem too bothered - yet. He would be if he knew I'm bleeding from my nose, likely from a burst vessel further up, having the irony taste of it in my mouth and on my lips. Taiju doesn't see. It's good he doesn't.

Next thing I know; I'm put on something soft that smells too clean for a bed, yet somehow counts as such. Taiju tells me he'll be right back and I try to nod but even that's impossible. I stay in some kind of pain-induced delirium until another hand touches my shoulder. This grip is much more careful but I feel the excitement radiate off this person like voltage. His voice is more soft-spoken, a blessing actually.

Chrome.

The first other scientist I met in the stone world. Back then he was all but a fledgeling who called himself a sorcerer, proverbially playing with fire.

He's still part of my team, as he was in the old days and I'm grateful he's there. He's grown a lot since the old days so I don't think he'll mess up too much. I manage to open my eyes just enough too look at him and he seems sick with fear, all pale and shaking. I somehow manage to whisper his name but it comes out so slurred he comes a little closer. With a force of willpower I tell my hands to remove the one symbol as the science leader from my ring finger and give it to Chrome's. He looks stricken as he stares at the platinum ring while my own hands drop back onto the bed, finally becoming so numb I wonder if they've fallen off. I give him a tired smile and he stares at me seriously, hesitates for a bit, then nods.

"You can rely on me. I'll do my best", he says, then turns and runs off. He doesn't want to see me die. I can hardly blame him. He will do a good job as the new leader. That was always the plan; him succeeding me. Twice it almost happened; third time's the charm, or so they say.

I both hear and feel Taiju as returns and takes Chrome's place next to my bed. He seems sad, frustrated and fearful, all at the same time.

"Senku..", I hear him say and the snot is almost as audible as his voice. ".. you can't do that. There's so much left for you here, don't you remember? What about Yuzuriha? She's going to have her baby soon", he says and I want to chuckle. As if I had a choice, you big oaf. Yes, I'd love to see his efforts finally bearing fruit, but I can't change reality. The very fact I'm about to die. Still I manage a confirming hum deep in my throat but it cost me whatever's left of my energy and I feel my eyes fall closed. Taiju again panics and calls my name but it's pointless.

My whole body is numb. I couldn't move if I tried, can't even open my eyes anymore. All I can do is this pathetic pant as my body cramps up. I think I hear Taiju still call me, now desperate, but his voice is going farther away by the second, like mist closing in.

Then everything goes black and becomes so silent it's almost peaceful.

I've reached equilibrium.