Writing prompt #3 - Power for all

Writing prompt #3: A group of scientists discover a cheap, renewable energy source that when put into place across the world further destabilizes the oil-dependent Middle East.

"Demyan, come to lab sixteen," a heavily accented female voice said over the PA system. "There is something you must see."

Dr. Demyan O'Clery got up from his desk. The excitement in his partner's voice intrigued him. Dr. Ha-Yun Choi was one of the top researchers in renewable resource research. If she was calling for him, there'd most likely been a breakthrough.

Ha-Yun was standing next to one of the containment units. "Demyan, come. I've been testing this for six months now, just to be certain my hypothesis was correct. It seems it is and we actually have something we can show the Senate Energy Committee."

He looked through the window. A twisted crystal made of two colors - one clear and one a very faded blue - were twined together. A faint light emanated from it, but the energy readings showed that it was giving off enough energy to power the entire eastern seaboard of the United States and a good chunk of the Midwest as well. "What is this?" he asked.

"Gemini quartz," Ha-Yun said. "It's made by combining two types of synthetic quartz made from a handful of common garden flowers mixed with water, ground up bat guano, and silicone. Yes, I know that sounds like an impossible combination, but they come together at a specific temperature and make this. Then they're bombarded with high voltage electricity. It activates the energy in the crystal. This has been active for the past five months. So far there's been no drop in the energy output at all. I've actually been powering the entire lab on it for three months. This includes all of the outbuildings and the security grid. I switch to the regular power at night, since I can't be here to monitor everything. I also have a switch that will put it back on the main power grid immediately if something goes wrong with the quartz. So far, I've had no problems."

"Have you written up a report?" Demyan asked.

"It's ready for you to sign off on it," Ha-Yun said.

"Then give it to me, and we'll send it to Senator Mencher. Let's hope he can push it through quickly. We need this desperately," Demyan said.

Ha-Yun nodded her agreement. The rich oil producing countries in the Middle East had raised the prices on their barrels of oil again, making gasoline and other products made from the liquid created by the decomposed bodies of prehistoric animals astronomically high. The government was pushing more and more for research facilities to come up with a sustainable source of renewable research. Demyan didn't know just how many labs were working on the problem, nor how many had already sent in reports on their projects.

Ha-Yun reached over and secured a USB stick. She handed it to him. Demyan took it to his office. He pulled up her notes. She'd been extremely thorough, making sure everything was documented in great detail. Demyan signed off on the report as the senior researcher at the facility and then compressed the file and sent it to the senator who was in charge of the committee. He didn't expect to hear anything back for several weeks, so got to work on his next research project.

The next day his phone rang within minutes of him arriving, startling him. He wasn't used to his phone ringing. Most people sent emails or actual written letters. He answered it. "Is this Dr. Demyan O'Clery?" a harried female voice asked before he could even say anything.

"It is," Demyan said. "May I ask who you are and why you're calling me?"

"I'm Senator Mencher's aide," the woman said irritably. "I'm calling because the senator wants you to come to the next meeting of the committee - you and the researcher who helped develop this new energy source - and present this report in person."

Demyan pulled the receiver away from his ear and stared at it. He put it back up where it belonged. "When is the next meeting?" Demyan asked.

"Tomorrow morning," the woman said. "It begins at 9 AM. You'll have visitor passes waiting for you at the front security desk. The senator sends his regards and his thanks and is looking forward to seeing you tomorrow." He heard a click and then a buzzing began.

Demyan hung up the phone and went in search of his partner. "Ha-Yun, pack your bags. We need to get to DC, now."

Ha-Yun blinked. "Why?"

"We have to present your report in person to the committee tomorrow morning," Demyan said. "Go home, pack, and get back here. I'll arrange a flight for us, and then go home and pack for myself."

Ha-Yun hurried out of the building. Demyan got on his computer and managed to secure them two seats on an afternoon flight. He went home and packed a bag for himself. He was used to traveling at the spur of a moment. He'd been doing it for the past twenty years. But Ha-Yun wasn't used to the kind of traveling he was and he worried she might forget something. He made sure everything was in order, set the alarm, and headed back to the lab.

Ha-Yun was waiting for him. Her bags were packed and she was looking over a list in her hand. "I read through an old memo you sent out about what was necessary for an important business trip," she said, holding it out for him to see. "I followed it to the letter, though I also brought my laptop, tablet, and cell phone. I made sure I have all the charging cables for them."

"I wrote that memo before portable technology had caught on all that much," Demyan said with a smile. "I think I'll update it. Beyond that, it's still pretty much the same stuff. I'm glad you kept it."

"When do we leave?" Ha-Yun asked.

"In two hours," Demyan said. "That should give us plenty of time to get through security."

"I'm not sure I want to take the crystal with me, but won't the committee want to see it in action?" Ha-Yun asked.

"Even if they do, we'd never get the thing past the TSA. They'd think it was some terrorist plot, probably courtesy of North Korea, and detain us. They might even try to destroy the crystal, or hand it over to the FBI or NSA. Do you really want them to get a hold of that?" Demyan asked.

Ha-Yun shook her head. "I'd rather present it to the people of the US - and possibly the world - before I let some government agency claim it as a potential weapon for our endless wars," she said.

The two hours passed quickly and they headed out. Security gave them little trouble and they were on their way. Landing in DC was rather anticlimactic and they checked into the hotel Demyan had reserved two rooms in. The following morning the two scientists dressed in their best suits and made their way to the senate building. They were given the security badges and shown into the smaller chamber where the committee met.

The senators watched them with eager expressions. "Dr. O'Clery, Dr. Choi, thank you for coming. I apologize for such short notice, but this was too important not to act on immediately," Senator Mencher said. "I've read your report, and summarized it for my colleagues. I'd appreciate it if you could explain the details to us as some of them were a little difficult to understand."

Demyan nodded. "We have discovered a sustainable, long lasting power source that - with only two or three of them - could power the entire United States," he said. "We're still not certain how long this power source will run, but they're fairly simple to replace as well." He gestured to Ha-Yun. "My partner, Dr. Choi, is the primary researcher on this project. I'll turn the floor over to her so she can fill you in on her progress."

Ha-Yun stepped up and patiently explained what she'd been doing and what the base formula for the Gemini quartz was. She took the time to answer questions, explain things again if someone didn't understand, and represented herself and the lab well. When she was finished, the senators all looked at each other. "Is there any chance we can see this Gemini quartz in action?" one of the senators asked.

"Unfortunately, we didn't bring it with us," Demyan said. "We felt it prudent to leave it in the lab as we weren't sure it would have cleared TSA. We'd rather not have it confiscated and turned over to a government agency who wouldn't understand it's purpose and quite possibly would destroy it."

"That was a smart decision," Senator Mencher said. "I don't think we really need to see it in action to know that this is the best option we've been presented with. It's obvious Dr. Choi has put a lot of time and effort into testing these crystals and gathering her data."

"This will throw the Middle East into further chaos," one of the other senators said. "Do you think President Trump will attack them?"

"There's no telling what Ivanka Trump will do. That dynasty is as insane as they come," Senator Mencher said. "We'll have to wait and see."

"She'll probably have some kind of federal tax levied against this new power source and use it to fund the last part of the wall between us and Canada," another senator said sourly.

"Again, we'll have to wait and see," Senator Mencher said. He looked at the two scientists. "You two have our gratitude, and we will be certain that your names are prominently listed as the creators and researchers of this power source."

"Thank you, Senator Mencher," Demyan said. He and Ha-Yun left the chamber.

"Do you think they'll keep their promise?" Ha-Yun asked.

"They will," Demyan said. "But I doubt Ivanka Trump will allow it when the news goes public. She'll find some way to take the credit for it and leave us out of the picture."

"Is this how it always is?" Ha-Yun asked. "Someone else takes credit for your work?"

"Not always," Demyan said. "But when dealing with the government of the United States, anything is possible." The two scientists left, but not before Demyan jotted a note down. He would be ready for any eventuality, including the rather spoiled president trying to take credit for everything.