In a hidden location, known only to the exclusive members of the QUANTUM society, Lord Atom found himself fashionably late once again. A short, smoking Chinese man greeted him with disapproval.
"You are late, Lord Atom, again late," the man remarked.
"Yes, I am late, I know that," replied Atom, draped in a mysterious black coat and hat. Paying little attention to the murmurs and whispers around him, he confidently made his way through the large conference room.
Inside, a sea of a thousand men and women filled the space. Some stared at Atom, while others exchanged hushed conversations and pointed fingers. Unfazed, Atom continued to navigate the room, filled with the world's elite—royalty, the wealthiest, and the brightest. Each person wore a VIP badge made of pure uranium, safely enclosed in anti-radiation material.
The conference room was meticulously organized into seven circles, each forming concentric patterns. The innermost circle featured individuals with violet badges, numbered from 1 to 9. Surrounding them were concentric circles of indigo-badged members, divided into nine groups each having nine members, mirroring the pattern of the violet circle. This structure continued throughout the remaining circles, creating a hierarchy of exclusive groups within the secretive QUANTUM society.
Lord Atom made his way to the second circle and claimed his seat designated with the number 1. Settling into the chair, he addressed the assistant responsible for the second circle.
"Give me the status of the meeting," Atom requested. The assistant promptly responded, "Nice to meet you, Lord Atom. Today, almost all members, including those of the 7th circle, are present. All safety measures are in place, and escape routes are designed in case of any unforeseen events. No need to fear, my lord; all is well."
"Hmm, I hope so," Atom replied, diving into his thoughts about the upcoming actions. After a brief 2-3 minutes, a resounding bell echoed through the room—a large golden bell adorned with various symbols and mythological motifs. The room hushed instantly, all eyes turning to the man seated in the first circle, first seat.
This man, known as Ramen, appeared in his 50s, muscular, well-built, dressed in a black coat and pants. Head of the commerce department, he held the unofficial title of the richest person on the planet. However, the mystery surrounding him persisted, as no one knew his true name or face. In each meeting, he changed his appearance, adding an extra layer of secrecy to his already enigmatic persona.
Ramen, the enigmatic figure leading the meeting, addressed the assembly, "First of all, welcome to the 81st full-body meeting of QUANTAMANIA. I hope you are all well. Today's main point of discussion is the replacement of Dr. Hemp, who unfortunately lost his life in crossfire last week during a local gang war near his region." The room stirred with a mix of emotions—joy, sorrow, and indifference manifested in various expressions.
Ramen continued, "Regardless of your feelings, let me be clear: he met his demise due to his own recklessness, not because of our actions. Despite being offered S-level security, he declined and ventured to a local brothel, rejecting the option to engage with mortal women as per our rules."
"Hemp was a good man, and may his soul rest in peace. However, we cannot dwell on this forever; we must move forward. According to our rules, the new head will take seat number 1 in the circle following the former one. I am pleased to welcome Mr. Atom to the Quantum Centre to assume this post." The room erupted in applause, with even those shedding tears joining the ovation. Atom, unperturbed, delivered a brief speech prepared by the assistant. Following that, he took an oath in the center and changed his seat, occupying chair number V5—the former seat of the late Dr. Hemp.
The discussions on mortal affairs continued for about 10 minutes after Ramen's announcement. They delved into matters seemingly less significant to the QUANTAMANIA members but held immense importance in the mortal world. Topics ranged from the timing of initiating World War III to the release of a cancer cure, planning human moon landings, and predicting the future leaders of democracies, including the USA. It was known that countries under dictatorships were already under QUANTAMANIA's influence, as the dictators themselves were part of the organization.
As the meeting concluded, members left in order of authority, from high-ranking violet-badge holders to lower-ranking red-badge holders. Atom made his way to his newly assigned residence, provided by QUANTAMANIA, acknowledging his upgraded position from deputy to the head of a complete department.
Upon entering his new home, Atom had his new guards introduce themselves. The living space was modest, featuring a bed, a closet, and a small computer. Eager to unwind, Atom changed from his intricate attire to something more casual and decided to take a brief nap in his new quarters. The simplicity of the room belied the complex web of power and influence that QUANTAMANIA wove in the shadows.
At 8:00 pm, Atom stirred from his short nap and refreshed himself with a meal tested by one of his bodyguards earlier as a precautionary means to avoid assassinations. Feeling a desire to acquaint himself with his surroundings, he embarked on a stroll around his mansion. His alias was local school librarian and embracing the persona of a local school librarian, he walked into the streets observing children engaged in a spirited game of football, elderly men peddling their wares, and the ordinary occurrences of the neighborhood.
Unintentionally, his walk led him near the school where he purportedly worked as a teacher according to his alias. Throughout this seemingly mundane activity, he remained under the watchful eyes of guards disguised as commerce agents. At every step, at least four security personnel had him in their sights, with a high-flying chopper barely audible in the background. Adding an extra layer of security, a low Earth orbital satellite continuously monitored him, providing live feed to QUANTAMANIA. Although Atom was accustomed to such scrutiny from his time as the deputy head of SRS (Science-Related Studies), the current security measures included a satellite controlled by the heads of QUANTAMANIA, allowing them to regulate the feed. Despite the apparent lack of danger in the surroundings, Atom permitted this surveillance.
Upon entering the school, he introduced himself to fellow teachers and non-teaching staff. His gaze fell upon the science lab, triggering a wave of nostalgia as he recalled working in small labs during his youth. Observing a student performing a simple exothermic reaction with solid sodium and hot water, Atom decided to share his knowledge. Guiding the student through the mechanism of the reaction, he felt compelled to demonstrate the proper procedure. Placing a small sodium cube in a glass beaker, Atom stepped back, ready to showcase the experiment to the curious student.
Despite some time passing, there was still no reaction in the beaker. Confused, Atom approached and was shocked to discover that the sodium remained unaffected, just floating on the surface. Feeling a tinge of embarrassment, the head of SRS in QUANTAMANIA couldn't believe he was struggling with a high school-level reaction.
Removing the cube, Atom replaced it with a finely ground one to prevent the formation of an oxide layer. He increased the temperature of the beaker and stepped back, hoping for a successful demonstration. To his dismay, there was still no change; the sodium simply floated without reacting. Atom, now determined, decided to raise the water temperature further and remained in place, closely watching the experiment unfold.
Aware of the potential danger, a guard approached Atom, whispering a warning. However, Atom dismissed the advice, asserting his decision to proceed. The guard reiterated the danger, emphasizing the need for a safe distance. Still, the great Atom, who had held the title of the second-greatest scientist alive until yesterday, and now claimed the top spot, couldn't allow his pride to be compromised. The experiment continued, pride on the line, despite the warnings.
The guard's worst fear materialized as the reaction triggered when the beaker was near Atom, resulting in a deafening explosion.
BOOM BOOOOM
Two massive explosions reverberated through the surroundings. Following the first blast, the guard instinctively shielded Atom, assuming it was a grenade explosion. Unfortunately, in the chaos, he overlooked the piece of sodium on the table, and even with an oxide layer, it exploded with the second blast.
After the smoke settled, the guard turned Atom over, revealing a significant hole near his chest, blood flowing, and his eyes closed. Alarmed, the guard urgently communicated through the mic, "SUBJECT V5 is dead, I repeat, SUBJECT V5 is dead." A brief silence ensued before a curt response came from the other side, "Sorry to hear that; you know what to do next."
The guard, following the protocol, notified all security personnel that Atom was deceased, emphasizing that they knew the next steps. In a swift and methodical manner, he removed the badge, along with all crucial documents and gadgets provided by QUANTAMANIA, erasing all traces of the organization. Glancing at the injured and groaning kid nearby, the guard, without hesitation, shot the child and then turned the weapon on himself.
In a distant realm, Atom awoke in an open field, bewildered, and muttered, "What the heck is happening?"
