Chapter 16

SORTING THE SECRETS

MystTech Creations, West Hollywood, California, United States

There’s a faster way of doing this, Emperor said in Gen’s head.

She read through the manuals and was already overwhelmed by the task at hand. Sighing, she studied the material in front of her. Please share because right now, it feels like I’m searching for a certain speck of dust in an old dirty house.

Use Bellumferrum, he encouraged. It’s not just a weapon. It’s a tool and you need something right now to shortcut this project.

Why does it matter? Gen questioned. I’m serving a sentence not just expected to finish one task.

I just sense that if you can do this job well and fast that it’s for the best, he answered.

Gen glanced around the lab, cutting her eyes to the technicians intently working on the far side of the room. Is this about the danger that you sensed? Do you know yet what it is?

It’s in that room with the lockers, he stated.

Gen returned her focus to hunting through the debris. So it’s not the quantum-entangled silicon then?

Definitely not, Emperor replied. And Chip doesn’t store the silicon in the lockers like this.

What does that mean? Gen questioned. I sensed he was telling a half-truth, but I don’t know why or what I’m missing. Do you?

I believe that it’s stored in there in another form, Emperor stated. I’m not getting clear information due to the technology barriers there shielding me. But I sense that the silicon in the form you’re harvesting is harmless but can be converted to something and used.

And that’s what’s stored in the lockers, Gen guessed.

Yes, so if you finish that task, then maybe you can be assigned to do something in that area and we can investigate, Emperor offered.

Gen nodded, looking around quickly before pulling Bellumferrum from her pocket. She held the small, black cube above the workstation full of strange materials and made the intention. She needed to excavate all the quantum-entangled silicon safely. Then she needed to clean up the debris, which required carefully classifying each tiny bit by material type.

From there they were sorted into the appropriate bin for recycling and reuse. That seemed about like sorting through loads of dirt and pebbles for classifying purposes. But that explained why Chip said the cleanup was the hardest part.

Bellumferrum glowed, followed by a tinging noise. Then it transformed into a large, circular sieve. Its mesh was made of an iridescent, otherworldly material that seemed to shimmer and dance in the light. Fortunately, no one glanced up from their work although Gen didn’t really think she was doing anything wrong. She was simply using a tool, like Emperor encouraged. Still, she didn’t want any unnecessary attention.

Instinctively, due to her connection with Bellumferrum, Gen knew that this was a multi-spectral sorting sieve. It was a tool perfectly suited for separating the silicon pieces from the other debris components. The sieve’s surface was etched with intricate, swirling patterns that pulsed with a soft, mesmerizing rhythm.

Allowing Bellumferrum to guide her, Gen positioned the sieve over the workbench. Then using the tools given to her from the clean-up area, she carefully poured the debris mixture onto the shimmering mesh. For a moment, Gen held her breath, not sure what would happen next. Bellumferrum simply guided her and told her what it was, but not anything further.

As the components touched the surface, the sieve began to vibrate. Gen nearly dropped the object from the sudden movement. Each section of the mesh resonated at a different frequency. The vibrating increased, causing Gen to hold on to the handle of the sieve with more might.

Each of the materials, the components of the debris and the silicon, resonates with a specific frequency, Emperor explained in Gen’s head. The sieve sorts it accordingly.

Fascinating, Gen mused. A simple solution, it seems.

Mesmerized and breathless suddenly, Gen watched what could only be classified as magic. The debris seemed to dance across the sieve, the various elements responding to their specific frequencies and separating into distinct piles on the table below. It was like they were being sorted by invisible forces. And more unbelievably it was all happening at lightning speed and without anyone witnessing the amazing sight.

The silicon pieces, attuned to a unique frequency, poured through the sieve, gathering in a neat pile, their crystalline surfaces glinting in the light. A light flashed on the device and instinct told Gen to move it. She directed the sieve to a clear section of the table. The other components, each resonating with their own frequency, formed perfect, distinct mounds around the pile of silicon. It was simply astounding to watch the neat piles form. At this rate, Gen would have the entire table of materials sorted by their elemental composition in no time.

As she suspected, within the hour, Gen was completely done with the tasks she’d been assigned. With a satisfied smile, Gen surveyed her handiwork, marveling at the efficiency and precision of Bellumferrum’s transformation. What would have taken hours of meticulous sorting by hand had been accomplished in mere minutes, thanks to the power of her magical companion. Gen felt a surge of pride and gratitude, knowing that with Bellumferrum by her side, no task was too daunting, and no challenge insurmountable.