Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Preparation

Then something occurred to him. Yesterday during the simulations, the BCI had generated that virtual laboratory by sending signals directly to his brain. Visual images, sounds, even the sensation of touch—all created by electrical signals tricking his senses.

“Rene, can you generate a test environment right now? Something visual to verify the sensory injection is still working properly after the algorithm updates?”

“Affirmative. Initiating sensory test.”

Orion’s room dissolved around him.

He was standing in a fantasy world. A medieval castle stood in the distance, towers reaching toward the sky. Dragons flew overhead, their scales glinting in sunlight. Magical forests surrounded him with trees that glowed softly, their leaves shimmering with inner light.

The detail was incredible. He could see individual leaves on the trees. Texture on the castle stones. Scales on the dragon wings as they passed overhead.

He reached out toward a glowing tree. His hand touched empty air in reality, but his brain perceived rough bark under his fingers, warm with pulsing energy.

“This is incredible,” Orion whispered. “It feels completely real.”

“The BCI generates electrical signals that your brain interprets as genuine sensory input. Visual, auditory, and limited touch feedback. Your enhanced brain processes these signals very efficiently.”

“Can you overlay virtual elements onto my real room? Like those holographic displays?”

“Affirmative.”

The fantasy world faded. His bedroom returned. But now there were floating holographic displays in the air showing reactor designs, material specifications, flowing data streams. All overlaid perfectly on his actual environment.

“This is amazing.” Orion’s mind raced. “Rene, I want you to design a new BCI system specifically for this. Not just the earbuds—a complete full-dive virtual reality device. Something people can put on and completely immerse themselves in virtual worlds.”

“Understood. A full-dive system would require more sensors than the earbuds provide. I recommend a headband design with expanded sensor arrays for complete sensory injection and better motor signal reading.”

“Perfect. How long to design the hardware and software?”

“Complete specifications, manufacturing procedures, and adaptive software: approximately four hours.”

“Do it. And make sure it can adapt to new users. The earbuds took three days to learn my brain patterns. Can we make it faster for other people?”

“For new users, the system requires approximately 4-6 hours of monitoring to map their specific neural patterns. Most of this is software work—pattern recognition and finding optimal signal parameters. The processing requirements are minimal for my current capacity.”

“So someone buys the headband, wears it for a few hours while it learns their brain, then they’re ready for full virtual reality?”

“Correct. After the initial learning period, users can access full sensory injection with high accuracy.”

“Excellent. We’ll market it after Innovatia is established with Aether OS. Full-dive VR will be our next major product.”

“Understood. Beginning design work now.”

Orion checked the time. 1:38 PM. He needed to leave for Helix soon.

He grabbed the USB drive from his desk drawer where Rene had queued it for creation through his 3D printer’s companion unit.

Checked his appearance in the mirror. Looked presentable enough for a research meeting. Clean clothes, neat hair, professional enough.

“Rene, I’m heading to Helix. I’ll be back in a few hours.”

“Acknowledged. The meeting agenda has been transmitted to all Helix staff. They are expecting you at 2 PM.”

Orion smiled. He had revolutionary technology, unlimited funding, and the knowledge to change the world.

The researchers at Helix were about to start working on the future.

They just didn’t know it yet.

He grabbed his bag and headed downstairs.

Cassia was on her tablet, scrolling through mansion listings. She looked up when he passed.

“Heading to your meeting?”

“Yeah. Should be back by evening.”

“Good luck. Oh, and Nyla texted. She’ll be home tomorrow.”

Orion smiled. “Good. I’ve missed her.”

“I know you have.” Cassia gave him a knowing look. “You two need to have that talk soon.”

“We will. Tomorrow.”

He headed out the door.

Time to build a fusion reactor.

During the ride, Rene had been filling him in on the facility details through the earbuds.

“The Helix Research Facility was originally built by the United Federation fifteen years ago,” Rene explained. “It was designed as a comprehensive research center for advanced materials, fusion technology, and experimental physics. The facility occupies 45 hectares—approximately 450,000 square meters of land.”

“That’s huge,” Orion said quietly.

“Correct. The main research building is 120,000 square meters across six floors. It contains specialized laboratories for materials science, nuclear physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. The facility also includes a full-scale fusion test chamber that meets all Federation safety regulations.”

“Why did they sell it?”

“Operational costs. The facility requires approximately 200 million credits annually to maintain—power consumption, equipment maintenance, staffing, safety compliance. The Federation decided private ownership would be more efficient. They sold it to Helix Biotech Corporation three years ago for 1.8 billion credits.”

“And Helix couldn’t afford it either?”

“Correct. Helix attempted to pivot into advanced biotechnology research but failed to secure sufficient funding. They filed for restructuring six months ago and listed the facility for sale at 2.3 billion credits.”

“What about manufacturing capabilities?”

“The facility includes a 40,000 square meter on-site manufacturing complex. It was designed for prototyping and small-scale production of experimental materials and components. The complex includes clean rooms, molecular beam epitaxy chambers, vacuum furnaces, precision machining equipment, and assembly spaces.”

Orion smiled. “So we can manufacture everything we need right there. No need to outsource to external manufacturers.”

“Affirmative. The facility is essentially self-contained. Research, development, and production can all occur on-site. This significantly reduces the risk of information leaks and accelerates the development timeline.”

“Perfect. Anything else I should know?”

“The facility employs 1470 total staff—400 researchers, 600 technicians and lab assistants, 370 maintenance and operations personnel, and 100 administrative staff. All have been notified of the ownership change. The research staff is highly qualified—average 15 years of experience, multiple advanced degrees, several former Federation scientists.”

The cab began slowing as they approached the facility.

The autocab pulled up to the Helix Research Facility at 1:53 PM.

Orion paid the fare and stepped out. The building looked impressive—sleek glass and steel, modern architecture, the Helix logo displayed above the entrance.

He barely made it three steps before noticing the crowd.

People lined both sides of the walkway leading to the entrance. Researchers in lab coats, technicians in clean-room suits, administrative staff in business casual. Maybe eighty people total, all standing at attention.

A banner hung across the entrance: WELCOME TO HELIX, MR. STARR

“Oh no,” Orion muttered.

POV: DR. SOFIA MARTINEZ – SENIOR MATERIALS SCIENTIST

Sofia had been working at Helix for twelve years. She’d seen three CEOs, five restructurings, and countless corporate acquisitions. This was her first time seeing a new owner arrive in a public autocab.

“Is that really him?” whispered David Kim, one of the junior researchers beside her.

“Must be,” Sofia said. “How many twenty-one-year-olds do you think are visiting today?”

The young man walking toward them looked… normal. Jeans, button-up shirt, messenger bag slung over one shoulder. Could’ve been any college student. Except this college student had just bought their entire research facility for 2.3 billion credits.

“He came in a cab,” David said. “A regular cab. Not even a private car.”

“Maybe he’s modest,” Sofia said. Though honestly, she’d expected someone older. Someone with gray hair and an expensive suit. Not a kid who looked like he’d just left campus.

The facility director, Dr. Raymond Torres, stepped forward to greet their new owner. “Mr. Starr, welcome to Helix Research Facility. We’ve prepared a small reception—”

“Thank you, but we can skip the formalities,” the young man said. His voice was calm, confident. “I appreciate everyone coming out, but we have work to do. All researchers, please head to Conference Room A. We’ll have a meeting to discuss the new research direction.”

Just like that. No speech. No handshaking. Straight to business.

Sofia exchanged glances with David. “Well, that was efficient.”

“Think he’s always like that?” David asked.

“Guess we’re about to find out.”

CONFERENCE ROOM A – 2:05 PM

Orion stood at the front of the conference room. Forty-three researchers filled the seats—materials scientists, chemists, physicists, biologists, engineers, and the nuclear fusion team. All staring at him with varying degrees of curiosity and skepticism.

He got it. He was twenty-one. He’d shown up in a cab. They probably thought he was some rich kid playing scientist.

Fine. He’d show them.

During the ride here, Rene had kept working. She’d continued optimizing the superconductor and thermoelectric materials. Pushed them even further.

Her voice had come through the earbuds about halfway to Helix: “Orion, I have achieved additional breakthroughs. The superconductor can now reach 300 Tesla magnetic field strength. The thermoelectric material efficiency has improved to 98%. Several minor optimizations have also been completed.”

Three hundred Tesla. Ninety-eight percent efficiency. The numbers were incredible.

“That means the USB drive I prepared is outdated,” Orion had said.

“Correct. The data on the drive no longer reflects our best designs. I recommend transmitting the updated procedures directly to the researchers’ tablets during the meeting.”

“Do it when I give you the signal.”

Now, standing in front of the research team, Orion began.

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