Azukai
Zuki
Saturday, September 09, 2027
"Dr. Aldricht, it is such an honor to have you here in the studio today."
The evening show host was beaming with vigor and excitement as she welcomed her exclusive guest for the night. Immediately, the crowd burst into cheers, some even opting to stand in ovation for the elderly man who waltzed onto the stage. Unlike most evening show guests who opted for a suave appearance, the man in question was dressed in an ordinary lab coat, white shirt, and jeans. To make matters worse, his physical features were clearly unkempt, and the bags under his eyes were enough to make anyone question if he had seen any sleep in the last the decade. Nonetheless, everyone in the studio continued their enthusiastic greeting--the applause lasting far after he had taken his seat on the couch next to the host's desk.
A full minute went by in continued applause before the host stood up from her chair and signaled for the show to finally begin. "Again, I cannot express how much of an honor it is to have you in the studio today. I can only imagine how busy you are getting ready for the launch of your brand new...I don't even know how to describe it. Like...wow!"
Booming chuckles erupted from Dr. Aldricht. He used a hand to flip several strands of his long wavy grey hair out of his eyes before responding to the host's introduction of himself. "You give me far more praise than I deserve." He said in a noticeably thick, foreign accent. At first sound, it might have seemed Scottish in nature; however, something about it was still peculiar enough to remain distinctly unique. "But yes, it has been quite a chaotic year for Fracture Industries. To think that after nearly a decade of trial and error, attempts and brutal failures, we are here today on the brink of a true technological advancement." Dr. Aldricht fell silent to allow for another wave of applause. Behind him, a screen began to lower itself down from the studio ceiling, and once extended, it came to life with a distinctive outdoor view of the Fracture Academic campus. Glass skyscrapers towered across the campus grounds, all of them covered with lush growths of various foliage. A man-made river cut through the center of the view and vanished into the depths of the inner grounds. The crowd gasped.
"It's beautiful if I do say so myself, but that is not what is special here...." Dr. Aldricht paused as a means to build suspense amongst the viewers and crowd. "...What you are looking at is a future which hopes to bring salvation to our dying Earth." Again, he paused. His eyes gazed out towards the crowed who were all awaiting his next words with bated breath. "It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows my research that sustainability is my greatest passion in life. Coal is not a resource we can depend upon forever, and other modes of energy have not proven dependable or cost effective enough to implement at scale. This is where my genius comes into play."
Dr. Aldricht rose from the couch in grandiose fashion--his lab coat flourishing behind him as he extended his arms outward from his body. "Allow me to introduce you to Project Silvanus. This is not a theory. This is not a proposition. Starting Monday, all three thousand acres of Fracture Academics will be run on a self-sustained energy, hydro, and agricultural grid--a grid void of both coal and nuclear sources. A grid, which I can proudly admit, to be one hundred percent efficient and infinitely sustainable for centuries to come. People of all genders...welcome to my future."
Dr. Aldricht bowed.
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Sunday, September 10, 2027. Evening
In the Northwestern most tip of Blue Springs laid the ginormous three thousand acre campus of Fracture Academics. It was segregated from the city by the Central Springs River which acted as its southern most border. From every other angle, the campus was bordered by seemingly endless rows of foliage and trees. Because of this isolation, the campus was blessed with an unusual level of exclusivity from the general public. To add to its exclusivity, Fracture Academic was considered an independent district of Blue Springs; in that it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the city or state government. Rather, it was governed by its own private board known as the Academic Council. Because of this unique political standing, it was allowed many liberties which practically defined it as a pseudo city in of itself.
The only modes of entry into the campus were through a series of private trams lines which required an active student or faculty ID to gain access into. These trams were accessible from the main station of any of Blue Spring district or from the city's international airport. Because of this restriction, however, family of the students or faculty were not allowed entry onto the campus. It was a lonely journey coming into Fracture, but one that promised to be well worth the sacrifice.
All first time students were given a window of arrival which stretched between the late afternoon and early evening on Sunday--the day before classes were to begin. Because all luggage was delivered to the appropriate dorm assignments, this allowed the students the opportunity to attend an evening orientation which proved to be quite unique compared to other college experiences--namely because it was a series of parties.
The total number of incoming students were well over a hundred; however, within each party, only a handful of individuals were invited. This was purposely done as a means to allow a more intimate connection among peers, who would soon be classmates for their Introduction to Fracture Academics course. In the case of the Ravenwood Class, the party was being held in one of the expansive rooms of the Union Building's underground. Nonetheless, despite its location, the room was an awe-inspiring experience being that the walls and ceiling did not reflect a basement.
Walking into the room was like walking through a portal to another land. The doorway acted as a break in the trees which led into an open forest clearing. Along the clearing's outskirts were a series of wooden tables that held a wide variety of beverages and food items for the guests to enjoy. Within the center was a small bonfire that crackled with no smoke, yet genuine warmth. All of this was surrounded by a ring of stumps for the guests to sit upon. Where one might have expected a ceiling, a beautiful evening sky with little to no clouds provided a perfect view of the stars above.
On one of the stumps was a lean individual who was notably feminine in appearance. They had bored expression on their face as they sipped one of the cocktails available to the students over twenty one. They had seemingly been waiting for quite some time, given the sudden excitement that came to their face once the first of the students arrived in the room. "Quite the demonstration of technology, huh?"
"Dr. Aldricht, it is such an honor to have you here in the studio today."
The evening show host was beaming with vigor and excitement as she welcomed her exclusive guest for the night. Immediately, the crowd burst into cheers, some even opting to stand in ovation for the elderly man who waltzed onto the stage. Unlike most evening show guests who opted for a suave appearance, the man in question was dressed in an ordinary lab coat, white shirt, and jeans. To make matters worse, his physical features were clearly unkempt, and the bags under his eyes were enough to make anyone question if he had seen any sleep in the last the decade. Nonetheless, everyone in the studio continued their enthusiastic greeting--the applause lasting far after he had taken his seat on the couch next to the host's desk.
A full minute went by in continued applause before the host stood up from her chair and signaled for the show to finally begin. "Again, I cannot express how much of an honor it is to have you in the studio today. I can only imagine how busy you are getting ready for the launch of your brand new...I don't even know how to describe it. Like...wow!"
"It's beautiful if I do say so myself, but that is not what is special here...." Dr. Aldricht paused as a means to build suspense amongst the viewers and crowd. "...What you are looking at is a future which hopes to bring salvation to our dying Earth." Again, he paused. His eyes gazed out towards the crowed who were all awaiting his next words with bated breath. "It should come as no surprise to anyone who follows my research that sustainability is my greatest passion in life. Coal is not a resource we can depend upon forever, and other modes of energy have not proven dependable or cost effective enough to implement at scale. This is where my genius comes into play."
Dr. Aldricht rose from the couch in grandiose fashion--his lab coat flourishing behind him as he extended his arms outward from his body. "Allow me to introduce you to Project Silvanus. This is not a theory. This is not a proposition. Starting Monday, all three thousand acres of Fracture Academics will be run on a self-sustained energy, hydro, and agricultural grid--a grid void of both coal and nuclear sources. A grid, which I can proudly admit, to be one hundred percent efficient and infinitely sustainable for centuries to come. People of all genders...welcome to my future."
Dr. Aldricht bowed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday, September 10, 2027. Evening
In the Northwestern most tip of Blue Springs laid the ginormous three thousand acre campus of Fracture Academics. It was segregated from the city by the Central Springs River which acted as its southern most border. From every other angle, the campus was bordered by seemingly endless rows of foliage and trees. Because of this isolation, the campus was blessed with an unusual level of exclusivity from the general public. To add to its exclusivity, Fracture Academic was considered an independent district of Blue Springs; in that it did not fall under the jurisdiction of the city or state government. Rather, it was governed by its own private board known as the Academic Council. Because of this unique political standing, it was allowed many liberties which practically defined it as a pseudo city in of itself.
The only modes of entry into the campus were through a series of private trams lines which required an active student or faculty ID to gain access into. These trams were accessible from the main station of any of Blue Spring district or from the city's international airport. Because of this restriction, however, family of the students or faculty were not allowed entry onto the campus. It was a lonely journey coming into Fracture, but one that promised to be well worth the sacrifice.
All first time students were given a window of arrival which stretched between the late afternoon and early evening on Sunday--the day before classes were to begin. Because all luggage was delivered to the appropriate dorm assignments, this allowed the students the opportunity to attend an evening orientation which proved to be quite unique compared to other college experiences--namely because it was a series of parties.
Walking into the room was like walking through a portal to another land. The doorway acted as a break in the trees which led into an open forest clearing. Along the clearing's outskirts were a series of wooden tables that held a wide variety of beverages and food items for the guests to enjoy. Within the center was a small bonfire that crackled with no smoke, yet genuine warmth. All of this was surrounded by a ring of stumps for the guests to sit upon. Where one might have expected a ceiling, a beautiful evening sky with little to no clouds provided a perfect view of the stars above.
On one of the stumps was a lean individual who was notably feminine in appearance. They had bored expression on their face as they sipped one of the cocktails available to the students over twenty one. They had seemingly been waiting for quite some time, given the sudden excitement that came to their face once the first of the students arrived in the room. "Quite the demonstration of technology, huh?"
