CERN Reasearch Facility, Franco-Swiss border, Geneva Switzerland.
In the ATLAS control room, the lead physicist and the ATLAS spokesperson, Julia Watson, stood admiring the dance of particle collisions on the big screen. Beside her stood the technical coordinator, James Gray.
"I still remember the day the particle collider was first set in motion. 2008 feels like just yesterday. It truly is a remarkable invention, one that has led to countless discoveries. Our understanding of the universe has grown by leaps and bounds, yet it has raised far more questions than it has answered," Julia said, her eyes fixed on the shifting 3D renders on the big screen.
James glanced sideways at Julia as if wanting to say something but eventually decided not to as he focused back on the screen.
"Yet the greatest discovery of all remains the most bewildering. Something that seemed less like an answer and more like a question itself. Those strange energy fluctuations, leaving behind negative imprints in the data, they surface during every collision. Years of research, and all we could do was separate them into seven distinct types. They behave like particles, yet they react with nothing; utterly inert, appearing only faintly after proton collisions. Are they the building blocks of reality? Or something else entirely? Who can say," Julia continued.
"I still remember the day we first saw those particles in action back in 2009, and I also remember how everyone at the lab got a call that night. Politics suppressing science is nothing new, but how this fact has remained a confidential secret without leaks for so long never ceases to surprise me," James added.
"Even in 2012, when the discovery of the Higgs-Boson had everyone excited and celebrating, those of us who knew the truth could only pretend to share in the joy," he said, a trace of sadness in his voice.
"All around us exist particles unlike any other; ones that interact only with each other, and when they do, they give rise to phenomena that defy science. No explanation has ever sufficed. Are they truly gifts from the gods? If the public were to learn of them, the order of the world would crumble. It's no surprise that global powers keep it hidden, but what unsettles me most are 'them'—those who call themselves the guardians of the divine, actively working to protect this secret," Julia said.
CERN housed the largest particle collider in the world, the Large Hadron Collider, one of the greatest marvels of science and technology on Earth. It was first set in motion in 2008, and while the experiment initially proceeded as expected, it revealed something extraordinary—particles that behaved in ways utterly specific yet completely disorderly. The researchers were thrilled beyond imagination, for on their first few recorded test they had uncovered something far beyond their understanding. That excitement, however, was swiftly crushed when powerful political figures, along with several unknown forces, moved to suppress the findings and issued stern warnings against publishing anything.
As Julia and James were lost in thought, someone entered the room. The man, wearing a white lab coat, was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.
Julia glanced back at the man. "What happened?"
"An anomaly... has been detected"
Julia wasn't surprised at first; anomalies appeared often enough. What puzzled her was why she was being informed about it. Just as she was about to put her thoughts into words, the man spoke again.
"Anomaly.... 37"
Julia's eyes widened as she turned to look at James, who wore a similar expression. Regularly recurring anomalies measured between amplitudes 1 and 4 on the Kilbert scale; these were not especially dangerous, and the secret forces assigned to anomaly extermination would handle them. However, an anomaly designated by a number was considered highly dangerous, with an amplitude above 4.
Julia and James wasted no time rushing out of the control room. They headed straight for the CERN main auditorium, where an emergency meeting had been called.
"What is the amplitude?", James asked as they were on their way.
"We don't know yet. The information is by 'them'. 'They' are here"
Upon hearing the reply, Julia grew more tense. For "them" to be present in person, it meant the problem was likely way more serious.
Inside the vast auditorium, built to seat nearly a thousand, most of the chairs sat empty. Julia and James quickly made their way to the front, taking their places among the select few. The atmosphere was heavy, charged with tension those present were all of considerably high rank, as the information demanded a level of clearance and expertise.
As the lights dimmed, silence fell over the room. The echo of the approaching footsteps seemed almost thunderous. From the shadows emerged a figure of a man dressed in a sharp black suit and trousers, a crisp white shirt visible beneath, accented by a long red tie that hung neatly to his waist. White gloves encased his hands; in his left, he carried a suitcase, while his right swung freely at his side. Covering his entire head was a black mesh mask which was featureless, patternless that allowed him to see out but let nothing through.
The man walked up to the podium, adjusted the microphone, and began to speak:
"I trust you all understand why you were gathered here on such short notice. On the 26th of July, 2030, anomaly number 37 was detected.
"Before I describe the incident, let me first clarify what we mean by anomalies. In the field of manalogical studies, we classify unexplained, unintentional manalogical phenomena as anomalies. The power to manipulate manacules is neither restricted nor fully controllable, which means that certain individuals among the general public are capable of wielding it. Accidents are inevitable. To prevent chaos, our organization actively safeguards the truth of manacules.
"Anomaly 37 manifested as rings of what appeared to be fire, suspended high in the sky. There were no reported casualties. The rings lasted for exactly twenty seconds before vanishing. The anomaly was recorded in the skies over India, specifically in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
"Any questions?"
"Why are you telling us this?" someone in the audience asked.
"Indian skies? What does that have to do with us?" another voice added.
"CERN possesses a device capable of assisting us in triangulating the precise focal origin of the anomaly. In 2016, the prototype of the Manacule Gradient Graph—an instrument designed to map differential manacule flux across spatial fields—was completed and subsequently archived within CERN headquarters. When the 'China-Beacon' previously attempted to acquire this technology, CERN declined the offer. I trust that, under the current circumstances, its application can no longer be withheld. At the very least, employ it to assist us. After all, the stability of the world itself now hinges on this," the man explained calmly.
When no one spoke and the auditorium sank once more into heavy silence, Julia, as the spokesperson of ATLAS, rose to address the masked man.
"It is not as simple as you make it sound. The authority to use that technology does not rest in our hands. Everything depends on the directives and permissions issued by the official council. Even under the most urgent circumstances, the process would require no less than a week. We are bound by protocol, by governance, and by international mandate to uphold the rules and regulations," she declared firmly.
The masked man cast a cold glance across the room, holding his silence for two long seconds before speaking in a voice that radiated unshakable authority.
"You need not concern yourself with such matters. You will begin the work immediately. We are the rules. We are the regulations. We are the governance. We are the protocol. We are the arbiters of the future itself. Law does not bind us for we stand above it.
"And if it is the political dimension that unsettles you, then allow me to clarify what I have withheld until now. Anomaly 37 registers an amplitude of 10—the highest level on the scale."
...
USA-Beacon, Underground Research Facility Area 51, Nevada, USA
Eight hundred meters below the Nevada desert, a vast underground hall stretched wide, its reinforced walls humming faintly with the sound of ventilation. Rows of seats filled the chamber, each occupied by figures in white lab coats. On every coat, a distinct symbol stood out: a circular emblem with the bold letters "USA" stitched across.
The atmosphere was heavy, silent, oppressive. Though the room was full, few spoke. Most sat in a quiet daze, their expressions caught somewhere between unease and anticipation, as if all were waiting for something significant to unfold.
"Anomaly 37 must be exterminated without delay. This is the first time forces have been deployed in such large numbers. For that reason, I trust the USA Beacon will continue to aid us," the masked man, dressed in his formal suit with the striking red tie, concluded.
The moment his words faded, the hall erupted in low conversations as people turned to one another. Though their voices differed, the sentiment they shared was the same—worry.
...
Russia-Beacon, Mount Yamantau Bunker, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
Vast underground bunkers, originally carved out during the Cold War, had since been transformed into colossal vaults for energy containment and time-space bending experiments. This was the Mount Yamantau Complex—the hidden center of the USSR's secret manalogical research, and the seat of the Russia Beacon.
Inside the dimly lit circular hall, the walls were lined with towering screens streaming streams of data, yet not a single person turned towards them. The information was irrelevant, mere background noise compared to the presence of "them". Every eye was fixed on the figure standing at the center—a masked man in a formal suit, his striking red tie standing out.
"India holds the largest population and among them, countless orthodox believers of many deities. From time to time, someone manages to summon a minor anomaly, but an amplitude of 10 was far beyond our expectations," the masked man said.
"Why don't we have a dedicated Beacon established in India?" someone from the listeners asked.
"That is for the upper echelons to decide. Perhaps the country is not deemed qualified enough," the masked man explained calmly.
...
China-Beacon, Jinping Underground Laboratory, Jinping Mountains, China
2,400 meters beneath the surface lay the deepest underground laboratory in the world, originally constructed for advanced experiments on dark matter. Jinping Underground Laboratory was also the central site of China's manalogical research and experimentation. Within its fortified depths resided the China Beacon.
The masked man concluded his briefing to the assembled group of scientists and researchers, all adept in the field of manalogy.
"As of now, no other abnormalities have been recorded apart from the visible fire rings. Our assessment is that this was either a coincidence, an accident, or an intentional act. In the latter case, the target is aware of the impending danger and is deliberately keeping a low profile. Naturally, we are more inclined to believe the latter."
After several minutes of silence, a voice finally rose from among the researchers.
"Could this be the beginning of the prophecy?"
The masked man who had a striking red tie was taken aback. Though his expression remained unreadable behind the mask, he paused, holding the silence for a moment before finally replying.
"I will convey your assumption to the upper echelons."