Nelson once even referred to himself as "the Black Rock Man" when expressing his opinion on how to integrate the new Marines with those from Clock Island.
As expected of someone who graduated third in his class from Marineford Academy, Nelson's tactical and operational acumen was at a very high level, even by Headquarters standards.
This made Bill wonder what might have happened if Nelson hadn't become addicted to food while trying to master the Iron Body.
Maybe, Bill thought, Nelson simply had a twisted personality. Although, whatever happened, it would still be better than becoming a thousand-pound monster who terrorized his subordinates.
Bill sighed, pushed the thoughts away and returned to work.
After checking one last time that everything was in place and securely fastened, Bill turned on the generator.
A low hum signaled it was operational, and Bill first activated the antigravity casing. He then released the fuel and, after waiting a few more seconds, activated the four lasers.
When the four beams collided with the suspended fuel, a pure white ball was formed.
After checking that all systems were operating within expected parameters, Bill breathed a sigh of relief and activated the hull rotation.
As the antigravity chamber began to rotate, Bill kept a close eye on the sensors tracking the shape of the plasma.
At this point, the particles began to merge, and as they merged, the shape of a torus was formed.
It was now or never, Bill thought, and even Nelson seemed to understand this as he silently watched the screens displaying the sensor readings.
Then, with the press of a button, Bill activated the fifth laser, which fired protons upward through the torus and its magnetic field.
And at the culminating moment, after six months of grueling work, electricity passed through the generator, and the machine started working for the first time.
The green lights came on, and at the moment of success, Bill smelled a smell that shouldn't have been there.
He heard Nelson congratulating him, but... the smell...
"Oh no," he thought, practically teleporting to the junction box that led to the batteries.
There was no smoke yet, but Bill could feel the copper wires overheating.
Thinking quickly, Bill quickly realized that he had not connected the circuit breaker that was supposed to route electricity to the charging stations.
This system was created during the construction of the island's electrical grid to provide a fail-safe in case of emergency. After all, the fusion reactor was amazing, but it was also a double-edged sword. While there was no risk of a supernova—the amount of fusion material was too small for that—the problem was unexpected power surges.
Thinking quickly, Bill connected the fuses, using his teeth to strip the insulation from the wires coming out of the switch. Then he took out a knife and broke off its tip, creating a makeshift screwdriver. He worked carefully but quickly, and within thirty seconds, he flipped the main switch, allowing electricity to flow through the circuit.
He didn't notice when he stopped breathing, but when he closed the panel, he inhaled deeper than usual. If not for his heightened sense of smell, he would have surely damaged the generator. The reactor would likely remain intact, but the generator and wiring would be destroyed.
Returning to the computers displaying diagnostic reports, Bill ignored Nelson's question about what had happened and looked at the screen that read, "All systems operational."
- Ha... Ha-ha... Ha-ha-ha!
He began laughing hysterically, feeling a huge weight lifted from his chest. After two previous failures, Bill had begun to doubt himself. But now, having overcome those doubts, he had finally succeeded.
It didn't take long before the batteries began charging and powering the lab. First, the overhead lights lit up, and then the various complex machines Bill had ordered and needed to surprise his officers began to operate.
For the rest of the night, Bill walked around the island relays and then his massive lab, double-checking everything until he was completely satisfied.
"Nelson," Bill called to him.
After he reacted, Bill continued:
- Don't tell anyone about tonight, we'll have a party when I turn on the repeaters.
There was still much to be done on the island, but it had been completely transformed from the small farming town that had existed there just a year earlier. Thousands of people working together had created a true miracle.
In recent months, people have been asking Bill to change the name of Little Eastern Blue to something more appropriate to what the island has become.
The next day, Bill organized an island celebration. The first cheers rang out through the bonfires and paper lanterns as he turned on the repeaters. Streetlights lit up, warehouses and docks lit up, and the island's levels sparkled like a Christmas tree.
For many, seeing their work suddenly illuminated was the greatest moment of their lives. The older generation remembered the times before the Bear King, before they had to live in fear of pirate raids. For the young people and the Marines still on the island, it was a monument to the dedication and hard work they had put into it. For the children, it was simply something beautiful.
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