Baptism through Fire

Chap 2
Baptized in Flame
The ride to his grandfather's was a long one. He lived right outside of the city and traffic in San Diego was no joke. Wess was getting bored but right before he could fall asleep the car came to an abrupt stop. "C'mon son, come inside and grandma will make you some cookies with her new ultra microwave." Wess smirked and shook his head, his grandparents seemed so old-fashioned yet they were up to date when it came to technology. Their house resembled a laboratory more than a home. They were always trying out new innovative technologies for the simplest of things. When Wess entered the house he noticed and unfamiliar face. The man who stood before him looked like he was in his mid 20s he had a black ponytail, glasses, and he was about 6 foot. He had a lab coat on, and looked at Wess with a scowl before quickly going in the basement. "Who's that guy?" Wess asked turning to his grandmother. "That's Zeke sweetie he's our lab assistant for your grandfather's next insanely unbelievable invention," Wess's grandfather turned around to look at his wife, "That's what they say about all great inventions before they're recognized for what they really are, scientific breakthroughs!" His grandfather grabbed his arm and began leading him into the basement/lab. "Hey, what about my cookies!" Wess said in a semi-childish voice "You'll have time for those later"
Wess couldn't believe what he saw before his vey eyes. The machine was beyond enormous and it easily took up half the total lab space. "What the heck is this thing!?" His words were rather unclear because his mouth was still wide open in utter amazement. "This, my grandson…is the future," Wess noticed his grandfather's eyes lit up in excitement as he began to explain what him and his assistant Zeke had been working on for the last five years. Keeping up with what his grandfather was talking about was hard.
"What we're doing here is inventing a new element by smashing other atoms together. Now this process has been done before but nothing to this scale has even been attempted. It took years to calculate what elements to use and how many atoms of each to apply but after countless pre-tests and endless calculations we have found a way to form the perfect element. It is a plasma with uncanny abilities, so highly reactive that it can excite oxygen and other gas particles quickly causing super heated instant combustion! Providing mass amounts of energy" Wess was about to say something but his grandfather continued. "But it doesn't end there! The most amazing part about this element is that it loses friction as it heats! Of course nothing is frictionless but if heated enough this plasma has the potential to be 99.9% frictionless! If we applied this element in its liquid form to machinery it would make them freakishly efficient."
Wess's right eyebrow rose and he gave his grandfather an unusual look. "Grandpa your element thing sounds really awesome and all, but as your grandson I feel obliged to tell you I have absolutely no idea what you just said." His grandfather just chuckled and patted him on the back. "Don't worry one day you will," Wess just shook his head as he went back upstairs. "Nah nope pretty sure I won't."
While Wess was upstairs laughing and watching TV with his grandmother a huge argument was brewing downstairs between the renowned scientist and his assistant. "We should test it now!" shouted Zeke. "We've worked so long and so hard, think about it! The long nights of endless mathematical equations and measurements, the extensive studying of all the sub-atomic structures and the billons it cost to find the right metallic conductor! It all leads up to tonight! Don't you understand what we've made?" Zeke's eyes were bulging in anger. Then he gave Wess's grandfather a nasty snarl and scowled
at him with utter disgust. "This is more than just a mere Nobel Peace Prize. We are talking about frictionless efficiency, near endless energy. We will change the world…We will be gods." Wess's grandfather gave his assistant a stern look. "Zeke you're the smartest young man I've ever met but your head is obviously in the wrong place. We need to inform the government of our findings and then test it in a government-approved area.  I'm taking you off the project for your own sake." Zeke was outraged; he punched Grandpa across the face and slammed him against the wall. "I'm tired of waiting for you old man! I'll do it myself!" He kicked Grandpa in the ribs once more to keep him down and began activating the machine. Wess had heard the argument and began rushing downstairs.
"Grandpa are you alright!" His grandfather attempted to get the words out as fast as possible. "Can't let him activate it…could destroy us all…must get the metal conductor…" Wess looked up and noticed a metal ball dead center of the huge machine. "I'll get it!" Both Zeke and Grandpa yelled no, hoping Wess wouldn't enter the machine. While Grandpa was concerned for Wess's safety Zeke couldn't afford a screw up. The metal conductor that Wess was going to grab was made out of some of the rarest substances on earth and he wouldn't be able to re-do the experiment. Zeke feverishly attempted to shut the system down but it had gone into lockdown. Wess grabbed the metal and then noticed the door was sealed shut. Both of his grandparents attempted to break into the machine in a desperate attempt to save him. Zeke ran to the enormous power plugs and attempted to disable the machine manually. It was all too late. The machine activated, Wess exploded holding the rare substance as the atoms collided with his body. Zeke was ripped to shreds by the electromagnetic pulse that released from the power plugs he had yanked half way out of their outlets. After the explosion Grandma helped Grandpa up and they opened the door. They saw a small glow in the smoke.