Destiny's Serendipity

Episode One: The Copernicus Family

A Thriller - Romance - Transgender Serial

By Jo Dora Webster

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Will Bart's investigation of Regalia's mysteries bridge the gap to the region beyond the barrier and save all on their planet?

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The classroom was a model of Regalian efficiency, with sleek desks arranged in perfect rows and holographic displays flickering with complex equations and diagrams. At the center of it all sat Bart, his fingers dancing across his console with lightning speed.

The instructor, a stern-faced man with graying hair not attempting to hide the growing bald spot on his crown, approached Bart's desk.

"Bartholomew Copernicus," he announced, his voice carrying across the silent room, "your solution to the quantum entanglement problem is... flawless. Not only have you solved it, but you've also proposed a practical application that could revolutionize our energy production methods." A murmur of awe and envy rippled through the classroom. Bart's classmates stared at him with a mixture of admiration and resentment. One student in particular, a boy named Marcus, glared openly at Bart, his fists clenched under his desk.

Bart, for his part, accepted the praise with a modest nod. "Thank you, Instructor Ventor. I merely applied the principles we've been studying and followed them to their logical conclusion."

Instructor Ventor's lips twitched in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Your 'mere application' has outpaced our most advanced researchers, Bartholomew. The Scientific Council will be most interested in your findings."

As the class was dismissed, Bart gathered his materials, acutely aware of the eyes following him. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of isolation. His intellect, the very thing that made him exceptional in Regalian society, also set him apart from his peers in ways that sometimes left him feeling profoundly alone.

Walking through the pristine corridors of the Academy, Bart observed his fellow students clustering into their usual social groups, their animated discussions about quantum mechanics and genetic optimization echoing off the polished walls. A few nodded respectfully in his direction, but none invited him to join their circles. Even Marcus, his closest academic rival, kept his distance, though his eyes followed Bart with a mixture of envy and calculation.

The solitude felt particularly heavy today, perhaps because of the pending announcement about his father's appointment. As he made his way home through Regalia's geometrically perfect streets, the towering spires of the Scientific District cast long shadows that seemed to mirror his internal state - standing tall but ultimately alone.

The problem with being a technocracy in Regalia on planet Litolus was that any other ruling systems tried before had been expertly covered up, like the reason behind the barrier that divided the planet. Bart had no time for such weighty thoughts since he had to rush home for an important ceremony involving his father. He was just in time to get in line with his brothers.

The Copernicus family stood at attention in their living room, facing the large viewscreen that dominated one wall. On the screen, a stern-faced official in an immaculate uniform addressed them directly.

"Raymond Copernicus," the official intoned, his voice resonating with authority, "by decree of the ruling elite, you are hereby appointed to the position of First Scientist. Your contributions to Regalian science and your unwavering dedication to our principles have earned you this highest of honors."

Raymond's face remained impassive, but his eyes shone with pride and ambition. "I am honored to accept this appointment," he replied, his voice steady and confident. "I pledge to use this position to further advance Regalia's scientific dominance and ensure our continued strength."

As the transmission ended, the family erupted into a controlled celebration. Alenace, the family synthetic servant, looked expectantly into Raymond's eyes, his touch conveying pride and support. Bruce's muscular frame spoke of hours spent in physical training and his handshake continued the game he played with his father conveying their love with a crushing vise grip.

Following Bruce, the oldest, came the middle child, Robert, whose slender build and quick, darting eyes hinted at a mind more suited to intellectual pursuits. He congratulated his father with a normal handshake and speaking to him.

"Thank you, Father, for your work bring so excellent to rise to our highest position. You challenge me to do better by providing an excellent example of mental ability."

Bart, however, stood slightly apart, his mind racing with the implications of his father's new role. He understood the power and responsibility that came with the position of First Scientist. It meant access to Regalia's most closely guarded secrets, control over the direction of scientific research, and a direct line to the ruling elite.

"Father," Bart said, stepping forward, "what will be your first initiative as First Scientist?"

Raymond turned to his youngest son, a calculating look in his eyes. "My first task, Bartholomew, will be to review and optimize our incubator program. The future of Regalia depends on producing the strongest, most intelligent citizens possible."

"Father," Bart began, his voice careful and measured, "I've completed the advanced physics module you assigned. May I request access to the next level of study materials?"

Raymond's eyebrows raised slightly, a flicker of pride crossing his features. "Already, Bartholomew? Impressive. I'll authorize your access this evening."

Alenace interjected, his tone neutral but with an undercurrent of concern. "Remember, Bartholomew, balance is crucial. Your physical training should not suffer for your intellectual pursuits."

Bart nodded, filing away this information. He couldn't shake the feeling that his father's appointment would have far-reaching consequences, not just for their family, but for all of Regalia.

Later that evening, as the celebration wound down and the reality of their new status settled in, the familiar routine of daily training beckoned. The metallic hum of the home's environmental systems seemed to pulse with a different rhythm now, as if the very air recognized the shift in their family's position within Regalia's hierarchy. Bart made his way through the gleaming corridors, his footsteps echoing against the polished floors, knowing that even their prescribed physical conditioning would feel different under the weight of his father's new authority.

The Copernicus family's private training facility echoed with the sounds of physical exertion. Bruce grunted as he lifted an impossibly heavy weight, his muscles straining under the effort. Nearby, Robert's fingers flew across a complex control panel, his eyes darting between multiple screens as he solved a series of increasingly difficult logic puzzles.

Bart entered the room, his presence immediately drawing the attention of his brothers. There was a palpable tension in the air, a mixture of competitiveness and unspoken resentment.

"Ah, the prodigy graces us with his presence," Bruce said, his tone a blend of admiration and sarcasm. He set down the weights with a thud that seemed to shake the room. "Come to show us up in physical training too, little brother?"

Robert glanced up from his console, pushing his glasses up his nose. "Don't be absurd, Bruce. We all know Bart's strengths lie elsewhere." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice, barely concealed.

Bart approached the training equipment, his movements deliberate and measured. "I believe in a balanced approach," he said calmly. "The mind and body must work in harmony for optimal performance."

With fluid grace, Bart began a series of complex calisthenics, his form perfect and his breathing controlled. Bruce and Robert watched, their expressions a mix of grudging respect and growing frustration.

As Bart completed his routine, he moved to Robert's station. Glancing at the screen, he quickly assessed the problem and offered a solution. "If you recalibrate the quantum flux, you'll find the algorithm resolves itself more efficiently," he suggested.

Robert's jaw tightened, but he nodded stiffly. "Of course. I was just about to try that."

The brothers continued their training in silence, each acutely aware of Bart's superior abilities. The youngest Copernicus had once again demonstrated why he was considered the family's brightest star, and the weight of that reality hung heavily in the air.

After completing his training regimen, Bart excused himself from the facility, leaving his brothers to their respective pursuits. The evening air in the corridors felt thick with unspoken tensions, and the soft hum of the environmental systems seemed to echo his racing thoughts. His father's new position as First Scientist had already begun to reshape their family dynamics, and Bart felt an increasing urgency to explore the questions that had long lingered in his mind. The weight of his recent discoveries in quantum entanglement, combined with his growing suspicions about Regalia's carefully maintained order, drove him toward the one place where he felt truly free to think.

As night fell over Regalia, Bart retreated to his personal study, a sanctuary of knowledge hidden within the Copernicus home. The room was a stark contrast to the minimalist design favored by Regalian standards. Shelves lined the walls, crammed with books both old and new, their spines a colorful rebellion against the monochrome world outside.

Bart approached a seemingly ordinary section of the wall and pressed his palm against it. A soft blue light scanned his hand, and with a quiet hiss, a hidden compartment slid open. Inside lay a collection of forbidden texts, their pages yellowed with age and filled with information that challenged everything Regalia stood for.

With reverent care, Bart extracted a particularly ancient tome. Its cover bore no title, only an intricate design that seemed to shimmer in the low light. As he opened it, the musty scent of old paper filled the air, carrying with it the promise of hidden knowledge.

His eyes widened as he read, absorbing information about a world beyond the barrier that surrounded Regalia. The text spoke of a civilization as old and advanced as their own, but fundamentally different in ways that both fascinated and terrified him.

"A society where strength is not the only measure of worth," Bart murmured to himself, his fingers tracing the words on the page. "Where facts are debated rather than dictated, and where political control is shared among the people."

But it was the next passage that truly captured his attention. "Beyond our borders," he read aloud, his voice barely a whisper, "lives a type of human we have long thought extinct. They call themselves... women."

Bart's mind reeled at the implications. Women – a concept so foreign, so at odds with everything he had been taught about biology and the natural order of things. How could such beings exist? And why had their existence been hidden from Regalia?

As he delved deeper into the text, Bart felt a growing sense of excitement and unease. He was on the cusp of a discovery that could shake the very foundations of Regalian society. But with that knowledge came danger. If anyone were to discover these texts, the consequences would be severe.

Bart glanced at the door, suddenly paranoid. He knew he should stop, should return the book to its hiding place and pretend he had never seen it. But the allure of forbidden knowledge was too strong. With a deep breath, he turned the page, ready to uncover more secrets of the world beyond the barrier.

As dawn broke over Regalia, Bart had barely slept, his mind consumed by the revelations from the ancient text. The existence of women, the possibility of a different social order - these forbidden concepts had shattered his understanding of reality. He knew he needed to see the barrier for himself, to connect the physical boundary of his world with the philosophical ones he had just discovered.

After a perfunctory breakfast where he avoided his family's questioning looks, particularly his father's calculating gaze, Bart made his way through the city's precisely arranged streets, drawn inexorably toward the edge of everything he had ever known. Bart found himself standing at the edge of Regalia's outermost district, his eyes fixed on the shimmering wall of energy that marked the boundary of their world. The barrier stretched as far as the eye could see in either direction, a constant reminder of the separation between Regalia and the unknown beyond.

From this distance, the barrier appeared almost beautiful, its surface rippling with subtle patterns of light and color. But Bart knew the truth of its nature – an impenetrable force field designed to keep Regalia isolated from the outside world.

As he stood there, lost in thought, a patrol of Barrier Guards approached. Their uniforms were crisp and intimidating, weapons at the ready. "Citizen," one of the guards addressed Bart, his voice stern. "This area is restricted. State your purpose for being here."

Bart straightened, adopting the posture and tone expected of a model Regalian citizen. "I am Bartholomew Copernicus, son of First Scientist Raymond Copernicus. I'm conducting preliminary observations for a school project on barrier technology."

The guard's demeanor softened slightly at the mention of Bart's father, but suspicion lingered in his eyes. "Very well. But be advised, any attempt to approach or interact with the barrier is strictly prohibited. Observe from a safe distance only."

Bart nodded obediently. "Of course. I understand the protocols."

As the guards moved on, Bart returned his attention to the barrier. The forbidden texts he had read flashed through his mind, filling him with equal parts curiosity and apprehension. He raised his hand, palm outward, feeling the familiar tingling sensation as the energy field responded to his presence.

Suddenly, something unprecedented occurred - a faint pulse of energy rippled through the barrier, different from its usual patterns. Through the translucent wall, Bart caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure on the other side - one whose form defied everything he knew about human physiology.

Before he could process what he was seeing, footsteps echoed behind him. Bart whirled around to find Marcus, his classroom rival, staring at him with a mixture of triumph and malice. In his hand, he held a recording device.

"The son of the First Scientist, consorting with outsiders," Marcus sneered. "I wonder what the Council would make of this?"