"Professor, do you think we can recover nuclear technology from the capsules?"

Dr. Berman was still at the question. He studied Elliot's eyes, his expression, the genuineness in his voice. He had long known this young man, a lot longer than he cared to admit. For a split second, he remembered how the boy had joined his department nearly four years earlier. He remembered that day well. He had watched the boy grow and mature, and had become accustomed to that face, that expression, like a stupid, inquisitive cat, Dr. Berman thought. That inflection in his voice. That passive curiosity. He was familiar with it. He knew where Elliot was going with his question. And Dr. Berman dreaded it.

The older scientist repositioned the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"Elliot, you know that nuclear science is banned."

"But..."

"We cannot risk another nuclear war," the Professor interrupted.

"I'm not suggesting we make a bomb or anything, Sir. Nuclear science can be used for a lot of things. We could learn something from the capsules."

"Hmph!" Dr. Berman scoffed. "I think you better focus on the humans' emergence for now. We won't learn anything, let alone nuclear physics, if they cannot survive re-entry back into this world."

"Yes, Sir," Elliot hesitated before adding, "...but there are more capsules."

Dr. Berman's eyes narrowed. "It's too dangerous to transport more capsules. You know that!"

"I know, I know," Elliot tried to appease, "but isn't that what we've been trying to do? Find lost technology to use against our enemies?"

The Professor stared, open-mouthed.

"Is that what you think we've been doing? Because that's not what I've been trying to do!"

"W-well, what are we doing then? Why is all of this so important? What is the purpose?"

There was an eerie emptiness at the question. A moment of feeling lost, falling in a void, and not knowing what one was doing, or why.

"Am I the only one who cares that there are people in these capsules?"

Elliot was stunned.

"They're human beings, Elliot! They're stuck in suspended animation! They're not dead! We're doing this to help them, not because we can gain something from them! Is that what you think of me? Is that what I've taught you?"

"I'm sorry, Sir! I didn't mean anything by..."

"Bah! This is what happens when all we do is work on dead people!"

"I-I'm sorry, Sir!"

Dr. Berman turned and took several steps away. He placed his hand over his gut and straightened out his back. He looked to the ceiling and mouthed some unheard words.

"Science has a way of losing its humanity," the Professor muttered.

He took a deep breath and sighed. He ran his hand over his head. At the same time, he stared blankly through the walls.

A long stretch of silence followed.

Who is going to finish the work? he thought.

He turned back to face his student.

Elliot bit his lip and shuffled his feet.

"Elliot, do you believe in peace with the animals?"

Elliot swallowed. His whole life flashed before him, all of his years at Anderson culminating up to this point, as if he had just woken for a final exam, late and unprepared. His whole future seemed to flash before him as well.

"Uh, yeah, Professor. Of course I believe in peace."

Dr. Berman studied his apprentice carefully.

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do."

"No, you don't."

"Yes, I do! It's just that...

There was no denying it.

"... Creatures of God must choose to help, not fight."

Dr. Berman raised his eyebrows.

"What did you say?"

"Uh, what I meant to say is, uh, with science, uh, we, we can build better lives with the animals."

The old Professor paused.

"What is the purpose of science, Elliot?"

"Purpose?"

He gulped.

"Well, it's to, uh, to explain what happens in the world."

"Yes, it is to study the natural world and understand it; what has happened and what will happen; to explain the past and to predict the future. Now," he paused, "what does that have to do with peace?"

"Uh, w-well, we need to study the world t-to understand it, what's happened in the past, to have peace in the future?"

"That's right. Our species nearly became extinct with the Third World War. If we as a species are to realize our future -- our survival -- we must come to terms with that event."

Elliot nodded. He wondered.

"Dr. Berman, isn't war a natural part of existence?"

"You mean, does war preclude our existence?" Dr. Berman rephrased.

A previous conversation crossed Elliot's mind.

Did the presence of evil preclude peace?

"It is a good question," Dr. Berman answered. "The primal response in any conflict is to fight, to survive. Our species may have survived World War III, but it may not survive the next, unless we learn from our past. Unless we respond beyond primal instincts. Evolve."

The younger scientist recalled another recent memory.

"You know, Professor, not long ago Dr. Tomas was lecturing a junior class about evolution, and he said our advanced technology -- our focus on science -- actually prevents our species from evolving."

"Hmm... " Dr. Berman thought. "Science and technology changes how species adapt and their need to adapt, but all species will still evolve."

"But we haven't. The human race hasn't evolved since the nuclear holocaust."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"It will be a sad day when the human race fails to progress. If that day ever comes, we will most certainly be headed for extinction. I hope that day never comes."

Elliot sighed. "Unfortunately, hope is not a scientific process."

The Professor raised his eyebrows, and his face became long.

Elliot began to shrink. "I-I mean, wishing for something won't necessarily make it so."

Dr. Berman dropped his head and tightened his jaw.

"It is difficult to achieve peace. If we come to accept war and violence as a norm, then we are giving up on our humanity. Hopes and dreams are paths toward better lives. Our survival as a species is linked to our ability to achieve peace."

Elliot was thoughtful.

"So, we cannot achieve peace without hope?"

"That is correct."

"Science, then, is nothing without hope," Elliot said.

"Mm-hm," Dr. Berman quietly agreed.

"It's why the work at Anderson is so important," Elliot continued. "Educating children at a young age to respect science and be socially responsible for its use. To live lives of purpose, worthy of survival."

Dr. Berman's eyes perked. "Yes," he said, raising his head from its sunken position. He stared at his unknowing resident. "Perhaps all is not lost after all," he said to himself.

"It's a shame the human race used nuclear energy for destructive purposes," Elliot said wistfully. "It could have been used for better intentions. Now that part of science is probably gone forever."

Dr. Berman hesitated, but then turned aside. "I said the technology was banned," he muttered, "not lost."

"What?"

Dr. Berman ignored his apprentice.

"Wait a minute, Professor. What did you mean by that?"

Silence.

"We still have our nuclear technology, don't we?" Elliot deduced.

The old doctor still said nothing, his back facing Elliot completely.

"We're already using it, aren't we?" Elliot realized, his face lit up.

The old man didn't move, his body language acknowledging the hidden truth.

"Ha! I knew it!" Elliot said excitedly. "I knew the solar satellites and the wind turbines weren't our only source of energy! It didn't make sense! The amount of energy we already use for operations... Hey, where is it? The generator? Where is the...?"

"Careful, Elliot!" Dr. Berman warned. "We just talked about using science responsibly! Now what will you do with that knowledge? What are you prepared to do?"