Prologue

Eighteen eighty was truly a great year, a progressive year, a year for technological leaps that would see humankind freed from many of the shackles that kept it from reaching its potential.

Eighteen eighty was the year of the World's Great Exhibition. Five of the most developed countries in the world were hosting Great Exhibitions, demonstrating the technology that would change the world.

London, Paris, Berlin, New York and Vienna were the host cities and visitors had flocked to them to see the marvels on show.

There was particular excitement about the Tesla experiment. Nikolai Tesla, one of the world's greatest minds had claimed to have invented a power source that would revolutionise every aspect of life using his Tesla Coils and what he called Aether.

If his claims could be believed, trains, lighting, engines, trains, even the new-fangled horseless carriages would all be powered from this limitless and ultimately free power source.

So it was that at 12:00pm, 21 st May 1880, there was a crowd of thousands gathered at Crystal Palace to view the Tesla Coil in action. Crowds were also gathered in the other cities. Excited whispers ran through the hall as Nikolai Tesla stepped up onto the stage in London, doffing his cap to those present and bowing deeply to Queen Victoria.

'Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for attending the demonstration of the Tesla Coil Aether Generator. Truly you will be dazzled to see this light bulb', he pointed to a bulb suspended by string; 'grow bright as the aether energy is transmitted to it.

You should also know that at the same time as this generator is turned on, generators at the other exhibitions will also be turned on, linking through the very air!'

He paused for the polite applause, checked his pocket watch, and then turned to the Royal party, 'Your Majesty, if you would be so kind as to throw the switch when I ask?'

The Queen slowly moved over to the switch, at his behest she grasped it and, when he nodded, pulled sharply down. She stepped back as the Coil burst into life, sparks leaping between the two brass balls topping the contraption.

A man stepped forward, causing angry cries as he pushed his way through the crowd. The cries of anger turned to cries of fear as he produced a wrap of dynamite and threw it at the Queen.

'Down with imperialism, freedom for the oppressed!'

Had he been aiming for the generator his aim would have been perfect. As it was, a young Subaltern jostled his arm enough to throw it off from Queen Victoria. The wrap hit the stage at the foot of the generator, lay fizzing for a couple of doom-laden seconds and then detonated.

The explosion was not impressive at all. In order to be truly effective dynamite needs to be enclosed, six sticks however still make for a very loud bang and, when lying against an experimental piece of equipment, can still do a lot of damage.

The sparks grew in intensity, burning the eyes of those that looked too closely. There was a flash, a silent rush of wind that blew all present from their feet and then a sound of ripping cloth.

The crowd slowly regained their feet, those that had been injured or blinded screaming for help. The rest however were silent. They were speechless as they looked at the hole in the air and the city it showed.

What followed, very nearly resulted in the end of the world.