At 11:00 p.m. sharp, Xi Jinping appeared on the main screen, virtually flanked by the leaders of nine countries. But there was something different in his posture, in his eyes. He was no longer just the president of China making a national offer. He was a man who understood that he was about to announce something that would change the course of human civilization.
"Dr. Kai Thorne," he began, looking directly into the camera as if he could see me through the screen, "and citizens of the world. Over the past 24 hours, we have witnessed nations compete for your academy. But during those hours, something extraordinary has happened."
He paused, allowing the tension to build.
"We realized we were competing for the wrong thing."
I frowned. This wasn't what I expected.
"We are not competing for medical academia. We are competing for the future of humanity itself. For the next step in the evolution of our species."
Xi gestured, and data appeared on the screen:
"Over the past few hours, our top scientists have been analyzing your demonstrations. Dr. Thorne, what you are offering is not advanced medicine. It is fundamental transcendence of human biological limitations."
I felt a tingle down my spine. They had understood more than I thought.
"The ability to cure cancer in minutes is not an incremental medical advance. It is a rewriting of the rules of biology. Levitation is not a physics trick. It is the control of gravity. Multiplication of objects is not an illusion. It is the manipulation of matter at a fundamental level."
Putin took the floor:
"Dr. Thorne is offering humanity access to capabilities that for millennia we have called divine. This is not about medicine. This is about the directed evolution of human consciousness."
Modi continued:
"Indian spiritual traditions have for millennia spoken of siddhis - powers that emerge when consciousness transcends material limitations. Dr. Thorne has discovered how to teach this systematically."
Lula added:
"Brazil offers a unique perspective: indigenous peoples who have maintained a connection with capabilities that Western science has lost. Shamans who heal with the power of the mind, who communicate across impossible distances."
Ramaphosa concluded:
"Africa, the cradle of humanity, offers ancient wisdom about human potential. Knowledge that can be integrated with Dr. Thorne's discovery."
Xi resumed:
"That's why BRICS+Asia doesn't simply offer resources to medical academia. We offer partnership for the next phase of human evolution."
The screen changed to show a document that made my jaw drop:
PROPOSAL FOR HUMAN TRANSCENDENCE - BRICS+ASIA COALITION
EVOLUTIONARY FINANCING:
$100 billion down payment
$50 billion annually for 100 years
Total Committed: $5.1 trillion over 100 years
GLOBAL TERRITORY:
1,000 km² of autonomous territory in each member country
Total: 9,000 km² dedicated globally
Status: New transcendental nation with shared sovereignty
EVOLUTION INFRASTRUCTURE:
50 campuses specialized in different aspects of transcendence
Consciousness laboratories on every continent
Global instantaneous quantum communication network
Research centers for paranormal abilities
HUMAN RESOURCES:
Access to education for 4.5 billion people
Collaboration with shamans, mystics, spiritual masters
Integration of ancestral wisdom traditions
Pipeline of 100 million potential candidates annually
REVOLUTIONARY COMMITMENTS:
Waiver of ALL patents for the benefit of humanity
Full opening of borders for human transcendence
Creation of a new economy based on advanced capabilities
Establishing an ethical code for directed evolution
TRANSCENDENTAL GUARANTEES:
Dr. Thorne: Status as Humanity's First Evolutionary
Protection equivalent to world treasure
Unlimited resources for human potential research
Authority to determine direction of human evolution
SINGLE ADDITIONAL:
Academia becomes shadow world government for evolution
Veto on technologies that threaten human transcendence
Access to ancestral knowledge stored for millennia
Authority to establish next phase of civilization
But what left me speechless was the final section:
GLOBAL UNIFICATION OFFER:
"We recognize that human evolution cannot be divided by geopolitics. Therefore, we extend a formal invitation to the Atlantic Alliance to join this initiative.
Instead of bloc competition, we propose PLANETARY UNIFICATION for human transcendence. All combined resources - $7 trillion over 100 years - dedicated exclusively to elevating humanity beyond its current limitations.
Dr. Thorne would not choose between offers. Dr. Thorne would lead a unified project for the entire human species."
Tucker was completely silent. The panel of experts was stunned. For the first time in 24 hours, no one knew what to say.
Finally, Tucker managed to speak:
"This... this is no longer an academic offering. It is a proposal for the directed evolution of the human species with a budget of seven trillion dollars."
I sat back on the couch, finally understanding the true magnitude of what I had set in motion. This was no auction for school locations. This was humanity making a conscious choice about its own evolutionary future.
"System," I muttered silently, "they get it, don't they?"
Not completely, but more than I had anticipated. They had realized that "scientific magic" was the gateway to fundamental transformation of the human species.
At 11:15 pm, I received a call that would change everything:
"Dr. Thorne, this is President Biden. I have just finished an emergency consultation with leaders of the Atlantic Alliance."
"President."
"Dr. Thorne, the Chinese proposal is... extraordinary. And frankly, it transcends national politics. If what they say is correct - if you can teach humanity to transcend biological limitations - that changes everything."
"Like this?"
"Dr. Thorne, the Atlantic Alliance accepts the proposal for unification. Not as surrender, but as recognition that some objectives are greater than geopolitical rivalry."
I felt the world stop around me.
"President, does that mean...?"
"It means that for the first time in history, all of humanity is unified in a single goal. Directed evolution of our species under your leadership."
At 11:30 p.m., all world leaders appeared in a unified video conference. No longer two competing blocs, but representatives of all humanity.
Biden spoke first:
"Citizens of the world, the Atlantic Alliance accepts the proposal for BRICS+Asia unification. Some objectives transcend national interests."
Xi continued:
"For the first time since the beginning of civilization, all of humanity is working toward a single goal: transcendence of our present limitations."
Putin added:
"Dr. Thorne will not be the leader of a single country's academy. He will be the leader of the transformation of the entire species."
Modi followed:
"Ancient wisdom meets modern science to unlock potential that has lain dormant in humanity for millennia."
The Japanese Prime Minister contributed:
"Japan offers precision and discipline for the systematic development of transcendent capabilities."
The German Chancellor:
"Europe offers scientific rigor to understand the mechanisms behind transcendence."
The French President:
"France offers cultural sophistication for the integration of evolution with the artistic soul of humanity."
The British Prime Minister:
"The UK provides a regulatory framework for the ethical development of human potential."
Stay:
"Brazil offers wisdom from indigenous peoples who have maintained a connection with the energy of the Earth."
Ramaphosa:
"Africa offers a perspective from the cradle - where humanity began and where it can transcend."
The Canadian Chancellor:
"Canada provides neutral territory for international cooperation without political interference."
The Australian Prime Minister:
"Australia provides much-needed isolation for experiments that transcend current understanding."
One by one, thirty-nine countries fully committed to the unified project.
FINAL GLOBAL AGREEMENT - 11:45 PM EST
PLANETARY FINANCING:
$150 billion down payment (combined global)
$75 billion annually for 100 years
Total: $7.65 trillion - largest project in human history
TRANSCENDENTAL TERRITORY:
2,000 km² autonomous zones on each continent
Total: 15,000 km² dedicated globally
Status: First truly international sovereign territory
RESOURCES OF ALL KINDS:
Access to 8 billion humans for studies and development
Integration of ALL traditions of human knowledge
Cooperation between science, spirituality, and ancestral wisdom
Human-wide pipeline for evolutionary advancement
PLANETARY INFRASTRUCTURE:
200 specialized camps worldwide
Quantum communication network connecting all continents
Research facilities in every major population center
Mobile units to reach remote populations
HISTORICAL COMMITMENTS:
Abolition of ALL patents related to human potential
Redirecting 10% of global military budgets to the project
Creation of a new international currency for the economy of transcendence
Establishing an ethical framework for directed evolution
REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNANCE:
Dr. Thorne: First Evolutionary Director of the Human Species
International Council of Philosophers, Scientists, Spiritual Leaders
Veto power over technologies that threaten human transcendence
Authority to establish next phase of human civilization
Tucker was clearly overwhelmed:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just witnessed the most significant moment in human history. All the great nations of the Earth have united behind a single goal: the directed evolution of our species."
The panel of experts was speechless. The economist finally spoke:
"The economic implications are staggering. Seven point six trillion dollars represents roughly 8 percent of global GDP devoted to a single project. Comparable to the mobilization of World War II, but directed toward creation rather than destruction."
The political scientist added:
"Geopolitically, this represents the end of the Westphalian nation-state system. For the first time, a global governance structure with a mandate that transcends national sovereignty."
The anthropologist contributed:
"From the perspective of the species, this is the most significant development since the agricultural revolution. Conscious direction of human evolution rather than random natural selection."
At 11:50 p.m., with ten minutes until the deadline, I received a final call:
"Dr. Thorne," the voices of all thirty-nine leaders speaking in unison over conference call, "humanity awaits your decision. Will you lead our species into the next phase of evolution?"
I looked around the office where it had all started a week ago. Katharina and Markus were watching me with a mixture of awe and terror. Multiple screens showing the faces of billions of people worldwide were watching for my answer.
Within a week, he had gone from being an unknown professor trying to cure cancer to being offered leadership in the conscious evolution of the entire human species.
With $7.65 trillion in backing.
With territory spanning the entire globe.
With the authority to reshape humanity itself.
And suddenly, I understood the power I had unleashed.
"Magic" wasn't just about curing diseases or levitating objects.
It was about demonstrating to humanity that current limitations were not fixed.
That consciousness could transcend biology.
That the species could evolve deliberately rather than randomly.
That humans could become something greater than they currently were.
And humanity, faced with this possibility, had unified in an unprecedented way to make it a reality.
The system had not just given me individual power.
I had been given a catalyst for the transformation of the entire species.
"Citizens of Earth," he said into the laptop camera that was live with Fox, "I accept the responsibility of leading humanity into the next phase of our evolution."
The world exploded. Every major city, every time zone, billions of people celebrating that their species had chosen to evolve consciously.
It was midnight, June 20, 2025.
It was the beginning of true human history.
Everything up until now had been just prologue.
The real story was about to begin.
And I was about to lead her.
Chapter 23: Towards the Future
The morning of June 21 dawned with a different feeling in the air. It wasn't just the end of an epic night of global negotiations—it was the first day of a new era for humanity. And that new era would officially begin on Chinese soil.
I sat on the bed in my Cambridge apartment, looking out the window at the MIT campus that had been my world for so many years. In 72 hours, I would be on the other side of the planet, overseeing the construction of what would be the most ambitious human evolution center in history.
My phone had been ringing incessantly since 6 a.m. Katharina, Markus, dozens of government officials, journalists, and even some world leaders wanting to confirm details of the trip.
"Kai," Katharina called at 7:30, "the Chinese private jet is scheduled to take off from Logan at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Li Wei confirmed that Premier Xi will be personally at Beijing airport to welcome him."
"Premier Xi personally?" That was extreme diplomatic protocol.
"Kai, you don't understand. For China, your arrival is no ordinary diplomatic visit. It is the moment when they officially become the center of the next phase of human evolution. It is unprecedented geopolitical prestige."
It was true. The choice of China as the main venue had not been arbitrary. During the final hours of negotiations, as he analyzed the combined offers, several factors had become clear.
First: execution. China had demonstrated time and again that it could build massive infrastructure on impossible timelines. Entire cities in years, transcontinental transportation networks, projects that other countries took decades to plan.
Second: political stability. Whatever one's views on the Chinese system, it was indisputably stable. A 100-year project required a government that could maintain long-term commitments without dramatic policy changes at every election.
Third: human resources. 1.4 billion people, including the largest population of highly educated young people in the world. The pipeline of candidates for training would be unlimited.
Fourth: Cultural perspective. The Chinese tradition of reverence for education, discipline, and personal development aligned perfectly with the goals of academia. Concepts such as personal cultivation and transcendence were intrinsic to the culture.
Fifth: geographical position. Center of Asia, accessible to half of the world's population, transport connections to all continents.
But more important than all these practical factors was something more subtle: China understood that it was being offered the chance to lead the next phase of human civilization. And it was willing to invest everything it had in doing so.
At 9 am, I received a direct call from Xi Jinping.
"Dr. Thorne, it is a great honor to speak in person. China is prepared to turn promises into reality."
"Premier Xi, I appreciate your extraordinary commitment. I have some specific questions about the implementation."
"Please."
"First, on administrative autonomy. I need absolute assurance that the academy will operate independently of Chinese domestic politics."
"Dr. Thorne, the academy will have a status equivalent to Hong Kong or Macau. A special administrative zone with its own laws, its own government, its own economy. China provides infrastructure and protection, but does not interfere in operations."
"Second, on international access. Students from countries that have tensions with China?"
"The borders of the academic zone will be open to citizens of any country. American students, Indian students, Japanese students - all are welcome. The academy is international neutral territory."
"Third, on resources. Initial $100 billion - how will it be made available?"
"50 billion transferred to the academy's international account within 48 hours of arrival. Another 50 billion released as construction progresses. No strings attached, no Chinese oversight on spending."
It was a level of commitment that transcended normal diplomacy.
"Premier Xi, why is China doing this? What is the real motivation?"
Long pause. Then, with unexpected sincerity:
"Dr. Thorne, China has 5,000 years of history. We have seen empires rise and fall. But we have never seen an opportunity like this - a chance to lead humanity to the next level of existence. It is worth any investment."
"What if the project fails? What if I fail to deliver the promised human transcendence?"
"Dr. Thorne, you have cured terminal cancer in minutes. You have demonstrated capabilities that defy known physics. Even if we achieve only a fraction of the potential, we have changed the world forever."
At 11am, I started final preparations for the trip. I wasn't taking much - some clothes, laptop, essential documents. Everything else would be provided in China or purchased there.
Katharina and Markus arrived to accompany me to the airport.
"Kai," Katharina said as we drove, "do you realize that this is the last time you will be a private person? When you step off that plane in Beijing, you will be a permanent global public figure."
It was true. The privacy he had maintained for 28 years of his life was officially over. From now on, every move would be monitored, every decision analyzed, every word documented.
"It's worth it," I replied. "What we're building is worth any personal sacrifice."
"What about loneliness? Being the only person in the world with these responsibilities?"
I had thought about it. It was fundamental isolation—being the only person capable of understanding the true scope of what was happening. Humanity thought it was investing in medical advancement. I knew it was preparing the species for cosmic challenges that could materialize without warning.
"Loneliness is the price of leadership," he said. "Someone has to carry the burden of knowing the bigger picture."
We arrived at Logan International at 1pm. The airport had been partially closed for our departure - security measures that were normally reserved for heads of state.
The jet waiting was... impressive. It was no ordinary aircraft, but a flying palace. A customized Boeing 787 with accommodations that rivaled a five-star hotel.
Dr. Li Wei was waiting in the courtyard, along with a delegation of Chinese and American officials.
"Dr. Thorne!" he approached with a genuine smile. "Ready to make history?"
"Ready as I can be."
"Flight time to Beijing will be 14 hours. We have a full communications suite on the aircraft - you can work during the flight if needed."
"Dr. Li, one question. Has the exact location for the gym been finalized?"
"Oh, you'll be impressed. 200 kilometers outside Beijing, in an area that combines natural beauty with strategic access. Mountains for privacy, rivers for water supply, high-speed rail connection to the capital."
I boarded the aircraft at 1:45 p.m. The interior was surreal—office space, conference room, bedroom, even a small gym. It was clear the Chinese had thought of every detail.
At exactly 14:00, the aircraft began taxiing to the runway.
"System," I muttered when alone, "final check. Are we making the right decision?"
ANALYSIS CONFIRMED:
CHINA LOCATION: GREAT FOR LONG-TERM GOALS
FINANCIAL RESOURCES: SUITABLE FOR PHASES 1-3
POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT: STABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT
OVERALL ASSESSMENT: SOLID STRATEGIC DECISION
As the plane took off, I looked down at the America I was leaving behind. The country that had been my home all my life, that had given me the education and opportunities that had led to this moment.
But also a country that ultimately could not provide the scale of resources and commitment that academia needed.
During the first hour of the flight, I reviewed detailed plans the Chinese had prepared: architectural drawings, construction schedules, personnel projections, technological specifications.
It was impressive in scope. The main campus spanned 50 square kilometers. Residential areas for 100,000 students and staff. Research facilities that rivaled anything in the world. Medical centers equipped with the most advanced technology available.
But even more impressive were the subtler details. Gardens designed according to feng shui principles to optimize energy flow. Architecture that blended traditional Chinese aesthetics with modern functionality. Accommodations that accommodated every possible cultural and religious preference.
The Chinese had not just planned a medical school. They had designed a self-contained city dedicated to human transcendence.
Five hours into the flight, I received a satellite call from Markus:
"Kai, the global reaction to your departure is incredible. All major broadcasters are covering it live. #KaiForChina is trending worldwide."
"What kind of reactions?"
"Mixed, as expected. Americans torn between pride that you're American and concern that you're leaving America. Chinese celebrating as if they'd won the lottery. Europeans emphasizing that you're still accessible to everyone."
"Any negative responses?"
"Some conspiracy theories about Chinese control, usual political talking points. But the general feeling is excitement about what you're going to accomplish."
Eight hours into the flight, I tried to sleep but my mind was racing. Tomorrow would be my first day on Chinese soil, my first meetings with teams that would help build the academy, my first steps towards transforming humanity.
I also thought about the cosmic context that others didn't know about. The academy wasn't just about curing diseases or teaching humans to levitate. It was about preparing the species for eventual contact with powers that could end civilization in seconds.
The resources China was providing would allow not only medical training, but development of capabilities that could allow humanity to survive cosmic-level threats.
During the final hours of the flight, I watched the sun rise over the Pacific. A new day dawning, literally and figuratively.
At 14:00 local time (June 23 due to time zone change), the aircraft began its descent to Beijing Capital International Airport.
"Dr. Thorne," the flight attendant announced, "Premier Xi Jinping is waiting with full state reception. Please prepare for arrival."
I looked out the window as China grew below. A land that would be home for the next phase of my life. A country that had committed everything to a vision of human transcendence.
In the courtyard below, he could see a massive crowd. Government officials, media, thousands of citizens who had come to witness the arrival of the person who would lead their country to host human evolution.
As the plane touched the ground, I felt a mixture of excitement and responsibility settle over me.
That was it.
Start of real work.
Beginning of the transformation that would define the future of the human species.
The Academy for Human Transcendence was about to become a reality.
And it all started now, on Chinese soil, with Chinese resources, supported by the Chinese commitment to change the world.
When the aircraft came to a complete stop, Dr. Li Wei appeared:
"Dr. Thorne, welcome to China. Welcome to your new home. Ready to build the future?"
I looked out the window at the sea of faces watching our arrival.
"There," he said.
It was time to get to work.
It was time to change everything.
It was time to lead humanity into the next phase of existence.
And it started now.