The sound of the rain was drowned out by the blaring of dub-step pumping
through the dual 50cm JVC sub-woofers in the BMW of a young businessman in a gray
suit as he drove along the highway sometime after midnight. The car was new, and the
sound system was even newer. Jia-ko’s favorite trance mix was playing on the radio, so
he had the volume cranked way up in order to really enjoy his new toy. Plus, it was late and he was tired. With the bad visibility, he needed something to help keep him awake.
As he drove into his neighborhood, Jia-ko turned down the volume. No sense
waking all the neighbors and being scolded for it tomorrow. As he pulled into the garage, he noticed the light up on the third floor was still on. It was after 1:00a.m. and that kid was still at it!
Tired though he was, Jia-ko decided to go say goodnight to his friend before heading to bed. Even though only about a half year had passed since he had dropped out of school and started working full-time, it seemed like forever ago that he had pulled allnighters to study for tests. He pitied Pung and all those poor fools who still had to do it.
―Pung?‖ Jia-ko knocked on the room of Pung’s door on the third floor. When
Pung didn’t answer, he cracked open the door and peeked his head in. The light was on
revealing scattered notes, stacks of books, and electric equipment strewn chaotically
about. However, Pung wasn’t in there. Then Jia-ko noticed light coming down the stairwell from the fourth floor.
―Pung, man, don’t you have term papers due and finals to study for?‖ Jia-ko asked
as he walked into Pung’s lab. Pung was hunched over, busily fiddling with some kind of
giant mesh of nylon and wires.It looked like some sort of futuristic, oversized solar
sail for a spaceship.
He stopped what he was doing briefly and looked up at Jia-ko. ―It’s done. I did it.‖
Lightning flashed outside, just as Pung spoke. His eyes were red from too many late
nights, and he looked pale from being indoors all the time. He had a half-crazed
expression that almost made Jia-ko think he really was a mad scientist.
―Did what?‖ Jia-ko asked.
―Figured out a way to absorb the ambient energy in thunderheads by de-ionizing
the air inside them,‖ Pung explained, growing more elated as he spoke.
―Say what?‖ Jia-ko asked.
Pung sighed ―Catch lightning.‖
―Cool! Tell me about it tomorrow. I’m going to bed,‖ Jia-ko replied
―Wait. Don’t you get it? This could solve the world’s energy crisis.‖
Jia-ko yawned. ―That’s great news. Really. I’d love to hear all about it. Tomorrow.‖
As he turned to leave, his roommate pleaded, ―Jia-ko, I need your help.‖
―My help? What do you need my help for?‖ he replied.
―I need a place to test it.‖
―You want to test it out right now?‖ Jia-ko said, growing surprised. ―It’s late at night. Can’t this wait for another time? Like tomorrow maybe?‖
―Haven’t you seen the weather forecast? This is the last storm predicted for weeks.
And in case you haven’t noticed. This has been a really dry winter. We’re having a
drought.Tonight could be my only chance to test this for a while,‖ Pung said,
managing to look both hopeful and pathetic at the same time.
―Well, there will be other thunderstorms sooner or later. You can test it then,‖
replied the tired young businessman. ―Goodnight.‖
―If this works, we could become the richest people on the planet.‖
The budding young businesman froze mid-step as he was walking out the door. He turned around. ―How?‖
―Haven’t you been paying attention? The world is running out of oil. Wind and
solar power can’t hope to replace it. Whoever discovers the next cheap energy source will become the biggest and most important inventor of our time.‖ Jia-ko considered for a moment. ―You said you were investing in me, right?‖ asked Pung. ―Well, it’s time to cash in on your investment. I did it!‖ he said, his voice growing quiet and somehow more intense at the same time. His eyes were as big as saucers.
But Jia-ko was still confused. ―So what do you need me for?‖
―We have to get somewhere really high to test my nets out. I know you only work in a car dealership, but I also know you have a lot of business connections. Is there any
way you might be able work it out so that we could get into a very tall building?‖
Jia-ko thought about it for a minute. ―Well, would the world’s second tallest building be tall enough for you?‖
―You can get us into Taipei 101?!‖ Pung exclaimed.
―Sure. My boss has a set of offices up there that I just happen to have access to,‖
Jia-ko boasted. ―What exactly are we going to be doing up there? We won’t get struck by
lightning, will we?‖
―No. We’re going to stop the lightning from striking, so to speak,‖ Pung said with
a funny looking grin.
―What? But I thought you said…‖
―It’s complicated. I'll explain on the way if you really want to hear about it. In the
meantime, are we going to do this thing or what?‖ Pung said.
―Alright. Alright. I’ll make a couple calls and we’ll be