Almost two hours later, Ping walked into laboratory as a flash of light erupted from the end of the Chronicle of Cosms. The brilliance receded, and Mara stood over the device, looking into it. Straightening, she turned to him and smiled.
“How is your little project going? Do you have any questions?” he asked as he approached.
“No, no questions. I think I just finished,” she said.
“What do you mean, you’re finished?”
She reached to the turntable that held the samples below the Chronicle and picked up the one at which it was aimed. Lifting it to eye level, she examined it. The tiny sphere was filled with a roiling magenta-colored steam. She presented it to Ping. “I mean, I’ve created steam that will allow any two materials to be magnetically attracted to each other, just like you request
