Chapter 4 - The Blackout
The auditorium was plunged into absolute, suffocating darkness.
Panic immediately erupted among the academic committee members.
Professor Evans shouted for someone to find the emergency flashlight.
Selena stood frozen at the podium, her hands gripping the wooden edges tightly.
She knew exactly what Hunter had just done.
He had always bragged about his connections in the city's power grid administration.
He had sabotaged the building to stop her from displaying her research data.
Barbara began complaining loudly in the dark, claiming she was feeling faint.
Hunter yelled across the room that this was a sign Selena was cursed.
He demanded that everyone evacuate the building immediately for safety reasons.
He thought he had successfully ruined her final chance at victory.
But Selena had anticipated that Hunter would try something cowardly.
She reached into her laptop bag in the pitch black.
She pulled out a high-powered, portable battery generator she used for field research.
She quickly connected the heavy cables to her laptop and the primary projector.
A bright, blinding light suddenly sliced through the darkness of the room.
The projector screen roared back to life, illuminating Selena's determined face.
She calmly announced that her defense did not require building power.
Arthur stood by the door, physically blocking anyone from trying to leave.
He crossed his arms and smiled proudly at his daughter's brilliant preparation.
Hunter stared at the glowing screen with wide, furious eyes.
He realized his sabotage had only made Selena look even more competent.
Selena clicked her remote, and her complex data models filled the massive screen.
She began speaking with absolute authority, breaking down eight years of grueling work.
Her voice echoed powerfully through the silent, dimly lit room.
The committee members were entirely captivated by her groundbreaking chemical theories.
Even in the hostile environment, her sheer genius was completely undeniable.
She was only three slides away from finishing a flawless presentation.
Suddenly, Barbara screamed and pointed a shaking finger at the screen.
She loudly proclaimed that the chemical formulas on the screen were stolen property.
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She reached into her oversized purse and pulled out an old, dusty journal.
"Those are my late husband's secret notes, and I can prove it right now!" Barbara shouted triumphantly.
