Chapter Text
One year later…
“Ladies and gentlemen, Keith Kogane!”
The audience, a mix of physicists and reporters alike, all clapped and cheered in approval as Keith approached the podium with a large grin. He waited a moment for them to calm down before speaking.
“It is an honor to be here,” he began. “I honestly never thought that I would find myself in front of most of my idols talking about my work. This all feels so surreal, but I’m so glad to stand before you today and have the ability to share with you the knowledge I have accumulated throughout my research. I was asked to talk here today about my journey, how I came to be the scientist I am today, and what influenced me the most.
“It all started when I thought it was ending. An accident about a year ago almost took my life, and did take my memories. It took time, patience, courage and family to recover as much as I could.” Keith paused for a moment, looking out across the sea of people before continuing. “Some things never came back, and maybe they won’t ever resurface, but I am perfectly content with what I was able to keep.
“I was extremely lucky to hold onto my schooling and knowledge, which is why I’m still able to stand before you today and speak to this amazing crowd.” The people clapped and cheered again. “Going through the trauma, I learned so much. I had to sacrifice so much, but I took a chance on VLD and look where it got me.
“I will never not be amazed by the way we’re able to live. Allow me to elaborate.” He switched on the mic strapped to his cheek and began to pace across the stage. “We, as the human race, have come far. We’ve developed a myriad of languages, we’ve learned strategies and tactics to fight each other over things that we all created, and we’ve learned how to survive .
“There’s so much we have learned, but there’s so much more out there, and we all have the potential to reach out and grasp it just as we have in the past. There are oceans of knowledge that we haven’t even touched yet.” Keith held his hands out, palms up. “Here’s what we know now, it sits here in my palm and it doesn’t move.” He waved the other hand in a dramatic manner, pulling a few laughs from the crowd. “This is what we have the capability to discover.
“So you tell me, are you someone who sits with a stationary and flat mind?” He stopped and looked out, a passionate look on his face. “Or do you join the search for proficiency, the movement to develop as we have in the past, and further our ability to live? Tell me, what are you going to do today? Are you going to run away,” he said, his voice echoing. “Or are you going to live ?”
The audience clapped so loudly, he felt his ears pop. “That’s what I like to hear. Let me tell you a secret;” he lowered his voice, “I was close to defeat after my accident, so ready to give up and run. But after I ran, I realized something. Why was I running? Did anyone ever get anything done by running? You know where running gets you? Nowhere.
“But strolling through life allows you to live freely; allows you to find things you love and hold them and keep them.” Keith paused, getting slightly emotional before pushing forward. “I lost someone very important to me, and I made a mistake. But what made me different, is I eventually got him back.” Keith’s eyes met Lance’s from the back of the dinner hall. His fiance was smiling so proudly. “We learned each other again.
“I took a chance to start over and fall in love all over again. That’s what I want you to do today, tomorrow and forever. Keep moving forward, take chances, don’t hide, be proud to be what you’ve allowed yourself to become. Go out and change the world because if you don’t-” Keith looked back to the audience and smiled, “- who will?”