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Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 1

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Leonard woke to a poster of Luke Skywalker on the wall. Gently moving an arm off his chest, he fumbled for his thick, black-framed glasses. Squinting in the dark, he finally found them and perched them on his nose. The body beside him stirred—Priya Koothrappali, a talented lawyer and Raj’s younger sister.

Seeing her there still surprised him. He’d felt something similar when he dated Penny, but with Priya, the feeling was different—sharper, more validating. Last night’s memory brought a goofy smile to his face. Priya had verbally demolished Sheldon with legal precision, and Leonard had never been more aroused. The night that followed had quieted that desire.

Checking the bedside clock, Leonard’s eyes widened.

"Wake up, Priya," he urged, already pulling on his robe. "It's 6:30. Didn’t you say you have a meeting?"

Priya stirred, groaned, and rubbed her eyes. She rose slowly, stretching as she reached for her robe. Leonard, already brushing his teeth, passed her a cup and toothbrush. They brushed in sync, half-asleep lovers, before drifting into the kitchen.

Sheldon, of course, was already awake—probably after his ritual morning bowel movement. Leonard had long since stopped being surprised.

"Morning, Sheldon," Leonard greeted.

Sheldon was waiting, papers in hand. With his usual sanctimonious air, he handed Leonard a thick stack.

"Ah, good. You're up. I've drafted an improved roommate agreement—vastly improved, if I may say so—that benefits me greatly. I'd like you to sign it."

Leonard eyed the document as he poured himself coffee. "Why would I want to do that?"

"Excellent question," Sheldon replied. "Do you recall what happened to the alien—portrayed brilliantly by Frank Gorshin—in the Star Trek episode 'Let That Be Your Last Battlefield'?"

Leonard hesitated. "Uh, Captain Kirk activated the self-destruct sequence and threatened to blow up the Enterprise and kill them both unless he gave in?"

"Exactly." Sheldon turned to his laptop. "Computer, this is Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Activate self-destruct sequence. Code 1-1-A-2-B."

A female voice from the computer: "Self-destruct sequence activated."

Leonard raised an eyebrow. "You’re going to blow up the apartment?"

"That was my first thought," Sheldon admitted, "but all my cool stuff is here."

Priya chuckled. "So what happens when the countdown ends?"

Sheldon turned to her, eyes gleaming. "Unless Leonard signs the agreement in the next forty-one seconds, the computer will send an email to your parents in India saying you're in a secret relationship with Leonard Hofstadter."

Priya’s face was drained of color. "Oh my God."

"What’s the big deal?" Leonard asked, puzzled.

"Trust me. It’s a big deal," Priya snapped.

"They’re going to find out eventually, right?"

"Yes—just not today."

Sheldon’s voice chimed in again: "Twenty seconds."

Leonard looked at Priya. "Are you ashamed of me?"

"Of course not."

"Then why can’t we tell them?"

"Please don’t push this."

Sheldon smirked. "He does that all the time, doesn’t he? Fifteen."

"Fine!" Priya snapped. "Sheldon, you win. Turn it off."

Leonard fell silent. He normally would’ve argued, shouted, or lunged for the laptop. But something happened.

Leonard’s POV

I was hurt—but not surprised. From childhood to adulthood, I’ve always lived in the shadow of someone. A mother who treated me like a study subject. Colleagues who saw me as the sidekick. And now this. Another reminder that I’m never quite enough.

Then it hit. A rush. A shift. My vision sharpened. I could hear Priya’s heartbeat. See Sheldon’s pupil dilation. Everything made sense—instantly. My mind, which was always fast, was now light-speed. Sounds isolated, sharpened, clearer than ever before. Light danced across the walls with color separation my eyes had never noticed. I felt every nerve in my body come alive.

What changed? What the hell changed?

Let’s trace back. Same morning routine. Same bed. Same coffee—

Wait.

That lens. The synthetic bio-lens I was working on yesterday. I remember holding it, a transparent capsule which must have dissolved by now and is now flowing in my body.. It must have fallen into my mug.

So now I’ve accidentally dosed myself with something that turns me into Einstein with Wi-Fi. And if that’s true... this isn’t just a breakthrough. This is a miracle. But miracles come with cost. I need to isolate it. Study it. And to do that, I need to be away from all this noise.

Leonard’s eyes locked onto Sheldon and Priya.

Sheldon, the narcissist savant who depends on me to function, yet treats me like a lab rat. He was an egomaniac, who not only depended on others, but also treated them with disdain, as if his slightly superior intellect made everyone his slave. While I am not a psychologist myself, I have spent a large part of my life with a Sheldon-like psychologist, my mother.

Priya came onto him out of nowhere. We maintained a cordial relationship and the sex was great, but at the very core of her being, Priya used me. Her life as a lawyer was stressful, she lacked any friendly interaction, she even spent all of her free time either with Leonard or with Raj. Maybe not as damaged as Raj, Priya had her own demons. Priya climbed into my bed not because she loves me—but because she needed an outlet.

Leonard’s POV Ends

"Give him what he wants, or we’re done," Priya warned.

"Three," Sheldon chimed.

Leonard took a breath. "Very well."

Sheldon smiled, finger hovering over the laptop.

"We’re done," Leonard added.

The smile vanished. Priya gasped.

Leonard turned away. "Pack your things by the time I’m back. Just the essentials. I need to be alone right now."

Back in his room, Leonard shut the door and leaned against it.

Everything looks the same. But everything’s different now. I see the clutter—the figurines, the posters. Childhood comfort. But I don’t need comfort anymore. I need clarity.

A pair of black trousers, a white shirt, a navy blue summer jacket were carefully selected from a plethora of dorky t-shirts, hoodies and jeans. Removing his glasses, he took a towel and headed towards the bathroom. Quickly stripping off his robe and underclothes, he removed his glasses.

The blur was still there—but my brain filled in the gaps. Who needs lenses when you’ve got a CPU in your skull?

Even the rhythm of the shower water was poetic. It formed staccato beats against my skin—like Morse code from the universe. Urging me forward.

Smiling, he took a shower. Ten minutes later, he stepped out sharp, clean, reborn.

Leonard comes back to the hall, noticing the figure of Priya sitting at the kitchen counter, nursing the glass of orange juice. Sheldon typed furiously, ignoring everything. The new roommate agreement remained unsigned at his table.. 

"Leonard," Priya began, "what was that? You can’t just break up like that. Was it something I did?"

"You ended it, remember? I’m just confirming it. Best of luck finding someone worthy of your parents."

He reached for his keys.

"Where are you going?" Sheldon asked." You still have to drive me to the university. As you can see, I am not ready yet."

Leonard turned, calm and smiling.

"We signed a roommate agreement, Sheldon—not an indentured servitude contract. This agreement should be applicable for the personal space allocation of this apartment. Which means, it is enforceable in this apartment. While it does say that I have to drive you to work, that line could have been added after the agreement was signed. So unless you can prove it in court, I don’t have to chauffeur you anywhere. The clause about driving you to work? That’s not enforceable unless you take me to court."

He paused. "Better idea—ask Amy. Or put on your bus pants."

And with that, Leonard walked out. The last thing Sheldon heard was Leonard whistling the Imperial March from Star Wars.  

Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 2

“ Leonard Speaking”
‘ NZT Leonard Thinking’

‘ My name is Leonard Hofstadter. I am an experimental physicist, who has lived all his life under people smarter, and stronger than me. Along with my many physical imperfections, I am a walking social disaster. However, today, something is different. I accidentally ingested a pill that has enhanced my brain to a level I could never access on my own. While I am loving the effects, I am not sure about the side effects I could face. I have to study this pill more closely. But first, I have to get breakfast.’

Leonard was quickly moving down the stairs in his white shirt and trousers. As he hurried down, he kept folding the sleeves until the fold reached his elbows. Quickly walking to his car, he smoothly unlocked it and got in. As he thought about the route he remembered.

Sheldon had eidetic memory his entire life, but he still forgot things sometimes. However, under the influence of the pill, I could perfectly recall everything I ever saw. Maybe this is what Sheldon feels like, but I doubt it. If I remember my daily route and the map I saw when I first came to Pasadena, I think I found a shorter route. And the best part, it even has a great bakery that opens early in the day.

Leonard confidently walks in the bakery, looking around in fascination. A middle aged man came to him and asked,” How can I help you sir?”

Leonard quickly gave his order and collected a small cupcake, a couple of chocolate croissants and a small cup of juice offered by the kind shop owner. Paying the owner, he took the neatly packed breakfast and drove to the university.

Parking his car quickly, Leonard headed towards his lab. On the way, he greeted various colleagues, nodding to Kripkie, smiling at the sleepy Leslie Winkle. Entering his lab, he quickly locked the door before looking at the equipment he used yesterday. His brain quickly played the past events. He remembered how he constructed the lens using several proteins and chemicals.

Okay, so lets take it step-by-step. I constructed the lens. I tested the lens with my lasers. It was tested for exactly 20 seconds. Maybe the high energy lazer adjusted the molecules to provide the nootropic benefits. In other words, a happy accidental invention. Now lets try to streamline the process, remove the dependence on the laser and synthesise the final product with pure chemistry.

Leonard moved with purpose. Fumbling with a drawer at his table, he took out a worn camera. It accompanied him on his first experiments when he made his research logs. Now, it will serve its purpose again. Placing the camera at a stand, Leonard came back into focus before starting.

“ This is the first experiment for the Clear Pill. I have taken my previous batch and the materials used for the previous batch. I would create another small batch before improving the formula in the next one.”

Leonard quickly started with the first batch. All the processes were repeated to a T. By the time people started to come to the university, Leonard had grown his first batch of 20 pills to 100 pills. Realising the need for strong knowledge stores in Chemistry, Leonard quickly stored the pills in a sealed bottle and left his lab towards the library. A small smile erupted on his face as the effects of the pill became more apparent as the time went. His mental faculties were smooth, his mind was clear of all anxiety, hesitation or feelings of inferiority. It also allowed him to notice things he would usually not notice. Like how two of the tenured professors were seeing each other secretly, the janitor was still drunk and much more. Every sight, sound, smell, brought with it new sensations that automatically adjusted to his knowledge, was understood and presented to him by his brain.

Approaching the Library, he suddenly heard a greeting in a thick Indian accent,” Morning Leonard.”

Turning towards the sound, Leonard saw Raj Koothrapali, a brilliant astrophysicist, and Priya’s brother waving at him from his door. While Leonard could have continued, he did not want to see Raj after the morning drama with Sheldon and Priya.

He smiled and greeted,” Morning Raj. I would stay and chat, but I have something to do right now. Lets meet later.”

Raj frowned slightly before dismissing it. Giving a goofy smile, he replied,” Sure. See you at lunch.”

Without giving a reply, Leonard quickly entered the library. Normally, the vast number of books would be slightly intimidating. But the pill made it seem like a treasure trove. Leonard grinned before moving towards the shelf.

Now lets see. Normally, starting on chemistry after being busy with physics for many years would be problematic. However, my knowledge of material sciences and various principles of Chemistry is not bad. I have to thank my work as an experimental physicist for that. Filling gaps in knowledge to the level of understanding required for changing the pill formula would usually take years. On the pill, it took me three hours to make up my knowledge on chemistry and move from physical and inorganic to organic chemistry. Feeling the hunger gnawing at my stomach, I have to fill it before I could start my study on neural systems and neurochemicals. Biochemistry will prove to be a fascinating subject.

Leonard packed up his bag and placed the books back on the shelves. Sliding his chair back in, he walked to the cafeteria.

Okay. Lunch. I don’t know how Raj will take my breakup with Priya. He is quite sentimental about such matters. We were going to invite Howard and Bernadette this Friday, but that isn’t possible anymore. Still, not having to sit with Sheldon is a plus.

Taking a dining tray, he pondered on the matter, unconsciously filling the tray with healthier food. Once his lunch was ready, he entered the lunch hall. Spotting Howard and Raj sitting with Sheldon, Leonard smirked. Judging by the befuddled and annoyed expressions, they were discussing one of Sheldon’s stupid questions. Shaking his head, he brought his lunch to an empty lunch table at the corner of the cafeteria.

Raj’s POV

Rajesh Koothrappali was many things. Awkward, nerdy, weird, afraid, and downright blasphemous with all the hamburgers he ate. However, among his friends, he was also one of the smartest people in the university. A curious blend of scientific mindset and emotional depth. In the morning, he had somehow guessed that something happened between Leonard and Priya. Among his four friends, Leonard was someone Raj respected. He was waiting for lunch to ask Leonard what happened.

As Raj sat down for his meal, Howard carried his plate filled with food and scooted on his bench. He whispered,”So, how was the day?”

Raj smiled his signature goofy smile before sighing,”Something is going on. When I came to the university in the morning, Leonard was there. And he was slightly weird.”

Howard stopped for a second before questioning, ”Weird how? Was he walking with a jaunt? Did he look smug like he just got up with your sister?”

Raj was outraged, “Hey, that is my sister! She might have slept with Leonard but that will not change our sibling relationship.”

Howard shrugged, “So, what was so different?”
Raj explained, “When Leonard usually comes to the university, he is always accompanied by Sheldon. Today he was alone. Then, he was not wearing his usual hoody and t-shirt. He wore a tucked in shirt with folded sleeves. In all the time I have known him, Leonard never folds his sleeves. Maybe something happened in the morning, something bad.”

Howard straightened at that, “Lets ask him when he comes for lunch.”

Suddenly, Sheldon came to the table, looking uncomfortable for some reason. As he sat down on the bench, he groaned with discomfort. Raj asked curiously, “What happened Sheldon? You look down for some reason.”

Sheldon groaned again before complaining, “Leonard refused to drive me to work today. He violated our roommate agreement more than he should have. I had to wear my bus pants again. Then, on the way to the university, a child stuck a chewing gum on my seat. Now, the bus pants are ruined. In the morning, he even refused to sign my greatly modified roommate agreement, even under threat.”

Howard looked annoyed at that. The last time Sheldon rode with him to the university, he was nearly choked by a scared Sheldon. He really hoped Leonard’s episode was a one time thing. Raj tried to be helpful, “Well, look at the bright side Sheldon. You could ask Amy to drop you. It helps build intimacy. Amy might even enjoy the games you play while travelling.”

Sheldon was outraged. He complained, “That’s preposterous. According to our roommate agreement, it is Leonard who has to drive me. Priya might have helped you plan the greek food on Pizza Night, but Leonard cannot escape his responsibilities detailed in our roommate agreement. Now, he doesn’t even have Priya to help him circumvent the agreement, since he broke up with her when I threatened to expose their relationship to your parents.”

Raj and Howard were shocked. Raj almost yelled, “You did what! How could you do that?”

Sheldon was nonchalant, “Oh like you didn’t see that coming. Leonard might have some luck in mating rituals, but he has no chance of a lasting relationship with any of those women. Your sister was one of the few women that could be considered in the statistical minority of women that could date Leonard.”

Raj was blown away by the callous description. While he knew that Sheldon could be uncaring because of his intelligence, his utter disregard of Leonard’s feelings when compared to his own discomfort still rubbed him the wrong way. Raj quickly got up and looked around the cafeteria to find Leonard. He spotted him carrying his now empty lunch tray to the counter before leaving. While Raj did want to run up to Leonard, but he decided against it, hoping to give him space. He pulled out his phone before dialling Priya, hoping to get the situation straight from the source.

Raj’s POV Ends

Leonard returned to his lab, looking at the pills he had made. He did not know the side effects of the pill, but he knew, if he wanted to be someone significant, he needed these pills.

‘I need to study these pills and deal with any after effects. But this lab is a sieve—too many eyes, too much noise. I need a private lab.’

His eyes roamed over the expensive equipment in his lab. He used this equipment to make these pills. Most of this equipment started at $100k or more. Checking all the equipment on the internet, his brain filed away the information about prices, manufacturers, specifications and addresses. Still, the math didn’t balance. Even if he built replacements, they’d be pale shadows of the real thing.

‘I cannot support the entire research on my salary. It seems that money would be the top priority for some time.’

At the side of his computer, he found some files. He had given them a cursory glance when he received them, but that was enough for him to remember his work at Caltech, and his schedule for the next two months. His brain quickly broke down the problem.

‘ I need time off to work on the pill. I could resign but resignation procedures would bring unnecessary attention to my actions. Besides, this job does give me channels to approach other research institutions like CERN. Resigning would burn bridges that could make things easier in the long run.’

Suddenly, his brain fired. A sabbatical—quiet, legitimate, clean. Keeps the CERN connection alive.

Leonard looked at his desk. There were some letters he received over the years that he kept in his drawer. Among these letters, Leonard spotted a letter with a soft pink envelope. Turning it over, he spotted a name written in deep blue ink, Mrs. Latham. It was a letter of appreciation and an offer to deepen the cooperation between the two. A grin came to his face as an idea came to his mind.

‘Yes, if I could convince Seibert that I am in contact with a wealthy donor, who is interested in some experiments and wants me to do private research in return for a donation of 1 million dollars, I am pretty sure Seibert would pack my bags for me. First, I need to make a proposal so genuine-looking that Seibert becomes more enthusiastic than me for my sabbatical.’

Leonard took half an hour to draft and prepare a genuine looking project proposal that would hold up to scrutiny.

I will also need a source of knowledge. Most public libraries don’t meet the standards of simple universities. All of this will require large amounts of capital. But let’s tackle the problems one at a time. ’

He confidently approached Seibert’s office. He knocks and steps inside, but doesn’t sit right away. Siebert is behind his desk, reading through a grant proposal with the expression of a man chewing cardboard. He looks up to see Leonard has entered his office.

He tiredly asks, “This better not be about Sheldon. I already have three voicemails from him about adding a gopher to his research team.”
Leonard smiles faintly at that. Sheldon must have found his sudden departure in the morning unsettling, “ Does this gopher also doubles as a personal chauffeur?”

Seibert cracked a slight smile before questioning, “ So. Is it about Sheldon?”

“Not Sheldon,” Leonard said. “This is… an opportunity.”
Seibert was intrigued. He motioned Leonard to sit and said, “Go on.”
Leonard smoothly explained, “Over the last few weeks, I’ve been speaking with several private donors. They’re very interested in my work on photon entanglement. One of them sits on the board of a technology fund. Another… well, let’s just say their name opens doors at the National Science Foundation.”
Siebert’s eyebrow arches. Leonard leans forward slightly, lowering his voice like he’s letting Siebert in on a secret, “They’re prepared to commit serious funding—high six figures, maybe more—if I can dedicate the next six months to refining the project without distractions.”
Seibert was slightly suspicious at that, “Six months away from campus?”
Leonard tried to dispel his fears, “Yes. Think of it as an investment retreat. I work, I refine, I keep them engaged. We come back with publishable results and a donation big enough to name a lab after someone. Here is the research proposal they sent to me.”
Seibert takes the proposal, his eyes skimming over the proposal, lingering on the amounts of money mentioned before closing the file. He stared at Leonard, “You’re telling me I let you disappear for half a year, and you bring back a fat check?”
Leonard reminded, “And national attention for Caltech’s role in pioneering quantum communication.”
Siebert studies him for a beat—Leonard is too poised, too confident. But Siebert likes money, and prestige even more.
Seibert fixed his eyes at Leonard before giving a gentle smile, “ You know Leonard, you remind me of myself. People like us have catered to people at different levels, just to keep ourselves afloat. Your promise has given me more confidence than your proposal.”
Seibert stood up from his chair before circling around the table to stand in front of Leonard. Offering his hand to Leonard, he replied, “You have six months. Don’t come back without a donor, Leonard—or I’ll rename your office “The Sheldon Cooper Annex. Best of luck.”
Leonard smiles as he stands. Taking the offered hand, he shook it with a smile of his own. On this pill, he already knows exactly how to make good on the promise—or at least make it look like he has.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

“ Leonard Speaking”
‘ NZT Leonard Thinking’

Leonard quickly packed his things in his lab, making sure that no trace of the pills could be found. He sealed the pills in a ziplock bag before hiding them in his bag. Locking his lab, he took his workload for the next month before going next door to Leslie Winkle. He knocked on the door twice before she asked him to enter.

Looking at the laser heating a cup of noodles, Leonard smiled a little. He greeted, “ Hello Leslie. Still doing your noodle experiment?”

Leslie looked up at Leonard. Her spectacled eyes betrayed a hint of curiosity. Ignoring the jab, she turned off the laser and picked up the hot cup of noodles. Mixing the noodles with a plastic fork she replied, “ My experiment is of no consequence. But I am curious. What have you come here for Leonard?”

Leonard handed her a schedule of experiments that he had to conduct. He informed her, “ I am going on a sabbatical. President Seibert has already approved. Since I won’t be available at the university for the next six months, I wanted to hand over the workload. Please distribute it among the other experimental physicists.”

Leslie looked impressed, “ A sabbatical huh? And you even convinced Siebert. What did you tell him?”

Leonard did not want to explain much. He simply said, “ Just an opportunity for funding. I really hate to drop this on you. But I have to get going. If the others refuse the experiments, just inform them of my sabbatical.”

Without waiting for Leslie to speak, Leonard left the room. He swiftly went to the parking lot before getting into his car and driving away.

It was evening when Leonard came back to the shared apartment. He had spent the day arranging different things from his accommodation to his finances. The group was already there when he got home. Sheldon was sitting in his spot eating Chinese food. He was accompanied by Howard, Raj, Amy, Bernadette and Penny. The group turned to the door as Leonard entered the apartment, with his confident gait and different clothes.

Leonard waved, “ Hello everyone.”

Without looking at them any longer, he crossed the hall to his room. He had already checked his account balance and called a moving company to put all his belongings to storage. Looking at the room that has been his for the past decade, Leonard heaved a sigh. While waiting for the moving company, Leonard packed his bag with essentials. Going for a quick bathroom break, he found his glasses placed right where he left them. Putting them on once again, he felt as if he had become that young Leonard Hofstadter once again. However, Leonard knew that nothing will be the same again.

Penny’s POV

Penny received a call from Sheldon about buying takeout tonight. For some reason, she didn't question it. She already remembered Sheldon’s preferences, so buying dinner, especially when the money was provided by Sheldon was no big deal.

Sheldon droned on as Penny unpacked the takeout. He asked, “ Did you remember to ask for the chicken with broccoli to be diced, not shredded?”
“ Yes.”
“ Even though the menu description specifies shredded?”
“ Yes.”
“ Brown rice, not white?”
“ Yes.”
“ You stop at the Korean grocery and get the good hot mustard?”
“ Yes.”
“ Did you pick up the low-sodium soy sauce from the market?”
“ Yes”

Sheldon sat back in his spot with a smug smirk. Penny asked with exasperation, “ Why didn't Leonard get the takeout? Doesn't he usually do this?”

Sheldon waved his hand dismissively, “ He is probably having a pity party after breaking up with Priya in the morning.”

Bernadette perked up and yelled, “ Leonard and Priya broke up?!”

Raj shifted on the couch, fingers fidgeting against his jeans. He opened his mouth once, twice, but no words came. His muteness pressed heavier than usual, like the very air was conspiring to keep him quiet. Howard noticed, side-eyeing him with a faint smirk, but didn’t tease. Not tonight. Bernadette had been drilling empathy into him, and sometimes—just sometimes—it stuck.
Amy sat perched on the armrest, arms folded. Her face was carefully neutral, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of guilt. She hadn’t said anything when Sheldon pulled his stunt with Priya that morning. Watching Leonard walk away without a fight—it gnawed at her. She told herself it wasn’t her responsibility. Still, she knew what silence made her. An accomplice.
Howard finally broke the quiet. “So… does anyone else think Sheldon went a little Bond villain today?” His tone was light, but his fingers tapped restlessly on the armrest.
Raj made a sound—half-sigh, half-laugh—but didn’t speak. He gestured, helpless, like words were trapped behind glass.
Penny, leaning against the counter, didn’t join in. Her arms were crossed, her brow tight. She hated waiting. It felt like the calm before a storm, except no one else seemed to realize they were standing in the path.
Sheldon, seated in his spot with the contract balanced on his knee, radiated smug composure. “What you call villainy, I call necessary enforcement of civilized order. Rules exist to protect us from chaos. Without them, we are, but savages.”
Howard rolled his eyes. “You ever notice you’re the only one who feels protected by these rules?”
“Incorrect,” Sheldon replied coolly. “I’m merely the only one capable of enforcing them.”
Amy’s lips tightened. Raj lowered his gaze. Penny’s jaw clenched.
Sheldon interjected, “ Interestingly, this is the first time Leonard has actually initiated a breakup without any prompting or cajoling. It is one of the most spontaneous things I have ever witnessed from Leonard.” He continued after a pause, “ Maybe I should share this with Dr. Beverly. She would be most intrigued by this development.”

For the first time in the evening, Penny had an upset face. Dr. Beverly Hofstadter had a way of getting under Leonard’s skin. Or anyone’s skin for that matter. While everybody ate, she was wondering how Leonard would react after he came home.

Suddenly, the doorknob turned and Leonard entered the room. Penny quickly spied his folded shirt, trousers and confident posture as he simply greeted everyone and went to his room. She quickly looked at everyone and observed, “ Something’s different about him.”

Raj quickly whispered something in Howard’s ear. He quickly answered, “ I don’t know where his glasses went.”

The group continued eating. After about fifteen minutes, Leonard came back with a backpack and a small travelling suitcase. Sheldon was probably the most surprised. He quickly asked, “ Leonard, are you going somewhere?”

Leonard smiled a little before announcing his plans, “ Yes, I just talked to Seibert this afternoon. I am taking a sabbatical from the university. For six months, I will be off doing research at my own pace.”

Sheldon was aghast at the words, “ Leonard! Did you forget that according to Section 11A of the roommate agreement, all travel plans should be jointly discussed before the travel so that I am not inconvenienced by the experience? Why did you not discuss the plans with me before talking to Seibert?”

Leonard’s smile did not falter much. However, his eyes bore into Sheldon as he answered, “ Did you ask me before you decided to threaten Priya and I in the morning. Since you showed such spontaneous initiative to get what you wanted, I decided that I should respond in kind.”

Sheldon was visibly upset, “ So it was about the morning. You did not drive me to work, you ignored me in the cafeteria, this sudden sabbatical, and let’s not forget, your refusal to sign the new roommate agreement. All of this had your brand of childishness written all over it.”

The group was startled at the outburst. While they wanted to interject, the sudden heat caught them off guard. However, the anger shown by Sheldon did not faze Leonard in the slightest. His smile did not slip, his eyes continued to glow with intensity and confidence. For the first time in his life, Leonard was in control.

Leonard’s POV

‘ Looks like Sheldon is hit right where it hurts. Sheldon is a creature of habit after all. He cannot bear to change his routine. This is quite interesting.’

Leonard spoke, “ Didn’t you say that you are nothing if not adaptable? Well, now is your chance, adapt.”

Sheldon huffed, “ This is preposterous. You cannot expect me to adapt without any notice. I am a scientist. How can I work towards the development of science if I am held back by these mundane tasks? This sabbatical will not help science much. Why don’t you keep to your tasks. That’s why you were a great roommate.”

Leonard shot back, “ Oh! That’s a low blow, coming from a scientist with no proven theory, no significant achievements and the ego equivalent to Mt. Everest. I must say Sheldon, you amaze me. You continue to claim that your work is for the benefit of science, but I have not seen a single viable theory from you. Let alone a practical experiment that could prove your work, you have yet to do anything that even comes close. Looks like your intelligence will only take you this far.”

Everyone in the room gasped. Insulting Sheldon was one thing, insulting his intelligence was another. No one dared to say this before. Now, hearing all of this from Leonard of all people shocked them greatly. Sheldon was fuming, “ You take that back!”

Leonard challenged, “ Make me.”

Sheldon reached out and pulled a contract. He held out the contract like a holy relic.

“Leonard, this agreement is the framework that sustains civilized cohabitation. By refusing to comply, you’re engaging in childish rebellion.”

Leonard studied him—the tight jaw, the defensive posture. Fear masquerading as superiority. On NZT, every micro-expression was a confession.
‘He needs me to play the role I’ve always played. The compliant sidekick. But I don’t need him.’

Without a word, Leonard took the stack of papers from Sheldon’s hand. The room held its breath—Howard half-smirking, Raj frowning, Penny leaning forward.
Leonard quickly approached the stove in the kitchen. The flame whispered alive, dancing azure against the black ink of Sheldon’s clauses.

“Leonard—what are you doing?!” Sheldon’s voice cracked, shriller than usual.

Paper curls at 451 degrees Fahrenheit. The ink bubbles, smokes, collapses in on itself. A symbol of every compromise I’ve made—burning. Clean. Absolute.
The fire climbed fast, devouring signatures and conditions with hungry precision. The smell of scorched paper and toner filled the room, sharp and chemical, oddly liberating.
Leonard’s face was calm, almost serene. “ There it goes Sheldon. Find someone else to drive you. Someone else to orbit you.”

The last page shriveled into ash. Leonard let it fall into the trash can, smoke trailing upward like incense in a temple.

There it is. The funeral of Leonard Hofstadter, the doormat. The birth of someone new.

Pulling out his key from the pocket, he shoved it in the hands of a dazed Sheldon.

“ I have already asked someone to move my stuff to storage. Good luck finding someone who is willing to sign that piece of paper again. I will be gone for six months. When I come back, you will know.”

Without any further explanation, Leonard picked up his backpack and left the apartment. The door shut behind him. No one spoke. The smell of burnt paper still hung in the air, clinging to the curtains, to their clothes, to the silence itself. For the first time in years, Sheldon had no words.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

"Leonard Speaking”
‘ NZT Leonard Thinking’

The tension was thick in the room. A large table stood with piles of cash sitting in the middle. Six people sat at a poker table, holding cards in their hands. Larry Gustav, a fat guy from Germany, wiped the sweat off his brow while looking at his cards. On his right, Louis Navarro, a thin man with a thick dark beard sharply glanced at the other participants. The pool had grown massively over the past hour and everyone at the table had contributed to it. A slightly older gentleman, Jonathan Mallick, calmly looked at his opponents, however, his main focus was on a slightly short, spectacled man observing everyone with piercing eyes.

‘My name is Leonard Hofstadter. Currently, I am embroiled in a high stakes poker game. The game is a private one, but the prize has reached a whopping four million dollars. And to think a week ago, I could not even imagine this much money in one place. If you are wondering how I got to this position, we have to go back to the past, when I had just found out about the Pill’

A Week Ago

Leonard drove late into the night, reaching Las Vegas, Nevada in record time. While stopping at a filling station, his eyes started to get blurry. Taking out his glasses, he realized that the effect of the Pill was diminishing. Looking at the watch, he counted that the Pill would last about 18 hours per pill. While his brain was still sharp, the enhancement was no longer there. It still gave him a day of enhancement for every Pill he took. He had managed his finances yesterday. After taking out the costs, he had about $70,000 to make it big in Vegas. But all of that will come tomorrow.

Luckily for him, he had booked a small Airbnb apartment for the next two weeks. Driving to a small diner, he had a modest dinner before crashing at his place for the night.

Leonard’s POV

‘ How does one go from 1 to 1000 in the shortest amount of time?’

Leonard walked into the bookstore. His eyes scanned all the sections with deliberate swiftness. Moving from fantasy and self-help, his eyes lingered in the finance section for a moment.

‘ If you ask a layman where he can earn his first million, he will say something like the stock market. A myth perpetuated by success stories like Warren Buffet. In truth, the only way to earn big using the stock market was if you had a big starting capital’
Leonard shook his head, as if lamenting the stupidity of some people. Walking further, he stood face to face with the mathematics section. His hand caressed the spines of thick volumes of algebra, differential functions before stopping at a small section about advanced probability. Pulling two volumes dealing with advanced probability and an even thicker book written by some professor on Chaos Theory

‘ Most people do not believe in fortune telling, but it is the closest thing to magic that can be found in basic science. We tell fortunes all the time with every roll of a dice, with every flip of a coin, every drawn card. Every prediction that deals with variables is a disguised form of fortune telling.’

His gaze unconsciously turned towards the finance section again. Tearing his gaze from thick tomes of economy, he kept walking.

‘ It is also the reason why the stock market is hard to predict. There are too many variables. There are over 180 countries in the world. You never know how a small problem with a negligibly small country can cause shocks in every other; to predict anything in the stock market with any degree of certainty, you will have to study the culture, the geography, the economy, relations and a plethora of other things about every country out there. Even then, there can be sudden surprises. So it's a pipe dream to earn big on the stock market without large capital and market manipulation involved.’

‘ Since the stock market is out, what else do we have? In the U.S.A, we have the lottery. Another activity that shows the poor a dream of wealth and riches, before ruthlessly crushing it under the weight of Probability. There are millions who buy lottery tickets but only a select few can have the prize. Predicting the possibility of a lottery is more likely than the stock market. But it will require extensive survey and data, which I don’t possess. So, the lottery will not bring in your first million.

Finally, he came across a small section of books dedicated to card games, board games and gambling.

‘ It's surprising why the section about gambling is shorter than the section about mathematics in Vegas of all places.’

Leonard reached out and pulled several books related to Poker, Blackjack, Roulette and other casino games.

‘ Gambling is probably the easiest of them all. Gambling is the oldest wealth transfer mechanism we know. Four types of players—the fortunate polite, unfortunate polite, fortunate arrogant, unfortunate arrogant. Predictable pools. Predictable outcomes. Here, probability has edges. And with the Pill, edges turn into inevitabilities. If something can give me a starting capital, it is gambling.’

For the next day, Leonard studied the books on gambling. He understood the rules and regulations within minutes, but he decided to study the mathematical application of probability to gambling. The outcomes for games like Blackjack were surprisingly easy to calculate. Poker on the other hand depended not just on probability, but also on psychology. He had to go back to the bookstore again for books on psychology. Still, he had confidence in his gambling skills now. But, he decided to give another day for actual observation.

The next day, Leonard visited 13 major casinos on the Las Vegas strip. His cash remained firmly in his pocket, but his eyes roamed everywhere. Every game sang with possibilities to his Pill-fueled mind. He approached a Roulette table first.

‘ Roulette, a game of chance. Something beyond the scope of simple probability. The only way to constantly win this game is with a rigged wheel. However, there is another way.’

Leonard watched as the dealer called for bets. His mind quickly supplied the details.

‘ A standard roulette wheel. The roll track is about 28 inches in diameter, about 88 inches of circumference. ‘

At roulette, the wheel blurred red and black. The ball spun, rattled, slowed. To most: chaos. To him: equations. Diameter, circumference, velocity, deceleration.
‘Seventeen black.’
Slowly, the wheel stopped and the dealer announced the result.

"17 Black.”

Normally, an impatient man would start betting now, but Leonard Hofstadter is a scientist, not a gambler. He had read about the Chaos Theory, so he knew, systems can have unmeasured variables, in other words chaos. Like any good scientist, Leonard patiently observed every roulette wheel, predicting outcomes, compiling results, measuring probability. Until he had a working model in his mind that could help him predict the outcome at least 80 percent of the time, he would not place a single chip.

Leonard did the same for every game he observed. He created predictive outcomes in his mind, studied the players in Poker games, counted cards in Blackjack. Even tried to measure the chance of slot machines, all while appearing like a tourist on his first trip to Vegas. Today was preparation, tomorrow, there will be battles.

While observing people, he also observed the casino staff. Every win for the people ticked them, every streak made them clench their jaws. He even saw how they communicated with each other. A hidden movement here, a subtle glance there. It created a web that ensnared the gamblers; like helpless flies in a spider web.

By the end of the night, he had a working model for his three best earners; the Roulette, Blackjack and Poker. He could predict the outcome of the Roulette about 87 percent of the time, Blackjack was as simple as playing tic-tac-toe with a three year old. Poker gave him a slight pause; it was both a game of luck and psychology. It was like being a detective. What he observed at the amateurs table depended too much on luck. They had obvious tells, fidgety hands and lame bluffs. But on the professional table, he saw a masterclass on emotional management. I could still spot their tell, but the tells themselves were miniscule. It took actual observation to glean information they unconsciously projected. Although he did not see a game at the zenith of Poker; he could guess how high that zenith was.

With his research done, he shifted his focus from understanding the game, to understanding the people. Casinos in Las Vegas are part of an ecosystem; where everyone knows everyone else. Most people are faceless gamblers, but the few that truly enter their circle are people with money or people with skill. But no matter what kind of person visits a casino, the one person they talk to almost certainly, is the bartender.
Leonard walked over to the bar, motioning for the bartender. A young man with wide green eyes and brown hair approached Leonard.
“What would you like t’have Sir?”
Leonard ordered a gin and tonic. While waiting for the drink, he observed the bartenders working.
‘Hmmm, the one who served me is never at the job, probably in training. He listens to the blond one, possibly his mentor. However, both are deferential to the black haired one. He is probably the most experienced. If I need information, he is the one. But such people do not have loose lips. I need an interview.’
The young bartender handed Leonard his glass. Leonard pretended to be awkward, giving the impression of a tourist. The bartender smiled, “First time in Vegas?”
Leonard agreed, subtly observing the bartender’s mood. nodded his head. The bartender continued, “We get a lot of tourists every year. Most come for the casinos.”
Leonard interrupted, “You must have met a lot of people. I don’t usually get to meet new people.”
The bartender raised an eyebrow, “Really! What do you do?”
Leonard sipped his cocktail before answering, “I am a physicist. I work at Caltech.”
The bartender’s eyes lit up, “Ah, you must be here for the conference.”
Leonard asked in curiosity “The conference?”
The bartender was shocked, “You don’t know! There is a conference happening in two weeks at the Venetian. It's not exclusive, so many scientists have come to the city to attend it. I assumed you were here for that.”
‘A conference, huh. Sounds interesting. Considering the fact that they have set up a conference here, instead of any famous university, tells me that it is supposed to attract attention. Since it has a ticket instead of an invite gives the clue that it is about money, or funding opportunities. But, many scientists have travelled to join it. There would be famous or important scientific figures in the conference. A very interesting opportunity indeed.’
Leonard smiled, “I did not know before, but I will certainly join now. Still…”
Leonard grilled the bartender for about an hour. Sometimes, the other bartenders would chime in. By the end, he had a thorough understanding of the environment of casinos.
‘So, the best games are private, held in invite-only tournaments between famous card sharks and billionaires. Not only is the prize large, but it has no restrictions. But, getting invited to one will be a nightmare. It will require finetuning the strategy and careful social engineering. But it is still doable.’
Leonard thanked the bartender, gave a generous tip for his time and left in contemplation.
For the next ten days, a legend was created in Las Vegas. A short, spectacled man ran through thirty casinos. For the first few casinos, he bet solely on Roulette.
The wheel spun, red and black blurring into a hypnotic circle, the ball rattling like a white comet chasing its orbit. To anyone else it was chaos; to him it was vectors and velocity, gravity and friction. He tracked the ball’s slowing rhythm, traced the wheel’s rotation, and saw the future before it arrived. Casually, he tossed a small stack of chips onto a neat wedge of six numbers. The ball danced, stuttered, and fell exactly where he knew it would.
The dealer’s eyebrows twitched. He smiled politely, as though surprised at his own luck, and pressed his next bet larger, then larger still. Each spin obeyed the equations in his head. By the time he stood, he was a hundred thousand richer, and to the crowd, just another man kissed by chance.
Once he lost about 10k on Roulette, he switched to Blackjack. A game where chaos could only be attributed to cheating and math ruled the table. The cards slid from the shoe, but to him they floated in slow motion, each face an equation. He tracked not just values but patterns of shuffle, the rhythm of the dealer’s hands, the fatigue in her movements. When others doubled down blindly, he folded without hesitation; when the deck ripened with ten-cards, he slid forward a thick stack as if it were an afterthought.
The pit boss circled twice, eyes narrowing, but his play looked too natural, too fluid to pin down. Sometimes he lost a hand deliberately, gritting his teeth and feigning frustration, only to claw it back threefold when the odds tilted his way.
Finally, he left the game of math to the casino chess game called Poker. The poker room smelled of ambition. It was the game where casino heavyweights were made. Players hunched behind sunglasses and half-smiles, every move a bluff within a bluff. But to him, such bluffs were amateurish at their best, completely transparent at their worst. A pulse leaping in a man’s throat, the micro-pause before a bet, the faint clench of a jaw—each signal screamed louder than words.
He folded early hands, memorizing patterns, until his inner voice whispered certainty. In a showdown, he recited silently what each man held: a pair, a straight draw, nothing but air. The table revealed exactly what he had known all along, and a shiver passed through the group. They began to sweat, their poker faces crumbling under the weight of his calm. When he bluffed, they folded. When he held monsters, he dragged mountains of chips into his corner. They called him a machine, but even that word felt too small. Machines could be predicted. He could not.
After ten days of constant play and about a million dollars in winnings after tax, Leonard received something that he waited for 10 long days, the invite to a private game. The person who delivered the invitation told him about the game. It was a joint venture between some of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. A game where the winner could receive millions of dollars after tax. And that was the game that landed him in his current situation.

Now

Leonard looked at his opponents at the poker table. Some of the biggest card sharks to grace Las Vegas. He was probably the only person who came to their table so quickly. In a large waiting room at the side, many wealthy people looked at the screen that showed them the match. The event was not only spectated, but also betted on.

Leonard did not care about any of that. His Pill-enhanced brain quickly found all their weaknesses.

‘ John’s eyes flit between me and Louis—he’s measuring. Larry’s sweating too much, dead weight. Louis is twitchy, already cornered. John thinks I’m bluffing. Good. Let him believe it. It’s time to show some tension, or he will get that something is amiss.’

Leonard quickly showed some tension with slightly shifty eyes. Pretty soon, the tension got to the players at the table. Some folded quickly. Larry held on for half a minute more before folding. Leonard knew that his competition was with John. Louis did not win the last round. He had fewer chips than Leonard. Either he would fold, or go all in.

‘I’ll have to kick out Louis somehow. I need to make him tense. Once he folds, I would be free to face John. By deliberate effort, I managed to receive slightly higher chips than John. Once Louis folds, John will be more confident. Considering the fact that he looked at both Louis and I, he does not have the highest cards. Since my hand is good, I can get him to fold. This is the last hand. Once this ends, the winner is decided. Based on my calculations, I stand to earn 13 million when it is all over. Okay, let’s start.’

The rest of the game ended quickly, Leonard played the hand masterfully, calling Louis until he folded and ran down John. By the end of the night, Leonard was 13 million dollars richer. Without lingering, he booked a taxi and arrived at the conference.

He knew that he was late. He quickly paid the taxi fare and entered the hall with his pre-booked ticket. As he took his seat he looked at the stage. The announcer had just announced.

“Now, let’s welcome Dr. Paige Swanson, Lead Researcher, Quantum Foundations Division at CERN. She shares with us the future of Quantum Physics and its implications.”

Leonard leaned forward, pulse quickening. His Pill was quantum-born. To sit here, hearing from one of CERN’s rising lights—it was fate painted in neon.
Paige Swanson walked onstage. Blonde, poised, her stride purposeful. The crowd drank in her beauty. Leonard saw something else.
Her eyes. Grey, sharp, alive with thought. Not just beauty, but power. Intellect. A mind dangerous enough to challenge him. He had never thought it possible. But in that instant, Leonard knew one thing: whatever else the Pill brought him, he wanted Paige Swanson at his side.

Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 5

“ Leonard Speaking”
‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Leonard kept his gaze at the sharp grey eyes that looked majestically at the gathering of scientists and wealthy investors. On the Pill, he captured various emotions, like hope, pride, weariness, and slight disgust, that seemed to look at people the same way a man looks at a zoo animal. There was a subtle similarity to the naked disdain Sheldon had for everyone, but in Dr. Paige’s eyes, these emotions came as a result of wisdom, instead of arrogance. Leonard understood her gaze to some level. A scientist of her level, coming to a conference meant to attract investment. What truly surprised him, however, was the fact that Paige did not look at other, so-called "distinguished scientists”, but rather at young people in the conference. At one point, her eyes met his, holding his attention for a fraction of a second before moving on.

Leonard sat halfway back, glasses slipping down his nose, pretending to be anonymous among the rows of physicists and graduate students. This came to him last night at a Poker game. Now that he had money, from his stint at Vegas casinos, to begin his research on the Pill; he wondered what his next steps would be. He knew that research was a money pit, so he needed a passive income source. He will start investing in the stock market soon.

The sudden decision to come to this conference was to challenge his mind. He wondered if he would meet any famous scientists. Maybe now, he can follow their thoughts. The sabbatical was supposed to be about “personal projects,” but really it was about this — seeing how far the pill could take him.

On stage, Paige Swanson tapped the chalk against the whiteboard.

"Now, most of you are familiar with the problem of quantum error correction," she said, her voice calm but cutting. "But what’s not widely understood is that the topological approach isn’t just elegant—it’s
necessary. Entanglement entropy doesn’t behave the way the textbooks pretend. It resists simplicity."
Equations sprawled across the board — elegant, alien, beautiful. Leonard leaned forward.

He almost understood. Almost.

His brain began to itch. Pill fired, pathways opening like trapdoors in the dark. He recalled Sheldon ranting about qubits, remembered Beverly lecturing him about epistemology at age nine, visualized card sequences from the Bellagio tables, linked them to probability wave collapse.

And then the pieces started sliding into place.

He wasn’t following Paige anymore. He was running parallel. The equations broke apart, recombined in his head. String theory drifted into quantum topology. Symmetry groups danced with number theory. History of physics filled the gaps, like mortar in a wall he hadn’t realized was half-built inside his skull.

“Great, isn't it?”

Leonard looked at his side. He found himself staring at two familiar eyes, staring at him through a set of glasses.Leonard blinked at the figure beside him — same glasses, same posture, same nervous tilt of the shoulders. But the other him sat straighter, eyes sharper. The other Leonard acknowledged him with a nod before looking at Dr. Swanson’s explanation.

Normally, if Leonard encountered a doppelganger, out of the blue, he would seriously freak out. But something kept him calm. He carefully observed his clone, before asking in a calm tone, “Who are you?”

The clone smiled, “You know who I am. I’m you without the brakes. In fact, I am surprised it took so long.

Leonard defended, “What are you talking about? Don't you see my success at the casinos. I can utilize my knowledge in ways I never thought were possible.”

The other Leonard laughed a hearty laugh, before replying, “So that’s the reason it took so long. You really don't give yourself enough credit.”

The other Leonard chuckled, low and unhurried. “That’s the point. You think the Pill made you win cards and dice? No. You always had that. The Pill just stripped away the noise long enough for you to see it. You were capable before, but you never dared.”

Leonard did not seem to believe this. He knew the changes that Pill brought him. His heightened awareness, smoothness of thought and mental processes; they were significant advantages brought by the Pill. How could his clone say that he was already capable of that.

Leonard shook his head. “No, it sharpened me. It gave me clarity I never had.”

The clone leaned closer, voice steady. “Clarity is useless if you don’t use it. Think about it—how many people do you truly believe are smarter than you?”

Leonard froze. He wanted to list names: Sheldon, his brother, a handful of Nobel winners. But one by one, they collapsed under the weight of the question.

The clone tilted his head. “Exactly. You’ve been living like a supporting character in your own life. The Pill didn’t make you brilliant, Leonard. It’s just forcing you to stop hiding it. Now you need to do something you’ve never been good at—take risks. Controlled risks. Push your limits, instead of orbiting someone else’s.”

Leonard swallowed. “And if I go too far?”

“Then you learn. That’s growth. Play it safe, and you’ll waste this. Push carefully, and you’ll find out who you were meant to be.”

The doppelgänger’s expression softened, almost like encouragement. “We’ll talk again. For now, thank Paige. She just unlocked the door. The rest is up to you.”

The lecture ended, and a new scientist came to the stage. However, Leonard’s mind was still captured by Paige's lecture, and a silent marvel at his understanding of complex quantum physics. The conference has a meet and greet session, where various scientists mingled with the conference attendees. Leonard scanned the people, before finding who he was looking for. Dr. Paige Swanson sat at a lonely table in a corner. Her posture indicated boredom and exasperation at the event. Leonard approached, careful not to look overeager.

Flashing a confident smile, Leonard introduced himself, “Hello Dr. Swanson. I am Leonard Hofstadter. I attended your lecture today.”
Normally, a scientist at her level would not give someone of status a second thought. But for some inexplicable reason, Paige Swanson gave a nod of acknowledgement. She asked her own question, “So. Did you come here with a doubt. I have a flight in about four hours. If you could only ask the main ones, I will be able to answer them.”

Another unexpected outcome. With her intelligence, he expected outright disrespect. Maybe his perception was coloured by his experiences with Sheldon.

Leonard shook his head, “You misunderstand Dr. Swanson. I did not have doubts about your lecture. It was quite informative and profound. Your framing of decoherence wasn’t just technically sharp. The way you contrasted lab noise with conceptual noise—it reminded me of how writers struggle with unreliable narrators. Same data, different interpretation. It’s rare to hear physics explained with that clarity.”

Paige raised her eyebrow at that. While the room was full of scientists, she could count the people able to follow her train of thought on her fingers, with several fingers left over. The face of this young scientist did not spark any recognition. So either he was someone who hid his achievements, or he was pretending. There was also an off chance that he was a multidisciplinary genius, but those are rare.

Paige decides to test further, “Oh! Your understanding seems to be quite high. So, how about…”

What followed was a sharp twenty minutes of questions, answers and academic ideas bouncing between the two. After her inquiry was completed, Paige found herself admiring the person before her. Not only was his understanding of quantum physics at a high level, he could find connections between multiple related fields. It was the first time she had seen someone explain advanced physics with poetry and literature.

Paige teased, “So you’re saying I’m an unreliable narrator?”

Leonard smiled, “Only in the way every good scientist is. Until the data collapses, we’re all telling competing stories.”
As the two were about to discuss further, the announcer announced the end of the conference. Leonard turned to Paige before suggesting, “You have about two hours before you have to reach the airport. How about we discuss further over a light meal. I haven’t eaten since morning, and I suspect you haven’t as well.”

Paige is a beautiful woman, no one can disagree with that. She has received many invitations over the years. She usually declines them, but today, she found Leonard intriguing enough to accept.

At a small cafe outside the venue, Leonard and Paige sat in front of each other. Paige had a Texas-style steak, while Leonard opted for a small Chuck-eye. As the two continued talking, Leonard asked the question that had occurred to him in the beginning of her lecture.

“Dr. Swanson, pardon me for asking, but wasn’t the conference today a bit lower than what someone of your ability would participate in.”

Paige sighed a little before replying, “It is. But I would rather attend and meet with talented, passionate young people, than miss it, on some imagined concept of status. Science should never be limited to status. It should be universal, something that benefits humanity as a whole. But the academic progress is bogged down by grant applications, fundraisers and personal relations.”

Leonard was taken aback. His interactions with Seibert had given him some understanding of the nature of fundraising, but he did not believe that CERN would lack funding.

Paige continued, “I was invited by the organisers to boost ticket sales. Someone who is a lead researcher at CERN looks good on the invitation. I accepted because scientific development anywhere is growth in our understanding of the universe. You might not know, but many good scientific projects are buried because of the funding issue. I also try to find promising scientists. You are a great example. If I did not attend this conference, I would have never met you.”

Leonard blushed a little. While he had mostly shed his hunger for validation, her praise did make his heart flutter. He nodded in respect, “I am flattered by your praise.”

Paige wondered, “Still, it was surprising that a brilliant scientist like you was not famous. Did your university not promote your achievements?”

Leonard’s smile stiffened a little, he waited before answering, “I am a bit of a late bloomer. Besides, just because I have knowledge does not mean I have achieved anything of significance.”

Paige raised her eyebrows. She encouraged Leonard, “Being a late bloomer is not sometimes to be ashamed of. I know many early bloomers who did not have any achievements to their name except some research papers. Sooner or later, you will be a shining star in the field of science.”
Leonard smiled gratefully. The two finished their meal and Leonard offered to drop her to the airport. Paige gave him her contact information before departing.

Leonard did not go directly to his room. He wandered around Vegas, trying to clear his head. The presence of his clone made him really curious. If he hadn't really explored the true limit of the Pill, what else could be done. For a while, he even had the urge to go to a comic book store, but Leonard killed that urge.
‘If the pill could bend my mind this far, I had to treat it like an experiment. But this one couldn’t live on university servers or Seibert’s grant ledgers. This had to be mine alone. Off the grid. Documented in notebooks and hard drives that no one could touch. The casinos proved what I could do with math. Paige proved what I could do with science. Now it was time to see what I could do with myself.’

He decided to go on a shopping trip. First, he bought some new electronic items; A new phone, laptop, a music player, and a DSLR camera. Next, he decided to buy some writing implements, before picking some books on psychology, biology, philosophy, and the brain.

At his apartment, Leonard picked up the books and decided to read. He kept a voice recorder on hand before opening the books on brain, psychology and philosophy. As he started to read, his brain started to itch again, looking at his side, he found another Leonard. There was another clone at his other side, flashing a smile, Leonard started to read.

‘The more I read, the more it connects. All my neurons seem to be firing at once, allowing me to form connections between new knowledge and existing knowledge. So this is the true potential of the pill.’
Once he had finished all the books, he decided to explore his mental connections.

‘It is said that meditation helps people explore their psyche. Let's see if I can explore something more.’

Leonard calmed his mind, focusing on his senses. The easiest to focus on, was his vision. Soon, he started to feel the flow of flood in his blood vessels, the tiniest sensations on his skin sharpened to detailed sensory data. As he focused more, he started to feel the subtle electrical impulses that originated from his sensory receptors. Carefully following these impulses allowed Leonard to map his nerves before his awareness felt his visual cortex. As his other senses sent impulses, he began mapping out the sensory regions of his own brain. Carefully he analysed the connections that were present in his brain.

A little playfully, Leonard connected his sharpened auditory sense impulse to his visual cortex. With his eyes closed, Leonard whistles a little. Despite his closed eyes, he saw a visual representation of the room which his whistle had shown. Leonard grinned, “I’m Batman.”

Leonard did some more experiments. From fusing his vision with senses like touch, smell and taste, he learned to smell light and taste colour. His body was in his complete control. He could even influence his body to release hormones. His thoughts went back to science and how the seemed to connect. Images flood his mind: black holes twisting like Möbius strips, electrons dancing across graphene sheets, cosmic filaments mirroring neural pathways. His mind was filled with countless applications, theories, and possibilities. Things like lightsabers, space travel, teleportation, folding space, computers the size of a grain of sand; all came to his mind, no longer as fantasy, but as believable future possibilities. He always felt shackled, be it his home, at Caltech or even his relationships.

For the first time, Leonard felt free.

For the first time, Leonard Hofstadter felt limitless.

Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 6

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Leonard bobbed his head, nodding to music. Opening his eyes, he saw the busyness all around him. People hurried to ticket counters and terminals. Some would stop in between to buy something to eat, something to read. No matter which major city you go to, you meet all kinds of characters at the airport. Leonard drummed his fingers against his boarding pass, waiting for his flight. 

His last week at Vegas had been productive. He had been in touch with Paige, which gave him many ideas and directions to work with. She had shared some of the recent advancement in the field of quantum mechanics. He had also looked into the field of quantum computing and computers in general. He also took the time to get authentic verification for his “Bio-active lenses”, allowing him to carry his entire stash onto the plane. He also received an interesting call last night.

Last Night 

Leonard was eating his dinner at Ocean Prime. While enjoying his cocktail shrimp, his phone rang. He quickly pulled up his phone and checked the caller. It was Howard. After a quick contemplation, he decided to receive the call.

Howard greeted, “Hey Leonard! How are you doing?”

Leonard was amused at the slight awkwardness in his voice. He replied, “Never been better. This sabbatical is certainly a great learning opportunity. So, what did you call me for?”

After a short pause, Howard announced, “ I'm getting married next month. I know you must be very busy with your research work, but would it be possible for you to attend?”

Leonard became quiet for a couple of seconds before asking, “Are you sure it won't be a problem? I know Amy is invited, so Sheldon would certainly be there. Our last meeting ended at a pretty sour note. Besides, I will be quite busy at that time.”

Howard wanted to say something, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Understanding the polite rejection, he informed Leonard of many things that happened after he left. Apparently, Amy is living with Sheldon now. It took a while but eventually Sheldon adapted. Raj is the best man for Howard, so he has taken it upon himself to make sure everything went perfectly.

Later that night, he received another call from Penny.

“How're you doing sweetie?” 

Leonard smiled a little before calmly replying, “I have been doing well. Maybe time away from Sheldon was all I needed.”

Penny quickly said, “That's great! When are you going to return?”

Leonard quickly guessed her intentions, “Sheldon’s driving you crazy?”

Penny sighed, “Yeah, nuts! Always asking me to drive him around, bring him food. Shouldn't Amy be the one to do those things? He also kept pestering me to ask when you are coming back?”

Leonard's smile dimmed before he flatly replied, “Although I am on a sabbatical now, even if I was not, I would never live with him again. He can find someone else to boss around.”

Penny stilled at that before changing the topic. The two talked for a while before Leonard disconnected. There was a time when he would be over the moon at Penny's calls. Now, he feels that there is a barrier between the two. It also allowed him to realise that Penny, for all her perfections and flaws, was not suitable for him.

Present

Leonard pushed those thoughts out of his mind. He looked at his watch. The hour hand and minute hand seemed still, the second hand seemed to crawl at an impossibly slow pace. He still had about two hours before boarding. He had to take an early taxi to the airport. He could have driven his car, if not for a slight hiccup.

Today’s morning

Leonard rolled his suitcase down the street, expecting to see his car waiting. Instead, he found the Civic crumpled, bumper bent into the wheel. It was totalled.

At the police station, he filled out a report. In the next room, an officer berated three wrecks of men — one disheveled with icy blue eyes, one bearded and overweight, one skinny with broken glasses and a missing tooth.

“Not only did you steal a police cruiser in a drunken state,” the officer barked, “you had the gall to drive it here after crashing it?”

Leonard smirked faintly. Different gamblers in this city. He signed his forms and walked out, untouched by their storm.

Now

Suddenly, Leonard heard the announcement, calling all passengers to board the plane. He calmly got up, carried his small luggage and headed to the plane. The boarding process took little time and Leonard was on his seat. It would take him about four hours to reach. He quickly placed a pair of headphones and decided to take a nap.

Washington DC 

Leonard's first impression of DC was: restraint. The city had power wrapped in marble and concrete, but none of Vegas’s neon. With presidential buildings, government offices, a thriving pharmaceutical and medical sector, and a strong atmosphere of authority, DC was the perfect capital city.

Leonard walked outside the airport, dragging his luggage with him. 

‘I really need a car. A permanent place to stay will also work well in my favour. I will also need a lab. One thing at a time. The car comes first.’

Leonard always had a fascination for the well-engineered European cars. Those machines made him feel like a little kid. But he decided not to buy one as his first car. His Civic was reliable, cheap and fuel efficient. He was not very wealthy at that time. Things have changed for him. Without any hesitation or second guessing, Leonard steps into the sleek Jaguar showroom. While Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz are more famous, Their iconic looks do not work in their favour when compared to a Jaguar. For his new car, while he isn’t looking for flash — he wants something smart, reliable, elegant.

A salesman approaches him, with a plastic smile and over-polite attitude. His way of dressing and grooming suggested an experienced career in sales. He seemed to have read the very instruction manuals that come with the cars. He quickly gave Leonard a quick glance; his eyes picking on the various signs of middle-class. While he did not expect anyone wealthy, at least Leonard looked clean and confident.

With a polite smile, the salesman greeted, “Afternoon, sir. What kind of car are you looking for? Something practical? Perhaps, something with a business feel to it?

Leonard nodded to him and said, “ Practical, yes. But refined. Something that doesn’t need to scream to be heard.”

They walk past rows of various Jaguar models. The salesman introduces various cars, informing him of offers, suggesting upgrades and additions. But Leonard did not seem to find any of those interesting enough. Then Leonard’s eyes fell on a shimmering, champagne gold Jaguar XJ— understated, distinguishable from the other cars around them, there was something noble about its presence. He circles it slowly, running a hand along the trim.

Leonard smiled, “Well, this is something truly apart.”

The salesman chuckled at Leonard’s appreciative looks, “It surely is, Sir. This is imported. It just debuted in Europe this year and will remain there till next year. But our manager decided to import one. It is a style statement.”

Leonard doesn’t haggle, doesn’t hesitate. He writes the check outright. To the salesman’s surprise, Leonard asks for no extras, no flash — just the car.

As Leonard drove on the road, several people kept craning their necks to catch another glance. Leonard smiled a little but kept driving to his destination. The fountain of knowledge, the Library of Congress.

‘I don’t have much time to study today, too many tasks. But let's get a Readers Identification Card. It shouldn’t take much time. I also have to do something about the car. I love it, but it's not exactly covert.’

It took twenty minutes to get a card, luckily the counter was not crowded. With his knowledge resource solved, he needed a lab to use this knowledge.

Washington DC is the home of many companies, think tanks and research institutes. Finding a private lab was much easier than he expected. Leonard secured the lab and it was everything he desired; sterile, spacious, and far too polished for the price. He quickly verified the equipment and took it on lease for two months. 

‘Now, I just need to find a place to stay. Another high end or established hotel would work well. If needed, I’ll buy a house later.’

Right across the Library, he found a great hotel right across the library. He quickly booked a luxurious room for a month. Opening the door to his room, he smiled at the well arranged interior. Quickly unpacking his luggage, he went down for dinner.

The Next Day 

Leonard quickly drove to his lab. He met the supervisor who handed him the keys to the lab with a warm smile. Leonard smiled as well, though his pill enhanced brain seemed to pick something off about that smile. He ignored his fears, watching the supervisor drive off before calmly entering the lab. The strange feeling he got from the lab did not exist when he came to check the lab yesterday.

Leonard closed his eyes. Quickly connecting his vision with his auditory sense, His pill-sharpened ears caught a faint hum behind the vents, rhythmic and unnatural, not airflow but circuitry. He disconnected his senses and opened his eyes. He whistled as he moved closer to the corners where he heard that rhythm. Cameras, tucked into corners where the fluorescent glare made them look like shadows. None of it obvious, but to his NZT-heightened senses, they may as well have been glowing neon.

He didn’t reach for them. Didn’t pry one wire loose or smash a lens. That would scream paranoia. Instead, he smiled, a cold, private smile. 

‘Well, this lab is a bust. Can’t use it for any serious experiments. I really want to cancel the lease…but the equipment makes me pause. I could test some things here; it would certainly help me streamline the actual process. I certainly knew that scientific espionage was a thing, but this experience is something else.’ 

Leonard staged an experiment in the lab, hoping to throw off suspicion before leaving for his hotel.

Lying on his hotel bed, Leonard made his plan. 

‘As I thought. Even money doesn’t solve all problems. I need a place of my own. Probably a warehouse on the outskirts. There are a lot of those near Washington. I also need help. If I want to study the effects of the Pill, I need a medical professional. If only they were reliable. Even labs on lease are untrustworthy, trusting doctors is out of the question.’

Standing up from his bed, he switched on the T.V., hoping to distract his mind. Coincidentally, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith played on the T.V. Leonard’s eyes brightened as he saw three medical droids operated on Anakin Skywalker, turning him into Darth Vader.

‘Yes! That’s what I need, a medical droid. It needs to have great diagnostic abilities, operative capability, a large repertoire of medical techniques, and it should be able to think for itself.’

Leonard quickly took out a new laptop that he had brought a day before, opened a design file and titled “Project 1: MedBud”

It took Leonard two days to find a suitable warehouse. He decided to splurge a bit and buy one, costing him about $800K. While he wouldn’t bring all the machines at the same time, he now had a private place in the city

Three Days Later

Leonard had been living at DC for about five days, but he had already established a rhythm. His life had split into three acts, a performance only the Pill could sustain:

Every morning, He became a ghost in the stacks at the Library of Congress. While he focused primarily on learning more about biology, he maintained some focus on subjects like software engineering, quantum mechanics, chemistry and material science. It was also the time where Paige Swanson was free to share ideas with Leonard. They discussed the recent advancements in quantum computing. Towers of books in physics, neuroscience, material science, obscure journals no one had touched in years lay before him everyday. He inhaled them with machine precision — not just reading, but consuming, cross-referencing, rearranging knowledge into scaffolds inside his mind.

At the lab, he hid his real experiments in the guise of false ones, slowly streamlining his own ideas and eliminating failed outcomes from a multitude of experiments. There, he wore his mask. Polymers stretched, fabrics torn, alloys bent to failure — experiments dull enough to bore any observer, yet methodical enough to look convincing. Each result carefully documented, each note left as breadcrumbs for the cameras. Noise for the watchers. Nothing more.From the moment Leonard discovered the cameras and the attempt at academic espionage, every gesture of his became theater. Stress tests on polymers, tensile trials on fabrics, the kind of bread-and-butter research nobody would ever steal. On the surface, Leonard looked like a diligent but unremarkable physicist. Beneath that surface, hidden in the folds of equations and false starts, his real work coiled tighter, faster, sharper.

The lab also gave him the chance to meditate. It allowed him to come to an epiphany a day before.

Yesterday

Leonard’s mind was trying to design a computer. A computer that was so complex and so efficient, that it could serve as the brain for his MedBud project. He tried many materials, from metals and non-metals to things like diamonds. But his quantum computer was stuck between stabilizing the qubits and still utilize them for his calculations.

‘Another failure. No matter what material I use, I can’t seem to stabilize the qubits without burning through the material. Any current material cannot do the task. The closest I came to was diamond. I should know the answer but what is it?’

Looking outside the lab window, he saw the Capitol Hill and the Capitol Building in the distance. He marveled how such a thing could be so easily…constructed. Suddenly he had an epiphany.

‘Yes! If I can’t find the perfect material, how about constructing it? 3D printing is a newer technology, but it is not efficient. Maybe, I can make it better, allowing it to print material at atomic level. If I can develop that, I would simply print the designed lattice using simple materials. The problem of room temperature superconductors will shift from a material problem to a construction one. It will allow me to not only make a quantum computer that doesn’t require cooling units the size of a room, it will help me in creating anything I need. A huge leap in material and quantum science, maybe even general science based on how one can use it.’

Now

Glancing briefly at the hidden cameras and sound recorders, Leonard’s face went grim.

Leonard mapped it out in his mind. It was a harvest field with bright minds planted in rows, and cultivated until their ideas sprouted, then cut down and stripped for patents.

It was a  machine that consumes creativity and spits out ownership.

So he built walls of silence. Layer after layer of noise and distraction, deliberate dead-ends in his notes, equations rewritten to nowhere, tangents spun like cobwebs. What little truth survived lived only in his head — a fortress of cognition fortified by NZT.

The warehouse was the only place where his mask came off. Alone under flickering lamps, Leonard became the architect of his own secret future. He soldered boards until his fingers shook. He etched circuits by hand, weaving crude graphene lattices like spider silk stretched too thin. Every night brought failure: boards frying in bursts of ozone, lattices collapsing into black dust, connections shorting with a spark and a curse. But every failure was fuel. He documented each misstep with obsessive clarity, patterns mapped, dead ends cataloged. Not wasted effort — a breadcrumb trail that pointed, step by bloody step, toward what worked.

The warehouse became his temple. A place of ruin and rebirth, where the world’s eyes couldn’t follow, and where, brick by brick, he was building the future.

Nights in the warehouse blurred into one another.

The first lattice collapsed in seconds, graphene sheets curling in on themselves like burnt paper. The room filled with the acrid tang of ozone. Leonard logged every detail, muttering, “Too much stress along the y-axis nodes. Needs tighter bonding at the atomic layer.”

The second prototype shorted violently. A crackle, a burst of light, then silence. He stood there in the dark, fingertips tingling, ears ringing, smoke curling upward. “All signal, no stability. Like trying to play Beethoven on a broken piano.”

Dozens more followed. Boards fried, wires melted, qubits decohered into static chaos. Each failure carved trenches under his eyes, but also mapped new pathways in his mind. He saw patterns in defeat, constellations in rubble.

Then, one night, it came together. The blueprint crystallized in his head not as a design, but as a rhythm—mathematical, biological, architectural. He saw the Capitol dome again, its lattice of stone and steel, and overlaid it with neural fire. “Not found, but constructed. Print the lattice itself. Build the stability, atom by atom.”

From that night on, the warehouse rang with rhythm.

Two Months Later

It took him two months to develop something that would take mankind decades to even conceive. His eyes were narrowed in concentration as he made connections between a rubik’s cube sized cube and a circular shell with dense wires. It took him two months, but he had finally achieved something that was the first in the world. His ideas on quantum lattice structures, his mapping of his neural network using the pill, and his atomic 3D printer, allowed him to create something he called the SynthBrain. This would become the head of his MedBud, allowing for superior probability calculation, better drug research, and unmatched diagnostic and surgical ability.

Leonard quickly connected the SynthBrain to the prototype robot head. He had already added a lot of medical books and videos in a chip to allow the SynthBrain to learn.

As soon as the head and the brain were connected, the robot LED eyes showed a caring expression before announcing, “Hello, I am MedBud, your personal healthcare professional.”

Leonard grinned, he placed the bewildered head on his desk. As Leonard decided to continue with the experiment, something happened. Leonard felt his vision go blurry. His vision blurred, his knees buckled. The desk slammed into his temple as he went down. Darkness swallowed him. For the first time in months, his mind was silent.

Chapter Text

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Leonard woke up in a daze. He lifted himself off the floor of his warehouse, before slowly walking towards a bottle of water, grimacing at the slight bitter taste he felt at the back of his throat. He sat down on a chair, slowly massaging his head. His head felt like it had a hammer pounding constantly on an anvil. While he did not throw up, he dry heaved at the bitterness in his throat. Slowly leaning his head on the back, Leonard looked at the ceiling.

‘Looks like my fears were not unfounded. I haven't felt like this ever before. So these are the side effects of the Pill. Still, I expected them to arrive much earlier.’

Leonard looked at his workbench, where the prototype of his MedBud rested. Its eyes flickered as it downloaded various medical resources and research papers from online sources. The silver lining in his entire situation was the creation of MedBud. Now, at least he won't be blind to the changes in his body. But he has to move fast. He had spent a long time developing the SynthBrain. Now, with his looming side effects, he doesn't have enough time to research other things before completing MedBud. He stood from his chair and staggered to his bag. Opening his Pill stash, he counted the pills. 

‘Not many left. Just more problems to be solved later.’

Swallowing the pill, he got back to work. He disconnected the head, with the SynthBrain, away from the prototype body, leaving it to continue downloading resources while he worked on the body. Normally, he would go to the Library in the morning, but priorities shift.

Leonard originally intended to keep all components in a metal shell, like a Star Wars droid, but he had a better option now. While doing his research for the SynthBrain, he had learnt to miniaturize many of the sensors, lasers, and other metallic components. He even learned to bend screens. With these things in mind, he decided on a much easier, safer and space efficient system. Instead of a metal shell, he decided to cover all components in an inflatable carbon nanotube based shell. He also made most of the skeletal structure, which housed all of the precision parts with the same material, allowing it to have the full diagnostic and surgical ability of a hospital, yet fitting inside a small suitcase. 

He also improved the diagnostic function by including quantum tunneling lasers instead of the traditional magnetic waves or x-rays. This will allow the MedBud to see deeper than the physical bones, right down to the very DNA structure, allowing for study on genetic diseases and conditions. While the pharmaceutical preparations were not custom made, they were top of the line, best medicines available on the market. 

Leonard did not leave the warehouse for the next two days. He ate some snacks he had kept as emergency rations, but he spent all his time perfecting the MedBud. He even made a small charging case for the MedBud, allowing him to carry the pillowy robot everywhere he went. After two days of relentless construction, where coughs, dizziness and nausea kept torturing him, he finished the MedBud. 

Leonard designated the day for healing. He decided to relax and recover from the constant pressure he faced the last two days. He went so far as to not consume a Pill today, hoping to let his body get used to being without the Pill. With a switch, a pump went on and sounds of inflation filled the room. From its charging case, a white cuddly robot figure with a round-edged cylindrical metallic head rose to its full height. It spoke in a friendly, easygoing voice.

“Hi, I am MedBud, your personal healthcare assistant. Would you like me to do a physical checkup?”

Leonard grinned at the bot. From a cold, metallic Star Wars esque droid, he had created this highly effective, comforting robot. He answered, “Sure MedBud. I have been suffering from nausea, dizziness, and coughs as well. Keep your diagnosis detailed.”

The robot opened its eyes, releasing its quantum laser scanner, scanning his entire body. It cross referenced its database before informing, “I have arranged the results by the degree of least severe to most severe. You are suffering from a large number of ailments. Firstly, the genetic issues are lactose intolerance, smaller bone structure, allergies to dust and pollen. It stems from your lower immune system strength and your overactive eosinophils and B-Cells. You have dehydration, slight malnutrition due to consuming lower calorie based foods. Your muscle tone is weak, suggesting long term inactivity or lack of exercise. Your respiratory system has accumulated long term damage in the bronchi. It is also the reason for your lack of activity. Your brain is under severe stress, low on neurotransmitters and brain fats. There is an unknown compound in your body that is exacerbating your brain conditions. Currently, your body does not have the required enzymes to degrade that compound, causing it to build up inside your body. My suggestion is dialysis to remove the compound, nutrition to replenish the neurotransmitters and other deficient nutrients and regular exercise to slowly heal the body.”

Leonard was amazed at the detail provided by the MedBud. At the same time, he understood the reason for his side effects.

‘So, my body is deficient in essential neurotransmitters; that explains the dizziness, nausea and headaches. The unknown compound must be the biggest product of the Pill. I have to clear it.’

Leonard commanded, “MedBud, there should be a dialysis machine in the warehouse. Help me complete the dialysis process. I also need a nutrition chart. Gear it towards efficiency and nutrition. If possible, don't add anything that requires too many steps. I need to be able to prepare them without any help.”

MedBud replied affirmatively before going around the warehouse to fetch the dialysis machine. After two days of constant work, Leonard tiredly fell asleep.

Some Time Later

Leonard woke up on his chair. As he tried to move his arm, he felt it tied down to something. He looked at his arm, with a tube sticking out of his arm. It was tied with some cloth strips to the side of the bench. MedBud slowly walked to him. Its tiny black eyes looked at Leonard before deploying his sensors. It carefully scanned Leonard before declaring, “Your dialysis is mostly complete. I have successfully removed most of the unknown compounds from your blood stream. Unfortunately, your full recovery will take time. I have devised a nutrition chart for you. Please follow it.”

Leonard smiled at the robot before instructing, “After the dialysis is complete, you can go on standby mode and rest. Thank you for your assistance.”

MedBud blinked before replying, “You designed me to help you. Assisting you sustains my function. Without you, I would be idle.”

Leonard relaxed in his chair, waiting for the dialysis machine to complete its work. While he had expected side effects when he started taking the Pill, these side effects still made him worry a little. It still gave him a perspective. Even if he was the smartest man in the world, he could not brute-force his way past biology. His body was still a weak link.

Normally, Leonard would have jumped straight to work, but he decided to rest for today. He needs help, people he can trust, a stable structure, a mechanism that will help him fulfil his goals. He took a small notepad from his pocket; something he had started carrying recently to help him brainstorm and record valuable ideas.

‘I have temporarily solved my problem. But I don't know much about this compound. I will have to study it. I may be able to make a cure, but it is a temporary solution at best. Popping pills all the time, even with the cure, is not something feasible. Pills can be lost, destroyed or stolen. Once these pills enter the society, the social order, power structures, economics will become unpredictable and dangerous. If I want to achieve something in science, I need stability.’

Leonard wrote a couple of words on the page, crossing some out, writing some more. His eyes narrowed in concentration. Even without being on the pill, his natural intelligence allowed him to think beyond normal. Suddenly, he heard the dialysis machine hum a tune, signalling the completion of its function. MedBud detached the tubing with gentle precision. Its round black eyes blinked twice, as if mimicking empathy, before announcing, “Toxin removal: 100% complete. Estimated recovery time: partial within one week. Full within two to three months, with sustained nutrition and exercise. Projection: without correction, your lifespan is reduced by 11.3 years.” 

Leonard smirked faintly at the clinical tone. Even his creation had no illusions. Leonard hummed a bit in thought before commenting, “Do not throw the compound. We can research an enzyme for breaking it down.”

‘So there it is. My body isn’t just tired — it’s defective. I’ve been fighting my limits since childhood: asthma, weak bones, allergies. Even with the Pill, I’m only borrowing strength on credit, with compound interest. If I want to keep going… I need to fix the foundation.’

He reached for his notebook, flipping past half-scribbled pages of equations, diet charts, and graphene models. A blank sheet waited. He wrote in quick, decisive strokes:

IHG – Ideal Human Genome

He underlined it once. Then twice.

‘The answer isn’t more pills. The answer is rewriting the blueprint. A genome without weaknesses — immune systems that don’t overreact, muscles that don’t decay, organs that don’t fail. A mind that doesn’t collapse under pressure. Efficient, optimized, unbreakable. The Pill made me extraordinary for hours. IHG will make me extraordinary forever.’

His pen hovered. He thought of cancer patients, of children born with fragile immune systems, of entire families undone by genetic chance. His idea wasn’t just survival — it was salvation.

‘If I can align human DNA with the best of the animal kingdom, I could eliminate fragility entirely. Resistance to disease from one species, endurance from another, even cognition tuned beyond natural limits. Humanity as it should have been.’

He thought for a moment.

‘But I need money to achieve all of that... Gambling was enough to bring me here, but it will not take me much further. I need a stable source of funds. Maybe entrepreneurship will help me in this. But what can I create?’

Leonard looked around the room. His eyes took a look at everything around him.

‘I could make the SynthBrain — but it’s too advanced right now. Its technology isn’t mature enough for mass production. MedBud would be a great product, if only it didn’t rely on SynthBrain. The graphene batteries have potential, but the cost of scaling them is out of reach. Hardware won’t work yet. A software project would be far more feasible. Facebook exploded because it was simple, universal, easy to use. Something that could send files, data, even communicate without network costs… that could work.’

He paused, tapping his pen against the notebook.

‘Still, I shouldn’t limit myself to one project. A single product is fragile. What I need is an umbrella — a firm that can manage multiple ventures, multiple breakthroughs. It would take enormous resources, people I can trust, and time. But if I can build that structure, it will serve as the foundation for everything to come.’

‘This will take more than one man in a warehouse. I’ll need resources, minds I can trust, an infrastructure untouched by politics or greed. That comes later. For now… IHG.’

He paused, tapping the pen against the paper. His mind kept going to the implications of what he was trying to create. It conjured images of scientists working together in harmony, unbothered by the worries of funding, failure and monetized applications of their research. He imagined people all over the world, with smiles on their face, breathing clean air, drinking clean water, and living in clean houses. He thought of people in hospitals, suffering from diseases that couldn't be cured. He saw in his mind’s eye, the people who go hungry, sick and embroiled in conflicts not their own. While the Pill made him see possibilities in his life, without the Pill, he saw the possibilities in the world. A civilization that could reach the stars if it wanted.

‘But no one is willing to do anything to achieve these possibilities.’

He took a deep breath, his eyes sharpened with determination. He wrote another word on the paper, its deeper meaning echoing in each alphabet.

‘CHALDEA' 

He stared at the letters until the ink seemed to burn into the page.

Leonard leaned back, exhausted but resolute, as MedBud powered down into standby. His last thought before drifting into sleep was not of the Pill, nor of the pain, but of the word he had written.

Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 8

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

The warehouse was dark. It was lightly lit by the computer screens running. A glowing blue cube. It had been a week since he had completed MedBud. While his work on Ideal Human Genome was going slowly due to the large amount of data he had to study, he had started designing a delivery system. Sparks spat as Leonard welded some pieces together to form a casket-like shape. He had some inkling to the finished product, but he was still way behind his milestones. 

As he observed the data on a monitor connected to the casket, his mind went back to his conversation with Paige.

Five Days Ago

Leonard logged into his Skype account, connecting his call to Dr. Paige Swanson in a couple of minutes. Paige’s beautiful face appeared on the screen, but her haggard eyes told him of her busy life. Her eyes also carried a hint of frustration.

Leonard joked, “Looks like I will have to up my game. It seems you are quite annoyed by my calls.”

Paige sighed, “ Sorry about that. I am not frustrated by your call. Something else happened. Still, how have you been? I would have thought you did not want to talk anymore. I could not find you for almost two weeks. I even thought you lost yourself in the glamour of Vegas.”

Leonard smiled before replying, “That would never happen. First, I am no longer in Vegas, second, I love talking to you.”

Paige’s cheeks dusted with a mild blush before she exclaimed, “Then, would you like to visit. I am coming to Princeton for a conference. We could catch up.”

Leonard grinned, “That’s great. I will see you soon.”

The next day, Leonard boarded a flight to Princeton, which took about two hours from boarding to landing. Instead of leaving, he rented a car and waited for Paige to land. About half an hour later, he spied Paige leaving the airport with some serious looking researchers. She looked around quickly before her eyes locked with Leonard. They lit up like gems as she quickly made her way after informing her fellow researchers.

She approached Leonard, a soft smile on her face. Her constant interactions with Leonard, coupled with his intelligence, confidence and understanding nature brought them much closer than before.

The two spent the rest of the day roaming around Princeton. Leonard was familiar with the place, his alma mater was Princeton University after all, but the city seemed different. Maybe its the Pill’s effect, or the effect of the woman beside him, but Leonard enjoyed the sights far more than before. For a couple of hours, he forgot about science or the urgency of his experiments, and simply enjoyed Paige’s company.

As the evening came, with the sun slowly creeping towards the horizon, Leonard convinced Paige to accompany him to a bar. Leonard is not an alcoholic, but he invited Paige to help her relax for a while. Leonard’s demeanour allowed Paige to get comfortable and in about half an hour, the two were nursing mild cocktails in a booth.

Leonard started, “Now that we have relaxed a bit, can you tell me what is the problem? You were quite frustrated when we talked yesterday.”

Hearing his words, Paige became solemn. Her eyes fixed themselves on her drink before she remarked, “Do you ever wonder what happens to people who are too far ahead?” Paige asked, fingers tracing the rim of her cosmopolitan. 

 “There was this scientist at MIT. I met him at one of my conferences. While he was not smart at my level, he was a genius at Encryption and Cryptography. One day, he approached me, and told me about his research. He had created an encryption system so foolproof, governments couldn’t crack it, and corporations couldn’t exploit it. It should have changed the face of computer privacy.” 

Her lips curled in a bitter smile. “You know what he got? Rejections. His funding pulled. Then… a car accident on the Charles River bridge.”

 Leonard’s brows drew together.
Paige leaned closer. “Visionaries don’t die of bad luck. They die of being inconvenient.”
Leonard sipped his drink, but his mind was elsewhere.

‘If even brilliance can be erased, then only protection makes genius matter.’

Paige continued, “Yesterday was his death anniversary. A brilliant scientist who could make the world secure, died before he could make any impact. The only proof of his intellect is this…” 

She pulled out a key with a Superman flash drive. It made him remember his own Batman one. She smiled wryly, “He gave it to me before his death. He always liked how Superman saved people and how his creation would save people’s privacy.”

Leonard was silent for a minute, before he signaled a waiter. In ten minutes, the waiter came back with two shot glasses filled with mead. Picking a glass, Leonard remarked, “It is said that Mead was the first alcoholic drink made in history, it is even the favoured drinks of Gods and Heroes of Norse Myth.”

Raising the glass slightly, he motioned for Paige to do the same. He announced, “To a great mind.”

Paige smiled sweetly before following suit. The two drank the mead at the same time, before their faces scrunched slightly. Leonard shuddered, “It’s too sweet.”

Paige agreed, but her eyes held warmth, not giving the overly sweet taste a second thought.

Now 

Leonard wanted to continue work, but the anecdote Paige shared seemed to haunt him. In the days after his meeting, he busied himself with work, but that story kept appearing in his head. It filled him with terror, but not for himself. For some reason, that story struck a chord within him. He stopped work and laid down on a futon laid at the side of the warehouse. Even in the throes of sleep, his mind could not calm down. Leonard fitfully drifted into sleep, Paige’s words echoing… and in that half-conscious state, the faces of the fallen appeared one by one.

He remembered the genius in Cryptography, but his mind brought him the fate of others much more clearly. 

He remembered about Galileo, blind and broken in his home after having to publicly recant his support of heliocentric theory. He remembered Michael Servetus, burned at the stake with his books still chained to him. He remembered Ramanujan, a mathematical genius who died penniless at thirty two, ignored and neglected. His mind supplied the story of Alan Turing, forced to take drugs that chemically castrated him, just because of his sexuality. Tesla soon came to the forefront, a brilliant scientist exploited for his worth, his greatest inventions overshadowed and died in madness. More people kept coming to his mind, disturbing his sleep. Ludwig Boltzmann, committing suicide, Alfred Wegener, frozen in an Arctic expedition, Rosalind Franklin, ignored, with her achievements stolen, Sophie Germain, barred from Education. 

Suddenly, Leonard woke up with a start. His eyes were clear and determined, even as he hyperventilated in the stuffy warehouse. Leonard’s thoughts circled back to Paige’s words.

Visionaries don’t die of bad luck. They die of being inconvenient.

His hand clenched, he gritted, “Not on my watch.”

Two Days Later 

The warehouse was dark but for the glow of Leonard’s computers. Leonard sipped a cup of coffee, as he looked at the small, blue cube. It was a SynthBrain CPU. While quantum computers could not work like regular computers, his hybrid SynthBrain allowed him to create a supercomputer level CPU the size of a showbox. Coupled with his recent advancements in AI studies for MedBud, he was a god on the internet.

Leonard grinned a little.

‘Now, I am just an arc reactor, an iron man suit, a large mansion in Malibu, a large company, and a couple hundred billion dollars away from being Iron Man.’  

Leonard leaned back in his chair before commanding, “Cygnus, report task status.”

His AI trawled databases, hidden journals, and buried court records. The faces appeared one by one, each attached to a story of brilliance crushed under greed, corruption, or indifference.
Leonard’s hand hovered over the notebook, writing one word at the top of the page: CHALDEA.
He underlined it. Then began listing names.

MIT, Boston
Rain hammered the windows of a university lab in Boston. Arun Rao shoved papers into a box as security guards loomed at the door. His machine — a sleek, algae-fed contraption that could eat oil slicks and spit clean water — sat dismantled on the table.

Arun looked around his lab, his heart filled with bitterness. He had spent two years working in this lab. While he was certainly nostalgic, his eyes held resentment and bitterness at the situation. He should have approached the President of the University himself, instead of going through the OSP. He still remembered how the greedy Head of OSP threw his research proposal and his research designs back at him.

“What is the use of cleaning those oceans? It only costs money. Your proposal and your device have little commercial application. And you want me to allow precious university grants to be used on such a project.”

He had assumed that there would be further discussions. But two days later, he was ordered to clear his desk. The security guard, the same one he greeted everyday on his way to the lab, came with the said orders.

“I am sorry for your situation, but orders are orders, Dr. Rao. Your Lab access has been revoked.”
He didn’t look up. His voice cracked. “You’d rather have dead oceans than living ones. Because cleaning isn’t profitable.”

The guard sighed before consoling, “Dr. Rao, your intentions are good, but the world does not recognize them. You are not the first one who was fired like this. I am certain you will not be the last. Just two years ago, one of the researchers from the Computer Department had his grant pulled. It’s unfortunate, he met with an accident a week later.”

As the guards decided to give him space to pack, Dr. Arun Rao, a famed chemical and mechanical engineer, looked at his creation.

 He pressed a trembling hand to the machine’s shell, whispering, “You deserved better.”

Federal Courthouse, Philadelphia

Flashbulbs popped as Dr. Sofia Vasquez stood in chains. Reporters shouted “drug trafficker!” while policemen smirked. 

She was a certified doctor, a pioneer in biology and herbal medicine. She was on a research trip to a town at the outskirts of Philadelphia when a severe illness spread in the town. She took her medicine with her and treated the townsfolk. WIthin two days, the people recovered, but she was also arrested for dealing drugs and human experimentation. Her research — herbal compounds that outperformed antibiotics — was sealed in boxes carted off by officials.

During her trial, she found many people testifying against her. People she had never seen, lied in court to incriminate her of crimes she didn’t commit. Her defense lawyer, a bumbling mess, provided a paltry defense, suggesting she take a plea deal, or she would face a larger sentence.
“My medicine saved lives!” she cried, voice breaking. “You can’t bury the cure!”
The judge banged his gavel, unmoved.

She understood later on, that she had unknowingly stepped in an illegal medicine trial by a pharmaceutical company. In order to conceal this fact, and get their hands on her proven research, the company had bribed local policemen to capture her and press charges. Even when five people from the town complained against her imprisonment, they were quietly threatened. 

Ikope Village, Nigeria
Ash choked the Nigerian sky as Emil Okoye knelt in the rubble of his classroom. Charred pages of philosophy books flaked apart in his hands. The warlord’s men had left nothing standing. His students were gone — scattered or dead.

One of the few survivors in the ghost town found Emil, sobbing among the ruins of his temple of education, clutching torn books with bullet holes. The man quickly snapped Emil out of his almost catatonic state, pulling him to his feet and dragging him to a small truck carrying other survivors to Nairobi. Emil looked at the remains of his town, his school, and a small stuffed toy lying at the entrance of his village grabbed his attention. It belonged to one of his students. A curious eight year old girl, who asked some of the most outrageous questions. Bitter tears flowed down Emil’s eyes.

Emil raised his voice to the empty air. “Education was our shield. And you shattered it.” His voice cracked, then hardened. “But words… words will outlive you.”

San Francisco Memorial Hospital, San Francisco

Hospital corridors reeked of antiseptic. Giselle Blanco — battle-hardened colonel, UN medals gleaming on her chest — stood powerless as doctors shook their heads. 

Giselle stoically stood before the doctor. Dr. Brancusi, a young doctor, tried to make her understand, “ Ma’am, we understand your urgency, and we even believe your promise. But we cannot bend the rules of surgery. Moreover, your insurance doesn’t cover the cost of treatment. The surgery has been delayed for quite some time. If we do not operate soon, she will face permanent damage. It may even lead to death.”

She clenched her fists so hard they bled. “Please doctor, try to control her condition for some time. I am trying to arrange funds. I have applied for aid from the U.S. Military, as well as the UN”

The doctor sighed, “I will try my best, but we have to operate soon. Please arrange the funds needed soon.”

Giselle sat on a bench in the hallway. Soon, she received a message on her cellphone. There were a lot of flowery words, but the core message was “We are sorry for your condition, but we cannot provide aid.”

 Her voice collapsed into a whisper. “Why didn’t they help me when I needed it? Did I not bleed for the nation?”

Seattle Courthouse

The courthouse emptied as Mike Ross stepped into the rain, his briefcase clutched like a shield. His career was over — not because he lacked skill, but because he exposed a corrupt judge who should have faced prison. Instead, the system exiled him.

A senior partner from his law firm, Jenna, came up to him. Placing a hand on his shoulder, she asked, “Are you okay Mike? I heard what happened.”

Mike shook his head, “It is nothing. I just want to clear my head.”

Jenna pushed, “Are you sure you are okay?”

Mike was annoyed. While he was a mild tempered man, right now, his mood was mercurial, “ No, I am not okay Jenna. I spent years studying law, mastering every ridiculous, downright insane law of this country. I worked at the firm for two years, starting as an intern, all the way to my current position. Now, because I exposed injustice, because I stood by the truth, I can no longer practice law in this state. Years of hard work, sleepless nights, studying in one of the most competitive law schools in the country and coming out on top. Yet, when I tried to use the law to defend people, I lost my career.”

Turning away from the wide eyed Jenna, Mike muttered bitterly, “Law is supposed to defend the people. But it defends itself more than the people.”

Warehouse, Washington DC

Leonard looked at these reports . People, good people, downtrodden and defeated by the systems meant to help them. These were the people he wanted. Originally, he thought of inviting his friends as well, but something stopped him. His friends are good at taking shelter under the umbrella, but they are not suitable enough to hold the umbrella for others. He quickly drafted the letters. No grand promises. Just the truth: anonymity, resources, a second chance. A place to build without chains. Each message ended with a single word: Chaldea.
As he pressed send, his reflection glimmered faintly on the laptop screen. Behind him, the metallic coffin waited, silent and ominous.

‘This world has stepped on many brilliant, good people. Now, these people will find a home, a cause worthy of their kindness and ambition. They will become the foundation. My inner circle.’

Leonard stood up from the floor, leaving the metallic shell on the ground. It stretched out like a coffin, sleek and terrible, cables snaking from it into generators that hummed low, like the growl of a waiting beast. He stood back, wiping sweat from his forehead, eyes drinking in the sight.
“This isn’t a deathbed,” he whispered. “It’s a chrysalis.”

Inside, graphene coils and nanotube wiring gleamed. It would bombard his body with radiation, rewriting his very cells. A crude, dangerous step toward his Ideal Human Genome. He pressed a hand to the steel lid, and in its cold reflection, his face looked like both creator and sacrifice.

Chapter Text

A Clear Pill Chapter 9

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Warehouse, Washington DC 

It had been a week since Leonard had sent those invitations. While most of the invitees opened the invitations, their attitude was ambiguous. Still, he had learned that a couple of those invitees did move to attend his conference at the end of the month. Leonard looked at the screen where several other invites to talented programmers, business professionals, doctors, scientists and other such talents were waiting to be sent.

‘Looks like many are interested in my invite-based conference. Still, there are some who might need help. It looks like a trip is in order.’

Leonard looked at the latest whereabouts of Mike Ross, a talented lawyer who just left Seattle due to exposing the corruption in the judiciary. While the public would have praised such a lawyer, no law firm would hire such a whistleblower. Currently, he is interviewing for a job at one of the high profile law firms in New York.

Leonard smirked, “Even after he was disgraced, he did not go to a lower-grade firm. Unfortunately, it is a futile venture.” He looked at the clock. It was still early in the morning. And, New York wasn’t far from Washington. Another glance at the board made two names more clear. 

Leonard pondered, “Yeah…I’ll have to do something about the situations of Dr. Sofia and Colonel Giselle.”

No matter what problems you face in the US, money can help you solve them. Ironically, tax evasion and other financial crimes that can harm a large number of people, often go unreported. While his recent research was costly, he earned back his money in the stock market. His previous ten million dollars have swelled to thirty million. Not enough for his long term goals, but perfect for his current needs.  

As he packed his bag, Leonard looked at the large tank on the side of his lab. An axolotl floated lazily in its tank, its pale skin luminous under the laboratory light. It blinked with that strange calm. Leonard had acquired the axolotl just two days prior. This was the first pet he had since he went to college. He had named this one Jerry. It was not just a pet, but also a research subject. He had wanted to get to research right away, but now, he had to leave for a while. He decided to give some instructions before leaving, “MedBud, take a small sample from Jerry and start sequencing his DNA. I have also left my sample. I want both genomes completely sequenced by the time I come back.”

With that, Leonard took a jacket and drove to the airport.

MacLaren’s Pub, Manhattan, New York

Mike Ross sat at one of the stools nursing an Old Fashioned. He had found himself in pubs and bars more often than he would have liked. Still, his day, interviewing at various law firms around the city, felt longer than ever. He came to the bar to unwind, but his mind kept going to the responses he received.

‘We don’t have an opening, please contact us later.’

‘Your portfolio is too varied. We don’t have confidence that you know enough about any one branch perfectly.’

‘Our clients prefer older lawyers with more experience.’

These comments kept swimming in his head, making his alcohol induced headache worse. Still, he appreciated the honesty of the last law firm he visited.

‘No one would hire you. You have proven yourself to be a security risk. I have heard about you. They say you are too aggressive in pursuing justice. Take this as advice. There is no justice in law. Lawyers only have the ability to help their clients using, bending or even twisting justice. Someone like you, who wants to point out injustice will certainly make a lot of enemies, and no one wants those enemies to target their companies.’

Mike smiled wryly. His father was a policeman, who died protecting a restaurant owner during a shootout. While the shooter was caught, Mike learnt that he was just hired to shoot up the restaurant. No one knew of his employer. The judge soon dismissed further enquiries in the case. Justice was absent in his fathers case. During his studies, he found many such examples where justice was missing. He learnt other things like psychology, body language analysis, and the basics of forensic science, hoping to help other people attain justice. Yet, his crusade against injustice had led him to this point. No firm hired him, no client approached him. His proud law degree now seemed like wastepaper.

“A gin with tonic, add a twist of lemon as well.”

Someone pulled up the stool at his side. Mike looked at the man. Well-fitted shirt and trousers, a jacket over the shirt and a file in his hand. While the man wasn’t tall, he held an air of maturity and intelligence. He had slicked back hair with a slight beard. However, the most striking feature of the man was the eyes. He had bright, almost luminescent eyes that shone with intelligence and wisdom. The man looked at Mike, and Mike felt that the man did not approach him by coincidence. His next words confirmed the guess.

The man smiled softly, “Hell Mr. Ross. I am Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. Do you have some time to talk?”

Mike smiled wistfully, “The only thing I don’t lack right now is time. If you had approached me two weeks ago, that would not have been the case.”

Leonard smiled, “Yeah…I heard what happened. But you don’t seem like someone who would give up at a setback.”

Mike sighed, “While I do have a lot of time, I would rather not waste it. Why were you looking for me?”

Leonard handed the file to Mike. Despite his slightly intoxicated state, Mike looked at the contents seriously. As other patrons trickled into the bar, Mike finished reading the file. He looked evenly at Leonard. 

Mike spoke, “Based on what you have provided, she seemed to have crashed an illegal human trial. The company behind the trial, framed her for the entire incident. Even the police have been bribed, otherwise it would have taken longer to convict her. The only silver lining is that she has been sent to a humane prison. What do you want to achieve with a trial?”

Leonard challenged, “A full acquittal. Think you can achieve that?”

Mike smiled genuinely, “With what you have provided, I can even counter sue the state of Philadelphia. Still, there are so many other good lawyers with much better resources and connections. Why come to me?”

Leonard smirked, “Think of this as a test. Your character has already impressed me. Now, your abilities must follow suit. I’ll get someone to protect you. Should you succeed, come meet me.”

With that, Leonard quickly drained his drink, paid the bill and stood up from the stool. 

Mike remarked, “You will step on a lot of toes if you do this.”

Leonard smirked back, “You don’t need to fear stepping on toes, if you can crush them completely.”

Mike smiled a little. He decided to take the case. While he did not know about the pay, his spirit was more active than before. As Leonard left, Mike’s eyes went to a small red card, clearly an invitation. It was simple but tasteful. On the back, he saw a word written in bold font.

‘CHALDEA’

Leonard quickly left the bar. After hailing a taxi, he reached the airport. Normally, he would simply get on the plane, but he had another task to complete. Taking out his modified smartphone, he dialed.

San Francisco Memorial Hospital, San Francisco

A delicate, blond haired girl rested on the bed, her face covered by a mask. Life support equipment was connected to every part of her body, keeping her stable for now. At her side, a beautiful but tough woman sat, holding her hand. 

Giselle’s mind still played the contents of the call she received two days before.

‘We are sorry for your condition, but we cannot provide aid.’

Giselle had exhausted all her connections. While she understood her friends’ dilemma, 500k was a large amount after all, her understanding will not solve her daughter’s struggle. Her daughter, as if sensing her disturbance, woke up to comfort her.

“Mom, don’t worry. You told me that I am a good girl. And God always helps good people.”

Giselle couldn’t help but shed tears at her weak voice. Suddenly, her phone rang in her pocket. Taking this call as an excuse, she hid her tears and left the room for a minute.

Giselle sniffled, “Hello, who is it?”

A youthful voice came from the other end, “Good evening Colonel Blanco. My name is Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I would like to hire you.”

Giselle bristled, “What nonsense are you prattling on about! I don’t have time for a job. I am stressed as is. I did not apply for any job and I don’t want any right now…”

Before she could continue, Leonard interrupted, “Are you sure? The job is really great. As a bonus, I could even send you an advanced salary. It might be lower than many other people for now, but it should be enough to treat your daughter and live a slightly comfortable life during her recovery.”

Giselle stilled at that. She did not believe the job part, but she really hoped it was true. She whispered, “Why do you want to hire me? What do I have to do? And, when can I get the salary?”

She could even hear him smiling through the phone. He continued, “I want you to be my Chief of Security. Your current job is simple. I want you to protect two people, one is Mike Ross, a lawyer who will soon appeal the case for your second charge. The other is Dr. Sofia Vasquez, a biologist, who was recently put behind bars for selling drugs and using drugs to cause an epidemic in a small town. I’ll send you detailed files soon.”

Giselle started, “I can protect Mike, but I cannot protect Sofia. She is in prison after all…”

Leonard interrupted, “First of all, you don’t have to personally protect them. You have had such a decorated career. You must have connections among retired soldiers who can protect Mike. And you would certainly know people, who know other people, who might know people in the prison system. They can protect Sofia. This is as much a contract as it is a test. Protect these people well and you would be permanently hired. Else, you will work to the bone to return this money to me.”

Suddenly she received a message informing her of a deposit of $250K in her account. 

She wept happily, “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I could ever repay you”

Leonard quickly replied, “ The hospital has a policy. They will accept a payment in installments. Pay half right now and they would start the operation. The rest can be paid later on. Now, do everything you must, but protect those people till the end of the month. I have sent you an invitation to a conference. We will meet then.”

As the call disconnected, Giselle quickly checked her mail. There was a new mail, with a bold font. The title on the invitation caught her attention before she went to pay the surgery bill.

‘CHALDEA

Philadelphia Detention Center

Rain battered the windows as Mike Ross stepped into the prison’s legal wing, his briefcase snapping open on the counter. The guard eyed him suspiciously, but the paperwork bore every clearance mark possible.

Inside, Dr. Sofia Vasquez sat in a gray prison jumpsuit.

Her dark brown hair and slightly tanned skin, coupled with her soft features gave her a kind beauty. But her beauty was marred by her hollow but defiant eyes.

 Mike sat down across from her, as she watched vigilantly.

Mike started, “Good evening Dr. Vasquez, I am Mike Ross. I will be your new attorney.

Sofia frowned, “What do you mean by that? I did not hire a new attorney. Especially after that fool got me these chains.”

Mike nodded calmly. He understood her skepticism. No one helped her when she was fighting for herself in the courthouse. Even he would have trouble trusting anyone, especially a lawyer.

“I understand your feelings Dr. Vasquez. To be honest, none of the people you know hired me. Your university, your mentor, even your family, has mostly cut ties with you as soon as the first verdict came. I don’t think anyone has even visited you since.”

 Sofia snarled, “Did you come here to mock me?”

Mike replied, “Not at all Dr. Vasquez. I simply came here to make sure you get the justice denied to you. Please take a look at this file.”

Sofia quickly looked through her case file. It had most of the information she knew and some that was completely unknown to her. By the end, she had settled into a melancholic frown, contemplating the information she had received. Looking up at Mike, she started, “ I have two questions: Who hired you to free me, and how did you come across this information?”

Mike smiled slightly. He replied, “I was hired by a Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. I don’t think you know him, and I don’t know how he is connected to you. But he asked me to get you a full acquittal by the end of the month. It is a help for you and a test for me.”

Sofia’s eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar name. She asked, “Do you think he is connected to the company behind that experiment? Maybe a whistleblower?”

Mike shook his head, “ I don’t think so. His modus operandi is not like that of a whistleblower. Still, he asked me to save you? Maybe he wants something.

Sofia asked impatiently, “He asked you to save me without a catch. Do you even believe that? He must have some motive.”

Mike paused before saying, “I don’t know his motivations. But I will still appeal your case. You are innocent. Maybe he has some motivations, but he still decided to save you. So, I will give him the benefit of doubt. Maybe, this would give you some clue.”

He slid a sealed envelope across the table. One word was written on the flap: Chaldea.

Sofia sighed. She sat down on the bench once again, before Mike started to discuss the case once again.

Warehouse, Washington DC

Leonard stood in his lab once again. He adjusted the microscope feed, magnifying the axolotl’s stem cells. The quantum imaging lattice — a device he invented while developing the SynthBrain — shimmered faintly beside him. The cube of light mapped genetic bonds in three dimensions. Displaying it as holograms. Quickly zooming at specific DNA sections, Leonard marvelled at the convenience of his creations. It wasn’t just an electron microscope. It was a window into the architecture of life.

‘As time goes by, I am becoming more like Iron Man. I have an AI like him, I have a lot of money, even though it's not at his level, I have created revolutionary technology and now, I even play with holograms.’

Human DNA, more specifically his human DNA, spiraled and danced in mid air. On the side, the axolotl’s regenerative genes shimmered, their regulatory sequences loose, flexible, and unshackled. The Axolotl genome is about ten times the size of the human genome, with a lot of repeating sequences and trigger genes. 

Leonard stood before it, mesmerized.

‘An animal that never grows old — never loses its regenerative gift. It can regenerate everything, from limb, to brain. Even its DNA does not usually degrade. Truly, a marvelous creature. And complex too. It doesn’t have enough features to be so genetically complex. Thankfully, the Pill allows me to study it more thoroughly’

His hands moved with surgical precision as he began matching patterns, aligning, overlaying, and calculating binding efficiency.

“Sequence 4A to 7C... link through Methyl Relay,” he murmured. “Trigger through Supergene Cluster.”

‘In my own DNA, I found that there are many Trigger Genes that have gone dormant now. Only atavistic development could have allowed their expression. Like this one for example.’

Leonard highlighted a specific gene in his genome. He had found a similar one in the axolotl DNA as well. According to MedBud’s calculations, it seemed to control muscle fibre degradation. What he could infer was that ancient human beings did not lose muscle easily. Their bodies, hardened by the harsh environment, kept its strength even after long stretches of inactivity. But as humans started to change their environment, wearing clothes and using fire, this gene should have gone dormant. There were many such genes, like the one that helped heal the body faster. He even found a gene similar to tardigrade genes that prevented DNA breakdown to some extent. But as human society developed, many of these genes became dormant. These biological processes that were regulated by the body on its own, slowly lost their function.

‘Regulation isn’t the problem. It’s control. Humans evolved to limit themselves. What if I could unshackle that restraint — tune the system to efficiency, not fear of mutation?’

Leonard kept working. Matching various genes to counterparts in other organisms, studying both the similarities and differences. Every touch of his rewrote the nature of humanity itself.

Slowly, hours turned into days. The warehouse filled with the hum of computers and the rhythmic whirring of cooling fans. Leonard kept studying, matching DNA, removing any kinks out of his imperfections. As the new DNA strand started to take shape, he had eliminated all the genetic noise in humanity.

He studied the tardigrade’s DNA-repair proteins, the neoteny factor in the axolotl that prevented full metamorphosis, the metabolic efficiency of arctic foxes, and the oxygen adaptation of Tibetan yaks. As his study deepened, he kept comparing and improving the DNA, without changing the essence of humanity. There were limitations, sure. Anything that required special organs, symbiosis, or parasitism was eliminated.

Every breakthrough he achieved enhanced the genome. Every simulation brought him closer to a genome that could withstand anything — disease, decay, even time itself. By the second week, his eyes were red, but his mind was clear. The MedBud monitored his vitals silently. At some point, he even dissolved a Pill into a cell culture, slowly studying how the genes react to the Pill. That breakthrough was important as the Pill excited certain genes, even in cells with a normal genome. In all his experiments, MedBud proved to be a great assistant, using the SynthBrain to its utmost limit.

It took Leonard three whole weeks. Two weeks before his first Chaldea conference, Leonard had created something valuable. Something that could fuel medicine research, eugenics, genetic engineering and various other fields for decades. He activated the central system. The screens synchronized, displaying the final sequence — a digital helix glowing gold and blue.

‘This is it. The Ideal Human Genome, the upgrade of humanity. It is efficient, resilient, and unbreakable. Once the body is modified to this, it will shed all genetic weakness. No more cancer, AIDS, autoimmune diseases. With this, humans will ditch the randomness of evolution, becoming something greater. With this, I have officially conquered evolution itself.’

He leaned closer to the display, the reflection of the genome fractal shimmering in his eyes.

‘Previously, humanity evolved to survive chaos. I’ll evolve to master it.’

He turned to the metallic chamber — still skeletal, wires coiled like veins waiting for life.

“MedBud, prep the injection arrays. We will have a final stage of troubleshooting. After that, we’re going to rewrite the blueprint. Cygnus, simulate the Bio-Resonance field and exotic radiation experiment.”

The AI informed, “Sir, procedure carries 89.7% risk of irreversible mutation.”

Leonard smiled, “Let me tell you something Cygnus, no one has achieved anything great without taking risks. If the gods feared fire, they would just be mortals.”

Chapter Text

“ Leonard Speaking”

‘ Pill Leonard Thinking’

Warehouse, Washington DC 

Leonard pushed a cart, loaded with food, inside the warehouse. It has been two days since the simulations and troubleshooting began. Now, he has increased his chances to 97%, but there are still risks. A lot of energy will be required for his transformation, and his body will need this sustenance. Placing his cart by the door, Leonard looked around his warehouse. It has almost been four months into his sabbatical, and the effect of the Pill was visible around the warehouse. His venture in gambling, his profits in the stock market and all the knowledge he had learned over the past four months were deeply reflected in the objects around the warehouse. His computer setup was upgraded with his knowledge of quantum physics, chemistry and computer systems. His phone was self made, with a graphene chip he printed with his 3D printer. Other technology, decades ahead of anything available right now.

But now, his experiment will achieve something centuries ahead. He was going to unlock human potential, even control the randomness of evolution. His body will soon be human version 2.0, an upgrade that would have taken centuries to develop on its own. He turned to MedBud, “Do we have enough power to run the Chrysalis?”

MedBud replied, “Sir, we have fully charged about a hundred graphene batteries. They should be able to power the Chrysalis. As a precaution, we have also connected the device to the grid with a transformer. Should the batteries prove to be insufficient, the grid will power the device to completion. QBot has made sure that the connection is seamless, so that the device is not shut off during critical processes.”

Leonard looked at QBot, a robot inspired by the wonderful astromech, R2D2. He had made it to assist with some basic tasks around the warehouse. Instead of the traditional R2D2, he had created the main body to look like a ball. Fitted with new age gyroscopic sensors, nimble robotic arms, and balancing devices, the robot was something straight out of Star Wars. The robot turned to him and beeped in binary. Leonard smiled at the useful guy. He turned to MedBud and commanded, “Prepare the procedure. Today, we optimize humanity.”

Apartment 4A, Pasadena

A group sat around the sofa, with copious amounts of Chinese food spread across the tiny table. As everyone ate, they found an unnatural atmosphere spread around the table. Sheldon kept eating without a care in the world, but the rest found it awkward. Originally, they thought the reason was Leonard’s absence, but the real reason was something different.

Sheldon smirked a little, “This is nice, it's been a while since we have sat around the table since Wolowitz’s wedding.”

Amy looked at the people around the table. Previously, there were three couples and Raj, but now, the dynamics seem to have changed. Now, Howard and Bernadette, married, seemed a little distant. Sheldon and Amy have lived together since Howard’s wedding, but the warmth that the group had was missing. The hardest hit was Penny. She seemed cut off from the previous group dynamics. 

No one was interested in answering Sheldon. They silently buried their heads in the food. Sheldon seemed to catch on to the awkwardness. He sighed before announcing, “I have something to announce.”

Everyone perked up as Sheldon continued, “I have seen how the group doesn't seem interested in these weekly gatherings. It seems everyone has become more reclusive since Leonard threw that hissy fit and left the apartment. While I would not have done this, I have decided to forgive Leonard and invite him back to the apartment once he returns from his sabbatical.”

Howard interjected, “Do you think he will even want to come? Don’t forget, he even missed my wedding.”

Sheldon looked at Howard as if he was an idiot, “Howard, Leonard was busy, he didn’t have enough time for meaningless celebrations. Besides, this is his home, where else would he go?”

Howard gritted his teeth in annoyance before sharing a look with Bernadette. Picking his food quickly, he closed the lid and left the room with Bernadette. Sheldon looked perturbed before asking Amy, “What did I do?”

Amy explained, “Sheldon, their wedding might seem pointless to you, but it was a big deal for them. It’s like you winning the Nobel Prize but someone mocking your achievement. Besides, even if he was busy, Leonard would at least contact them. Even Penny hasn’t heard from Leonard for a while.”

Sheldon seemed to realize, “Oh! I see. I would apologize for that.”

Penny spoke tiredly, “We are not the one you have to apologize to Sweetie. Well I am done, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Amy waved, “Good night bestie.”

Penny simply waved and left. Raj slipped quickly afterwards. Amy and Sheldon cleared the empty plates. Sheldon placed a kettle and turned to Amy, “Amy, do you think Leonard will come back?”

Amy looked at him, “Why do you ask? Didn’t you think that he was just throwing, as you called it, a hissy fit.”

Sheldon looked down, before sighing, “Leonard has completely cut off contact with me, as well as everyone else. I went to Seibert the other day. According to him, it was Leonard himself who brought up the sabbatical to him. If he had the offer before, he would have told me. But even during the days he is away from the apartment, he never cuts off contact with everyone he knows.”

Amy looked a little guilty. After all, she, in her drunken state, had suggested that Sheldon use dirty tactics. Still, she tried to comfort him, “Maybe he wanted the project to be a surprise. And, many such projects are really secretive. He might have been asked to keep it a secret. Besides, weren’t you happy when he left? You even celebrated once when you ”

Sheldon was pensive at that before replying, “I know. You should know Amy, that I am a very particular person. For the past eight years. I have shared this apartment with Leonard. He is like a fan or a television, a permanent fixture in my life. Among all of my friends, he is the only one who stuck with me. For all intents and purposes, he is my best friend.”

Amy tried to approach his view from a logical point, “People change over time Sheldon. Maybe Leonard also decided to change himself. Your behaviour of taking him for granted has made him angry enough to change.”

Sheldon scoffed, “As if he could ever change. Even Dr. Beverly Hofstadter explained in her book that Leonard is not someone who is capable of change. Maybe she will have some insight on where he is and what he is doing. I will contact her.”

With that, Sheldon stood up and looked for the phone. For once, Amy did not know what to say.

Warehouse, Washington DC

Leonard lay in the Chrysalis, his clothes folded to the side. QBot silently rolled around, connecting various wires and cables, building batteries and making sure the Chrysalis would function well. 

MedBud approached Leonard and explained the process again, “Sir, the process is irreversible. As you know, it will place you in a Bio-Resonance field. This will vibrate you down to the DNA. It will also make you and your DNA extremely malleable. While your body is in this field, the Chrysalis will bombard your body with quantum photonic lasers. The resonance will maximize at the IHG state. When every cell in your body resonates at that frequency, every gene will be changed to the IHG. A couple of warnings; your body has a 1% chance of developing unplanned mutations; Even when your body has changed itself, your body will require at least a week to fix all your existing conditions, like your asthma, your myopia and other health issues. I suggest you eat a lot of nutritious food and exercise a lot.”

Leonard removed his glasses. He had not taken the Pill today, hoping to prevent any interference. His eyes immediately blurred as the Chrysalis closed around him. For a while, dark thoughts came to his mind. What if he failed, what if he developed something like cancer…what if he died. But before these thoughts could overpower him, he thought of many other things. He thought of his recent knowledge and achievements, and how he would hate for them to go to waste. He thought of Chaldea, a group in its infancy, hoping to improve the situation of the world. He also imagined blond hair and sharp grey eyes. He remembered the small gestures she made, her smile when she found someone who understood her. Its funny how he had dated beautiful women like Penny and Priya, but Paige gave him the closest feeling of a deep connection. 

Leonard breathed a sigh before a whirring sound came from the device above his chest. It started with a small buzzing sensation, quickly intensifying to a full blown tremor as the device started vibrating his body. Then the pain came.

Outside the Chrysalis, MedBud kept a close eye on Leonard’s condition. He saw as the cells started to vibrate under the influence of the resonance field. It saw how Leonard’s fist gritted itself.

Leonard wanted to scream, but no sound came out of his mouth. Everything in his body shook but he did not find any strength to move. It felt as though his entire body was a giant funny bone, with a single touch sending a numbing shock to everything. 

Before the pain could end, the diodes at the ends of the Chrysalis started to send exotic near infrared radiation. The pain became worse, as Leonard felt his body heating and burning. He wanted to scream more but he could do nothing to counteract the pain. Soon, Leonard passed out in the Chrysalis as the device kept rewriting him.

Inside Leonard’s Mind

Leonard seemingly woke up, his body floated in a dark void. His eyes tried to find where he was but nothing was visible. In the distance he saw a small point. Leonard floated closer to the ball, watching it glow lightly. As Leonard touched it, he saw the ball burst with a large bang. He saw the debris fill the world around him, forming clouds of different colours. Soon, the clouds started to condense and glow, forming large clusters.

As Leonard looked around this void, he saw as the clouds continued to shrink, and one seemed to call to Leonard. He approached a small glowing spot that started to spin and collect the dust around it. Soon, Leonard realized why this ball seemed so familiar. This glowing ball was the Sun, and the balls around it were the planets. He focused on Earth and saw as it began to cool, turning from the fiery ball to a planet covered with water. He saw how landmass formed, how life originated in the ocean.

Leonard observed life as it grew in the oceans, starting from a single prokaryote to eukaryote, to plants to algae, to trilobites and molluscs. He saw the first fish, the first amphibians and how they became reptiles. He saw the reptiles who were not suitable for land die, while the suitable ones kept living. He saw the dinosaurs and how they lived in three distinct eras. He saw environmental changes wipe the earth clean, starting over from the few survivors left. 

Soon, he observed the start of mammals. He saw how they populated the Earth, how human beings came into being and how they started to conquer the earth itself. Soon, Leonard started to get bored of this. His mind yearned for something else. He saw the physical phenomena change. From three dimensions, everything expanded into two. He saw the universe keep expanding into a sheet, constantly unrolling into the infinite. Leonard shifted his perspective and the universe became a line. From this perspective, he saw the universe become a thin line with its own wave, constantly vibrating.

Leonard breathes hard, “The String Theory. But is this it?”

Suddenly, he saw the string connect with another string, forming a Möbius strip. He saw how the string seemed to tangle in itself, forming knots, bunching up to form balls, their vibration translating to energy, forming a large ball. Leonard’s perspective shifted again. He saw countless balls gather together forming structures. Some balls were small, some large. Some inexplicably joined, others just near. The balls kept tightening, holding entire universes in them.

Leonard’s eyes widened, “The Multiverse. So it exists. But where can we find something that big.”

Suddenly, the perspective shifted again. This time the balls began to shrink, they started forming a mass, then it kept increasing. Finally, Leonard could focus on the macro, he saw the aggregate forming another Leonard.

Leonard was dumbfounded for a second, “What does this mean?”

The Other smirked, “You know what it means. Think about it. What is a universe? What is the multiverse? What is God? If you think, you will have the answer.”

Leonard thought for a second and answered, “Everything is God, every atom is a universe. Any aggregate of these atoms is a multiverse.”

The Other smiled but put a rhetorical question in front of Leonard, “But then, why is the energy in the Universe constant?”

Leonard smiled, “Because Universes are separated by dimensions. Every higher dimension is made by many lower dimension multiverses. If I can manipulate these higher dimensions, you can even write on a proton. There would be no difference between a paper and an atom. I just haven’t found a method to do this. This could actually explain everything. Why various core theories are constant at different levels. Why travelling the multiverse is seemingly impossible. You cannot jump to a higher universe or a lower universe. It is like a comic book character jumping out of the comic book into real life. Neither can a higher dimensional being go to a lower one. It would be like jumping into a comic book and living in that world.”

The Other smiled a wide smile, “Now, you are ready. You understand the fundamental nature of the world. You understand the common factor.”

Leonard asked, “Who are you?”

The Other smiled, “I can be anyone you want, but you can call me Author. Now, it’s time to wake up.”

Warehouse, Washington DC

Leonard woke up with a start. He was still in the Chrysalis, but the device was off. His body was wracked with pain. As soon as the lid opened, Leonard stumbled out and took a deep fevered breath. He stumbled to the fridge, tearing into the food. As soon as he took a bite, his senses exploded with information. He could taste everything, from the condiments, to the water that once irrigated the leaf he was chewing. Every hormone the animal was given, every pesticide that ever touched the vegetables. Thankfully, his senses quickly adjusted to a bearable level. He looked around, his eyes took in every detail with clarity. As the food reached his stomach, he felt his digestive system quickly break down the food. Almost every bit of energy in the food was efficiently absorbed. Even a single bite brought him warmth. He had previously experienced his regular state and the Pill-enhanced state. Right now, he was a cut above his Pill-enhanced state. Even the pain he felt during the procedure was slowly fading with every bite, as his enhanced Immune system fixed his injuries and nerves at record speed.

MedBud approached Leonard from behind, quickly scanned his body and informed, “Congratulations Sir, the procedure was successful. Your body is repairing the damage it had accumulated in record speed. Your bones and muscles are slowly strengthening with the nutrients you consumed. I would still recommend that you exercise to enhance your strength and organ health.”

Leonard finished his food and sat on his chair. He looked at the ceiling before announcing, “Hello world, I am Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, previously, I changed according to you, now, I am going to change you in my image.”