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It's alive! Well, not exactly alive—but it works! It truly works! I couldn't contain my excitement; I clutched my hair with both hands, nearly overwhelmed by joy. My very first invention, and it functions as intended! I've created something that actually works, and that, to me, is a significant cause for pride. Sure, there's still work to be done: the external interface could use refinement, the internal mechanisms need another thorough check for bugs, and further adjustments are inevitable. But the fact remains—the glasses work. That alone puts this invention on the list of my greatest achievements so far.
If you're still unsure why I'm so elated, let me put it plainly: my "hologram glasses" project has reached a pivotal milestone. The first functioning prototype exists. It's not perfect yet, but it's real, tangible proof that I endured months of frustration—pain, sweat, and countless hours I thought were wasted—only to emerge victorious. To invent a high-tech device from scratch, I needed to master programming basics, delve into the laws of robotics, pick up mechanical engineering, and absorb an ocean of practical, hands-on skills—all of which stretched me to my limits. There were nights spent poring over textbooks, mornings when circuits refused to connect, and afternoons filled with the tedium of debugging stubborn lines of code. Each challenge tested me; each failure hinted I'd never succeed, but here I am, holding the very proof that perseverance pays off.
Now, I think it's time for a small test.
"Harley," I called out to the girl currently suspended upside down from sturdy, dark-green vines—a gift from her best friend. She made a sudden, nimble movement and landed gracefully on the hard floor, flashing me a playful grin. Even in moments like these, her energy was infectious and unpredictable.
"I'm here! What do you need? Want me to break something? Fix something? Or do you just miss your sweet, lovable Harley?" she asked, batting her eyes theatrically. "Seriously, though, I'm up for any kind of mischief! I'm so bored right now. I never realized how dull being law-abiding could be! Really, it's enough to drive a girl mad. Ivy's busy tending to her plants, and I'm stuck here suffering from boredom. Alex, this won't do—I need something to do, preferably something wild. Maybe rob a bank, plant some bombs, teach a couple of self-important idiots a lesson... Oh, right, I can't do any of that. Ha-ha-ha…"
It had only been two days since Harley was discharged from Arkham Asylum, and already she was jittery, itching for something to keep her occupied. Despite her brave attempt at living a more "normal" life, I saw the restlessness in her eyes—the longing for chaos, for thrills she was forbidden to indulge. She was attempting to walk the straight and narrow, but detoxing from her former lifestyle was hard. She was like someone going through withdrawal, twitchy and impatient for the adrenaline rush she once lived for. I realized I needed to help her—to give her purpose, something meaningful to distract her from old habits and fill her hours with something more fulfilling.
"Harley, how do you feel about paying Dazzler a visit tomorrow?" I asked. "We could see her and, in the process, find an activity for you that you'd truly enjoy. I just came up with an idea for a new song…"
"Songs? For me?" Harley's eyes sparkled with excitement, her mood lifting instantly. For a moment, she was herself again—vivacious, unpredictable, and blissfully hopeful.
"Yes—and I know you'll love it. But first…" With a sense of anticipation, I handed her the glasses. "I need a favor. Could you go see Pamela? I want to run a quick functionality test; the glasses need to be checked in a real environment, among friends and with natural distractions."
"Okay!" Harley chirped, snatching the glasses and dashing out of my office. With her, I entrusted a small, pyramid-shaped device—an integral part of my invention. The device felt heavy with possibility; perhaps it would bring us one step closer to seamless virtual communication.
Once she'd left, I readied myself for the test drive. "Eva, are you online?" I called out to my virtual assistant, whose digital presence was both reassuring and critical to my project's success.
"At your service, sir," replied Eva's cool, mechanical voice, her tone always calm but somehow suffused with efficiency.
"Power up the display and download the control panel from my computer," I instructed. Every moment, my pulse quickened with anticipation.
"Loading," Eva responded promptly, her words accompanied by a soft whir from the system as it initialized.
"All set?" I asked.
"I've rebooted, sir. We're connected and ready."
"Good. Begin a systems check," I said, my breath caught between hope and anxiety.
"As you wish." Eva started the diagnostic scan; a fill indicator flashed across the display, quickly maxing out at 100%. The lights flickered briefly, casting strange shadows on the walls—almost as if the room itself was holding its breath, waiting for my invention to prove itself.
"Check complete," Eva intoned. "Powering down and beginning a full-system evaluation. May I remind you: the hologram glasses prototype contains the 'TS' element and a vibranium thread. Calculations indicate these may trigger a chain reaction that could shut down the entire system," she warned, ever watchful for threats that might undermine our progress.
"Eva, if we can't walk, we'll run. Connect with Harley—in three, two… one." I swallowed, bracing for whatever would come next.
In a heartbeat, I found myself virtually transported to the wild serenity of Ivy's botanical retreat. The flora bloomed incessantly, each flower opening at its own precise moment, painting a paradise that only the enclosing walls could dampen. The vines slithered along those walls, reaching toward the ceiling, their path softening the moss-laden floor below. There was an energy to the place, a palpable sensation of restrained life waiting to burst free.
Two figures stood in the center of this green sanctuary. Their outlines were a touch hazy—undoubtedly a glitch with the system, one I'd have to iron out in future iterations. Harley and Pamela gazed at my translucent projection with astonishment. That pyramid-shaped device I'd given Harley was scanning the entire space, granting me a 360-degree visual feed of everything, down to the subtlest detail—leaf veins, glimmers on petals, even the shimmer of Pamela's watchful eyes. It also cast my hologram for the benefit of anyone lacking the special glasses, so both Harley and Ivy could see me in full, living color. Should the pyramid be removed, my image would vanish for Ivy, but for Harley, still wearing the glasses, I'd remain visible as her secret window into my world.
"Can you see me? Hear me?" my voice rang out through Ivy's greenhouse, sounding more confident than I felt.
"Wow!" Harley cried, clearly amazed at the glasses' capabilities. "This is incredible… Hee hee hee—I'm keeping them!" She was giddy, her laughter filling the botanical haven with a new kind of wildness.
Not only did the glasses synchronize imagery, they enabled users to communicate seamlessly in real time, with complete visual clarity. Even frequency jammers couldn't sever the connection. I was safe from fiascos like the night the Joker commandeered the Penguin Club and left me unable to call for help, stranded in isolation with no way out.
"Kiwi," I said, using Harley's affectionate nickname. "You'll get your own pair soon, but right now the prototype is buggy and needs improvements. I want you both safe, and these glasses will make it easier than ever to stay connected."
"Aw…" Harley pouted, clearly disappointed, but behind her frown I saw a glimmer of genuine hope—hope that things might indeed grow brighter with innovation.
Truthfully, this invention harbored many other functions I hadn't even begun to test. For now, though, it was wise to stop; the device was prone to overheating if overtaxed, and today had already been a triumph. But the key point remained: the glasses worked. The test succeeded. Now it was time to diagnose and remedy the flaws, making incremental improvements with each new version. Soon, the glitches will fade. Soon, the promise will be reality.
Today marks only the beginning. Future versions of these hologram glasses will be slicker, stronger, and smarter than ever before. And I'll keep refining them—one breakthrough at a time. There is no limit to what we can achieve if we dare to dream and never stop building, never stop believing.