[ WP ] What does a society on Earth do when they have an unlimited amount of energy at their disposal ?

At first there was great dispute and tension between all of mankind regarding the application of this knowledge, of this unlimited energy. There was but one source of this energy on earth, ITER, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. Slow progress from the 1920's into the field of Nuclear Fusion had somehow managed to gain so much traction in such a short space of time that the field ballooned beyond all proportion and had similarly achieved more then ever thought imaginable. 
 
 `` Think of the potential'' they all said. An ordinary person like you and I would imagine the power being used to help the world. To feed the hungry, help cure the sick and make the world a happy place. Clean, infinite, energy. The fuel to power the dreams and aspirations of all of Mankind. It soon transpired though that the minds at the top of each countries representative governments had much more sinister motivations. 
 
 They promised so many things to us all. They promised us that somehow the power would even bring jobs to us all, we cheered for them. We applauded them for their efforts and wishes. But before we knew it the world became barren, entire landscapes transformed by factories and industries both old and new alike. Why not build factories for the masses to work in when you do n't have to worry about powering them? One would then immediately question where all the extra resources had come from for this productivity but that was as simple an answer as any. Exploitation of the third world and all its people. 
 
 Somehow this wonder, this marvel of technology and science had only accelerated all of the negative trends of life in the early 21st century. All over this one facility, this one place that was meant to be a gift upon all mankind had become our curse. The thought occurred to me that absolute power does indeed corrupt absolutely. Quite literally in this case. 
 
 I smirked to myself, staring through the reinforced glass of my station. I did n't know how it had come to this, how I had let it come to this. A tear fell from my eyes and shattered upon my desk, shattered like all the dreams I had hoped I would help fulfill. My creation, my work had become the cause of more death and suffering then I could even bring myself to imagine. 
 
 Turning quickly at the sound of a human voice I realized it was nothing but a news bulletin, again warning everyone to travel with oxygen masks and tanks due to the pollution. Nothing new there, it still amazed me how quickly they managed to take all of the coil, oil and gas plants in the world and turn them into industrial complexes. The machine freed up all of our oil, coal and gas for burning and use in heavy industry. 
 
 With all the worlds power needs met they were free to place camera's on every street. They were free to make immensely powerful devices and systems with the knowledge of knowing that no matter the `` cost'', it could be powered. No matter it's need, it could be powered. Lumbering war machines the size of buildings were constructed and powered with the energy created by this incredible machine. Wireless power the world over, powering the worlds war machines and industries without a care. 
 
 I left my office carefully, closing my door softly behind me. I paused and stared at the dust on my fingers from the handle of the door, it had been too long. There was n't much in the way of a human presence here, not since the process was automated and the reaction permanently sustained. No need for a staff bar a few security guards and checkpoints which my corporate ID easily took me past. 
 
 The consequences of my actions were already well known to me, I had rehearsed these moments over and over in my mind for what seemed like an eternity. Soon nothing would remain of us, of humanity. We were once such a proud and noble species, even though our darkest hours there was always hope. Hope of a better tomorrow. With this device however, and the monstrosities it allowed for there could be no hope. 
 
 I sighed; a long, painful, drawn out sigh. The time had come. I stood before the reinforced shell of the reaction chamber, cables of all shaped and sizes leading away from the power collector into the rest of the facility and out into the world. Removing my lab coat I placed it folded and neatly on a nearby railing, resting my hand on it for a moment. Memories of much happier times sprang to mind. 
 
 My hand twisted one of the power conduits before me, gently unfastening it before beginning to connect it up to the device I had hidden beneath my lab coat. It beeped, almost softly, as though reassuring me that what I was about to do was the right thing. I had created this world, this world of ours now. It only felt right that it be me who would destroy it. 
 
 Staring, I took in the containment chamber one last time. A sun resided in there, kept in check by the the immensely powerful magnetic field containing it and constantly replenished with hydrogen externally. My finger rested on the trigger for my device. 
 
 I smiled. It'll be nice to see the sun again.
