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 Beyond the Edge  (19 ratings)by Robert Anderson Page 2 of 5 I also kept in closer touch with Tony because his lab. and facilities were only an hour from mine. His was one of the above Departments and it turned out that he was a leading light in the R. and D. of Thought Speed Transportation. Today, even the school kids seem to understand it, but then, it was a very obscure concept involving nearly every discipline of science, quantum mechanics, particle physics, many other technologies and of course, psychology - all operating in the freedom of space. Tony could certainly trust his secrets with me, I had more than enough trouble understanding my own work. But according to him, T-Speed and matter transportation were really quite safe and simple! Human thoughts were the only "thing" that could travel faster than the speed of light - so, we could think of a destination - then, hitch a ride! Over a few beers, he explained the concept and said they were also, very interested in the detection of gravity because it could help with cosmic navigation as well as the detection or avoidance of cold objects in space. To stay in the conversation, I again raised your bird-cage concept for the universe and wondered about looking outside. Obviously, he too had thought more about that idea! Seven weeks after N.Z., he invited me to dinner with Lisa, his lab. assistant. Over the main course he said, "Okay, we're going." Just a little puzzled, I asked, "Where?" "To the Edge, of course." "Yes, of course. Like which edge - and when - and how - and who?" "The Edge - the side of the bird-cage! Just the three of us, and as soon as we can "borrow" a T-Speed Bubble." "Sorry if I'm a bit slow, but that's about fifteen billion light years - one way! We'll definitely need morning tea and a cut lunch - I'll be cook." My private thought was for the young lady - I would have been happy to wash dishes or carry luggage - so long as we were both included in the party. Smiling, she took over and explained that we would not need a cook and my new research project was the official reason for going! They could get the use of a Bubble, but needed better reasons than another sight seeing trip around the Solar System. My project (they had already made a preliminary submission) was to locate more space sensors out near Sagittarius (roughly the centre of the Milky Way galaxy) to watch our Black Hole. At that distance, the sensors could not directly contact Earth, but we would send out other Bubbles each six months to bring back the stored information. It would give us a real, early warning network, at least from that direction. Wasn't I bright to think of doing something like that? Tony jumped in, saying that the official trip was something equivalent to walking to the back fence - only 27,000 light years, each way! At our speed - that should take a little over a week in real time and feel like a few hours - hardly worth doing! "It would still be the longest journey ever attempted." Lisa added. He explained that we would not go directly for the first jump because there were too many ‘local' stars in the way. Bubbles would go up, out of the plane of the Milky Way, navigate easily off the near-by galaxies, then drop back in at the right spot! "Just like a lob shot in tennis - and the few extra million kms. Is nothing for this baby". However, going right to the Edge would add about twenty five (plus) years to our lives, depending on how often we slowed down to actually look at the passing scenery. To us, the time would only feel like a month, because of all the induced sleeping. Whatever we decided, whether the official flight or further - "they" could not call us back, once we left. With no family restrictions and definitely no property to worry about, it took me all of five seconds to decide that a week (or twenty five years?) was a fair price for that ticket - wherever it took us. Memories of the next thirteen months are a blur of continuous work, unending reports and very little sleep. The really productive work with the technical team was almost a joy and occupied about five of the months. The rest of the time seemed to be endless meetings with our worthy politicians, all trying to prove that they were responsible for "this far sighted mission by mankind." (Little did they really know.) Besides those people, we fought with flocks of paper flapping, rule thumping bureaucrats, doing everything to stop us, or prove that if we did go, (and anything went wrong) they were definitely not responsible! Carefully, we gave no hint to anyone that after dropping the satellites, we might divert a ‘little' further and not come directly home. Officially, as on the flight plan and because of safety locks in the Bubble, that was not possible - but Tony and Lisa knew how to over-ride its brain and set new directions, when and if we decided to continue on/out/up (what-ever direction). We kept ourselves sane by working closely together, as much as possible - and our crazy conversations, all gradually built up a picture in my mind of what the trip would be like. Tony had flown three times, Lisa twice and they delighted in confusing what little knowledge I had. Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 Robert Anderson, sffworld.com. All rights reserved. No part of this may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the author. The author has submitted the work in accordance with and in agreement with the following Submission Guidelines. |
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