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Probability Machines and then began building additional equipment. The two super-
The computers of both worlds had absorbed themselves into the Quantum Particle
computers had worked as a single mind and had devised equipment neither human
nor alien could completely understand. Both sides had fully understood that the
computers intended to transmit matter—even living sentient beings—through that
information exchange based on effected polarization variances. Religious groups had
protested on both planets, but explorers had eagerly taken the risks—explorers like
Lance Larue.
Hainey double-checked the straps and sensors. She then stepped away from Lance
and the slab. It began to sink while other bulky equipment rattled inward on massive
rails. “Do you know what the Church says? They say you’re dying in there.”
“I outgrew the Church when I was sixteen years old. Even after my idiot uncle
forced his Catholic version of history down my throat for five infernal years. On the
day he expected me to be confirmed, I went and joined the FreeThinkers! The
namby-pamby had a breakdown!”
Lance laughed. His fears remained, yet he believed her words revealed their
foolishness. He had no use for religion or for God, and he only served himself and
those who could pay his exorbitant fee and best publicize his epic adventures.
Besides, he remembered living through the process hundreds and hundreds of times!
“Oh, Hainey,” Lance’s tone transformed into amused realization. “One of those
Catholic groups got to you, didn’t they? Probably those pro-lifers, eh? They’re always
trying to save me from this machine!”
A wild outburst of laughter. “If your bosses ever catch wind of that, if they ever
hear you ranting like an empty-headed zealot, your career will be nothing but a
memory. No legitimate scientist will have anything to do with you.”
The equipment closed in around him. As the last few seconds passed—a mere
moment before the steel tomb of equipment slammed shut—she called out to him
again.
“You had your chance to stop it. By the way, have you ever wondered why we have
to strap you down so well?”
SLAM.
A chill arose deep within, growing and surfacing, until it sent an uncontrollable
shudder throughout his body. Its intensity escalated with the volume of the
humming equipment, reaching a deafening level. For the fourth time, Hainey had
struck horror into him with the simplest of questions. And this time he missed the
opportunity for the clever retort he so needed.
A mind-numbing electrical charge exploded around his body and inside his head. A
flash of light blinded and disoriented him.
* * *
There was utter darkness, utter silence, utter loss of feeling. Still, he could sense
himself being pulled upward by an unknown force. He rose for an unknown time and
crossed an unknown distance. He eventually came to a stop and just hovered there.
As light and sound flooded back at him, he discovered that he floated near the
ceiling. Below, he saw Hainey and another technician crouched over the aluminum
slab; he watched attentively. He remained unafraid and unsurprised. He felt an
incredible peace unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
Such a complete peace after such a hellish experience seemed impossible, but he
did not dwell on the hell. He remembered the equipment shutting in around him,
and he remembered remaining conscious as powerful scanning beams slowly burned
him to a crisp. He remembered screaming in pain and horror for what seemed an
eternity.
That seemed unimportant now.
The scene blurred, and the sounds became muffled. The blur shattered like a stained
glass window. Thousands of colored particles swirled to form the sides of a dark
tunnel. The sides of the tunnel seemed close, yet he could not reach them, could
not brush up against them. At the end of the tunnel—which appeared a nearly
infinite distance away—he saw an impossibly bright light. It appeared brighter than a
thousand suns, yet it did not hurt to look at it. He accelerated toward it at an
unbelievable speed, as if beyond that of light itself.
From the light he sensed a wonderful presence. An impossibly tender love and an
absolute peace engulfed and caressed him. He felt a greater being merging with him,
felt himself, his power and pride, ebbing away.
He resisted.
Something in the presence of the Other attempted to calm and reassure him, but
the intrusion—the joining—horrified, disgusted and infuriated Lance. He couldn’t
discern time or distance, but he did near the light entirely too quickly for his taste.
He twisted and squirmed, shouted and screamed. He fought for his very soul.
He felt the Other surrender. He felt the pain and disappointment in the Other and
knew he had won. Before he came into contact with the light, the tunnel ended.
He arrived.
Vincent Malzahn © 2009
The computers of both worlds had absorbed themselves into the Quantum Particle
computers had worked as a single mind and had devised equipment neither human
nor alien could completely understand. Both sides had fully understood that the
computers intended to transmit matter—even living sentient beings—through that
information exchange based on effected polarization variances. Religious groups had
protested on both planets, but explorers had eagerly taken the risks—explorers like
Lance Larue.
Hainey double-checked the straps and sensors. She then stepped away from Lance
and the slab. It began to sink while other bulky equipment rattled inward on massive
rails. “Do you know what the Church says? They say you’re dying in there.”
“I outgrew the Church when I was sixteen years old. Even after my idiot uncle
forced his Catholic version of history down my throat for five infernal years. On the
day he expected me to be confirmed, I went and joined the FreeThinkers! The
namby-pamby had a breakdown!”
Lance laughed. His fears remained, yet he believed her words revealed their
foolishness. He had no use for religion or for God, and he only served himself and
those who could pay his exorbitant fee and best publicize his epic adventures.
Besides, he remembered living through the process hundreds and hundreds of times!
“Oh, Hainey,” Lance’s tone transformed into amused realization. “One of those
Catholic groups got to you, didn’t they? Probably those pro-lifers, eh? They’re always
trying to save me from this machine!”
A wild outburst of laughter. “If your bosses ever catch wind of that, if they ever
hear you ranting like an empty-headed zealot, your career will be nothing but a
memory. No legitimate scientist will have anything to do with you.”
The equipment closed in around him. As the last few seconds passed—a mere
moment before the steel tomb of equipment slammed shut—she called out to him
again.
“You had your chance to stop it. By the way, have you ever wondered why we have
to strap you down so well?”
SLAM.
A chill arose deep within, growing and surfacing, until it sent an uncontrollable
shudder throughout his body. Its intensity escalated with the volume of the
humming equipment, reaching a deafening level. For the fourth time, Hainey had
struck horror into him with the simplest of questions. And this time he missed the
opportunity for the clever retort he so needed.
A mind-numbing electrical charge exploded around his body and inside his head. A
flash of light blinded and disoriented him.
* * *
There was utter darkness, utter silence, utter loss of feeling. Still, he could sense
himself being pulled upward by an unknown force. He rose for an unknown time and
crossed an unknown distance. He eventually came to a stop and just hovered there.
As light and sound flooded back at him, he discovered that he floated near the
ceiling. Below, he saw Hainey and another technician crouched over the aluminum
slab; he watched attentively. He remained unafraid and unsurprised. He felt an
incredible peace unlike anything he’d ever experienced.
Such a complete peace after such a hellish experience seemed impossible, but he
did not dwell on the hell. He remembered the equipment shutting in around him,
and he remembered remaining conscious as powerful scanning beams slowly burned
him to a crisp. He remembered screaming in pain and horror for what seemed an
eternity.
That seemed unimportant now.
The scene blurred, and the sounds became muffled. The blur shattered like a stained
glass window. Thousands of colored particles swirled to form the sides of a dark
tunnel. The sides of the tunnel seemed close, yet he could not reach them, could
not brush up against them. At the end of the tunnel—which appeared a nearly
infinite distance away—he saw an impossibly bright light. It appeared brighter than a
thousand suns, yet it did not hurt to look at it. He accelerated toward it at an
unbelievable speed, as if beyond that of light itself.
From the light he sensed a wonderful presence. An impossibly tender love and an
absolute peace engulfed and caressed him. He felt a greater being merging with him,
felt himself, his power and pride, ebbing away.
He resisted.
Something in the presence of the Other attempted to calm and reassure him, but
the intrusion—the joining—horrified, disgusted and infuriated Lance. He couldn’t
discern time or distance, but he did near the light entirely too quickly for his taste.
He twisted and squirmed, shouted and screamed. He fought for his very soul.
He felt the Other surrender. He felt the pain and disappointment in the Other and
knew he had won. Before he came into contact with the light, the tunnel ended.
He arrived.
Vincent Malzahn © 2009
Excerpt From
"Quantum Express"
by Vincent Malzahn
"Quantum Express"
by Vincent Malzahn
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