Crux

by James Byron Huggins

  There was a pensive moment.

  “I don’t know,” muttered Roy. “I don’t know if I buy into the religious part of this. But something is for damn sure going on. Ghosts. Demons. Aliens. I really don’t care what you call them. I don’t care what they are. All I know is that we have to stop them.”

  “Huh,” grunted Tanto. “Well, it sure looked like a demon to me. It sure acted like a demon and it damn sure killed like a demon. And if something walks like a duck and quacks like a duck … it ain’t no damn giraffe, man.”

  ***

  It was a short, silent walk to the elevator and Susan was clearly overjoyed to see Janet alive. She leaped forward as Janet rounded the corner and didn’t lessen the bear hug until Janet managed, “Okay! Okay! It’s good to see you, too!”

  Susan separated and smiled, joyously holding up a hairpin. She laughed, “They think it’s poison. I told them one touch would kill them.”

  “Did you have to knock anybody out?”

  “No,” Susan shook her head. “Actually, the guards were a big help. Especially the one named Tony. He’s, like, their boss.”

  Tony stepped up to Isaiah, extending an arm.

  He held the Honjo Masamune horizontally, still sheathed.

  “I took good care of it,” Tony nodded. “But this is the hour of darkness, hoss, so it’s time to give it back to you and it’s time for you to use it.” He gazed along the sheathed blade. “I hope all that legend stuff is true and this thing really can cut a demon in half.”

  Isaiah glanced to the men behind Tony. “This all we got?”

  “Yep,” Tony stated. “We’re all that’s left. We had about a hundred men down here but half were killed outright and the others escaped to the surface. I guess it don’t matter. This is our foxhole, now, and we’re manning it.”

  With a half-turn Tony lifted an arm and virtually every guard nodded politely to the Observation Room group. “These guys know that something from the far side came through that collider and it’s killing people like there’s no tomorrow, so they’re with me and I’m with you. So whatever call you make, we’ll back you up.” He focused on Roy. “They sent in a strike team, huh?”

  “Delta,” said Roy. “We came here to blow this place. But those things sort of derailed our plan. I think they knew what we were gonna do and didn’t want it done.”

  Tony scowled, “They?”

  “There’s two of them,” said Isaiah. “At least. And they’re working together.”

  After a long pause Tony muttered, “Well, hell. Are these things from another planet or what?”

  “They’re from another dimension.”

  Tony stared. “Is that possible?”

  “Do you know anything about neutrinos?” asked Janet.

  Tony hesitated. “I know that the guys who build hydrogen weapons talk about neutrinos a lot and I don’t like the sound of it.”

  “Well, these things are made of antimatter neutrinos that have somehow managed to assume the form of matter in this world because they carry no electrical charge whatsoever. Or that’s the only theory we’ve got. But it’s almost as if they can absorb the electrical charge of whatever environment they inhabit and alter it into some kind of hybrid charge that we’ve never encountered. That might account for their survivability. And ours, too, or this place would have been blown to smithereens.”

  “They survive because they’re so freaking strong,” Tony muttered.

  Janet sighed, “Tony? Is that your name?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Tony, these things have survived for millions, if not billions, of years in their dimension. They are made of a substance that comprises the essence of electrons, something so subatomic that we cannot even begin to fathom what it is. But in this world they’re flesh and bone because that’s what comprises an entity in this world. So they have the power to forsake their first estate and assume the shape of whatever world they choose. But they’re not unlimited in what they can do. When they came into this world, they also took on the limitations of this world. I mean, they do have powers that are way beyond human, but molecules are still molecules, so they’re limited. Just like we are.”

  “You’re saying they’re flesh and bone?”

  “Yes. That’s the point I’m trying to make. So don’t panic.”

  Tony point to a surveillance camera. “But if they’re flesh and bone, then how do they avoid every camera in this place? We’ve been trying for weeks to get them on camera but it’s like they’re invisible.”

  “Their signature is probably the same as the open air,” said Janet. “Cameras or radar give you a signal because the electromagnetic waves bounce off something made of matter. But these things absorb radar and light just like antimatter would do. They absorb the electrical current of this world without any blowback. And that’s why no signal bounces back to you. That’s why you can’t see them electronically by radar or camera.”

  Tony turned his head. “I figured I would end up in this kind of hell. God knows I deserve it.”

  “We need to get back to the Observation Room,” said Isaiah. “That room is its ultimate objective because if it gains control over the collider, and opens the portal, it’s over.” He scanned faces. “For all of us.”

  “Yeah,” Roy muttered, and chambered his rifle. “Lock and load, boys. If it wants anything from here, it’s gonna have to live it out with us.”

  ***

  In what seemed like a surreal and strange calm, every physicist that had been cowering within the elevator resumed their stations in the Observation Room with only the faintest minutiae of fear. Their eyes darted to mark the slightest fluctuation and yet they said nothing as each seemed to accept the situation with remarkable resolution now that they were relatively safe—at least for a while.

  No one had spoken for half an hour as the seventeen CERN guards worked alongside the Delta commandos, all of them having taking orders without a single question or a split-second’s hesitation to do exactly what they were told. And within that half-hour they had erected what seemed like a formidable barrier of desks, consoles, chairs, file cabinets, and anything they could tear from the walls, further barricading the south corridor.

  Leaning against a wall, staring impassively with Amanda beside him, Isaiah watched as Roy walked up, wiping sweat. He spoke as he tried to catch a breath, “All of that won’t slow it down more for than a few seconds. But it’s giving them something to do. I’d rather have an angry soldier than a scared one.”

  Isaiah glanced at the ATLAS; Roy followed the gaze.

  “Now what?” Roy asked.

  “So we can’t destroy the ATLAS, huh?” asked Isaiah. “Not without killing everyone down here?”

  “Nope.” Roy wiped the back of his neck. “Can’t be done. Not without freezing this place along with the collider because the corridors run parallel to each other and the wall separating them isn’t thick enough to contain the blast.”

  “We need another idea.”

  “Then you’d better think of one because I’m fresh out.”

  “Janet,” stated Isaiah.

  She raised her face. “Yeah?”

  “Who in this room knows the most about this collider?”

  A woman stood at a console. She was brown-haired, middle aged, and her brunette hair must have once been beautiful, but now looked like a ragged wig torn and blown by the wind. Her face was pale beneath tear-streaked makeup.

  “I’m Margaret,” she stated, all business. “I know more about this place than anybody except Francois.”

  “Can you turn on that collider?” Isaiah asked.

  Margaret blinked. “Why would you want to do that?”

  More slowly, Isaiah asked, “Can you … open … the collider?”

  Margaret paused. “Yes.”

  “To the very same portal these things cam
e from?”

  “Yes.” Margaret hesitated. “I can.”

  “And you can close it?”

  “Yes.”

  “On command?”

  Margaret’s head tilted. “That’s a strange question. We’ve never been able to keep it open for more than a nanosecond. The only way I know how to shut it down intentionally would be to pull the plug.” She paused, face half-turning, as her eyes grew suspicious. Or even frightened. “What are you thinking?”

  Isaiah’s gaze locked on the ATLAS.

  “Can you open two dimensions at the same time?”

  Margaret leaned sharply on the console. “What?”

  “Can you make two dimensions collide?” Isaiah asked again.

  Everyone was staring at the exchange.

  Margaret’s gaze aimlessly roamed as if searching for someone to help. “We might be able to do that. I mean, that’s all neutrinos are, theoretically. They’re particles that can be from anywhere. So, yeah, I think it’s possible. But it’s never been done. There’s no formula for it. I don’t even think it’s been contemplated. Why are you asking?”

  “Yeah,” Roy asked quietly. “What are you thinking?”

  Isaiah abruptly pushed off the wall and walked toward Margaret and she didn’t move until Isaiah stood before her and leaned down. Then Isaiah asked distinctly, “What happens to a human being standing inside the ATLAS when the particles collide and it opens a portal to another dimension?”

  Margaret’s mouth opened but no words emerged. Finally she managed, “Are you thinking about getting inside the ATLAS and then opening a portal to several dimensions at full power?”

  “That’s insane!” Roy shouted, angrily stepping forward. “What good is it going to do to die inside that thing? That’d be like exposing yourself to the core of a nuclear reactor! It’ll fry your shadow to the wall!”

  “Margaret, I’m not your enemy,” Isaiah said calmly. “Whatever comes out of that ATLAS is the enemy. And they’re not taking prisoners. I don’t care what they’ve told you here. I don’t care what kind of Shiva drivel they’ve driven into your head or how much money they’ve paid you to pretend you believe in that nonsense.” He didn’t blink. “I need your help to make two dimensions meet with this dimension.”

  For a long moment Margaret simply blinked. “You’re telling me that you want two dimensions to collide with this dimension? At the same time?” She gazed at the console. “Uh … I think the machine is capable of it, but there’s no procedure. We would have to just take our best guess.” She raised a gaze. “Why would we do that? It might result in an explosion that could level this planet. God only knows.”

  Isaiah turned has face to the door as a distant crash rumbled in the tunnel. He looked at Roy as the major said, “Janet, check the screens.”

  A moment later Janet remarked, “It just knocked down the furthest vault. That’s … um … twenty vaults away. But I don’t think that’s the big one.” She hit another button to watch “playback,” and clicked it forward. “It took it almost a half hour, but it finally cracked the titanium. The stronger one did it a lot faster.” She looked at Roy. “I guess his big brother gave him some tips and now this one has figured out where the Observation Room is and it’s coming as fast as it can.”

  Amanda dryly commented, “It knows where we’re at because it’s already looked everywhere else. God, that thing is dumb.”

  “How long do we have?” asked Roy.

  Janet’s lips moved silently. “I’d estimate six hours more or less. I don’t think the vaults are going to slow it down more than that.” She gestured to the screen. “It may have taken it a half hour to tear down one vault but it succeeded, so it’ll succeed with the rest of them.”

  Roy moved to Tony. “What kind of ordinance do you have?”

  Tony dismally responded, “Major, all we got are these Bushmaster M4A3s. Some of us have Benelli M4s.” He shook his head. “We’re only equipped to handle a civilian attack. We are not equipped with RPGs or Dragons or even a damn .50 caliber that might stop a Leo 2A4, a Merkava IV, or an M1A1 Abrams. We don’t have anything that will hit with 300-millimeter armor penetration, so hitting that thing with these slingshots will be like throwing popcorn at it from a 747.”

  “Good grief,” Roy muttered. “So much for safeguarding the most dangerous machine in the world.” He added, “Tanto? Rig that last Semtex for remote detonation on my command. No delay.”

  Tanto’s chin dropped a fraction. “Are you sure, major?”

  “Yeah.”

  Roy took the daypack—the last satchel—and knelt, removing a remarkably small timing machine connected by multicolored wires to a transparent cellophane bag that contained—what looked to Amanda—like pink toothpaste.

  Amanda was staring with fascination and noticed Janet was much the same as Tanto began pulling wires from the timer and twisting them together. He stuck two naked wires through the cellophane covering of the bag and began adjusting a series of dials so small that Amanda could only read dots.

  “What are you planning to do?” asked Janet.

  “Yeah,” chimed Amanda. “What are you guys gonna do?”

  Roy muttered, “If I can figure out some way to channel the blast, we’re going to ambush it with this satchel. But we have to focus the force of the explosion or we’ll bust open the collider.”

  Isaiah was hovering over the device, staring down.

  “Use the vault,” he said.

  Roy stopped moving. Then he gazed about the room. “I don’t think we have anything tough enough to knock a hole in that titanium, man. And I’d have to place this inside that vault at the point furthest from the wall. But ten feet of niobium-titanium vault plus this much cement and steel might be enough to soften the blast so that it doesn’t crack the wall and bust open the collider.” He paused. “And kill us all.”

  “A laser beam,” said Margaret hesitantly. “Would that work?”

  Roy scowled, “This place has a laser beam?”

  “There’s one upstairs,” she nodded. “Maybe the laser could carve out a hole in the vault just big enough to hold the satchel.”

  Roy lifted his face to the ceiling. “Upstairs?” He gazed on her again. “What good does that do us? We’re not taking this place out of lockdown. Not even to grab a laser.”

  Amanda stepped forward. “We might have time,” she said quietly. “It’s still twenty vaults away. It won’t be here for hours.”

  “We might have time, yeah,” Roy nodded. “But we don’t know what other doors might open besides the vaults, and then that thing could reach the surface.” His tone softened. “I took the risk once but I ain’t taking it again. What’s your name? Amanda?”

  She nodded.

  “Don’t get me wrong. It’s a good suggestion, Amanda.” The commando smiled. “Sorry if I’m coming across a little short. I appreciate your ideas. But I’m not willing to take this place out of lockdown.”

  “There’s a way to get upstairs while we’re still in lockdown,” said Margaret, “I’m privy to it because I was briefed by Director Francois. It’s the same way he escaped.”

  A physicist in the room erupted to her feet glaring at Margaret. “You bitch!” she screamed. “Why didn’t we use it to escape!”

  Margaret replied dully, “You knew the risks when you signed up, Jennifer.” She focused on Roy. “Francois used a door that’s not on the blueprints. Just like those sub-doors aren’t on any blueprints and they’re hidden from the public.”

  Roy looked at Margaret. “Where’s this door?”

  “It’s halfway down the hall on the left. It looks like a solid wall but there’s a temperature control module that’s actually a keypad and it opens the door.”

  “Where’s the laser?”

  “It’s a few feet down the hall topside. It looks like a utility room.”


  “What’s the code for the escape door?”

  “Only the director knows.”

  “I’ll bypass it,” Roy grunted. “What about the code for the utility room?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “We’ll deal with it when we get to it.” He turned to Isaiah. “How do you wanna do this? I’m going after the laser. Do you want to come or do you want to stay?” He gestured. “I’d offer you a gun, but I see you’ve got your own way of doing things.”

  “I’ll stay here,” stated Isaiah. “Take at least ten of the strongest guards with you. This isn’t Star Trek and I don’t think this is a laser. And if I’m right, it weighs a ton.”

  “All right,” Roy nodded, “you handle it down here. They’re more scared than they look so they could use you.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “Word gets around. They respect you.”

  Isaiah’s frown revealed nothing more.

  Roy turned to the guards. “We’re going after this laser. But everybody is coming back here. And if any man tries to go over the hill, I’ll kill you. I need ten strong men. No bad backs. We ain’t got time.”

  All of them stepped forward and Roy selected a team, beginning with the biggest. Last, Roy placed his hand on Tanto’s shoulder and said, “Now, for you gentlemen staying behind, I am placing Tanto in command. And Tanto has killed more men than cancer so you should be safe. Got it?”

  Nods.

  With an arm elaborately decorated with violent red, black, and green tattoos, Tanto lifted his heavy black rifle, settling the stock on his hip.

  He didn’t smile.

  “This is where we hold the line, boys.”

  ***

  After Roy’s crew disappeared, Janet found some military-style Meals Ready to Eat in a cabinet and microwaved them. As everyone finished up their preferred cuisine, Amanda remarked, “Only the military could spend a million dollars in research and come up with something that tastes just like SpaghettiOs.”

  Isaiah tossed his uneaten meal into a trashcan and turned to Janet. “Do these creatures have any kind of electromagnetic signature at all?”