Well? How’s it feel? Uh uh gzzzz stupid listening computer teach you DAMN IT MILO DEACTIVATE!
[recording paused 00:04:22]
Sorry you had to hear all that, MILO. Actually, I’m more sorry for the NASA psychologists who are probably diagnosing me right now.
Either I’m losing my mind, or I’m finding my way back. I just can’t carry it inside anymore.
Chapter 31
When the alarm beeped the next morning, Lucas hit snooze and rolled over to face his wife.
“Morning,” she said softly.
“You were up late, babe,” he said, pushing her hair out of her eyes. “Everything good?”
“Better, actually,” she replied.
“How so?”
“It’s just good to talk,” she said.
“Better out than in, right?”
“Ew,” Jane said. “That’s what your dad says when he burps, Lu.”
Lucas smiled. “Sorry, but it does apply here, too.”
They looked at each other without speaking, their eyes heavy with sleep and unspoken feelings but with no more words. Finally, Lucas said quietly, “I miss her, Jane. Every day.”
“I know. Me, too,” she said. “But I want you to know that I do believe I can get through this.”
“It’s so good to hear you say that, sweetie,” Lucas said, pulling her close.
After a few minutes, the alarm sounded again. This time, Lucas turned it off and stood up. Pulling on his shirt, he turned to face her. “You didn’t mean ‘good to talk’ with me, did you?”
“Not specifically, although I do appreciate everything you said. Poor MILO,” she added. “He’ll never be the same again.”
“You know,” Lucas teased, “Some women journal in pink flowered spiral bound notebooks.”
“And some of us curse at a computer until we can’t breathe and fall over, but either way, the feelings have been exposed and at least everything’s on the table.”
Lucas pulled her into a hug after they smoothed the blankets back out to make the bed.
“And as a bonus,” he said, “You’re also a certifiable genius.”
“Certified, babe.”
“Oh, hmm, well, maybe…”
“Hey!” Jane said with a laugh. “I finally have an idea to salvage our explosions problem... although it’s one of those impossible-improbable-Sherlock ideas.”
“It’s so good to see you energized, Jane,” he said, turning on the bathroom light.
She paused and look at herself in the mirror. “I hope it doesn’t get worse before it gets better,” she said.
After breakfast, Jane met Bonnie and Ana in the lab with renewed vigor.
“Jane, did you sleep at all?” Bonnie said when she arrived, perusing her co-worker’s appearance with disdain.
“Actually, yes,” Jane said with a wink. “I slept great. I just decided to forego a shower.”
“So you have an idea?” Ana asked, smiling.
“What? Yes. What’s my tell?”
“Life in your eyes.”
“Ok, so what is it?” Bonnie asked.
Jane reached for her tablet and realized she’d never plugged the little green laptop in when she finished early this morning. Aw, man, the battery will be dead if Candace sends Sebbie down for it later, Jane thought with a frown.
“Ok, here we go,” she said in a distracted voice. She projected an image of Split Horizon’s key equations onto the board from her tablet, then grabbed the charging cord and plugged in the toy out of sight while the other women got their bearings on the math shown on the wall.
“So,” she said, standing back up, “Here’s what we used to verify the actual trajectory – and everything has been validated, right?”
“Right,” Ana said, looking at the wall.
“So, one of the variables is wrong.”
“Geez, Jane, stop with the theatrics!” Bonnie said. “What is the idea?”
“Sorry. I think the problem is that we already did it.”
“Already did what?”
“I think what’s wrong here isn’t what we set up or controlled. I think everything worked great, but too late and too slow.”
“Too slow? If it all worked, why an explosion?” Ana asked.
Jane waited as Bonnie’s eyes danced all over the screen. “You think we already did it?” she said slowly, turning to look her colleague in the eye.
“Yes.”
“That would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?” Bonnie said, her hand floating across the projection, her fingers scrawling invisible letters as she contemplated.
“Wait,” Ana said, catching up as she studied the wall. “You think we already achieved faster than light travel?”
“Twice,” Jane stated.
“Both times?”
“Yes,” Jane replied. “I reviewed the test from last season and there are a few minor bits of data that I think might support my point. You’ll have to look, but, maybe even last season, I think we hit as much as 85% of light speed at the peak.”
“So how did it, you know, catch, the first time?” Ana asked.
Jane closed the equations and pulled up a blueprint of the catch. “My working theory,” she said, “is that the speed last season was the very top limit of the decel crystal’s ability to bounce the propulsion back and bring the velocity to zero on a dime. We thought we were only hitting 60% of goal, so Trevor calculated the same number and the same size differential in the gems would be enough. But if we were really hitting 85% of C then, now we might be doing it. A light speed jump. And I think we need more decel gems and ones that decrease more in size. We’ll have to have Rich—Trevor, I mean, and his team—really dig into that. Either way, the timing needs to be adjusted and any future goals will have to take into account that there is a finite limit to the weight and speed this design could handle.”
“How could we have been so wrong on the speed?” Bonnie asked, thumbing her tablet to review last season’s data. “That seems sort of elementary, doesn’t it?”
“I know,” Jane said, “But this team has invented literally all the equipment for this project. I think our instruments just aren’t accurate to record or verify near-light velocity like we thought. It’s not like we have any other way to test them or anything to compare it to. The math looked like it was working until we blew up the last two catches. I think we were much closer than we realized last year.”
“So the capsule blew up the catch because it didn’t slow down enough,” Bonnie said.
“Right,” Jane said.
“So we tore into the catch at maybe Mach 20,000 or something,” Ana said, “but with another three thousand decel gems or so, you think the principle would still reverse the true velocity—which is in light speed range—to decelerate completely.”
“Right,” Jane said, “Catch. No boom.”
“Ok,” Ana said with a nod. “Then all we have to do is figure out how to more accurately calculate the speed we achieved so we can repeat the experiment with Trevor’s deceleration crystals adjusted to counteract the true velocity on approach.”
“Yes, it should stop dead… zero to sixty and sixty to zero in the blink of an eye,” Jane said.
Chapter 32
“I don't know how you got all of this done so fast,” Ana said to Riddhi as they unloaded supplies from the helicopter two weeks later. Split Horizon was feeling pressure to get the last two test runs in before the return of winter, five weeks away.
“It isn't that long of a trip to McMurdo,” Riddhi replied, confused.
“What? No, sorry, I meant altering the capsule,” Ana said.
“Oh, my part of that wasn't really so bad,” Riddhi replied. “It was Trevor’s team and Lucas who really had the most to do.”
“I guess,” Ana continued. “But math and computer designs seem easier than actually changing the physical thing. At least Bonnie let Rich help again, right?”
“Oh, I'm sure Julie and James liked hearing from the grand maste
r.”
Ana chuckled as she carried off the crate of supplies, passing Cheyenne and Jane as they approached to offer unloading help.
“What've you got for us?” Jane asked. “I hope there was no further need to ‘borrow’ anything, Riddhi?”
“Oh, like I'd tell you,” Riddhi replied with a half-smirk. “Tattle tale.”
“I did tattle tale, and you got a gold star for it from the Colonel, so you're welcome,” Jane said.
“I actually had everything I needed since monkey metal is reusable,” Riddhi said.
“Hey, that's FAD454!” Cheyenne teased. “Show some respect!”
The radio on the chopper made a beeping noise and Bonnie's agitated voice said, “Jane, Cheyenne, get in here, quick.”
“What's wrong?” Jane said.
“Nothing. Everything.”
Jane and Cheyenne jogged back to The Dome and didn't stop to unlayer until they were in the console room.
“What's wrong?” Jane asked.
Bonnie pointed to the screen where Colonel Edwards looked grim.
“Split Horizon’s had a serious security breach,” he said.
“What?” “How?” the women said at the same time.
“Who went to MacTown today?” he asked.
“Hal flew me, Riddhi, and the security guy, Adams,” Cheyenne replied.
“Anyone else?”
“No, and we all stayed together.”
“So no one stayed with the chopper?”
“No, why?”
“Someone accessed MILO.”
“How?”
“From the chopper.”
“What? How? There's not even a computer console in it.”
“No, but apparently Mr. Adams left his tablet in there,” the Colonel said.
“The guy in charge of our security? Really?” Bonnie yelled.
“You may calm down now, Bonnie,” Colonel Edwards said.”It isn't clear what they were accessing, but we'll find out shortly.”
“Do we know who 'they' are yet?” Jane asked.
“Working on it,” Colonel Edwards said. “We're looking into the people on the security tapes of the areas near the helicopter. For the time being, I’m sorry, but all communications except to me directly are on hold. Sorry for your personal lives, but it's only five more weeks.”
“But what about—” Jane began.
“Sorry,” the Colonel interrupted. “We will contact your families and explain that everyone is safe, but that the project can’t be compromised. They’ll understand.”
Only five weeks, Jane thought, feeling especially sad for Ana.
“What about when we get back?” Cheyenne asked.
“We better have this figured out by then. I'll keep in touch about it. In the mean time, are you guys still expecting to run the third test this week?”
“Yes,” Bonnie said, clearing her throat. “I'll email you the exact window after Ana and MILO finish their number-crunching. Although, wait, do they need to stop? How compromised is our system?”
“The tablet's physically back with us,” Cheyenne offered, “We can have Adams run every security sweep available to ensure nothing is still burrowing.”
“They're telling me it looks like a technological smash and grab,” the Colonel said, nodding, “So we just have to figure out what they copied.”
“What are we telling the team?” Cheyenne asked.
“You can tell them as much as you want,” he said. “Bonnie, your call.”
“Ok,” she said, nodding. “Then we'll focus on the test.”
“Your solution’s panning out?” he asked.
Bonnie waved for Jane to respond.
“Well, sir,” she began, “Our new calculations do support my theory. So your wife might owe you that $100 this year.”
“You're going to Mars?” the Colonel said, tilting his head in confusion.
“What?” Jane said. “Sorry, I thought the bet was FTL.” She regretted the decision to try to be funny.
“No, the bet is Mars, but I’m the opposite of disappointed if you’re right,” he said, rubbing his palms together.
“It looks that way,” Bonnie agreed. “We’re giving it a go Wednesday morning, weather-dependent.”
“Science-magic,” he said with a thumbs-up. “Good. I approve, if that matters. Let me know when to tune in for the show.”
Chapter 33
MILO Personal Dictation: Hal Turner
Isn’t that how it goes, MILO? The one that's supposed to be watching all of us is the one that gives the enemy the door in. Hmph. I had a mind to pack him up and drop him right back at MacTown, stay where he likes, but Cheyenne said I wasn’t allowed.
I’d like to give him the boot. Him and that Trevor character. He shouldn’t be down here anyway. Dámaris told me she read online that he sent a college ex and her new boyfriend to the hospital, and not for a quick visit, either. Cheyenne says he’s all matured now and does anger management therapy on the computer, but it doesn’t look like she believes it. Ticking time bomb, I say. He must be awfully smart to get this seat dragging all that baggage.
Wish I would’ve heard some stuff from the crew at MacTown but nobody talked to us this time. Without Miss Candace wandering around the young men don’t stare and try to chat. Cheyenne still turned a few more mature heads, not that she’d ever notice a man on the bottom of the world.
Riddhi didn’t disappear this time. Jane made me promise to make sure she didn’t shoplift anything. I stole Sebbie two bananas, though, and she didn’t complain when he got so excited.
Jane seems happier, although I wish she’d come out with us on the snowmobiles. Might relieve some stress. That poor girl’s got enough sadness weighing her down without staying inside with no sunlight. Every chance she gets, she’s playing that blocky Mine-doodle-whatever game with Sebbie. Is all that time staring at a screen good for him, anyway? Heck, she's even still at it when he’s in bed, although I never hear the sound effects when she’s alone. I must’ve seen her by herself with that thing at least five times now, late at night. Stress relief? Who knows.
Sebbie and I took a walk yesterday, though, which was moving around in actual nature. First time they let me take him without Mommy or Daddy. Maybe I’m in the family now. I sure hurt looking at ‘em and remembering Jane so happy last year. Too bad. But what do you do except keep moving?
Anyway… checking my list. All of Semotus' generators are good. The new weatherbots are performing admirably, and believe it or not, I’ve already started some inventory for the base shut down. Three weeks, but still, there’s a lot to go through. Plus, if I box up a bunch of stuff people don’t really need, they might not dig it out again.
Chapter 34
“Good morning, handsome,” Jane said as she stepped out of the shower on Wednesday, the morning of their third test.
“You seem cheery,” Lucas said as he got dressed.
“Do I?” Jane said, wrapping herself in a towel and giving her husband's bottom a squeeze.
“Whoa, yes,” Lucas laughed.
“Good, I feel cheery.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, Dr. Whyse.”
“I feel confident about the test today, that’s all,” Jane said.
“Good. Me, too. I hope everything works.”
“Scientists aren’t supposed to hope, we’re supposed to know.”
“Well, how’s this: I know that I hope it all works,” Lucas rephrased.
“Fine,” Jane said. “You’re taking Sebbie down to Candace?”
“Yes, I’ll do devotions in here until he wakes up, then go to my lab. I have the final batch of smaller decel gems for one more test this season almost ready. I need to use the Omega 13 device each time you guys blow up my hard work. “
Jane stared at him blankly until he asked if she was listening.
“What?” she said, returning to focus.
“The Omega 13, remember,” he quoted, “It's from Galaxy Quest. 'A matter re-arranger that e
ffects a 13-second time jump to the past, enough time to correct a single mistake.'“
She cocked her head.
“You don't always get my obscure sci-fi references,” he said, smiling.
“Yes, sorry about that, babe,” she said, an indefinite look in her eye.
Half an hour later, Sebbie walked out from his room, rubbing his eyes.
“Morning, buddy!” Lucas said.
“Hi sweetie,” Jane said, kissing his head. “Go get dressed, and then we can all go get some breakfast. How about oatmeal?”
Sebbie nodded, squinting silently in the light, his still-tired legs making his feet slap the ground a little harder than normal as he returned to his room for clothes.
Jane was combing her hair when Sebbie returned from his room in shorts and a sweatshirt.
“Shorts? We’re in Antarctica, Sebastian,” Lucas said. “Didn’t anyone tell you? Why did we even pack you shorts?”
“Maybe I’ll go for a run later,” his little morning voice replied, making his parents laugh.
“I should put you on the treadmill, sometime. Just for a walk to stretch those legs,” Jane suggested.
“I took a walk yesterday,” Sebastian said. “Mr. Hal told me about the robots.”
“I know! That’s so fun.”
“Ready to go?” Lucas asked, taking both of their hands and leading them into the hallway. “Oh wait,” he said suddenly. “I forgot to grab my tablet. I plugged it in on your side of the bed last night when I couldn’t find my charger.”
“I’ll get it,” Jane offered, but he was already in the room.
Lucas felt around in the mess of books, papers, and clothes until he located something hard and picked it up. It was a cartridge from Sebbie’s little laptop, but it wasn’t labeled with a game sticker. He turned it to look at the bottom and saw it had a USB input, a port where a thumb drive or cable could attach. Frowning slightly, he put it back on the table and unearthed his tablet.
In the hallway, he asked Jane, “What’s with the data transfer cartridge for Sebbie’s green laptop?”
“Hmm?” she said, listening to Sebbie tell her about his favorite dinosaur as they walked to the cafeteria.
“Jane?” he asked again.
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