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| “Relativity” |
| 12.16.03 (10:35 am) [edit] |
A tall, fair skinned man named Greg F. Hayes, who was having a particularly bad day, was intently staring through a small eyepiece in a towering telescope elegantly drifting into the endless heavens exposed through a small breach in the wall paneling of the room, when it all began. “It’s been eight years now, eight years I’ve been watching the sky. You know I only took this job for the money.”
I responded surprisingly optimistically to Greg’s meaningless comment. “Anyone who has a job these days only takes it for the money, if you’re not saving for the journey off-world, you’re one of those savage people living outside of the cities who claims to disbelieve in the promises of off-world. If you ask me they’re just a bunch of idle fools.”
I was Greg’s assistant, he interpreted the images displayed by the telescope, and well, I oversaw the machines. It was really a worthless job, but so were all the other jobs in the city by this point, the machines had replaced any need for anyone to do anything really, but our government required that people still worked, so here we are, watching a machine do what were paid to do.
“No, I don’t think you understand what I mean. I loath this work, it seems unfair that I should be made to sit here, slowly dying every moment, while someone else just as intelligent as me gets to live off-world traveling near the speed of light, traveling in a worm hole heading towards the center of the galaxy, not even ageing a day. My job is done by a machine, your job is done by a machine everyone living in this city’s job is done by a machine, we only check what we already know they’ve done, will do and always have done. We had the resources to send everyone who wanted to leave eight years ago with the others. We should have been allowed to, instead of being forced into indentured slavery, so we could “pay” our way off-world…” stammered Greg.
“Injustice or not you should know that tonight is a very special night, and that you and I are very lucky to be here. Tonight is the night forecasted for the Longevity to reach its final orbit around the center of the galaxy, the nearest super massive black hole. We are going to be the first two people on Terra to see if the mission was successful,” I consoled him
“Don’t act like it’s some big privilege, we were the only people who couldn’t afford to go on the Longevity that even know a little bit about astronomy. Besides two minutes after we see it it’s going to be broadcasted on the television for everyone else to see,” he retorted.
Somewhere in the background on an anonymous TV, the “Longevity Half Hour Special” started, the moment of truth was coming, what we had all been waiting for, news of the Longevity, and they were planning on putting it on just a few minutes delayed, so “Greg and I” (but really the machines) could polish the images, before being sent on the air waves.
I could hear the mechanical announcer in his usual monotone voice emanating from the background, “…According to Einstein’s theory of Relativity, the faster one travels through space, and the more gravity they are exposed to, the slower time will take effect on the person in question. It wasn’t until the mid-22nd century with the advent of high velocity and interstellar travel that this had any practical meaning. At this time an amateur physicist named Patrick R. Clearfield came up with a brilliant Idea. If everyone traveled to the center of the galaxy, a place where time and space were so warped that time moves little to none at all, people would seemingly never age! He reported his idea in Science Network Magazine. The National Terra Union, a Government so to speak that formed near the end of the 21st Century, that ruled over all of human kind, took an interest in the idea, and assembled a team to assess the plausibility of Clearfield’s idea. The team determined that not only was Patrick’s idea plausible but also should be implemented immediately. The National Terra Union set its armies of droid laborers instantly to work on the construction of a ship that could send those who would pay for it to the center of the universe. The ship built by our droids was christened the Longevity. Those who could not afford it were left behind until they could make enough money to buy tickets for the launch of the second ship that was planned for eight years after the first, despite the manufacturing time of only six months. Others decided that they much preferred the quality of life to the length and have made very clear there intentions to never go off-world….”
A history lesson, how wonderful, I decided to tune the TV out. “You see anything interesting yet, Greg?” I asked.
“Let me look, not as of… wait I think the computer, yes it did. It’s the Longevity, come see, it only looks like a little white dot right now, but give it a few minutes and the computer should contrast and cross reference it using the satellite images and enhance the it over there on that screen.” Excitedly announced Greg
I impatiently knocked Greg to one side, so as to get a slight glimpse of the Longevity in the telescope. Actually I was unimpressed; it wasn’t much to look at through the telescope. I wondered back over to my seat, and sat down.
“…The information network at the observatory has just given use word that they have spotted the Longevity and it should be only another ten minutes until they can send images, and as everyone knows, determine the success of the mission. When word of the mission’s success arrives, all those holding seats aboard the Preservation will have approximately 28 hours to claim their seat and check on board before launch...” proclaimed the TV in a booming voice.
This was the real reason why Greg was so sore today, after saving for the last eight years he still hadn’t saved enough money to go off-world on the Preservation. I didn’t tell him, but I had actually had managed to obtain a seat. I had to sell all my possessions, and swindle some money, but I figured I wouldn’t need much when I’m off-world anyway.
“No!” Screamed Greg, skeptically pointing at the monitor that he had previously told me would display the images of the Longevity after the computer enhanced it. I turned and looked at the screen, expecting to see the great ship initiating orbit of the black hole. I was horrified by what I saw on the screen, first it showed the Longevity being crushed and destroyed, then it showed nothing, absolutely nothing.
“What could have possibly gone wrong Greg? It was suppose to make them live forever, it… it can’t be,” I sobbed.
“We always knew this was a possibility. I mean we just don’t understand everything that’s involved in black holes, the dynamics of quantum mechanics and general relativity colliding are mind boggling, they had machines check it though, I never would have believed, that it would all just… be gone. What will happen when it goes on air in a few seconds?” Still in disbelief, Greg quivered.
“…The images of the Longevity have just arrived, and by the looks of it the mission was a complete success, that means the 28 hour countdown to launch begins now…” I couldn’t believe it, they had censored the images, but that would mean that they were just going to let everyone board the Preservation. They would have the same fate as those on Longevity.
“Greg how are we going to let those people know what really happened?”
These are the events of the last twenty minutes that lead to this moment, what could very well be the end of my life. This is what led to that gun barrel pointing at my face.
“We’re not going to do anything, this goes way over you’re head kid, you understand me?” instructed Greg.
“But we… I don’t understand… all those people! Greg… and you, who are you?”
“Didn’t want to do this kid, but you’re not leaving me much choice.”
Time seems to retard to a near stand still as I slowly watch the bullet travel past the shaft and in to me. Now there is nothing.
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