In a remote section of the world, deep underground, a
facility had been built; within a cold sealed lab, an experiment of the
grandest proportions was taking place.
The air smelled stale and cold… Good, we can't have anything interfering, even if it is in a sealed vacuum container. A clean-shaven old man wearing a pristine white lab coat. Gregory, the lead scientist, stood behind shielding within a clean room, gazing at the chamber through the clear barrier.
"Mere Observation could change the results of this experiment; we must be careful the less people that observe this the more
likely it is to succeed." Gregory spoke into the microphone within his suit.
Contrary to common belief, it's not the act of observation by people that typically
influences the outcomes of experiments; rather, it's the instruments of observation that introduce variables. But in the realm of Aetheric Radiation, a phenomenon named after its discoverer, Matthew Aethers, the rules are different. Here, the focused thoughts of observers have a tangible effect. Studies indicate that with deliberate increase in the number of observers, to the precise count of 34, we can stabilize the extraordinary effects of the radiation. Achieve this, and teleportation transcends from the pages of
science fiction to tangible fact, Gregory pondered, the weight of their potential discovery pressing upon his mind.
"Let's start the experiment," Gregory said to himself.
Walking up to the panels, Gregory pressed the buttons to initiate the second experiment of teleportation. As he input the password, he
stepped back to observe. The whirring of the machines powering up and spinning. The gates slid open with a hiss, unleashing a beam of radiation that pierced the air like an intense, focused laser. The air felt energized, similar to being in the middle of a thunderstorm. Within the chamber on a platform, stood an apple, the same apple used in the first experiment. When the radiation hit the apple, it started to glow an electric blue before becoming a deep purple.
Gregory's eyes widened and his heart sped up in excitement, being momentarily
blinded by the light of the experiment, the gates started to close. As the
light gradually faded, Gregory became short breath. Sitting there, where the
apple once stood was nothing, just an empty platform. His gaze shot to the
opposite side of the lab, where an identical setup awaited. There, centered on
a pristine platform, sat an apple, which Gregory hoped fervently was the
very same fruit.
After calming down from his excitement, he walked towards the panels again and proceeded to activate the scanners and other devices used to detect the condition of the apple.
Condition: 100%
Weight: 167g Noted:
Same weight as original
Genetic sample: pending…
Gregory's hands trembled slightly as he announced, "It's a success." His voice remained steady, a stark contrast to the inner tumult of his excitement. The genetic sample usually took longer than anything else. Once
this was done the next experiment will be run using an apple as close to this one as possible, for as long as the apple doesn't degrade, and bring in more variables.
"That's good to hear, when can we run the next experiment?" came a calm deep voice
over the headset.
"In 24hrs General, with multiple sources it would take less time." Gregory said.
BEEEP
"Genetic sample done: Match" an automated voice sounded.
"With that everything's per..."
The power flickers for a moment, driving everything into darkness. "What just happened! That should be impossible." Running up to the control panels Gregory checks and rechecks all the data. "This shouldn't have happened."
"What's going on Gregory." The General said, "I lost connection with you for a moment."
"I'm not sure, there was a flicker of power, shutting off everything for a moment… The data has changed."
"There shouldn't be anything like a power surge Gregory, we have safeties installed to prevent any of that." The General said in wonder.
Knowing the general likes to talk to himself Gregory continued on, "The subject has changed, the weights decreased by a couple of grams. I'm going to take a look." As Gregory flicked on the scanners and
cameras, the readings blinked back at him from the monitors. For a moment, he
simply stood there, his fingers stilled mid-air, his breath caught in the
silent lab. "There's… There's a BITE taken out of the apple…"
…
Sitting on a counter sat a confused, slightly tanned boy with dark grey eyes and light brown hair as he was looking around, he said, "Where'd my apple go?"
Turning around his mother asked, "What apple honey, and get down from the counter."
Hopping off of the counter, Azur said "I was eating an apple and it just disappeared?"
"We never got any apples when we went grocery shopping? Where'd you get it?"
"It just appeared on the counter, it looked really tasty, so I took a bite, but then it disappeared?" Azur said in a despondent voice.
"Well, maybe your father left it." Thinking that he actually ate it and wanted another she secretly reached behind the counter and into a slightly hidden drawer where she kept the secret stash of candy, handing Azur
his favorite, she said "No more tell dinner honey, it'll spoil your appetite."
"Okay mom!" happy with the candy he got, Azur wondered off into the living room.
With the sound of jingling keys in the door, a rough voice announced that he was home.
"I'm just getting dinner ready honey, why don't you play with Azur for a bit?" Rayla answered her husband.
With a genuine smile on his face, the man picked up his son and said, "Thank you honey, lets go play rocket ship Azur." As he threw Azur a bit into the air catching him and then started spinning him around a bit.
An hour later dinner was ready, with a scrumptious display of food on the table Rayla asked, "How was your day at work Greg?