The last of Bannis Morgan's subordinates returned to the warehouse carrying the requested items. The Bangor was loaded and the journey set. Just over an hour later the ship was settling onto the grassy field at Midelon. The items were moved into Trish's amply outfitted shop.
Harris sat in the chair in front of the table in the bunker. The hologram image of Alexander Gaerten came to life.
“Welcome, Harris. Were you able to acquire the equipment I suggested?”
Harris nodded. “We were. We have it in our shop. We have tools there to work with.”
The image replied, “Take Archibald and position him where he has a full view of the shop. I will connect with you through him to provide instruction for the device assembly.”
Harris returned to the shop, picking up his faithful pet and depositing it on a table with a full view of the shop floor and its benches. A panel near the dog's right hindquarter opened. A smaller hologram image of Alexander Gaerten appeared.
Gandy crossed his arms. “I was wondering what that module back there was.”
“Before we begin, in order to simplify our communications, please refer to me as Alex.”
“OK, Alex, tell us where to begin.”
The team worked through the Midelon night, only stopping for a break as the first light of day began to appear in the sky outside.
Gandy said, “This is supposed to have some effect on the boson field? So far I'm completely lost.”
Harris shrugged. “If you're asking me, you're asking the wrong person. Go ask Alex.”
Gandy stood in front of Farker. “Alex, how exactly is this contraption supposed to work? What's it do?”
Alex replied, “Are you familiar with the inertial dampener on your ship?”
“Somewhat.”
The boson field ties all matter together. When a wormhole is created, two locations within that field can be brought close, allowing direct, instantaneous travel between those points. The inertial dampener divides those same ties along its own field, essentially making two boson fields where one does not interact with the other. This is accomplished in an indirect manner by separating the two, whereas the device you are piecing together, in theory, will negate the field within an area.”
Gandy asked, “What happens when the boson field is negated?”
Alex replied, “Theoretically, any wormhole generator within that new area would be unable to spawn a wormhole. However, there may be other side effects the theories do not reveal.”
“Such as?”
“Such as all matter within that void being instantly annihilated. Or perhaps it would explode outward, burning like a sun. We won't know until it has been tested.”
Gandy stood still for several seconds. “I can't say I like the sound of either of those.”
“Theoretically, it could also form a black hole, where all surrounding matter will be pulled in.”
“Not liking that option either. So how do we test this without killing ourselves?”
“Remotely. I propose it be flown to a location on the edge of the boson field for a trial run. I would also suggest we do so through a wormhole that is immediately shut down. Once that is done, a second wormhole can be opened at what we would consider a safe viewing distance.”
“Well, that doesn't sound so bad. How far away is a safe viewing distance?”
“I believe a quarter light year to be sufficient. You asked earlier what the three devices under construction were. Two are measurement devices. They will record valuable information that will allow us to verify if the main device worked as theorized. The third is the actual boson field negator. We may be producing a small amount of anti-matter in the process of bringing it online. That is where the unknown factors will come into play.”
Gandy said, “I thought anti-matter was still theoretical.”
“It is. However, with this experiment, we may prove it to be real.”
Harris asked, “You understand any of that?”
Gandy half smiled. “Some of it. He’s basically saying it will work or we'll all get sucked into a black hole. If it's the latter, we'll be dead in an instant, so I guess it won't matter to us anyway.”
Harris chuckled. “Will matter to me.”
One of the Biomarine pilots tapped Tawn on the shoulder. “Miss Freely, if it's all the same, while this is going on we'd like to be back at Eden where we can monitor the situation. We still have about sixty-five hundred people down there.”
Tawn nodded. “Take a handful of MREs with you. I don't know how long it will be before we make it out there. If you're running out, make a jump back to the Retreat to restock. They should have plenty. When we get you back, I'll have Sharvie scrub your flight logs to have them show the three of you have been doing nothing but observing from Eden space. You never went anywhere else. Got it?”
“Yes, ma'am.”
As the others continued work on the anti-boson device, Tawn returned the Biomarines to their ships. Minutes later they were lifting through the cold thin atmosphere of the icy planet on their way back to the space surrounding Eden.
The Bangor landed and Tawn walked into the shop. “Don't know what good they'll be able to do there. As much as they were doing here, I suppose. I swung by before my jump back. Status remains the same. A standoff.”
Trish said, “We get this one panel cover on and we're finished.”
Harris asked, “We'll be ready to test?”
Alex replied, “Low level testing may begin when the panel is applied. Adjustments will have to be made before full deployment and testing can take place.”
Gandy stood. “We're good. Light her up.”
Power was applied to each of the recorders.
Alex said, “Internal tests reveal no issues. Please apply power to the negation unit.”
Trish flipped a toggle switch. A green, bar indicator showed the device was coming to life. As the status bar reached half way, the negation unit began to hum.
Gandy stepped back. “Is it supposed to do that?”
Alex replied, “The theoretical design gave no indication of such a vibration.”
As the indicator reached three-quarters, the device began to slowly wobble and the hum became more pronounced.
Harris said, “Should we turn it off?”
Gandy shook his head. “I'm not touching that thing.”
The one-meter-cubed box began to walk itself across the floor, backing Trish into a corner. Harris moved to free her, stepping close to the unit as he picked her from the ground behind it. Small violet tentacles of light stretched out from the box, seeming to caress the calf of Harris' left leg.
Harris scowled as he was held in place. “Thing's got a hold of me.”
Trish was set on the floor by Harris, where she hurried toward the door as he continued to try to pull away.
Tawn asked, “Alex, what's happening?”
As the indicator reached 100 percent, the negation unit began bouncing off the floor as the frequency of its vibration dropped rapidly. The energy beams holding Harris in place turned from violet to red. Harris let out a howl as a bolt of electricity raced across the beams from the box.
“What the... turn this thing off!”
As a second jolt shot across to Harris' calf, a shockwave emerged from the unit, knocking the others down as it crashed into them and slammed the walls. Items on shelves fell to the floor. The unit shut down.
Alex was the first to speak: “I believe the initial test was a success.”
Harris struggled to walk across the room with his now numb leg. “A success? That thing nearly killed us!”
“You were not in danger. The shock you received was mild. Any effect will be temporary.”
Tawn grabbed the edge of a table, pulling herself to her feet as she chuckled. “You're walking like you just rode a bull at a bogler rodeo.”
Harris stopped, looking down at the biosuit that covered his numb limb. “You think this is funny?”
Tawn laughed. “It's getting funnier.”
Alex said, “I have analyzed the initial recordings. The data appears to support the theory behind the device.”
Trish said, “I have a question. Why is it we have triple the parts? We building more of these?”
Alex replied, “When the device is fully powered up, its circuits will begin to deteriorate. The duration of the field negation will depend on when the device reaches a condition of critical failure. The data from that live test will tell us how long the effects will last. The device itself will be consumed.”
Harris took a seat in a chair as he stomped his numb foot on the floor. “So after this test we have two of these devices to make use of?”
“Assuming the remaining parts are fully functional, yes. Each can be put through a test similar to what we did here. The recording devices can be used again. We only need assemble the negation units themselves.”
Trish patted her brother on the back. “That means us. Mr. Gruberg, maybe if you go walk around on it the feeling will come back.”
Tawn chuckled. “She's trying to say your whining is disruptive. Come on, I'll take you for a walk.”
As Harris stood, Alex spoke: “Trish and Gandy Boleman, you as well as Sharvie Withrow have been added to the friends list for the outer room of the facility. When we are finished here, you will be welcome in the outer room, where the next level of investigation into your trustworthiness can begin.”
Gandy replied, “Thanks, I guess.”
Sharvie asked, “Could I come over while they are doing the assembly? Or do you need to stay here to communicate through Farker?”
“I am capable of both at once. You are more than welcome in the outer room. Trish, Gandy, I will continue to be available for assembly instruction.”
Gandy replied, “Good 'cause I'm sure we'll need it.”
Trish picked the first piece off the floor as she turned toward her brother. “Bet you a beverage I can finish mine first.”
Gandy dropped to his knees as he pulled the first two parts of the device together. “You're on.”
Harris wobbled as he and Tawn walked out onto the grass in front of the shop. “You can let me go now. I can manage.”
Tawn chuckled. “I'm thinking of putting on my helmet so I can get a recording of this. The colonel and the other Bios would get a huge kick out of it.”
Harris stumbled, catching himself just before hitting the ground. “I just hope they're still alive down there. I feel responsible for getting them into this mess. They could have been out at the Retreat, slowly moving more of us out there to live in peace.”
Tawn shook her head. “And the Earthers would have already overrun the pacies and titanium would be flowing freely to their shipyards. We did at least delay that happening.”
Harris hopped up and down in place for several seconds. “I think my feeling is coming back. And six months of acceleration might have been a good thing. Who's to say our defenses back home wouldn't have been in better shape? If that budget passes you'll see ships being mothballed so fast it'll make your head spin.”
Harris took a short, but awkward, sprint. As he returned he high-stepped with his right leg.
Tawn chuckled. “A recording would have been priceless.”
“I think it's good now. Let's go check on Sharvie.”
As the two entered the bunker room Harris looked around. “Thought she came in here.”
Tawn nodded as she walked toward the usual table and chair. “Alex, did Sharvie not come in here?”
“Yes, Tawn. I invited her into security level two. She is quite adept at computing.”
Harris asked, “How she get in there? She couldn't have answered all those questions in the last couple minutes.”
Alex replied, “Did you take note of Sharvie's activities while the negation unit was under construction?”
Tawn nodded. “She was messing around on a terminal console. I assumed she was connected to the Bangor, running diagnostics or something.”
The image of Alex smiled. “She was connected through Archibald to me. Her answers were concise and well matched to the expected answers.”
“Well, what's she doing in there?”
“I'm afraid I cannot reveal that to you at this time, Harris. And she is being instructed to remain silent as well. If not, she and whoever she tells will forever lose those privileges, as well as access to this outer room.”
“You sure are a struggle to work with,” said Tawn.
“Proper answers will allow access. Showing agitation, frustration, or other malevolent responses will only work to slow your acceptance process.”
Harris chuckled. “She does get agitated.”
Tawn returned an evil eye. “And I can be malevolent when pushed.”
Harris smacked her on the back. “Go ahead, swing at me, take another step back. In fact, I'll make a bet with you that I get through that door first.”
“Inciting aggression through the use of verbal slights is also cause for concern to the admittance algorithm. Was that an attempt to make fun of Tawn?”
Harris straightened up. “No, of course not. I have the utmost of respect for my partner and fellow Biomarine.”
The image of Alex smiled. “Excellent. You are well on your way to achieving level two admittance.”
Harris said, “Think I'll go check on the others.”
Trish and Gandy hurriedly moved about the floor of the shop as each raced to complete their unit first. Harris sat in a chair next to the table where Farker watched the others as they worked. Harris reached out and stroked the simulated fur on the dog's head.
Gandy looked over. “What happened to Tawn?”
Harris waved. “She's over in front of the hologram.”
“What happened to Sharvie?”
“She got invited through the door to the next access level.”
Gandy stopped. “She what?”
“She cheated. The whole time you were in here building up that first unit, she was connected with the AI on that console over there. She apparently correctly answered the questions she was asked.”
Trish said, “Wow. Can't wait to hear about what's in there.”
“She can't talk about it, so don't ask. It seems we each have to make it through on our own.”
“You and Tawn made it to the first level together.”
Harris smirked. “Or we fouled up by being in there together each time.”
“What are you doing right now?” Trish asked.
“Watching you I guess.”
“Why not hop on that console and see if you can get through to the next level?”
Harris scrunched up his face, wanting to give a sarcastic reply. “Fine.”
The next hour flew past as Trish and Gandy scurried about the shop while Harris made faces at the console in front of him after each question asked. Tawn walked through the door with Sharvie just as the Bolemans were finishing up their work.
“Guess who popped out the second door?”
Harris replied, “Baxter Rumford?”
Tawn returned a half scowl.
Sharvie said, “And before anyone asks, no I can't tell you anything about it other than to say it was interesting… very interesting.”
“Did Alex tell you to say that?” Harris asked. “Just to make us all eager to get in there?”
Sharvie shook her head. “It's genuinely interesting.”
Trish stood. “Finished!”
Gandy huffed as he attached a final cover plate. “You must have left something out.”
Trish defiantly replied, “I don't think so.”
Gandy pointed. “Then what is that piece over there?”
Sharvie stepped in. “It was a spare. I did the inventory and we had four of those.”
Harris stood from his console. “Let's do the initial test and get this show on the road.”
Everyone backed over to the door as a unit was switched on. A repeat of the physical attributes of the first test ensued, culminating in a shockwave that knocked the group down as they attempted to flee from the doorway. A test of the second unit saw a similar result, with the group escaping the final consequence.
Harris said, “Let's get them on the ship and out for a live test.”
Gandy asked, “If it works as designed, how do we make use of it?”
Harris shrugged. “I'm guessing Alex will reveal that to us once the test is complete. At the moment I don't have a clue.”