The Portal Effect

Chapter 27

"He's in the observation room. I would like to escort you there myself." Richie said simply. But he did not move.

"Is there something you would like to add?" I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"Yes. As I know you are aware, there is something going on here. Something that many do not know about." Richie explained.

"Like the fact that you managed to trick the system into saying there wasn't a portal where we were going. Or that you want to activate the portal for ulterior reasons." I supplied, straightening up a bit.

"Yeah. But I am not here to fight. Hopefully. I want you to hear me out. My colleagues and I want you, and hopefully your team, to join us. Instead of destroying the Gate, help us find out why it all happens, learn about the other side." Richie said, striding forward and grabbing my hand. I tried to pull away, but despite his thin appearance, he had a vice like grip.

"Please, Harley. You know as well as the rest of us that we could use this technology, this energy, to save humanity." he said insistently.

"No, this could destroy humanity. You have seen what it does if not properly maintained. We don't have the technology to keep it stable without the blue energy. And right now, what my team brought back is only enough to turn it on and then turn it off, effectively resetting it until we find more." I said, again trying to pull my hand away.

"Harley, you know that in order to learn more about something, we need to do what might be destructive. The 1945 bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki..." Richie started earnestly, but I cut him off, pulling away.

"Those bombings ended the war and led to decades of radiation and death. While they won the war, people still suffered. People still died even after the war ended." I hissed.

"That was an unfortunate side effect," Richie admitted, "But it still saved millions more lives than if they'd let the war go on. And this machine could allow us to go to other dimensions and prosper, letting the world slowly get back onto its feet."

He had a point; the planet was struggling. But if I knew anything about science, something big would reset the planet so life could resume. And these Gates were not the answer. Not yet at least. Because we didn't know what they did to the body, and what aftereffects might be present. I turned and went for the door. But when I got there and tried to open it, it was locked. Richie just sighed.

"Richie, as of right now, I cannot be involved in something that might cause more harm than good." I explained, turning to get to the door. But when I got there and tried to open it, it was locked. Richie just sighed.

"I know this is a lot to take in." Richie said. But I could hear the impatience in his voice.

"Not really. I just want more research to go into what causes the Gate to absorb energy and why they explode. We have enough data from my complex and the lab to figure out that. The blue energy will eventually run out on our side because it is not a naturally occurring source. It would be best used to figure out an alternative energy source. Draining portals might not be enough in the long run." I argued. I was not getting good vibes from him. More so than normal.

"I understand that. But what if we could get it from the other side?" he retorted.

"What if the other side kills the people before they get back?" I said.

"That's why we send multiple teams and medical supplies as well as weapons." Richie replied.

"You'd be willing to get the people you are trying to save killed?"

"Sounds revolting, I know. But it would still save the rest of the world." Richie said in exasperation. He put his right hand on his hip and the other on his forehead.