The White Singularity: A Choose Your Own Adventure

Chapter 4: The White Singularity

Eight months later, your ship is finished. You and Zell stare up at the sleek bullet shape hovering weightlessly above a magnetic dock, marveling at the sheer artistry of its engineering. 

 While Nesca's modification of your equation to incorporate antimatter was crucial,  it was your vision and expertise that guided the majority of the ship's design.  You meticulously planned the interior for maximum safety and efficiency, adjusted the nuclear reactor to produce just the right energy output that would feed the singularity without enabling it to grow, and calculated the precise placement of the overlapping magnetic fields to control the antigravity.

All it needs now is a name that reflects its purpose and will resonate with the mission it's about to embark on.

"What should we call it?" Zell asks softly.

You don't respond for a moment.  There's only one thing you can think of--the phrase your wife inadvertently coined when she first talked to you about this project.  

"I name her the White Singularity," You say, winking at her.  

Zell laughs. "Her heart and soul, the thing that will make her journey possible. I love it."

"I knew you would." You grin and hold out what you have been holding behind your back all this time. She laughs when she sees it. It's a champagne bottle of a particular vintage--the exact kind that you drank at the toast during your wedding reception.

"Ready?" You ask, holding out the bottle over the ship.

"Wait!" She says suddenly, grasping your wrist before you can release it. "We have to make one more decision."

"What's that?" You ask, confused.

"I don't want to go all the way to the core right now, so I instructed NESCA to plan an alternate destination," she says sheepishly. "Sort of like a test drive. If it's okay with you, I would rather go to the Mariana Trench."

"The deepest part of the ocean?" You ask. You can't help but feel a little disappointed. "But hasn't it been visited by manned expeditions already?"

"I know that," Zell says, flushing. "I'm just being cautious. But we can still go to the core if you want..."

You ponder her words. You're incredibly excited about the trip and want to see the core immediately. It's the culmination of your childhood dream. All of your exploits seem to have been leading up to this. 

 On the other hand, your wife has a point. This is the White Singularity's maiden voyage, and it might be best to try her out in a less hazardous place first.

The Mariana Trench is also dangerous, but it would be easier to deal with problems there. A significant advantage is that the hull of your new ship is strong enough to withstand the pressures there, even without the antigravity forcefield.

Unfortunately, you can only go to one place at a time. And you might not get funding again for several years if you ever do.

"Wow, that's a big decision to make," you say, swallowing as you look down at your ship. Your wife nods thoughtfully. "I don't think I can tell you my answer right now. Tell you what. Would you be willing to give me a time extension on this? A week would help me think and make a more informed choice."

"I have no problem whatsoever with that," Zell says warmly. "Remember, this is your dream. We may never have a chance to fulfill it again. If we're going to do it at all, we're going to have to do it right!"

I sure hope so, you think to yourself.

Your wife lets go of your arm and grins merrily at you. "Ready?"

"Ready."

You release the bottle of champagne with a flourish. The two of you watch its spiraling flight until it shatters against your ship with a small explosion of sparkling glass and fizzing foam. Technicians all over the hangar look up, then clap and hoot when they spot the two of you doing a little jig.

"To the White Singularity!" You both shout.

Now, you just have to figure out where to go.