Invading the Past

Chapter 01: Unstable Threshold

The lab was filled to overflowing with technology. Cables and bundles of wires crossed the floor in such quantity, an outside observer might've thought the lab infested with snakes. Holographic simulation displays were mounted inside projection cylinders along the walls where they could be viewed without taking up valuable floor space.

The primary interface console stood near the center of the lab. It held up a number of glowing green computer screens. Some of the displays were mounted on adjustable swing arms to allow them to be repositioned as needed. A keyboard was directly under the main monitor, and additional control panels and alphanumerical keypads were situated under the smaller ones.

Behind the interface console, and the focal point of the entire lab, was the teleportation chamber. The cables running from the wall connections, computer controls, and the primary interface console all linked to the circular platform upon which the teleportation chamber was situated. A bright white light shown down through the chamber while vertical plates of the focusing array floated around it in a manner similar to the lower part of a wind chime.

The lab door split diagonally with the upper left portion sliding into a pocket within the wall to the left of the door while the lower right door panel vanished into the wall on the opposing side of the doorframe.

Entering the lab was a scientist in a dark gray suit. The identification tag clipped to his lapel identified him as Colin Sterling. At forty-three years of age, a few strands of gray had started to infiltrate the ink black of his hair. He was clean shaven and everything about him was neat and organized. Held in his left hand was a data pad. Looking like a sheet of glass, the data pad illuminated requested information on the microfilament display installed within the upper surface of the transparent device. Currently, he studied the energy output figures of the latest test.

For the past three years, Colin had been trying to create a stable gateway for matter teleportation. So far, he'd managed to transport a number of objects, but because of the instability of the gateway, he'd accidentally put a few things in orbit. Colin still didn't know where the houseplant he'd used for the first test had gone, assuming it hadn't simply been vaporized by the process.

Colin approached the primary interface console and plugged the data pad into an appropriately sized slot on the side. The information previously displayed on the pad was transmitted to one of the monitors. Typing a few commands into the keyboard, Colin brought up a graph showing the frequency of the energy output, the line rising and falling in a graceful and perpetual wave. Adjusting a few controls, he changed the frequency, and the line flattened with fewer variations.

The lab door opened again, and a second man entered. He wore a business suit of dark green pinstriped with white. The shoulders of the suit were stiff and squared off as was the current style of among rich executives. A perfectly tailored suit, styled brown hair, manicured nails, and phony smile were the key features of Travis Wellner, business executive and leader of the Zelen Corporation.

"What progress have you today?" Travis asked in an overly polite manner, his smile constant.

"I've decreased power fluctuation by fifteen percent," Colin answered. He managed to keep the disdain from his voice and maintain the outward appearance of professional respect.

"Very good," Travis praised. "How long until we're ready for human testing?"

"I'd say we're still a ways from that, sir," Colin replied.

"The Board of Directors is wanting progress from this department," Travis reminded. He pretended to look at the information displayed on Colin's screens.

"Progress may not be fast, but it does happen," Colin reminded.

"True enough," Travis agreed. "However, let's see if you can accomplish both progress and speed. The Board will see this demonstrated on Thursday."

"Two days?" Colin repeated in disbelief.

"I'm so glad you agree," Travis accepted. "I'll see you and your completed project by Thursday."

Travis departed from the room, leaving Colin to his arduous task. Colin shook his head as he stared at the closing doors where he superior had gone. He knew arguing with Travis would accomplish nothing once the corporate tyrant had made his decision. Talking about the issue only wasted the little time Colin had been given, so he didn't bother.

Colin unclenched his hands at his sides, trying to calm down. He hated deadlines as they forced him to focus on production quotas and timetables rather than on innovation and creativity. Previously, he'd been able to experiment and try new things to find a better way to make something work, but with the timetable added, he'd have no choice but to make it function, regardless of efficiency. Corporate executives like Travis seemed to take perverse delight in hampering his creative vision.

Seeing no alternative, Colin went back to work. He made several more adjustments to the power flow. One alteration caused something unexpected. The ribbon displaying the energy frequency suddenly rippled with great intensity, spiking toward both the top and bottom of the display screen. The light from inside the teleportation chamber intensified to near blinding levels, and the focusing array halted its rotation to lock in place. An audible crack of an energy discharge sounded at the same instant the lab vanished around him.

Colin found himself standing not on the metal plates of his research lab but upon the bare dirt of an ancient road. A distant whistle caught his attention and he spun around to watch a metal construction moving down the length of a pair of metal rails. It looked to him like a primitive version of a hovertrain except it was in contact with the ground and instead of the kelvaen power battery at the very front, a horizontal cylinder, surrounded by various moving metal parts of black metal, sent huge plumes of smoke skyward.

"Where am I?" he wondered aloud.