The Unwritten

The Unwritten Part VI - The Scientists

Minister YashThiago was head of Dimensional Research at Eridani State Facility. He was generally feared and yet, very well respected. Respected for his fairness, his discovery of a way to breach the time\space barrier and inventions such as the device they were using now to do it.

Cotanrz was sitting next to Miuccia at the console when Minister YashThiago entered with his two attendants. He walked in, stopped, and took in the large lab in one sweeping look. He looked up through the glass wall surrounding the immense device that he had invented and built. It rose through the first thirty floors above them, the top of which was another three hundred feet beneath the surface of the desert rock above and the bottom of which was several more floors beneath them.

The Minister looked off to the side where the new containment unit was housed. He marveled at how small it was, miniaturized through long experimentation and refinement. They had replaced his now antique monstrosity behind the glass wall, which sat still and resolute in its silence and couldn’t help but feel just a little bit dejected.

YashThiago smiled, allowing himself to become lost in thought for a moment. This research which had assured his rise beyond a mere researcher to that of an Overseer of the entire facility, had also solidified his post as a Minister. Never again would he ever want for anything, unlike so many of the masses of people around their planetary system.

Those backwater moons and planetary communities would find better lives if this single piece of research should pay off. And it would. He had made up his mind about that. He had also promised it to the High Council. His reputation was now on the line, as well as his life.

There was a time when it was thought that androids could change everything. But they discovered very quickly that the expense in their upkeep was prohibitive so that in the end, an entire industry had succumbed to bankruptcy. That was during the Religious Wars.

For many years after, money and resources were scant and times were difficult for all. Times were still difficult for most. Even Artificial Intelligence holograms were now few and far between. With the advent of so much automation and technology, the need for such things simply wasn't possible. 

He had a feeling of eyes on his back. YashThiago found the present rushing in at him as remembered where he was and why he was there. He turned to see his lead researchers, both once his students and friends, both watching him. They had the look of anxiety about them, and concern, for him. He could almost smell their fear, their unease and their worry. They had good reason to be in such a state. He could only protect them so far after all and then….

“What has happened here, my friends?” The Minister said this with a forced grin on his face, one that showed compassion, humor and his own subtle brand of fear. He tried to hide his distress but they knew him far too well.

“Minister,” Cotanrz spoke first, which was his right and place as senior lead researcher. “We have examined the transcripts and data. We have learned things, to be sure. But we have also learned we are quite ignorant of what happened.”

“I see.” The Minister was feeling tired. “It wasn’t a problem with the device then?”

“No,” this time it was Miuccia who spoke up. Her voice wavered with trepidation but she spoke with confidence, and well-timed control. “We, that is, the device… did everything that had been foreseen and verified. The problem was….”

“The problem was,” Cotanrz picked up the lead, “there was another… energy, injected into the locus. We did nothing wrong, nothing failed, the system checks out. What we were doing was altered, from within the locus.”

“From within?” The Minister seemed truly confused by this. How could this happen? “You mean, another technology distorted the quantum chord? Or was it a more natural cause, something we had missed, perhaps?”