Transient Echoes (32 page)
Master Gel removed his visor. “There,” he said. “Now you are authorized to hear what I am about to tell you.”
She didn’t know what to say.
“As you have already surmised, Ms. Sol, the location you received is indeed blacklisted from lower level personnel. The question you’re surely asking yourself is why? Are you aware of the history surrounding that area? I’m sure you know the general story about the tribal conflicts and toxicity of the land, yes?”
She nodded.
“All true,” he assured her. “However, there’s a little more to it. The reason behind the pollution and radiation has to do with the facility in question. You see, under the mountain is an abandoned city, largely undetectable. The only reason you were able to find it was because of the Rosenthal satellite, which was only recently launched.” He shook his head. “It seems no one thought to delete the details of this location from the satellite’s scans, but I suppose mistakes happen. Regardless, this facility exists and has been there for roughly two hundred and sixty years.”
Two hundred and sixty years? Lena considered this. If Gel’s math was accurate, then this place was the oldest structure in the quarantine zone by at least a decade.
Master Gel went on. “The purpose of this location was to carry out a wide variety of classified scientific research. Due to the dangers this work entailed, the order was given to establish an outpost far from Everlasting, should anything go wrong.”
“What sort of work could be so dangerous?” asked Lena.
“There was a project,” explained the master analyst. “An experiment dealing with cutting edge quantum theory, specifically aimed at discovering and potentially developing a means for matter transference through a singularity.”
“Matter transference?” asked Lena.
“A wormhole,” he replied. “A means of moving from one point to another, no matter the distance, in a matter of seconds.”
“I see,” she said, surprised.
“Indeed, but after a few decades of research, a discovery was made. Quite accidentally, I might add.”
“What kind?” she asked.
“The dangerous sort,” he said. “The scientists did indeed find a way to open a bridge, but what they found on the other side was not what they expected. In attempting to create a means of traveling great distances through space, they inadvertently opened a door to another universe. A separate reality, if you will.”
“Another reality?” she asked, a little taken back. “Incredible.”
“What followed was a disaster,” said Gel. “The machine activated successfully, but the gate caused a power surge throughout the facility, damaging several systems in the process. This in turn caused an immediate containment breach in one of the fission reactors, which was our main source of energy at the time. The resulting radiation swept through the compound, killing everyone in a matter of minutes. Those who managed to escape died a few days later.”
Lena was stunned. “Sir, this is…I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s hard to believe, I know,” he said. “The machine and the underground city associated with it were considered lost. The intense levels of radiation were beyond deadly, and the government at the time refused to risk more lives. Thirteen thousand people were lost that day.”
“What happened to the portal, sir?”
“It was believed to have shut down after the power failure,” said Gel. “With no energy to draw from, how could it continue working? But four years ago there was a disturbance, an energy spike which bore a striking resemblance to the signature of the portal. An investigation was performed, but there were no conclusive results. However, several theories have been surmised.”
“What kind of theories?”
“That the portal was never closed,” said the master analyst. “That it remained open for two hundred years, only shutting down on the day in question, when the energy surge occurred suddenly and without warning, right in the heart of the quarantine zone.”
“Sir, would this be the same energy—”
“Yes,” he answered. “The event from four years ago is identical to the one you stumbled upon only a short while ago. What’s more, they have been occurring with some frequency these last few weeks, and as you might expect, we are concerned.”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the Rosenthal satellite is not capable of giving us the status of the machine, nor can it detail the state of the facility. As such, we find ourselves in a situation requiring a more hands-on approach.”
“You mean the government is looking to send a research team?” she asked.
“Exactly true, yes,” said Master Analyst Gel. “Several departments have been tasked with providing an experienced and qualified member for this joint operation.” He grinned and arched his brow. “As it happens, Lena Sol, I think you’d make an excellent candidate.”
STAY
UP TO
DATE
Chaney posts updates, official art, previews, and other awesome stuff on his website. You can also follow him on
Instagram
,
Facebook
, and
Twitter
.
For updates about new releases, as well as exclusive promotions, visit the author’s website and sign up for the VIP mailing list:
Enjoying the series? Help others discover the Variant Saga by leaving a review on
Amazon
.
ABOUT
THE A
UTHOR
J. N. Chaney has a Master’s of Fine Arts in creative writing and fancies himself quite the Super Mario Bros. fan. When he isn’t writing or gaming, you can find him online at
www.jnchaney.com
.
He migrates often but was last seen in Avon Park, Florida. Any sightings should be reported, as they are rare.
Transient Echoes
is his second novel.
