Prologue

Prologue

There was no sense of movement in the dark silence. A barely discernable glow emanated from the instrument array as all the power that the antimatter generator could deliver was used in forming the protective cocoon that kept them alive.

"Are we there yet?" Rebekkah's voice drifted through the darkness.

"According to my calculations, we'll be there in ..." Alex paused. In the blackness, he couldn't see the chronograph. "... soon," he finished lamely.

His theories on time and space had led to this moment. He had found a way to use the energy of tachyons to not just move almost instantaneously through any distance but to short circuit time itself. It was possible to go anywhere and anywhen ... and Alex had proved it.

Dr. Rebekkah Smithe with a long "i", Alex paused to smile at her one affectation, was his sole companion on this journey. She had developed the power plant which now kept them alive.

This journey was to be his crowning glory – to prove how the universe was formed – to witness the precise moment when everything began. The preparations were carefully made. This would be the longest jump ever attempted, back to the beginning of time itself. The jump craft would have to withstand incredible stresses. He had done the calculations himself hundreds of time. He was now minutes away from witnessing the birth of the universe.

In the quiet of the journey, he had plenty of time to think. Obsessively, he went over every detail until he was satisfied that he had accounted for every contingency. Now, as he waited drifting in the quiet, a random thought had come into his head born of his natural curiosity ... and it had taken over his mind. Harlan Ellison, an early twentieth century science fiction writer once said "The two most common elements in the universe are Hydrogen and stupidity." I stand here and proclaim him the world's greatest prophet! he thought.

"You're awfully silent," Rebekkah's voice sounded again.

"Rebekkah, have you ever heard of 'Murphy'?"

"Was he a famous scientist?"

"No – more like a philosopher. He once said that nature always sides with the hidden flaw."

"I don't understand."

"Sometimes, you can be 99.9999% right but some minor detail can make you fail. In this case, I overlooked what was right in front of my nose."

"Alex – you're scaring me."

"Rebekkah – what existed before the moment the universe was formed?" Alex could sense her brow furrow like it always did when she was deep in thought.

"Nothing, I guess."

"But we're here – and we exist, don't we?"

Alex's last thought, as he, Rebekkah, and everything that existed – but shouldn't - disintegrated into primeval atoms was, we're here, Rebekkah – and we always will be ... as the universe was born.


An entry for the August round of "Invalid Item" 

Word Count: 467

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please, as long as you're here, leave a comment. Criticisms, thoughts, reactions, yes – even words of encouragement or praise – are all equally welcome

Ken