Light came streaming through the plasma vents and I knew there were only a few moments left before the array went live and had to move sharpish! Crossing over the perfect metal, with countless reflections repeated a thousand times all around me as I moved towards the exit, the most noticeable thing was the new, rather unimpressive central column. This was the new Hyperburst, capable of adding over 1000 times our original output from the solar beacons meaning the transit line was getting another huge shot of adrenaline and this was the first in the line for upgrades. We have 500 other engineers upgrading a set for our initial test then the plan is to cross install across all Hyperways which will be done by the drones. This new technology is not only increasing the speed however as the units are now producing so much power there is a possibility it will be used on-planet for the provision of more plentiful renewable energy sources braking free from expensive and manipulative terra based power firms and giving power to the 25 billion currently without across the system...
For me it was nice to get out of regular drone service and overhauls as after 14 years of the same office, I didn’t mind being away from home for a few days. Tom was back home with the kids so life was normal there too and the kids loved talking to me while I was on station and seeing the amazing views alongside having some interesting stories to tell them for once! This all aside I knew whenever you’re asked to work on the solar array it was high risk due to the volatile nature of space and some of the locations of the beacons. Every year 5-10 engineers get killed up here as the defence network for each unit is auto activated by unexpected space debris and other items, an energy ball is omitted to destroy the item at question but in the process the radiation from the weapon will cook you to your bones. Thankfully in the recent years the early projection and prediction systems have become far more effective increasing safety and beacon longevity overall.
As I closed the hatch to the beacon and started walking back down the transparent tunnel to my transport I stopped to admire the view when something caught my eye. Some of the packaging the new upgrades had come in was caught in the floor panels when the techs had brought it on board, it still had half a label on it and just out of habit almost I read it. It seemed normal enough address to our main planetary base then shipped out here but at the bottom was the part that troubled me a little. At some point the units had been through the factory of MegaCorp Inc., the single largest weapon manufacturer in the planetary system. Hyperways had always shown public disapproval of MegaCorp stating their controls and licensing were not enough nor did they act responsibly with the massive profits they made. The only thing I could think was they had to achieve some heat dispersion factors that would be possible if working within the already heavy research archives of a weapons maker. I assumed this was the case and dismissed it crunching up the packaging and taking it back into the transport eventually to throw in the recycler.
“Ok ladies and gentlemen we are ready for phase one testing!” I announce with an excited edge to my voice making it clear I was a little too excited about this. The pilot gestured to his co-pilot and our transparent umbilical cord retracted into the transporter as we started to retreat to a safe distance for phase one to begin. I began running the commands to reactivate the beacon and start to charge the system. My fingers were trembling a little from the whole experience and I had to slow down to find my concentration and focus to make sure the algorithms were running smoothly as it gained in power, it is at this point that the system can also go cataclysmically wrong with over powering the capacitors feeding back into the network and taking out thousands of beacons in a vast implosion. It has never happened mainly due to safe guards but it was still there in my mind! Everything was fine though we went straight through phase one into phase 2 as power started to feed into the Hyperways and soon we were fully ready for phase 3, transit tests.
Matthias sat over from me suddenly came to life after being somewhat despondent during the trip over but this was fairly normal as he was rarely a live wire unless it was part of his work cycle. He was a heavy dreaming scientist who had travelled all around the world working for differing companies, all in research and all focussed on space travel. He was considered one of the top 3 most respected authorities on Hyperways and had dedicated the last 40 years of his life to it and its advancement. He was nearly solely responsible for the latest leap we had just installed with himself stating, “the Hyperburst is the pinnacle and summation my life’s work” to a hungry press core on news of its plans to be integrated to the network this year. He leaned towards me and softly asked “is everything looking normal?” I looked back to my screen to be sure and noticed now we had optimal capacity and output was over expected levels even at reduced throttle rates. “It looks too good to be true Matthias! Looks like we are not only perfectly flat on output quality but well over our expected levels of output too, nearly 800% over and it still isn’t 100% settled yet, Congratulations!” I beamed. “ wait, wait, wait my talented colleague,” he said with a humour to his voice, “we need to see what happens in the full transit tests as now we have many more new variables that may or may not come into effect and that were not present under our test conditions.” I knew he was right as I had watched his research and testing for several years and a large amount of error came from the actual transit tests. “Sorry Matthias I just got a little excited, it is nice seeing good numbers like this I feel like a lottery winner somehow! I do agree though let’s get on with the transit tests then.”
At this point we have 10 test shuttle set at the end of the updated beacons ready to run a small section, I can see from my console that from the 500 engineers out there we have 472 lights green and in place ready to go, a few more seconds tick by and we have 497, “we are nearly there guys a few more then we should be able to send down the first test pods.” Matthias got up and walked over to his incredibly complex looking travel station and started booting whatever it was up, I’ve seen a lot of amazing tech before but I still had no clue what it was. “Hey Matthias what will you be looking for?” I said in a quirky manner, swiftly, with raised brow he looked at me as if to say do you not know how important I’m doing is and calmly said “making sure everything doesn’t go bang as usual.” I immediately responded “but what does that impressive piece of kit scan for?” He again looked at me but this time with a knowing smile, “ it is a little something I made to measure the flex within the Hyperways due to energy knots and impurities, it works on the same protected technology as the Hyperways and hence is not public domain material and that’s probably why you won`t have seen one before. Right now it will be my eye to see if the pods are causing any knotting or flex during transit at 1-10 speed tests and all I want to see is nothing on my screen and we have a green light for complete automated installation across all the beacons and all the Hyperways, then….” pausing, with even broader a grin on his face finished “then I’ll be happy and excited!” I blushed a little being reminded that he was indeed working at such a high level and on things that really boggled the mind even though I considered myself educated at the end of the day I was working fixing and upgrading things nothing like the work he had given his life to. “ well that’s reassuring at least as all I know is from my side all the signs look perfect without load and no signs of any anomalies as of yet!”
Just as the last word left my mouth the 500th light went green on my console, entering my final line code to recheck all beacons for output and match to overall output for complete tube analysis and the integrity of the Hyperways, it came straight back with full systems verifications, “we are 100-100 to go for your first shuttle 10% speed test Matthias.” His look returned to one of focus over jesting as he pulled a separate tablet from his other bag, “ok then my friends here goes to making a little history today.” With that he started working the screen of his tablet muttering as he went, he then stood and holding it in front of his face, verified whatever he was doing with a retinal scan. As he sat back down he looked over, “ that’s it guys the testing pattern is active, 10 pods will be sent, it will take under a second for even the slowest to cover our test area and they will be launched every 10 seconds barring any technical issues. This will mean the test will last for a couple of minutes.” So this was it I was actually going to get to see a pretty huge leap first hand if it all went smoothly. As I saw the Hyperways faze in colour I knew the first pod had gone past, then the second and the third, I turned to Matthias asking “everything looking good over there?” he was bashing away at his keyboard muttering and talking to himself, “ yes yes indeed, everything is normal so far” and went straight back to his machine.
The rest of the pods travelled along without incident with the 10th and final breaking any travelling speed records by a huge factor. We had light speed transport with Hyperways but now it had evolved to some 1000 times that opening up the rest of the universe that had still been so far out of reach even with the advent of the Hyperway. Some 50 billion people used it every week and the new estimates with the further reach are taking the system beyond 500 billion in the next 10 years. Matthias was still typing away and then with a deep sigh closed the lid to his setup and leaned back in the chair to exclaim “ that’s me my friends, we have another chapter started in our search for knowledge and I feel honoured and extremely proud to have been part of it all. Let’s get back to junction 37 and have a celebratory drink on me!” “Are you sure you want to head off so quickly and not wait to see anything else?” I asked hoping there might be something more to this whole process. “Nope, now the drones will run for the next 24 hours across all stations inserting the new burst modules and until that is done I really have very little data to start looking into.” With that I turned to the pilot, “ok then, let’s gets back to base.”
The shuttle main engines started off a familiar rumble and we started our 4 hour ride to one of the biggest central junctions in the system simply known as junc37. Junc37 has 75 Hyperways emanating from it and inside those are 4 of the busiest transit tunnels in the entire system. This had been a prime reason for our testing locality as these tunnels were already over capacity and it was causing issues in many ways other than just the delays. In recent weeks we had been seen problems with the constant flow power solutions were the drain was so high transports were regularly falling out of light speed causing turbulence and in some cases complete stand stills backing up incredible jams that take days clear and return to an efficient scheduling protocol. The burst technology really had taken us on and solved a near impossible problem, I was bursting with pride inside and had soft tears in my eyes just being in Matthias presence now.
I walked over to Matthias, “so this really is a big one hey, I just wanted to say before we get back to base and half the universes’ reporters want to eat up every word you say, its been amazing having you in my life for so many years and inspired me in so many ways, you really do good for the people and that’s just so cool in todays world.” Matthias was a bashful man and looked somewhat lost for words, “erm” he mumbled, “erm, well doesn’t everybody think like that till they learn about wealth? And besides I only do what I can because it is in my head, it won’t go away and I can`t just switch it off so I live with it, embrace it and try to look for the bits that no one sees.” Pausing for a breath, “I think that is my philosophy for life really too,” he blurted jokingly. I could see he really was excited, he had everything packed and was far too organised for his usual self when travelling. “so do you think there will be many back at base waiting?” he looked at the floor and back up, “ I got an email 5 minutes ago saying we had over a billion viewers for the live stream tests and that they were expecting 4-5 million to turn up for our return! I`m not really sure what to think about it or what to do, part of me wants to land somewhere else and avoid it all but then the other side wants to say no create awareness help more get into my field and try to help speed up the general further advancement of technologies. My personal character is so different to that of the person that it has created from success, a real conundrum!” “Just follow your heart and you will find your true happiness when you are ready, it’s worked for me for a while now. With those 2 choices right now I would say you need to see the spectacle, not to gloat or glory hunt but to see how much of a difference and how many peoples’ lives you have just started to touch and benefit.” He was looking very embarrassed again “all you are doing is using all their energy to make things better for the greater good no?” I followed on with. “Yes yes I know all that and I understand what you are saying but when are you actually sure of what the greater good is?” he barked back with something clearly on his mind. “well I think if you want to know that you have to start asking a whole new set of questions in completely different places, but again they say the truth will set you free, hah!” I joked trying to bring some levity back to the discussion as his brow had seemed to darken and a rather awkward frown had crept onto his face.
He could instantly tell I was trying to not take this down too deep a route right now as we had done quite a few times in the past. “well we are nearly there now, in my heart I do want to see the people but I’m still mixed over them really being as happy as they maybe still don`t know what happy can be. I`m still here and this is a huge step I guess in one way, maybe there is something around the corner that will start to make the difference I really want to see.”
I knew exactly what he was talking about in one of his utopian dreams he had the same visions that many did of equal worlds and unequivocal harmony amongst all species regardless of monetary and evolutionary status. It was no new idea either and in the early days of space inhabitation many tried to create new colonies with exactly these ideals. The same problem came to all in the end in that those that chose not to live that type of life presented a constant threat to them creating uncertainty leading to dwindling numbers and then the obvious attacks and looting until none remained and thereafter no one would try again. This had been a secret dream of Matthias for as long as I had known him, he always remained the same though stating that it was a dream with no solution as the problem was infinitely bigger than any solutions that could be gathered. He had his whole life also worked for the other side as it were, the big business that he believed was just not run with the right ideals and structure. This was obviously a huge subject and one that I had given up thinking on a long time ago as I was just trying to be happy and get the most from my life space while I had the chance.
With confident voice I tried to move things along a little “so let’s see what the new years bring to us and for now, try to be happy with what is going on around us, and where are we going for that drink then as I think we might have to slip in somewhere under the radar and low key!” His eyes lit up as he stood to stretch, with a combination of a stretching moan, broad smile and a childish chuckle he blasted, “ plutons in the 4th sector, I’ve wanted to go back now for about 5 years but never have the chance, it will be perfect and you guys are in for a very cool surprise!” He really had my interest now and both our pilots, I had never been into the 4 sector of this hub and it was knows as a place to find anything but nothing which had never really inspired me to go there. It was entirely made up of people who had chosen to push technology in one way shape or form and ran all kinds of establishments with variations on the normal trends. Most of the stories I had seen from there had been nothing that special and mostly things I knew where in development within the main structures any way so I had nothing to really say it was a worthwhile place to visit. But Matthias saying we would be surprised meant it had to be something special as he was immensely hard to impress to begin with. “5 years? That’s a long time, how did you end up there?” I asked with genuine interest. “I was working on this project and I heard some rumours floating about of this place and something they were trying to do. It really had nothing to do with the new burst technology but it did allow me to think in a different way that lead to that technology. It’s a great place, you’ll love it!” with that he clapped his hands together loudly and sat back down as the pilot announced it was time to dock. “Here we go then,” he said confidently fastening his safety harnesses. I followed taking my position near the main awareness console to keep a 3rd set of eyes on the landing manoeuvres and in truth get a first glimpse of the crowds that had gathered in and around the docking station. As it came into view I started to understand what that many people in one place looked like. I could not see a single patch of floor for feet and legs, pretty much for as far as the eye could see people were stood waiting to see the great inventor.
“It really is packed out there Matthias” I commented “how shall we get over to sector 4?” “I have a car at the docking bay in one of the sub floor storage bays, one of the perks of my job so we should be able to get straight to it after a few minutes of waving and saying hello I hope!” he replied. “Sounds good to me” I said with relief as in honesty without that it was going to take hours to even get out of the docking bays let alone find transport after in this kind of mass frenzy of people. A reassuring buzz took over the cabin as the captain announced we had entered and locked into the auto magnetic landing system and would be disembarking in 30 seconds. We both stood up and started to gather our bits getting ready for the carnival that was about to greet us.
“You have to go out first” I said, “None of this is for me in reality.” He turned to face me swiftly, “no way! You are part of this regardless of scale or nature, besides, I want you by my side as I will feel better too!” “Right ok but only as you have asked me to.” I replied supportively. The transport door started to open and the clean crisp air burst into the cabin followed by the noise, it was incredible and unlike anything I had ever heard before, the walkway was rattling from sound! We took one final look at each other, thanked our pilots with hand gestures as we could not hear anything over the crowds, even inside the transport, and started the walk down the platform. Bathed in noise and glorious sunshine the feeling was completely alien to me but the power I felt that day would remain with me forever too and return to be a source of strength on many occasions.
A few of the biggest megacorp owners and employees where there to greet us and shake some hands, a few words were said but again is was nearly impossible to hear anything from the noise of the crowds. We spent a few minutes and then Matthias gestured towards a corner and we started to walk over, pressing his remote the access hatch to the unit opened and we climbed down to find one of the coolest and most powerful cars money can buy, extremely rare and extremely noticeable! “How exactly are we not to raise amazing amounts of attention especially in sector 4 with this can you tell me?” I remarked. “ ah well many people over years have had that problem so this car, and most of the reason it actually costs so much has a very neat little trick, just wait and see!” Once again he had me completely fascinated, he seemed to have a habit of being able to do that!
We jumped in and set our destination to sector 4 on auto navigate. As the car powered up the storage unit wall lowered giving us direct access onto one of the main subways which was about as convenient as you can get. “Wow some perk this one, I really like it. Get any other amazing perks?” I questioned him jokingly. “Actually yes there are a huge amount, working for a place as big as megacorp and them giving you the keys to the company is a pretty cool thing, unless you want to live in a cave and have a differing view of what happiness is of course!” he replied. I could feel we were off again down that dream path and deep conversations so I moved to dig more on where we were going for this drink. “So what exactly is this place then Matthias?” “It is a little restaurant and bar kind of place, they do some interesting cocktails and the food is pretty good, oh, and they are able to construct or program dreams. You get a soda and a main with a side of dreams, but don`t think anything just know wait till we get there and you can understand the experience!”
I really was perplexed now, we had long ago reconstructed the human brain and all its assets down to a perfect organic science, the one part that had eluded them to this day was the dreams we have, even emotions had been re and preprogramed with success but not dreams. “Really, wow, erm, ok, so, like, hrmmm” a thousand thoughts flashed through my mind but remembering his last words I left the questions in my head there and focussed on our journey. “So we are about an hour off sector 4 but then how far in do we have to go?” I asked. “ it is on the farthest earth orbit side about another 20 minutes once we cross into the sector, not too far don`t worry.” I was not worried I was impatient and now even more so than when he first mentioned it!
We sped on through the sectors crossing into the 4th at which point Matthias took the car off auto and into manual. “The navi console does not have very good coverage down here and I know it specifically does not have our little place! No problems though I know where I’m going.” He said. With that we took a very steep left turn to start heading towards the outer centre. Everything around here looked somehow different, lights gave out light, but in a different way, house and buildings stood but in a different way. It was incredibly hard to put my finger on why it was all so different until, “everything you see here in this part is construct with a new realm of physics that is like the energy saving devices we use every day in our lives and homes. #the difference here is everything is from this construct changing the way things are created to save energy. It is a very weird and wonderful science that I’m sure in the years to come will play a big part in making it far more accessible and economic to populate new planets with colonies and or industries.” Wow that had completely gone way beyond anything my head had every thought about and I was sure it was indeed a very complex subject, rewriting physics and all! “That sounds amazing to me even if I can definitely say I can`t understand it at all!” I laughed. We were winding down through consistently narrower and narrower avenues with the darkness increasing in line.
“Now for my little trick” ha said as he reached forward to push a few commands on the touch interface, then aloud he proclaimed “CAR- set incognito outlook and full privacy glass.” As I watched our windows blacked out to nothing, from the outside several panels moved in and out, a few changed shape altogether but I still had no real idea of what the overall change had done. “we are here!” he shouted “YES!” as I got out of the car my first thoughts were not on the dream chefs but on this car, how did no one come over or notice us come in. It then became painfully clear when looking at the car from the outside, it now looked for 90% like an old broken down family wagon with dented panels and poor faded colours. It really was an amazing transformation and very effective for those with that type of requirement, I mused to myself that maybe one day I would be important enough to need one!.
We started walking with me following him along a somewhat unstable path made from old wood and what seemed to be clothes, uniforms of some sort ....