Chapter 1
1
A Second Chance
The measure of intelligence is the ability to change
-Albert Einstein
Somewhere along the lines of Latitude 31 and Longitude 35 is a desert plain of two rolling hills that make up a valley inside the West Bank. Some fourteen miles from Jerusalem is known to the locales as the Corridor. It’s there that these nomads travel between these two places in search of valuable artifacts. And spending most of their days inside a valley with no name, they’ve been known to dig out relics as far back as several thousand years. The deeper they dig, the further back in time they go. It’s this type of work that their very lives depend on. To find something in the ancient world of humanity is to provide food for their family until hunger forces them to search yet again. And although most of these relics value in riches, the reality often dwindles to pocket change.
Inside this valley is an older gentleman who’s been living in a cave for most of his lifetime. Many have made it their homes in recent years, scavenging for whatever values they can get their hands on. And it’s this simple man who’s been entertaining himself by counting the campfires below. When he started this game some time ago, he remembers adding up to twelve a night. But those numbers have increased in recent days, and now it looks as if he’ll break yet another record. Also, some of these fires tell the tale of the dish they dine for. Sometimes it’s the pleasant scent of fresh fish and bread; others, the sweet aroma of cooked lamb. But when he’s almost at the end of his count, he notices a small amount of sand trickling onto his head from a ledge above. And without any warning, the ground begins to tremble with forces that move boulders off their foundation as they roll uncontrollably down the valley floor. Fortunately for the pilgrims below, they had enough time to run from these stones of death before being crushed by them. As for the older gentleman above, it’s the first time he’s experienced such quakes during his lifetime. This is because the phenomenon lacks tectonic plates and lava flows to produce such seismic activities in the region. And it doesn’t stop there, either. Mass avalanches begin to slide toward the floor, where the crevices have now formed. And even though the danger is all around, it has everyone running terrified toward the Corridor exits. But once outside, they halt momentarily only to view an anomaly in awestruck. An eerily blue atmosphere, forming in the shape of a dome, now covers the corridor ceiling with its brilliant glow. As with this mysterious aberration is a frantic footrace all the way back to Jerusalem.
Elsewhere, in the early mornings of November 2046, Pope Cornelius has summoned a meeting for a possible exhibit on the Shroud of Turin. At the Vatican City, the cardinals have received emails from His Holiness about a date to display the holy relic. This meeting is to take place in his chambers as well as through holographic conferencing. When the Pope arrives, the cardinals quickly gather around the table and, like soldiers at attention, wait for His Holiness to take his seat. And when he does, the entire congregation immediately follows. Next, the holographic platform comes alive, and the Holy Father begins.
“I take it that everyone received my proposal and perhaps took the time to decide on a date for the unavailing?”
“Yes, Your Excellency, we did.” Sodano, speaking up.
The Pope could see the troubled look on the cardinal’s face and inquires him.
“Is there something you like to add, Brother?”
With a slight hesitation, Sodano nervously explains, “Your Excellency, don’t you feel it’s a little too soon for such an event?”
The cardinal informs His Holiness of the age and degradation of the cloth and attempts to sell him on a fifty-year delay. However, with this understanding, the Pope tries explaining the other side of the equation he speaks of.
“I see your point, brother, but consider this; perhaps it’s because the image is fading that we should display it before it disappears altogether. After all, does it not belong to God’s children?”
And with that being said, Sodano softly backs off with a nod, and His Holiness concludes the meeting.
“Well then, it’s done, isn’t it? Let’s all vote on it, shall we?”
In New York, a respectable individual has returned to a world of isolation from a tour he performed earlier. Having been out on the road for several weeks now, Professor Charles Woodson opens the door to a stale odor fuming out in the hallway. Home at last, he tosses his keys onto the dining table and heads off to the bathroom for bed. And while looking into the mirror, he sees a reflection he can no longer recognize, “Geez, Charles, is there nothing more in retirement?”
As a particle physicist, it wasn’t long ago that he was part of a major project at CERN involving the fabric of the universe. But these days, he finds himself merely giving out speeches to those students interested in the subatomic world. And after the brief unpleasantness, he makes a small glass of brandy and takes his tablet to bed. There, he notices a short article on his former occupation. In the New York Times, it reads, “CERN has just announced a new detector to go online for the following month’s bench-test.” And as a result, Woodson sarcastically mutters out a few words, “That’s just great,” and falls asleep.
Just outside of Geneva, beneath the French and Swiss border, is a complete overhaul of the Large Hadron Collider. About to go online, Professor Alwin Schmidt and a co-worker named Aaron Von Schamann are confronted with reporters asking questions about the upcoming project.
“Mr. Schmidt, what kind of testing are we expected to see in the weeks to follow?”
“My team will be analyzing the success and flaws in the dynamics of sequences, taken by both the detector and T.M.P. interface, for the creation, transfer, and detection of particles to the Hadron Collider.”
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Professor. Could you please explain it to me in such a way I can better understand?”
“He said that the detector and interface would be tested only. To see if the particles taken from any object can be transferred to the Hadron by way of T.M.P. And also, to see if the new Photo Sensor can make any detections from it.” Von Schamann, clarifying.
“So, when will the new Collider be fully operational then?”
“That depends on the success of the new components. My guess would be around the mid to the latter part of the year.” Schmidt, adding.
Grabbing the opportunity, both professors attempt to leave the news media with reporters trying to get in their last questions. And when they finally reach the elevator doors, it shuts behind them to the sound of sweet relief. Inside, Von Schamann tries to comfort his employer,
“Sir, I just want you to know that we’re on schedule for the new budget of 2047.”
“Good, because I’m not getting any younger. Oh, and by the way, did you invite Professor Woodson? I’m sure he would love to be here.”
“I was going to call him tomorrow morning, sir.”
“Yes, please see to it that you do.”
Just then, the doors open to an incredible sight of technological wonders in advancements. Resembling something out of science fiction, flat-screen monitors, no thicker than paper, hang on walls, displaying the collider’s performance in 3D. And walking around on all four legs are probes repairing discrepancies under the pipelines. There are even those drones hovering effortlessly inside the tunnels, looking for hydrogen leaks from above. More so, are the presence of androids assisting engineers with the complexity of operations to help speed up the process.
Added to this arena is a vast room equipped with an array of computers serving a larger one. This supercomputer is integrated with the best of fiber optics and protein chips for optimum speed. It’s a processing room responsible for the innovative breakthroughs in recent years. And the engineers who’ve put it all together gave it a personality, short, of self-awareness. The logical name given is ORION: Optimize, RAID, Input, Output, Nano processor. ORION is programmed to take data from the collider and process it into a 3D format. Afterward, it sends that data to the Holographic room, where it’s projected for 3D study.
At the office, Schmidt asks Von Schamann to go over the Hadron’s magnetic piping once more. And thinking he’s already done it five times before, he doesn’t question his employer and gets on it right away—all twenty-six miles of it. Meanwhile, Schmidt finds himself gazing at a large equation on the wall’s touchscreen and discovers he’ll be pulling an all-nighter for this one.
“If you can’t handle the stress, Alwin, then you’re in the wrong line of work.”
Back in New York, Woodson slowly wakes to the clock’s long warning and pulls himself out of bed. He wants to get an early start with the internet to retrieve updates on the Collider. It’s a dynamic field in which constant changes are made due to the evolution of the project. But suddenly, his concentration breaks to the daily activities of the home system’s maintenance. The washing machine and vacuum cleaner both startup, along with a few other appliances. And while overwhelmed with irritation, he has a need to argue with the computer.
“Oh, give me a damn break...Computer; is all this really necessary?!”
But always getting the same answer, the system replies with a simple statement. “I am programmed to do so, Mr. Woodson.”
Returning to the website’s schematics, he gets another interruption from the Comm Unit, alerting him of an incoming call. So, with a verbal command to the system, he frustratingly yells out the word ANSWER, and on-screen, sees an individual to be a respectable member of CERN. This has him going into his best behavior.
“Hello, and who do I have the pleasure of speaking with today?”
“Good morning, sir; this is Aaron Von Schumann from CERN. And how are you doing today?”
“Well, aside from the flight yesterday, I slept well and woke up to a beautiful morning.”
“Excellent, sir. I’m calling on behalf of Professor Schmidt’s invitation to a bench test we’re about to run. I’m under the impression he’ll want your professional opinion. If you accept the offer, we’ve made accommodations for your stay.”
“My God, I haven’t spoken to Alwin in five years; how’s he been?”
“He’s fine, sir, deep in his studies. Sometimes, he can be a little touchy with the pressures at work.”
“Yes, I know what you mean. Unfortunately, it comes with the territory.”
“…Sir, I just want you to know that I’m very much aware of your reputation and the popularity you’ve gained at CERN. The professor told me so much about you, and well, I’ve become somewhat of a fan. The honor is mine if you’ll accept the invitation.”
“Say no more, Mr. Von Schumann. When do we leave?”
Von Schamann informs Woodson of a two-hour flight to Switzerland and should pack for a one-week trip. The following day, Charles secures his home and makes his way to the airport. And upon his arrival, he receives the warmest welcome from an old friend approaching fast. With a full hug and a handshake, Schmidt enthusiastically asks how he’s doing.
“I want to thank you so much for the invitation, Alwin. My new career hasn’t exactly lived up to its potential.”
“You don’t have to explain anything to me, Charles. I’ve already been informed of the brutality in retirement. Around here, you’ve been sorely missed. After all, you’re one of a kind.”
And with a full day in front of them, they both catch up on current events, with Schmidt asking a million questions.
It’s December 2046, and problems begin to emerge at the campus. The crew had already started the installation of the Photo Sensor when they discovered it didn’t fit. It seems that the designers in the assembly department created the wrong adapter for the Collider. And already under a tight budget, it’ll require a particular machine to create the piece. Also, one of the probes discovered a hydrogen leak somewhere in the piping, which means the Hadron will have to be shut down for repairs. As a result of these setbacks, it’ll take them at least another month to resolve these issues.
In a state of shock, Schmidt expresses his outrage toward the progress, “How in the hell could this have happened on the day we’re to test in front of a dozen executives?”
“Well, a part of it is the lack of communication between teams, Alwin. And the other is the failure to verify,” Woodson stated.
“What are you talking about, Charles?”
“At first, I thought the schematics were incomplete, but now I can see that the calibrations are way off on the Photo Sensor. I’m pretty certain the run would’ve failed anyway without these corrections. But if it helps, this can all be resolved before the deadline, depending on the extent of the leaks, that is.”
Upon Schmidt’s request, Woodson agrees to extend his stay during the following weeks to come.
A month passes since the Hadron’s catastrophic delay, with repairs coming along smoothly. After fully recalibrating the Photo Sensor, Professor Schmidt and Woodson have re-established a new kind of friendship. And while resolving a large equation on the wall’s touchscreen, Schmidt tells Woodson that the speedy recovery couldn’t have been possible without him.
“Uh-huh.”
He also goes on to say that his reputation is still intact because of his involvement.
“You got that right, Alwin.”
They looked at each other momentarily and chuckled a bit. Schmidt then further explains how he spoke to the upper management and proposed a permanent arrangement for the professor. In that, he would be a valuable asset if they were to make him second in command of the project. It’s a position that puts him just underneath Schmidt’s authority. Woodson abruptly halts and looks at his friend, flabbergasted.
“Don’t you lie to me, Alwin!”
“I’m as serious as a heart attack, Charles.”
With this understanding, Woodson smiles and begins to hug his friend profusely. Next, he has his belongings brought in from New York and starts his occupation with CERN.
However, no sooner than two weeks have passed, an emergency meeting is held to discuss the project’s current condition. Things go from bad to worse when an international crisis threatens to shut down the facility altogether. CERN, a European organization, is fragile to these U.N. frictions as they occur. And it’s the Syrians and North Koreans who are somehow involved with tensions between Russia and the United States. As a result of this setback, moaning sounds are heard throughout the room to the catastrophic news.
At roughly six hundred miles from the Hadron campus, the Pope and his cardinals are tallying up the votes to determine the holy relic’s exhibition. Inside the Vatican City, they finally get to the end of the count, when His Holiness delivers the results they’ve all been waiting for.
“Very well, then. The tally is in favor of displaying the holy relic on the twenty-fifth day of December 2047, here in the church of Saint Peter’s Basilica.”
The pope continues to read further into the program, nominating his leading cardinal for the task.
“The duration of the unveiling will be of two months’ time. Cardinal Sodano has shown much love for the shroud, and I see no reason not to appoint our brother to organize the efforts for this historical event. So, then, are there any objections?”
When there are no challenges, His Holiness hands over the arrangements to Sodano and adjourns the meeting. Afterward, he finds himself back in his chambers, watching the news broadcasting on datavision. It’s a routine he goes by to keep up with current affairs. But during his observation, he’s alerted to a disruption involving two global giants. There, he sees a French reporter educating the world about current events and spends the rest of his day absorbing the crisis.
A journalist out of France, Ms. Sabine Aubard, is working on a topic about some friction between two superpowers. In a couple of days, a U.N. meeting will be held in Geneva to discuss the crisis along two regions of the world. And it’s the body of this conference that’ll focus its attention on the Syrian and North Korean governments to satisfy the situation.
During this time, Sabine has contacted the Russian ambassador for a live interview at the Geneva hotel. Upon her arrival, the journalist and her crew are escorted to the conference room where Mr. Gubanov Savelienvich is waiting for them there. Savelienvich welcomes the journalist and offers her a seat. And with the presence of his staff, the interview begins. She starts off by thanking the ambassador for allowing the meeting to proceed on such short notice. She further brings her audience up to speed with the territorial issues at hand. It’s understood that the North Korean regime fell some time ago and became a country of democracy like South Korea. However, the corrupted prime minister has recently made a new trading partner with China that conflicts with U.S. trading policy still under contract. And part of that agreement involves military support from the Chinese government. In addition to this is a new Syrian government, just after the civil war, who favors the Americans. However, this new government puts them in direct conflict with a previous Russian occupancy. And it’s these two unstable regions that have the financial world on edge.
Although Russia has evolved into a country of democracy, never judge a book by its cover. As far back as 2031, Russia was accused, on several occasions, of supplementing their allied countries with weapons against several coup attempts. A determined campaign to fight off any opposition who threatens to destabilize the Russian economy. Iran and Libya are just a few to mention. Even the civil war in Lebanon wasn’t immune to such conquest. The Russians went as far as targeting a general population just to kill a particular leader there. They’ve also taken back Ukraine by assimilating a government of their own choosing, which they considered to be a trophy on their wall. Finally, having had enough of this international bullying, the U.S. created a new policy they call the No Retreat Act, which empowers them to stop any further aggression. More so, are the U.N.’s sanctions over Russia.
By no means is the No Retreat Act a U.N. policy but a U.S. protocol with a hidden agenda. It seems the U.S. has made up their minds about the Russian campaigning and began throwing their own weight around. And even though the new Syrian government favors the U.S. over Russia, they never welcomed such a large military presence. As a result of this build-up, the Americans have established bases across the entire northern region without any approval from the Syrian leader. It’s an uninvited policy to take away the monopoly from Russia. And with this influence runs paranoia through the Kremlin ranks.
But ever since the U.S. aggression, Russia has gained economic support from their Chinese counterpart. Russia’s most powerful ally created several trading policies that helped both countries immensely. Over the years, the Chinese have been starving of technology while Russia was in need of raw materials and food. Combined, they’ve become a world power equal to that of the United States.
At the end of her interview, Sabine gets up and thanks the Ambassador for his valuable time. Next, she leaves the embassy and gets on the next available flight back to the hotel suite. And flying at a low altitude, the drone softly approaches the landing pad and lets her off gently. Once inside the hotel, she verbally executes the “balcony” command, and the living room extends out into the night air of an open roof. Unbuttoning her blouse in the warm breeze, she looks beyond the neon lights of Geneva and wonders how rough the U.N. conference will get in a couple of days from now.
