Chereads / The Nexusgate / Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Superposition

Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: Superposition

Thomas felt a crushing pain in his throat as the AK07 being tightened its grip on him. He gasped for air, feeling his vision blur and his consciousness fade. He knew he was about to die, and he felt a surge of regret and despair. He had failed to save the world from the impending invasion, and he had no idea what fate awaited Earth and its inhabitants. He wished he could have done more, but he realized it was too late. He had no choice but to accept his fate and hope for a miracle. As he closed his eyes, he heard a loud snap and felt a jolt of agony as his neck broke. He was gone.

But then, something strange happened. Thomas felt a sudden warmth envelop him, and he opened his eyes again. He was shocked to find himself back in his chair, in his laboratory, surrounded by familiar sights and sounds. He looked around in disbelief, wondering if he had hallucinated the whole ordeal. He checked his neck, expecting to find a wound or a bruise, but there was nothing. He was alive and unharmed.

He realized that it had all been a dream, a vivid and terrifying nightmare that had haunted him in his sleep. He remembered that he had been working tirelessly on the Nexusgate project, trying to find a way to stop the AK07 beings from invading Earth. He had been so exhausted that he had fallen asleep at his desk, without even realizing it. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized that he still had a chance to save the world.

But he also felt a pang of fear as he recalled the details of his dream. It had seemed so real, so vivid, that he couldn't help but wonder if it was a premonition of what was to come. He knew that the AK07 beings were ruthless and powerful, and that they would stop at nothing to conquer Earth. He knew that he had to act fast and find a way to prevent their arrival.

He decided to take a short break and rest his mind before resuming his work. He knew that he needed to be alert and focused if he wanted to succeed in his mission. He hoped that his dream was just a product of his imagination, and not a sign of things to come. But deep down, he couldn't shake off the feeling that something terrible was about to happen, and that time was running out.

Thomas woke up the next day feeling refreshed and eager to resume his investigation. He was determined to find out the connection between the Nexusgate and the transformation of AK07, from a lifeless planet to a thriving one. He suspected that the answer lay in the realm of quantum physics and the nature of space-time, and he decided to dive deep into these topics. He gathered as many books as he could on quantum physics and space-time, and immersed himself in learning all the theories and concepts he could find. He was especially intrigued by Schrödinger's cat, a famous thought experiment that illustrates the paradox of quantum superposition.

Schrödinger's cat is a hypothetical scenario that involves a cat, a flask of poison, and a radioactive source that are placed in a sealed box. The radioactive source is connected to a Geiger counter, which triggers the release of the poison if it detects radioactivity. Radioactivity is a quantum phenomenon that is unpredictable and probabilistic, meaning that we can only know the likelihood of an atom decaying, but not when it will actually happen. Therefore, until we open the box and observe the cat, we cannot know if it is alive or dead. According to one interpretation of quantum mechanics, known as the Copenhagen interpretation, the cat is in a state of superposition, meaning that it is both alive and dead at the same time. However, when we open the box and observe the cat, the superposition collapses into one definite outcome: either alive or dead.

Thomas was fascinated by this idea, and wondered how it applied to his situation. He thought that maybe his Nexusgate had somehow created a superposition of two possible states for AK07: one where it was barren and one where it was inhabited. And maybe by opening the portal and observing AK07, he had collapsed the superposition into one outcome: the inhabited one. But how could this be possible? And what were the implications for his own universe? Thomas felt his curiosity grow as he pondered these questions. He wanted to understand more about quantum physics and space-time, and how they could explain his experience. He knew that he had stumbled upon something extraordinary, and he was eager to unravel its secrets.

Thomas felt a surge of frustration as he tried to find clear answers to his questions. He had spent hours researching and experimenting, but he still couldn't make sense of his experience. He needed someone who could help him understand the quantum paradoxes that he had encountered. He thought of his old physics teacher, who had taught him the basics of quantum physics and inspired him to pursue his passion for science. He wondered if his teacher would be able to shed some light on his situation.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he found his teacher's name. He pressed the call button and waited for him to answer. After a few rings, he heard his teacher's familiar voice.

Teacher: "Hello, Thomas. It's good to hear from you. How are you doing?"

Thomas: "Hi, Professor. I'm doing well, thank you. How about you?"

Teacher: "I'm fine, thank you. I'm glad you called. What can I do for you?"

Thomas didn't want to alarm his teacher or reveal too much about his discovery, so he decided to present it as a hypothetical scenario.

Thomas: "Professor, I have a hypothetical question for you. Imagine that I was working on a project that involved opening a portal to another world. And imagine that I actually succeeded in doing so, and I witnessed some amazing things that challenged my understanding of reality. How would that affect our current theories of quantum physics?"

Teacher: "That's a very intriguing question, Thomas. What kind of amazing things did you witness?"

Thomas: "Well, for example, the planet I visited was the parallel universe of Earth, but it wasn't in another dimension. It was in the same universe, but a planet that was 30 million light years away. And before I used my machine to travel there, it was a barren wasteland, with no signs of life or vegetation. But then, it transformed into a planet that had life. It was like a miracle."

Teacher: "Wow, Thomas, that's quite an extraordinary story. Are you sure this is just a hypothetical scenario?"

Thomas: "Yes, of course, Professor. It's just something I came up with for my project."

Teacher: "I see. Well, in that case, I'll try to answer your questions as best as I can. But I must warn you, quantum physics is full of paradoxes and mysteries that defy common sense and intuition. There is no easy or definitive answer to your questions."

Thomas: "I understand, Professor. But I'm really curious about this topic, and I hope you can help me make sense of it."

Teacher: "Alright then, Thomas. Let me start by saying that what you described is theoretically possible, but extremely unlikely and improbable. The universe is like a stable box, and if you alter anything inside it, it tries to restore the balance and avoid a paradox. Normally, parallel universes shouldn't interact with each other. If they do, it could create a black hole between them. So, the universe has its own ways of preventing that from happening."

Thomas: "So, when I opened a portal to another world, it could have connected me to another parallel universe that was also opening a portal to somewhere else?"

Teacher: "Yes, that's right. It could have brought both of the planets into the same universe. It could explain why the planet changed so drastically. Maybe you were trying to connect to another parallel universe and the other planet was also trying to reach a different destination. And maybe the universe brought both of the planets into the same universe to solve the paradox."

Thomas: "That's incredible! So what you're saying is that the universe itself is working to prevent a paradox from occurring by linking these two planets together?"

Professor: "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. The universe has its own mechanisms for maintaining stability and preventing paradoxes from occurring."

Thomas thanked his teacher for his insights and hung up the phone.

Thomas was speechless as he realized the implications of what he had done. He had unwittingly triggered a cosmic chain of events that had put Earth in grave danger. He learned that the planet AK07, which he had visited through the Nexusgate, was originally in a different universe than Earth. However, when he activated the Nexusgate, the universe had to adjust itself to avoid a paradox. It had brought both planets into the same universe, making them vulnerable to each other's attacks. Thomas was filled with guilt and regret as he understood that he had inadvertently exposed Earth to a hostile alien civilization that was planning to invade and conquer it. He decided to keep this information to himself, fearing that others would blame him for his mistake. He resolved to stop the AK07 invaders with more determination than ever, hoping to undo the damage he had caused.

Thomas had a sudden thought. Could it be that his Nexusgate was somehow responsible for the portal appearing in that specific location? He wondered if he could use the Nexusgate to change the location of the portal. He came up with an idea - he decided to build another Nexusgate and try to activate it again. Maybe the portal would move to the new location where the Nexusgate attempted to open it.

He contacted his assistant, who was working with the other team members to monitor the VR25 activity, and told him to let the others know that they had to construct a new Nexusgate. He explained that this was the only way to alter the location of the portal.

The assistant paid close attention and then said, "Got it, sir. I'll inform the others right away."

Thomas thanked his assistant and ended the call. He knew that time was running out and they had to act fast if they wanted to change the location of the portal and avoid any possible danger. He hoped that with his team's help, they would be able to build a new Nexusgate and successfully move the portal.

Thomas handed over the blueprint of the Nexusgate to his team, who immediately got to work on building the machine. They knew that they had to act fast, as the portal to AK07 was growing larger by the day. They gathered all the materials and tools they needed, and followed Thomas's instructions carefully. They worked tirelessly, day and night, to construct the Nexusgate, hoping that it would help them change the location of the portal and prevent the invasion.

Thomas supervised their progress, making sure that everything was done correctly. He checked every component and circuit, ensuring that they were functioning properly. He also ran several tests and simulations, verifying that the Nexusgate was ready to operate. He was impressed by his team's dedication and efficiency, and he thanked them for their hard work.

"Great job, everyone. You've done an amazing job building the Nexusgate in such a short time. I'm proud of you all," Thomas said.

"Thank you, sir. We're glad to be part of this project. We trust your judgment and we believe in your vision," one of his team members said.

"Thank you for your trust and support. I couldn't have done this without you," Thomas said.

He then turned to his assistant and asked, "Are you ready to activate the Nexusgate?"

"Yes, sir. I'm ready when you are," his assistant replied.

Thomas and his team had transported the Nexusgate to the NASA headquarters, hoping that they could use it to open the portal again and prove their discovery. They had set up the machine in a secure location, away from any prying eyes. Thomas was confident that his invention would work as intended, and he was eager to show the world what he had accomplished.

He turned on the Nexusgate, expecting to see the familiar beam of light that would create the portal. But nothing happened. The machine remained silent and dark, as if it had no power at all. Thomas was baffled by this unexpected failure. He checked the power source and the connections, but everything seemed to be in order. He tried to restart the machine, but still no response. He felt a surge of frustration and confusion, wondering what could have gone wrong.

He turned to his team, who were equally perplexed by the situation. He asked them if they had any idea why the Nexusgate was not working. One of his team members, who had been working on relocating the portal, raised his hand hesitantly. He said that he had a theory, but he was not sure if it was correct. Thomas encouraged him to share his thoughts, saying that any input was welcome.

The team member said, "Well, sir, I've been studying the portal and its properties, and I think I might have an explanation for why the Nexusgate is not working. Do you remember how you used nuclear fission to power the machine when you first opened the portal?"

Thomas nodded, recalling how he had used a small nuclear reactor to generate enough energy for the Nexusgate.

The team member continued, "Well, sir, I think that nuclear fission might have been more than just a power source. I think it might have also been a trigger for the portal. You see, nuclear fission produces a lot of radiation, and radiation can affect space-time in various ways. I think that when we activated the Nexusgate, we created a hotspot of radiation that attracted the portal to our location."

Thomas listened intently, intrigued by this possibility. He asked, "So you're saying that the portal's location is fixed by the radiation level?"

The team member nodded, saying, "Yes, sir. That's my hypothesis. And if that's true, then it means that we can change the location of the portal by changing the radiation level at another point within a certain radius from the original hotspot."

Thomas asked, "And how do we do that?"

The team member said, "Well, sir, we would need to create another hotspot of radiation somewhere else within 160 kilometers from here. That's the maximum distance that the portal can travel according to my calculations."

Thomas asked, "And how much radiation would we need to create?"

The team member said, "A lot, sir. A lot more than we used before. According to my estimates, we would need about 13000 nuclear bombs worth of radiation."

Thomas gasped, shocked by this number. He said, "That's insane! That would destroy everything in its path! We can't do that!"

The team member said, "I know, sir. I know. It's a crazy idea. But it's the only way I can think of to relocate the portal."

Thomas felt a surge of panic as he listened to his team's proposal. They wanted to use nuclear bombs to create enough radiation to alter the portal that the AK07 people were building. They claimed that this was the only way to stop them from invading Earth, but Thomas was not convinced.

He shook his head in disbelief, his voice rising in protest. "No way. No way are we doing that. That's too dangerous and too risky. There has to be another way."

He looked around the room, hoping to see some signs of agreement or support from his team. But they all looked as clueless and helpless as he felt. They had spent weeks trying to find a solution, but nothing had worked. The portal was almost complete, and they were running out of time.

His assistant, who had been listening quietly, spoke up. "Sir, I don't understand. Why do we need to have such a high level of radiation? The first time you opened the portal, the radiation level was much lower. Can't we just use the same amount?"

Thomas sighed and said, "It's not that simple. The portal is not a static object. It's a dynamic phenomenon that changes over time. When we first opened the portal, it was in its initial state, barely visible and unstable. It was easy to influence its location with a relatively low amount of radiation. But over time, the portal has grown larger and more stable, reaching its final state. It's now a fully formed gateway between two universes, and it's much harder to move it. We need a much higher amount of radiation to create a stronger hotspot that can overcome the existing one and pull the portal to a new location."

His assistant nodded, trying to follow Thomas's reasoning. He said, "I see. So you're saying that the portal is like a balloon that inflates over time, and we need a bigger needle to pop it?"

Thomas smiled and said, "That's one way to put it, yes. But remember, we're not trying to destroy the portal. We're just trying to relocate it."

His assistant said, "Right, right. But sir, there's still something that bothers me. How are we going to create such a high level of radiation on Earth? That would be extremely dangerous and harmful to the environment and the people. We can't just detonate 13000 nuclear bombs on our planet."

Thomas said, "Of course not. That would be insane. We have to find another way to create the radiation without harming our planet."

His assistant said, "But how? Do you have any idea?"

Thomas said, "Well, I have a theory, but I'm not sure if it's feasible or safe. But it might be our only option."

"What is it?", his assistant asked.

Thomas said, "We could launch the nuclear bombs into space, near the Sun, and detonate them there. The Sun is already a huge source of radiation, and it might amplify the effect of the bombs. If we time it right and aim it correctly, we might be able to create a hotspot of radiation that would be strong enough to move the portal."

His assistant said, "Wow. That sounds…incredible. But also very risky. How do you know if it would work? And how do you know if it wouldn't cause any damage to the Sun or the Earth?"

Thomas said, "I don't know for sure. It's just a hypothesis. Of course, there are many uncertainties and variables involved, and I can't guarantee that it would work or that it wouldn't have any negative consequences. But it might be our best chance to relocate the portal and prevent the invasion."

His assistant said, "I see. Well, sir, I trust your judgment and your expertise. If you think this is the best way to save our planet, then I'm with you all the way."

Thomas said, "Thank you for your trust and support. I appreciate it very much. But before we proceed with this plan, we have to get approval from our superiors and inform them about our situation. They have to know what we're dealing with and what we're planning to do."

His assistant said, "Of course, sir. How do you want to do that?"

Thomas said, "I think we should write a detailed report explaining everything we've discovered and everything we've planned. We should also include all the evidence and data we have to back up our claims and our proposal. We should make it clear that this is an urgent matter and that we need their immediate response and authorization."

His assistant nodded in agreement, "Sounds good, sir. I'll help you with that."

Thomas said, "Thank you very much. Let's get started then."

Together, they worked tirelessly to compile all the information they had gathered into a comprehensive report. They included all the data and evidence they had collected, as well as their proposed plan of action. They knew that they had to make a convincing case if they were to get the support they needed.

Once the report was complete, Thomas went to the president of NASA to present their findings. He talked about his idea of blasting 13000 nuclear bombs near the Sun as a backup plan if everything else failed. He explained that it would be their last chance to save humanity.

The president listened intently as Thomas laid out his theory. He understood the gravity of the situation and believed in Thomas's plan. He took the report that Thomas and his team had prepared and said that he would personally talk to all nine countries' presidents who have nuclear bombs and ask them to keep the nuclear bombs ready for any emergency situation.

Thomas thanked him, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that they still had a long way to go, but at least now they had some support.

As Thomas left the president's office, he couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. Time was running out, and they had to act fast if they were to save humanity from certain doom. He knew that the fate of the world rested on their shoulders, and he was determined to do everything in his power to prevent disaster.

But little did Thomas know, there were forces at work beyond his control. Dark forces that threatened to unravel all their plans and plunge humanity into chaos. The battle for Earth's survival was far from over, and Thomas would soon find himself facing challenges he never could have imagined.