The Edge of the Universe

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The Edge of the Universe
By Dan Hill

I As James Anderson made the finishing touches to the engine he let out a sigh of relief. Finally he thought I can finally get this ship up and running again. He shut the engine hatch then climbed up into the cockpit. It was small, about the length and width of a queen sized bed. He looked up and flicked a couple of switches, then looked back down at the dash board and punch a couple of sequences on the holographic terminal. The ship roared to life. ok here we go he took off and the ship flew out of the atmosphere in space as he finished his thought. Computer. James stated, a female robot like voice echoed through the cockpit. What is it James? How can I be of assistance. How is the particle accelerator running? The particle accelerator is running at full capacity. Good, and one more thing. How long is it to the edge of the known universe? 1,00,000,000,000, 000 Kilometres, which is approximately 10 bi llion light years away. So that means by my calculations it should take about 5 jumps from the particle accelerator to reach it. But i must warn you James there could be a possibility that the particle accelerator will generate antimatter and cause the ship to go faster than the speed of light. James paused, thinking for a moment. How fast is the speed of light again? he asked the computer, typing a few more combinations onto the holographic terminal. 186,000 miles per hour. No that s impossible. The particle accelerator doesn t have the power to create antimatter, and even if it did, it would be highly unlikely that it would cause me to travel faster than the speed of light. Start the charge. Yes James. Would you like me to put you into hibernation for the month that its going to take for the accelerator to charge? That would be great. Thankyou computer. Wake me as soon as its done. Yes James.

As the computer finished talking a thin white misty steam poured out of the vents around the walls of the ship. James slowly felt himself drifting off to sleep, until the last thing he saw the a icy white cover that was the hibernation glass make its way over the top of his body, then blackness. II James woke to which sounded like electricity short circuiting. What the hell he thought as he sat up and looked around the cockpit for the origin of the sound. Don t be alarmed. The computer said, almost reading James s thoughts It s just the final stage of power up from the particle accelerator That s not how it sounded on the test run. Replied James, stretching his arms as he did so. Unpredictable changes can occur when running a high powered motor in space. Epically a particle accelerator like this one. The computer stopped for a couple of seconds, then the voice started again. Particle accelerator charge complete, ready to engage. As the computer finished talking James made ordered a cup of coffee on the replicate to the right of the cockpit. It looked a silver coffee machine, except it was wider and it had buttons all over it. James took a few sips from the coffee then placed it down on the holder next to the machine. How long until we activate the jumps. He asked the co mputer. As soon as i finish the final diagnostics. Approximately 30 minutes. Excellent. James paused then asked the computer a question. You know, it didn t feel like a month when I was asleep. That s just the effects of Cryogenic stasis James. Guess you re right. James replied then took another sip of his coffee. III James. James looked up startled by the computer. Yes. The particle accelerator is ready for use. James placed his book down next to him then sat up in the cockpit chair. Excellent. Computer activate the protection.

Affirmative. After the computer voice has finished its sentence, two white metal shutters rolled over the glass above James head, and screen appeared on the holographic terminal. It showed the outside of th e ship. Activate the particle accelerator. Affirmative. As the computer finished talking the ship rumbled and the particle accelerator roared to life inside the engine. Engage. Affirmative. James felt a force pin him against his chair. Hard. As if somebody was holding him there with all their strength. Reaching 186,000 miles per hour, engaging first jump. James hardly heard the computer say this, he was too busy trying not to throw from the amount of G force inside the cockpit. IV As the first jump occurred the G force seemed to just disappear and James fell forward. Sorry I forgot to tell you to strap in. The computer said with what seemed to be a sarcastic tone. James just grunted angrily, then pulled both straps from the back of the c hair and secured himself. About to initiate 2 nd jump. As the computer said this, James started to have a feeling in his gut. Something was wrong. 2nd jump activating. The computer said. Again, a blue light passed by o n the monitor almost instantly. 3rd jump... the computer was cut short as a loud bag rang out and the ship did the last 3 jumps much faster than it s meant to. Then the ship stopped dead. What just happened? James asked, looking round the cockpit stunned. It seems my theory was correct. The computer responded. we have created antimatter, causing us to go faster than the speed of light. What how is this possible? James asked, deactivating the metal covers over the glass above his head. The particle accelerator overcharged.

Well that just great... where are we computer.? Scanning.... we are outside all known locations. Outside did you say? Affirmative. Great. So what do we do now. Unable to answer due to lack of information. Brilliant. Just great. James said sarcastically. V As the ship drifted through the blackness of space James stared out at the blue mist straight ahead of him. Computer. What s that? Scanning.... the object seems to be of unknown origin. Unknown origin...that can t be good. As he finished his sentence, James noticed something the corner of his eye. He turned towards it. Sitting out in the middle of nowhere with the blue mist approaching it at a rapid rate, was a ship. It seemed to be just floating there, no life, nothing. Computer. James asked is the particle accelerator fixed yet. It will be in proximity 27.4 minutes. Good cause when its fixed, I m going to have a look at that ship. VI The particle accelerator powered down as James approached the abandoned ship cautiously. Computer, extend the service bridge to the docking bay of that ship. Affirmative captain. Would you like a weapon? Yes. As James finished talking, what seemed to be an assault rifle slid out of a compartment on the left of cockpit. James took it, hit a few buttons on the terminal, then climbed out of the ship and onto the service bridge. He then walked across it through the door that lead to the other ships docking bay.

VII All that could be heard was the sound of the ships engines as James made h is way through the ship. The walls seemed to be covered with what seemed to be blood. It was everywhere, around every corner, dripping, almost as if it was coming from a half turned off tap. James started to develop and overwhelming feeling that she should n t be here, but he pressed on, assault rifle held at the ready. After walking through hallways for what seemed like hours, he came across a capsule, sitting inside the wall. He walked up to it. A capsule? He thought. He lowered his assault rife and put h is hand up to the glass, wiping away the icy substance that was covering the view of the thing inside. His face expression turned blank and walked back in horror as he saw what was inside. It was him. And older version of him, but it was still him. The old er version, inside the capsule, was plugged up to multiple wires and silver pipes, all leading into the back of the capsule. James walked back up to it, confused and shocked at the same time. Wha... how is this is... as James finished that thought, the ma n in the capsule opened his eye. VIII James fell over in horror and shock, starting to try and get away from the older version of himself as fast as he could. Don t be afraid. Said the figure inside the capsule. James froze on the spot, peering up at the man. I am you. Or was you at one point. I remember being you right now looking up at me. Im from the future. Your future. See when i activated the particle accelerator it sent out an antimatter wave, but instead of doing what it did to you, it made me older the same things happened just i was older. James looked up at the man in confusion. ah...what. he questioned There s not much time too explain. Said the older version of James. You have to run your ship into the wave or else time will repeate d once more. James stood there unable to move. GO AND EVERYTHING WILL REVERSE AS IF THIS NEVER HAPPENED! said the older version of him. James stood up and ran back to ship, got in and pointed his ship towards the wave. if you head into the wave there is a 47% chance that it will have the black hole effect on you.

The one where if you past the horizon you have to travel faster than the speed of light to escape? Correct. Its not a black hole computer. Yes but I m getting readings that it was f ormed from a black hole. Ah well. What happens, happens. And with that James activated the particle accelerator and ran straight into the wave Epilogue The boy stood by the window, looking through the telescope up at the huge blackness of space, all the planets, the stars, the asteroids he was looking at then all, wondering, is there life out there? Suddenly his mother called from downstairs. The boy looked behind him when he heard the voice. James dinner is ready! Hurry up or its going to get cold. Yes mum! James Anderson replied. He turned back around and took one last look through the telescope. I think I ll be an astronaut one day. He thought to himself, and then headed downstairs for dinner.

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