When the Red-Light Flashes

“When the red-light flashes, make sure you are clear of the transporter unit unless you have been cleared to travel.” Dr. Hoyt Whinegarter told us as we crowed around the huge transporter cable of teleporting a person from one location to another through a system of circuits that reduce mass into electronic impulses. According to the booklet, the traveler would not feel anything until he or she was assembled back into the physical form they had left with.

“Never thought I’d live to see this.” Engineer Said Mohab whispered out o the side of his mouth as he stood next to me.

“Yeah, I heard about this tele transport.” Niles said as he tilted his head. He had only been with the Gone-U Project for a few weeks. There had been some buzz to this strange project, but so far nothing substantial. Said Mohab had been with Gone-U Project since the start. Niles knew that Said had been one of the project designers and made up his mind to get to know Said Mohab better.

“Hey, I haven’t had the chance to welcome you to Masterman’s Poly Tech. I’m Doctor Whinegarter.” He held out his hand. Nile was surprised by the forceful grip.

“I am a new engineer. Niles Curtis.” Niles let his head tilt back.

“I’ve heard about you. Good to have you on the team. Said will take care of you.” He glanced over at Said who was red-faced. “We have a working prototype, and our team is promising an upgrade in a couple months. Maybe you will be the member of the team who comes up with the next innovation.”

“That would be great.” Niles smiled as Dr. Whinegarter walked away with a bit of a swagger.

“It’s all about innovation.” Said nodded as they walked to the dark room. Just like a page out of a Gene Rodenberry science fiction, the dark room was an enigma where great innovations were born. For years tele transport was a hot button issue with its roots deep into Star Trek. This was closing the gap between Science Fiction had become the focus of Masterman’s Poly Tech research.

Niles worked in the dark room where Dr. Vargas observed a dozen engineers on the tele transporter safety systems.

“When the red-light begins to flash, you must cease doing what you are doing and shut the system down.” He paced in the front of the room as his overhead projector showed photographic illustrations of what he was talking about. Niles was paying strict attention to what Dr. Vargas was talking about.

Two weeks later, Dr. Vargas talked about how the transporter actually worked. Holding a replica of a control device, he explained by pushing the button on the hand-held panel, you would be able to travel through time and space to where you had programmed the device to send you. No one saw the sinister smile that crossed Niles’ face.

“Once you have pressed the button, you will not feel anything afterwards until you arrive at your destination.” Dr. Vargas noticed that one his engineers had her hand in the air. “Yes, Rosemay.”

“Doctor Vargas, have we made these actual devices?” She asked as Niles continued to wear his sinister smile.

“We are a few weeks away from receiving these genuine devices.” He held the replica over his head, “They will look just like this model. They will be kept in a time-lock safe for security since will be operable. No one will be allowed to use the real control devices without someone else present. Strict security will be enforced.”

“Hey Niles.” Said replied as he passed Niles in the hallway. “How are things in the Dark Room?”

“Fine.” Niles smiled as he shook Said’s hand.

“Learning anything?” He shrugged.

“All I need to know.” Niles chuckled.

“Don’t let all this overwhelm you.” Said shook his head, “If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask.”

“I do have one question.” Niles tilted his head toward one shoulder.

“Yeah, what is on your mind?”

“Are they planning to send someone on a mission?” Niles swayed from one foot to the other.

“Yeah.”

“Do you know who?” Niles folded his arms over his chest.

“No, it’s top-secret. Even those selected don’t know.” Said returned Nile’s crooked smile.

“What if I volunteer?”

“You can send Dr. Whinegarter an email.” Said shrugged as his smile faded. “Why on earth would you do that?”

“Curious I suppose.” Niles shrugged.

“You ought to know that the mission is hazardous.” Said nodded.

“I’m not afraid.” Niles stuck out his chest.

“Hey, it’s more than that.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah, when you are tele ported, you have no control where you will end up.” He sighed, “If you are teleported into the future, there is no tellingwhat you will find.”

“I am willing to take a chance.” Niles deep throated chuckle sounded like a cat’s purr.

“Can I ask you a question?” Said asked. Niles nodded, “Why are you so anxious to be a part of this?”

“I want my name to entered into the history books.” Niles shrugged. “First man to be teleporter into the future. Just think of some of the information I can bring back.”

“I suppose.” Said put his fingers to his bearded chin. Having worked from the beginning on the Gone-U Project, he met plenty of his colleagues whose egos were bigger than they were, but Niles Curtis was proving to have the biggest ego of anyone he had met on the project.

“Mr. Mohab, what can I do for you?” Dr. Whinegarter was sitting at his desk when Said walked in to have a word. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you, doctor.” He nodded as he took the seat he had been offered.

“So what is the problem?”

“Well.” Said hesitated, “It’s about Niles Curtis.”

“Yes, I got an email from him this morning.” Dr. Whinegarter leaned back in his chair.

“I’ve had a word with him, and I believe he is problematic.”

“Yes, I am aware of his intentions. His email was quite explicit. Sine he has been with us such a short time, I had no intention of considering him for the mission.” Dr. Whinegarter shook his head, “I do not need someone who will jeopardize the mission because of his ambition. I need level-headed professionals who know what to do when and if the chips are down. I had you in mind, but you must promise to keep it under your hat.”

Said nodded in agreement.

“As far as Mr. Curtis is concerned, leave him to me.” He said with a smile and a nod.

After receiving an email turning down his request, Niles began to make some in-roads with Dr. Vargas. He figured that one way or another, he would find a way to become one of the members of the mission. As an astute observer, Rosemary Hart began watching Niles Curtiss who appeared to be up to something. He seemed to be there every time she looked up from her computer. She sensed his affability was a cover for something a bit darker than he let on. Unaware she was being considered for the mission because of her reputation as a top-notch engineer, Rosemary Hart was currently living up to her reputation.

Always vigilant she kept an eye on him at all times, and made sure he was always in her view while he worked in the Dark Room. Dr. Vargas had told them all about the dangers of someone who did not know the risks of pressing the button such as the uncontrolled influx of energy at the time of ignition. If someone was in contact with a person being teleported, it could mean they would both be incinerated.

Her mind knew of other dangers that could happen, some of them weren’t even listed in the operating manual. She knew the laws of physics could not be broken, but some of them could be tampered with as long as you knew the difference. There were those who went beyond acceptable limits and paid with their lives for it. As a result their names never ended up in a textbook though their efforts were sincere and perhaps even noble.

When she became a part of this project, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to be a part of the success. Tele transporting had always been a distant, far-reaching goal, but as the possibility was about to become reality, she wondered if they were about to cross the forbidden line. It was guys like Niles Curtis that made exploration into the unknown a hazardous undertaking.

For some reason, Niles knew when the shipment of Control Devises arrived at Masterman’s Poly Tech. Even under the heavy security, Niles felt he could get his hands on one of the controllers. In his hands he held an electronic device that would render the security guards incapacitated. From what he had learned from Dr. Vargas, he would set the device for two centuries in the future. He wanted to see what came next, like the temptation of skipping to the last page of a murder mystery to find out whodunnit.

Planning to meet the security team in the tunnel, he would use his device and grab a controller.

“What are you doing?” Rosemary asked him as he held the device loosely in his hand. He didn’t even think twice as he pressed the trigger. The electrical current raced through her neurons. Reflexively dancing to the incapacitating electrical charge, she fell to the floor as her muscular system jerked and twitched even though she was unconscious. Niles smiled with satisfaction.

At that moment, a team of six security guards were entering the tunnel.

“Go time.” Niles chuckled as he left his team member convulsing on the floor as he ran to meet the security team.

He was met at the tunnel exit by Dr. Vargas. While startled by his boss’ presence, Niles did not hesitate to pull the trigger for victim number two. Stepping over him, Niles entered the tunnel as the security team rounded the corner.

“Halt!” The armed guard in front of the two men carrying the lead box containing the control devices. Even as far as he was from the guard, he put him on the floor before he had time to use his weapon. The two-armed guards in the rear raised their weapons, but Niles was quicker and they joined their partner. Niles pressed his device two more times taking out the pair holding the lead container. The lead box hit the tiled floor with an ultimate thud. The final guard ran for the door they had entered, but Niles was able to reach him before he could sound the alarm.

“Six for six.” Niles uttered to himself as he turned to retrieve the lead box. He found the box lying between the two disable guards. He knew they would be unable to stop him for about ten minutes. His efforts were paying off, because he was able to sneak into Dr. Vargas’ office where he kept the combination taped to inside the top drawer of his desk. Remembering this made Niles smile, because everyone he ever knew guarding top-secret information would end up putting in an obvious place to hide it. A locked top drawer of a desk was no match for him as he picked the lock and took a photograph of the combination.

Now he was sitting with the heavy box on top of Dr. Vargas’ desk. It took less than a minute for him to open the container. There were ten devices in the padded container. He picked up one of them and held it close to his face.

“At last.” He smiled as it gleamed in the dim lighting. Opening the device, Niles set it for two hundred years in the future, “I will become the first man to walk in the future.”

Unaware that Rosemay had recovered from her electrical shock, Niles was too involved with the device he held in his hands. She wanted to charge him before he could use his weapon on her again. She also remember Dr. Vargas telling the team that if she physically contacted a person in transition, she might end up in the same destination. She would not take that chance.

The illumination from Niles’ transition was blinding and she had to shield her eyes. Once he was gone, she got her cell phone, but Dr. Vargas did not answer. Biting her lip, she dialed Dr. Whinegarter to sound the alarm.

But it was too late to stop Niles Curtis. He was already two centuries in the future.

“Holy…” He marveled at the swirling colors that surrounded him as he felt himself being teleported through two centuries. Never in a million years did Niles think he would be drifting through time.

“It’s true.” He said to himself. As he traveled through the surge of time as the first traveler who was witnessing that time was not linear, rather time was fluid.

“Who are you?” He heard someone ask.

“I am Niles Curtis.” He answered. When he was able to focus his vision, he saw a man standing in front of him who was made of glass. “Who…who are you.”

“My name is Lomas.” He answered.

“Are you made of- “Niles could not help but stared at Lomas.

“Glass? Yes, it was a necessary defense from the war being raged a few generations ago.” Lomas explained. As he spoke others made of glass appeared around him. “You would be well advised to do the same.”

“Why?” Niles looked at the others; all of them were made of glass. Looking at them, it seemed they were too fragile in their current form to survive.

“The air is toxic.” Lomas answered. None of them appeared to have any problem moving.

Suddenly Niles felt a tightening in his chest.

“We can help you.” Lomas put his hand made of glass on Niles’ shoulder.

Niles felt the rough edges of his touch.

“I’m not sure I to be made of glass.” He shook his head.

“If you don’t change, you will no survive.” One of the other forms spoke.

“I’m not sure I want to be made of glass.” Niles felt his chest tighten. “Is there any way to avoid this from happening?”

“We have tried so many other ways, but the people did not survive.” Lomas shook his head. “It will take some time getting used to it, but after a while you will be just like us.”

“Just like us.” Those stander there said like a haunting Greek chorus.

Unable to breathe, Niles fell to his knees and then forward to the ground.

“Come, let’s get him to the transition room.” Lomas ordered.

Four of them lifted Niles from the ground and walked him to the building that appeared stark and dilapidated. Lomas was at the controls as they laid Niles on a cement block.

When Niles awoke, he found that he had been transformed into glass. He held his hand up to his eyes.

“You would’ve died.” Lomas stood over him, “You will be able to stand up in about an hour or so.”

“I didn’t want to be…” He managed to say.

“Glass? We had no choice.”

“You should’ve let me die.” Niles was angry at what they had turned him into. He pulled out his teleporter control.

“I would not advise you to return to wherever you came from.” Lomas told him

“Why not?”

“Because where you came from will not support you.”

“Why not?” His voice rose.

“Trust me. I cannot explain it so you’d understand.”

“I am going back.” He held the control device in his hand, “I have to tell them what I’ve seen and heard here.”

“Please listen to what I’m telling you.” Lomas urged him.

Just then, Niles pressed the button and in a blinding cascade of lights, Niles disappeared.

“I warned him.” Lomas looked at the two men around him.

When he materialized, Niles was still made of glass. He opened his mouth just as he shattered into a million pieces. Rosemay and Said were in the Dark Room when Niles disintegrated.

“Is it him?” Rosemary asked as Dr. Vargas squatted to examine the pieces of glass Niles had left behind.

“I believe so.” Dr. Vargas concluded. Rosemay put her hand to her mouth.

“This is rather unfortunate.” Said observed.

“We now have a glimpse of that is waiting for us in the future.” Dr. Vargas picked up handful of glass in a gloved hand, “I’m not sure. I’m not sure of what is waiting for us is worth the journey. When the red-light flashes, will be ready? I don’t know. I just don’t know.”

Dr. Vargas watched as the glass sifted through his hands.