Chapter 1 – The Last Experiment
Location: Earth 2.2
Year: -25
Scientist 02 was feeling dizzy again. He knew that once the setup for the experiment was over, he’d reacquire his name and related memories. Nevertheless, his mind resisted the idea that he was “just a number”, even though it was the second best number – right after 01, the leader of the experiment. Yet despite being the second most important person in the facility, he still felt empty and meaningless.
Sitting at his desk in the office marked 02, he thought: “How stupid it is to share the name of an office space. Like I’m nothing more than a piece of furniture, or perhaps,” he then looked around for possible comparisons and poured himself another cup of coffee “another mug, just like the the other 95 people of this team. We are all just cups of coffee”.
He felt the energizing taste of the brown liquid and his thoughts went on: “The fuel of every hard worker enduring long nights”. The coffee always helped him focus, and his mood shifted towards a more optimistic one as he dove on to the task at hand: “The Greek letter Lambda has a variety of uses in science. It can denote the decay constant of a radioactive element, inversely proportional to the half-life. It can also symbolize the wavelength of an object. Lambda can further be used to indicate eigenvalues of matrices in Mathematics. It is one of those versatile Greek letters that can be found in a wide spectrum of fields.”
He sat almost motionless for a while, rearranging the words and ideas in his head. While deeply in thought, he started frowning and in all the years of research it began to show on his forehead. Even more so, because there were hardly any hair left on the top of his head. On the contrary, the hair on his side were defiantly resisting the baldness, growing almost to his shoulders. This particular look of his cost him many weird glances, but he didn’t particularly care.
“No, no no. That’s simply not good. I can’t start the last log entry like that. Should I recount all the good times we had together? Should I write an explanatory entry hoping that it won’t be destroyed by something or someone? Should I give instructions? What?” He sighed out loud and stretched his hands and legs. Looking out of the window he saw a beautiful sun shining and bathing the office in warm light.
“Too bad it’s just a hologram complete with the imitation of the heat radiated by the sun and not the real deal. We’ve been closed in here for far too long in order to guarantee a hundred percent bias-free experiment. Every parameter under control, nothing that could go wrong. And yet even if theoretically the whole thing has been designed from the ground up that way, there was always the chance of human error. Given the right people and right circumstances however, those errors can turn into enormous successes,” as his mind was motivating him to think about a particular subject he grabbed his head with his hands and slightly shook it: “No, I can’t talk about what I did. Someone might try to interfere and abort the experiment.”
Even though the sun seemed to be shining, the actual outside world was engulfed in darkness, only slowly approaching the beginning of a new dawn. And the early hours coupled together with hard working conditions took a toll on his brain. He started having conversations with himself in order to remind him what’s real and what not and to be always focussed on protecting his stakes in the work.
“Right. Let’s do this,” he heard himself say, while his fingers approached the surface of the desk. Before he could touch it, a 3D image of a keyboard appeared that could easily be mistaken as an actual one. As he moved his fingers in the air, tapping gently, the keys lighted-up in response and produced words on the screen. The monitor was placed atop two heavy books, to be at the appropriate eye-level. As 02 typed, the text began to show:
Log entry number 365
“How does one start the final log entry for an experiment so important that because of it, we humans have decided to update the name of our home planet from Earth 2.1 to Earth 2.2?
If we fail, then there was no point in renaming the Earth. Nothing new would be discovered.
If on the other hand we succeed, then calling it Earth 3.0 would be far more appropriate. The next stage in the human evolution. Will it be one or the other?
The humanity is facing an unprecedented crisis. The current leading theory supposes Earth 2.2 is being slowly drawn away to an invisible and undetectable super-massive object. It’s not important which year is it, if all we’ve got left is 25 years before the impact. And since nothing in the current collective knowledge pool points to a possible answer, the society is falling apart.
We’re decaying as an organized and intelligent race, and this is perhaps the only reason why the λ-ex, or, the lambda experiment, has been allowed to exist and is in the final moments of preparation. An experiment so unethical and of dubious nature that we’ll have our recollections of it erased permanently and no credit will be given to the people who conducted it. The general populace knew about something being experimented on that could save them, but nobody knew where it is located and what it is about exactly.
Only after 20 years it would be revealed – regardless of the outcome.
Here’s to hoping the second outcome will come true, and that the last 5 years on Earth 2.2 will ensure humanity lives on. On a more personal note, regarding all my colleagues in the team, here’s to hoping our year worth of sleepless nights will save us.”
-Author: scientist 02.
“Heyo two, it’s four in the morning and you’re still up?” the scientist 02 was visibly shaken by the sudden appearance of a voice that was not in his head. While he was typing and editing the text, his younger colleague known to him only by the label scientist 57, perhaps once his student, entered the room. After receiving no immediate answer, the younger scientist moved towards the nearest chair and made himself comfortable. He was a middle-aged man, with brown hair neatly combed and always wore a shirt to look smart and classy as he’d describe it himself.
“You look like you have a stick up your butt. Why are you so tense?” jokingly asked scientist 57.
Two responded very dryly: “I’ve been trying to round up this whole nightmarish experience.”
“Why so serious?” was the response from 57, imitating a grave look on his colleague’s face and soon after, he burst out laughing: “Come on now, in just two hours it will be all over for us! We’ll remember our names and our families if we had them. No, wait, you look like a real lady killer to me. Like in a parallel universe where ugly old men are considered hot you have plenty of fangirls. On that note, please get a haircut once we get out, will you?”
This marked the end of the scientist’s 02 somewhat good mood for the rest of the night – barely two hours. And so he said menacingly: “Watch your tongue boy. How can you take the matter of universes so lightly?”
” ‘Cause they are shit. Well, not literally. But seriously, for how long have these theories been lying about? 150 years, 200 perhaps? And even if it turns out there are actually parallel universes, what makes you even remotely think that our theories are correct? But let’s not change the subject. Why are you not preparing a bottle of champagne and some glasses, or partying like some other scientists?” The younger of the two tried to put on a concerned face in an effort to have a serious conversation with a person he knew he admired immensely and yet didn’t know why. He’d learn about it soon enough, when his memory would be regained.
“Why should I be excited? It’s true that I’ll regain my old memories, but I’ll forget everything that we did here. Why on Earth would something like that make me happy? It will be like we lost a whole year of our lives.”
The scientist 57 made a confused grimace before responding: “That’s exactly the reason why you should be happy. You’ll forget what we did here! I know for one I’ll be finally able to sleep well, and there’s nothing in the world I await more! Actually, perhaps I’m more excited to be reunited with my girl or wife if I have one. I can’t wait to get hold of my old memories!” Soon after he continued with a more worrying voice: “You thought this through, haven’t you? There’s something you’re hiding from me. What is it?”
The second scientist tried his best to smile and failed: “Don’t worry, it has nothing to do with you. It’s a personal problem.”
“And now you said the only word that could possibly make me more preoccupied. Personal you say? This experiment was designed to be detached from personal opinions and other subjective bias, in order to guarantee the best possible outcome and now you’re telling me there’s something personal involved? It has everything to do with me and with the whole World as well. Why am I even telling you this. You should know better than anyone about the nature of our experiment. So please, tell me what you did.” While saying this, 57 tried to sit straight and face his older colleague with a determination in his eyes.
The 02 mirrored the movements of 57, and tried at the same time to reinforce his authority with a firm and strong voice: “Silly old me. I’ve chosen the wrong word to describe it. At any rate, stop over-thinking it, we’ll be free soon as you said. And on that note, why are you here and not sleeping or partying like the rest of the team?”
“I wanted to see if you were awake. I think that we’ve had a history together before this experiment. I have feelings of some kind of particular friendship towards you and I don’t remember why. This has been bogging me for a while and I guess I hoped that you felt something similar and it wasn’t just me going crazy.” He smiled before continuing in a more serious tone: “And yet you’re trying to sidetrack me again. What is it that you’re hiding?”
Number two grunted in response: “Don’t you think you should use some of that friendship in trusting me?”
“Normally, I would. I trusted you during the whole year of preparation for the experiment. I have believed you and everyone else on this team based exclusively upon feelings of respect, friendship and sometimes pride. I think the whole team worked together before. Or perhaps we met during a symposium. Either way, I knew I could trust you all, as scientists and as people.” The scientist 57 paused for a moment. He was hesitating to continue his speech, even though there was no more doubt about his older friend’s dishonesty. He was fighting his feelings of unknown origin with the evidence of what was happening. And then, as a sudden realisation happened in his head, fifty-seven froze in shock.
The expression on 57’s face was so uncontrollably outrageous that second scientist noticed it and quickly took over talking: “All right, I can’t hide it from you it seems. Well, you’re not the first one to figure it out. Here’s the plan B. Try to convince you to see that I’m right and join me in my cause.”
The scientist fifty-seven gripped the handles of his chair in order to quickly stand up and spring towards the door. But the second scientist was, despite his age and appearance, incredibly fast on his reflexes. In a split second he was standing and in the next one he jumped and tackled number 57. They barely missed the chair that 57 was sitting on just moments ago. Still, the force of impact with the ground knocked the air out of 57’s lungs rending him incapable to react. As a result, 02 aptly seized the opportunity by taking his colleague in a gridlock preventing a possible escape.
Then victorious 02 proceeded to talk some more: “Listen carefully now. Don’t try to free yourself as I know what I’m doing. Just hear me out and then you can judge. And on top of that, our memories will be erased anyway so you won’t have any regrets if you live. Does that sound good to you?”
Fifty-seven remained still while thinking: “Ok, so he’s crazy, but at least he wants to talk. Maybe he’ll relax enough to will give me an opportunity to free myself”. Out loud he responded: “Ok. I’m all ears.”
The second scientist relaxed the lock somewhat, and then unexpectedly delivered a blow into 57’s chest, making him remember the pain from the fall. Scientist number two then sat besides his colleague and addressed him while doing so: “Just so you see that I’m not playing. Don’t try to escape or otherwise move because I will be ready. As I told you, you’re not the first to walk up on my plans…”
Scientist 57 suddenly interrupted him, while still trying to remember how to breathe properly: “How did you bypass the memory wipe in order to execute your plan?”
Two was visibly confused and answered with a cryptic: “What makes you ask that? I didn’t really do anything like that. I had my memory erased, like everyone else.”
“Ah come on. You said it was personal, therefore you must have some recollection of who you were before this. And I’m getting scared to think that the biggest flaw of this experiment was exactly what we thought would make it work. Having no recollection of any personal opinions that could interfere with the outcome eliminated or perhaps only reduced the possibility of any of us meddling with the parameters. But you did it anyway. Oh, the irony.”
“Again, you got it all wrong. I don’t have any idea as to who I was,” the older responded.
“Then how?”
“I was getting to that if you’d let me continue.”
“Well, please do. I’m really interested to understand how and why you intentionally destroyed what we were set to do.” The fifty-seven was boiling with anger at this point, making him almost oblivious to his pain and yet he couldn’t release it in any way other than words. His plan was to interrupt his older colleague as often as possible in order to disorient him and catch him off guard. He didn’t care at all what his colleague was about to say. Optimist to the end, he didn’t want to believe it was all over. Not like this.
The second scientist cleared his throat and continued: “Right. To answer your question, I created myself a backup copy of the plan,” He then pulled up his shirt to show a tattoo on his chest which was hard to read. There were some letters and numbers, as well as equations and drawings of mostly geometrical shapes.
“That’s a tattoo. Congratulations, are you feeling any younger because of it?”
Forcing a false smile, two patiently explained: “I’m quite proud of the idea I had. I knew that our memories will be wiped and we wouldn’t be allowed to bring USB drives or even any other sort of implants to our body. That is, visible or measurable implants, including tattoos. I don’t know how I did it exactly, but I’m assuming I got some connections, who secured me nano-bots used for illegal tattooing. They’re virtually undetectable unless you’re specifically looking for them and I assume a bunch of scientists had no criminal background and no real reason to be suspicious.” He paused for the words to sink in before continuing: “So after and our minds were wiped clean and we were transferred to this facility, the tattoo appeared on my chest. At first I freaked out, but then I was compelled to solve the enigma and figured out my plans. Of course I still don’t actually remember anything, but I do trust my work.”
“Fuck me,” scientist 57 couldn’t avoid swearing, while beginning to admire more and more the person next to him. He said: “That’s truly something. A temporarily invisible enigma. And so what was your plan?”
“That’s something I think you had figured out yourself, when you seemed terrorized for a second, just before I tackled you.”
“You have a son. Or daughter. And you made him or her part of λ-ex .”
“Correct.”
“You goddamn idiot! Why? What is the point of ruining perhaps the most important experiment that we as a species ever devised? Why are you so fucking reckless?” the fifty-seven almost screamed in despair and that brought back some pain from his chest.
“Now that’s where you’re wrong. I didn’t destroy it, I merely improved upon it. And I hope at least you come to see my reasoning. I’m not a monster, I want you to understand and then simply do nothing for a couple of hours, chill here with me before our memories of this place get eradicated. Scientists 03, 04, 10, 33 and 42 also managed to discover my plans, didn’t trust me and so I had to kill them. Such a shame. I am too careless it would seem and I blame it completely to the memory wipe. There’s something disquieting about what I don’t remember. Still, I’m in luck to be the second in charge and can easily prevent and interrupt communications, as well as arrange accidents.” In his mind, brief flashes of images passed by, glimpses of the events he went through.
The first memory was of scientist 03, trying to reach 01’s office after he couldn’t connect to his computer, only to find 02 waiting behind an empty crate that was used to transport electronics. A quick neck-twist and it was all over.
The 04 was more prudent. After his computer’s “malfunction”, he closed himself inside his office. A few minutes later, an explosion emanating from the 04’s office attracted the attention of the whole team. After close inspection they concluded 04 disabled the safety mechanisms in the equipment in his office. Some of the scientists still remained suspicious, yet most were reassured that it was a case of simple malpractice. None of them were aware of a bug that allowed 02 to disable the security remotely, from his office.
The three scientists that remained suspicious were continuing to investigate on. Luckily for 02, being in charge for most of the manual work, he sent them to certain deaths doing checks on security circuits that he intentionally left operative. They didn’t have a clue.
Scientist 02 was snapped out of his daydreaming by 57: “Oh, so you’re not an idiot then. You’re rather a murderous psychopath. I assume you are not making this up and now that I think about it, those were the only deaths. What if somebody noticed and investigated further?”
“And who would that be? The last meeting was already held and the deaths were classified as accidents. Most of the team members are now either drunk or asleep. Some perhaps both. Fifty-seven, I know who trusts who in this team, little groups of friends that have formed, mostly around similar tasks since we were so busy, and I prefer being alone anyway. And even if somebody else notices, what are they going to do in the remaining hours?” It looked like he was not done talking, when he was wildly interrupted by 57 again: “Fine, I get it. There’s intellect behind all this madness. But have you ever considered that perhaps you got your tattoo-riddle all wrong?”
“Impossible. I designed it, so obviously I let it have only one solution.” After this nobody of the two spoke. The pair of scientists just sat and had a staring contest with each other. Finally, 02 opened his mouth again: “So will you sit here for the next few hours?” Then, looking at the watch, he corrected himself: “One hour and forty-eight minutes. After that, you’ll forget about it all and we can be friends again, assuming that was the case in the past.”
Scientist 57 began laughing all the while trying not to move too much, but stopped soon, afraid to incite another hit. He was genuinely scared 02 will take any of his sudden movements as a sign of attack or disrespect and he learned once already how agile his older colleague was: “So my choice is to either allow you to doom humanity and live another 25 years, or simply die trying to stop you? Both solutions include me dying sooner that I’d like and I’m not agreeing with either.”
“Why are you so stubborn in believing that I want to destroy us all? I’m a person, just like yourself, I want to live on and enable a future for our offspring. What I did will work, there’s no doubt about it.” The 02 said it while sitting with his arms crossed and a stern expression that demanded obedience.
57 started thinking fast. Should the madman be trusted? Of course not! He killed five people in hopes of covering his tracks, and he’s prepared to kill some more. If his plan made any sense whatsoever, surely at least one of his victims would have lived on. Didn’t he say he tried to explain it first? Should I risk running away or fighting? Did he let his guard down? And then he asked: “What if the rest of the team wants to say bye to you and come looking here?”
Number two smirked and turned towards his computer screen: “I have everything under control. As I told you, my position of power gives me several advantages. One of them is oversight of security cameras and as you see, one of them is just outs-” he stopped when he felt a sudden movement. Scientist 57 was dashing towards the door a second time this night.
And once again the elder was quicker. This time around, he was too annoyed with what was happening to be careful of the surroundings. As he jumped forward to tackle his younger colleague, aiming for the legs he realized that the landing of 57 won’t be as lucky this time. Scientist number two fell to the floor the same instant that number fifty-seven’s head collided with the wall next to the door. After the impact, the room was filled with silence and blood started pouring on the door, slowly sliding downwards.
“There’s just no use in explaining,” 02 was talking to himself now, or perhaps, the body, that might still have a glimpse of conscience in it: “In the end, nobody listens to me. There’s not a single person in this experiment that would think outside the box and trust my reasoning. They’re all blindly convinced I’m the bad guy.” He then proceeded in disposing the body by grabbing its shoulders and dragging it to a ventilation shaft. There he opened the metallic barrier and shove 57’s body inside, letting the blood act as a lubricant and for gravity to transport the body downwards. Afterwards he went to one of his cabinets, where he took out a cleaning chemical and removed all traces of blood that could be seen, as far into the shaft he could reach without having to crawl in and then all the way to the door where the trace started.
“Voila’, last mistake I’ve made is undone,” He passed the remainder of the time in silence, pondering on tonight’s events.
As the clock was reaching the final 6:00 in the morning, he started thinking ahead, and a smile crossed his face: “All right, I’ve done everything I could. Now only ten seconds remain before my brain will regain old memories and lose ones related to this place. And then I’ll be able to leave.”
The clock turned 6:00 and nothing happened.
“I don’t understand. What’s going on?” He was staring incredulously. 6:01. “Why do I still remember everything?” He looked around, and everything looked the exact same same. He seized the invisible keyboard and immediately saw a sign on the screen: “Self-Destruction imminent. Thank you for helping us shape the future of mankind in the λ-ex.”
“Whaaat?” he screamed and started panicking and randomly clicking on different keys. Of course nothing worked. “W–why? Who would have done something like this? Who even knew? And I thought I was the mastermind!!” with every passing thought, he panicked more, and the last question that remained unanswered in his head was: “So we were, after all, merely cups of coffee for the puppeteer behind this charade?”
Everything went blank for him and the whole experimental complex imploded inwards, leaving no trace of the facility on the ground.
Tomo Umer 