The Quantum Gate

THE QUANTUM GATE

by Patrick C. Van Slyke

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2013 Patrick C. Van Slyke

Copyright 2013 Coat of Arms Publishing

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

FOR Sean and Selina

www.pcvanslyke.com

PROLOGE

So, we’re moving down this weekend. Can you lend a hand to a damsel in distress? Or, your girlfriend anyway.

Yeah, let me think. Um, no, I'm okay. I don’t have a lab this weekend, so I'm free. Sure, I can help. Why’d you dad have the sudden change of heart? I thought he was going to stay at Ben Gurion University. He’s the best teacher I ever had.

"Hard-Metal made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, I guess. It’s not far. Mitspe Ramon.

What’s he going out to that hippy outpost for? Dennis laughed.

I told you, Jenna replied, unamused. He got a new job.

Jenna and Dennis had met through Jenna’s father, Dr. Victor Richards, professor of physics at Ben Gurion University. Dennis was a grad student. Jenna was an artist. But her primary was to care of her dad. Dr. Richards needed someone to take care of him after Jenna’s mom had succumbed to cancer. He didn’t need physical care; he needed help with more mundane things, like remembering to eat or to comb his hair before leaving for classes.

Hard-Metal. That’s the American defense company, right?

I guess so. I wish he would just stay with the university, Jenna bitched unintentionally.

Well, he must have a good reason for going. Anyway, it will give me an excuse to get out of the library once in a while. Where you gonna be living?

We rented an apartment down there. It’s nice, I guess. It’s furnished so obviously dad plans on keeping this house. But most of his clothes and personal stuff are being moved out to the site. He said he will be spending some nights out there.

There’s a site out there?

I guess. You can ask him more about it when you come over. We are packing up Friday. The movers come Saturday. I will really appreciate your help.

Of course, my lady, Dennis joked in his poor attempt at an old English accent. I really can’t believe this is all happening so fast. I wonder what they offered to make him leave his position at the university. He doesn’t strike me as the type to be motivated by money.

He’s not, but they offered him something, that’s for sure. I can’t imagine what it is. He has been pretty tight lipped. Any way you can ask him all about it on Friday. One thing might be nice.

What’s that?

Well, she said coyly. If he’s planning on spending nights out at the site, maybe you can, you know, come over and take care of me.

Yes. Yes, I would like that very much, he laughed. It’s got to be easier than getting some privacy in my dorm.

That is for sure, she laughed. So, can you come over when you finish classes on Friday? Is that okay?

You got yourself a deal. Love you, baby.

#

Thanks for coming to help, Dennis, Dr. Richard said in his deep voice, taking a box from the younger man. I don’t think we could have done the whole thing without you. But I really want to encourage you to stay focused. You will be a world class physicist very soon if you just stay focused. Remember your priorities,

Oh God, dad! Jenna said, looking up from a box she was packing. Leave Dennis alone.

It’s a teacher’s job to advise, Jenna. He sealed the full box with packing tape.

Don’t worry, Dr. Richards. I’ll be good. Oh, hey, congratulations on your new job. Hard-Metal?

The doctor grimaced. Well, I haven’t really taken another job. It’s more research. I am retaining my chair at the university ...

How long are we going to be out there? Jenna asked.

I’m really not sure, Jenna. I am going to be working on some very interesting stuff I think, but they made me sign a non-disclosure document so I’m not supposed to talk about specifics.

It sounds sort of James Bondish. I bet it is going to be very cool. I can’t imagine what they are doing out there in the desert. I guess they could be building a collider, although I can imagine better places. It can’t be nuclear. No water. Oh God! Maybe its fusion. If they have figured out how to generate the temperature needed…

Well, I guess I am going to find out soon enough. Hey, by the way, I had a visit from your counselor. Sound like you’re going to get your Ph.D. end of semester. That’s going to make you one of the youngest graduates isn’t it?

Well, close, the youth laughed. But you’ve still got me beat. Everyone, I think, right? You got your doctorate at seventeen, right?

Yep, Jenna answered proudly for her dad.

So anyway, everyone else has dropped so it’s kind of weird, but hey. I get lots of attention.

"That’s great. Good for you! Keep up the hard work, Dennis. There are important positions opening up all over the world. Hard-Metal is a big one, a very big one, but there are other places too.

I really hope to work with particle acceleration and quantum research.

Jenna's father looked up at the student. Give me a call when you are ready to start your thesis. We might just be able to work together.

Jesus! I...I mean, thank you Dr. Richard. That would be...just amazing. I will let you know as soon as I ready to start.

#

The new apartment was not big, but it was warm and inviting. It was full, but not cluttered. Once in, Jenna disappointment at moving began to fade. The openness of the desert was refreshing.

On her first night there alone, Dennis surprised her with an intensely green house plant.

Thanks, babe, she cried, leaning up to kiss him.

Every home needs some life in it. At least that is what my mom says. This can be your pet until you get, you know, and animated one.

So, she asked, putting down the plant and pushing herself up against him. You want to spend the night?

He pulled her close and ran his fingers though her thick black hair. What do you think?

I think I can tell the answer is yes.

He laughed. I’d love to unless you want to enjoy your newfound freedom by yourself for the first night. But if you do want me to stay, I have to get up very early. I have a morning lab tomorrow that I cannot miss.

Well, you got to get your sleep, then. We better go to bed now…

#

Weeks later, Jenna had come to love the desert. It was not just rocks and sand. It was alive and the play of colors was amazing. It was the ideal location for painting. She had just set up a new canvas when her phone buzzed. She was surprised to find her father’s name on her cell.

Hi, dad! Is everything okay? He almost never called.

Hi Sweetheart. Everything is good. I am sorry to bug you …

Dad, you’re not bugging me. I’m just painting. I miss you.

I miss you too, but I have been working non-stop. I think we are onto something really special. But I need a fresh pair of eyes down here. Do you know where Dennis is in his studies?

All I know is he is really doing well. He is on the Dean’s list, or whatever they call it for Doctorate of Physics. I guess he is at the top of the class. Most of the time I don’t even understand what he is talking about. He's almost done with his thesis I guess.

That’s perfect, her dad said with uncharacteristic excitement. Do you happen to have his number? I need him down here and I need to start the paperwork for his security clearance.

Down there?

Yes, Jenna. I think he can help me. Believe me sweetheart, I cannot tell you much about it, but he is going to want to be here.

But what about his thesis?

It doesn’t matter anymore. Our work here will make him famous. You’ll see. Now, his number…?

Okay, dad, okay …

The one thing that Jenna did not love about the apartment was the washer and dryer, or the lack thereof. To do laundry she had to pack everything up and go downstairs to the dingy laundry room. Usually it was empty or there might be another young woman and they would exchange nods, but there was one guy, Hans, if that was his real name, who really bummed her out, big time. She tried very hard to do careful recon and in attempt to make sure that she wouldn’t see him, but every once in a while, he would catch her.

This night was one of those nights. Hey! he cried as he carried his laundry basket into the moderate sized room and dropped it down next to hers. It’s … um … don’t tell me! Um … Jenna! Jenna, right? he laughed

Jenna laughed to humor him. Right, Hans, good memory.

Well, it’s hard to forget a face like yours! he said, trying to be complementary but just coming off as creepy. Of course, my memory isn’t my strong suit.

Really? she muttered in an attempt to be polite. She knew he was fishing for a conversation but she wasn’t about to bite.

Well, um, my strong suit is actually history. I am a history buff, believe it or not. A … an ... archeological major.

Oh, really? she asked, only half listening. He wasn’t so much creepy, as nerdy, she decided. Either way he was a still bit of a nuisance.

Yes, actually, I will be going to a dig soon.

Really? she asked, now just responding on automatic.

Yes! he responded excitedly. Yes, very near here. In fact you won’t believe this, but Hard-Metal is subsidizing the whole thing. It is on a plot of their land. They were actually excavating for a new building, an accelerator or something, I guess, when they came across bones. Luckily, someone who knew something was there and stopped the diggers. Amazing really. Usually, big corporations would just bulldoze it over, but Hard-Metal; who would have guessed?

Really? Now he had her full attention. My dad is a scientist working out at Hard-Metal.

Well, it looks as if we have something in common, he said with a conspiratorial wink.

She ignored inappropriate familiarity and continued. What did they find?

Well, he said, it sounds almost too good to be true. I think we are talking about a pre-historical structure of some sort.

No way. she asked. I wonder if that is what my dad is working on or something else. He is in physics. But your project does sound really cool.

I know! I guess they had dug really deep. Really deep. That’s how they found it. I am so thankful they didn’t destroy it all. It could be very important.

How exciting. I might ask my dad if I can come out and observe. It sounds like it might be a once in a lifetime chance.

Well, that's great! Say, we could make a day of it! I could take you out to dinner afterwards.

Oh, I'm so sorry, Hans. I should have said before. I'm in a relationship.

She saw his awkward face fall a bit but his response was a surprise. Oh, of course. I'm sorry. I should have guessed. Well, regardless, it is still going to be fascinating. Hey, maybe you and your boyfriend could join me for dinner one night after his dig.

She winked, Who said it’s a boyfriend.

Hans was shocked. Oh, oh, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean...

Jenna laughed. I am just messing with you, Hans. That actually sounds really nice. Look, I will talk with my dad and see we can all look around and then go out to dinner. I don’t know, maybe he can get you some ‘behind the scenes’ information. I will ask him.

No! Really? Okay, thank you so much. My professor is Dr. Leichner. He is leading the dig. Hard-Metal should know that name.

She stuck out her hand to her new friend. Well, then, Hans, it sounds like a deal.

#

Yeah, I talked to your dad yesterday. He wants me out there tomorrow night. I think … you know, I think he is going to ask me to stay out there full time.

She stopped with her salad fork half way to her mouth. What? Seriously? You only have a short amount of time till your Ph.D.

Dennis shook his head. I … he wants me on full time. There is something big happening out there. I think. I'm … I'm going to do it. It is too great an opportunity.

But you're almost done?

Your dad insists that this … whatever it is, it's going to be so big, well, bigger than any Ph.D. Plus he is offering a salary. I just can’t turn the opportunity down.

Seriously? What is the job?

I don’t have the specifics yet. But it involves something they found in the ground. Can you believe that? We are going to be working with a dig team, evaluating … something.

I met a guy … she mumbled, thinking about Hans, who said he was on a dig team somewhere on Hard-Metal land here.

That’s got to be it. I hope your friend is cool. There are already enough nerds out there.

Well, I don’t know about cool, but he was very nice. He invited us both to dinner with him.

Let’s see how things play out before start planning for dinner parties. he laughed.

Yeah, fine. But I’m not putting up with this cloak and dagger stuff anymore. I have been trying to get out there to have lunch with my dad for two weeks now, and the whole facility seems to be on lockdown.

Jenna got up from the couch where they had been nominally watching TV and grabbed her cell from the kitchen counter. As she dialed she flopped back down beside Dennis.

Dad? Hi!

Hey, honey. It’s great to hear your voice. Listen, I’m kinda in the middle of something. Can I call you back?

"Dad, what’s the deal with asking Dennis to put off his Ph.D? You know how hard he has worked for that.

There was silence of a moment and then her dad spoke in a low tone. Honey, what we have here is bigger than Dennis’s PhD. It is bigger than my career at the university. It’s bigger than anything.

What are you talking about?

"All I can say is that we found something. Dennis will see when he gets here. The excavation crew from the university is here already, and they have been sequestered. It is that big, although not one of them would leave now even if we asked them. I need Dennis here. He’s a prodigy and I need a young pair of eyes to look at this. Believe me, honey. This will do more for his career than any degree."

Well, is it dangerous? Can I come and see?

He sighed. "Everything is dangerous, in one way or another, honey.

Can I come out and see? she asked again.

Possible, but it might be tough. Let me see if I can get you on the dig team. I think they are one short. I could transfer that security pass to you, but you might be stuck here for the duration. Your art would take a shot. It could be months.

Yeah, that sounds like a bummer. Well if you can get me just an afternoon pass that would be great. Just let me know. But dad, I got to know. What are you guys getting into?

The phone was silent for a moment to the point where Jenna thought that maybe she had lost the signal. Jenna, we found something old. Something that it is difficult to imagine was made by human hands. We think, well, we think it might be an energy source. It could change everything. I really have to go. Please ask Dennis to be here as soon as his afternoon lab is over tomorrow. His pass will be waiting for him at the gate.

Jenna’s dad was usually very reserved. Whatever was going on had him very excited. They were looking at something big.

Jenna told Richie about the conversation and then asked, What do you think?

"I have no idea, but if your dad is not exaggerating it’s gonna be something amazing.

My dad doesn’t exaggerate. Come here, she said taking him by the hand and leaving the apartment.

Hey, I’m not done with my dinner. Where are we going?

Jenna opened the door leading to the roof access. I want to show you something, she responded as she pulled him up the stairs and opened the door to the roof.

I’m hungry, he complained. What’s this … he trailed off.

Look, she said simply.

What the hell is that? he asked quietly, squinting through the night at what looked like a small city of lights in the desert.

"That’s the Hard-Metal compound.

#

You didn’t have to drive me, Jenna. I could have taken a cab.

I wanted to. I want to see if my dad has my clearance yet. He thought he would have it by now but he couldn’t be sure. The mystery is killing me.

What if he hasn’t gotten it yet?

Well, then I go home and watch TV.

The road leading to the main and only gate into the Hard-Metal compound was long and narrow. As they approached, the installation seemed to grow brighter, lighting up the dusk. It was situated far out in the desert and surrounded by a cement wall periodically crowned with guard posts. It looked more like a prison than a laboratory or a dig. This was the impenetrable fortress where Hard-Metal black projects were carried out.

Is...is that a tank? Dennis asked in disbelief. The armored weapon was parked to the right of the gate, bigger than life.

I have no idea but it looks like they mean business. Look, all the guard towers are manned. I’ve never seen anything like this before.

You sure we should go up there? They kinda look trigger happy.

I am pretty sure my dad said the passes would be waiting at the gate. I assume this gate.

Slowly, she eased passed the tank and up to the guard post. Two uniformed guards, both with assault rifles came out and stood in front of the car. Jenna rolled down her window.

The guard who approached was young, but he looked hardened and very serious.

IDs please. It was more an order than a request.

Um, Jenna said, fishing in her purse, sure. Here they are. She also gave him Dennis’s. My dad said he was going to leave passes.

Richard and Danforth, the young man said and shined a flashlight in the window, checking their faces against his paperwork. He typed something into a tablet computer and handed back the I.Ds.

Here are your passes. Wear them at all times. Do not take them off the lanyard. Keep them visible at all times. He looked at Dennis. Mr. Danford, you are allowed to travel from here to Dig Alfa. Dr. Richards is expecting you. Living quarters have been set for you there. Do not deviate from the route, Mr. Danford. This is a black installation and all employees are instructed to use deadly force."

He looked at Jenna. Ms. Richards, you are allowed the same latitude as Mr. Danford, however, you may also take Route Five, which leads directly to your fathers office. Your pass is valid for entry only from six am to nine pm, today only. I wish to reiterate, do not deviate from these routes. This is a shoot first, ask second, installation.

Although both Jenna and Dennis could have come up with many comedic retorts, they remained silent and listened intently to the young man. He seemed very extreme and if the rest of the security was like him, they better know what they could and couldn’t do. They needed to know.

The huge gate began to pull back silently and Jenna inched her old car in slowly.

Inside, the compound it was brighter than day, with tall, mobile high-output lights everywhere. The routes were very clearly marked with red and white triangle signs every ten feet or so. There were guards and military looking vehicles everywhere.

Looks like that is the turn-off to your dad’s office, Dennis said, stating the obvious and pointing at a sign marking Route Five. They passed on, following the signs to the dig.

The road was paved but a sign forced them to deviate onto a dirt grade that began to slope downward. Ahead of them lay the excavation site, surrounded by trailers and towering lights.

I guess that’s it, Jenna commented quietly.

I guess so. They both felt an unexplainable dread.

There was a make-shift parking lot to the right of the dig, filled with all kinds of vehicles. They found a parking spot and got out. Jenna thought about locking the car but figured it was pointless.

As they walked toward the dig, the feeling of dread increased. Jenna shivered and Dennis put his arm around her.

The site, they found, was being excavated in circles. Circular levels, each lower than the last. Great fences had been put up around each level, each with only one gate allowing access to the next level. There seemed to be people working on every level except the bottom, which, even with all the lights, was shrouded in shadows. There was something down there, Jenna knew. She could feel it. It was hard to see but it blocked out some of the stars. Whatever it was, it was tall.

At the first gate, they showed their passes to another security guard. This soldier was older than the first, but he was not as intense. He seemed spooked and his hand shook as he checked their names against his tablet.

You two are supposed to check in with Dr. Richards. He is in Trailer One, right over there.

Temporary metal steps lead up to the locked door of the trailer. Dennis knocked and instantly the door opened into a brightly lit, electronic filled headquarters. Jenna’s dad was holding the door and pulled his daughter into an embrace.

Dad, are you okay? she asked, greatly concerned. He looked like he had lost about twenty pounds and there were dark circles under his eyes.

Hi sweetheart. I’m great! he assured her. There was an excitement in his eyes that gave him a ‘mad scientist’ look.

Hi Dennis. Very glad you could make it. I have set up a sleeping area for you. Someone will show it to you later.

That’s okay, Mr. Richards. I can just get a cab to and from the site.

No, the older man said without preamble. "You will be staying here. You have been assigned as my assistant and we have a great amount of work to do in a short amount of time. I think I am close, but I need your help.

What is going on, dad? Jenna asked worriedly. She had never seen her father like this before.

Something spectacular! he laughed. Something that will change the world. Come! Come here and look.

He lead them to his desk which looked more like a control center with about ten flat screen monitors arranged in a semi-circle around his chair.

Okay, the history, he began. As you probably know, Hard-Metal leases all of the land around this area, probably about one-hundred acres, maybe more. Recently they had a shakeup at corporate and the new president has made R&D a priority. The president, for whatever reason, wanted a new, state of the art, laboratory built right on this site, including a unidirectional particle accelerator which, as Dennis knows, must be deep in the earth to shield it from particles from space. Nobody really knows why he wanted it here specifically. There were probably better locations, but I guess nobody was going to tell the president what to do.

Jenna’s dad was talking fast. He paused to take a great gulp of air. The bull dowsers started their work and began the process of digging the hole for the accelerator. At a depth of about two-hundred fifty meters the foreman stopped the work. There were bones. The diggers were pulling up bones, human bones. Okay, now here is the fact that changed everything. That depth … at that depth we are looking at a time before all known history. Hell, we are looking at a time before Neanderthal.

He paused once again. So first of all, nothing is making sense. Hard-Metal called in archeologist right away, and they were confused too. How could this be happening? Was it a mass grave, dug unbelievable deep, or something else. The president of the company stopped all construction and turned the site into a research area. Excavation began in earnest and they found a structure.

Wait a minute, Jenna interrupted. You found a structure that dates back before recorded history? Are you guys sure?

I had the same doubts but isotope testing confirmed. What we’re looking at was buried over a million years ago.

That’s impossible, Dennis said.

Exactly! In there lies the mystery.

But what would you need a physicist for? he asked, confused.

Because! the older man said, grabbing Dennis by the shoulders. The structure is made of a substance that we have never seen. It seems to have characteristics of metal but it is also something else. We have to analyze this substance and I am going to need your input. Also, and more importantly, it is emitting some kind of energy. A radiation that I have never encountered. The particles emanating … well, they seem to be … they seem to have an order. I believe the structure can be … opened. We found what might be a door. Our laboratory is in trailer two. That is where you and I are headed. Jenna, I have a guide coming to take you down to the structure so that you can have a look.

But...but what is it? Dennis asked. "I mean, what are we working