willwallace
Interested Observer
Well, I screwed up the courage to take the plunge and submit the beginning of something I've been tinkering with for a few months now. For anyone who takes the time to look it over, I thank you in advance 
Last Star
Prelude
With their nebulous existences based on wildly divergent physics, infinite possibilities will produce every possible universe. An observer, if one could have the ability to perceive all the universes, would find that with the right balance of forces, they could see the birth and death of untold numbers of planets, stars, and galaxies within many of the cosmos that formed. Other universes, not so fortunate, did not have the proper physical properties to allow the formation of matter, and remained dark, empty shells, their potential unfulfilled.
This same observer would find that some universes underwent a constant cycle of expansion and contraction, a series of Big Bangs. Another possibility is the steady state universe, constantly renewing itself. Still others do not have enough mass to contract again, and are doomed to fall apart. Their particles decay long before they encounter any other cosmos.
As large as each existing universe is, the distance between them is greater still. However, the void between universes is not as empty as it appears. If our hypothetical observer existed with the ability to view all that had been described, they would also see the anomaly. An amorphous presence, it was born of no universe yet also belongs to every one simultaneously. It can survive in any plane of existence, regardless of the physical laws governing that particular universe. At the same time those laws do not affect or limit its abilities in any way. It has always been, and will always be. For this being time itself has very little meaning, as it experiences events completely unlike the way our hypothetical human observer does. Past, present and future are concepts that it would find hard to comprehend.
Searching for what it has never found it traverses the unimaginable gulfs between universes at speeds equally inconceivable. A billion years is but mere moments in its existence. And our observer would note that it has been drawing closer to a certain universe now for the last several moments. As it nears it can begin to sense every particle and spark of energy within that cosmos. As always, it prepares for the quest, which has so far and for so long been fruitless. Perhaps here it will find what it has searched for since before time.
Chapter 1
“Check those readings again,” the tall, red-haired man growled. “That can’t possibly be right!”
Hui Sun, assistant astrophysicist at the Tombaugh station on Charon, wasn’t used to being spoken to this way. Gathering herself up to her full height of five feet, green eyes glinting, she replied with more than a little anger, “Christopher Muller, I don’t care that you are the head of the Sagan Observatory, you will talk to me in a respectful manner!” Shoulders sagging, Christopher gave her a contrite look, then grinned. Although he was nearly fifty years old, he could make himself appear almost boyish when he smiled. “Sorry, Hui, it’s just that there has to be something wrong-a galaxy doesn’t simply vanish. We have to either find out what’s causing the problem, or throw out all our latest data.”
The galaxy in question was designated A3444-JD, and was the most remote confirmed object they had detected, at a distance of 14.1 billion light-years. Their observations at the Carl Sagan Observatory, located on Pluto’s moon Charon, had given them a wealth of information on the object over the past four weeks, since the telescope first came on line. But suddenly, the nearly 100 meter diameter, segmented mirror telescope, the largest in space, was giving them trouble. Over the past two hours, it refused to supply any data from its primary target, A3444-JD.
“Hui, please run the system diagnostics again, level five” Christopher asked, this time keeping his emotions under control. For the fourth time since the problem cropped up, Hui tapped out the commands on the console to initiate the self-diagnostics, this time at the most comprehensive setting. “I don’t know what good it’ll do, but I’ll cross my fingers this time for good luck” she said, smiling at Chris to relieve some of the tension. It was hard enough being on a small station orbiting Pluto some 4.9 billion kilometers from earth when things were going smoothly. When problems cropped up everyone had to do their best to deal with them in a calm manner. With a crew of only 10 it was imperative to nip any problems early, before they became long-term difficulties.
The station, built over the last three years, was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. Any process that could be safely automated was controlled by computers. As a result the small crew was able to complete tasks that on earth would usually take triple the number of people to perform. The year-long commitment each crewmember had made was a significant investment from their personal lives, but their careers would be assured after they finished their tour on Charon. The monthly supply drones ensured they had more than enough food to last between runs, and any entertainment could be downloaded by subspace transmissions. The subspace radio also allowed contact with their families, which was crucial towards maintaining good morale.
Tombaugh Station was one of the greatest scientific successes the United Nations had managed to achieve since it became the pre-eminent organization in the world many decades ago. Over one hundred years after it was founded, the UN was finally given the authority it needed to be an effective body by its member states. A world weary of conflicts had finally come to its senses and given the United Nations the political, military, and financial power necessary to resolve any skirmishes between member nations. Although minor clashes still happened now and again they were often quickly settled by the mere suggestion of UN intervention. And in the few cases where necessary, military action had been decisive. Most disputes that occurred now were in the financial arena, adjudicated by UN courts. As a result of these changes the earth had become a much more peaceful planet, with the ability to use some of its vast resources for projects like the Tombaugh Station, with its massive Sagan telescope.
The construction of such a station so remote from earth would have been unthinkable before the rise of the UN to power. It took contributions from nearly every country to make the building of Tombaugh a reality. From initial designs to the start of actual construction had taken seven years. Transporting the station modules out to Charon and putting them together had taken another three years. For the last two months, all the investments had finally begun to pay off with the observations made by Sagan, as well the data now coming in from several other research projects at the station. The last thing Christopher and Hui needed was for the telescope to develop a fault.
They both sat back to await the latest diagnostic scan results. Out the small viewing port they could see the barren landscape of Charon, visible by the station’s outer lights. At this distance the sun’s light barely had any effect, compared to on earth. At best, during Pluto’s day, the sun was about as strong a light source as a full moon is on earth. The station cycled its powerful outer lights on and off at roughly 12 hour intervals, more to give the inhabitants some semblance of normalcy when they looked outside, than for any real practical need.
After several minutes, with a soft chime the computer announced its results. As they scanned the screens imbedded into the control consoles, both of their faces registered disappointment, and shock. Chris slammed his hand onto the console, then turned and walked away, momentarily too angry to say anything. “This…is impossible” Hui breathed, running her hand absently through her long black hair. All the test results were completely normal. According to some of the most advanced technology available to man, A3444-JD had ceased to exist.
Last Star
Prelude
With their nebulous existences based on wildly divergent physics, infinite possibilities will produce every possible universe. An observer, if one could have the ability to perceive all the universes, would find that with the right balance of forces, they could see the birth and death of untold numbers of planets, stars, and galaxies within many of the cosmos that formed. Other universes, not so fortunate, did not have the proper physical properties to allow the formation of matter, and remained dark, empty shells, their potential unfulfilled.
This same observer would find that some universes underwent a constant cycle of expansion and contraction, a series of Big Bangs. Another possibility is the steady state universe, constantly renewing itself. Still others do not have enough mass to contract again, and are doomed to fall apart. Their particles decay long before they encounter any other cosmos.
As large as each existing universe is, the distance between them is greater still. However, the void between universes is not as empty as it appears. If our hypothetical observer existed with the ability to view all that had been described, they would also see the anomaly. An amorphous presence, it was born of no universe yet also belongs to every one simultaneously. It can survive in any plane of existence, regardless of the physical laws governing that particular universe. At the same time those laws do not affect or limit its abilities in any way. It has always been, and will always be. For this being time itself has very little meaning, as it experiences events completely unlike the way our hypothetical human observer does. Past, present and future are concepts that it would find hard to comprehend.
Searching for what it has never found it traverses the unimaginable gulfs between universes at speeds equally inconceivable. A billion years is but mere moments in its existence. And our observer would note that it has been drawing closer to a certain universe now for the last several moments. As it nears it can begin to sense every particle and spark of energy within that cosmos. As always, it prepares for the quest, which has so far and for so long been fruitless. Perhaps here it will find what it has searched for since before time.
Chapter 1
“Check those readings again,” the tall, red-haired man growled. “That can’t possibly be right!”
Hui Sun, assistant astrophysicist at the Tombaugh station on Charon, wasn’t used to being spoken to this way. Gathering herself up to her full height of five feet, green eyes glinting, she replied with more than a little anger, “Christopher Muller, I don’t care that you are the head of the Sagan Observatory, you will talk to me in a respectful manner!” Shoulders sagging, Christopher gave her a contrite look, then grinned. Although he was nearly fifty years old, he could make himself appear almost boyish when he smiled. “Sorry, Hui, it’s just that there has to be something wrong-a galaxy doesn’t simply vanish. We have to either find out what’s causing the problem, or throw out all our latest data.”
The galaxy in question was designated A3444-JD, and was the most remote confirmed object they had detected, at a distance of 14.1 billion light-years. Their observations at the Carl Sagan Observatory, located on Pluto’s moon Charon, had given them a wealth of information on the object over the past four weeks, since the telescope first came on line. But suddenly, the nearly 100 meter diameter, segmented mirror telescope, the largest in space, was giving them trouble. Over the past two hours, it refused to supply any data from its primary target, A3444-JD.
“Hui, please run the system diagnostics again, level five” Christopher asked, this time keeping his emotions under control. For the fourth time since the problem cropped up, Hui tapped out the commands on the console to initiate the self-diagnostics, this time at the most comprehensive setting. “I don’t know what good it’ll do, but I’ll cross my fingers this time for good luck” she said, smiling at Chris to relieve some of the tension. It was hard enough being on a small station orbiting Pluto some 4.9 billion kilometers from earth when things were going smoothly. When problems cropped up everyone had to do their best to deal with them in a calm manner. With a crew of only 10 it was imperative to nip any problems early, before they became long-term difficulties.
The station, built over the last three years, was designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. Any process that could be safely automated was controlled by computers. As a result the small crew was able to complete tasks that on earth would usually take triple the number of people to perform. The year-long commitment each crewmember had made was a significant investment from their personal lives, but their careers would be assured after they finished their tour on Charon. The monthly supply drones ensured they had more than enough food to last between runs, and any entertainment could be downloaded by subspace transmissions. The subspace radio also allowed contact with their families, which was crucial towards maintaining good morale.
Tombaugh Station was one of the greatest scientific successes the United Nations had managed to achieve since it became the pre-eminent organization in the world many decades ago. Over one hundred years after it was founded, the UN was finally given the authority it needed to be an effective body by its member states. A world weary of conflicts had finally come to its senses and given the United Nations the political, military, and financial power necessary to resolve any skirmishes between member nations. Although minor clashes still happened now and again they were often quickly settled by the mere suggestion of UN intervention. And in the few cases where necessary, military action had been decisive. Most disputes that occurred now were in the financial arena, adjudicated by UN courts. As a result of these changes the earth had become a much more peaceful planet, with the ability to use some of its vast resources for projects like the Tombaugh Station, with its massive Sagan telescope.
The construction of such a station so remote from earth would have been unthinkable before the rise of the UN to power. It took contributions from nearly every country to make the building of Tombaugh a reality. From initial designs to the start of actual construction had taken seven years. Transporting the station modules out to Charon and putting them together had taken another three years. For the last two months, all the investments had finally begun to pay off with the observations made by Sagan, as well the data now coming in from several other research projects at the station. The last thing Christopher and Hui needed was for the telescope to develop a fault.
They both sat back to await the latest diagnostic scan results. Out the small viewing port they could see the barren landscape of Charon, visible by the station’s outer lights. At this distance the sun’s light barely had any effect, compared to on earth. At best, during Pluto’s day, the sun was about as strong a light source as a full moon is on earth. The station cycled its powerful outer lights on and off at roughly 12 hour intervals, more to give the inhabitants some semblance of normalcy when they looked outside, than for any real practical need.
After several minutes, with a soft chime the computer announced its results. As they scanned the screens imbedded into the control consoles, both of their faces registered disappointment, and shock. Chris slammed his hand onto the console, then turned and walked away, momentarily too angry to say anything. “This…is impossible” Hui breathed, running her hand absently through her long black hair. All the test results were completely normal. According to some of the most advanced technology available to man, A3444-JD had ceased to exist.
