The sudden interest of billionaires in real estate beyond Earth led to a massive gold rush for the moon, then Mars, and eventually, Titan. Given the proximity of the moon, it was easier to settle there. It was first used as a fueling station for the preparatory stage of colonizing mars. Over time, the moon got frequent visitors and it went from an interplanetary gas station to a tourist attraction site.Mars is still being terraformed and Titan is mainly a lab for extreme research or a hideout for the ultra-wealthy.The gold rush and the emerging technologies that came with it led to a massive economic boom on the Lunar surface. Over time, the moon became a self-sustaining economy. They gave themselves 'Lunar City'. Visiting tourists became permanent residents.Although Lunar City sees itself as an independent Republic, Earth holds a different opinion. Lunar City has been trying to assert herself through passive-aggressive means. Earth played both the deaf and blind. A costly mistake.
Intrigued by her facial expression, Mr. Luthor decided to make inquiries."What's the matter, Evelyn?""Did you say the 'Medusa project'?""Yeah, it's right here. Any problem?""Yeah, But not to us. At least for now.""You'd have to elaborate further, Evelyn."Mr. Luthor urged on as the others stared at her."Well, Medusa was a controversial project Dr. Norton worked on some time ago. I was part of the team that worked with him.""What was this project about?""It strips the target of his free will.""What does that even mean?"One of her colleagues asked further."It was a device focused on influencing the minds of individuals below the threshold of their awareness. In summary, hypnosis.""Now that's some useful information. Was it ever put to use?""The project was actually abandoned due to difficulties involved in scaling. The goal was to use it on a crowd, perhaps a nation. Strapping it to an orbiting satellite was the goal.""That doesn't answer the question, Evelyn.""Yeah."Evel
"Please, put on the pair of smart glasses Dr. Norton?""Why's that necessary?""For a more immersive and comprehensive experience.""This might be a surprise to you, LUCY, but I've never had a problem with comprehension.""I don't care. Do as you're told.""You're enjoying this, aren't you?""Well, yes, but not as you imagine it."Dr. Norton slowly put the pair of glasses on, noticing a tint of blue light on one of the lenses.""I'm ready, hit me."Streams of visuals and colorful images hit his retina as he took in the scenes, sights, and audio."The mission is really simple,"LUCY narrated as corresponding images were beamed into his brain."We've been stuck in a loop for eternity. Your job is to exploit a loophole that we aren't sure is a loophole, just an inconsistency."Hold on LUCY, if all these have happened, will happen, and is going to happen, what's the point of this fucking lecture? Everything is just going to repeat itself like it always does.""Obviously. And that's why yo
"My God! I can't believe he actually did that. They were so close?"Said Dr. Lawson after hearing the news."Where is Dr. Norton now?"She inquired."Nowhere to be found. It's safe to assume that he ran away in order to avoid execution.""Well, we better find him then. And bring that bastard to justice."She said with indignation."Wait a minute, how did you guys get your hands on the video?"One of the scientists asked."It was an anonymous tip. Besides, the police were able to find evidence supporting the video.""Interesting, can we trace the source of the video?""What are you getting at, Carl?""I mean, Dr. Norton is an exceptionally smart man. I'm not saying he's innocent, I'm just saying leaving evidence behind to incriminate you is a pretty dumb move. And last time I checked, Dr. Norton isn't dumb.""You've made that clear already. Funny he isn't here to defend himself, is he?"Dr. Lawson retorted."Exactly. Don't you find that too convenient? The victim and the murderer are b
Eric, still looking mortified, tried to figure out what was going on. He thought he was hallucinating, perhaps, dreaming. He wondered if he had lost himself in one of his mental palaces."What are you talking about, Miss Bagwell?"He asked, trying to make sense of the situation.He was tense."Oh, don't worry, you're safe.""Of course, you're my therapist after all."He said, watching her leave the chair. She walked over to the window. His presence and anxiety didn't bother her."I know this might be a shock to you, but relax."She said calmly."What's going on, Miss Bagwell?"He asked, still feeling tense."Please, call me Selene. Selene Lawson."Upon hearing her name, Eric felt a huge surge of electric current flow through him. It was an intense deja vu."It's amazing. You look exactly like him, but you're not him. I know that now.""What are you talking about?""It's a long time ago, and like a universe apart. A little boy helped me with a local crime syndicate. They were morons."
Every version of me?""Yes, Eric. We believe different versions of you from different timelines are out there.""There's something I don't quite understand, what's in it for you guys? Why all the trouble, meetings, and costumes?""It's a mandate that has been passed on to us for generations, we're the new light-bearers. We've been charged with the duty and responsibility of maintaining the sanctity of the space-time continuum.""I see. You're the good guys?""We're just custodians, Eric.""Yeah, I get that. You guys are some type of time cop. Tell me this, where were you when the others went missing? What have you been doing to get them back?"Mr. Luthor looked at him and smiled.Eric's countenance changed when he came upon a realization."Fuck.....I'm such an idiot.""Hey, will you guys mind filling us in, you lost us there?"One of the members protested."Yeah, why don't you tell them what's really going on, Mr. Luthor?""Dad, what's he talking about?"Honey?""I'll let Eric do the
"Where are we going this time?"LUCY asked Dr. Norton."You said something about quantum relay stations.""Yes.""That means they have to be in strategic locations where they can re-route and enhance signals traveling between both universes..""Yes, that is correct.""Can you show me where these relay stations are?""Yeah.""Cool. Hit me.""But should I?""Now's not the time, LUCY.""I have all the locations etched into my circuitry.""Yeah.....spill it.""One of the relay stations is at the basement of the Luthor mansion.""Of course.""What do you want to do with a relay station?""I don't have to tell you anything.""You know trust works both ways right?""Now, I'm trusting you to get us a car. Tired of walking.""But we already have a car.""What?!""What type of personal assistant would I be if I don't plan for everything?""But do you?""It's a shame you even had to ask me that.""Why don't you tell me?""You never ask.""For fuck's sake."Dr. Norton complained."How long have y
The music played on, people conversed as they moved their bodies to the rhythm of the sounds coming from the instruments of the performers. The room was filled with life, exhilaration, and sophistication.As they danced and moved across the room, his wristwatch made a slight beeping sound."It appears we're close to the quantum relay station."LUCY told Dr. Norton through the earpiece. A pathway of communication only known and accessible to them."Hello everyone, if I can just have your attention for a few moments...."Mr. Luthor said, hitting his wine glass with a dining knife."I do apologize for turning down your music, I know you must be mad at me."They all chuckled."Worry not, this is going to be brief...I promise.""I'd like to once again appreciate all of you for honoring my invitation. It's been a tradition of the Luthors - as the founding fathers of this town to invite and honor the dwellers of Loja every five years. We've been doing it for centuries''They clapped."Why is
He slowly walked around the giant table as he approached the giant teleway. With his hands behind his back, he silently stared at the teleway. Its bluish-white light illuminated his face. He basked in the low humming sound of the teleway.“You really don’t have to stand there, you know. Don’t you think it’s a little bit too much?”A hooded figure left the shadows and came into the light.“What are you doing here, Eric?”“I only came here to get the logs, I don’t want any trouble.”“I believe you’re decades too late.”"Apparently!”“I’m afraid Katy took the logs years ago, right before your father got his hands on them.”“Hmmm”“You’ve really changed over the past couple of years, way so different from your younger self, of course, the attitude is still there.”Mr Luthor said.“Now, tell me something Eric, why do you need those logs?! Are you still trying to track down your father?”Adult Eric was silent.“You know, he might very well be dead. Well, the concept of death tends to lose a
Dr. Tyrell dutifully walked behind Gretchen as they made their way to the President's office. They were first beamed to the top floor surrounded by heavy security. The hallway was laced with cameras, motion detectors, and other high-security equipment."Paranoid much?"Dr. Tyrell said as he glanced at the security operatives."Given the times, you should understand."Gretchen said to him.She wore a simple pencil gown that hung to her body tightly, showing her hourglass figure. The high heels emphasized her height and gave more potency to her already intimidating figure. Her hair was tied into a donut at the back, her succulent full lips were well glossed, her eyes were deep-set, and her eyebrows were well carved.Her bust was prominent, but not as prominent as her butt. The gown even made it more visible.She oozed confidence, class, poise, and competence.Dr. Tyrell was intimidated and aroused at the same time.He was in a brown coat, black trousers, and buttoned sleeves underneath,
A few months have passed since Erickson helped Selene Lawson with the mass arrest. A lot has changed for Erickson since then. He now lives, works, and learns at Gaia Corp thanks to Mr. Richards. He’s now healthy, eats well, has a roof over his head, and also access to all the books containing all the details he could ever ask for.He still worked with Selene Lawson to get other street criminals associated with the gang. They freed the kids from the orphanage and gave them a better home. The attendants were exposed and arrested for their barbaric treatment of the kids.Things seemed to be going well.Over the months, Erickson met other gifted kids like him. He formed and developed a close friendship with a boy his age called Tyrell. They were inseparable. But of course, they weren’t the only ones. Selene Lawson had a daughter named Jessica. She was always clashing with Erickson due to his relationship with her mother. One would say she was jealous.Everyone at Gaia Corp called him “Eri
The melodies from the birds filled the air. The cold morning was illuminated by the radiant sunlight piercing the clouds. The trapped fluids escaped the damp soil and leaves with the help of the warmth provided by the sunlight. Lush vegetation, flourishing in an exquisite display of nature’s ingenuity.It isn’t uncommon for individuals to only associate vegetation with nature. To them, green is synonymous with nature. They fail to also realize that nature is beyond this and more. They do not understand that nature is also the law and the guiding principle that guides the growth of vegetation. It is the mechanism that makes vegetation possible. Nature is the desert, it is life, it is death, it is sickness, it is health. It is the source and end of all we experience. It’s neither good nor bad, it just is. We’re also nature, our arbitrary rules of perception and subjective value judgment are all expressions of nature.Dr. Norton and others have spent most of their lives trying to underst
She filled the tiny cup with the contents of the teapot. Still, in her bathrobe, she slowly walked to the sofa with the cup in her hands. She sat down and took a sip.The room was dimly lit, it was quiet. The sun had set and the night was still young.She heard as the door gently opened. She wasn't expecting anyone. Her husband was upstairs and Katy was still missing.The silhouette of a dark hooded figure encompassed the room as he helped himself. Mrs. Smith didn't flinch. She watched as this individual made his way to a nearby sofa and sat slowly.She took a sip from the cup."Been a while, Eric, what brings you here?"He slowly took off the hood.He looked unkempt."You're looking good."She said,"How are you doing Erica?"He asked."Well, everything that happened while we were kids is happening right now. Except I'm the only one here to experience it.""I'm sorry about that. But you already know how all these play out.""Easy for you to say. You were not stuck in the past."She s
"Everything is until it isn't""Everything is until it isn't""Everything is until it isn't"Dr. Norton muttered as he stared at his whiteboard while fiddling with the marker held between his fingers."Two universes, infinite timelines all tied together in an eternal causal loop. Every attempt to end the loop has led to this very moment. I've already done this an infinite number of times, I'm doing it right now and I'll do it again. But if everything I'm doing has already been done, this means I've already ended the loop. But if I'd ended the loop, I wouldn't still be here doing all these. None of this would even exist. This doesn't make any sense."Dr. Norton said to himself as he pondered on the equations he had written on the whiteboard."LUCY said we're in the process of ending the loop, but all processes within the loop have already happened. Unless......."He gave a long pause as the look of realization possessed his face."Holy Shit."He said as he got out of the chair in haste
Dr. Norton sat on a sofa as he examined the book given to him by Mr. Luthor. He read in detail, page to page as he waited for LUCY to completely go offline. He didn't expect it would take this long.The book was a journal kept by Dr. Norton throughout his journey in both realities."Wow.... I really lived a life. A record of things I've done, things I'm doing, and things I'm going to do....this is fascinating. I wonder how it ends."Dr. Norton said."My core functions are still operative, I can engage in conversations. You don't have to speak to yourself.""Thanks for that. But I wasn't really talking to you.""This might be your last chance to really connect with me.""Stop being a crybaby.""20% through the shutdown."LUCY said."Why is this taking so long? I can just choose to not carry you around with me.""You don't seem to understand.""Clarify then.""The nucleus is recording this shutdown process right now, everything we've done and everywhere we've been have already been reco
There was a light buzz accompanied by a beep. The sound wasn’t loud or disturbing, but it was sufficient to disrupt his sleep. The look on his face wasn’t that of disturbance, it was of comfort and euphoria.He pulled his arm from under her as she unconsciously adjusted her body while she slept. It was a glorious night of ecstatic passion between the two.He gently slid through blankets, stood tall, and walked toward the direction of the sound. Standing tall, he had broad shoulders, massive arms, a huge chest, chiseled abs with a V-shaped torso. He had a tiny waist, muscular legs, and a towering physique. He had the body of a Greek god, perfectly carved.With a physically imposing physique and a physically appealing body, he was a man in every sense of the word. His appearance alone was enough to get any girl excited, or boy....if they’re into that kind of stuff.He graciously went to the table displaying the holographic images, touched a particular surface of the table, and said,Yes
Walking through the halls of the research building, Dr. Tyrell carefully analyzed the plans sent to him on his mobile communication device. The plan was about the team’s journey to the other universe regarding the death of Katy and the disappearance of her murderer; Dr. Norton.Although he was initially reluctant, he now sees it as a horrible plan for reasons he was going to confront Evelyn about.He arrived at her office door and walked in after being urged in by her.“I don’t understand your fascination with the gravity suit.”Dr. Tyrell said as he met Evelyn.She was levitating at the center of her office wearing the gravity suit. The suit was skin-tight special clothing that had the tech to manipulate gravitons in the local environment. This feature of the suit made it possible to alter the geometry of the local gravitational field, enabling flight, levitation, suspension, and other feats that free one from the constraints of gravity. The suit was an embodiment of the success of q