Wake me up in 2395

Chapter 11: Project Light, Quantum Physics, & Teleportation

Chapter 11: Project Light, Quantum Physics, & Teleportation

 Pumasok na kami sa loob ng Garden of Eve, this was a fancy restaurant... Well, I guess everything in this city is fancy. May mga robot ang lumapit sa amin at tumigil sa aming harap, “did you make reservations?” It asked with its mechanical voice.

“Yes.” Chun answered simply.

“Please let me confirm your identity by giving me a handshake.” Ito naman ang kasunod na sagot ng robot. It was as tall as me, and it resembled of a woman’s body, the only difference is that its head was of metal and bald, and she moved truly like a robot. I guess if the World War IV did not happen, I guess the robots today would have looked human too, like Ingrid and Tiara. However, it became illegal, and they were robbed off their freedom as well. They have evolved far enough, I guess... It is a good thing that mankind was able to win the war... Well, they created robots in the first place.

Sumunod naman si Chun at saka siya nakipagkamay sa robot. It seems to scan his biometrics, and after three seconds of processing, the red color that the robot was emitting from its eyes became blue, “identity confirmed—is the lady with you the guest that you recently added?”

“Yes.”

“Granted access for the lady. Please, follow me.” The robot turned its back on us and started to walk. Sumunod naman kami. Naglakad kami papunta sa ikalawang palapag ng restaurant, at saka pumasok sa isang kuwarto na malawak, sa gitna nito ay ang mesa at dalawang silya, the room was decorated and it smelled nice, the walls were high too and beside us was a transparent wall that somehow overlooked a few parts of the city. Namangha ako dahil sa ganda ng paligid.

May mga potahe at pagkain nang nakalapag sa mesa rin.

“Do you need assistance?” The robot asked.

“No. We’re good.” Chun replied, and after reminding us to simply press the red button at the door-side if we need assistance, the robot left, leaving me and Chun, alone, in this room.

Naglakad na kami papunta sa gitna kung saan naroon ang mesa, akmang pagbubuhatan ako ni Chun ng upuan nang unahan ko siya, “I can manage.” I smiled awkwardly.

“Oh, okay.” He returned my smile and sat on the opposite side of the table. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga pagkain, they looked so nice and perfect, smelled so nice too... But everything here is not organic. These are all food mixed with chemicals. The tomatoes, for instances, are much bigger than the usual, and the shiny fruits too. Hindi ko na lang ininda iyon at nagsimula nang kumain. I cannot be choosy, after all... And I need to eat in order to survive.

“Do you want me to brew you a coffee?” Chun asked as I took my last bite of the sandwich I made.

“Oh, I should not impose to your kindness, Mayor Chun...”

“I told you, just Chun.” Bahagyang lumabi si Chun. He actually is very nice, though I was intimidated at first because of the aura that he carries.

“Right, Chun, I can do it myself.” I grinned at him, pagkatapos ay nagsimula na rin akong magtimpla ng kape.

“So, do you like this place?” He asked, curious.

I nodded, “yes, the food is nice, and the atmosphere is comforting as well.”

“I usually come here whenever it is this time of the year, for breakfast and even dinner. Anyway, I do not really eat lunch at all, so, yeah.” He was a talker, and all I did was nod and smile at him as he told me stories. “Anyway, one thing I liked here is that you have the option of privacy, as you can see, it is just in this room.”

“Right.” I smiled awkwardly. Tumingin ako kay Chun matapos ang ilang sandali at napansing nakatitig siya sa akin, “is there something on my face?” I asked.

Umiling naman siya, “no... Forgive me for staring, I guess now that I have taken a closer look at your features, I can finally tell that you are gorgeous.” A smooth-talker, I see.

“I very much appreciate that,” I said, nag-usap lang kaming dalawa habang kumakain ng almusal, hangga’t sa umabot na rin ito sa personal na buhay ni Chun.

“I am actually a scientist as well, and I am creating this invention that embarks on the idea of quantum physics.” As an Environmental Scientist myself, I already know what it is. “Err, I should have not said that.” Bigla niyang binawi, ngunit hindi ko na iyon pinansin.

“Quantum physics is the physics that explains how everything works: the best description we have of the nature of the particles that make up matter and the forces with which they interact. Quantum physics underlies how atoms work, and so why chemistry and biology work as they do. Am I right?” I smiled.

Tumaas naman ang isang kilay niya, as if he found it interesting. “Indeed, I must say I am quite intrigued as to how you know what quantum physics is, I mean, this is one of the lost knowledges of the world, and quantum physics is only known by select-few individuals in this world.”

Natigilan naman ako dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Oh, crap.

“I guess Mayor Lucius has done his work and taught you, I assume?” Saad niya matapos ang ilang sandali. Bigla namang umaliwalas ang aking mukha at saka ako marahas na tumango.

“Yes, yes... He did. He knows it.”

“Of course, he does.” Chun chuckled, “he was one of my co-scientists in Project Light five years ago before he was appointed as the Mayor of Ancora City by the Empress, he had to quit, of course, and stay for good in Tre, our laboratory is in Uno, after all. Anyway, Project Light is a project that seeks to make teleportation possible. However, I still have a long way to go, as parts of the remaining book regarding Quantum Physics has been destroyed and there are lots of crucial information lost, also, I believe this virtual place called the Internet, which has been one of the very storages of information in the old world, has been erased as well and so, trying to understand Quantum Physics has been harder, as we have vague idea on how it functions... Ah, sorry, you might not be catching up to what I am saying...” He said, thoughtful.

I wanted to tell him that I know what he was talking about, and that perhaps, he was talking to the only person who knows it all. But I chose to remain silent, as he does not know I was from that ‘old’ world which he was mumbling about. Pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at muling naalala kung saan ko nalaman at sino ang naging rason bakit naintriga rin ako sa Quantum Physics... It was no other than Astaroth himself, my traitor co-scientist.

Aside from time, he was also fascinated with space... And he had this theory regarding Quantum Physics, that it is the information encoded into the matters that matter, and not the matter itself. I know it is quite confusing, but the more you read it, the more it shall make sense.

“I am so close to giving up Project Light already, as it has been almost a decade and I still have not been able to procure results. I am sure it is only a matter of time until the Imperium Government decides to stop funding my laboratory.”

He sighed. Halata naman na nanghihinayang siya.

Hindi na ako nakapagpigil, at nagsalita na ako. “Tell me, what is your idea of teleportation? Not of Fantasy, but of Science... I need your scientific perspective regarding this very simple question.”

“Teleportation, scientifically, is a means to transfer physical objects from one location to the next.” Halata ang pagtataka sa kaniyang mukha dahil sa aking tanong, “why ask something so basic though?”

“I suppose that’s the overall and general idea of teleportation but this is my hearsay... An actual teleportation of matter has never been realized by modern science which is based entirely on mechanistic methods. It is questionable if teleportation can ever be achieved or made possible, because any transfer of matter from one point to another without traversing the physical space between them violates Newton’s laws, a cornerstone of physics. Almost all physics is local, that is, any event only influences its immediate neighborhood and any consequence only propagates continuously through space, in direct contrast to what teleportation would be. The only known exception to date are correlations from quantum entanglement. It appears that those cannot be employed to transport matter, energy or information through space, but even after one hundred years of research their interpretation has remained unclear.”

Halata ang taka sa mukha naman ni Chun, “who is Newton? And what law?” Naguguluhang tanong nito.

I chuckled, “ah, forget about that... What I am saying is, it is impossible to really teleport objects as they are... You need to deconstruct them, from atoms and molecules, copy the information that they contain, and transfer this data into the desired location that you want it to be.”

Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Chun, na tila nalinawan naman agad siya. Hindi ko iyon pinansin at muli akong nagsalita upang mas ipaintindi pa sa kaniya ang aking kaisipan. Bigla niyang pinaikot ang kaniyang M-ring, at saka siya tumingin sa akin pagkatapos, “can I ask for your permission?”

“Permission on what?” I asked, confused.

“To record you as you share your insights regarding our subject matter.” He replied.

“Ah, right. Sure.”

“Appreciated.” He smiled and pressed something in this hologram that only he can see. He then eyed me after, and gave me a thumbs up, as if signaling that I continue where I was before he interrupted me shortly.

“In the quantum world, teleportation involves the transportation of information, rather than the transportation of matter itself—I assume that you are doing the latter, the transportation of matter rather than information, and I guess that is why up to now, you still have not succeeded. Transporting matter is not possible, but the transportation of information is, whereas you create a tangible form and make it intangible, and make it tangible once more but in a different location. Anyway, going back, quantum teleportation involves two distant, entangled particles in which the state of a third particle instantly teleports its state to the two entangled particles.”

Tumango naman si Chun, “you’re right... Why did I not think of it?” He seemed mind-blown because of what I have said, and he sighed. “You are a genius, Prim! But can I ask further, how would transferring information and turning it into matter work?”

“Chun, quantum teleportation is distinct from regular teleportation, as it does not transfer matter from one place to another, but rather transmits the information necessary to prepare a microscopic target system in the same quantum state as the source system. The scheme was named quantum teleportation, because certain properties of the source system are recreated in the target system without any apparent information carrier propagating between the two. If you can create a machine that is able to read information and encode it to another connected and target area, then you’ve achieved your goal.”

“How do you know all of these?” Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa akin.

I smiled. “It is my personal theory, I suppose.”

“How are you not known, yet? You have very profound and intriguing ideas, Prim. I am sure you will make it big someday if you use your brain properly...”

I simply smiled.

Nagulat na lang ako nang tumayo si Chun at saka siya pumunta sa aking tabi, bigla siyang lumuhod at saka niya hinawakan ang aking kamay, “you’re a genius, I am telling you! You’ve answered the questions inside my head, I am so excited to head back to my laboratory, and use the information you have shared. I am very confident that I am finally close to fulfilling the objectives of Project Light. Prim, how about working for me?” He offered.

I laughed and shook my head, “I am sorry, Chun, but I must decline your generous offer as I have other priorities and things to do.”

He looked disappointed when I turned down his offer. But his excitement somehow made me happy. Mabuti na lang at may ideya ako sa Quantum Physics.

“I guess it is fate that we met today.” Chun smiled at me.

I was about to reply when the door suddenly opened with a boom. Nagulat ako. Lumingon ako at mas lalo na namang nagulat nang nakita kung sino ang salarin ng biglang pagbukas ng pinto. It was Lag, and he seemed angry. He stared at Chun who was still knelt down on my other side, and back at me. Anyone who has never seen the entire scene beforehand would immediately assume Chun was proposing to me, but that was not the case.

Tumayo ako at saka humarap kay Lag. How did he find me? Ah, right... I sent him a real-time GPS tracker just in-case I get lost.

“Lag?”

“Prim...” Matigas na sambit nito habang masamang nakatingin kay Chun, “come with me, now.”

Kasabay nito ay may mga ilang robot ang biglang humawak sa kamay ni Lag.

“Intruder... Intruder... Intruder...” Paulit-ulit na sambit ng mga ito.

Tumayo na si Chun at saka naglakad palapit kay Lag, “he is not an intruder, he is my guest.” Deklara nito, at bigla namang kumalma ang mga robot at umalis. Nakangiti si Chun na tumingin kay Lag, “it is nice to meet you again, Mayor Lucius.”

Kumunot lang ang noo ni Lag, hindi niya pinansin si Chun, sa halip ay nilampasan niya ito at naglakad siya palapit sa akin, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko pagkatapos, at saka ako hinila palabas sa silid.

“Lag, bakit ka galit?” Naguguluhang tanong ko. We passed Chun, and I gave him an apologetic smile. He simply nodded, tuluyan na namin siyang naiwan mag-isa sa silid. “Why are you treating Chun like that? Are you not acquainted and co-partners before in this Project Light?”

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad matapos kung sambitin ang mga salitang iyon. Binitawan niya ako at saka siya humarap sa akin, “Prim, don’t ever dare to leave without my consent again.” He was frustrated, “and get away from that man!”

Kumunot ang aking noo, “but Chun is a nice guy—”

“He is anything but nice!” Giit ni Lag.

“Bakit galit na galit ka? Nagpaalam naman ako at saka nag-iwan ng GPS tracker para malaman mo kung nasaan ako.” I pouted. “At saka bakit ang init ng ulo mo kay Chun? He has been nice to me... I accidentally bumped into him at the lobby back in Palace Hotel, and he offered me to have breakfast with him too. Then, we talked. He is nice!”

He sighed frustratedly, “of course, he is nice.” Sarkastikong sumbat naman ni Lag, “I don’t care if he has been nice to you or not, but you better stay away from him.”

“Why?”

“Because that guy is bad news.” Sagot nito. His answer was vague and obscured, and that also frustrated me.

“Why?!” Ulit ko.

“Trust me on this.” Lag declared after.

“Unless you tell me the reason, I won’t.” Pagmamatigas ko.

“Suit yourself, then.” Nagkibit-balikat siya at nauna nang naglakad. Bumuntong-hininga naman ako at saka sumunod na sa kaniya. Sumakay na kami sa isang hovercar na nakaparke sa harap ng restaurant. May robot na driver din ito. “Back to Palace Hotel,” utos ni Lag sa robot. Agad namang nagmaneho ito at lumipad na sa ere ang sasakyan.

“Did you exchange contact with him?”

“Yes.” Sagot ko.

“Delete it.”

“No.” I scowled, “you’re being petty.”

“And you are being stubborn, Prim.” Aniya. “You have no idea what kind of people it is that lives in this world... Some looks like angels, but deep inside, they are far evil than devils. Do not be deceived by looks.”

“Noted.”

“Then delete him.”

“The answer is still no, I will not remove Chun from my contacts, Lag. Suck it up, buttercup.” I rolled my eyes at him. “Gutom lang iyan, hula ko hindi ka pa nag-aalmusal? Baka kaya ka ganiyan.”

“Kulit mo.”

“Ikaw ang makulit eh.” Sagot ko naman.

“Bahala ka diyan.” Aniya.

“Ako talaga ang bahala.” I grinned.

It took us a few minutes before we reached the entrance of Palace Hotel. When we were finally here, we proceeded to Lag’s room which was right next to mine. I was able to enter because I was granted access.

Lag was now standing in front of me, and he held out his M-ring, my M-ring started to glow, and when I opened what it was, it was a notification from Lag.

Lucius wants to screenshare with you. Accept or reject?

Kumunot ang aking noo, I looked at Lag, and it seems like he was waiting for me to accept. And even though I was curious, I picked Accept.

“Let’s make an agreement.” He insisted, “to avoid event like this from occurring ever again. Remember, Prim, if people find out that you are from the old world, I am sure that the Imperium Government will take you into their custody, in order to examine you, perhaps dissect and perform autopsy on you as well... They will use all means in order to know the things that you know... As you are a walking almanac that knows what the old world was once like.”

“Fine... What’s the agreement?”

“Very simple.” Lag said, after that, words popped out into the hologram that we both shared now.

Prim is not allowed to go out without Lucius’s permission or consent.

Prim is not allowed to do risky things without Lucius’s knowledge.

“Remember, you are my little sister by document, that means you are under my care and you are my responsibility. Whatever it is that you shall do, will also reflect me... I am doing this to protect the both of us... Your mere existence here is illegal, and the fact that I seem to be monopolizing you, by making you my sister, also make things worse.”

I sighed. “Fine, fine.” I conceded.