Time Travel
Off the Rails
As usual, the airport was crowded and bustling, I easily found the departure board, identified my check-in counter and went to drop off my luggage. The business trip to NeuroTech’s London office promised to be interesting – they were preparing us for the launch of new security systems for quantum AIs, and my specialization in cyber defense was just what was needed. The girl at the counter smiled sweetly, I also broke into a smile, my mood was excellent and it seemed that both the day and the entire trip would be the same. The girl clicked something on her computer and suddenly the friendly smile slipped from her face, she looked at me and quickly looked away. After searching for another minute, she spoke:
Echo
Captain Markov activated the final sample. The artificial gravity hummed quietly, holding them in orbit around the nameless planet. Forty-three days of research, and tomorrow—home.
Quantum Echo
The quantum resonator hummed softly as Dr. Eliza Chen made the final adjustments. Twenty years of research had led to this moment—the first attempt to send a message back through the quantum foam of spacetime.