The First State of Being: Chapters 5–6

People couldn’t stop talking about how computers would automatically glitch when the year switched from 1999 to 2000.

Michael’s mother didn’t seem worried, but Michael knew she was too busy working three jobs to truly consider the implications of Y2K.

At least once a week, he sprawled flat on the worn carpet of his bedroom to count the canned goods and other supplies he’d secretly stored under his bed.

Most of his wardrobe, with the exception of a few favorite T-shirts, was secondhand.

As soon as he heard the thrum of his mom’s shower, he went to his room, turned on his portable stereo, and walked around the apartment, letting the music settle into his bones as his feet adjusted to the miracle of brand-new Air Jordans.

What if he hurls Clipper across the courtyard?

What if he yanks Clipper’s tail, just to hear him yowl?

There was a twinge of uncertainty in his voice, but he meant it.

Because of the unknown factor, STSs must develop a reasonable and responsible hypothesis before engaging in spatial teleportation.

However, it is likely that we will never understand how spatial teleportation influences the timeline until and unless STSs engage in active teleportation.

Should the Global Science Council choose to move forward with spatial teleportation, it is critical that STSs preserve the integrity of the existing timeline and reduce potential adverse effects of the unknown factor by adhering to best practices, which are as follows...

Do not reveal information about things to come, especially if NTIs have a reasonable ability to manipulate said events.

In cases where NTIs do not have a reasonable ability to manipulate events, it is still best to withhold all information.

“I live with my mom in faculty housing on the Red Knot campus at UD,” Ridge replied matter-of-factly.

“Are you a wanted fugitive?” asked Gibby.

“If I tell you who I am and where I came from, you’ll think I’m delusional.”

“It’s just an ironic thing to say. ‘Start at the beginning.’”

“I’ll tell you where I’m from. You won’t believe me, and it might destroy the entire space-time continuum as soon as I speak it into the universe, but I’ll tell you, because I adhere to the Saeed Theory.”

“Saeed is a physicist in my timeline who says the fact that we continue to exist in our native timelines—and all other timelines, such as this one, for that matter—is proof that spatial teleportation is not as dangerous as people may believe, because obviously someone had to be the first to do it, and obviously everyone is still breathing and living—” Gibby’s hand was up again.

“This is like having a conversation with the Riddler. Could you please get to the point and say something that actually makes sense? Even if it’s just, like, a teeny-tiny morsel of sense?”

They stared at him, waiting, and after a long stretch of silence, in which all they heard was the distant drone of crickets, Gibby said, “Well? Well?”

A Spatial Teleportation Module (STM) sends persons and/or objects to fixed moments in time (see Timeprints) through a process known as “energy conversion,” during which the persons and/or objects are converted into dematerialized energy patterns and delivered to timeprints via subfrequency spatial transmitters.

Spatial teleportation requires access to an STM and possession of a handheld homing device known as the EGG.

To initiate spatial teleportation, the traveler enters the STM with the EGG and designates their chosen timeprint.

The STM will then deliver the scientist to the chosen timeprint at the same latitude and longitude as the STM.