Twin Earth

“I don’t just work for NASA,” Trevor replied.

“Okay? So who else do you work for? Magnus?”

“No not Magnus. Come, join me over here.”

I followed Trevor into a side room and waited as he closed the door behind Hayden and I. Whatever he was about to say didn’t seem to involve Magnus and for a while Trevor just stood staring out the window back to the room we had just left.

Finally turning around to look at me, Trevor lent forward and placed his hands slowly down on a desk in front of him as if he was carefully deciding how to proceed.

“The US government want first access to whatever the technology behind this anomaly is.”

“Technology?”

“This... ability, to hide matter, we’ve seen it before.”

“Oh for fuck sake...” I whispered stunned, running my hands through my hair. “You mean to tell me that the US government has been hiding this information from the rest of the world? For how long?”

“Since the 1950s. A meteorite landed out in the Nevada desert, much smaller than the one in Morocco, but it too demonstrated the same abilities that this one has. We realised though that this thing wasn’t growing, parts of it were just hidden from view. This ability to hide matter, it could be of great benefit to the US military.”

“So why didn’t you study that meteorite? Why the desperation on this one?”

“We did, but like this meteorite, the effects diminished over time and we have been unable to sustain the phenomena beyond a few hours. When I stayed on in Morocco, we used new technology we have been developing since the 1950s to slice the meteorite into slits, this seems to prevent the immediate eradication of the phenomenon and enables us enough time to study it back in the lab, but we still can’t replicate it for our own use.”

“I see,” I whispered. “And how do you feel about this Hayden? You’re quite happy with the US government developing cloaking technology, because let’s face it, that’s what you think it is?”

“Isn’t it?” Trevor replied.

“It could just be a natural phenomenon caused by...” I started but was interrupted.

“Caused by whoever or whatever, we don’t know. Natural or not, I have been ordered to launch this shuttle tonight to investigate and preferably before the Russians or Chinese get their hands on it,” Trevor stated.

“Does my Dad know about this?”

“No, and you are not to tell anyone outside of this room.”

“So, Magnus doesn’t know either? What exactly are you paying him for his technology?”

“The military are paying him enough. I really can’t say any more than that.”

“You know the US military will take his electro-aerodynamic pod system and use it exclusively for themselves, most likely against his own country, and you don’t feel guilty about that at all?”

“I am quite convinced he is fully aware of what is happening with regards to that Tom. I wouldn’t get too involved if I were you in his personal affairs. What is done is done,” Hayden replied.

“So, are you on board or not?” Trevor asked sternly.

I wasn’t sure what to think. If I was to agree to help, then I too would be going against my own country, but I knew what Robert would do if he found out about all this first. He would go straight to the British government and get the whole project shut down for everyone involved internationally. Countries could go to war over this.

“Do I have a choice?” I mumbled.

“Don’t focus too much on the politics Tom, think about the science. You’ll be one of the first to see this anomaly up close,” Hayden replied.

“Did you know about the anomaly all this time too?” I asked, looking at Trevor.

“No, we had no idea. We honestly thought we had lost all access to this technology back in the 1950s. The project was put on hold and was gathering dust before this week.”

“If I do this, I have one condition,” I whispered.

“Name it,” Trevor replied.

“I want someone else in the pod with me, not you, someone who is impartial.”

I could tell I had offended Trevor, but he nodded in agreement.

“If that makes you feel better then... fine, but who? No-one else is qualified to pilot this pod except us.”

“Rachel applied last year for the European Astronaut Corps. I’m not sure if she was accepted though?” Hayden replied.

“Who Miss Jenkins? Is she even a scientist?” Trevor retorted.

Frowning, I was surprised to hear myself defend the girl, but out came the words anyway, “it was her team along with my father who first discovered the anomaly and I believe she has had some experience with studying dark matter with the Euclid telescope.”

“Fine, if that’s what you want. If that gets you on board this thing by tonight then I’m happy to stay back here, but whatever you find up there, belongs to the US government. Have I made myself clear?”

“Perfectly,” I whispered. ‘I just hope Rachel understands that too,’ I thought to myself wondering what the hell I had just promised, but anything had to be better than risking the Americans taking over and ruining this scientific opportunity forever.