The
Outlook Project
A short sci-fi story by Chuck Keyes
For the past ten minutes, Deena has
been gazing up at the enormous injected liquid plasma screen that's mounted on
the wall above the many Outlook Project control stations.
"Deena, have you become
hypnotized by the multi-colored static?" asked Mason.
"No." Deena shook her head.
"I'm trying to imagine what we we'll be seeing on this screen."
"Perhaps what we'll be seeing is
nothing but static, which will make me happy."
"Am I sensing a little bit of
skepticism?"
Mason chuckled. "I have a lot
more skepticism within me about this project than just a little bit. Do you
actually believe Dr. Casper Dargo's Outlook Project is going to show us a
magnified view of what's beyond our universe?"
"Yes, I do believe. The doctor
and his team of scientists have been working on this project for nearly forty
years, and I cannot imagine after so much time and work the project would fail.
What you need to do is consider yourself fortunate to witness this fascinating
event."
"Right now, I'm hoping this
fascinating event is nothing but hogwash, and if it isn't hogwash, I hope it
miserably fails."
"You seem bitter about the
project," voiced Deena. "I don't understand your attitude."
"Deena, I'm not an open minded
journalist like you. I'm a logical thinking government official who recently learned
this ridiculous project has cost the tax payers ninety billion dollars over the
past forty years. This absurd project wouldn't exist if forty-three years ago
the masses hadn't made a dreadful mistake of electing a one-term idiot
as their president. Everyone wanted to play his or her racial card, which ended
up being the joker. If I had been in office when this project was placed on the
White House table, I would never have approved it. In fact, I almost certainly
would've broken out in hysterical laughter when Dr. Casper Dargo said he wants ninety
billion dollars to use his newly developed multi-phase laser beam to push a miniature
unmanned spacecraft beyond the speed of light, across the universe and beyond.
A spacecraft equipped with magnification video cameras, capable of transmitting
images back to earth along the laser beam. From what I've learned, a large
portion of the ninety billion dollars has been wasted on generating the electrical
power required to sustain the multi-phase laser beam. Foolishly wasting all
this electrical power on this dumbass project has been a sinful tragedy against
humanity!"
"Yes, but I believe the magnified
video images are going to be so amazing that they'll be worth the money. I feel
like one of the members of the Lewis and Clark expedition, or a sailor on the Santa
Maria."
Mason mockingly giggled. "I'm
hoping I'll feel like one of the spectators during Fulton's Folly."
"My goodness, have you always
been such a pessimist?"
"No, I'm not typically a pessimist,
but this project is giving me a bad feeling in the core of my gut. So tell me,
Deena, what are you expecting to see beyond our universe?"
Deena's brow wrinkled in thought.
"I don't really know, but while I was looking up at the colorful static on
the screen, I imagined seeing my parent's faces being transmitted from heaven. Seven
years ago they were killed in a car accident."
"So do you believe heaven is
beyond the universe?"
"No, but anything is possible.
Dr. Dargo believes his Outlook
Project may discover heaven."
Mason formed a silly grin on his face.
"Dr. Dargo is obviously fruit cake with extra nuts. Okay, let's say this
project actually works, and what we see is a golden metropolis in heaven with
countless ghosts merrily floating back and forth from their homes to Walmart
stores filled with a never-ending supply of free merchandise. Personally, I
don't believe we have permission to use our technology to take a sneak peek at heaven
or at anything else, which may exist beyond our universe. Like egotistical
children, we're using our advanced technological toys to overstep our bounds, and
this may be a dangerous road."
"Oh, now I understand."
Deena nodded her head. "You're looking at the religious aspects of this
project. You're afraid we're going to anger God by stepping on his toes. The
way I see it, if God didn't want us to know what's beyond our universe, then he
wouldn't have given us the intelligence to develop the technology."
"No, Deena! I believe there's an
almighty God who created us, but I'm far from being a deep religious man. I've
read the bible from cover to cover, and for me many of the biblical stories
were like unbelievable fairytales. Everyone is well aware of my limited beliefs
pertaining to religion. Being free people allows us to choose any faith we
desire. I view this Lookout Project as a human blunder within the realm of all
existence. The universe is vast, and we've only just begun to explore it, so
why are we using this powerful laser beam to push a tiny unmanned vessel beyond
our universe? What we're doing is jumping the gun! Over the past twenty years,
our manned spacecrafts have explored nearly ever planet and moon within our
solar system, so what we should be doing is using this multi-phase laser technology
to explore our surrounding planetary systems, gradually working our way out
into the universe as we gather information. We do not have enough knowledge to
be foolishly piercing a hole through the boundary of the universe."
Deena laughed for a long moment, and
after she regained her composure, she said, "Mason, you won the Republican
Primary hands down, and all the media's polls strongly indicate you will win
the presidency. I'm having trouble believing you're afraid to know what's
beyond the universe. I'm sure you wouldn't like to see a worldwide editorial
blog saying our next president is a scaredy cat."
Mason waved his hand. "Deena, go
ahead and write whatever you wish. I'm not frightened of what may exist beyond
the universe, although I am scared shitless of Dr. Dargo using his powerful
laser to pass through the closes boundary of our universe. If today was a few
months in the future, and I was elected president, I'd order Dr. Dargo to push the
off button on his project. I'd put an end to this nightmare quicker than a
heartbeat!"
Deena pressed her back against the
soft comfort of her stadium-like chair. A few silent minutes passed by while
she pondered Mason's concerns of danger. "Mason, I'm sorry for laughing. I
never gave it a thought that penetrating a laser beam through the boundary of
the universe could be dangerous; however, the sailors aboard the Nina, the Pinta,
and the Santa Maria were worried they were going to sail off the edge of the
world. All exploration is filled with dangers. We're not traveling on horseback
through the wilderness, nor are we sailing on the deep blue sea, but never the less,
this is an adventure of discovery."
"Yes, I agree with you,"
voiced Mason. "However, Lewis, Clark, and Columbus were not speeding an
intense multi-phase laser beam across the universe."
Deena looked around the stadium size
room to see that every chair is now occupied with over three thousand
distinguished guests from around the world. Before Mason bummed her out, she
was feeling lucky to be one of only twelve journalists chosen to view the final
scientific outcome of the Outlook Project. She was also happy to have been
seated next to the former California Governor, Mason Marshall, but now she
wishes she were seated elsewhere. She glanced up at the large countdown clock.
Ten minutes to incoming zero.
Dr. Dargo walked over to a stand
mounted microphone located on center stage. He raised his hands overhead and
loudly hooted to get everyone's attention.
Mason shook his head upon realizing
Dr. Casper Dargo looks more like a comical Danny Devito than a brilliant scientist.
The doctor is clothed in a maroon monk's robe, which obviously means he's
playing into the supposedly religious aspects of his Outlook Project.
"Ladies and gentleman, I want to
thank everyone for joining with me to view the final stage of my Outlook
Project," announced the doctor. "Forty years of hard work is finally
going to pay off. Upon this colossal screen, what our eyes are going to witness
is a technical miracle. We are the chosen ones who will visually witness what
exists beyond the boundary of our great universe. As many of you know, my dream
is the Outlook Project will discover heaven, proving there is life after death,
thus releasing everyone's fear of facing a death of nonexistence. Since I was
child, I've believed heaven exists beyond the universe. God created the earth
and the heavens; therefore, his home obviously surrounds our home." The
doctor paused to point up at the countdown clock, and then he danced a little jig
while clapping his hands. "This is the most exciting day of my life.
Within five minutes, we shall view heaven, thus dissolving our fears of death.
From this day forward, death will be joyfully welcomed like taking a vacation
to Disney World or to the Bahamas. After today, I foresee the construction of many
Dr. Kevorkian Clinics. These will be elegant portals leading to heaven,
providing a painless assisted death for those whose old age becomes too
difficult to bear."
Everyone cheered and applauded except
for Mason. He deeply sighed in sadness. Do these people actually believe this
bullshit? he thoughtfully asked himself as he looked up at the flickering
screen. Dr. Casper Dargo belongs in a loony bin, sharing a room with Daffy Duck
and the ghost of Dr. Jack Kevorkian.
"The end of my project is about
to commence," shouted the doctor. "Everyone please keep your eyes on
the screen." Dr. Dargo ran off the stage to sit down in front of his own
private display.
Mason continued to stare up at the screen. Even
though he's totally against the project, curiosity has captured him like a
giant Anaconda coiled around his body. Squeezing him to a point where his eyes
are bulging and he can't blink them. Suddenly, the flickering static on the
giant screen began to alter and take shape, forming a recognizable image. Mason
couldn't believe what he's looking at.
Everyone gasped at once while staring at
screen.
Mason wanted to laugh at the video
image, but he couldn't because what he's looking at may be a real image of
what's beyond the universe. Up upon the giant screen is an earth-like modern
day kitchen. There's a long counter with a double stainless sink nested in the
center. He can see stained oak wooden cabinets above and below the counter.
There's a dishwasher, a microwave oven, and a standard oven with a ceramic top.
Sitting on the counter are bottles of herbs, colorful drinking mugs, and what
looks like an electric coffee maker. Over the sink is a window offering a sunny
view of a typical front yard with trees, bushes, and multi-colored flowers.
Beyond the front yard is a paved road. To Mason's surprise, unrecognizable vehicles
occasionally speed by along the road.
The view on the screen automatically switched
to another magnified camera.
"Oh my God," yelled Dr. Dargo,
"this is amazing. We must be looking at God's kitchen."
If this is really God's kitchen,
thought Mason, then I'm God's twin brother. This is absurd. Now I'm looking through
the kitchen at a wooden dining room table with a centerpiece of a beautiful bouquet
of flowers. Off to the left is a dining room buffet lined with dishes
resembling bone China, flower etched crystal glasses, and a large trans-green
salad bowl. Beyond the table is a glass sliding door leading out to a dazzlingly
decorative garden deck butting up to a swimming pool.
The view switched to another camera,
showing a long hallway leading to many rooms within this earth-like house.
This has to be God's house, located in
heaven," announced Dr. Dargo with excitement in his voice.
Somebody from the audience screamed,
"This is a joke!"
More voices sarcastically erupted from
the audience.
"Yeah, Dargo, and you're crazier
than a bedbug if you believe this is God house!"
"Trying to pass these house images
off as being a view from beyond the universe is insulting my
intelligence!"
"Dargo, you need to be committed
into the nearest hospital for the mentally insane."
I can't believe I've traveled half way
around the world to be a participant of a foolish joke!"
"People, this is a true view of
what's beyond our universe," pleaded Dr. Dargo. "My only rationalization
is this is the home of God. I have no other explanation why we're viewing the
interior of a typical earthbound house." The doctor turned toward one of
his assistants. "Judy, when will the view switch to the rear camera?"
"Any moment, Dr. Dargo."
Everyone silently stared at screen.
The camera view switched to the rear
of the small unmanned spacecraft, and nearly everyone loudly groaned and gasped
with surprised shook. They can see the bright powerful laser beam exiting from
the wooden molding around a window. The area surrounding the exiting beam is
smoldering as if a flame is being held up against the molding.
Mason realized what he's looking at.
He jumped and shouted, "Dr. Dargo, you need to turn off the laser
beam."
"Why?" the doctor asked.
"If the surface of the window molding
ignites, it'll burn up our vast universe!"
"We can turn off the power, but as
the power drains, the far end of the laser will remain active for many years."
"Can you draw the laser back into
our universe?"
"No!"
Deena stood up. "Mason, what are
we looking at? What's happening?"
Without answering, Mason grabbed Deena's
warm hand and firmly held onto it to give her comfort, and to attempt to
comfort his own soul.
The stadium is silent as everyone
watched the smoldering gradually increase.
Six minutes pace passed by at a
snail's crawl. Mason's heart fluttered when a bright yellowish red flame formed
just above the magnified view of the exiting laser beam.
"Mason, the molding is on
fire," voiced Deena. "What does this mean?"
"Within the molecular
construction of window molding is ultra microscopic universe, and the molding exists
within the enormous universe we're looking at upon the screen. Perhaps this universe
presented on the screen exists within another enormous universe."
"What will this fire do to our universe?"
Mason lightly pulled Deena's hand.
"Follow me." He ran across the stadium toward an emergency exit. Before
passing through the doorway, Mason glanced up at screen to see that the wooden
window molding is now engulfed in flames. He stepped outside and looked up to
see the sky entirely filled with giant yellowish red flames moving towards the
earth.
"The temperature is rapidly increasing!"
snapped Deena.
Mason wrapped his arms around Deena
and hugged her. He whispered in her ear. "Deena, there's nothing we can do
but remain calm. Together, let's pass either into nonexistence or heaven."
The End!
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