Aurora

by Karen Page

Part 7

---

Part 7

"No coat?" enquired Evan as Ashleigh stormed into the discussion room.

Ashleigh looked up and saw that Ryan's bear was still were it always was.

"We'd never have sent that one," said Becky, seeing Ashleigh's gaze.

"How was the calculation?"

"The orbit of the space station wasn't an issue. Calculating exactly where to send it and giving it just the right push so it floated into view, without the exit of the dimensional corridor being visible, took more effort."

"You're mad," said Ashleigh, calming down slightly.

"That's a naughty word," said Jenny firmly, having been taught that by her mummy.

"Yes, sorry," said Ashleigh genuinely contrite. She knew it was a subject close to Jenny's heart. "That was a bad phrase to use. Let me phrase my question again. Why did you send a teddy bear to space?"

"It was a way to prove we could send something a longer distance. Just as we had the local tests on camera, we found a camera further away."

"Whose idea was that?"

"Laura's," said Becky. "We were racking our brains how to do a long-range test, and she came up with this. I think it was a fantastic idea and if it gets more money raised, so much the better."

"How much chaos do you think is going on at NASA?" posed Ashleigh. "They'll be trying to find how a plush bear was smuggled on board. Even when Mark Kelly sent a gorilla suit to his brother Scott at the ISS, NASA knew about it. It was cleaned before being sent. Ever since John Young smuggled a sandwich into space, NASA has stipulated that anybody smuggling items will be fired."

"Oops."

"It isn't likely we can ring NASA and tell them we sent it via an interdimensional drive. They wouldn't believe us. And if they did, we would be surrounded with press when we have the larger work to do. They will understand when the ship is working. Perhaps we can take the ship outside the space station. Unfurl a sign saying 'Sorry for the bear. It was us.'. I'm sure that will help!"

"That won't work in space," said Jenny. The adults smiled and listened as Jenny explained the issue in detail.

"I'm glad you've been taking in your science lessons," said Evan. "Well done."

"I presume the next step is the power and then ship?" asked Ashleigh

"Sounds about right," said Rebecca. "While we've been running these tests, Henry has been finalising things for that. Most of the next tranche of work will be across the road where the items you ordered are."

Rebecca's phone ringing disturbed the discussion. She saw who it was and answered. A few seconds later, she gathered everybody around, and put it on speaker phone.

"This is Laura Taylor. I just wanted to congratulate you on a stunning test. What you did would be described by some as magic. This will revolutionise the world. My meeting tomorrow has been cancelled. Would it be an inconvenience if I come to see you tomorrow about the next steps?"

"I'm good," said Evan and others mumbled their consent.

"Excellent. I'll see you all tomorrow. Becky, can you take me off speaker."

Laura must have said something unexpected as Becky moved into the lab. Ashleigh couldn't hear what was being said but saw her ex more animated. The extra private conversation didn't last long before she hung up and came back into the discussion room. "Okay guys. See you all here at 9am tomorrow."

"Jenny, do you want to go swimming tomorrow? I can see if Mrs Brown will take you. Sorry, I need to be here."

"I want to be here too," she said.

Ashleigh was following Evan, Henry and Liam out of the door when Rebecca asked, "Ashleigh, do you mind staying upstairs with Jenny for a bit."

"Sure, no problem. I can take her back to mine if you want. Tina will be glad to see her."

The three men had gone, and the front door again closed and secured.

"Tina's on the way here. I've been asked to bring her up to speed."

"Why?"

"Laura didn't say. But from what else she said, I get the impression that she wants to speed things up."

"She said I was going to be very busy after this test. Perhaps that's all of us," said Ashleigh. "I think an extra test needs to happen. We haven't sent anything alive through. Can we send a mouse in a large container through. Just to make sure it survives."

"It's already on the list of tests that we need to perform. I'm going to be on the test ship, so I want to make sure it is as safe as possible."

"Do you have a list you can send me. That way I can start planning."

Becky pressed a few buttons on her phone. "You should have my thoughts in your inbox. I was going to discuss with Evan next week. I will discuss it with him before 9am tomorrow."

"I'll keep it to myself, but at least I can plan."

Tina arrived and Jenny let her in. "What's up? Miss T said I should come across. Ash, I brought your coat. I couldn't believe you ran off like that."

"All will become clear," said Rebecca. "Have a seat. Miss T, as you call her, asked me to explain what was happening."

"I'll be upstairs," said Ashleigh. "Come on Jenny. You can help me plan next week."

"I've no idea how to do that," said Jenny as they made their way upstairs. "Will you show me?"

"Of course."

It was two hours before Becky and Tina entered the office. It was past Jenny's bedtime, but being a Friday night, there wasn't as much urgency.

"That was longer than expected," said Ashleigh as they packed up to leave.

"Your sister asked some very insightful questions. She said she didn't study science at university but learnt it at school. I was never taught the things she asked when I was at school."

"See Ma," said Jenny. "I said it was a good school."

"With your mummy having been there, I've never had any doubts about that."

"There goes a relaxing weekend," said Tina after they'd moved in a different direction to Rebeccas and her daughter.

When they got to Ashleigh's, Tina put her fingers to her lips, and said, "We missed the rest of the program."

"Let me see if there is a repeat of it," said Ashleigh.

Tina rushed upstairs and when she came down, she had some equipment in her hands. She methodically went through the downstairs and then made her way up. When she returned, she wasn't empty handed but had a mini metal disc.

"We now can talk in peace," said Tina. "I checked your house the other day, but I wanted to be sure before we had this conversation."

"A wise idea. Do we need to put the radio on with the volume turned up?"

"Why would we do that?" asked Tina, confused.

Ashleigh looked around, as if looking to see if there was anybody there. She then said in a hushed voice. "Just in case there is something you missed, and someone is listening."

"Oh. That's what this does," said Tina, pointing to the little disc she'd placed on the coffee table. She looked at the bottle of wine and the two full glasses. "Do you want more?"

"I only got a few sips before I saw the NASA thing. Thank goodness we got the pizza eaten. I think the wine will have gone off now. Anyway, tomorrow is going to be busy, so probably not. You?"

"No. Even though I'm not on duty, what I've been told makes me want to be alert. Wine doesn't help with that."

Ashleigh got up, and moved the two glasses to the kitchen, and emptied the contents into the sink. She then got the bottle of wine and repeated the process.

"Any idea why Laura suddenly wanted you to know about the project?" enquired Ashleigh when she was sat back down.

"Because I was here," said Tina simply. "I saw Children in Need and understood where the bear was from. I didn't know how it was done, but by your reaction I knew this was to do with the project. Last time the project made a significant step forward, there were certain people who got interested. This test probably won't be on their radar, but I'm here. I'm still to do my two weeks experience, so there isn't too much worry. At least not yet."

"The full test is closer than you probably think. We have all the remaining hardware for the new ship in storage. The shell is already constructed."

"So, what's the connection between what I do, and what's going on here?"

"I've no idea," said Ashleigh. "There might not be. This could just be an additional part of her portfolio. You know, research something that she will be able to make lots of money from. Heck, just think about the impact of what we demonstrated today. The world is shrunk. You need to get emergency aid to somewhere, you can deliver it in seconds. No need for planes to ship things."

"Yes, just think of how it will appeal to tyrants. They will be able to deliver a bomb as easily as delivery of a food parcel."

Ashleigh was aghast at the thought. "That's a very glass half empty attitude."

"Someone has to think of the issues as well as the benefits," retorted Tina. "I suppose I have to look at things from both sides."

"The good news, they would need a vast amount of electricity to do it. We couldn't have pulled off the smaller tests they'd been doing in ping pong balls with the 2MWh battery, let alone the test we did today."

"How did you do the test then? I didn't think you could get a bigger supply in?"

"Ah, something that Becky didn't explain. There is two parts to the project. The other part is a new power core. Don't ask me how it works, as I've no idea. It produces a large quantity of electricity for the vehicle. We use it at the site as a test. We've not needed electricity from the grid for weeks."

"How? There's no such thing as a free lunch. You can't just magic something from nothing."

"I don't think magic is involved, but you never know. Wasn't there a quote somewhere about modern science being indistinguishable from magic?"

"I think you're thinking of Arthur C Clarke. He said, 'Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic'."

"That's it. I knew I'd read it somewhere."

"Blimey, I didn't know you read science fiction."

"I went out with someone who had lots of it. At first, I thought it was a bit abstract, but as I read more, there is a lot of commentary to society as it was. Sure, some early sci-fi books are dated in where they thought humanity was going, but there is a lot of fascinating ideas which haven't yet materialised but are even more relevant now."

"Wow, I've learnt something about my sister tonight," said Tina, happy to see her sister so animated. "You are implying this project is drawing to a close. What for you then?"

"I don't know. Laura mentioned she had something else for me. What that is, I've no idea."

"She doesn't like to let talent go to waste. How big is the power equipment for the ship?"

"Why?"

"I'm just wondering how you're going to get it to where the ship has been built."

"Oh, I'm with you. That was one of the things I've got on my list to bring up tomorrow. I presume we will ship it to the factory and then assemble it into the ship."

"Why not use your machine to send the parts there?"

Ashleigh laughed. "I wish we could. We have the power, but the machine here isn't big enough. They could probably build something to do that, but it would be quicker to get some vans."

"Would a lorry work on one trip?"

"Sure; but hiring one of those is a lot harder. I can get a few large vans quite easily."

Tina took out her phone and made a call. "Availability of three-alpha-seven."

Ashleigh raised her eyebrows at that. Tina ignored this and listened to the response.

"Request message relay. Mobile before Monday or secure message then on. Add warning that I'm insecure. Send."

When Tina had hung up, Ashleigh said, "Now that sounded so spy."

"We don't call each other or send each other secure messages. Not unless it is a life or death situation. We don't know where they are or if they could be compromised by a call. There is an automated message relay system."

"Would Sunday or Monday work for you to get the things to the factory?"

"Yes, but how?"

"I know someone who can do that. Well, I know two people, but I know one isn't available. The other, the automated system said they were around. I've no idea how long it will before they ring me back."

Ashleigh was explaining about the test she wanted run when Tina's phone warbled.

She answered, "Hey. I'm at the location I was in September." Tina laughed at something that had been said. "No, still no movement there. Are you available to drive a lorry between here and a location about fifteen to twenty miles away?... Yes secure."

Tina turned to her sister. "Are the items on pallets, or are they all loose?"

"Most are on pallets with shrink-wrap around them."

"Did you hear that? Okay, see you then. At the old Industrial Park across the road."

Tina hung up. "There will be a lorry here on Sunday morning. They will organise the lorry and forklift."

"How?"

"A colleague of mine. Before you have kittens, they are fully qualified to drive both class 1 and class 2 lorries. They know somewhere where they can hire a vehicle that you require. They are organizing it, so it isn't linked to here."

"But how? Why are they willing to do that at your request?"

"Life can be complex. We help each other out when we ask."

"You just organised something with no real consultation. You've asked someone I've no clue about to come and drive some lorry from who knows where. I know you're trying to be helpful, but that doesn't mean you need to just takeover."

"I've seen you bossing the project staff."

"No, I don't boss them around. When I see them frustrated, or getting bogged down with the job, I might suggest a break or restart the next day. I suggest. They have found that it normally helps. When Liam and Evan didn't, they nearly ended up in hospital. I do it for their health. Not trying to prove myself."

"I wasn't trying to show off," said Tina defensively. "I was just trying to help. You want...no need to securely transport items to the factory. You could have got someone to do it, but I provided someone that there isn't going to be a paper trail if someone is watching. In July you caught the attention of some unsavoury people. Heck, it was even before that based on the bug found. Not only did Miss T think it was important enough that she diverted six investigators, but the three most valuable people ended up in a secure room."

"Evan wasn't in the secure room," said Ashleigh.

"No, the most important people are Becky, Jenny and you. During our time here, you weren't out of sight either. Becky is key to the project. She gets the ideas, and the scientists work things out, but without her ideas there would be no project. Jenny is important as if anything happened to her, Becky wouldn't be able to function. And you. You keep the project running. You keep everybody sane. You make sure things happen and most importantly, you have given Becky hope."

"That's cr–" Ashleigh paused. She wanted to get out of the habit of saying crazy. The whole project was crazy, but it caused issues for Jenny. "That's unbelievable. Anyway, that's beside the point."

"What was the point?" smirked Tina.

"I've no idea. We will probably have a long day tomorrow, so I'm going to bed now. This is going to majorly screw with my dreams."

* * *

The sisters were up early and while Ashleigh prepared a mixture of sausage sandwiches and bacon rolls, Tina went off to the local supermarket to get muffins and cakes. They took them across to the old pub to find that Evan was already there.

"This looks superb," he said, slightly surprised at what was being brought in. "I thought it was a simple meeting to discuss next steps."

"Yes, this is the plan for next steps," agreed Ashleigh. "It's the plan to finish the ship and perform a test flight."

"But–"

"Let's wait until the others arrive to discuss things," said Ashleigh.

"Why's Tina here?" he asked.

"Because Miss T asked me to be," responded Tina. A simple answer which she knew nobody would question.

"Are you armed?"

"No. This is England, not America. I'm here to assist, not as protection. But I can do that if needed. Then it will be to make sure you are all safe. If there is gunfire, then I've failed."

"Is that food I smell?" asked Henry, walking in. The others weren't far behind, and everybody was soon tucking in.

Becky had a shopping bag with her and came across to Ashleigh. "For that additional test, I have what you asked for. "

"Additional test?" asked Henry, his mouth full of a bacon roll.

"Ashleigh thought it was a good idea to send something living through before we try it on the main ship. I put a humane trap down in our back garden and we got a mouse."

"Good thinking," said Liam.

Henry wasn't happy though and was backing away. Tina noticed and said, "Henry, can you show me something on the main fuse board."

He raced out the door towards the fuse board. Nobody laughed, but Evan did comment, "That was unexpected."

"Okay, let's do this quickly, " said Becky, taking the glass container out of the shopping bag. There was a scruffy mouse obviously upset at being trapped. "I'm sending it to the garden near the bins."

She placed it inside the test unit, and on the controller set the destination. There was no coding needed as it was one of the standard destinations they'd used in the initial test cycle. The team raced to the window to watch.

"Sending," stated Becky.

The team watched as in the blink of an eye the container was there. Evan and Ashleigh rushed out to check the container. The mouse was in it, still alive, none the wiser for being the first animal to pass through an interdimensional corridor.

Evan bent down and opened the container. The mouse rushed away, just as any mouse would after being trapped against its will.

"This reminds me of the film Back to the Future," said Evan as they went into the lab. "They sent the dog through the time machine and the clocks were one minute out. He'd jumped a minute."

"Are you suggesting we send a stopwatch through?" asked Becky.

"It would make sure there isn't a timing issue. The mouse wasn't dead, so it didn't take years. We see the transition as instant, but is it actually instant, or is there passage of time."

"A worthy test, but we don't have one."

"I do," said Ashleigh. "I got one to give my other sister for Christmas. It's at the house."

She rushed as quick as she could and got back before there was any sign of Laura. With the mouse gone, Henry was back inside the room. Evan took out his phone and after a few fiddly attempts, they had the stopwatch in sync. The two devices were filmed side by side at highspeed. It was the only way to see the milliseconds.

"It's a go," confirmed Becky.

They placed it into the device and pressed the button. It vanished as if it had slipped out of existence. When the stopwatch disappeared, they rushed outside to collect it. Filming it again showed they were still in sync.

"This is a great test," said Evan. "When we do the test with the ship, I'd like to have a stopwatch running inside the ship and one left at the factory. When we return, we can compare to see if there is any time difference between the two on longer jumps."

The team was enthused. The test they'd done the previous day had lit a fire within them. They were no longer just thinking if they could make it work. They knew now it could. It was now all about safety and how what they'd done fitted in with reality.

Ashleigh let the conversation flow while she helped herself to a croissant. As she finished it, she called a halt. "These are great ideas. Log them as we will be running these. Do any need to be done before the big test?"

"Big test?" asked Liam. "Didn't we just do the big test?"

"The ship?!" reminded Evan.

"Oh, that big test. The things I suggested could be done afterwards."

"Excellent. Then after this meeting, make sure you create a list of tests you'd like to perform. You then can discuss them later and put them into a sensible order. I'm sure some activities will tick off multiple tests."

Ashleigh went to the glass board. It was clear as all tests had been done. "So, let's work out what needs to be done for the ship test. Are all the parts for the power system across the road?"

"Most," said Henry. "Some of the framing is already down at the factory."

Ashleigh wrote, 'Transport of power parts to factory' on the board.

"We need time to break some of the boxes down so we can fit them inside some vans," said Henry.

"Would a large lorry work?" asked Ashleigh.

"Oh, that would be better, but none of us can drive a lorry."

"Thanks to Tina, a lorry will be here tomorrow morning," said Ashleigh. "Why don't you get to the factory for 9am on Sunday to organise things at that side. What about the device? Do you need to break this one down?"

"No," said Henry. "We have one designed for this ship. It's in the cupboard where Evan is sat."

"So, once we are there it needs validation?"

"Always. However, we have proved it already," said Becky. "The device we normally use here focuses the item to move. The one in the cupboard has a slightly different layout to encompass the ship. If the item is stationary, then it stays stationary at the other side. We tested having movement with the ping-pong balls and we had some on the teddy bear test. It needed to float towards the camera."

"Oh, and it certainly did that. I'm sure it shocked the poor astronaut. No more shocking astronauts."

"Roger that," said Evan, trying to keep a straight face. "No more shocking astronauts."

"Once all the parts are down there, how long will it take to assemble?"

"With the construction crew already down there, a month," said Becky.

Ashleigh wrote six weeks on the board.

"I said a month," protested Becky.

Ashleigh rubbed what she'd put on the board and put eight weeks. "You need to do it right, not quick. There is also Christmas during this time. This gives you some contingency. Once you've assembled how long to test and verify?"

"That was part of my month. The ship itself has been extensively tested inside a vacuum chamber. The gas thrusters have been checked and now there aren't any leaks. Three people lived inside the ship while it was inside the vacuum chamber for five days. This was the best test we can do on planet. We haven't been able to test in space where the lack of gravity will change things, but that isn't going to change things for the hop test."

"How did you test without the power system?" asked Tina.

"While at the factory, it is connected to the site power. That's disconnected before launch."

"Okay. I'll keep it as eight weeks for now. Does the ship have communications? If there is trouble, can you communicate?"

"Some. We have a link to orbiting communication satellites. Most are pointing towards Earth, so there is only a few we can use. We've got authorisation for three types, so we should be okay. Our test flight is within Earth orbit."

"What about communicating when you go further afield?"

"Not yet," said Becky. "We've had some ideas, but it hasn't been a priority."

"You mean you've been mulling it over, but not got us working out how to achieve it yet," retorted Evan.

"I didn't want to confuse matters," responded Becky, slightly abash.

"So, now we just wait for Laura," said Liam. "Any idea when she's getting here?"

"If this were a film, she would turn up right now," laughed Ashleigh.

They all went to look out of the front window. There was no sign, so they all used the opportunity to grab another cake. Before they finished, the sound of traffic was heard, and Laura Taylor pulled into the car park.

"What a fantastic test," she crowed, shaking hands with each team member, including Jenny.

"Help yourself to what remains of breakfast," offered Ashleigh.

"I'll have to come more often," responded Laura grabbing a cold sausage sandwich. "I see you've been having a discussion on future steps. Have you any other tests to perform before this?"

"We performed two this morning," informed Rebecca. "We did a test sending a live mouse. We also did a timing test to make sure there wasn't anything unexpected with that."

"Great. There are two spare houses, each with four bedrooms close to the factory. I'm sure you'll want to spend time here, but if things get late, those are open for all of you."

"What about me and school?" asked Jenny.

"I'll still take you," said Becky.

"And one of us will collect you," said Ashleigh. "If your ma can't get away, I will be there."

"Thank you," said Jenny, happy that she wasn't having to move school.

"On to the tricky bit. As part of the work at the factory, you need to train the test pilot and test engineer."

"WHAT!" screeched the people in the room.

"You are all too valuable to go on the first flight."

There was more grumbling.

"You've not been told you can't go on any flight. Just not the first flight," pointed out Ashleigh. "I know it's your ship. You have given birth to it. But the first flight you have described as just a hop. Prove the technology."

Laura added, "However, there is certain knowledge that can't be taught and that is what is in Evan's and Liam's head. So, one of them will go."

Jenny turned to her ma. "When you go on your flight, can I come with you?"

"Why?"

"Because if you die, I don't want to be alone."