The Council Hall was packed. Journalists ran from one corner of the main hall to another, searching for the best angle to capture the moment. The cameras were already set up, waiting only for the main guest. Deep inside the building, Martha Crockford carried a report in her hands. The sound of her heels echoed down the corridors as she made her way quickly to her mentor's office. Reaching the desired door at last and adjusting her glasses, Martha knocked.
"Come in," came the voice from the other side.
"Hello," Martha said, opening the door. "I received the letter."
A man in a white coat stood by the window, watching the sun setting behind the horizon, its rays reflecting off the metal rooftops, illuminating the city. He was focused on the sunset, preparing for the breakthrough. In just a few hours, after nine years, the Rift Gates would be activated. The world would change forever. The man rubbed his hands together as the tension built within him.
"Professor Williams," Martha called, stepping forward. The click of her heels filled the room, snapping Professor Simon Williams back to reality.
"Hello, Martha," the scientist replied. He turned and smiled, though he understood why one of the finest minds of the Consolidated Nation had come to see him.
"Why?" Martha asked, adjusting the tablet in her hands. "I was part of the Rift Gates' development. Why are you sending me to the Seventh District? I should be part of the launch."
"Martha," Simon walked to his desk, "I know you've made a huge contribution to the Primordial Space research and provided ideas in the development of the Rift Gates."
"Which is exactly why I should be there," she confirmed.
"You're right," Simon smiled again, picking up his tablet and loading data into it. "But we need you in the Seventh District."
"Why isn't Eleanor going?" Martha protested.
"Because you know Marcus Grey better. He'll need your help with resource reporting."
"Reporting?" Martha clutched the folder to her chest. "I discovered the Center! I researched Primordial Space and made the calculations, and it's all for reporting?"
"Martha," Simon approached her, "you're young, only thirty-five."
"My age doesn't matter," she replied. "I can do more than just assist with reporting."
"Marcus Grey," Simon continued, "provided most of the resources for building the Cradle. He's deeply invested in the project's success. But if it fails..."
"Failure is impossible!" Martha snapped. "I've accounted for everything!"
"There is a chance that the Gates may not be able to open the rift and establish the connection. If that happens, we'll have failed! And that's where you come in."
"What role?" Martha lifted her hand to her glasses, which had slipped to the tip of her nose. "Reporting?"
"A second chance," Simon replied. "If the experiment doesn't work and the Gates shut down, we'll need to gather resources again and obtain Council approval to launch them once more. That's where you play your part. Marcus has a lot of influence in the Council, and he also wants to connect with the Center..."
"So, I'm still needed for reporting..." Martha looked at the professor.
"Yes, but also for analysis. The data will be transmitted to the labs in the Seventh District, and more than that, after a successful launch, which is more likely, you'll face the press. How does that sound?"
"I'm not doing this for fame," Martha corrected. "I'm doing it for science."
"We're all doing it for science. But still, I trust you more than Eleanor. We've worked together longer, and most importantly..." Simon cast his gaze out the window again.
"What?"
"The most important thing is that after the launch, after the Rift Gates establish the connection with the Center of Primordial Space, I will retire."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm old, Martha, and the last nine years have been hard. But after tonight, I'll retire. And I'll pass the entire project on to you. You will inherit the Cradle Project and the knowledge we gain after the launch."
"Simon... I..." Martha hadn't expected such serious words from Professor Williams. "I'm grateful, but..."
"That's why you're needed there. You need to prepare all the data to be used after I retire. I'm confident that after the launch, the project will live on, and you'll guide all subsequent experiments in the Cradle. But Marcus Grey is waiting for you. I've already informed him of your trip to Revel."
After so many years of work and research, after sleepless nights of calculations, Martha Crockford could gain the main key. She didn't crave the title of professor, like Simon Williams; she didn't aim to lead the Cradle complex. All Martha wanted was to lift the veil of mystery and uncover answers to questions that didn't yet exist. Was Simon really entrusting her with control over all Primordial Space research? Martha pondered whether she was ready for this.
"I understand," Martha nodded to Simon. "Thank you for..."
"Later..." the old professor smiled. "You can thank me later. Actually, I should be the one thanking you for the invaluable work you've done."
He handed Martha the tablet loaded with project data, put on his coat, and they left the office together. The Hawk, which was supposed to take her to Revel, waited on the roof. They walked to the elevators together. Simon pressed two buttons. Martha looked at the professor, grateful for the opportunity to be part of the project, but it was hard; after so many years preparing for the launch, Simon was sending her to the Seventh District.
The elevator arrived. The doors opened. Simon entered and pressed the button for the first floor. He looked back at Martha, a gentle smile on his face.
"Good luck, Professor," Martha nodded.
"Goodbye," Simon replied. The elevator doors closed just as the doors to the adjacent elevator opened.
Martha entered, and the elevator took her to the rooftop platform. When she stepped onto the platform, she looked back. Only a few rays of sunlight remained in the distance. The city was sinking into the darkness that the success of the Rift Gates was meant to ignite. Martha boarded the Hawk, and the metal bird soared into the air. The Cradle was preparing for greatness.
***
"Jonathan," came a voice from behind the door, "did you pack your things? The train leaves in two hours! We have to make it to the station on time."
Jonathan Brooks was in his room, packing his belongings into a backpack. Shirts, pants, toothbrush. The tablet went in last. With difficulty, he managed to close the zipper. The door opened, and Elizabeth Brooks entered the room. Elizabeth always loved blouses and knee-length skirts. She preferred formal attire, and today was no exception. Elizabeth and Thomas Brooks adored their children. Ioanna and John were their treasure — something only they could have. Their children were unique. Every parent thinks their children are special, but Elizabeth knew they were destined for something great, something perhaps as groundbreaking as Simon Williams' Mechanism, which opened a window into the Primordial Space. Perhaps even something greater.
A few years ago, it was incredibly hard for them to send Ioanna to the University of Journalism in the Seventh District — it felt like they were tearing their hearts out and giving them to the world. Ioanna was now in her second year, working part-time at a coffee shop, but her parents always supported her with money and care. Although John was still too young to truly miss her, she would come home every holiday and play with him. Once, she gave him a toy — a small, orange dog. He had never managed to come up with a name for it. It didn't suit Richard, or Klaus, or Wilson. None of the names felt right, and he held it now in his hands; there was no room in the backpack to put it.
"Johnny," Elizabeth entered the room, "are you all packed?"
"It won't fit," the boy replied.
"Oh," she said, sitting down beside him. "You could leave it here; it will wait for you," she said, running her hand through his hair.
"It will be lonely," John replied, looking up at her.
"We'll take good care of it, you know that," Elizabeth smiled.
"But I'll miss it..." John turned the little dog over in his hands. "I'll carry it with me."
"Won't you lose it?" Elizabeth was concerned; the toy meant a lot to him, and if he lost it, he'd be heartbroken and blame himself.
"No, it will be with me."
"Alright, sweetheart." She took his hand and helped him up. "Are you ready? Ioanna will be waiting for you at Revel Station. We told her the car number and seat, so as soon as you get off the train, you'll see her right away."
"Why can't she come here?" John looked up, thinking how tall his mom seemed.
"She has university break, but she's working. So she can't come, but she's really looking forward to seeing you."
They left the room together. John took his sneakers and put them on.
"I'm ready!" he shouted while Elizabeth put on her jacket and picked up her bag.
"Is the backpack too heavy? Maybe take something out?"
"It's light!" John jumped, showing his mom he could even hop with the backpack on.
"Alright, alright," Elizabeth opened the door, and he ran out of the apartment. "Don't run too fast; you might trip and fall."
"Okay," John's voice grew fainter as he disappeared down the hall.
The Brooks family lived in a ten-story building, with their apartment on the seventh floor. John would race up and down the stairs every day on his way to school or back. The landing for the Ethers was to the right of the building. Every day, dozens of Ethers would take off and land there. While ground transportation was convenient, air travel was faster. Considering that Thomas and Elizabeth worked in the administration of one of Corvin's Sectors, they could afford a latest-model Ether.
Descending the stairs, Elizabeth stepped outside. Due to the tall buildings, there was no direct sunlight —only the rooftops of the skyscrapers reflected the sun's rays. Turning around, she saw the Ether ready for takeoff. Thomas and little John were already seated inside. Approaching, she opened the door and climbed in.
"You brought the toy," Thomas Brooks noted, flipping switches on the control panel.
"Startup procedure initiated," announced a voice in the cabin. The engines began to hum, and the Ether's thrusters adjusted to launch position.
"Yes," John answered, clutching the toy dog.
"Route setup complete. Traffic adjustments made. Following designated path."
The Ether ascended. The hum intensified and then blended with the world's other sounds. As the vehicle rose above their building, John watched as the last rays of the sun disappeared over the horizon. He watched the sunrise and sunset every day; his room's windows faced the back of the building, where a park and a river lay nearby. Every evening, he and Elizabeth would take a walk in the park. In summer, they'd have picnics under the ancient trees; in autumn, he'd jump in puddles; and in winter, he'd skate on the frozen river. But whenever they took flight in the Ether, he loved the view. He always wanted to go beyond the horizon. He imagined there was some unknown place out there — a place no one had ever been. And John wanted to be the first to go there.
"Will we make it on time?" Elizabeth asked, holding her husband's hand as their son gazed at the sunset.
"Yes, I think we'll be there with an hour and a half to spare," Thomas replied, turning on the radio.
"Today is a great day!" blared a voice from the speakers. "Today, humanity will make a discovery. In just a few hours, we'll uncover secrets we could never have imagined..."
"Do you hear that?" Thomas pointed to the control panel. "They're about to open the Gates."
"I hear it," Elizabeth replied. "What do you think is in there?"
"I don't know, but something's certainly waiting. They wouldn't have built it for nothing."
"The Rift Gates..." Elizabeth said slowly. "It's a silly name."
"What would you call it?" Thomas chuckled.
"I don't know..." She brought her hand to her chin and dramatically scratched it. "Just Portal, maybe?"
"Even sillier," Thomas laughed.
"Then I win," she said, squeezing his hand.
The Ether glided along its route toward the Western Railway Station, where John's train to Revel was already waiting.
***
Ten minutes remained until the start of his shift. Daniel Crockford had already changed into his work clothes. The long blue jumpsuit fit him snugly. He glanced at the clock. The minute hand moved steadily; the flow of time was unstoppable. Sitting in the common room, where workers at the Third District's "Star" Power Station spent their breaks and had lunch, Daniel decided to call his wife. They had been married for ten years —ten long, happy years spent side by side. He admired her. Martha Crockford was strong and determined, refusing to accept failures. But with him, she allowed herself to be a delicate woman, seeing in him a protector, a warrior. Although Daniel worked at the power station, specifically overseeing the energy cores, every minute, as he turned the valve, he thought of her — of how he would return home after his shift and find Martha sleeping at her desk again. He'd come in, kiss her on the top of her head, and she'd wake up, saying, "Seems I dozed off," then check her calculations and shout that she'd found the solution.
Daniel activated the Pulse on his wrist, waved his hand, and the screen nearby lit up. The room was empty since all the other workers had gone to the chronometer to start their shifts early. But Daniel wanted to see Martha again.
"Calling... Please wait," the voice echoed through the empty room. Finally, the screen filled with new colors. On the other side, he saw his love — the person he had spent ten years with and planned to spend the rest of his life beside.
"My love," he began. "Are you already at the Gates?"
"Daniel," Martha looked closely at the screen. "Simon sent me to Revel, in the Seventh District. I'm in the Hawk now."
"Why?" Daniel blinked, moving his chair closer. "You're not coming home today?"
"Sorry," Martha leaned in. "It all happened so quickly. I went straight to the launch pad from the office. Simon thinks I'll be of better use in the Seventh District, that I should manage the reports for the chairman."
"That idiot!" Daniel said, leaning back in his chair. "You played a key role in the project."
"I know, but after the launch, he'll pass all project authority over to me."
"Really?" Daniel's eyebrows shot up, and he crossed his arms.
"And you? Your shift hasn't started yet?" Martha nodded understandingly. Her emotions were mixed. She was frustrated by the transfer to Revel but eagerly awaited the data from the Center of Primordial Space.
"A few minutes left, so I decided to call."
"Good!" Martha smiled at him. "I'll be back in a few days, maybe even tomorrow."
"I'll be waiting, love. I'll try to make your favorite salad."
"Oh," Martha sighed. "I wish I could come back right now."
"Just like that," Daniel laughed. The call to approach the chronometer echoed through the room.
"They're calling me," Daniel raised his hand.
"Go," Martha touched the screen with her fingers. "I love you."
"I love you too!" Daniel pressed two fingers to his lips. "Message me when you arrive in Revel."
"Will do," Martha agreed, and the screen went dark.
Daniel stood up, turned off the lights in the room, and walked to the chronometer. Placing his hand on the screen, the system registered the start of his shift. Daniel entered the corridor, where the stairs led up to the upper levels and directly to the station's third energy core. Daniel had gotten used to Martha being away across the Consolidated Nation in recent years. But he never stopped loving her, even if she disappeared for a few days. More than that, he knew that Martha was his happiness. And he would never leave her.
***
Professor Simon Williams had answered all the journalists' questions. There were many, each person wanting to know about the workings of the Gates, the likelihood of failure, and his thoughts on what awaited them at the Center. Although he had spoken on these matters many times, Simon answered with restraint, revealing enough to satisfy but holding back just enough. Every question received his courteous response. Time was ticking away, and there was just an hour left before the launch. After a polite farewell to the journalists, he returned to the Council Hall and made his way up to the roof and the launch platform. The Hawk was already waiting for him.
"Simon," a voice called from behind. The female voice drew closer to him slowly. "I see you're in no rush?"
"Eleanor..." he said, feeling her hands press against his back. "Why are you still here?"
"I was waiting for you," she replied. "Could I really go to the Cradle without you?"
"Good that you waited," Simon turned, and the woman embraced him.
"Your protégé won't be joining you?" Eleanor Midwich raised her eyes to meet Simon's face.
"I sent her to the Seventh District," he said, slightly pulling away but still holding her hand.
"What did you tell her?" she asked, her red lipstick a reminder of the nights they had spent together.
"That she would take over the project after the launch."
"If we succeed," Eleanor laughed.
"I know," Simon replied. "The timeline will be erased, and none of this will have existed."
"So many years you've kept them in the dark..." Eleanor smiled. "The Center of the Primordial Space... the secrets of the universe... Lofty ideas, and they gave you all the resources for building the Gates. Marcus, like a naive child, believed every word you said."
"And as you see, everything worked out."
"Yes..." the woman agreed. "It all worked out."
"And as long as our hearts beat..." Simon began.
"The Old World is being reborn ," Eleanor finished.
Together, they headed toward the Hawk, hand in hand. Once aboard, they exchanged glances. Simon waited. An hour remained before the Rift Gates would be activated. Finally, their goal would be achieved. Years of effort, from the mechanisms meant to give hope of time travel to the Cradle Project, all were soon to come to fruition. Soon, very soon, the Old World would rise again. The Consolidated Nation would vanish, and then the Gods would return, freedom would return, and no longer would there be ideas desecrating existence.
The Hawk took flight, heading toward the Cradle Complex. The sun had already set, and the moon was rising, casting its sterile light on the trees lining the path to the complex. Eleanor, holding Simon's hand, watched the sun disappear over the horizon for the last time, as the Consolidated Nation came to its final day. Just a little longer, and it would all crumble. This so-called Eden, built on the ruins of their world, was about to vanish. Then the great Old World, which had endured millennia, would rise from the fire. At that moment, reality would change for all of them. The people running through the city streets, those sitting in their offices... Their mere existence defiled the memory of the Old World. Her heart beat faster, not because Simon sat beside her but because, in just a moment, it would all end.
At the main entrance to the Cradle, two Chairmen awaited them. Simon exited first and offered Eleanor his hand. Grasping his hand, she stepped onto the ground for the last time. As they approached the gates leading to the Cradle's grounds, Eleanor turned back. She looked up at the stars, watching the birds flying in flocks, the slow swaying of leaves on the trees atop the green hill beside the complex. Eleanor smiled and entered the grounds of the Cradle Complex.
***
The Ether landed on the platform near the western train station. John opened the door and ran outside. A huge building rose before him. Multiple levels with boarding platforms stood parallel to each other, with trains waiting for passengers. John loved trains and the atmosphere of traveling without having to rush to school or do homework. He could just sit in his seat and watch as trees danced past him, cities lit up and dimmed, and people's lives flashed by. He looked back — Elizabeth and Thomas had exited the Ether behind him. Taking his mother's hand, John crossed the street with her and entered the station. Long trains with eight to ten cars, steam rising from the roofs of the engines, and metal serpents speeding through cities and districts greeted the boy. Clutching his little toy dog to his chest, John felt sure the dog enjoyed the view, too.
"Platform three," said Thomas, looking at the schedule screen.
"On the third floor," added Elizabeth.
"Hey, buddy," his father leaned down to him, "want some tea? We've got half an hour before departure, so we can check out that café." He pointed toward the glass-fronted shop on the right.
"You can order a pastry too," Elizabeth, who was holding his hand, added.
"Yes, please!" John said, his face lighting up. "Can I get two pastries?"
"Two small ones," Elizabeth began,
"Or one big one," Thomas finished.
"One big one," John decided.
The family headed toward the café entrance. Thomas reached for the door just as someone opened it from the other side. A young woman in a United Railways uniform dashed out, holding an orange and a cup of coffee. Noticing the guests, she nodded and greeted them before hurrying up the stairs to the upper platforms. Finally, John entered the café. The aroma of sweets mixed with the scent of freshly brewed coffee enveloped him. A few other people were inside, the kind who enjoyed coffee at night. A man in the back was working on his laptop, occasionally sipping his coffee. Further in, an elderly woman was holding a real dog, something John had always dreamed of, while reading the news. A young couple stood at the counter, holding hands as they placed their order.
"Hey," his father knelt beside him, "can you grab the window seat?"
"Yes!" John said enthusiastically, making the young couple glance over. The girl, noticing the child, nestled closer to her boyfriend with a giggle.
John ran to the table near the woman with the dog. As he got closer, he realized it was not a small dog but a puppy. Its reddish fur reminded him of his nameless toy dog. Hugging his plush toy close, he approached the woman.
"Hello," he greeted the elderly woman.
"Oh!" the woman with the puppy sighed and then smiled down at him. "Hello there," she replied. "What's your name?"
"I'm John," the boy said, smiling. "John Brooks."
"Well, I'm Magdalena Vivien Johnson," she extended her hand, her wrinkles suggesting she had long since retired and now enjoyed life with her puppy. But John was too young to understand this.
"And what's her name?" John looked at the puppy in her arms.
"His," Magdalena corrected. "It's a boy." Her smile was like the sun that had set an hour ago. "His name is Chester. And what's your dog's name?" she asked, noticing John's toy.
"He doesn't have a name; he doesn't look like anyone," John replied, showing her his plush dog. "Can I pet him?"
"So he's unique. Of course," Magdalena slightly opened her arms. The puppy turned his head and looked at John. Seeing John's hand reach out, he lifted his head and sniffed his fingers.
"He's so small," John observed as he stroked Chester's fur.
"For now; he'll get much bigger soon. Maybe even bigger than you," she chuckled, watching as John pet the puppy.
"John," a voice called from behind. Elizabeth was approaching, carrying two cups of tea and a plate with a pastry. "Don't bother the lady."
"Oh, don't worry," the woman replied, "he's not a bother. Are you traveling somewhere?" Magdalena asked.
"Yes, in half an hour," John nodded.
"Then say goodbye to Chester," she said as the puppy looked at John again.
"John," his mother reminded him, "the train leaves in twenty minutes."
"Goodbye, Chester," John touched the puppy's paw, and Chester sniffed his fingers again. "Goodbye, Magdalena Vivien..."
"Johnson," she finished, seeing he couldn't remember. "Goodbye, Jonathan Brooks."
John ran over to the table where Elizabeth was seated, and Thomas was approaching. He took off his backpack, placed his toy on the table, sat down, and picked up his tea.
"John, you know you're allergic to dogs and shouldn't touch them," Elizabeth took out some sanitizing wipes and cleaned his hands.
"But I've had my shot already."
"You had it a month ago, buddy," his father explained. "It'll start working in three months, so the allergy will go away in two more months. Just wait a bit longer. Here," Thomas handed him an apple. "Put it in your jacket pocket."
"When my allergy's gone, can we get a dog?" John asked, taking a bite of his pastry, chocolate frosting smudging his lips.
"Absolutely," Elizabeth promised.
"Can I get one like that?" John glanced back toward Magdalena.
"Well..." Thomas said, glancing over the table. "That's a very old breed, Shiba Inu, bred even before the Great Consolidation."
"So, can we?" he asked, finishing the pastry and sipping his tea.
"I think we could find one, so yes," Thomas looked at his watch. "We have ten minutes left. Finish up your tea."
John emptied his cup and placed it back on its saucer. While Thomas took the dishes back, John put on his backpack again and, with his toy in hand, followed Elizabeth to the café exit. They climbed the stairs to platform three, walking along the train toward the first car, where a young woman was waiting. Elizabeth recognized her as the one who had rushed out of the café earlier. Her white blouse and blue skirt fit snugly. She was smiling, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. As the Brooks family approached, John peeked out from behind his father. The train, long and ready to depart at any moment, awaited them.
"Attention, passengers. Train 20A on the Corvin–Revel route departs in five minutes from platform three. Please take your seats," a woman's voice announced over the station speakers.
"Hello," the young woman greeted them with a smile. "Welcome aboard United Railways. May I see your ticket?" She held out her hand.
"Tatyana?" Elizabeth asked, glancing at the badge on her chest as she handed her the ticket.
"Yes," Tatyana confirmed, looking up at her.
"Our son, John," Elizabeth gestured down to him, "he's traveling to Revel. His sister will meet him at the station. Could you keep an eye on him? In case he needs to use the restroom or wants a drink?"
"Of course," she replied cheerfully, "don't worry."
"Well, pal," Thomas leaned down to his son. "We'll be here in a week to pick you up. Have a great time with Ioanna." Thomas hugged his son. "Say hello to her for us."
"Goodbye," Elizabeth hugged him too, "we love you."
"Bye! I'll write when I get there," John promised.
The boy stepped into the train, turned around, and waved to his parents as the doors closed.
***
Simon Williams walked through the sterile corridors toward the Rift Gates Hall with Eleanor Midwich by his side. Entering the hall, where a fountain stood at the center with water flowing from its leafy branches, he paused for a moment. Eleanor had always loved trees. She saw in them the very embodiment of life. She used to say that if you placed a metal plate over a sapling, the tree would break through it. It would destroy it and be reborn. Their predecessors must have thought the same, choosing the tree as a symbol of rebirth. But there was no time to admire the fountain. In the next hall, the Gates were ready to be activated.
"Professor Williams," one of the scientists addressed him, "everything is ready."
"What are the parameters?" Simon, still youthful, asked.
"The reactor is stable, the energy disk is functioning, and the Gates are ready."
"Excellent," the man smiled. "Take your positions."
A few people in white coats climbed the stairs to the control room. They took their places at the computers and activated the systems. Eleanor glanced at Simon and was the first to step forward. She slowly approached the console and looked at the vast potential awaiting them beyond the rift. The metal ring stood ready to create a tear in space and time, ready to fracture reality. The Rift Gates awaited their command, as did the other experiment participants.
"So many years, Richard," a woman's voice sounded from behind.
"Ah, Chairman," the professor greeted the elderly woman courteously, "you decided to come after all."
"I've waited for this day my whole life, invested the district's resources to bring our world back," the woman shook his hand. "Is everything ready?"
"Yes," the man confirmed. "Well then," Professor Simon Williams addressed everyone, "the day has finally come. The moment has arrived when the tyranny of the Consolidated Nation ends. They beat us, made us suffer, banished us to rot in the Tenth District. But we rose each time. We lifted our heads, looked them in the eye, and said, 'no.' They forced us to renounce our gods, to abandon our truth. They destroyed our world. But they were wrong. They were wrong every day for seven hundred years. They can kill our bodies, stop our hearts, but they cannot destroy our souls. Our souls are stronger than their minds, no matter how hard they try. They cannot stop us. They cannot stop the Old World."
Simon looked into each person's eyes:
"I am grateful. I am grateful to each of you for sacrificing your soul for our world. For believing, despite their power. Today, not only will the Old World be reborn, our world, the gods themselves will awaken from the eternal slumber forced upon them by these madmen. Today they will look upon us and see the strength of our souls."
Simon glanced at Eleanor:
"It has been an honor to be with you all this time. And now, like you, I give my soul for our world."
He turned, his gaze falling on the metal ring ahead:
"We are activating the Rift Gates. Begin rotation!"
Eleanor Midwich toggled switches, pressed buttons, and pulled a lever. Energy flowed from the reactor through cables. The energy disk ignited with light. Though they were not lights, it was pure energy. Finally, the metal ring began to rotate. Simon held Eleanor's hand, savoring the moment. In just a few minutes, he would journey with her to the past, seven hundred years before this great day. And at last, he would confront the evil, the very devil that called itself the Consolidated Nation. The devil's death would be born in the Cradle.
"Setting coordinates," announced a young man seated at the console behind Simon.
"Setting temporal parameters," said another.
"Calibrating energy streams," a third repeated.
"Opening the rift!" the fourth concluded.
"Finally!" Professor Simon Williams shouted.
Suddenly, the ring halted, and the lights in the Rift Hall went dark. Only the glow of the energy disk illuminated the gates from behind the panel.
"What is this?" Simon shouted. "What's the error?"
The ring remained still for a few seconds, then began to rotate again. The gates picked up speed. The lights came back on, and suddenly the floor began to tremble.
"What's happening?" Simon approached one of the scientists.
"I..." the young man faltered. "Incoming connection."
"What do you mean 'incoming connection'? From where?" the professor shouted.
"The temporal parameters are hard to determine. Too much interference. The system is getting out of control."
"We've lost control over the energy streams."
"The system is locked," Eleanor reported.
"How can it be locked?" Simon slammed his fist on the panel.
"The system isn't responding, we..."
And the woman fell silent. Inside the ring, a light blazed. A sterile white light blinded them. It was a tear — a tear in reality, in space and time. A rift of unknown origin.
"What's happening?" Simon asked. "Where is it coming from?"
"We..." Eleanor turned to Simon, "we're receiving data."
"What kind of data?"
"A data packet is coming from the rift. It won't be readable until we regain control of the system."
"It worked!" the young man behind Simon shouted. "At the moment of the rift, I tried to identify the temporal parameters."
"And what is it?"
"The future," the young man answered.
"WHAT?" Simon grasped his head. "How far?"
"Fifteen years."
"Identification codes? Who is sending the data, and why?"
"I don't know," Eleanor replied, "but twenty percent of what they're trying to send has already been received."
"Ah..." Simon sighed. "I know! We're receiving it from ourselves."
"But how...?"
"Our experiment failed. The gates didn't work, and it took us fifteen years to fix the mistakes. And we, from the future, are sending ourselves data about what happened, to prepare and correct the errors and try again or..."
"But why here?" Eleanor asked, watching the percentage increase reach fifty.
"It seems we managed to open the rift. Or, at the very least, damaged reality. And we from the future, sending data to the past before the consolidation, accidentally connected with ourselves," Simon adjusted his glasses. "It's just a theory."
The gates rotated, and light continued to flow from the rift. Although the system was locked, it allowed them to monitor changes in the energy flows.
"What's the status?" asked the professor.
"Seventy percent. Almost there."
"Hmm..." Simon muttered, leaving the control room and heading downstairs. Approaching the Gates, he heard Eleanor's voice.
"Simon!" she shouted. "What are you doing? It's dangerous!"
"Is the connection two-way?" he asked, turning to her.
"You've lost your mind!"
"Is it two-way?" Simon repeated.
Eleanor ran up to him, grabbing his arm and looking into his eyes. Simon stared into the rift; the blinding light enveloped him, bringing peace and bliss.
"Yes"
"I'm going in," he declared.
"No..." she cried. "No, don't you dare!"
"I'm needed there," he replied, embracing her. "You'll fix the errors and meet me there. I'll go through the rift, and together, we'll finish what we started."
"Please, don't do this."
Simon wiped the tears from her cheeks, kissed her like never before, and held her hand close to his heart.
"As long as our hearts beat..."
"The old world lives," she finished.
Simon ascended the ramp toward the source of the light. He looked back, seeing his colleagues in the control room, leaning against the glass, observing his reckless decision. He smiled at Eleanor and took a step forward. Professor Simon Williams disappeared into the endless light of the rift.
"Wait!" shouted a young man watching him. "No!"
"What's happening?" Eleanor burst into the control room.
"The moment the professor entered the rift, the connection was severed!"
"What happened to him?" She grabbed the young man's arm.
"I can't say. If he was in the rift when the connection broke, he ended up there, in the future. If not, then..."
"How much has been transferred?" Eleanor cried, unable to accept Simon's death.
"Eighty-five percent."
"Why was the connection severed?" She looked at the gates, the ring still spinning, feeding energy into the rift.
"I don't know. With the system locked, I can't say anything," the young man replied.
She clutched her head. It couldn't be. Not like this. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Simon wasn't supposed to do this. He couldn't be dead. She refused to believe it. Tears streamed down her face, and she screamed, pounding her hand against the console until a colleague interrupted her with a question.
"Stop the hysteria," an older woman approached her. "Finish the work. Correct the mistakes." Her voice was calm.
"Professor Midwich," he addressed her, "if the connection was severed..."
"So what?" she snapped.
"Then why is the rift still open?"
Like a bolt from the blue, this question shattered her mind. Indeed. Why? Why was it still open? The Rift Gates were supposed to close it.
"Professor," the man with the badge, reflecting the light of infinity, addressed her again, "I'm receiving data on the gates' activity. The rift is expanding."
"Stop it!" Eleanor clenched her fists. "Close the rift!"
"We can't do anything while the system is locked."
"Are you kidding?" Eleanor pressed her hands against the console. "Do you even know what will happen if it's not closed?"
"Unless..." Andrea interrupted. Eleanor never looked at their names. "Unless we forcefully close the rift."
"How?" Eleanor looked at her with hatred in her eyes.
"We could direct energy into the rift, compressing it. If we hold out long enough, it will close."
"Do it!" Eleanor waved her hand.
"Our reactor isn't enough!" Andrea lowered her gaze to the calculations.
"How much do we need?"
"A lot, too much."
"How much?" Eleanor walked up to the girl and grabbed her hand. "How much of that damn energy do we need?"
"All of it!" the girl replied, looking Eleanor in the eyes. "Everything the Consolidated Nation has." Andrea shifted her gaze to the rift. "If all the power stations redirect their energy to the rift zone, we can seal the rift. And if we delay, the rift will consume the Gates, and they won't be able to channel energy."
"Damn it!" Eleanor grabbed the emergency phone and dialed. "This is Eleanor Midwich. I'm one of the lead scientists of Project 'Cradle.' Get me the Archon immediately."
***
Daniel Crockford had been standing by the monitor for several hours, watching the readings remain stable, much like himself. Occasionally, he would go down to the energy cores to check the internal data. The work wasn't complex but required constant attention. He recalled how just yesterday a surge had taken out one of the energy nodes, and he and a colleague had gone to sector B2 to replace it. But today felt different. The strange silence was broken by an alert, followed by the shift supervisor's voice. They were to report to the hall where workers were usually assigned to sectors. Something had happened; the supervisor seemed anxious.
Daniel climbed the stairs, passed by the core, and reached the briefing hall. He entered last. Inside, seven other workers stood, just like him. The supervisor hurried in after him, a man in his forties, though his short gray hair could make one think he was older.
"What's going on?" one of the workers asked, watching the supervisor catch his breath. Daniel didn't even know the man's name; they had never worked together.
"It's an emergency," began Wilson, the supervisor. "The district Chairman called me."
"The chairman..." Daniel repeated; it was rare for the chairman to call, and only if it involved construction changes or system updates.
"About half an hour ago, an incident occurred during an experiment at the Cradle Complex near Corvin. You all know the purpose of the complex. The Chairman told me that when the rift was opened, an error prevented it from closing, and now the system is locked." He wiped his forehead with his sleeve. "A plan has been devised to channel an immense amount of energy into the Rift Hall and forcibly close the rift. The Archon has decided to divert all energy produced by the power stations in the other districts into the Rift Hall via ours, Pole, and North."
"All of it?" Daniel repeated. "Every bit of energy? Our blocks won't hold."
"I know," Wilson confirmed. "That's why you need to open the secondary flow to let energy pass through our cores externally."
"The station will blow from overload," one of the workers muttered.
"So, as soon as we open the gates, we evacuate. The decision has been made. North and Pole are doing the same."
"What happens if..."
"If we fail, the explosion at the Cradle could destroy Corvin or more. I've reviewed the data, and it looks very grim."
"Open all flows?" Daniel stepped forward.
"Every single one. As soon as the last flow is open, we leave the station. Hawks are already waiting for us," Wilson clenched his fist. "We have ten minutes before the other stations simultaneously reroute their energy."
One glance was enough for the workers to understand the gravity of their task. Moments later, they rushed to the energy cores, opening the gates. Daniel was the first to grip the core. He touched the console and initiated the flow-opening protocol. The system responded with a confirming tone. Sector by sector, they prepared the station for destruction. Each of them did their best, for each had family, loved ones in Corvin, and the Cradle was too close. An explosion at the Cradle would destroy part of the city, if not the entire city.
Finally, only the last block in the sector remained. The evacuation alarm sounded. The workers dashed out. Daniel touched the console to start the flow-opening protocol. "Directive error" flashed on the screen. "No!" Daniel shouted, restarting the program. The same error appeared. Over and over again, until someone grabbed him by the shoulder.
"We need to go!" Wilson yelled. "What are you doing?"
"Directive error; the flow isn't opening."
"Damn it!" Wilson looked back, wiping his forehead. But the sweat wasn't just from running or opening flows. The Consolidated Nation had already redirected energy from other stations. "It's going to get hot here soon."
"We need to open the flow, or it's over."
"Listen, there are personal shielding disks in that sector. If we grab them, we can open the gate manually. The disks will protect us from the searing energy."
"They've all been used. Every worker put them on when we started."
"Damn!" Wilson watched as Daniel repeatedly restarted the program, only to get the error. "I've got two in my office. Come on. Quickly, or we'll melt in here."
***
It had been over an hour since the "Corvin-Revel" train departed from the western station. John sat in a seat by the window. There weren't too many people on board; more than half the seats in the car remained empty. He watched as cities slipped past, with buildings and streets flying by in a blur. The boy clutched his toy to his chest, already missing his parents but eagerly looking forward to seeing his sister.
Tatiana kept walking through the aisle, back and forth, but each time she passed John, she smiled and asked how he was. He answered that he was fine. At one point, she stopped and took the seat across from him.
"Hey," she addressed the boy, who was staring into the eyes of a stuffed dog. "What's his name?"
"Haven't decided yet," John replied. "He's not real, but soon my parents will buy me a real dog, and maybe then I'll come up with a name."
"Really?" Tatiana looked at the toy. "Will the real one have an orange coat too?"
"Yes!" the boy confirmed. "In two months, the allergy shot will work, and the allergy will go away."
"Oh," the girl nodded, "you know, I had allergies as a child too, and I couldn't pet dogs."
"And now?" John looked up.
"Now I can," Tatiana smiled. "You know, I'm new here, and this is my third trip to another district on the train."
"Where are you from?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm from the Second District. I graduated from the institute and started working here," Tatiana said, folding her hands on her lap. "Do you like traveling?"
"Yes," John answered, turning his head to the window.
"Is it beautiful?"
"Very."
"Want me to show you something?" she piqued his interest.
"What?" he asked.
"The view from the Control's cabin," she gestured towards the door at the back of the car. "See that door? It leads to the engineer's cabin. There's a very big engine there that powers the whole train. If you want, we can go say hello to the engineer."
"Yes!" John nodded eagerly.
The boy unfastened his seatbelt and climbed down from the seat. Holding his toy in his hands, they walked to the coveted door. John had never been there and imagined how engineers saw the world from their seats, how they controlled the train, accelerating and slowing down.
After knocking on the door, Tatiana entered and led the boy inside. Two men in uniforms turned in their seats and greeted him.
"Hey there," they addressed the boy. "How are you? Do you like our train? Did you know it's the fastest train?"
The girl smiled, knowing that Train 20A was far from the fastest.
"No, I didn't know," the boy shook his head.
"Well... now you know," one of the engineers chuckled.
"Will we be in Revel soon?" John asked.
"Hmm, relatively," the man shrugged. "We'll soon reach the district border, and then..."
"Train 20A, this is the Corvin inter-district communications dispatcher. Respond," a voice called over the radio.
"This is the first engineer of Train 20A," the man glanced at Tatiana and John.
"Train 20A, increase your speed to the maximum allowable."
"What's going on?" the first engineer moved closer to the radio.
"Train 20A, increase speed to the maximum allowable and prepare for communication shutdown."
"What the heck?" the second engineer whispered.
"Kyle!" Tatiana raised her voice. "There's a child here!"
"Dispatcher," the first engineer asked, "what's the reason for the speed increase?"
"The Archon has issued an order to disconnect cities and systems from power stations."
"All of them?" the man asked again.
"Train 20A, increase speed to the maximum allowable and proceed along the route. End of communication," and the radio went silent.
"What happened?" John asked.
"Let's go..." Tatiana said, taking him by the shoulder. "We won't disturb the engineers."
"Goodbye!" the boy said as he and the girl left the cabin.
"Is this about the Cradle?" one of the engineers asked.
"I don't know," the other replied, switching several levers. The train began to pick up speed.
For a few more minutes, the engineers looked at each other, pondering what was happening. This might have continued longer, but then a disconnection signal appeared on the screen.
Tatiana seated John back in his spot and fastened his seatbelt. She watched the boy, who seemed cheerful. He didn't understand what was happening, and neither did Tatiana. But if the Archon had issued such an order, it must be something serious. As she watched John gaze out the window, she hadn't heard what he said to her.
"What? Sorry?" Tatiana tried to keep a smile.
"Look!" John pointed out the window. "The lights are going out."
She slowly turned her head toward the window. Her heart pounded with fear, and her breathing became shallow. She saw the city visible from the window darken. Sector by sector, the buildings shut off, and the streetlights faded. Darkness was following the train. The night lights hanging over the tracks shut down as energy left them. The light in the car began to flicker, indicating that the train had switched to full autonomous power.
"What's happening?" John looked up.
"Hey," Tatiana said, barely holding back tears, "don't worry... Everything will be okay. I'm going to check on the others, and you stay here. Agreed?"
"Yes," John replied, peering into the darkness.
She got up and walked quickly to the others, checking if their seatbelts were fastened. Just as she opened the door to move to the next car, the engineer's voice came through the speakers:
"Dear passengers, please take your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Prepare for an increase in speed. Do not leave your seats until further notice."
***
"It's working!" Andrea shouted. "The rift is contracting."
"How much time do we have left?"
"Unknown, but the method is working."
"Understood." Eleanor stared as the ring distorted from the overwhelming amount of energy.
"How much longer will the ring hold?"
"Not long; it wasn't designed for this."
"Damn," Eleanor lowered her hands. "Begin the evacuation."
Everyone looked at her. Did they really have to abandon everything and run? Many had thought about it, but they couldn't betray their ideals, couldn't break their promises.
"What are you looking at? Go!" she shouted. "The Hawks are waiting outside; run!"
"What about you?" Andrea approached her.
"I'm staying here to make sure the rift closes."
"You'll die."
"At least I'll be certain."
"You fools," the old woman said, approaching Eleanor, "so many resources... If you don't die here, I'll finish you off myself." The Chairwoman followed the others with quick, small steps.
The scientists rushed toward the exit, shoving as they ran through the corridors, leaving everything behind. The siren was deafening. All the lights turned red. Underground tremors shattered the structures of the Cradle. It was collapsing right before Eleanor's eyes.
"Simon," she whispered, looking at the contracting rift. She couldn't stay any longer. The ceiling was falling, the building crumbling. The only certain chance for survival was the bunker. Simon had been clever and calculating. When planning the complex, he'd built an underground bunker beneath the gates. If anything went wrong or the plan was exposed, they could always hide in that bunker. It was the only chance for survival. Eleanor understood clearly that if the rift closed, an explosion would destroy the Cradle. The Hawks wouldn't get far enough in time. The bunker was the only option.
Abandoning everything, she ran down the crumbling staircase from the control room and rushed toward the gates. She opened a panel in the floor and found the hatch. She placed her palm on it. A signal sounded, immediately drowned out by the siren. The bunker hatch opened, and lights inside flickered on. She descended the ladder. The bunker was large, equipped to sustain people for several years. Once the outer hatch closed, she ran to the console. Even there, she felt the walls trembling. Opening the console, she placed her hand on it again, and a signal beeped.
"Inner hatch closing. Activating external energy field. Activating internal energy field. Isolation in progress."
"Faster! Faster!" she shouted.
"Isolation complete." An explosion followed, the lights in the bunker went out, and Eleanor was plunged into darkness.
***
"Faster!" Wilson shouted.
Daniel could barely breathe, the scorching air burning his lungs. His skin, especially on his hands and face, was starting to blister. They burst into the office and grabbed the shield disks. Daniel immediately pressed one to his chest. The searing heat burned through his suit and into the skin on his chest, but the shield was activated. A moment later, Wilson grabbed his disk and glanced at the office control panel. The data showed the worst: everyone had been wrong. The North and Pole power stations had already been destroyed due to overloads. Only Star remained, meaning that all of the Consolidated Nation's energy was now passing through their station.
Touching the panel, Wilson felt a surge of electricity shoot through his body, stopping his heart. His body collapsed to the floor, leaving Daniel alone.
Daniel ran along the metal walkways toward the airlock. If he could open it, the station might hold for a few more seconds — maybe even a minute. That would mean a greater chance of the rift closing. If not, the explosion would be much larger, which meant that the Hawk with Martha on board would be destroyed. The shield disk was operating at full power, but even with it, Daniel found it hard to move. The raw energy pressed against his body. He felt his ribs cracking, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't abandon everything. He knew that with the disk, he could make it to the airlock, though he would never be able to make it back. But knowing that Martha would survive was stronger than the fear and certainty of his own death.
He reached the flow. The shield was failing. His skin peeled off in chunks, exposing raw flesh. Daniel reached for the airlock, grabbing the blazing-hot valve with both hands. Explosions from the power nodes could already be heard in the distance. But it didn't stop him. In that moment, time froze.
He remembered how he met Martha, how they fell in love, how he proposed, and how they held their wedding. Daniel remembered every night spent with her, every day she made him happy. He remembered everything, down to their last conversation. "I know you can't hear me," Daniel Crockford said, "and I know you'll never hear this. But I know that you'll find out. I love you, Martha." And Daniel turned the valve.
The shield disk shut off. The pressure from the energy shattered his arms. His lungs and stomach exploded inside him. His spine snapped, and his brain shattered within his skull. Pieces of his body scattered across the walkway. Blood that reached the core evaporated instantly. The remnants of his bones and flesh melted, dripping off the walkway onto the floor below. An explosion followed. Overloads blew up the final power station in the Third District. Station "Star" was destroyed.
***
Tatiana rushed past the passengers, ignoring their questions. She only replied that they needed to stay in their seats. As she made her way to the engineer's cabin, Tatiana didn't even hear John calling her. She burst into the cabin, where a man and a second engineer sat in their seats, staring into the darkness. The train's headlights were on.
"What's going on?"
"Some kind of crap."
"We're disconnected from the entire energy system. Something has happened."
"Is it related to the Rift Gates?"
"I don't know what it's related to, but the further we get from Corvin, the better."
"Kyle, the city has gone dark."
"We saw..." Benjamin replied.
"And..."
"Attention!" a voice crackled over the radio. "System message: This message is recorded by the dispatcher of the inter-district communication for the city of Corvin. All trains entering the territory of the Third District must stop and return to the coverage of the Fourth, Second, and Fifth District. All trains leaving the Third District must activate emergency protocols. Increase speed beyond the maximum allowable. Repeat: all... End of message. System message: Communication with the dispatch center in the city of Corvin has been lost."
"Dammit!" Tatiana shouted.
"Quickly!" Benjamin turned sharply. "Take your seat and fasten your seatbelt. Kyle, inform them that we're moving non-stop."
Tatiana ran out of the cabin and headed forward. Seeing John, she sat down beside him. The boy was staring into the darkness. She took his hands in hers.
"What's happening?" he asked in a trembling voice.
"You know," Tatiana could no longer hold back her tears, "the engineers want to get you to Revel as quickly as possible."
"That's not true!" John denied.
"Of course it is," she smiled through her tears. "Don't you believe me? Your parents..." She fell silent. His parents had stayed in Corvin. And if Corvin was destroyed, then they were already dead. "They asked me to take care of you until we get to Revel. So I can't lie to you," she smiled again. Her lips trembled.
"Dear passengers, this is the second engineer speaking. Due to technical reasons, our train will proceed without stops; prepare for an increase in speed. Do not leave your seats until the next announcement."
"But why non-stop?" John turned his head and, in the train's headlights, noticed a boy holding his father's hand at one of the stations they had passed.
"I'm telling you, the engineer wants to get to Revel as quickly as possible," cries from behind could be heard. People were screaming, crying, and terrified. "Don't be afraid, John. Everything will be fine, right?"
"What is that?" John pointed at the window.
Tatiana turned around. Behind the train, a white wall of light was visible in the distance. A wave of energy relentlessly scorched everything in its path. Millions were perishing, burning, turning to dust. People on the train started to scream. The wave of energy was approaching the train.
"I'm scared!" the boy shouted, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Hey," Tatiana wiped his tears away with trembling hands. "It's okay. Can you hear me..." She turned again and saw the endless wave of energy was very close now.
"I want to go home..." John looked into Tatiana's eyes.
"It's okay..." she held the boy's face in her hands. "Everything will be alright... Can you hear me, John? Everything will..."
A sharp jolt threw Tatiana aside. Her neck cracked as her head struck the adjacent seat. John saw the train tearing apart behind them. People were being ripped to shreds; their bodies flew in all directions. The screams didn't stop. The metal frame of the distant cars was collapsing, and debris pierced people through. Explosions from the internal systems severed their limbs. Blood spilled throughout the train. Finally, the wave of energy reached Jonathan Brooks' car. Like a house of cards, the train torn apart. The car was destroyed. John, tightly gripping his toy, was torn away along with part of the frame. Blood, intestines, bodies, fire... The train derailed.
It was unclear how much time had passed since the crash, but when little John Brooks opened his eyes, he found himself lying on the ground. Before him lay human remains: internal organs, severed legs, arms, shattered heads. In the distance, a fire burned, illuminating this horror and revealing it to the child. The boy no longer heard the screams; he only heard the remaining parts of the train exploding somewhere far away.
John wanted to get up, but a sharp pain shot through his body, and his vision went dark. Pain was everywhere: in his back, his arms, his legs, his stomach. It hurt to even breathe. He lifted his eyes and saw a bone protruding from his arm. Looking down, he noticed that his legs were also broken. His bones had torn through the skin, and drops of blood trickled down. John cried, calling for help, pleading for anyone. He was weak, whispering, but continued to beg for help. But no one heard him.