The Outlook Project - A short sci-fi story by The Chuck!

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 h*** 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 b*******? 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!

© September 2011