General Relativity: Part 1

"Although your theory may be scientifically applied to the universe and can be properly tested, we have neither the time nor money to fund a new experiment. I'm sorry Dr. Dimeson, now is just not the time to be exploring this sort of thing; it would waste company resources and frankly, I don't think the board would ever agree to something like this. And as I recall, Dr. Dimeson, you're theories have been ridiculed and slandered called things like 'crackpot' and 'far fetched'. Maybe it's about time you reevaluate your studies and move onto something that you can actually progress working on."

"Yes I know Dr. Pollard, this has certainly been a trying year for me, but this is my life's work we're talking about here. I can't just give up and that and go back to running brain wave tests on rats again, those would be remedial for someone of my caliber. I'm not asking for a pay raise or anything, hell, I'd take a deduction if if it meant I would get to work on my project finally. You know I've been after this for five years, so could you please just give me a shot, a meeting to pitch my idea is all I need. Seriously, this could be the big break I'm looking for please."

This is it  she thought after completing her plea this is the moment that makes or breaks my career.

"Dr. Dimeson, Gen, please, you know my hands are tied. There is nothing I can do anymore, why don't you go speak to one of your siblings and see if they can help you out."

No. Her mind raced with millions of reasons that would not be okay, but instead of yelling back at Dr.Pollard, she responded calmly, "But Dr. Pollard, you know for a fact they can't. It's against company policy to use a different sectors funds and resources for an experiment. Also, you know as well as I do none of them ever helped each other, we don't support nepotism. Jack, you know me. You know I'm the sort of black sheep in the family, I was never supposed to happen but that's not going to stop me from making the best of my life. Being the fifth Dimeson is hard, okay? My whole family expects me to live up to their accomplishments and become a world renowned scientist but we both know I can't do that in any other field. Jack, please, you know how much of my success is riding on this. You know how much it takes for me to beg, and I'm at that point, please give me this opportunity." As she finished her rant she could see Jack's expression morphing into that of resignment.   

Finally.

“You don’t think I realize all of this? I’m just trying to protect you, you’ve always been my favorite student and now colleague. I just don’t want to see you get ridiculed more than you already have, but because it means so much to you I’ll talk to the board again. Now go finish your break talking to some of your peers instead of bothering me.”

“That’s why you’re the best Jack! I’ll see you back in the lab.” Gen exclaimed as Jack walked off with a huff of his breath.

Gen grabbed her phone out of her pocket and began revising the presentation she’s been working on for the past 5 years since she started thinking up this project. She quickly ran through the 23 slides she had carefully crafted and decided upon. After being as satisfied as she could be at the moment she decided to text her parents.

The Dimeson children grew up in a very scientific household, learning how to form a hypothesis from a very young age. All of Gen’s siblings went on to pursue science in different fields, each coming into their own. Not that they hadn’t stayed close to home, all of them stayed in the town they were born in and worked at the university where their parents had met. Tim, the eldest, had gone into medical science, Even, the second in line, had gone into genetic testing, and the twins Ward and Paige, who were always somewhat of a dynamic duo, had gone into biomechanics. At a young age it became apparent what science the children gravitated towards so they helped their children pursue their passions. What their parents hadn’t expected was that 4 years after Ward and Paige were born, that they would be having another child, but they embraced it all the same. Gena Raleigh Tiffany was the fifth child Dimeson family. After careful evaluation of the sciences at a young age, she was always attracted to physics and specifically the concept of time.  

As she grew older, Gen’s parents, Cassidy and James, did their best to help her pursue what she wanted, but there was definitely a difference between her and her siblings. Where her siblings liked the physical side of science with experiments and practical classes, Gen was more interested in the theoretical side of science. Her parents, not exactly sure how to approach this, decided it was best to get her a private tutor in the field. So while her siblings were off studying with her parents, Gen went to the university a couple blocks away to meet with her tutor.

Gen’s parents had always been supportive of her, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t have their doubts about what she was doing. When Gen announced that she wanted to present her paradoxical theory to the board, her parents had been a little less than happy. Her mom sat her down to chat, expressing that she was worried Gen would face trouble for trying to present. Gen had taken her mother’s words to heart but she still continued to work on her theory.

Now Gen was texting her mom that after five years of trying, she finally had the chance to present her findings. I know she’ll be happy for me. I hope she’ll be happy for me.  Although it has been five years since her big announcement and Cassidy had settled into the fact that her daughter may not succeed, Gen still had doubt about her mother’s faith in her.

As she was completing the text to her mother and rounding the corner at the end of the hall, she ran into a solid mass that shouldn’t have been there. She tried for a quick “pardon me” but was quickly interrupted when the man grabbed her arm and began babbling on, “Oh thank God it’s Gen. Hype and I really need your help because our communicuff is broken and so is the transporter relay. Oh man we really messed up so could you please just come with me and help we’ll be out of your way in no time,”

“What are you going on about?” Gen yelped as she tore her arm away from the strange man who acted like he knew her. When she got a good look at him, he looked familiar.

Maybe I’ve seen him around campus she thought. He was wearing a university hoodie and a beat up pair of jeans but what really caught her eye was the hint of silver beneath his sleeve.

“Gen seriously,” he began, grabbing her wrist this time and interrupting her evaluation of him, “did you skip breakfast again, pick up the pace Hype needs us to fix this before we can continue with our search!”

Gen yanked her arm away yet again and with all the authority she could muster said, “Sir, I have no idea who you are and if you continue to assault me I will call security.”

The man looked at her with a strange contemplative look before his slight frown turned into a full on grin. He then stuck out his had for her to shake and said, “I am so sorry to bother you Dr. Dimeson, my name is Newt Challenger, and I need your help.”

Gen cautiously took his hand and began, “Nice to meet you Mr. Challenger, what can I do for you?”

“Well, I have a note right here that will explain everything, and if you still have questions after reading it I would be happy to answer.” He took out an envelope and handed it over with delicate hands. Gen took it and began to study the envelope. There were no markings on the outside to indicate that it was for her, but she opened it anyway.

Dear Gen,

I believe congratulations are in order, seeing as you finally have gotten word that you can present in front of the board. Now listen I know you, you’re probably thinking that it’s impossible for me to  know this, because you just ran into Newt and haven’t even finished constructing the text to your parents. And now, my guess is that you’re realizing that this is some sort of trick because your machine hasn’t been built yet, but pause and use your massive intellect to your advantage. Gen, you’re amazing and your presentation in front of the board is going to go over amazingly. So please, try not to stress over it too much. Also, be nice to Newt and Hype, you’ll come to know them pretty well. As for fixing their equipment, you just have to reprogram the jump code, which I assure you is exactly how you designed it. Don’t worry if you start feeling crazy just know that you don’t have to worry for long, by this time next year, your invention will be a success and you can finally prove your parents right. I know you won’t do anything crazy, but I know you have low confidence in yourself after being at it so long, but please believe me  when I say it’s worth the wait.

Hope all goes well,

Gena Raleigh Tiffany  Dimeson

Gen’s mind raced as she read the letter. Does this mean my invention is a success? Did I actually create this thing? Has my hard work paid off? Out of all the things she thought, what came out of her mouth was, “Newt, how have you gone through testing and not known when you just need to reprogram the jump code. Knowing future me,” wow it’s weird to think that, “you went through extensive training, have a background in physics, and know the equipment as well as I do.”

“Oh we do, but if you must know you also insisted that we never be the ones to do it ourselves. In emergency cases of course we’re allowed to, but you said if you’re there, to have you do it. Normally future you would come with us, but crossing time streams and all that jazz. So, you don’t have to come and fix it for us, but if you want to see, we’d be glad to show you.”

Gen thought on this a moment and made a compromise, “Seeing as how this will be the only time you get to actually see one, I’ll reprogram yours, but you and Hype can do the other one.”

Newt handed over the bulky bracelet that was on his wrist, and Gen stared at in in awe. She took a moment to admire the handy work and how compact it was. She jumped when Newt coughed and took it as a signal to start programing. She pressed the small button on the side which she knew to open up to the microchip the small hard drive, and flipped the switch that reset the jump code.

“There, you should be good now.”

“Thanks Gen, this is really weird.”

“Yeah Newt, I’ll see you around?” She asked forcing a question into her tone. If she was being honest with herself, Gen wishes she could just progress a year into the future right that second. She didn’t want to have to wait around until she could finally have her project done, she wanted the access now. She also wondered what Newt and Hype’s story was, and how they came to be her companions.

“Maybe not too soon,” Newt said, breaking Gen out of her mental tangent, “but we will meet someday, don’t worry.” He turned around and strode out of the hall the way he came, leaving Gen to be a mess of emotions and unanswered questions.

Was that even real?  she thought as she headed back to the lab How can it possibly be?  As she was having her own mental breakdown she remembered the piece of paper she was clutching in her hands. She looked at the note again and it gave her the confidence she needed to finish the text to her mom and run through her presentation once more.