SHORT FICTION
A Dire Warning About the Dangers of Playing God (CERN — Large Hadron Collider)
CERN’s particle accelerator went crazy, opening the gates to another dimension, resulting in a fight for our planet and our very survival. (Interdimensional Talks -Episode 7)
ABOUT THE SHOW:
Ladies and gentlemen, alien or domestic, Welcome to Interdimensional Talks with your host Mike!
The only fictional radio show in the world broadcasting across the universe and the multiverse. Listen in as we talk to the most diverse bunch of guests you can possibly imagine. We’re talking aliens, ethereal beings, artificial intelligence, and even humans from parallel universes.
Suspend your disbelief, open your mind, and join us on a journey of fascinating exploration of ideas. Grab a drink and enjoy the show.
EPISODE 7:
As the gates to another dimension opened, something came through
Good evening, dear listeners. It’s time for another episode of Interdimensional Talks with your favorite host, Mike. I hope you are familiar with The Large Hadron Collider (LHC), located at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. It’s the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator. The project’s primary goal is to explore the fundamental nature of the universe by studying the smallest known particles and the forces that govern them. Scientists aim to recreate the conditions of the early universe fractions of a second after the Big Bang.
This is where they found the famous Higgs boson particle in 2012. Essentially, it’s a circular accelerator ring buried underground with a circumference of 27 kilometers (17 miles). It’s designed to accelerate protons or heavy ions to nearly the speed of light. The particle beams then collide, producing extremely high-energy collisions. These collisions generate new particles that physicists then study.
That’s the official explanation. Many have insinuated that there’s more to this CERN monstrosity than it being a simple particle accelerator. Some argue that scientists are playing with fire, and there is even a danger of creating black holes that could consume the whole of humanity. Then, there are those who have darker, more sinister theories. Many believe that the accelerator has transported us to a parallel universe, as the world seems to have gone completely mad in the last couple of years. It’s hard to argue with that point. Still, as far as we know, we’re the same people in the same universe, just a little crazier than before.
Today’s guest lives in a parallel universe, on Earth number 243254. Unfortunately, they weren’t as lucky! Things went horribly wrong when they turned on the particle accelerator. He’s here to tell us their story and issue a dire warning against playing God.
In the interest of his safety, we will conceal his real name and alter his voice. Being a whistle-blower is dangerous, especially on their Earth, or so I’m told. We’re going to call him Robert.
Mike: “Wellcome to the show, Robert. I’m so happy you could make it.”
Robert: “I would say it’s a pleasure, but you know… with all the secrecy and looming danger, it’s anything but.”
Mike: “We appreciate your effort. What made you come on the show despite knowing it might endanger your life?”
Robert: “Not just my life. If the powers that be find out who I am, my whole family will be erased from existence.”
Mike: “Why take the risk, then?”
Robert: “Someone has to warn people of the dangers of that collider. I just hope I’m not too late.”
Mike: “I get the feeling you’re not talking just about our listeners from other universes.”
Robert: “I’m not.”
Mike: “So, this is a secret on your Earth?”
Robert: “Yes. People have to deal with the consequences but don’t know what caused them. The governments are playing dumb and staying silent. I can’t say I blame them. They’re responsible for millions of deaths around the world. People aren’t exactly in a forgiving mood.”
Mike: “We have to back it up a little bit. Our listeners don’t know what you’re talking about. Can you please tell us what you believe happened?”
Robert: “I don’t believe anything, Mike! I was there. I saw it happen!”
Mike: “You were at the collider when they turned it on?”
Robert: “Yes. I worked there.”
Mike: “That’s great. Well, for us, as we get the first-hand information. We’re all ears. Start at the beginning.”
Robert: “It all started so well. It took us a couple of years, but finally, after three years of upgrades and tests, we did the impossible. Beams have been circulating for almost four years at a record collision energy of 13.6 TeV.”
Mike: “I’ll pretend I know what this means.”
Robert: “It means we did it. That is sufficient energy for us to study the effects of collision. In July 2022, we ran the new program with updated hardware. It was meant to increase the collision energy by 10%. We achieved that in the first four hours after the update. We were all so happy! You have no idea what kind of an achievement that was for us.
But then, the collision energy kept rising and rising. We couldn’t believe our eyes: 15 TeV, 16, 17, 18, 20 teraelectronvolt. This was our ten-year goal, and we achieved it in just 10 hours. The data was eye-watering! Excited, we kept toasting our amazing success. If only we had known… (a silent pause).”
Mike: “Is that what caused it? 20 TeV collisions?”
Robert: “No. Those were still safe levels. Something went wrong, an overload. I think it was from an external power source. They never said, and we were never allowed to investigate after the shutdown.”
Mike: “What then?”
Robert: “It appeared we had achieved stable speed and energy. For days, everything worked like a dream. We learned more in that week than in previous decades. It was almost worth the risk. Almost.”
Mike: “What happened then?”
Robert: “The data we were receiving live stopped making any sense. It was as if the laws of physics suddenly stopped existing. The math was all wrong, and the math is never wrong. We didn’t even know what we were looking at anymore. It was… gibberish, I guess.”
Mike: “A malfunction?”
Robert: “We thought so, too. We stared at that data for four more weeks before we realized something terrible had happened. You see, we were isolated for this experiment to protect rights, patents, and secrets. We had no contact with the outside world. Please understand — we didn’t know! None of us knew what was going on! We were cut off from the rest of the world.”
Mike: I understand. What weren’t you aware of?”
Robert: “We unleashed something into this world — something not from here, something that doesn’t belong in our universe. By the time we got the news, it was reported that roughly seventy billion people had died or were missing. Seventy-three million souls were lost in just four weeks.”
Mike: “Oh my God! What could have caused such devastation?”
Robert: “(sobbing sounds) I don’t know. I don’t know what they are.”
Mike: “Who?”
Robert: “The creatures. Entities. Aliens. Demons. I don’t know. No one knows. They began appearing out of nowhere all over the world. It was as if our world collided and our realities blended into one. One day, we were alone. The next, these beings were everywhere. In the forests. In the streets. In our homes. Everywhere!”
Mike: “How is that even possible? They must have come from somewhere.”
Robert: “We thought so, too, but it doesn’t add up. If it were an invasion, there would be signs. Space ships, portals, entry points — something, anything.”
Mike: “There wasn’t?”
Robert: “No. Nothing. They just appeared out of nowhere in the billions. One moment, you’re eating dinner with your family. The next, you’re fighting for your life. Locked doors and all.”
Mike: “What’s the theory? Who are they? How did they get there?”
Robert: “Some people think it’s the apocalypse. It sure feels that way.”
Mike: “Judgement day?”
Robert: “Yeah, that sort of stuff. Demons consuming our souls.”
Mike: “No offense, Robert, but you’re a scientist — you know that is nonsense, right?”
Robert: “Of course. It’s rather convincing nonsense, though. When you stand face to face with one of these demons, they really do look like they came from hell itself. Vile fucking monsters!”
Mike: “You faced one yourself?”
Robert: “You don’t seem to understand, Mike. We all have! They’re everywhere!”
Mike: “How did you survive?”
Robert: “A shotgun did the trick. I blew a hole right through that bastard! I can still smell his guts in my living room.”
Mike: “Fuck! I’m sorry, Robert. That sounds awful.”
Robert: “I was one of the lucky ones. Most people aren’t armed. Most of the world doesn’t have guns in their homes. Most of them are dead.”
Mike: “Wait! I thought you said seventy-three million people died. There’s more?”
Robert: “Seventy-three million people are estimated for the first four weeks, Michael. That was almost two years ago. We’ve been fighting these monsters for what feels like forever.”
Mike: “Jesus Fucking Christ, Robert!
Robert: “He’s not helping. No one is.”
Mike: “What is the government doing about it? The military?”
Robert: “They’re fighting as best they can, but they can’t just blow them up with bombs. It’s not a separate front we’re fighting. So, it’s mostly close corter combat. They keep appearing and disappearing. Some stay here permanently as if trapped, while others appear seemingly out of nowhere and disappear just as they appeared. Into thin fucking air.”
Mike: “Teleportation? How do you think they do that?”
Robert: “I don’t think they do anything. Not on purpose, anyway.”
Mike: “What do you mean?”
Robert: “I believe they’re just as surprised by these occurrences as we are. They’re just better at reacting and killing us before we kill them.”
Mike: “What do they look like? Can you describe them to us?”
Robert: “Sure. They’re not all the same — far from it. We’ve identified thousands of invading species unlike any we know. But the “demons” are kind of like us. They walk on two feet with two eyes and arms, yet they’re nothing like us. They don’t use weapons. They don’t need to. It’s like they don’t even have technology, making this whole thing even more difficult to explain. They share some properties with reptiles. Some even live in the oceans. I don’t know. It’s like… (silence).
Mike: “Like? Go on, give us your theory.”
Robert: “It’s like they developed on Earth into the top of the food chain species, just like us. But on a different Earth. Where everything is the same but also different. Oh, and we identified foreign plant life as well.”
Mike: “Aliens brought plants with them?”
Robert: “That’s the thing, Mike. I don’t think they’re aliens.”
Mike: “Or demons?”
Robert: “Or demons.”
Mike: “What — who are they, then?”
Robert: “They’re us from a parallel universe.”
Mike: “Are you suggesting that two parallel realities collided somehow? They didn’t invade your Earth. They are just as surprised by your appearance as you are. That would mean…”
Robert: “Exactly! We messed something up with our particle collider — shifted frequencies. I’ve done the measurements, and none of them make any sense. You know that the Earth has a particular vibration, a sound, right?”
Mike: “Yes, of course. The Schumann Resonance. Right?”
Robert: “Yes. Do you happen to know what is yours? For your Earth, I mean?”
Mike: “Not off the top of my head, but that is what the internet is for. Give me a second. It says the fundamental frequency of the Schumann Resonance is around 7.83 Hz, although it can vary slightly.”
Robert: “I thought so. We all have different frequencies. Ours was 8.16 Hz.”
Mike: “Was? It changed?”
Robert: “Yeah. It’s not perfectly constant, as it is. It fluctuates slightly, depending on the Earth’s magnetic field and atmospheric conditions. Anyway, now it’s 5.95 Hz.”
Mike. “Wow.”
Robert: “That’s not all. We’ve been experiencing changes in the laws of physics, the structure of space-time, and the nature of reality itself. Something caused strange gravitational effects, fluctuations in the electromagnetic field, and the appearance of exotic particles and energies we’ve never seen before. Even time seems to run differently now. We feel different, and I’m not talking about fear. Something’s off. I know it’s hard to explain, but something has definitely changed.”
Mike: “Can you fix it? Reverse it somehow?”
Robert: “I have no idea. I’m banned from the site. My whole team is. I don’t know what they’re doing in there.”
Mike: “If you had to guess?”
Robert: “I would guess the answer is no. Whatever we did, whatever we created by the experiment seems irreversible. Otherwise, it would have gone away as soon as the machine was powered down. There are mistakes you can’t fix, Mike.”
Mike: “So what is the solution? What can you do?”
Robert: “When you can’t change what happened, all you can do is adapt and learn to live with it.”
Mike: “Find a way to coexist with these creatures? Do you think that’s possible?”
Robert: “I don’t know. I hope so. Otherwise, we’ll just exterminate each other, and we all lose.”
Mike: “I sense you have compassion for these demons.”
Robert: “I’ve seen so many of them die — slow, painful deaths. They’re sick — all of them. Well, so are we, but we have antibiotics to combat the invading bacteria. They don’t.”
Mike: “Our bacteria is attacking them?”
Robert: “You know how you visit another country, and you can’t drink their local water because you’ll get sick from bacteria your gut isn’t used to?”
Mike: “Sure.”
Robert: “Like that times a billion. I’ve done… (silence) I’m not proud of what I’ve done. (silence)”
Mike: “It’s okay. I understand.”
Robert: “I’ve done experiments on them. On a lot of these beings. I’ve… I’ve killed many of them. (silence).”
Mike: “I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, or you had no choice.”
Robert: “Most of it wasn’t. But they still died under my supervision. I watched them cling on for dear life, only to see it slip away. I saw the emotional reactions in the group when one of them died. They feel the pain of their passing. They mourn. Just like we do.”
Mike: “What did you find out?”
Robert: “Their genomes are not all that different from ours. Humans typically have 46 chromosomes, while reptiles, for example, can have a range of a few to over a hundred chromosomes.”
Mike: “You said they look a bit like reptiles. Are they like an evolution of reptiles?”
Robert: “You catch on quickly, Mike. Their genome contains a mixture of structural genomic elements characteristic of both humans and reptiles. There are differences in chromosome structure, organization, and repetitive DNA sequences, of course, but that’s to be expected.”
Mike: “So, your theory is that they are from a parallel universe, from Earth, but they developed through evolution from reptiles, not mammals?”
Robert: “Something like that. Humans and reptiles share a common ancestor, the vertebrates. I suppose it’s possible that dinosaurs didn’t go extinct on their Earth. They just evolved with time. I don’t know. It’s just a theory.”
Mike: “A fascinating theory, Robert. Are these beings intelligent?”
Robert: “I think so, but not like us. You know how we suddenly had an epiphany as humans and started using tools and writing?”
Mike: “Sure. A couple of thousand years ago.”
Robert: “It’s a bit more than that, but okay. Well, they appear to be at a stage right before that. I’ve noticed family structures, empathy, and emotions I didn’t expect from them. From demons who have slaughtered almost all my friends and family.”
Mike: “I’m sorry, Robert. Wait. How many people have died in these past couple of years in total?”
Robert: “Nobody knows for sure. We can’t keep track, and our society is in disarray. We’re just pockets of surviving humans now. Billions were lost. With a B.”
Mike: “That’s terrible. And how many of them, of the demons, do you reckon, died during this time?”
Robert: “A lot. Maybe a bit less than us, but we’ve gotten pretty good at killing them as well. Most were killed by bacteria, though. Our little guardians. Who would have thought, ay?”
Mike: “I can’t even imagine, friend. So now what?”
Robert: “Now we either exterminate each other in the next couple of years or… (silence).”
Mike: “Who do you think would win eventually?”
Robert: “Those with technology. Us. But the cost would be horrific.”
Mike: “Give us the alternative then. Instead of killing each other, what do you suggest?”
Robert: “That we find a way to coexist on this planet. It appears our two universes collided or merged in some way. We should all be dead, but somehow, we’re not. I guess we’re lucky, after all.”
Mike: “Do you think it’s possible?”
Robert: “I hope it is.”
Mike: “Have you found a way to communicate with them?”
Robert: “No, not directly. I think they communicate non-verbally.”
Mike: “Telepathy?”
Robert: “That’s a bit of a stretch. Perhaps they talk to each other using scents, hormones, and pheromones — you know, like animals.”
Mike: “And you think we can talk to them this way?”
Robert: “We lack specialized organs like vomeronasal organs to detect pheromones. Besides, how does one convey the right message with hormones?”
Mike: “You’re the scientist, not me.”
Robert: “I’m a physicist, not a biologist or whoever would be able to solve this mystery.”
Mike: “What then? What do you suggest?”
Robert: “I bonded with one of them during my experiments. I think the female understood I wasn’t trying to hurt her. She ceased being aggressive. We made significant progress, but then she succumbed to her illness. They are intelligent; we just have to find a way to teach a few of them to understand us. I think it’s possible. Once we achieve a basic understanding of each other, they can be our messengers.”
Mike: “Train some of them to understand you, and then have them talk to others?”
Robert: “Yes, something like that.”
Mike: “Will that work?”
Robert: “We have to try. I’ve already given you the alternative.”
Mike: “What makes you think the government hasn’t tried something similar by now?”
Robert: “It’s entirely possible. If that were the case, though, I would expect to see some progress. There’s been none that I can see.”
Mike: “Is there any chance they could be listening to this broadcast, and this system of ours would translate the message to them in a way they could understand it?”
Robert: “That’s the hope, Mike.”
Mike: “So that’s the real reason you came to our show, isn’t it?”
Robert: “Yes. I wanted to warn all of you about the dangers of the particle collider, but I also hoped someone from their side was listening to the show. I know it’s a long shot, but you never know. I have to hold on to hope. For our children’s sake and theirs.”
Mike: “Absolutely. We’ll gladly help to the best of our ability. Tell you what, we’ll record this message and transmit it on all frequencies and translations in the multiverse. Perhaps we get lucky, and something good comes of this. Fingers crossed. Maybe someone will know how to talk to them, or maybe they’ll be able to understand the message. Hell, we don’t know how any of this works, so who knows. It’s worth a shot, Robert. What do you say?”
Robert: “That would be great, Mike. I’m grateful for any help you can provide.”
Mike: “Deal. The floor is yours.”
Robert: “To anyone who is listening out there. We’ve made a grave mistake. It wasn’t intentional. We never meant to hurt anyone, and we are so very sorry. Something went wrong with the particle accelerator, and unforeseen consequences followed. Somehow, our two worlds became one. Both our peoples live on the same planet called Earth, just in different universes or dimensions. We call them parallel universes. We don’t even notice each other as long as they’re apart.
Something went wrong, though, and now we all possess the same planet. Two became one. We have to find a way to coexist. We can’t fix it or turn back time. We have to stop killing each other! Haven’t there been enough deaths already? This can only end in one of two ways: we either find a way to communicate and coexist on the same planet, or we end up exterminating one another. I choose the first option. How about you?
Let us find a way to communicate and organize. This way, we will be able to find a solution that will work for all. It won’t be ideal, but it’s better than the alternative. The alternative is death, yours and mine, and the destruction of everything we hold dear. Let us forget the past and focus our efforts on ensuring a safe and prosperous future for the next generations. We are better than this! We just need to communicate and choose a better future for our children.
If anyone out there can help, please do what you can to bring our two societies together. I repeat, we never wanted any of this. We don’t mean you harm. We are frightened. We are hurt. We are confused. We’ve lost so many people. I know you have, too. Let’s stop this madness and find a way forward — together.
Now, I speak to my people, the humans of Earth. My brothers and sisters. I know you’re scared, angry, and desperate. I am, too. I want you to understand that these beings aren’t demons. They’re not aliens, either. They are you and me, from another dimension or another universe. We could have been them had our evolution developed differently. Earth is just as much their home as it is ours. None can claim it for ourselves without exterminating the other entirely. Is this what you want? Endless fields of death and decay? Genocide?
I don’t believe they desire to kill us all. They’re just as scared and confused as we are. They, too, are fighting for their survival, caught in a whirlwind of changes they can’t possibly comprehend. I’ve spent time with them, examined them, and gotten to know them. They are not feral animals but intelligent beings with their own culture and families. I know they just want to survive in peace despite their terrifying appearance.
Let us focus on finding a way to talk, not just kill one another. I believe there is hope. We owe it to ourselves to try everything we can. They communicate nonverbally, like most animals on our planet, using scent, hormones, and pheromones. I implore the world’s scientists to explore this theory and find a way to communicate.
We can always go back to killing each other should we fail in this task. I will do what I can, but can’t do it alone. I believe in our ability to overcome this problem, as we’ve overcome every single challenge in the past. I believe in us. I believe in you. Good luck to us all!”
Mike: “That was great, Robert. I hope your message reaches the right people. We’ll do our part.”
Robert: “Thank you, Mike. I’m afraid I have to go now. I’ve exposed myself for way too long on the air. It’s only a matter of time before they find me.”
Mike: “I understand. It was a pleasure to talk to you, and I wish you and your people all the best.”
Robert: “Thank you. Heed my warning, Mike. Don’t repeat the same mistakes we did. Goodbye.”
Mike: “Well, there you have it, folks. Robert warned us of a terrible danger, and I will make sure our scientists receive his message. I’m sure what happened to his people was a random freak accident and that we are in no such danger, but it’s best to be sure. I have the highest respect for the man.
He not only risked his life to get the message out. He also chose to forgive the enemies that have slaughtered most of humanity because he understands something fundamental about living beings in this endless universe of ours. We all just want to live, love, be happy, and thrive in our own ways.
He understands the importance of communication and setting aside emotions and grudges to ensure a brighter future for the next generation. That is what a good man looks like, dear friends. I’m proud to have done my part and will do what I can to get his message out. If you can help, contact them or get in touch with us, and we’ll convey the message if we can. I’ll drink to the victory of communication over violence and hope it prevails on their planet.
Good night, ladies and gentlemen. You listened to Interdimensional Talks, and I was your host, Mike. Tune in next time to the best and only radio show broadcasting across the multiverse!”
THE END
PREVIOUS EPISODES:
Ascending Into Digital Form: What Is It Like To Have No Body?
In a parallel universe, humanity transcended their bodies to live in a digital world. Would you upload your consciousness to the cloud in exchange for immortality? (Interdimensional Talks -Episode 6)
The Mystery of the Lost City of Atlantis Finally Solved
What happened to the ancient city of Atlantis? We talk to a descendant of the ancient Atlantians, and they reveal the fascinating truth! (Interdimensional Talks — Episode 5)
Do You Want To Live Forever?
How does it feel to be immortal? What is life without death? What would you ask a man with an eternal life? (Interdimensional Talks — Episode 4)
What Would You Ask an Alien Predator While Being Hunted?
A terrifying interview with a starving alien desperately trying to eat us on his journey of radical transparency. (Interdimensional Talks — Episode 3)
What If You Forgot Everything In a Collective Amnesia Every 364 Days?
Can you imagine a life without memories? A new year — a new you! How would it feel to be free from your past? (Interdimensional Talks — Episode 2)
Interview With a Self-Aware Artificial General Intelligence
What would you ask a conscious artificial intelligence? Is AI dangerous? Can AI teach us anything? (Interdimensional Talks — Episode 1)
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