Teleportation, Inc.
- Mister Levi, can you briefly explain to the court how a teleportation device works? Very briefly.
- Of course. We use the Schliemann technique to break atoms so that they’re in two positions at the same time. Then we use those atoms to build molecules. These molecules rotate and are capable of grabbing other particles on one end and dropping them on the other end. We build two panels with the opposing molecules of the atoms so that when we push something on one of them it comes out on the other one.
- And this process is considered safe…
- It’s not completely foolproof, but it’s relatively safe, yes.
- Mister Levi, how many people die every year in teleportation?
- During the teleportation itself? Fifty to sixty a year, roughly.
- And why do these people die?
- Could be a series of things. Most times it’s just a delayed receiver, which would be a result of lack of maintenance. Other times it’s a faulty transmitter, of course. Still, almost one-third of the deaths have nothing to do with the equipment and are attributed to human error.
- Can you tell us more about those human errors?
- When someone or something is being teleported, the speed at which the body is pushed into the panel has to be synchronized with the rotation speed of the molecules, so that disassembly on one side is done at the same rate as reassembly on the other side. If someone is going through and we suddenly stop pushing, their body gets torn in two. If someone is pushed too hastily, some inner organs will likely get mangled and the person will probably die.
- But that usually doesn’t happen, right?
- Right. It’s very difficult for that to happen. People are pushed by machines, those machines get constant maintenance, they are operated only by specialized technicians… But still, it is possible, and it does happen.
- Those fifty to sixty deaths a year… Is there any specific distribution across the globe?
- None whatsoever. It’s completely random. Contrary to what the news says, there’s no statistical model to let us know where the next death could take place.
- With that information, wouldn’t you say that two people dying in the same facility one year, and two more the year after, is an incredible coincidence?
- Yes, it is.
- Perhaps even more than a coincidence?
Another voice was suddenly heard:
- Objection!
- Sustained. Please try not to lead the witness.
- Your honor, the goal here is to assess whether this is something we can merely accept as normal, or if the company should have done something to prevent further deaths.
- Then please rephrase your statement as such.
- Very well.
The lawyer spoke to Mr. Levi again:
- With so many deaths in the same facility, wouldn’t it be expected that the owners do something about it?
- There’s only so much they can do. The equipment is being properly maintained. Their staff has been properly trained. I honestly don’t know what else they could have done. It’s just a huge coincidence.
- An extremely unlikely coincidence.
- Yes. An extremely unlikely coincidence.
The lawyer took a couple of seconds before the next question.
- Mr. Levi… You’re probably aware of who these passengers were.
- It’s all over the news, yes.
- Not only did four people die, but they all shared something in common.
- They did.
The lawyer took a few seconds more.
- Mr. Levi… Would someone in a teleportation facility be able to kill a passenger?
- Not like this, no.
- What do you mean, not like this?
- Well, you could bludgeon someone to death anywhere. A facility is no exception. But by using the panels? Not a chance. Not without tampering with the system, and that would be impossible to do without us noticing. The parameters are set automatically, the technician only has to work the restraints and the interface, and everything was properly done.
- Mr. Levi… Four witnesses to the same process don’t just die in the period of six months, and if they do, they certainly don’t all die the same death!
- I know. But it did happen. We checked everything. Everything’s normal. Everything was done properly. There was no foul play.
If the questions inside the courthouse were tough, then nothing would have prepared Mr. Levi for the journalists outside:
- Mr. Levi, do you think the Teleportation Inc. needs to revise its security guidelines?
- Mr. Levi, are you teleporting your way home?
- Mr. Levi, will your company be compensating the families of the victims?
Mr. Levi, however, was not on trial.
His company was merely handling the connections. They didn’t even make the panels anymore.
Anyone with sufficient money could buy two panels, send them to two different cities and establish a connection.
Anyone with a lot of money could buy several panels and assemble a network.
All major cities were now connected to at least half of the other major cities in the globe.
Smaller cities, on the other hand, were usually connected to just one larger city.
Still, and aside from some notable exceptions, it was possible to travel between any two major cities with just 2 travels.
With 50–60 deaths a year — much fewer than by any other means of transportation — everyone who could afford the system was using it.
Some companies were even using it internally.
Mr. Levi got into his car and headed home.
He didn’t linger behind to know more about the case.
He couldn’t care less what would happen to the owners of those panels, and likely nothing would happen, aside from a decrease in numbers.
All that he cared about was heading back to his post, managing teleportations, keeping an eye on the names that popped up to see if somebody else on his list showed up, and altering the numbers so they’d never reach their destination in one piece.
