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[Neonerd, VideoArt by
Paulo R. C. Barros - Sci-Fi short story by Carlos Relva]
NEONERD
by Carlos Relva
- We're at a safety distance from Earth, sir. Waiting your order to
initiate the tests with the new antimatter generator.
Dr. Jeno "Neonerd" Tapoulos always exaggerates with forms. We're long
time friends, since college times, and he wasn't so formal with me then.
Also, it was me who gave him the nick "Neonerd". He always liked collect
old "nerd stuff" and introduce it under some new guise.
About the test, many experts believed the new and powerful antimatter
generator was dangerous. For this reason, we would carefully test it on
a spaceship, far from Earth. Neonerd, on the contrary, declared
categorically that there was in no way any danger. In fact, he was proud
and excited with the experience. If it was successful, it would mark a
new step for space trips.
- Get on! - I ordered without ceremony.
The generator was turned on. It was curious how it sounded like the old
50's sci-fi movies antimatter generators. Coincidence? It's possible, my
friend, perhaps no. I'd have to verify latter. Neonerd has a peculiar
sense of humour.
However, the sound got louder and louder... I was far from the mechanism
but, even so, it was deafening. And it made the ship structure quiver.
Definitively there was something wrong.
And, to worsen the situation, I was at the monitor and Neonerd was stuck
on the generator, like attracted by a giant magnet. Electrical outlets
issued from the machine made him quake. Despite the noise encroaching
the ship, I heard the Dr. stamme out some unintelliible words in the
speaker. How long would his protection clothes still hold?
- Turn the fucking machine off! - I ordered my assistents.
...
Some time later, I met Neonerd at the ER. He looked fine.
- What really happened? - I asked him.
- I'm not sure. When I turned the generator on, I feel as if I was
reaching out for an other dimension! But that "universe" was starting
right now! Seconds after, I watched a Big Bang, and the formation of a
planet and the starting of a new life form.
- An "antilive" being?
- Yeah. But they knew everything I know. "They", because they multiplied
very quickly. They were all identical to me, they had my shape. But they
had evolved in flames, even if they wouldn't be consumed... Nevertheless,
they wouldn't treat me like one of them. I was a sort of god or a demon.
I had created them.
- A lot of Neonerds? - I ironized but regretted immediately. No time for
games. - Why did you say "demons"?
- That reality was strange. - he explained. - Chaos winning against
order! But the world of these creatures, even consumed by the fire,
showed geometrically ordained structures. Each being seemed to live in a
cubícle, moving and moving systematically, All of them identical, a
collectivity constantly growing. A hell bureaucratically run.
The explanation didn't make much sense. But I didn't ask more details.
Neonerd needed some rest.
- Well... - I said - If was so bad, we did a favor to those poor lives
when turned the generator off.
I'm not sure.They knew that when the machine would be off, all stuff
would disappear immediately. They beg for their existences, implored
that we wouldn't turn off.
- They wanted to live in that real hell?
- I asked about that. They answered that if this hell was the only world
they could have, that ardent hell would be a paradise to them. |