Into the Heliosphere - The God Particle Expedition

May 13th, 2050

I will attempt to recreate yesterday’s events, though uncertain I can truly convey what we experienced.

The day began at 0700. A quiet, somber atmosphere enveloped the galley as the team gathered for breakfast. Each member sat lost in thought, contemplating their role in the upcoming experiment. Anticipation and worry were etched on their faces. Some had been part of the Hadro project before, witnessing failures and the loss of colleagues in the pursuit to understand the universe. Others harbored doubts about the existence of God or any divine particle.

Theo and Vector exchanged weary glances, their minds replaying past experiences. Others wore expressions of tentative hope, grappling with the weight of the mission. Silence lingered, broken only by the occasional clink of cutlery against plates, as the team braced themselves for what lay ahead.

Buzz walked into the galley, a crucifix around his neck glinting under the lights, a testament to his Catholic faith. Gene glanced up, chuckled, and asked, “Do you really think that will protect you from what might happen today?”

In a deep, foreboding voice, Buzz smiled and replied, “We’re venturing into the unknown. A bit of extra protection can’t hurt. I trust that God will watch over us as we embark on this journey.”

Gene smiled and nodded. “One can only hope for divine intervention if we’re to succeed.” Reflecting back to her time as a Buddhist, she chuckled, “Perhaps I’ll turn into a cow,” This prompted laughter that broke the tension in the room.

By 0800, the crew had left the galley and settled into their designated stations, ready to collect data from this innovative and uncharted adventure.

Juan sat in his co-pilot’s seat, staring at his instruments, mentally going through the procedures to engage the propulsion drive. This drive is the first of its kind. Capable of pushing a ship beyond the speed of light. Concern and anxiety were etched on his face.

Sitting next to Juan in his pilot’s seat, Buzz nervously reviewed the step-by-step documentation for piloting the craft as it approached the speed of light. He was responsible for implementing the emergency shutdown procedures.

Buzz turned to Juan, wide-eyed and filled with excitement and anxiety, laughed nervously, and said, “I hope these emergency procedures work. It has never been tested. I may blow us up.”

Everyone within earshot laughed, as one does in a dangerous situation that may end in disaster. We were genuinely venturing into the unknown. Conventional wisdom holds that everything slows down as an object moves toward the speed of light. Theories also suggest that time itself may actually stop.

Theo, Vector, Gene, and I sat at our designated consoles, waiting for Buzz to initiate the propulsion drive.

At precisely 0850 on May 12th, 2050, Buzz looked over his shoulder, a look of determination etched on his face, he whispered, “Here we go.”

With anxiety and excitement beaming from our faces, we each nodded, confirming we were ready.

Buzz reached to his left and flipped the first of two toggle switches. I could feel the propulsion drive’s first stage engage. A gentle rumble could be felt throughout God Speed. Looking around anticipation was etched on everyone’s face.

Buzz said “So far so good,”

I realized that my breathing had quickened. My heart raced, anticipating the G-force we would soon feel as we achieved the speed of light. My mind exploded with images as to what would happen and wondered whether we would be destroyed.

In the history of human space travel, no human has ever traveled beyond the speed of light.

Looking around the room, no one moved; we were lost in our thoughts, waiting for this monumental event to begin.

Excitement in his voice, Buzz yelled over the propulsion drive’s humming, “Here we go.”

He flipped the second switch. Activating the booster rocket. I heard a slight swish-like wind racing through a tunnel. Then, bang! We were violently thrown back into our seats—a force more significant than that experienced leaving Earth’s gravitational pull.

Buzz monitored his console’s instruments, reading out the speed changes as the craft propelled toward our goal. We were violently shaking in our seats. I felt as if my teeth would be jarred out of my head.

With clinched teeth and In a muffled voice, I heard Juan reading out the G-force we felt as the God Speed propelled us forward. At one point, in a high-pitched groan, he yelled, “We are at maximum G-force!”

Suddenly, a blinding light consumed the interior of the ship. Immediately, a peculiar sensation consumed me, as if my body was being stretched, reshaped, and distorted. I watched in awe as the faces of my team members twisted and contorted, their mouths hanging open in shock.

Each one seemed trapped in their own state of bewilderment. The scene reminded me of my childhood, watching taffy being pulled and stretched—a perfect analogy for the strange, elastic feeling I was experiencing.

Sitting there, surrounded by an alien, surreal environment, I struggled to comprehend my emotions. The blinding flash that had erupted around us was now replaced by an oppressive darkness. The ship felt suspended in time, with no sense of forward motion.

I heard Buzz take a deep breath, his voice filled with excitement and wonder. “We have gone beyond the speed of light. I think we have entered Transluminal space! he declared.

His words were swallowed by the profound silence that followed as we grappled with the unending blackness that enveloped us. The darkness was so complete that I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face. The silence was defining.

A deep, unsettling foreboding hung in the air, a stark reminder of our isolation. I couldn’t shake the thought: would we ever see light again?

As everyone began to gather their senses, conversations echoed through the ship. Everyone attempting to understand the unending darkness and how to move forward.

In a high-pitched voice, Gene asks, “Can anyone see anything. I feel as if I am blind. The blackness is complete, deprived of any light.”

Everyone, some in panicked voices, responded almost simultaneously, “I cannot see anything.”

Buzz’s calm voice came over the radio, “Calm down, let’s start figuring out how to get internal lighting back on.”

With great relief, the ship’s consoles began to light up, followed by all internal lighting.

I looked out into the abyss, squinting, straining to see anything. Suddenly, a tiny white light approached the ship’s main viewing window. It grew in size as it quickly closed the distance. Our internal lights went dark. All consoles remained lighted.

Everyone stood from their seats, staring in awe at this anomaly floating before us.

A thought came to me: “Is this a star that will consume us?”

It stopped and hovered near the ship. A bright celestial light flooded the cabin, surrounded by a calming blue hue. A warm feeling consumed me. Staring into this fantastic phenomenon, unfazed by its brightness, a sense of peace washed over me.

Observing my team members’ expressions, I could see the light had the same effect on them. I have never felt so calm and at peace. I could hear the monitoring equipment’s alarm bells blaring, but I could not do anything about it.

A vaguely familiar voice could be heard mumbling, “We have passed the speed of light.” It was Buzz. I turned to my right, seeing an expression of wonder and bewilderment on his face. I can only imagine he saw the same expression on my visage.

At that moment, time seemed to stand still. We were suspended in a timeless void, able to move only our heads, surrounded by surreal tranquility. The bending and reshaping of our bodies had stopped.

From my vantage point, looking out the port-side window, I beheld a breathtaking panorama of existence. I saw my life unfold before me from birth to the present moment. A being floated toward me, a female. Surprised and excited, I shouted, “It is my mother.” The sound was immediately muffled. No one seemed to hear me. She smiled and nodded to me, a sight that felt humbling and awe-inspiring. I wonder if this is what is seen when we die.?

She floated near me, her right arm outstretched, a gentle smile gracing her face as she turned and pointed.

In the distance, a small figure began to approach, growing more apparent with each passing moment. As it drew nearer, tears welled up in my eyes. The figure was a beautiful young girl with long blond hair and piercing blue eyes that captivated me. With a sudden cry of joy, I realized she was my daughter, her smile unmistakably familiar.

As she walked toward me, her voice was like a melody, “Hi, Daddy. I’m doing well. Know that there is life after death, and God will bring you to me.”

She reached out, her hands tenderly cradling my face. A warmth of love enveloped me. Tears streamed down my cheeks as I wept with joy and wonder. I hadn’t felt such peace and love in years.

Just as quickly as they had appeared, both vanished in the blink of an eye. Falling to my knees, I began to weep. The warmth and love was replace with an all encompassing emptiness. I struggled to comprehend what I had just experienced. Was it real? Had exceeding the speed of light-triggered some anomaly in my brain, creating these vivid images? My mind whorled attempting to make seance of this experience.

The encounter left me questioning everything. I desperately tried to regain that warm feeling of love and peace that had surrounded.

As quickly as the light appeared, darkness engulfed us. The vast expanse of emptiness and hopelessness returned. Dead silence consumed us.

Sitting in total darkness, I heard the computer’s hard drives spinning as it strove to collect as much data as possible on this phenomenon. Little did I care.

Free from our paralyzes, the team scrambled to analyze the incoming data, revealing unprecedented levels of radiation and energy.

When out of the blackness, a glimmering orb approached. Behind the orb, a beautiful being rose.

We stared in stunned silence as the glimmering orb hovered in place, casting a soft, radiant glow across the darkness of space. The being that stood upon it was unlike anything I had ever seen—its form shimmering with ethereal light, a mixture of human grace and celestial mystery.

Its voice, pure and melodic, reverberated through the ship, speaking directly to our hearts. “Welcome. Is this what you were looking for?”

Buzz glanced at Juan, whose eyes were wide in awe.

Vector, ever the scientist, was already reaching for his instruments, but even he seemed to hesitate. No one dared break the silence for a moment, unsure what to make of this extraordinary encounter.

Finally, I found my voice, stepping forward to address the being. “What… are you?”

The being met my gaze. Its eyes filled deep with knowledge, and smiled serenely. “I am the keeper of what lies beyond. But it is not I who brought you here. It is your search for answers”.

We were frozen, mesmerized by the overwhelming beauty. It smiled and, with a flash that momentarily blinded us, the orb and the being were gone. We were again in complete blackness.

In an instant, the tranquility shattered. The craft shuddered violently. We were suddenly yanked back into standard space. The G-forces were crushing, making every breath a struggle. As I fought to stay conscious, a single thought flashed through my mind: “At least I got to see my daughter.”

Silence enveloped us when the ship finally settled. Juan shut down the drive.

We sat, each lost in our thoughts, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Time seemed meaningless in that void. I have no idea how long we had been hurtling beyond the speed of light. Where had we been? When had we been?

Stunned and disoriented, we lingered at our consoles, replaying the experience.

Eventually, we drifted from the control room to the galley, where we sat in deep contemplation.

Hours passed as we silently shared a meal, each of us lost in our thoughts, trying to grasp what we’d encountered. One by one, we finished eating and unconsciously made our way to our berths. Some crew sought solace in sleep, while others simply sat, replaying the events repeatedly in their minds.

As I close this entry, I’m left bewildered by what we experienced. Was it real, or just some bizarre anomaly triggered by breaking the light-speed barrier?

There’s only one way to discover—we must return to Transluminal space armed with the knowledge and insights from this first incursion. I want to see my daughter again.

Now, knowing what lies ahead, we’ll be better prepared. But for now, I’m emotionally and intellectually drained. Sleep is what I need.

May 14th, 2050

I woke this morning emotionally exhausted. My mind filled with the wonder and confusion experienced yesterday. Was it real?

Walking into the galley, each team member sat alone, heads down, eating breakfast, stuck deep in their thoughts. Not one person lifted their head to see who entered. A heavy silence consumed the room. I heard a muffled grumble to my left. It was Theo. Only a few words could be heard. He said, "Is there…. Other lives…." He was not making sense.

Buzz appeared, grabbed his usual eggs and bacon, sat beside me, smiled, and nodded. His expressionwas blank, absent of any emotion.

Finishing his meal, he stood and looked around the galley; his voice held a monotonous drone, a dull sound that mirrored his detached demeanor. Buzz said, "Okay, before we get to analyzing data, I want to share what I experienced during yesterday's incursion to discover the God Particle."

He took a deep breath and began, "What happened yesterday was deeply unsettling. Right now, I cannot wrap my head around my experience. I believe it defies conventional science and logic. When we surpassed the speed of light and entered Transluminal space, I saw my life unfold before me.”

“It was like watching a movie reel in fast-forward, every significant moment on my life, playing out before me. But then, I saw something more." Tears began to flow down Buzz's face. "I saw my father walking, maybe floating toward me. He passed away years ago, and he spoke to me. A beautiful melodic voice filling me with warmth and love. He told me he was proud of what I had achieved and would always watch over me.”

“Before the image dissipated, my father reached out, touched my shoulder, smiled, and was gone. The warmth and love that poured into me was overwhelming. I did not want it to end. When he pulled away, I felt empty and lost. It was other worldly, too real to be a hallucination." Buzz bowed his head and sat down.

I stood and began speaking, "I saw my mother and daughter. My mother shone with a celestial glow, her smile overwhelming me with warmth and wonder, just as it had when I was a child. My daughter's long, beautiful blonde hair flowed behind her as if a gentle breeze were blowing from her face. Her stunning blue eyes pierced my soul, and their radiated energy consumed me. My only thought was I never wanted this feeling to leave me. My daughter said, 'Daddy, we are here waiting for you. Know that it is not too late for you. God will bring us together again. Then, they both slowly faded, replaced by the blackness of the abyss, leaving me with a cold emptiness."

I sat down and bowed my head as I felt that cold, dark emptiness.

Gene cleared her throat, her face glowing with peace and happiness. She spoke softly, "Throughout my life, I have searched for meaning. I've been an atheist, an agnostic, a Buddhist—nothing filled the emptiness inside me.”

“Yesterday, I saw something. Was it God, an alien? I don't know. It showed me the possibilities in my life; all I must do is surrender. It didn't say how to accomplish this. I want to experience that feeling again."

Juan jumped in excitedly. "I saw Mrs. Flores, our village's curandero (medicine woman). Her dark black hair flowed, contracting the celestial light encompassing her. She stared into my soul with those dark brown eyes. Mesmerizing me. I felt her peer into my soul. In a deep, commanding voice, said, 'Stay on the path with God. He does exist.’ She pointed at the small ball of celestial light. ‘That was created by God, who made the universe.' "Then she was gone. I was immobile for sometime as the darkness consumed me."

Vector shook his head. Concern and what appeared to be some trepidation were evident on his face. He said, "I saw nothing but blackness—no light, no being, nothing. I heard screams of agony coming from the abyss. I have always known that nothing existed beyond this life, and this proves it." There was a small quiver in his voice.

Theo nodded grimly. "I saw darkness, too, a deep nothingness that shook me to my core—a cold that no warmth could quench. I heard a small voice crying and instantly knew it was my mother. With deep sadness in her voice, she told me it wasn't too late to find the path.

Buzz nodded, absorbing everyone's stories. He wondered out loud, "Was this a random event? Is it a message for us and the world? What was the power emanating from the orb?”

He continued, “Armed with our first experience, I believe we should engage the drive again tomorrow to see what lies beyond.”

Almost simultaneously, everyone jumped up excitedly, agreeing with Buzz’s recommendation.

I close with a renewed sense of purpose. We are on the cusp of something incredible. Tomorrow, we find the God Particle again