Hector finished donning his tactical suit and prepared for the first stage of molecular teleportation. The door to the pre-sequencing area slid open and Greg’s face appeared on the large glass screen next to the massive sterilization chamber. His voice came through the speakers in Hector’s helmet.
“It’s ready.”
Hector opened the iron hatch and climbed into the sterilizer’s glass tube. Imaging software scanned his body, identifying and removing all unnecessary particles that could interfere with the molecular transfer process. Once the imaging and sterilization process had finished, a hydraulic lift lowered the glass tube into the heart of the Subdivision’s operation: the molecular teleportation device, or MTD. Massive pipes ran from the nuclear reactor in the adjacent room to the pair of robotic arms attached to the ceiling. Millions of microscopic, ultra-precise lasers lined both robotic arms. As the glass tube locked into place both robotic arms sunk into the middle of the room. It appeared as though the arms were going to pinch the tube, but they stopped millimeters from the tube’s outer wall.
“Machine prepped,” said Greg. “All systems functional. Commencing deconstruction…now.”
The robotic arms began to spin and gained speed with every turn until they were traveling so fast that they were a blur. Green haze materialized around the lasers. Turquoise and amber energy crackled up from the ground as lightening-like tendrils swept up into whirling robotic arms.
“Stage 1 underway.”
“What’s going on?!? Who authorized this?” General Taylor’s voice boomed through the communicator.
“Hector told me–” said Greg.
“Shut this down! Now!”
“It’s too late! I thought–”
“Hector! Hecto–” General Taylor’s voice cut out.
Millions of green laser beams shot into the tube. Deconstruction had begun. It was too late to stop. Inside the tube, Hector closed his eyes as the lasers split his molecular structure into tiny transferable particles that could be teleported into the past through an infinitesimally small wormhole and then reconstructed with faultless perfection at the opposite end.
Moments later the lasers ceased. The robotic arms slowed, gradually coming to a complete stop. The glass tube was empty.
