Nebula Read Online Free

Ludmila flying the mission is obviously a fake. The flight didn’t even try to imitate trajectories that were anywhere near feasible orbits. That was a dead giveaway. Besides, it would have taken years to get to Saturn and return.”
    Walt let out a big sigh. “You still don’t get it, do you? Yuri and Ludmila did go there and take these pictures. Orbital mechanics have nothing to do with it, and we can travel at relativistic speeds, so the time to get there and back isn’t much of a concern. This was real, and all the data in the simulator is from runs that they did throughout the solar system. I’ve been trying to tell you that what we have here is technology that’s so far beyond our own crude spacecraft that it’s a chance in a lifetime to get onto this project.”
    “Whatever you say, Walt,” Harry replied sarcastically. “Look, whether or not I buy your story of alien technologies and day-trips throughout the solar system, I’m not about to jump into something without knowing a bit more. Like, why is it that all of a sudden you need to recruit me for whatever it is that you and your group need to do? If you can give me some idea of that, maybe it would help me understand why I should risk my career, and probably the rest of my life, to join you.”
    Brad interjected before Walt could reply. “We need you to replace one of our team members who had a very unfortunate accident. You have the same academic background and skills and experience.”
    Walt amplified Brad’s statement. “We need an expert in human-machine interfaces, particularly direct brain-to-machine devices, to replace the team member who had the accident. You’re our best prospect. I know your work, and I can assure you that what you would do with us would be years advanced over what you do at the university. We really can’t tell you any more until you sign on. The rest of the information is too sensitive for anyone but the people on the project to know. If you did sign on, you’d go well beyond Level-1 and what you’d learn would surprise you much more than what we showed you today. Once you did learn the rest, you wouldn’t even think of turning back. You don’t need to decide today. You can have the rest of the week, but that’s it. We’re on a very tight timeline, and we need to get a replacement onboard as soon as possible.”
    “One last question, Walt,” Harry replied. “What kind of accident did this other scientist have? Why can’t you just wait for him to recover?”
    “You don’t recover from the kind of accident he had,” Brad replied. “He won’t be able to rejoin the project, and we need a replacement. Now, if we’re finished with the questions, let’s get back in the car. You won’t need the blindfold for the trip back. You’re cleared high enough to know the location of this facility. But let me remind you that you are sworn to secrecy about the facility and everything that you saw here, including the fact that a few scientists presumed dead are actually alive and working with us. I think that I made that very clear, but I want to reemphasize since secrecy is an absolute requirement and the penalties for breaking the agreement are very severe.”
    With that, they walked to the car, and the three of them drove back to the university where they left Harry and drove off to “only God knows” where. Harry had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something very important was going on, and he could read between the lines and tell that it was more than just an important scientific breakthrough.
     
    *
     
    Harry went back to work the next day, but he continued to be bothered by what had happened and by Walt’s strange behavior, especially all the nonsense about alien spacecraft and travel throughout the solar system. He was also bothered by the presence of three scientists who had been presumed dead. It was all unsettling; not just the ridiculous scientific claims or the fact that three dead people were