Grand Potential
Part 1
A Place to Begin
“In quantum entanglement, subatomic particles maintain a relationship — for instance, vibrating when the other vibrates — even when separated and even if they are at great distances from each other.” — Sean Hamill
“Quantum entanglement occurs when two systems share a common quantum mechanical state. Such systems also share a common fate, even if they become physically quite separated. The results of a measurement performed on one will determine the results of future measurements on the second.” — Claudia Tesche
Source: Merriam-Webster Dictionary
James Hollerman had yearned for a time that was far beyond the age during which he lived. It was as though he had already lived another life in some distant future, as he frequently found himself having visions of an existence that was virtually alien it was so different, any time he day dreamed. James’ schedule usually didn’t allow him any time to dwell on any extraneous thoughts, so these visions were really perceived as flashes, passing still pictures of unknown places and people. Still, today he kept stumbling….on his feet, as he spoke…something was just off, but kept on going about his daily routine, making a mental note to pause and have a bit of a think later.
The campus was beautiful today; a nice, crisp, sunny fall day that was still warm enough most people were wearing t-shirts and shorts. James struggled to stop staring at the old, cracked concrete in front of his feet and enjoy the scene, make a memory of that moment. The sky was a vivid blue, which created stunning contrast with the maples, elms, oaks, dressed in their traditional fall yellow, orange and reds. The pine trees mixed around the campus created more texture and contrast, plus the ancient red brick of some buildings contrasted with the steel and glass of a few newer structures, he felt at home and a bit nostalgic. James stopped walking, slowly turning and taking in the scene like a panorama photograph, his eyes and mind acting as the camera. He greeted a few familiar people as they walked by, fellow students but not close friends, mere distractions as he recorded his surroundings. Just as he was starting to inhale deeply, the mixture of pine, freshly cut grass, and decaying leaves filling his head, two hands suddenly obscured his view. Instantly James knew it was as the fall smell was replaced by a familiar perfume, coffee and dounuts.
“Someone’s been to Starbucks!”
“You know me better than that; it was Speedway. I love their Mocha Blast, with a little Columbian mixed in for good measure,” said Kym as she took her hands away, bent over, and picked up her travel mug and small purse.
It had been a couple of days since they had last seen each other; James’ eyes were hungry for her. She noticed his gaze pausing on her, so she turned and sort of flipped her nearly waist long hair at him, pivoted on her heels, and took a couple exaggerated steps, knowing where his eyes were going next.
James fell in step behind Kym, quickly catching up so he wouldn’t later be accused of staring at her butt. Of course she wanted little more than him staring there, because she had big plans for him…for them, but that was for another time. Best to stay focused and get through the day’s classes; fortunately it was Friday and they would have plenty of time that weekend.
“I had that weird dream again last night,” said James.
“Oh? The one where you’re building things in space with your mind?”
“Yeah, a clear, crystalline bridge in space, going…..to a strange planet.”
“That’s new! You can see the destination now?” she asked.
“Not the final destination, but at least now it isn’t just into an empty void. Whether it’s a fantasy, dream, or Tesla like vision of something I’ll do in the future, it makes me feel better that I’m going somewhere!”
“Hmm…yes, yes,….”Kym said in her best German accent, “vee are beginning to make some, how you say, progress.” There was a moment’s pause, both looked very serious, then they both broke out laughing.
“It’s just weird. I have no idea why this keeps coming up. Reminds me of that movie you say is so cute, “The Last Mimzy”, when the boy discovers how to use certain sound frequencies to control the movement of spiders, making them create webs in shapes he designed. Only I’m doing it with thought alone. Can you imagine, Kym? Being able to build things without touching them? What else can we do, only using our minds?” he said as he stared into her big green eyes.
“You have a hard enough time just focusing your mind on studying. Seems to me you need to spend more time learning to concentrate, young Padawan!” Kym explained.
“Star Wars references AND German accents?!! I love you honey! Don’t ever leave me,” he grinned. She just smiled back as they walked into one of the steel and glass buildings. This day just couldn’t end soon enough for James.
They had that first class together, Exopolitics, then it was lunch together and finish with two more classes for each before the end of the day. Kym had agreed to dinner at his apartment, but only if James picked her up on his motorcycle.
Kym liked to go for rides when the weather was warm; sometimes she would ride her own bike, an old Honda Shadow, but sometimes she just wanted to hold onto him. Most people couldn’t understand this, but to her it was like dancing. They moved together as though they were one, shifting their weight from side to side on a curvy road, the heat between them building. James enjoyed it too. The feeling of her ample breasts pressed into his back, the way her thighs tightened around him as they approached a corner. She was a rider herself, so she knew what to do, but it made them feel extra close, so synchronized and it always meant great sex that night. It would always be a little more nuanced and slithery, a bit more comfortable and easy, yet incredibly satisfying. Their chemistry after riding separately was great too, but it was more wild and animalistic; almost like a contest to see who could pull more sexual energy from the other. Neither had the slightest interest in any other mates; they knew this would never get old and boring; they both helped each other reach new heights of pleasure.
The next morning Kym and James, (no one called him that, he was Jim to his friends), took their time getting out of bed. They were of the same mind; both enjoyed soaking in life’s little moments, because they were hyper-aware that life is short. Both had lost people they cared about to suicide, motorcycle accidents, and various diseases, but both knew it was a waste of time to worry about what could happen, and just live your life. They drank the aroma of the coffee they had with their breakfast sandwiches. They savored every bite of those sandwiches, the light coming in through the apartment windows, the sounds of the song birds, even the rumble of cars and motorcycles as they drove by. They were acutely aware of every breeze and temperature change. Their experience of every day existence was almost as exhilarating as sex, but so much more satisfying because it lasted every moment they were together. It was obvious to anyone who met them that this couple had old souls, but they lived young lives.
Jim and Kym spent their Saturday walking to small store to pick up some groceries, grabbed a quick bite to eat at lunch time, then went back to Kym’s dorm room. She got a change of clothes, her bike keys, and together they rode back to his apartment by way of “the scenic route”, which comprised a couple miles out to the suburbs, then out into the country on some nice, twisty roads, then looped back to town.
That night they decided to order a pizza and Kym decided to indulge Jim’s occasional addiction to documentaries — one of the many things Jim loved about her. She had a genuine interest in science, folklore, cryptozoology, and UFOs, so they rarely disagreed about what to watch. As they sat eating their favorite greasy, cheesy pizza Jim came across a recently uploaded video with the title You have no idea how entangled you are.
“Hey this says we’re tangled!” Jim said, chuckling.
“No, it says we’re entangled, you goof. Not that I imagine there’s much difference,” she joked.
“Only one way to find out. Let’s see what this is all about.”
The documentary began with a view of Earth from space; the camera slowly pivots around to show the moon, then begins to move through space. As it moves the viewer through the solar system there are pauses where the narrator makes a point about the various chemicals, form, and properties of the planets, and some of their bigger moons. As the viewer is taken to the edge of the solar system the narrator begins talking about how some theorize that if we could see atoms they would look much like solar systems.
“That’s interesting….it’s like the Mandelbrot set!” Jim exclaimed.
“Huh? I’m not following,” Kim said.
“In a Mandelbrot set you have a fractal that repeats even at the most infinitely small scale.”
“OK, what’s the similarity?”
“We can obviously see the motion of the planets in the solar system. The Sun being relatively stationary….which is similar to the center of a living cell, a complex collection of parts in the center that remains relatively still.”
“Right, just like the way the nucleus of an atom is made up of subatomic,..well..quantum particles and it remains relatively stationary too,” she added.
“Yes, and around that you have electrons orbiting, just like there are mitochondria and other parts floating around the nucleus in the cytoplasm of the cell, AND just like you have planets moving around the Sun, and moons orbiting the planets.” Jim finished.
“As above, so bellow, as it is written,” she added, “let’s see where this guy is going with all this.”
