STORYLINE

Eric Oeming Discharged from Hospital

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Eric Oeming was discharged from the hospital today, a little over 2 weeks after the bombing that claimed 10 lives including his wife and daughter, and shocked the world. He regained consciousness in Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu on May 10th and has undergone several procedures since. Oeming hasn’t been seen or given a public statement since the attack. This, coupled with reports about a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) has left many wondering about the extent of his injuries and any lasting effects on his cognitive abilities.

The bombing attack occurred May 4th as Veilcorp was holding its annual “Innovators Luau” to recognize those who “think in creative ways” and “turn problems into elegant solutions.” By all accounts the event was proceeding as planned, with hundreds in attendance before the bomb was detonated.

The blast took 10 lives including Oeming’s wife and daughter, Tracy and Alohi, and left 39 injured. Emergency service personnel from across Maui were called in and a massive investigation was begun. Rumors ran wild for several days, with a number of terrorist and extreme environmental groups claiming credit for the vicious attack.

3 days later the world was stunned to learn that one of Lahaina’s own, 38-year-old Ben Drakes, had turned himself in and claimed responsibility. A member of the radical environmentalist group Gaia Guard, Drakes had been working as a lift operator at the Veil Station in Lahaina for the past 3 years. He released a 5 page manifesto before turning himself in, detailing Veilcorp “crimes” against the Earth. Drakes is expected to be sentenced later next month.

Since he woke from his coma, rumors have been circulating about the extent of the damage to Oeming’s brain. Considered by many to be one of the most brilliant minds in history, his status has been the object of great speculation in the press. An anonymous hospital source tells the Lahaina Advertiser that Oeming has no memory of the days leading up to the event but has been told about the bombing and the loss of his family. They say he still has some lingering cognitive deficiencies, but it is too soon to say whether or not they will be permanent, or if they are a result of the “crippling depression” he is said to be experiencing. A company spokesperson would not comment on the extent of Oeming’s remaining injuries.

Captain Hank Gaud, the first person to be sent through the veil said, “Eric Oeming is one of the best individuals I’ve ever met. He was always kind and personable with me, something that is rare in someone so brilliant. I can’t imagine a world without the gift of Eric’s intellect. I believe we’re only given minds like Eric’s every so often. Archimedes, Da Vinci, Newton,Tesla, and Oeming are embodiments of progress and human potential. It would be a great loss to humanity if he is unable to continue the work he has been doing over the past 20 years. I pray for a speedy recovery, not just for his sake, but for all of ours.”

Officials say that Oeming will be rehabbing at his Lahaina home where he can be surrounded by his friends and family. It is unclear to what extent, if any, he will immediately be involved in Veilcorp business. His longtime right hand and company spokesperson Lisa Hunt has been appointed Veilcorp’s COO, and will be responsible for day to day operations while Oeming recovers. She says, “It’s my honor to watch the store while Eric gets better. I’ve talked to him every day since the attack and I can tell you that he’s eager to get to work again. The loss of his family is of course devastating, but the cowards didn’t break him. He has a long road ahead, but I know he’ll get there soon. The Eric I know is capable of anything he puts his mind to.”

Veilcorp released a brief statement after Oeming’s discharge was announced that reads, “While we continue to mourn the loss of our friends and co-workers, we’re are happy beyond words that Dr. Oeming is coming home. We know he has an uphill journey but are confident we’ll see him (and have to remind him that it’s too late to continue working for the day) soon. His passion and vision will continue through us until that time.”

STORYLINE

Excerpt from Captain Hank Gaud’s Book “Around the World In 80 Milliseconds”

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The transport area looked nothing like I imagined it would. There was no hoop or archway to walk through, no door, or giant metal cannister that I would be lowered into. No, it looked just like a sturdy chair with some some equipment and a thousand tubes and wires mounted above. The team had spent years preparing for this moment.

They had sent a 1kg cube of tungsten through the gateway back in 2026 and some of that same team surrounded me. I’d be lying if I said some of their stories about the early days weren’t still stuck in my head. Some of the first cubes were lost forever. They still didn’t know where for sure. Others ended up warped and misshapen. One even got stuck to the floor somehow. The rat made it through the following year. They didn’t talk much about that, which worried me more than the earlier cube horror stories.

They had two-and-a-half-years to get it right I kept telling myself. I had to trust that they wanted me to make it as much as I did. We were all on the verge of making history. Like me, these people were the best of the best, specially chosen for the project. I trusted them with my life. It was my heart beating out of my chest that I was worried about.

As a pilot you usually have the semblance of control even when everything has gone to shit. Pulling on a stick, flipping a switch, or pushing a lever helps you focus even if it doesn’t help. A focused mind is a fast mind, and a fast mind makes fast decisions. It’s those fast, definitive decisions that can save you when the aircraft, and you, come crashing down. This was completely different.

The chair would hold me completely still. It didn’t matter how quickly I knew the process was working or not. There wasn’t anything for me to do but hold on and pray that everyone had done their job. As they strapped me in, I wondered if I was the right person for the project, but doubt is a dream killer. I had trained hard for this day and we were going to make this dream of Dr. Oeming come true. Just then I saw him enter the room.

Ironically his jet was having mechanical problems that day and he had to book a last minute flight. He had called earlier and told everyone to conduct the test even if he couldn’t make it, but I couldn’t imagine that day without him. I wondered if the people around Archimedes or Tesla appreciated just how lucky they were to be around that kind of genius. I knew that I couldn’t understand it fully myself. I didn’t know how any of this worked, not really. I was just the guy brave or dumb enough to volunteer. That didn’t mean that I was ignorant of what an honor it was. I appreciated him the way someone who doesn’t paint can acknowledge a work of the great masters. I’ll remember the look of excitement in his eye and the quiver in his voice when he wished me luck until the day I die. If this went all as planned my name would forever be associated with Eric Oeming. That alone was worth all the risks.

It was time and the countdown began. I felt the tingle of electricity on my skin. The hum grew louder and louder until it was deafening. The room began to shimmer like the air off hot tarmac. I realized that I couldn’t hear anything anymore. It wasn’t just quiet, there was a complete lack of any sound and everything went black for a moment. I thought I heard music playing somewhere off in the distance and my head began to spin. Then just as quickly as it had gone dark, a blinding light made me wince. Slowly the light began to dim and I could once again hear the normal sounds of the lab. My head was still spinning. I was glad that I was strapped into the chair. I could hear shouts and I thought something had gone wrong. After half a minute or so I could see what the shouting was about. In front of me was the lab in Kona instead of Seattle, where I had just been. It had worked! I had traveled through the Veil.