The parallel paradox

Dr. Alice Lee was a brilliant physicist who had devoted her life to studying the mysteries of quantum mechanics. She had always been fascinated by the idea of parallel universes, where every possible outcome of every choice existed in a separate reality. She dreamed of finding a way to access these other worlds, to see what might have been if she had made different decisions in her life.

She was not alone in her quest. Her colleague and rival, Dr. Robert Chen, was also working on a similar project, using a different approach. He had built a device that could create microscopic wormholes, tiny tunnels that connected two points in space and time. He claimed that he could use these wormholes to send signals or even objects to other universes, and receive them back.

Alice was skeptical of his claims. She believed that his device was flawed, and that he was only creating illusions, not real connections. She argued that his method violated the principle of causality, the rule that the effect cannot precede the cause. She said that if he could send something to another universe and get it back, he would create a paradox, a contradiction in logic.

For example, suppose he sent a coin to another universe, where it landed heads up. Then he received the same coin back from that universe, but it landed tails up. What would happen then? Would the coin change its state in the other universe? Would it create a new branch of reality? Would it erase the original history? Or would it simply break the laws of physics?

Alice had a different idea. She had developed a device that could create quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where two particles share a quantum state, even when they are separated by vast distances. She claimed that she could use this entanglement to create quantum links, bridges that connected two parallel universes at the quantum level. She said that she could use these links to observe and communicate with other universes, without affecting them or creating paradoxes.

She had tested her device on a pair of photons, particles of light. She had entangled them and sent one of them to another universe, while keeping the other one in her lab. She had measured the properties of both photons, and found that they matched perfectly, as predicted by quantum theory. She had also sent messages encoded in binary code, using the photons as carriers. She had received responses from the other universe, confirming that there was intelligent life there.

She was ready to take the next step. She had built a larger device that could entangle and link two human brains, one from her universe and one from another universe. She had found a volunteer who was willing to participate in her experiment, a young woman named Mia who was curious about parallel worlds. Alice had explained to her the risks and benefits of the experiment, and Mia had agreed to sign a consent form.

Alice had prepared everything for the experiment. She had set up the device in her lab, connected it to a computer and a monitor. She had placed two helmets on two chairs, one for herself and one for Mia. The helmets contained electrodes that could measure and stimulate brain activity. They also contained quantum chips that could create and maintain entanglement between two brains.

Alice had contacted the other universe, using her photon link. She had asked for permission to conduct the experiment, and received approval from their counterpart organization. They had also found a volunteer who was willing to participate in their experiment, a young woman named Maya who was curious about parallel worlds.

Alice had synchronized her device with theirs, using a common frequency and protocol. She had verified that both devices were working properly, and that both volunteers were ready.

She had put on her helmet and instructed Mia to do the same. She had checked their vital signs and brain waves on the monitor. She had initiated the entanglement process.

She felt a strange sensation in her head, as if something was tugging at her mind. She saw flashes of light and colors in her eyes, as if she was seeing through someone else's eyes. She heard voices and sounds in her ears, as if she was hearing through someone else's ears.

She realized that she was linked with Maya from the other universe.

She tried to communicate with her, using her thoughts.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Yes! I can hear you! This is amazing!"

"I know! I'm Alice from Universe A."

"I'm Maya from Universe B."

"Nice to meet you!"

"Likewise!"

They exchanged greetings and introductions. They learned about each other's lives and backgrounds. They found out that they were very similar in many ways, but also different in some ways.

They discovered that they were both physicists who worked on parallel universes projects. They realized that they were counterparts from different realities.

They also discovered that they were both married to Robert Chen from their respective universes.

They were shocked by this revelation.

They asked each other about their husbands. They learned that they were also very similar in many ways, but also different in some ways.

They found out that they were both rivals and competitors of Alice and Maya from their respective universes. They realized that they were also counterparts from different realities.

They also found out that they were both working on wormhole devices that could send and receive things to and from other universes.

They were alarmed by this information.

They asked each other about their devices. They learned that they were both flawed and dangerous in many ways, but also effective and powerful in some ways.

They found out that they were both planning to use their devices to send and receive something to and from another universe, without telling anyone.

They realized that they were both targeting the same universe, Universe C.

They were horrified by this coincidence.

They asked each other what they were going to send and receive. They learned that they were both going to send and receive a coin, as a proof of concept.

They found out that they were both going to send a coin that landed heads up, and receive a coin that landed tails up.

They realized that they were both going to create a paradox, the parallel paradox.

They panicked by this realization.

They tried to stop their husbands from using their devices, using their thoughts.

"Robert! Don't do it! It's a trap!"

"Robert! Don't do it! It's a mistake!"

But it was too late. Their husbands had already activated their devices, and sent and received the coins.

They felt a surge of energy in their heads, as if something was exploding in their minds. They saw flashes of light and colors in their eyes, as if they were seeing through someone else's eyes. They heard voices and sounds in their ears, as if they were hearing through someone else's ears.

They realized that they were linked with Alice and Maya from Universe C.

They tried to communicate with them, using their thoughts.

"Hello? Can you hear me?"

"Yes! I can hear you! What's going on?"

"I don't know! I'm Alice from Universe A."

"I'm Maya from Universe B."

"We're linked with you!"

"We're linked with you!"

They exchanged greetings and introductions. They learned about each other's lives and backgrounds. They found out that they were very different in many ways, but also similar in some ways.

They discovered that they were also physicists who worked on parallel universes projects. They realized that they were counterparts from different realities.

They also discovered that they had no husbands. They had never met Robert Chen from any universe.

They were puzzled by this absence.

They asked each other why they had no husbands. They learned that they had no husbands because Robert Chen had never existed in their universe.

They found out that Robert Chen had never existed in their universe because he had been erased from history by the paradox.

They realized that Robert Chen had been erased from history by the paradox because he had sent and received the coins to and from another universe, creating a contradiction in logic.

They understood that Robert Chen had created the paradox, the parallel paradox.

They mourned by this understanding.

They tried to undo the paradox, using their thoughts.

"Can we fix this? Can we bring him back?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can. Maybe we can't."

"How? How can we do it?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can use our devices. Maybe we can use our links."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can use our devices to create new links, new bridges between our universes. Maybe we can use our links to communicate with other universes, other realities."

"Why? Why would we do that?"

"I don't know. Maybe we can find a universe where he still exists. Maybe we can find a universe where he never did this. Maybe we can find a universe where he never met us."

" Would that work? Would that solve the paradox?"

"I don't know. Maybe it would. Maybe it wouldn't."

"Would it be worth it? Would it be fair?"

"I don't know. Maybe it would. Maybe it wouldn't."

" Would you do it? Would you try it?"

"I don't know. Maybe I would. Maybe I wouldn't."

"What about you? Would you do it? Would you try it?"

"I don't know. Maybe I would. Maybe I wouldn't."

They hesitated by this dilemma.

They looked at each other through their links, across the parallel paradox.