Yun had left her programing running for the time she slept. Inside the modest size quantum system, a simulation was running. Using the fragments of the transaction to model what must have been happening inside the singularity.

The last rays of the setting sun greeted her as she finally woke up. But the light from the sunset palled in comparison to the light from her monitor which had a particularly welcome message, “Simulation Complete”.

Sitting back in her computer char a set of images appeared on her. A small black mass, which should have been not more than an atom across. Around it, stress lines in the fabric of space-time. Wrapped and pulled at the fabric of reality. Bring it along as it moved. The images made perfect sense for a class of solutions know as the Kerr Metric, for a rotating black hole. There was only one problem, there shouldn’t have been anything like that.

Then the next frame played, and the lines moved. Then the next, and the next, they seemed to spiral around the singularity. Yun continued to view the short video she had made, unable to fully comprehend what she was seeing. “Why is it spinning… How is it spinning?”

The idea that a singularity could rotate was nothing new. Many research papers had been published on the phenomena since the 1960s, over a hundred years ago. That had even managed to get a singularity to spin out in the last particle accelerators built in the new Mexico desert two decades ago. It was a big result, published in several papers.

It had even made her consider the idea for her quantum processor design. The only problem was, a rotating singularity was unsuitable for complex calculations they were doing. In theory it allowed for extra surface area, but the spatial distortions and inconsistent mass dispersion at the surface made it almost impossible to get anything useful from the models they ran. Even if they had stabilized the data output, at best, it would have the same amount of entropy and produce the same amount of data.

Suddenly nothing made any sense. By all accounts the rotating singularity should have reduced the output capacity of the central core, not increased it. So why then did the output explode?

The images had a little indicator on the bottom of them, a scale factor which should have been measured in h-bar units, plank lengths, the smallest measurable distance. A problem though, this scale wasn’t in plank lengths, it was in 10s of plank lengths. Not a massive difference, but substantial Her program auto calibrated for the size of the model, but the blackhole was nearly 10 times bigger than it should have been. Certainly, that could explain some of the output increase, but still far from all of it. More to the point, that also shouldn’t have happened.

The systems were carefully calibrated to keep the singularity at a set size. Too small, and there wouldn't be enough surface area for the quantum systems to run, not to mention it would be too hot. Too big, and information recapture became a problem, plus time dilation caused more interference.

Asher, the AI in charge of the facility should have kept watch on the process. Even if he was making a mistake, the crew should have caught it and done something about it. The human crew was a requirement, set about by both earth government officials and even the Next World board who was afraid of a multi-billion-dollar bill if the station was ever damaged. If none of them were doing anything then something had to be wrong elsewhere. But the data, even if incomplete, was clear.

All that to say, Yun was even more in the dark than she thought, nothing here made any sense.

The sounds of laughter outside Yun’s bedroom reminded her of her sister’s unannounced visit and made it a bit hard to think as she considered the multitude of numbers and equations on her screen and in her mind. Everything she knew about her own system meant what she was seeing was impossible, and each time she tried to wrap her mind around the equations…

"Ha ha ha…" She was interrupted again. No doubt her sister was watching something dumb on the hololense again.

Yun needed to be back in her office for this. There was just too much to go over here, and too many distractions. Pulling the data stick from her computer, she made her way out of the apartment,

"You're going out?" Arial asked with a surprised look.

"Just going back to my office, I realized there's some work I have to do, and I need my system to do it."

Arial shook her head in response and laughed, "Yun, you spend all your time working. You're worse than the people stuck in VR all the time."

In response, Yun rolled her eyes and glared at her sister turned roommate. "Just watch Bob till I get back. He has a habit of chewing wires when he's out of his cage."

Outside the city streets were bustling with the absence of people. Robotic delivery services and drones flew and drove about. Self-driving taxis ran about, looking for a fair that probably wouldn't come.

The trains ran all night and were cheaper so that's what she used. Unlike the morning, there was literally no one on this train. Just the occasion police robotics that ran through, looking for trouble among the vacant cars.

Downtown in the city was at least a bit better. There was a rare person moving between the few still existing bars. Most either stayed by themselves or walked in very small tight groups. Not more than a dozen or so people in total. Why go to a run-down bar that probably smelt like piss, when you could drink at home in a virtual bar, on mars. Or, wherever your simulation happened to be.

Her building was one of the taller ones in the area, but not quite the tallest. The LEDs on the outside faded in and out with various hues of white and blue. Across the upper windows, ads ran from some external hololenses. Like the digital signage, they were playing ads of the Next World catalog.

The building doors immediately recognized her biometric as she walked up and opened for her. "Good evening Dr. Wakamina. You're here late again." Gred's AI voice was full of the same chipper tone as this morning. His concern felt synthetic, just like an AI.

She didn't need to respond, but sometimes it helped keep if from asking stupid questions or making more points. "Just need to run some numbers on my station, George."

"My name is Greg and understood."

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The building was as empty in the evenings as it was in the day. There really wasn't much of change inside, beyond the lighting, which tended to dim a bit and grow a little warmer in the common areas. Her floor on the other hand, was static. Changing the timing sensors on the lights was a fairly easy task. No one seemed to care that the settings were just left open. Most likely, no one knew how to navigate the filesystem the lights used.

For most people, unless there was a button on graphical interface, they couldn't work it.

Her office system powered up and she plugged her drive in and began once more. After a few hours, she tried every possible simulation she could think of. Physics wasn't her specialty though, that was always Theo's. Just thinking about him, rose her blood pressure a bit. Maybe there was someone else she could consult with about it?

Again though, the data didn't make any sense to begin with. Even an expert would probably be stumped. Every simulation showed a decrease in usable entropy, in the data created. So, where was it coming from? She needed help, or more data. Probably both.

Opening her main terminal Yun began the connection sequence with the secure communications array at the office. It was used for official communications to and from Lerna station, and any other off world sites for that matter. Not that there were any left.

"Station crew, I need more data from the core. Can you please send me whatever records you have available? Also, I'd like to get a partial live feed off a few of the core's phase collectors. I've attached a list of ten units that we can take offline. The error correction code should be able to handle the bandwidth reduction.

Also, have you had any recent issues with the containment systems of the singularity? I'm seeing an odd rotation in the data you sent me earlier. That shouldn't be possible and data integrity could be at risk. Can you confirm?I"

Yun made sure to CC the tech she talked to before, Orion. He seemed young, but always willing to help. After sending the communication to the array, she waited for a response. The link was quantum secure, using entangled and superimposed particle states it was possible to send data that could not be read by anyone outside the required terminal. It required a four-way handshake that involved sending entangled photons to the destination, receiving an entangled response, synchronizing the data transmission itself, and then a final out going handshake that exchange quantum error correction codes.

It was absolutely secure, no one could intercept or see the transacted data if they weren't at the receiving terminal. The very laws of physics prevented it. It was also a complex and long process, that by design couldn't run faster than a quarter the speed of light. So, a few seconds to see the terminal acknowledgment response was expected. It wouldn't mean someone had read it, just that the terminal had the data. After a few minutes went by though, Yun knew something was wrong.

The array at the office was responding, and the most recent diagnostics seemed sound. Looking at the transaction log, and… there just wasn't a response from Lerna. The AI terminals all seemed to be working, she could send a communication to Asher, but not directly to the crew.

Finally, an error showed up on her screen, "Quantum secure channel is offline, send over laser link?"

It was strange for the secure channels to be offline. But perhaps whatever is going on up there could explain it, she thought. The message didn't have anything that confidential in it. Laser link was probably fine. Yun hit the enter key anyway, sending.

The data was sent, and a response was received in a few seconds. As expected. It was strange that the quantum link was down though. Maybe there was damage on the station, or just, interference? The terminal could have been offline.

Shaking her head, Yun reviewed her data one last time. Station communications were someone else's problem.

Satisfied there was nothing left she could do, Yun dropped her systems back into standby before getting up to leave. She was stopped by her VR headset lighting up. It looked like someone was trying to contact her. Her table was still back home. Who would know she was at the office?

Putting on the head set, she saw a very aggravated Jordin, and even worse, Theo.

"Yun, why are you still in the office? I told you to go home earlier." Jordin was not happy.

"I know sir but I had-"

"No. I told you to leave work. Truthfully, I don't care if you went home or not. I wanted you out of the office."

"Jordin sir, my simulations on the data showed some serious issues with the singularity. We need to investigate further."

Neither of them spoke, Theo just glared at her.

"I understand Gloria asked you to look into the excess processing situation but Theo and C-suit are already aware of it."

Theo took a breath, Yun did not want to listen to that fool right now. She didn't have a choice. "Jordin it's ok. Yun was not made aware of the changes. She always was very head strong and rushed at problems without getting all the facts."

"Theo I sware-"

"It's not her fault."

"The singularity is rotating! None of our models could make that work, you mean to tell me there was something new that just came out?"

"New, yes. But it didn't just come out. It's a project we've been working on that will change everything. It's a shame you're not up here with me, I'd be able to share more information."

It took all her effort to not just throw the head set across her office.

Theo adverted his eyes from Yun's piercing gaze. "Jordin, when was the last time Yun had a vacation?"

Jordin himself looked off to the side, like he was looking at something in the real world. His eyes went wide for a second, "Over 2 years, for 5 days."

Theo nodded, and smiled. "Yun, you are always doing this to yourself. I'm going to help you. Take two weeks off."

"Theo you son of-"

"I'm not asking, you can take two weeks off and come back to the office then or you can just not come back to the office at all. Either way, we'll have your building access revoked for those weeks."

Yun felt defeated, there was no way to get out of this. "What am I supposed to do?"

"What everyone else does on vacation. Go somewhere else, whether in VR or real-life. Just not be in the office." With that the call ended.

With a bit more force than needed, Yun dropped the VR headset to her desk, not bothering to turn it off. For a moment, ideas ran through her head. She could just not leave. The building didn't really know she was on this floor. She could hide out in her office, the restrooms were down the hall. She wouldn't be able to hit the main vending machines, but there was a few snack machines at the end of the hallway. She could… Yun's head dropped into one of her hands as she rubbed her eyes. This was insane.

Shaking her head in frustration she left her office, not bothering to shut anything off inside. She didn't care at the moment, just grabbing her data disk.

Entering the elevator, Greg was even more insufferable than before.

"Good evening Dr. Wakamina! Please note your access to this floor has been temporarily restricted. Please ensure you have all your belongings because you will not be able to come back for them."

Jordin and Theo worked fast. Was all Yun could think. Finishing in her pocket, she still had her optical data drive. That was the only thing she might have needed. "First floor George. I need to go home."

"Understood Dr. Wakamina, and my name if Greg."

Leaving the building, Yun heard the unusual sounds of the doors locking behind her. This was only temporary, and for her own good. But it still felt, painful.

Making her way back to her apartment, Arial could immediately see something was wrong with her sister.

"Yun you, ok?"

She crashed on the couch next to her, and the sleeping rabbit on her lap. "The revoked my building access…"

"Oh jeeze, they didn't fire you, did they?"

"Worse, they gave me a two-week vacation, and made it mandatory. They revoked my building access so I couldn't come back during it."

"Oh. That, sucks?" Arial didn't understand the problem.

In fact most people wouldn't. But for Yun, she lived and breathed work. Being forced to do nothing for two weeks, was not a vacation, it was a punishment.

"So, what are you going to do, Yun?"

"I… don't know." Yun tried to watch the hololense in front of them, but what ever was on it, seemed like a stupid waste of time. Just like this mandatory break. What was she going to do? Another thought crossed her mind, how did they even know she was in the office and why did Theo involve himself.