by Simon Bown
Teafu’s mind linked in an effortless bond. “I would like you to bring back one of Sutton’s antimatter warheads from the torpedoes she designed.”
“You know there is no antimatter up here?”
“Yes, I have a plan of attack for when we are back in the Amalgam.”
“What about here? Have you found a source of antimatter?”
“We can search using a probe from the space plane. When you return place yourself in high orbit and I’ll give you the parameters for the sensors.”
“I should be leaving here in an hour or two, I’ll contact you when I’m in position.”
The space plane entered orbit with the reactor in tow and a decommissioned warhead in the small cargo hold. Weedon brought the automatic systems online and contacted Teafu. “I’m in position. What do you need?”
“Put a class one probe in orbit and set it to look for the matter, antimatter collision signature. It will need to be finely tuned as I expect this to be happening only on the atomic level.”
A tiny hatch opened in the side of the space plane and a small dark globe raced out at immense speed. Minuscule thrusters fired and slowed it to a complete stop. On each side two minute panels burst away as explosive bolts detonated. More thrusters fired inducing a rapid spin, golden cables extended through the apertures and reeled out to a distance of two miles in each direction.
“I’ll be returning in a few minutes.” Weedon reported. “The probe has been deployed. Meet me outside the base, you’ll have to move the reactor in yourself.”
The ice crazed and steamed as the reactor, still hot from entering the atmosphere, settled on the arctic frost. Teafu extended his telekinetic perception and grasped the reactor. He imagined a pair of enormous hands lifting the device and carrying it inside the cavern.
Weedon smiled as he watched the massive piece of wreckage lift off the ice and float silently through the air. He followed it in at a safe distance still able to feel the heat dissipating from its large metallic frame.
Inside he circled the battered power source contemplating the task ahead. Finally, he pulled a heavily insulated cable from the maintenance bay and connected it to the reactor’s brain. The analysis activated automatically. After a few minutes the software pronounced the interior in relatively good shape and provided Weedon with a repair schedule.
All of a sudden an alarm sounded and Weedon raced through the corridor to meet Teafu in the monitor room.
“It’s the probe. The results are here.” Teafu activated the main display. Numbers and graphical analysis chased across the screen in an information overload. He switched the output to basic and was greeted with confirmation of the existence of antimatter.
“Antimatter particles are on this planet. The quantity is constantly changing, they can’t have found a viable containment system. I’m going to lock the probe in its current location.” He leaned forward and typed in the command.
Weedon tried to make sense of the basic information. “Where is it?”
“The probe is over the continent of Europe. There is definitely something odd. It looks like it is in some kind of circular construction. The particles are moving close to the speed of light? It doesn’t make sense. What are they doing?” Teafu tried to adjust the analysis for greater detail.
“I don’t care what they are doing. We need to get in there and collect the antimatter.” Weedon turned to the door. “I’ll take the space plane up. You give me the exact location as soon as I’m airborne.”
“No. We can’t just push our way in there and take what we want. We don’t know what security they have. Their limited telepathy means I cannot examine their thoughts or put up a telepathic shield. If they are developing weapons it might be heavily guarded. We can go in using the gravity rift. How long until the reactor will be ready?”
“It could be two or three days.”
“Then we had best make it our priority.”
Both Weedon and Teafu followed the repair timetable to the letter. Sutton’s practical expertise was sorely missed as the two men struggled with complexities far beyond of their basic engineering skills. After twenty-four hours of hard frustrating work the reactor was complete and ready to power the gravity generator.
Weedon entered from the makeshift tool room and handed Teafu the remote. “There it is, I followed the theoretical design the computer gave us, it should work OK. It’s programmed with all the coordinates you gave me.” He looked over the reactor one last time and turned to Teafu. “It’s ready but the reactor will not last long. You have six minutes before it will need a complete rebuild and we are out of luck. I brought the fine stage collector from the space plane for the antimatter.” He gave the device to Teafu.
“Six minutes should be enough. Shut down the power when I’m through. I’ll open a rift with the remote when I’m ready.” Teafu started up the reactor and waited for the power to reach optimum, after a few seconds the energy automatically swept through the systems to the gravity generator. Diagnostic programmes indicated all was well and instigated the beam projection process. A subsonic bass drone filled the small room and the rift opened with a blinding flash.
In the first time in months Weedon was speechless. The incredible sight humbled even his conceited character. “You know I didn’t really believe it could be done.”
Teafu smiled. “I thought you had more faith in me.” He leapt through the rift and staggered slightly. The event horizon held only a small amount of the time space imagery that had plagued him at the previous rift but still it unnerved him. He looked back at Weedon as the rift closed and left him cut off from escape.
DIRECTED TO CERN
Gea walked along the wide river embankment that led away from the library building into the centre of the city. The warmth of the morning sun over the low buildings of the old financial district gave Gea a small kick of excitement. Three years on a space station with no break had removed her memory of nature somewhat and she found the experience something to glory in. A breeze rustled her dress around her legs, caught her hair and caused her let out an involuntary giggle. Jenson had invited her to meet him in a large square opposite the gallery and she delighted at the chance to escape the apartment and the continued regimen of meditation. She followed a small lane away from the river up to the central district where the streets opened into large open avenues full of cafes and shops. Her father’s departure weighed upon her and reduced her feeling of happiness to a lightness of emotion.
Jenson waited for Gea at a café table on the pavement. He removed his sunglasses and waved as Gea drew near. The waiter approached the table as she sat and delivered an espresso for Jenson, who ordered a tea for Gea.
“How was your night?” Jenson asked.
“I slept better than I have in a long time.” Gea replied.
“Good, I’m glad to hear it.” Jenson took a sip of coffee, raised the cup to the waiter who smiled in return. “Great coffee here.” He said. “How is your tea?”
“It’s good thank you.” Gea said.
“I was in communication with the Mezzyima last night, they feel you are ready open another time-space rift.”
Gea was confused. “I thought they were going to pursue the time rifts themselves. What do they need me for?” She asked.
“It seems they have been totally unsuccessful. After studying the phenomenon as it occurred in the meditation chamber they thought it would be something they could recreate. These time-space anomalies have so far remained beyond their grasp.” Jenson finished his coffee and waved to the waiter for another. “I know your meditation has improved greatly over the last few days and your control is much better. How do you feel? Are you up to it?”
“Yes. I would like to attempt another rift. If it can help the Mezzyima I am happy to do it.”
“They have requested we board one of their ships in orbit this evening. It will give them a greater telepathic sensitivity.” Jenson received his fresh coffee and sipped at the cup.
Ge
a finished her tea and stood up. “I’m going shopping for some new clothes.” She said. “Would you like to join me?”
“No thank you, shopping for dresses has never been an interest of mine.” Jenson smiled. “Besides I would probably be just a hindrance.”
Gea kissed Jenson on the cheek and left him to enjoy his coffee.
The apartment lights activated automatically as Gea returned, laden down with innumerable, multi-coloured shopping bags. Jenson arrived at the apartment a moment later and watched Gea distribute her many articles of clothing across the rooms’ seating.
“Enjoy yourself?” He asked.
Gea smiled. “The rest will be delivered tomorrow.” She said.
Jenson sat on the one free chair. “The Mezzyima will be ready for us soon. Are you OK to go?”
“Of course,” she replied, “I’ll just get changed and I’m ready.” Gea’s voice trailed off as she caught sight of the view through the window.
Jenson looked to see what had caused her to stop talking. Directly outside, over the old city, three black, oval, Mezzyima spacecraft hung motionless in the air.
“I didn’t know they could do that.” Gea said.
“Neither did I.” Replied Jenson.
Both Jenson and Gea felt the characteristic Mezzyima telepathic essence permeate their perception.
“Gea Aro. Jenson Sollers. Please step forward.” A Mezzyima craft leapt, in an instant, across the city to the window of the apartment.
Jenson and Gea both stepped back in a subconscious movement as if the Mezzyima craft was going to crash through into the room. The black, oval ship blocked the entire view of the city. It turned its nose to the window and moved forward, at the point of contact the craft slipped through as if the glass was not there. The part of the craft’s structure in the room shimmered and disappeared leaving an entrance for Gea and Jenson to step through. The interior differed greatly from Jenson’s last experience. They followed a long corridor that was obviously shaped for human physiology and stretched quite a distance. Jenson turned to see the opening into the apartment had closed. Gea held Jenson’s hand as they walked forward into the craft. A space in the wall to their left allowed them access to a room identical to the meditation chamber in the library. Jenson and Gea took up their usual positions and waited for an indication from the Mezzyima to start. A slight shift in the base telepathic energies affected them both and Jenson felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“We will be transporting you both to a place where it is easier for Harmony to monitor the space-time anomaly. Is this acceptable?” The Mezzyima asked.
Jenson and Gea looked at each other, Gea smiled.
“Yes we are happy to help.” Jenson said.
Another shift in the energies left them nauseated. The lack of the background telepathic constant confused Jenson for a moment. Gea looked over at him. A worried frown creased her forehead.
“I’ve lost contact with the Amalgam. That is not possible, unless we are no longer in our universe.” Jenson said. He was both excited and worried. His connection to the perpetual telepathic communication of the Human race was not constrained by distance as it occurred outside the foundations of normal space. He opened a connection to the Mezzyima. “Where are we?”
“You are no longer in the place you would call your home universe. As long as you remain in the craft you will be safe. We are ready to commence. Please begin.”
“They’re not exactly the friendliest sort of people I’ve met.” Gea said. She shifted herself on the meditation mat and held each of Jenson’s hands in her own.
Jenson found her elevation into an alpha state very quick, she had noticeably benefited from her practise. He aided her removal of the cloaking from her core energies and put up a sound defence to protect her from any unforeseen circumstance. “We are all set.” He told the Mezzyima.
“We are also primed, please initiate.”
They came upon the time-space expanse in very little time and found the route much less fraught. Energetic torrents writhed and twisted throughout the vastness originating far out of sight but all connecting to the base substrate below. They dropped once again onto the malleable surface at the bottom of the infinite area.
“Please remain still, do not engage in any further activity.”
The Mezzyima’ request resounded with a clarity Jenson had not encountered before. He could perceive a probing around their extrasensory position as the Mezzyima investigated the area. Discussion resounded throughout Harmony, thousands, perhaps millions, of Mezzyima had joined to experience and study the expanse. He had not realised the importance of Gea’s talent. Jenson allowed himself a small amount of movement and focussed on the glowing streams crossing above him. Each one contained a signature pattern that repeated along its length, he moved in close to one. He connected to it via a shielded psychic channel. The interior seemed as a passageway and although both ends were out of reach he could sense an alien psyche, he tried to reach out further and make a more coherent connection. The alien mind did not sense him but it was so exotic he could not penetrate it.
“Jenson please return your focus to Gea.” The Mezzyima asked.
Jenson pulled his attention away from the stream and began his descent to the base. As he dropped he purposely clipped the nearby streams in a vague attempt to make contact. Several alien minds fluctuated across his before his concentration once again centred on Gea.
“Gea, will you now open a rift for us please?”
Gea reached out with her mind and touched the surface. A subsonic resonance sent vibrations through Jenson and Gea as the rift opened in the chamber. The view through the rift changed every few seconds to a different time and place. Jenson recognised the Mezzyima had taken control of the rift. He watched as a passive observer, unable and unwilling to take part in the astounding psychic mechanism before him. It was then a flash of inspiration caused him to lose concentration and consider a stunning possibility.
“Jenson Sollers please do not lose concentration on the purpose of our endeavours. Your input is very important.”
“I’m sorry but I have had an idea. Are you available to suggestions?” Jenson asked.
“We are open to your contribution.”
“You have control over the rift?” Jenson was becoming quite excited.
“Yes.”
“I believe we could search for Teafu, if I can meditate on the pursuit as you direct the rift we may be able to locate him.” Jenson awaited the reply from Harmony, he sensed a great deal of debate, even argument, as the Mezzyima considered his suggestion. At last an answer came.
“We believe your proposal has merit, we are ready to begin.”
Jenson looked at Gea for an indication of her readiness. She took a deep breath closed her eyes. “We are ready.” He said. Jenson found he had access in some way to the rift. He brought Teafu to the forefront of his mind and initiated a passive telepathic sweep through the expanse and then brought his focus to the rift. An immense amount of psychic energy bombarded his senses, without the support of the Mezzyima he would have been overwhelmed. The Mezzyima changed the pattern of search through the rift to centre only on Amalgam worlds. Jenson accelerated the rate of change so that a new world appeared in the rift every second. His powerful psychic core was reinforced by the Mezzyima enabling Jenson to concentrate with an alarming intensity. The rate of change in the rift increased giving him a massive insight into the Amalgam worlds but still he found no sign of Teafu.
“Have you limited the time range to the present?” Jenson asked the Mezzyima. He was afraid he was searching throughout eternity when he should be limited to the present.
“We are limited to the current timeframe.” The Mezzyima confirmed.
Jenson found the search had become too stressful and disengaged from the rift, he allowed himself one last arc through the expanse and the myriad of streamers. Teafu’s individuality flashed across Jenson’s mind. “He’s in one of the streams.” Jenson shouted. He swept t
he expanse once more and located the temporal passageway containing Teafu’s essence. As Jenson made contact the stream winked out of existence. “We had him, we had him.” Jenson exclaimed.
“Teafu was in the stream but whether we could have captured him is uncertain. Further investigation is required.”
“What are those streams?” Gea asked.
“We suggest they are a manifestation of the time-space rifts you are generating.”
“Are you saying what we are seeing there are many different races travelling through rifts in time and space?” Jenson asked. “And if that is what you are saying, then that must mean that Teafu has access to some sort of temporal technology.”
“Teafu may have developed a psychic ability similar to Gea’s.”
“And we lost him. Just as we found him he disappeared again. Do you have any record of what just happened?” Jenson was quite dejected and expected a negative response. He awaited a reply; the Mezzyima usually answered quickly but had apparently decided to deliberate for some time. Gea reached over and put her hand on his knee to offer some comfort. He looked at her and braved a smile.
“We have projected the destination of the stream to a specific time and place. The origin of the stream is not clear, we will have to act upon the known locality. With Gea’s and your help we may find and apprehend him.”
Jenson’s mood was instantly transformed. “Where is he going?” He asked.
“Old Earth, before the Amalgam, before space travel.”
THE CHASE BEGINS
“You need my help?” Lucy pushed her food away across the table. She stumbled out of her chair and turned to face Barton. Her mixed emotions fought for control of her thought process, ideas, questions and accusations all muddled together to leave her speechless. Although she had been in Las Vegas for little more than twenty-four hours she had rapidly declined into a frantic state of aggrieved reasoning and lacked the wherewithal for yet another shocking development. “You need my help? How did you get here? Did you break into my lab?” She shouted angrily.