GENESIX: THE TRILOGY

by Greg Logan

  Scott nodded. “All those years Agent Kincaid was keeping tabs on us. I’m glad much of the schematics I sent to the Secretary of Technological Development was little more than glorified gibberish.”

  “Even so,” Alexander said, “Kincaid had a controller box in his head. Everything he saw, his handler saw. You can bet the enemy has at least a working knowledge of some of the technology you were developing.”

  Jake said, “We’ve got to think about this tactically. What we would do in their place. If it was me, I’d assume we’re going to be merging technologies to come with some way to stop them. They won’t have any way of knowing exactly what we’re up to, but they have to know we’re going to try something. And they know it has to be something big.”

  Sammy said, “I’ve been monitoring the fleet, and they have increased their speed. They will now be here in three point seven weeks.”

  “Which creates a problem,” Alexander said. “We did have more than eight weeks before their scheduled arrival. That gave us time to conduct a test run, possibly switching moons. And it gave us time for the tachyon energy to dissipate after moving the Earths."

  April and Sara and Ashley were looking a little puzzled. But it was Chuck who spoke, through the audio field in the room.

  He said, “Huh?”

  Rick’s voice also came through. “You’re kind of losing me with that tachyon stuff.”

  April said, “Yeah.”

  Jeff said, “A tachyon field leaves residual energy. Like when a car goes by, you can still smell the exhaust for a few minutes afterward.”

  Scott smiled. “Aptly put.”

  “With someone like Hasani or me, doing what we do leaves residual energy that I can detect and I assume he can, too. I can tell when a time-traveler just popped out of the room. I can only tell for maybe half an hour, though. But something this immense. Moving an entire planet. A tachyon field that large..,”

  Alexander said, “We estimate residual energy will be drifting about for at least a month.”

  “So,” April said, “even if we do this thing, switching the Earth with the identical one, we won’t be fooling anyone.”

  Cassandra said, “They may not know just what we did, but they’ll know we staged some sort of tachyon related event. They’ll begin searching.”

  Alexander nodded, and reached for his chair and sat down. “Squid technology involves an understanding of alternate planes of existence. It’s where I get a lot of my knowledge. I studied it when I was still on the home world. They will search past and present, and eventually alternate realities. It’s not a question of if they will find us, but when.”

  “So,” Sara said, “we’ve lost the war before it even started?”

  Alexander shook his head. “We just need something that would hide the tachyon energy.”

  “What can do that?”

  Jeff said, “Nothing I know of. But it can be dispersed. A large enough explosion would do it.”

  Scott nodded and looked at Alexander. Their gazes met. Jeff knew this meant they had been thinking along the same lines.

  Scott looked at each of them, then back to Jeff. “We’re going to transpose the two planets, then once the one destroyed by nuclear war is in this planet’s place, we’re going to blow it up.”

  Jake gave him a look that said, WTF? What he said was, “And just how can we possibly manage to come up with that much energy?”

  Scott glanced at Jeff, then at April.

  Jeff said, “zeta energy.”

  Rick’s voice came through the sound field. “But can it be cranked up to that kind of level?”

  Scott said, “Theoretically, it can be cranked up infinitely.”

  Jake nodded. “When I was out there in space, when I destroyed that Martian moon, I had a feeling like I could have powered-up more and more. Indefinitely.”

  “And I believe you could have.”

  Sara said, “How is that even possible?”

  “The science behind it might seem a little creepy,” Scott said. “I really don’t want to go into it.”

  He had glanced at Sammy as he spoke. Sammy looked at him uncomfortably.

  “Wait-a-minute,” Jake said. “You two both know something.”

  “Not know,” Scott said.

  “Yes, now.”

  Scott looked to April. She said, “Scott?”

  He sighed with resignation. “All right. I never said this because I didn’t want to alarm anyone. At first it was just theoretical. I really didn’t know for a fact what zeta energy was. But over the years, Sammy and I have confirmed it. Just what zeta energy is.”

  Jake said, “This is going to give me a headache, isn’t it?”

  “Yep.”

  “Explain it anyway.”

  “When I proved the existence of alternate realities, one thing I discovered is the further away a reality is from ours, the less parallel it is.”

  Alexander said, “That’s exactly right. We call it the Law of Differentiating Possibilities.”

  “I found an alternate universe so far removed from ours that even life there is not something we can understand. Or even recognize if we saw it standing in front of us. And they wouldn’t recognize us. The physical laws in that universe are entirely different than ours. I don’t really understand them, myself. But what I did discover was I could bring matter from their universe to ours. Or, at least, what passes for matter in their universe. I created a microscopic wormhole and brought in a couple of molecules from something that, as far as I can figure, is that universe’s version of dust.

  “What I found was matter from that universe is extremely volatile when brought into ours. Explosive, is more like it. The physical make up of that universe is so incredibly incompatible with ours. Two microscopic particles caused an explosion that destroyed an electron microscope and knocked me on my ass, and left soot stains on my face and lab coat. So, I figured..,”

  Jake said, “What an incredible power source it might be.”

  “Exactly. So I figured a way to create a stream of molecules from their universe to ours, using a microscopic wormhole, and feed them into a generator.”

  Jake had actually heard most of this before. He said, “And then the generator exploded, and should have vaporized me in the process. But didn’t.”

  “I’ve told you most of this already. But what I didn’t tell you was what Sammy and I discovered later. The microscopic wormhole didn’t close. It remained open, and seems to be, for reasons I don’t yet understand, stable. It continually feeds these microscopic particles directly into you, now.”

  “So what you’re saying is I’ve become a living collector for this energy. Like a battery. My DNA was mutated, and since Jeff inherited the mutation, he’s a living battery for the stuff, too.”

  Jake glanced at Sammy again. Sammy was saying nothing.

  Scott said, “That’s about the size of it. When Jeff was born, another wormhole just opened up for him. So, you see, the amount of zeta energy you both can channel through those wormholes is so extensive that you could more than blow up the planet. Theoretically.”

  “Well, it makes me stronger. And as you say, in comic book terms, invulnerable. But I don’t see how that could blow up anything.”

  Jeff said, “I can fire the stuff through my eyes. If I’m powered-up enough.”

  Scott said, “Exactly.”

  Scott looked at April and said, “And I’m afraid we’re going to have to call on you once again.”

  She said, “I’ve already powered up the solar batteries the satellites are running on, to power up that field. That what-do-you-call it. The tachyon field. I can’t imagine what else you’d need my ability for in any of this.”

  Scott said, “We need you to create a monster of a solar flare. A big one. This will make it look like the solar flare contributed to the destruction of the planet. The last thing we need is for the squids to wonder why a stable planetary body would suddenly blow up, and start investigating. The longer they hang
around running scans, the more likely they are to find something. Like a trace of residual tachyon energy. Or residual zeta energy.”

  She said, “But, can I do that? I’m not powerful enough for that.”

  Scott looked at her with a smile. “Oh, yes you are. Those tests Alexander and I have been running show that you are. You’re actually channeling solar power, just like Jake and Jeff do with zeta energy.”

  “You mean, some sort of wormhole?”

  “Indeed. You transform to a sort of living energy field that connects to our sun through a microscopic wormhole, and you draw energy from the sun. You can turn into a living solar flare.”

  Alexander said, “So, first we’ll move the planets. We’re going to start the process going as soon as this meeting is over. Then you and Jeff will come back to this universe and destroy the alternate Earth.”

  Jeff said, “All in a day’s work.”

  Sara put her hand on his arm. He was being glib, but she was concerned.

  April said, looking at Jake, “Makes you wonder what power source the Darkness is connecting to, if his energy runs like mine and yours.”

  “Any questions?” Alexander said.

  Chloe had one. “You said you were going to monitor all of this from a workstation on the moon. That means, like, actually building a facility up there? Can we do that in time?”

  “No. That plan has now been scrapped. I’ll be there, but in a space suit, monitoring all of this on one of your hand-held devices. What you call a tricorder. Jake and Jeff will be in space, so in case a satellite needs a last-minute adjustment they can get right on it.”

  Sammy said, “Cassandra will be here, monitoring things from this location, and I’ll be on the alternate Earth, monitoring things there. The radiation and the lethal atmosphere shouldn’t have any effect on me.”

  April said, “You be careful over there, Sammy. We already lost you once. We don’t want to again.”

  “Believe me, I don’t want to be lost again, either.”

  “All right, people,” Jake said, rising to his feet. “As your captain, I guess it’s up to me to say, let’s make this thing happen.”

  TWENTY-ONE

  Alexander stood on the moon. He was in an atmospheric pressure suit similar to the ones worn by NASA astronauts on the moon missions, but thinner. Less bulky. It was of a grayish color, and the face of the helmet was a dark polymer plastic to block the unfiltered raw sunlight that could fry a retina in seconds. In one hand was a tricorder.

  “Jake,” he said. “Jeff. You both read me?”

  “Affirmative,” Jake’s voice came over the speaker in Alexander’s helmet.

  Jeff said, “You bet.”

  Alexander said, “Cassandra?”

  Her voice came through the helmet. “Here, my love. Scott and I are monitoring from the bungalow.”

  “Sammy? Can you hear me?”

  There was then a scratch of static, and Sammy’s voice came through. It sounded fuzzy and a little distorted. “Here, Alexander. I’m standing in what was once Times Square.”

  Alexander wasn’t worried about the poor quality of the sound. Sammy was broadcasting from another reality, after all.

  Jeff’s voice came through the speakers. “Hey, Sammy. Any sign of the Statue of Liberty, half buried?

  Sammy laughed. “Not yet. I haven’t seen any talking apes, either.”

  Alexander couldn’t help but crack a grin. He had seen the movie. “All right, everyone. Let’s make this happen.”

  Scott’s voice came over the speaker. “We’re engaging the generators on the satellites. Up to twenty percent, already.”

  Cassandra said, “Satellite two-eighteen seems to be off by point three eight degrees.”

  Jake’s voice. “Want me to jump on it? I can be there in minutes.”

  “I think I can realign from here. These satellites do have small propulsion capabilities.”

  Alexander checked his tricorder. Power was now up to thirty percent, just as Scott was saying, “Power now up to thirty percent and rising.”

  Jeff said, “The tachyon field is beginning to form. I can feel it.”

  “Sammy,” Alexander said. “Status report?”

  “All scans appear normal. At least, normal for this world. I look at the devastation around me, and it’s all because someone at Check Point Charlie fifty-six years ago decided to pull the trigger. Funny how one move done differently at a single point in time can be insignificant, and yet another can change the direction of the development of an entire world. Or end it entirely.”

  “Tell me about it,” Jake said.

  Cassandra’s voice. “Realignment completed.”

  Scott said, “Power is rising continually. I’m so amazed at how fast these generators can power-up.”

  “Squid technology,” Alexander said.

  Jeff’s voice came through the helmet. “Look at that. It’s wrapping itself all around the entire planet. The tachyon field. Can you see that?”

  Alexander looked at the blue orb in the sky above him. It looked to him as it had before they began the procedure. But then, he couldn’t actually see tachyon energy. As far as he knew, only Jeff and Hasani could.

  Jeff said, “You guys are missing something incredible.”

  Cassandra said, “Jeff, if I could interrupt your reverie for a moment. Satellite one-nineteen needs a boot. It’s almost three meters off of where it needs to be, and its propulsion system seems to be down.”

  “I’ll get right on it.”

  Jeff had been hovering just outside the atmosphere, over the African continent. Satellite 119 was only a few hundred miles from him. Out here, with no air to offer resistance, he could cover the distance in seconds.

  He dipped down and toward the satellite. It quickly came into view. An oblong piece of metal gleaming in the sunlight. There appeared to be no external mechanisms. It looked like nothing more than a silvery, oblong piece of metal. Alien technology.

  “All right, Cassandra,” he said. “I’m here.”

  “Give it a gentle push. Three meters only. Seventeen degrees.”

  Jeff gave it a gentle push. He was extra careful, considering he was powered-up enough to survive in the vacuum of space. He was no scientist, but he hoped he was pushing it in the right direction.

  “Two millimeters more,” Cassandra said. “There. Perfect.”

  Jeff looked about him. The tachyon field was wrapping the Earth in the entire spectrum of color, and even more.

  “This is so incredible, you guys. I wish I could share this with you.”

  “Eighty percent,” Scott said.

  “You know, I think you could actually do this now. This tachyon field is stable, and strong.”

  “Best not to take chances.”

  Alexander said, “I agree.”

  “Hey,” Scott said. “Jake, heads up. I think you have an incoming bogie.”

  Jake said, “Incoming bogie? What – have you been watching war movies?”

  “No. Seriously. There’s an aircraft coming toward you.”

  Alexander adjusted his tricorder. He had been monitoring the stability of the tachyon field – no real need to because Jeff was here, but he was a scientist so what the hell – and the power levels of the generators on board the satellites. Now he focused toward where Jake was, about ten miles above Vancouver. And, indeed, there were two projectiles coming at him.

  He quickly adjusted the tricorder to scan the missiles. He was able to do this with but a thought – Scott had adjusted the tricorder to respond to his brainwaves, and he was wearing an earplug of his own design that amplified his brainwaves and allowed a wireless connection with the tricorder. Otherwise, he would never have been able to operate it with his cumbersome pressure suit gloves.

  “Jake,” he said. “Those are nuclear missiles. Someone has fired two nukes at you.”

  “What the hell for?”

  Akila got on the horn. She was back at the bungalow with Scott and Cassandra. “We we
ren’t able to round up all of the squid operatives. Not nearly all of them. It’s possible there are some at higher level government positions throughout the world.”

  Scott said, “Well, that would serve to explain a few things.”

  Jake said, “You would think they would know that a nuclear explosion wouldn’t have any affect on me, powered-up like I have to be to fly around at this altitude.”

  “I don’t think they’re trying to hurt you. They just want those nukes to detonate. The shock waves will hit those satellites, and with just a few misaligned, the tachyon field will become unstable.”

  “Hang on,” Jake said. “We’ve worked too hard for this to end now.”

  “What are you doing?” Alexander said. There was no response. “Jake?”

  Scott said, “I think I know what he’s doing. Hang on.”

  Alexander didn’t like this. Not that he believed in the political or moral actions of his own species, but at least they were in constant communication with each other. A network, formed by those damned controller boxes. Scott and Jake and their team seemed to be running off on their own half the time, with the rest of the team waiting to see what the results might be. Alexander could see how working with these people long-term could be maddening.

  He then saw something rising from the atmosphere, flipping end-over-end. It was moving fast. He aimed the tricorder at it and saw it was one of the nukes. Another was soon behind it. He watched as they disappeared in the distance, moving out into space. They were moving at thousands of kilometers per second.

  There was then a light flash from somewhere out beyond the orbit of the moon, followed by another. The nukes had detonated. They were so far removed he doubted he would even feel any shock waves at all, here on the moon.

  Jake’s voice came over the speakers, “I grabbed ‘em and heaved ‘em.”

  Simple as that, Alexander thought. Grabbed ‘em and heaved ‘em. This Jake Calder sometimes had such a cowboy way of dealing things.

  “Ninety-eight percent,” Scott said.

  Jeff’s voice. “I really think you can begin now. This tachyon field has way much more depth and dimension and stability than is needed to move something the size of the Earth. This field could move the moon and half of the space between here and Mars.”