by Adair Hart
After a few more minutes, they reached a darker section of the tunnel.
Dr. Snowden noted it looked like a four-way stop. While the tunnel continued ahead, there were openings on the bottom and top. “I bet you’ve never seen that before, huh?”
“Only in theory,” said Evaran. He interacted with his chair console.
It was not lost on Dr. Snowden that Evaran was experiencing something for the first time. He was happy to be able to share in the moment.
The right screen lit up with a wireframe view of the space-time rift they were in as a horizontal tunnel, and another intersecting it vertically, like a cross. A flashing red dot hovered just outside the intersection.
“We will need to separate the rifts. V, head in.”
“Acknowledged.”
Dr. Snowden raised a hand. “And umm … how exactly are we going to do that?”
“The Torvatta’s shielding is noninteractive with matter, and even rifts to some degree. By going to the intersection and extending the shields, it should cause the rifts to untangle.”
Dr. Snowden knew the shielding prevented regular matter interaction, even though the Torvatta still was prey to physics. While the Torvatta could be knocked around, held, and even moved, the shielding could not be breached by normal matter unless the shield was weakened at a point like the entrance or thrusters. And now he knew that it could have a similar effect on rifts. “This is a large section. You sure the shields will have an effect here?”
Evaran pointed at the right screen. “You are looking at the visual effect of the line in space.” He changed the screen to show a line in the middle of the tunnels. “That is the true rift line. It is what weaves its way through space and time.” The screen changed to show a pulsing dot where the two rift lines intersected. “That is where the Torvatta will go. The rift lines should go around the Torvatta and untangle.”
“And then we go after Billozein?” asked Jane.
“Yes,” said Evaran. “I had planned on checking out the other end of the rift to see where he had come from, but he ended up near Roeth. Once the rifts are untangled, he will emerge where he should have gone. We will then go from there.”
Jane shrugged. “Not sure I fully understand, but I trust your judgment.”
“V, collapse the rift line intersection.”
“Acknowledged.”
Dr. Snowden homed in on the zoomed-in view on the right screen. The wireframe image provided a better visual to him than the mess of green he saw on the left screen. He watched as the red dot that was the Torvatta flew in, then pulsed for a moment. His eyes widened as the lines shook for a second, then flew apart. The vertical line disappeared. The dark-green section became light again. He jerked his head back. “Where’d the other rift go?”
“I do not know,” said Evaran. “However, we are still in the rift that Billozein took. Let us see where the endpoint was supposed to be. V, take us out.”
“Acknowledged.”
The Torvatta rotated 180 degrees and flew back to the rift opening.
Once the Torvatta had cleared the opening, Jane’s eyes widened. “I can see Billozein’s ship but … where’s everything else?”
Evaran rubbed his chin. “V, analyze.”
“Acknowledged,” said V. His extended arms worked overtime on the front console. After a few tense moments, he spoke. “Analysis. Using Earth measurements, we are approximately one hundred trillion years in the future.”
Dr. Snowden’s eyes bulged. “The degenerate era.”
“That is one human term for it,” said Evaran.
“There are others?”
“In humanity’s future, yes. This is an era where what you refer to as neutron stars, white dwarfs, and black holes dominate. It is a dark and cold place.”
Dr. Snowden shuddered. “I don’t think there will be any life for Billozein to prey on.”
“I know of a few civilizations that exist in this era. They … are not something Billozein could handle, much less recognize. V, disengage stealth mode.”
“Acknowledged,” said V. After a moment, he said, “Torvatta stealth mode disengaged.”
The right part of the console lit up.
“Analysis. Communication attempt detected. Analyzing protocol. Protocol established.”
“Relay it.”
“Acknowledged. Transmission relaying.”
The front screen showed Billozein sitting in a large chair in the command area of his ship. “What’d you do?”
Evaran cocked his head. “I corrected the space-time rift you were in.”
“What is this place? I can’t get any readings!”
“This is where you were supposed to go, not where you went near Roeth.”
“What! I’ve time jumped several times now after flying around, but keep ending up here.”
Evaran rubbed his chin. “You must be bound to the exit point of the last rift you went to. Your presence here now means that your involvement in the past has been erased. The timeline would have reverted back to what it was supposed to be.”
Billozein scowled. “You’re meddling with my personal timeline. I don’t belong here.”
“You do, actually. I am unsure how you are bound to the exit point, but I suspect that rift technology we detected is involved. If you tell me how you are time jumping, I will agree to an exchange of information. Your ship logs and answers to my questions for the direction of the nearest civilization. It is the least I can do.”
Billozein growled. “You could save me too. Be all noble like you claim to be. I’d be willing to give up my ship in exchange for passage somewhere safe. I’d give you all the answers you want.”
Dr. Snowden clenched his jaw. Billozein was right. Evaran would probably take Billozein up on his offer. He did not deserve that opportunity, but it was Evaran’s call.
Evaran’s eyes narrowed. “I cannot do that. You have proven what you are capable of. The timeline integrity must be maintained, and you are a disruptor.”
Dr. Snowden’s eyes widened.
Billozein snorted. “Damn your rules!” He gritted his teeth as he looked around for a moment. “Fine.” He tapped at his console.
“Receiving data,” said V.
Evaran nodded at V and then faced Billozein. “How are you time jumping?”
“I have a rift stone that when excited, allows me to jump back to a specific point in space and time, except this time, it’s bringing me here. I had no idea it was binding me to the last exit point of a rift.”
Evaran drew his lips flat. “So you kept resetting the timeline when things did not go your way. How did you obtain this rift stone?”
Billozein seethed for a moment, then tossed an arm out. “It was on a ship I stole. The pilot was dead, and I took on his form and his ship, and here I am.”
“The pilot was dead … by what means?”
Billozein smirked.
“I see,” said Evaran. “You then used the rift stone to find a rift.”
“Yeah … and?”
Evaran placed his hands together with his fingertips resting on his lips. His eyes darted between his ARI and Billozein. After a moment, he said, “V, send Billozein the direction of the nearest civilization.”
“Acknowledged.”
Billozein looked at his console. “How far away is it?”
“That … you will need to determine yourself. I cannot interfere more than I have.”
“When I get there … I’ll be sure to punish them in your honor, like I did the Kalesh. You won’t destroy my ship. You’re weak. If I catch you outside your ship again, no mercy,” said Billozein with a snarl.
The screen went blank and changed back to the outside view. Billozein’s ship took off.
“Was that wise? Unleashing Billozein on a nearby civilization?” asked Jane.
“It is several billion light-years away from here.”
Jane gulped. “He won’t make it there.”
“He will not.”
Dr.
Snowden swallowed hard. “So he’s going to travel out here … for the rest of his life aboard his ship?”
“Yes,” said Evaran. “If he were to activate his time jump, we would see him appear in front of us again, but that has not happened. I suspect he did not want to lose any progress on his search or … he has already met his end. V, take us back to Roeth, when we initially arrived after the summons.”
“Acknowledged.”
Dr. Snowden swallowed hard. An unusual silence washed across the command area. Billozein had been dealt with. Condemned to travel for the rest of his life in a ship. Evaran had not directly killed Billozein, but instead issued a death sentence, and did it in a somewhat cold manner, like it was a business decision. Then again, Billozein had proven what he could do when given free rein. He was a danger to any timeline. At least now he could not affect anyone. The next step was to go back and see what the timeline was supposed to look like.
Dr. Snowden glanced at Jane and Emily, who both seemed to be deep in thought. They were probably thinking along the same lines. He eased back into his chair as he ran his hands through his tufts of hair. At least there were no deaths, except Billozein’s indirectly, and if anything, something positive from the timelines had been saved: Jane, the time refugee.
Jane observed the landscape through the left screen as the Torvatta soared over Roeth. They were headed to Da Nesh, and from what she had seen so far, Roeth seemed to be the way she remembered it. There were no signs of Voss, and the ships that the Torvatta had detected were mostly Kalesh, with a slightly higher percentage of United Planets ships than she remembered. There was a Dyson bubble being built, and Corunus was where it should have been.
According to V, it was June 13, 3104, 11:00 a.m., the first time the Torvatta had arrived at Corunus above Roeth. She remembered getting up that morning and seeing the Evaran Protocol. All of that was gone now, and what was ahead was unknown. She wondered if this timeline version of herself resided in the same apartment.
“V, contact Andrew using the United Planets communication protocol. Send him an Evaran Protocol notice directly,” said Evaran.
“Acknowledged,” said V. After a moment, he said, “Communication established. Transferring visual.”
Jane’s heartbeat increased as she gazed at the screen.
After a moment, Andrew’s image appeared. “Evaran?”
Jane noticed his uniform was slightly different, but he looked the same outside of that.
Andrew gazed around the screen and focused on Jane. “Lil Jane? What are you doing there?”
Evaran extended a hand. “It is a long story. Do you have time to meet in person?”
“For you? Of course! I thought my mind was playing tricks on me when I saw the Evaran Protocol.”
“We will be there shortly.”
Andrew wrinkled his eyebrows. “Do you know how to get here?”
“Yes, we have been there twice already, and Jane knows the way if not.”
Andrew looked Jane over for a moment. “Okay … this should be interesting. I’ll see you shortly.”
The screen went blank.
“Well, at least there’s a United Planets presence here, and Andrew looks like he’s still working here,” said Jane.
“I suspect many things are the same, but there may be some differences,” said Evaran.
“Me and Chris,” said Jane with a half grin. “I know. I would bet my other self is here. It seems the Dyson bubble is always in construction, which means Chris would come out, and I would follow in every timeline.” She looked down. “And maybe … there are kids in this timeline.”
“It is possible.”
Jane took a deep breath and smiled at Dr. Snowden. He smiled back at her. Her nerves pulsed with excitement.
“V, take us in.”
“Acknowledged.”
The Torvatta landed in the United Planets spaceport.
Jane walked over and pointed at the screen. “We didn’t have a spaceport. The United Planets must have a much bigger presence here.”
Evaran stood. “It would appear so. I do not think you will need your suits, but it is up to you. Meet me outside.”
Jane decided to keep her suit on. Dr. Snowden kept on his casual clothes, and Emily her suit.
They assembled outside the Torvatta with V in orb mode.
Jane’s heartbeat increased when they reached Andrew’s office. It was slightly off from where she remembered it, but the android at the front desk gave them the correct location. She knew there was nothing to worry about, but the thought that this may be the last time she saw Roeth, or anything resembling her old life, dawned on her.
The solid wall in front of them dissipated.
Andrew met them at the door and ushered them in. He gestured for them to take seats in front of his desk.
Jane paused as she saw the timeline version of herself next to Andrew’s chair. The other Jane had on a United Planets agent suit similar to what she had before meeting Evaran. The one difference from the other timeline version that she saw was that this version was the same rank as she had been originally; this Jane was not Andrew’s boss.
The other Jane’s eyes widened upon seeing Jane.
After everyone was seated, Andrew tossed his hands out to the side and looked at Evaran. “I thought I would never see the Evaran Protocol activate. I’m … honored to meet you.”
“We have had this discussion several times already.”
Andrew leaned forward. “In another timeline or something?”
“You are quite perceptive,” said Evaran.
Andrew’s eyes lit up.
“I have some questions if you do not mind,” said Evaran.
Andrew shrugged. “Not at all. I hope you don’t mind that I asked Jane here. I had to make sure she hadn’t taken off with you without telling me, but it appears there are two Janes now. Anyways … go ahead.”
“I will get to the two Janes in a moment. First, do you know who Billozein is?”
Andrew shook his head. “I don’t.” He glanced at the other Jane.
The other Jane shook her head. “I’ve never heard of him.”
“I see,” said Evaran. “Is there an issue with illegal augments here on Roeth or elsewhere?”
“Not that I know of,” said Andrew. “I mean … sure, you might hear of a case every now and then, but for the most part, it’s negligible.”
“What about a corporation known as Advanced Dynamics?”
Andrew glanced at the other Jane, who shook her head, then looked back at Evaran. “I haven’t heard of that either. You got me curious, though … Can I ask a question?”
“Please proceed.”
“You mentioned another timeline,” said Andrew. He gestured at Jane. “I’m guessing she came from one of those, and this Billozein, illegal augments, and Advanced Dynamics were somehow part of that.”
“You are correct,” said Evaran. “We came to Roeth to investigate a timeline anomaly. We decided to help Jane in an illegal augment investigation. Billozein was someone who kept changing the timeline. On the first timeline transition, Jane was on board the Torvatta.”
Andrew eased back into his chair. “Ahh. Temporal shielding. She crossed over.”
“You are familiar with that?”
“The Evaran Protocol has a lot of information in it, along with some associated details on you and your ship.”
“And whom I travel with?”
“Only on a few events,” said Andrew. He wagged a finger between Dr. Snowden, Emily, and V. “I know that is Dr. Snowden, Emily, and U4.”
Evaran gestured at V. “That is V. U4 was killed upon my arrival on Earth.” He looked down.
“Oh … I … didn’t know,” said Andrew.
“It is okay. The additional data in the Evaran Protocol must be erased. This means anything other than how to interact with me.”
Andrew jerked his head back. “I know you put in a note not to record anything, but the damage has been done, at least f
or five hundred years or so. I’ll help in any way I can.”
“Thank you. I am not sure why it began recording around the time of the United Planets formation. When we arrived at Roeth, the United Planets was not the only group notified of my arrival when the protocol was activated in the first timeline. Information from those details was used against me.”
“Just tell me what you need me to do,” said Andrew.
“It is appreciated,” said Evaran with a slight bow.
Andrew narrowed his eyes and looked at Jane. “So … what happens to you then?”
Jane bobbed her head. “I’m traveling with Evaran now. Everything I know is gone, and since this is what the timeline should be, I’m not sure I would fit in.” She glanced at the other Jane, whose lips drew down.
“Oh … ,” said Andrew. He glanced at Evaran. “How long are you going to stay?”
Evaran chuckled. “Yes, you may see the Torvatta this time.”
“My other selves …”
“You are the third version to ask. You are consistent and persistent.”
Andrew chuckled. “Figures. Well, I’m guessing you corrected the timeline anomaly or you wouldn’t be here, right?”
“That is correct,” said Evaran.
“Out of curiosity again … you said the third version of me. Is that how many times the timeline has changed?”
“You are correct again,” said Evaran with a half smile. “Four timelines, three transitions. The first timeline version of you helped us find Warlord Okon. The second timeline version of you was killed by Billozein. The third timeline version of you helped us with information on the Voss Imperium and their domination of Roeth and beyond. The fourth, and intended, timeline version is in front of me.”
Andrew’s eyes widened. “I … I would love to know about the other versions of me … if you have time, of course. Four timelines, but three versions of me … hard to believe. President Okon is the leader of the Kalesh. And he was a warlord?”
Jane chuckled. “Warlord, ambassador, and rebel leader. And now he’s a president, it seems.”