30th Century: Escape (30th Century Trilogy Book 1)

by Mark Kingston Levin

  “Marty, did I do something wrong? I’ve hardly seen you.”

  “No, my work for the Marine Science Lab has overwhelmed me this week. I’ve been swamped with it and haven’t had time. I’m sorry.”

  “You can always call or email me to touch base. You can even send me postcards,” she teased, eyes narrowed at him.

  Marty held her. “You want to come with me when I leave next week?”

  “You know I do.”

  “I’m going to fly the Albatross and accomplish some work for the Tahitian government training pilots to fly the amphibian.”

  “Why is the Tahitian government training Albatross pilots?”

  “The Tahitian government has purchased two such planes for their Coast Guard, primarily for search and rescue missions. They also want to explore their use in oceanography studies at the new Marine Lab and other labs in the future.”

  He paused, then said, “I’m looking forward to this trip and would like to ask Mike and Alice to come with us.”

  “Good idea. I like them both very much.”

  “They can teach flight instruction now and during the school year when I’m teaching because they both passed their flight instructor rating for the Albatross last year. Can you call Alice and I’ll call Mike?”

  “Yes, of course. I will talk with Alice.”

  “I want you to come to a seminar I’ve been preparing for at the East West Center today. You can represent the Marquesas Islands. Please consult with Yvonne and others you know there who can help you offer some input on projects of interest for international cooperative studies.”

  “That sounds exciting!” Jennifer said. “Will you come over after? I have missed you so much.”

  “Yes,” Marty said. He leaned down to kiss her. “Can I drop you somewhere this morning?”

  “No, thank you, I will ride my bike as it is such a beautiful day and I need the exercise.”

  Marty woke Jennifer up after midnight that night. They were both tired but Jennifer wanted to reconnect. They made love frantically, with Marty falling asleep in exhaustion after. Jennifer cuddled against his chest, listening to the sound of his heartbeat.

  Jennifer wondered if she should tell him the truth about herself. He’d think she was crazy. Everyone would think she was crazy. Her amnesia cover story was more of a hindrance than a help if she ever wanted to tell the truth. She would age much slower than Marty too. Would she have to leave him before he realized that she was different? What a horrible thought.

  * * *

  She woke to the annoying clang of the alarm and shuffled to put on a robe. She made breakfast and coffee for Marty and herself.

  “It will be great to visit with your kids again,” she said as they ate. “I’m glad we decided to bring them with us to Tahiti.”

  “I miss them,” he said. “I don’t see as much of them as I’d like, since they live at Anne’s most of the time. I know they like you so we’ll have a fantastic time.”

  “We can take them to see Erita. She’s performing at Le Meridien, which isn’t too far from the project site.”

  With a big smile, Marty said, “I’m really looking forward to another ménage à trois with her, if you’re game.”

  Jennifer returned his smile. “I can see if she’s willing.”

  Marty kissed her gently on the lips and hugged her.

  “We need to go get the kids,” Jennifer reminded him.

  “Let’s go.”

  They walked out of the condo with their bags and equipment.

  “Everything else is aboard the aircraft, including emergency supplies,” Marty said.

  They got into Marty’s Jeep and drove to pick up the children. The route to Anne and Jill’s house wound through an old neighborhood on a hillside. Jennifer loved to look at the houses raised off the ground for cooling breezes and gardens filled with flowering plants and palms. While her condo at the Ilikai was convenient for now, this neighborhood reminded her of the house she’d lived in with her parents in Tasmania. Maybe someday she could have a house with a yard and a garden.

  They pulled into the steep driveway and parked. All five kids tumbled out the door lugging duffel bags, except Amanda, who had a small, neatly-packed rolling suitcase.

  “Anne, Jill,” Marty said, greeting the two women who were kissing the children goodbye. He remained to one side, his arms crossed, but not as stiff as he had seemed at Thanksgiving. Perhaps his hurt was at last beginning to ease.

  Anne gave Jennifer a warm hug, pleasantly surprising her.

  “I know the kids are in good hands,” Anne told her. “You showed me respect and attention at Thanksgiving. Marty told me it was your idea. You have a very big heart as well as a big brain. I’m happy Marty found you!”

  “Anne, you are the mother of the children and I want us all to get along. I have come to love Marty’s children and I hope they feel the same for me someday. We should be partners and friends.”

  Anne smiled. “I know we all want what’s best for the children. Please take care of them.”

  “I will!” Jennifer said.

  The two women hugged again.

  “Goodbye for now!” Anne said.

  Jennifer hugged Jill next. “I am very happy Anne found you. It gave me a chance to be with Marty. Thank you. I hope we can have a very friendly relationship.” In a whisper, Jennifer added, “I am not threatened by your sexuality—in my mind, you should have equal respect and equal rights.”

  “Thanks,” Jill whispered back. “Maybe Anne and I can take you out for lunch when you get back?”

  “I’d like that,” Jennifer said.

  They all waved goodbye to Anne and Jill.

  Jennifer climbed into the Jeep, smiling as the children all talked at once.

  “You’re really helping this relationship, thank you,” Marty said under their rambunctious chatter.

  “I want us all to be happy,” Jennifer said.

  “It makes for trust and understanding. I was too bitter to see that at first but you opened my eyes.” He kissed her hand then hollered at the back-seat passengers.

  “Okay, kids, one at a time starting with Mason.”

  Mason and Allison cheered, “Hurray!”

  “Can we play video games on the plane?” Mason asked.

  “Yes,” answered Marty. “Make sure you have everything you need before we go to the plane. We’ll have power on the plane for the games and some food.”

  “I have my favorite snacks.” Mason held up a baggie of crackers shaped like fish.

  “How old are you?” Jennifer asked.

  “Seven, almost eight,” he said.

  “When will you be eight years old?”

  “December thirtieth. I have a Christmas birthday. When is your birthday?”

  “According to my papers, I was born twenty-two years ago on August 22nd,” Jennifer said.

  “It’s my turn now,” Allison asserted.

  “Okay,” Mason said.

  “Do you want to marry my daddy?” Allison asked.

  Marty yelled, “That’s not a good question for a child to ask!”

  Maybe not, but Jennifer felt the kids deserved an answer. “I love your daddy, but we have not discussed marriage yet. We will have to wait and see if this relationship is going to work out. Would you want your daddy to remarry, Allison?”

  “I would!” said Amanda.

  “Your turn is coming last,” Allison sniped at her sister.

  “Go ahead, Allison,” Jennifer prompted.

  “I don’t know yet. I want to spend more time with Daddy.”

  “That is a good and healthy feeling,” Jennifer said. “I know he wants to spend more time with you and your siblings. That is why we are going on vacation with you.”

  “I want to spend nights with him during the school year because I miss him very much,” Allison said with tears in her eyes. “Every night he used to tuck me in and read to me before the divorce.”

  “You will have to talk with your fath
er about spending more time with him and he may be able to come to an agreement with your mother,” Jennifer said. “They both love you and want to spend time with you.”

  “My friends make fun of two women instead of a real daddy.”

  “We live in a modern world where each person can choose their lifestyle and partners,” Jennifer said. “We must learn to respect all people. If your friends tease you for who your parents are, perhaps they are not your real friends.”

  Allison looked thoughtful but still sullen.

  “Mark, you are next,” Jennifer said.

  “I want to know what we’re planning to do.”

  “There are many options at the resort hotel,” Jennifer answered. “You can choose from these on my iPad. In the morning, we will eat breakfast together and you will get to choose your activity. You can snorkel the reef if you want. I know your father has taught you how.”

  “Yes, I can!” Mark expanded his chest with pride.

  “We can do arts and crafts and make something for your parents or ride horses. There are lots of choices for kids.”

  “Is there sailing? I love boats!”

  “Yes, but that is a private lesson, and you can do sailing or surfing,” Jennifer said.

  “I want to do surfing!” Geoffrey interrupted.

  “Me too!” Amanda declared.

  “I want to sail a small boat,” said Mark.

  “We will do whatever you want,” Jennifer said. “Geoffrey, you are next!”

  “I want to learn to surf like my friends so I can hang with them riding waves after school.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Yes! Are your boobs real?” Geoffrey eyed her chest.

  Jennifer raised an eyebrow at him. “That is not a question a young boy should ask an adult.”

  “That was out of line, Geoffrey,” Marty scolded. “You know we don’t talk to women like that. I’ll talk about your punishment later.”

  Geoffrey looked down, blushing. “Yes, sir.”

  “Amanda, it is finally your turn,” Jennifer said.

  “I would like to learn to surf with Geoffrey. I also want to sail,” Amanda said.

  * * *

  Marty parked in the long-term parking lot, near a small private terminal. The kids all carried their own bags to the airport’s largest Fixed Base Operation for small private aircraft, where the Albatross was parked. Once inside the FBO, Marty checked the weather and the flight operations. Later, he conducted normal pre-flight inspection of the fuel and aircraft with Alice and Mike.

  After the inspection, he walked Mike and Alice over to the waiting area where Jennifer and the children were hanging out until departure.

  “Kids, this is Mike and Alice,” Marty said. “They’ve been flying the Albatross for the university while I was teaching.”

  Alice hugged Jennifer.

  “Aloha, kids,” Alice said. Mike echoed her greeting.

  “We have a lot of catching up to do,” Alice said to Jennifer.

  “Let’s wait until we get airborne,” Mike said. “I’ll act as co-pilot and Alice will be flight engineer so she’ll have lots of free time once we’re aloft.”

  “How long is this trip?” Amanda asked.

  “It’ll take about ten to eleven hours,” Alice explained. Amanda and Geoffrey sat near her, asking her questions about the navigation machinery.

  Mike brought in a cart. “Put everything here that you won’t need during the flight. If you need an iPad, books, snack, toy, or game, carry them on in your carry-on luggage just like you would on a normal flight.”

  The kids placed their bags on the cart, taking out what they needed for the flight. Once everyone was seated, Marty walked around the plane for a final check and boarded. Alice filed their flight plan and then made sure it was approved.

  “Everything is good to go,” she said.

  Mike radioed ground control for instructions after Marty conducted the pre-takeoff flight check, revving up the engines. The kids and adults all wore headphones to listen to the plane’s communications or music. Jennifer chose to listen to the pilots and tower.

  The active tower controller said, “Zulu four-four-four, you are cleared to take the active runway and hold, over.”

  “Roger that!” Mike replied. “Zulu four-four-four is taking the active and holding further instruction, over.”

  After a few minutes, the controller announced, “Zulu four-four-four cleared to take off.”

  “Roger that, Zulu four-four-four cleared for takeoff!”

  Mike released the brake and Marty slowly added power to the engines. The plane vibrated as the power increased. Mark looked at the runway and saw the plane lift off and cheered. All the other kids followed suit with multiple cheers, which were barely heard above the noise of the big radial engines at full power.

  Jennifer was sitting with the kids and smiled as the plane banked to the right. After about thirty minutes, the plane had climbed to 21,000 feet.

  “You can get up now,” Mike announced over the speakers, “but please keep your seatbelt on when sitting, for safety reasons.”

  The kids went to the bathroom one by one after drinking the protein and fruit shakes that Jill had made for them.

  “What a great idea Jill had,” Jennifer said to Alice over the plane’s intercom.

  “I would like to come back and talk with you,” Alice said, “but I need to check the winds aloft and re-plot the course as we have increased northeasterly winds at this altitude.”

  Mason and Allison set up Monopoly and invited their siblings to play. Jennifer asked to join a little while after Mark and Geoffrey got involved.

  “Sorry, we’re in the middle of a game, but you can join the next one,” Mark yelled over the engine noise as Mason started to dominate the game.

  Amanda got up to stretch her legs and after hitting the head she came back to observe how the Monopoly game was going. Mason was still winning.

  “Great job, little bro!” she said. “How are you doing, Jennifer?”

  Jennifer smiled and teased, “I am doing better than some of you—at least I am not in jail.”

  Amanda laughed. “He took me for everything I had. I’m broke and in jail so I’m out.” Amanda picked up a book.

  “Hey, are you reading Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea?” Jennifer asked.

  “Yes, I love science and science fiction. I think what Daddy does for a living is going to save the world.”

  Another man saving the world; perhaps that was her attraction to him. Jennifer thought of the future she was writing in her book and the true peril that would come. She had seen Zexton’s plan through to fix the wrong her grandfather began...to save the world...yet the grip of guilt on her heart would not let go that she hadn’t completed the mission personally. She shook her head to rid her mind of her dark thoughts.

  “You like studying science in school then?” she asked Amanda.

  “Yes, my favorite class is chemistry. I get to sit next to Billy,” Amanda said.

  “Billy?”

  “He’s a football player and he’s smart and funny,” Amanda said.

  Jennifer grinned. “So, you like this boy?”

  “Amanda and Billy, swinging in a tree,” Mason sang.

  Amanda narrowed her eyes at him. “Shut up, booger.”

  “Hey now, let’s not call each other names,” Jennifer said.

  Amanda asked, “Jennifer, can I talk with you for a minute alone?”

  “Sure, come over to my seat near the cockpit.”

  “I want to invite him to sail with us but Daddy said no,” Amanda revealed. “He’s a really nice boy.”

  “Fathers always think it’s too early for their little girls to start dating. Maybe we can invite him over for dinner so Marty can meet him?”

  Amanda smiled. “You think Daddy would let him come over? Really?”

  Jennifer patted her arm. “I’ll ask him.”

  Amanda hugged Jennifer tightly. “Thank you so much!”


  They watched as Mason won the game and crowed over his brothers and sister.

  Alice walked in after the game ended and asked Jennifer to come to the lab at the aft of the plane.

  “Mike and I made a couple of modifications at our own expense by adding a door in the back to isolate the lab and shower from the rest of the plane,” Alice said. “We wanted a little space for ourselves. We also added a miniature espresso machine.”

  Jennifer and Alice sat down after brewing two cups of cappuccino.

  “Mike told me about your fight,” Alice said. “Marty told Mike you were into women and he didn’t want to compete in that arena. What happened?”

  “I did not know he was sharing with the two of you,” Jennifer said, grimacing. “I’m not sure how I feel about that, but you are my friend.” She sipped her coffee and thought about how much to share with Alice. “I started to have sexual dreams about women and wanted to see where those feelings led me. I had no idea about the history there and was too casual about my presentation of the idea. Marty was understandably scarred by what happened with his ex.”

  “Yeah, it hit him hard. We were so happy he found you and started to open up again. But you’ve got to be yourself. Mike is bisexual and I accept him that way. I’ll keep your confidences if you keep mine.”

  “Yes, I agree.” Jennifer described her experience with Erita and Marty and how much they’d both enjoyed it.

  Alice whooped. “I really never thought Marty could handle that.”

  Jennifer grinned. “I think Marty likes having two women in bed at the same time. It strokes his ego that he can satisfy us both.”

  “We have an occasional threesome with Mike’s lover. I feel like I’m sharing him but it’s worth it to me because I love Mike very much.”

  Jennifer took a deep breath and held one of Alice’s hands. “You know, I am very attracted to you. Those dreams I initially told Marty of were about you.” Her heart pounded at the confession.

  Alice squeezed her hand. “I think you’re a beautiful woman, but I don’t want to take advantage of you, especially with your amnesia.”

  “I’m not a child.” Jennifer shook her head in denial. “I know what I want.”

  Alice nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve spoken with Mike before about taking a lover and he says he’s fine with it. I haven’t done it yet because I have a very difficult time being the aggressor. I worry about rejection.”