“We’ve done a great deal of work with nanos interfacing directly with the mind,” the Mechanic said. “Think of the communication nanos all of us use each day. Think about the interfaces we built into the mind to record video and audio from memories. The nanos sent to the Aliomenti prison that showed the teleportation target in the minds of those freed.” He stopped walking and looked at them. “More to the point, isn’t there a sequence in which the Assassin reveals that someone in our camp altered him to work on our behalf, including aiding Will Stark’s escape from Aliomenti Headquarters?”
Adam nodded. “You’re right; I do remember that. And there was something in the conversation that Will and I had—will have—about what our nanos are, what they can, and the fact that at least one of our number had worked on ways to use them to alter the human brain.” He chuckled. “Another message we left for ourselves?”
“So it would seem,” Angel said. “I’m still not sure how we can build triggers to block a memory that Da—Mr. Stark won’t have until after we need to set up the trigger.”
“The mechanics are unclear to me,” Adam said. “But I think the trigger should be the time machine lid snapping opaque. When that happens, Will’s definitely leaving us.”
“Rather than a standard Energy-based memory block, we ought to consider one based on hypnotic techniques,” Fil said, wrinkling his face in thought. “I agree with Angel. I don’t think we can put an Energy-based memory block on a memory that hasn’t yet occurred. But I think we can trigger a hypnotic effect that blocks those memories, that tells Dad’s mind that he’s never met those people before when he next meets them in the past.” He paused. “Does that make sense?”
The Mechanic nodded, his eyes distant. “It does indeed.”
Angel noticed the look on the older man’s face. “What are you thinking about?”
“The Assassin, oddly enough. We’re tampering with his mind as well, aren’t we? I’m wondering if we have to use that initial sleep cycle to do that work, or if we have to wait until later.”
Angel felt the frown forming on her face. “I’m not sure I like the idea of bringing the Assassin forward in time.”
“We have to, though,” Fil said. “He helps Dad escape Headquarters.”
“We could send one of our own undercover there and spring him,” Angel offered.
“No,” Adam replied. “It must be the Assassin, because he will have the opportunity to be Will’s executioner if we bring him forward. If the Assassin isn’t here, then the one they’ll assign to the effort will be…” His eyes flicked briefly to Fil, and they all understood. Fil’s face flushed. “We won’t have the opportunity to reprogram… the other assassin, so it’s best for all involved if we go to the trouble of reprogramming the one we can control before that future encounter.”
“Speaking of things thrown into the trunk of a time machine… how are we doing on the supplies Dad will need in the distant past?” Angel’s eyes flicked in Fil’s direction, concern etched on her face. Fil’s face remained stoic. If the reference to Abaddon bothered him, he hid it well.
The Mechanic spoke up. “Charlie located most of the items needed. He obtained collectible coins from the era that will help Will Stark survive until he’s able to earn money in that era. He also researched clothing and was able to construct era-appropriate clothing with original materials.” He looked thoughtful. “We’ll need to get the clothing altered, though.”
Angel blinked. “Why?”
“I remember a comment made by one of the Hunters during the video of their assault on Will Stark during the time of the fire,” the Mechanic said. “Something about him seeming taller than he remembered.”
Angel frowned. “You’re saying Dad… made himself shorter somehow? In the past?”
Adam nodded. “You know… you’re right. I can’t believe I never realized it before. When I first met Will and went to live in the Cavern, he was definitely shorter than he was when I met his younger, human version in my business dealings with the man. Probably a good three inches.”
“Dad made a practical decision, then,” Fil said. “People have gotten taller over the centuries. A man of his natural height would stand out too much in the eleventh century.”
“I’ll let Charlie know we need to alter the clothing,” Angel said. “We’ve got the scroll computer with all of the events Da—Mr. Stark documented over time stored inside. Dad wrote down dates for most of the later ones, and Eva was able to provide guidance on dates for the earliest events.”
“We’ll put everything under the rear seat in the time machine cabin. We’ll also need to make sure that the gun Will recovers from the Assassin is teleported out of the trunk after he stores it in the trunk. And that should be that.” Adam snapped his fingers.
“He’ll need a large batch of nanos, too,” Fil said. He turned to the Mechanic. “Probably far more than the rest of us usually need. We have to consider the possibility that some of the nanos will be lost over time, that some will be destroyed, and that others will wear out over the course of so many centuries.”
The Mechanic nodded. “The temporary time machine will be constructed of nanos that will be coded to belong to Will. When it disassembles, he’ll have full access to all of them.”
“What about the battery?” Angel asked. “Won’t that need to be eliminated as well?”
The Mechanic nodded with a sigh. “It will. I haven’t figured out how to do that just yet.”
Fil looked at the Mechanic. “You’re worried that the process might cause an explosion if all of the energy stored inside isn’t used up?”
“Exactly. We don’t want to get him there and then have him die in an explosion of our own creation.”
Fil thought about that. “Perhaps there’s a way to build the battery casing from nanos? Have those disassemble as well.”
“I’ve thought of that, but so far I’ve not been able to get anything to work,” the Mechanic admitted. “I have some alternative ideas, but none I really like.”
“Speaking of things we don’t like…” Angel frowned. “Is it really necessary that Charlie and I be apart during the two months Dad’s with us?”
Fil nodded, and Angel saw that annoying smirk appear on his face. “Dad’s memories show no indication that the two of you had any significant type of relationship, and he specifically saw that the two of us were sharing quarters.” The smirk dissolved, replaced by a look of sympathy. “You’ll be living inside a scutarium shielded enclosure. When you’re not with Dad, the two of you can teleport away and go back to the Cavern, or otherwise spend time alone.” He shrugged. “Maybe we didn’t want Dad learning he had a little girl who was already grown up and married. Maybe that was just one more thing that would overwhelm him at a time he didn’t need more powerful emotional experiences.”
Angel sighed. “I understand that’s the way it has to be. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
Fil nodded, and then moved to the next topic. “We’ve got the nano-based Shielding mist in place, and we’ll ramp up the quantity of the mist when the Hunters arrive. Dad will go outside the mist as a matter of course, eventually getting strong enough Energy to draw Porthos’ attention.”
“Because he’ll teleport,” the Mechanic agreed. “It’s likely the teleportation work did the trick. It’s probably worth noting that the whole experience is the best thing that can happen to him in terms of learning the importance of Shielding. It’s one thing to be told; it’s another to not focus and have the Hunters swing by for a visit.”
Fil nodded. “It seems silly, but I think you’re right. We could put a nano Shield around him the instant he gets here, but… that won’t help him. He’ll be the only one who doesn’t Shield in the camp. Maybe… actually, we should probably tell people to drop their Shields in the camp. He needs to be able to sense the Energy in others. At some point…” He glanced at Adam. “He actually goes searching for you in that fashion, doesn’t he?”
Adam nodded slowly.
“You’re right. We have to have everyone here at least partially drop Shields while inside the mist. Not enough to scare him.” He glanced at Fil. “You probably shouldn’t fully drop, obviously.”
Fil smiled grimly. “Trust me… that will never happen again.”
“Anybody figure out why I’m supposed to be bleeding to death after the crash of our nano flyer?” Angel glanced around. “It’s not like we don’t know the Hunters will be there and take a shot at us. Fil’s not going to be surprised and fly us into a tree. And even if he did… I don’t get how I’m supposed to suffer from internal bleeding while Fil’s unscathed.”
The Mechanic nodded slowly. “I think I understand the reasoning. I remember that memory as well. Will Stark and Adam were in one craft after the Hunters arrived, and the two of you in another. At some point, Adam tells Will that you’re hurt badly. They arrive to find Fil saying he’s been able to fix most everything, but not the internal bleeding, and that you need blood.”
“Right. And?” Fil arched an eyebrow.
The Mechanic snorted. “Why might Angel need blood from Will Stark? From that Will Stark?”
“Why does it matter who it’s from, if I’m…” Angel felt her breath halt in her chest, felt and heard her heart begin hammering away. “Oh my. Are you suggesting…?”
“That’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” the Mechanic said. “You’ve made it clear through your current private research, trying to cleanse blood of ambrosia through artificial means, that you and Charlie are interested in having children. Your research hasn’t turned up any results yet so you need blood from your parents that’s not been tainted with ambrosia. None is available, and your parents, out there in the world, are both very much under ambrosia’s influence at the moment in any event.”
“Until Dad gets here from the past, before he takes ambrosia.” Fil snapped his fingers. “That means his Purge can’t have ambrosia, just the morange and zirple.” He winced. “Ambrosia would have helped that experience be far more pleasant, but…”
“I’m sure he’d be fine with a bit of short-term pain if it means that Angel and Charlie can start their family,” Adam replied. “That’s just how he is. Was. Is? Not sure how to describe him anymore.” He gave a faint smile.
“That’s a bit of a risk, though, isn’t it?” Angel asked. “I mean, yes, it’s great, and Charlie will be thrilled, and that reward makes our separation worthwhile. But sending Dad back in time without ambrosia? What if…?”
“Mom wouldn’t have any either.” Fil nodded. “It makes sense, doesn’t it? It looks risky from here. But he has to find it back then, because if he doesn’t Mom will be dead within decades. And if for some reason, this time, they don’t find ambrosia? He’d rather die with Mom than live alone without her.”
Each of them nodded at this somber statement.
The Mechanic glanced at each of them. “I won’t be going on the trip, but as I’ve said before, I will make sure that I have a standby time machine constructed and tested and ready to send to the secondary site. If the craft malfunctions…”
“We know, we know,” Angel said, smiling. “Grab Dad, phase out, after applying a nano Shield, and move to the secondary site without attracting the attention of the Hunters.”
The Mechanic nodded. “Everyone know their role for the trip?”
“I’m to use my nanos to bore a hole through the basement wall, through the ground, and up to where Dad is being… hurt.” Angel winced. “I need to make a throwing motion when I begin the process so that my older brother, while still young, sees that and is able to realize I’m not using Energy to make it happen. I need to tell my invisible brother that he needs to take care of Mom and pass along a message to… me… to come and get what I left behind. I need to tell Mom to recognize her issues and accept help.”
“I have the backpack ready,” Fil said. He pointed to a table, where a backpack and other supplies for their future trip to the past rested. “I need to grab Dad’s spare glasses, the gun, and extra ammunition.” He grimaced. “And I need to take the Assassin from the ground floor of the house and get him into the time machine. I also have a mask in the backpack that will clear the air of the smoke that will be in the house at the time, since I’m going into the part of the house on fire. My message to Mom is the same as Angel’s, and I need to tell my younger self not to be so tough on Dad when I get older.” He winced.
Angel looked at him with sympathy.
Adam nodded. “I have the responsibility to bring along the fire bomb that will complete the annihilation of the house, the time capsule of nanos that Angel constructed which has the plans for the battery needed to store the power to enable the round trip to 2030 and back. I have to plant the time capsule and the fire bomb in the appropriate places, make sure there’s nothing obviously wrong with the time machine, and offer my own words to Hope and young Fil.”
“Are we forgetting anything?”
“Only one thing I can think of, but that doesn’t mean we won’t think of others,” Fil replied.
He concentrated, holding out his hands, and a portion of his invisible swarm of intelligent nanos came together in his outstretched palms. The surface turned shiny, a bright mirror that reflected back a large portion of the light touching the surface. Within moments, the mirrored sunglasses so prominent in his father’s memories of that future time were complete.
“Might as well get used to wearing these, I guess,” he said.
He put them on.
They were ready to go save Will Stark.
XVIII
Return
2219 A.D.
When he’d joined the Alliance years ago, Adam had known from the very beginning that this day would come. He’d been asked to help ensure that this outcome happened. He’d done his part in the past, ensuring that the events of 2030 happened without a hitch. He’d made mistakes, of course; that was inevitable. But he’d done a lot of positive things as well, like saving Gena’s life. His final role in this saga through time was about to begin.
And he’d never been more nervous in all of his five hundred sixty-nine years.
That was, in part, due to the fact that if they screwed up now, all of the work over the centuries by hundreds and thousands of people would be for naught. All the sacrifice would mean nothing if they didn’t fetch Will Stark from the past, train him up, and send him to the distant past to fulfill his destiny. But there was another reason, one he didn’t want anyone to know.
He was afraid of dying.
He’d stayed out of danger for the most part, risking injury only when he went to the Stark’s home just before the Assassin unleashed an explosion and destroyed the space where he’d been sitting. Now, though? They’d tested the time machine, sent the device backward and forward through time, fixed every conceivable problem and some he’d never considered.
They’d never tested it with living cargo before.
If the ship broke this time, it wasn’t a failed test. It was instant death for them all.
He didn’t fear the physical aspect of dying. Not exactly. But if he was dead, he’d never know if he’d ever work up the courage to talk to Gena. Friends told him interest was mutual and strong. But each time he thought he’d worked up the courage to talk to her, something came up. She’d run off at one point to find out what the Aliomenti were planning to do to Fil, and she’d nearly died. He’d cursed himself for letting her die without telling her how felt. When she’d recovered, though, his courage fled. He could see the hurt it caused her.
He couldn’t tell her he was unworthy. Terribly unworthy. If she knew everything about him, she’d agree. And she’d find out everything one day. Better to keep his distance to lessen her hurt. Maybe, just maybe, she’d forgive him and then they could… no, best not to even consider the idea.
He wished Will was around. He could ask Will for his blessing to court the sister he’d never known. If Will said no—and he certainly should—then he had no right to continue entertaining the
se thoughts. No, he corrected himself. He had an excuse.
If he died today, though? What would it be like dying knowing you’d never told the person you loved most in the world that you loved them?
He might find out.
Dawn broke, and he took calming breaths. They’d agreed he’d need to be the calming influence of the trio, because both Angel and Fil would undergo severe emotional trauma throughout the day.
Angel had been growing more frenzied in the past few weeks; she was so excited that she’d finally see her father in person that she’d been unable to sleep, and had kept others up as well.
And Fil? He didn’t envy Fil his role at all. Fil was busy trying to rebuild his anger at his father’s abandonment of him when he’d been just a little boy, reliving the memories that would fuel his surly attitude toward Will while the man remained in their camp. It would be difficult to maintain the charade; today, he’d see the beating the older Will had allowed the Hunters to inflict on the younger. His father had chosen to accept the physical trauma rather than risk the entire future history to unravel. And in the course of this day, Fil would be required to save the Assassin and escort him to the future and nurse him back to health. In light of Abaddon’s atrocities, the brutal unfairness of that task couldn’t be understated.
Adam, though? He wasn’t traveling to retrieve long lost parents. He should be calm and steady to stabilize the siblings. But they didn’t realize that he considered Will Stark the closest thing to a brother he knew, and that he’d take a bullet to protect Hope if need be.
Regardless of what anyone else thought, they were his family as well.
But he’d stay strong anyway. For them. For all of them.
He took another steadying breath and checked the supplies once more.
Fil’s bag contained only the breathing mask he’d use to move safely through the smoke-filled first floor of his childhood home. Angel’s bag contained the vial with the “sleeping” potion and several other vials and bottles filled with placebos, along with towels for cleaning up the blood and salve for his burned skin. The multiple vials were an important touch. They didn’t want Angel to have one vial that just happened to contain exactly what Will needed; eventually, he’d wonder why that was the case. With multiple vials, he’d think Angel simply had her group’s first aid kit and helped him accordingly.
Aliomenti Saga 6: Stark Cataclysm Page 23