On Through the Never

by Melissa E. Hurst

  Once I’m back in the alley, I program the target date into my Chronoband—May 19, 2136. That’s the day before Dad took me from this era and delivered me to Aunt Grace. I remember that day clearly, because that’s the last happy memory I have of him from my childhood. Mom had let him spend that afternoon with me after he begged to see me for weeks. He took me to the New Denver Zoo, and then we got ice cream cones and spent our last hour together at the Green Zone near Mom’s apartment. That will be my destination.

  After activating the cloak on my uniform, I picture the date and my destination and shift back to 2136, emerging from the Void in a daze. I almost drop the cloak, then notice two Nulls cleaning trash near the entrance to the alley along with a supervisor. My pulse races—I’m not sure if the Nulls in this year have recording devices. I stay still as a statue until they finish their job and move on.

  The Green Zone is mostly filled with parents and their children, as well as a few couples. It doesn’t take me long to find Dad and the younger version of me. When I was little, I always wanted to stay at the playground when we visited this spot.

  As soon as I find them, though, I get a weird sensation. I feel happy and sad at the same time, watching myself giggling at something Dad says. I almost wish I could join them, be a part of the fun they’re having, but that’s ridiculous. I was there—I just wish I was experiencing it now instead of sitting on a bench and watching.

  And the longer I sit, the more the doubts creep in. What if I screw something up? Could I really destroy the timeline just by being here?

  By the time the younger version of Mom shows up to get me, I’ve convinced myself not to talk to Dad. But I can’t make myself leave. I watch as my younger self flails against Mom, reaching for Dad. I witness how Dad starts to follow them, then turns away when Mom threatens to call the authorities if he doesn’t back off. Anger shoots through me. How could she be so cold toward him? I know her story—that he was erratic and had a temper that scared her. But I just spent the past hour watching him, and his love for me was so obvious. He would never have hurt me.

  And I know he’s about to die.

  Before I can stop myself, I follow him across the Green Zone. He seeks out an empty bench and slumps down onto it, looking as if he could cry at any moment. My heart breaks for him.

  Maybe I can just talk to him for a few minutes, without letting him know who I am. That shouldn’t hurt anything.

  But as soon as I sit beside him on the bench, he glances up at me and his eyes widen. “It can’t be,” he whispers.

  My spine stiffens. “What do you mean?”

  “You look like somebody I know,” he says, still staring at me. “So similar to my sister.” His eyes zero in on my uniform, and then he peers into my eyes. “Oh, God. Is it you, Alora?”

  Some people say that when you’re caught off guard, you can feel the blood rush from your face. I never really understood that, but I think I do now because I’m lightheaded. I close my eyes for a few seconds, trying to decide if I should lie or tell him the truth.

  And when I look at him again, he looks so hopeful, so happy. I can’t lie, not when I know what’s going to happen to him tomorrow. “Yes,” I say, hating how my voice cracks.

  Dad covers his mouth with both hands before slowly lowering them to his lap. Then he reaches out and draws me into an embrace. My whole body begins to shake. I’m here with him and he knows it’s me, and suddenly I know I was right to come here.

  When he pulls away, he says, “I have so many questions. But first I have to know how old you are.”

  “I’ll be seventeen in two days,” I say, smiling.

  He shakes his head as if in disbelief. “I can’t believe it’s you. You’re so beautiful and grown-up, but you still look the same. I’d know you anywhere.” He reaches for my hands and wraps his fingers around mine. His hands feel warm and rough against my skin. “I’m so happy that you’re here. But why did you come? You should be living in … a different time.”

  My smile fades. I’m not sure how to answer, but he’s staring at me expectantly. If I tell him the truth, then he could do something differently tomorrow and destroy the timeline. But I don’t want to lie to him either. What can I say?

  Finally, I decide to compromise and give him a bare bones version of the truth. “I know you want some answers, but I can’t tell you everything. You know, the timeline is sacred, right?”

  His expression darkens. “You’re at the Academy now?”

  Oh crap, no. How could I let that slip? I need to fix this, now. “Dad, I know you want to know all about my life, but I really can’t share everything with you. What I can say is that I grew up in the time you wanted. Aunt Grace was a huge part of my life and I’m so grateful for that.”

  Dad blows out a long puff of air. “You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that. I’ve been preparing for some time to save you and your mother. It hasn’t been easy sneaking off from my unit to get fake identifications for the two of you.”

  So that’s how Aunt Grace had a birth certificate and other legal documentation for me, things that I found in her safe when Bridger and I broke into it to look for answers about my past. That’s also where I found my Jewill.

  “But you never answered my question. Why are you here now? Is something wrong?” he asks.

  I bite my lip, wondering what to reveal. “I really can’t tell you too much. I can say that Mom and I are both fine. I just wanted to come back and relive this day, that’s all.”

  He doesn’t say anything for a while. The muscles in his jaw flex, as if he’s not sure what to say next. “You said Mom and I. That doesn’t include me, does it?”

  And now my throat goes dry. For a clone—and one who’s supposed to be unstable—he’s extremely sharp.

  “You don’t have to say anything else. I think I get the picture.” He runs his right hand over the top of his head, then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small box. “I’ve been wanting to give this to your mom for years, but first the government denied our application to get married, then she decided that we weren’t a good fit anymore. I was hoping once we shifted to 2003 that she would change her mind, but …”

  As his voice trails off, he hands me the box. I lift the lid and find a plain gold band inside, inlaid with a purple stone. My eyes fill with tears, knowing what it is.

  “People in this time aren’t big on wedding rings, but I was raised differently. I wanted to give that to her, but I guess I never will, now. So … I’d like for you to have it.”

  “I can’t take this,” I whisper, my voice cracking.

  “You can,” he says firmly. “It would’ve been yours one day, anyway.”

  I slide the ring onto my right hand. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  He pats my hand. “Just be happy, sweetheart. That’s all I’ve ever wanted. That, and for you to be safe.”

  I wish could warn him about what will happen when he tries to rescue Mom tomorrow. It’s killing me, knowing that this is the last time I’ll ever be able to talk to him.

  It takes all my strength to say, “I’ve got to go now.”

  “I know. I wish you could stay longer, but I understand.”

  I fling my arms around him again, never wanting to let him go. “Bye, Daddy.”

  “Bye, my beautiful girl. I’ll see you again one day.”

  Tears are flowing freely down my face now. He thinks it’s goodbye for now. But I know it’s goodbye forever.

  22

  BRIDGER

  FEBRUARY 19, 2147

  It’s barely ten o’clock in the morning, and already adrenaline is coursing through my body. The time trip I took with Alora yesterday just raised even more questions. Today I’m going to try to find some answers. I’m going to Halla Fairbanks’s house to talk to her in person, since Alora said she worked on the project that revived her father. And since Vika’s consciousness was uploaded at the same time my dad’s was, back in 2013, maybe she’ll have some answers for us.
After that, I’m going to meet Zed, Elijah, Tara, and Alora at the museum so we can figure out what to do next. Since I couldn’t comm Alora myself, I asked Tara to get in touch with her and tell her of our plans.

  The only problem is my brother.

  “Will you hurry up?” I snap at Shan while I stop to let him to catch up. He’s walking about ten paces behind me on the sidewalk, talking to someone on his DataLink. There are too many people out for us to get separated without me worrying about losing him in the crowd. We’ve already passed one small group of Purists chanting in front of city hall. I really hope things aren’t about to turn sour again.

  Shan signs off just before reaching me.

  “Who were you talking to?” I ask, thinking it was probably Mom.

  “One of my friends,” he says. “Not that you care.”

  I glance at him out of the corner of my eyes. His sullenness around me has only increased in the past week. The camping trip with Grandma was the turning point. But when I told Mom I needed to go out this morning, she made me take Shan. She said she would be busy working on a project all day and that he needed to get out more. Personally, I think she just wanted the apartment to herself for a few hours. Either way, it sucks because I’m stuck with someone who clearly has issues with me.

  But I decide to try to reason with the little tyrant. “Who says I don’t care? It’s good that you have friends. Maybe you should bring them around the apartment more.”

  Shan snorts. “Um, no thanks. Mom would embarrass me. I’ll just stick to seeing them at school.”

  It’s all I can do to keep a straight face. “I thought you loved Mom. You’re clearly her favorite.”

  “No, I’m not,” he spits out. “She’s just nicer to me because I don’t openly hate her, like you do. You and Dad were always so close. There was no room left for me. Or for Mom.”

  I want to scoff at him, but what if he’s right? It’s true that Dad and I spent a lot of time together, but that’s because we had so many things in common. Camping, of course, but we also loved watching old baseball games together and sometimes playing hockey or soccer with Zed and Elijah. Shan never really liked any of those things, except for camping, but even that was only when he was little. The older he grew, the less he wanted to join us.

  “Well, maybe if you hadn’t been playing Sim Games all the time, you could’ve done more things with us.”

  Shan stops in his tracks. “Did it ever occur to you that one of the reasons I played those games so much was so I could get a head start on other cadets at school? With Dad and you being so good at everything, I didn’t stand a chance. Those games were the only way I had to train. And besides, that’s not all I like to do.”

  “That’s all I ever see you doing,” I reply, trying not to sound like a condescending ass.

  “That’s because you’re never around me, Bridger! I go rock climbing with my friends when we’re at the Academy. I read a lot of books. I even watch some those old cheesy movies Dad used to like.”

  “I like doing those things, too,” I mutter in disbelief. “You could always have asked if I wanted to do anything with you.”

  “Would you really have done them with me, though? Because I don’t think so. Remember, I’m just a whiny little mama’s boy.” He pauses for a moment to take a few deep breaths, his fists clenched. “And you know what’s really sad? You think so little of me, but I would do anything for you. I’ve always looked up to you.” With those words, he stalks off ahead of me.

  My face is on fire. Somehow, he must have overheard me saying that about him.

  Maybe he’s not as brainwashed by Mom as I thought.

  By this time, we’ve reached the Maglev. We have to wait a little longer than normal to board. Apparently, some Purists decided to throw some graffiti bombs—we arrive just in time to see them get arrested.

  The Maglev trip across town to where Halla Fairbanks lives takes a little less than ten minutes. Shan doesn’t say another word to me. And honestly, I can’t be mad about it. Maybe I have been too judgmental of him. I should try to work on that more.

  When we reach Colonel Fairbanks’s house, which is in a not quite wealthy, but definitely upper-class neighborhood, we’re stunned to find Professor March already there. He’s sitting in a swing on the small porch of the Fairbanks’s brick cottage.

  “It’s about time you two showed up,” he says, leaning forward in the swing. “I was beginning to think I guessed wrong. But with your trajectory, I figured you were coming here.”

  Shan sputters, “What—why are you tracking us?”

  “Because I promised your father that I would always look after you two. And I have a bad feeling that you’re getting yourselves into something you can’t handle.” He looks pointedly in my direction.

  “Where’s the colonel?” I ask. I try to peer into one of the front windows, but it’s impossible to see inside. The night screens are activated.

  “She’s gone,” Professor March says. “When she retired eight months ago, she moved. I never heard where she went.”

  “Why didn’t I hear about that?” I ask, stunned. Colonel Fairbanks had a cushy job with the DTA, and as far as I know she’s nowhere near retirement age.

  Professor March shrugs. “I have no idea.” He turns to Shan, “Listen, buddy, I need to speak to Bridger in private for a few moments.”

  “Sure, I’ll just go over there and do nothing.” Shan shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans and glares at me before he walks over to the Green Zone across the street. While I’m glad Professor March sent Shan away, a small part of me feels guilty. Especially after what he said to me on the way over here.

  “Now, let’s get to the important stuff. You’re clearly up to something. I want to know what you think you’re doing,” March says.

  “What are you talking about?” I ask.

  “Don’t play dumb with me. Why are you really here?”

  “Why do you want to know?”

  “Well, I received a disturbing comm last night from my sister. She said you were acting strange at headquarters yesterday.”

  “I didn’t realize you two talked so much, sir.”

  “Really, Bridger? She’s my sister.” Professor March heaves a sigh and continues. “Anyway, she did some digging and discovered that you accessed the DTA network yesterday in your grandmother’s office.”

  My pulse spikes. “She what? Did she … did she report me?”

  “Fortunately for you, she didn’t. She knows the relationship I have with you and Shan, so she decided to let me know first, to see what I thought about the situation. You owe her big time.”

  My legs feel weak. I sag onto the top step of the porch. I wish I could deny everything, but he’s got me. “Yeah, I logged onto the system. That was my only way of finding out what happened to Dad.”

  Professor March cocks his head to one side. “What happened to Leithan? Why would you want to do that?”

  My pulse quickens and I begin to rub my left hand. I just don’t know what I should do. Dad told me not to trust Professor March anymore. He had to have a good reason for doing that. But Professor March and his sister could have reported me for breaking into the DTA network, and they didn’t. I wonder why. Maybe I can give him just enough information to learn something from him.

  I share how Alora and I regained our memories, but omit everything about Ellis and our time trip to the day Nate Walker was revived. When I’m finished, I point a finger at him. “It’s your turn now. Why did you help me escape last year? Why did you lie to me about the DTA not knowing about the existence of Dual Talents? What are you and General Anderson hiding?”

  The professor’s eyes widen. “You both have your memories back and have kept that a secret from everyone. I have to admit, I’m impressed. You’re definitely Leithan’s son.”

  I want to trust him. I remember all the time he spent with our family while I was growing up. But I can’t forget Dad’s warning. “You didn’t answer my question.”r />
  Professor March holds up both hands. “I’m not doing anything with Anderson. He approached me and said that you and your father were caught doing something illegal, but he refused to elaborate. He said Leithan covered his tracks too well, and the only way to figure out what year he’d gone to was to stage your capture and then see what you did when you escaped. It was also to protect you once you went rogue.”

  “Yeah, but he threatened to have me Nulled!” I shout. “He had my Mom thinking I was a goner.”

  “Bridger, I went along with it because I had no choice. I never said I agreed with it. The whole thing was shady. But when a powerful official from the DTA tells you to do something, you do it.”

  “So you didn’t know that Vika and Dad had been cloned?”

  “They what?”

  “Wait a second … General Anderson didn’t tell you what happened to us in 2013?”

  Professor March places both hands on the top of his head, his face a mask of disbelief. “I wasn’t allowed access to the final report. It was classified.”

  I fill him in on everything that took place between Vika, Alora, Alora’s aunt, and my dad. Professor March looks completely aghast.

  “I don’t know what to think anymore,” he says. “I swear, Anderson just said he needed my help because he felt I was the only person who could get you to cooperate. His objective was to get you to shift to the exact date your father went to, so he could determine why Leithan went there. He could have extracted the knowledge from you, but he didn’t want to risk hurting you.”

  That does make sense. Submitting to Extractors—Mind Benders who forcibly take information from people’s brains—usually ends up giving the person permanent brain damage, or even kills them.

  I don’t know what to believe. Professor March seems sincere, but Dad wouldn’t have told me to stay away from him for no reason. The fact that he helped Anderson trick me is still pissing me off. But I need more answers from him. “I’m just trying to figure out what’s going on,” I say in an exasperated voice. “My dad and Vika are still out there somewhere. I want to know why they were cloned and what Anderson’s end game is.”