The Time Change Trilogy-Complete Collection

by Alex Myers

  Jack released his arm from around Victor’s shoulder and said, “Let me give it a try on my own.” Jack not only could walk normally, he actually felt as if he could run and jump.

  “Slow down a little, champ.”

  “This feels pretty good.” Jack stumbled slightly.

  “There’s still a bit you need to work on with your coordination.”

  The door to the hall opened with a swoosh. The hallway was a blue color so dark it almost appeared black. There was an illuminated strip of red running down the center and the lighting was hidden. The effect was very calming but totally foreign. From the end of the deserted hall, Jack could see the window, it was night.

  “There aren’t any windows in my room. Somehow, though, I thought it was daytime. Now that I think about it, there isn’t a clock anywhere in my room either.”

  “Dr. Mizell warned me there were gaps in your memory. Nearly everyone is on a 24-hour clock nowadays. Most people only sleep for an hour or two, and mostly just out of habit. Those same little critters that fixed all your injuries spend all their time in healthy people, fixing damaged or worn-out cells. A by-product is we don’t require much sleep anymore.” Victor looked at his watch; “It’s about 2:30 in the morning. Haven’t been to sleep myself in over a week—too much going on, if you know what I mean? Nanotechnology—you’ve got to love it!” He gave Jack a devious wink.

  “Is there a reason there’s not a clock in my room?”

  “Yeah, there’s a great reason. Considering you’ve been out cold for a year and a half, there’s not been a whole lot of need for one. But hey, if you want a clock, we’ll get you a clock.”

  “Why no window?”

  “Same reason, you haven’t been doing much sightseeing. You’re in an interior room, thus no windows.”

  Jack felt stiff, more mentally than physically. “This Dr. Mizell, she got a first name?”

  “Teri, Theresa, something like that. To tell you the truth, I’m not really sure.”

  “She’s a pretty good looking girl, I’m surprised a man like yourself wouldn’t know.”

  “She’s kind of a tight-ass, besides, she’s way too old for me—don’t tell her I said any of that, by the way.”

  “Too old? She looks about the same age as you, except for the gray hair, maybe even younger.”

  Victor laughed, “She’s sixty-five or seventy, at least.”

  “Nanotechnology?”

  “You’ve got it, buddy. I heard she keeps the gray hair because it makes her look more distinguished.”

  “How old are you?”

  “I’m forty-three.”

  Jack thought he didn’t look a day over twenty-three.

  “When was this nanotechnology developed?” Jack asked.

  “Well, it didn’t happen all at once. The AIDS epidemic back in the early 60s really got them working on it, then cancer and most viruses in the late 70s. AD, or age degeneration, and tissue repair were somewhere around 1990. You really don’t remember any of it?”

  “Not a frickin’ clue.”

  Approaching the window, Jack could see bright lights dancing and zooming outside. What he saw reflected in the glass shocked him more than the marvels outside. “My reflection! I’m young again!”

  “Physically, yeah, mentally too, in some ways, I suppose.”

  The beginnings of crow’s feet, his laugh lines, his middle-age jawline, even his slightly receding hairline were gone, and replaced by the features he remembered in his late teens or early 20s. “This is going to take some getting used to.”

  “Come on, let’s head back to your room. I’ve got a little surprise for you. You’re not slated to get your VITU in until tomorrow, but I’ve got a ‘music dome’ for you tonight.”

  “And that would be a—?“

  “Let me think, how would you describe it? Do you remember compact discs?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s sort of like that, but with color and smells and… well, you’ll just have to try it out for yourself. What kind of music do you like?”

  This was a dangerous question. “What do you have?”

  “I’ve got the latest from Elvis and The Beatles, from their current world tour.”

  “New stuff from Elvis and the Beatles?”

  “Yeah, that is kind of old folks stuff.”

  “Who do you like?”

  “I like dubstep and spunk, but Norah Jones is cool, the new Jim Morrison is pretty good, you name it, I’ve got it.”

  “Jim Morrison? He’s still alive?”

  “Sure, why?”

  “I thought he OD’d forty years ago.”

  “OD’d?”

  “Overdosed on drugs?”

  “Drugs? Drugs haven’t been around since the early 60s. Where’ve you been, man?”

  CHAPTER 40

  Sunday, August 19, 2013

  “I’m going to release you tomorrow,” Dr. Mizell said as she entered Jack’s room on Sunday morning. She was pushing a cart that looked like it held a notebook computer.

  “Then you think I’m okay?”

  “Physically, you are in excellent shape. I plan to keep you today to help you reacclimatize mentally. I will be quite honest with you: with most near-death revives, especially ones that the patient’s brain functions remained intact, we have never experienced this much memory deterioration. Oh sure, memory gaps are quite common, especially among 90% plus revives—just never to this extent. In the standard cultural literacy test I had you take yesterday, you scored extremely low on technology, politics and sociology. With scores this low, you shouldn’t be able to read or write and be a total recluse. On the other hand, you were above average on art, literature and music, as long as it was one hundred years old or older. You basically have the socialized norm of someone from the 1940s or 50s—with a few exceptions, of course.”

  Jack was finding that while technology and peoples’ attitudes had leaped ahead, certain artists, or creative people, were still creative. Quite a bit of the music he had listened to, with the exception of some of the instrumentation and phrasing, had been essentially the same as he remembered. “There are just certain things that elude me.”

  “On the standardized intelligence quotient test you score a 142.”

  “So I guess that means I don’t need a muzzle?”

  She gave him a look that would have carried much more meaning if she would have looked her age. “Perhaps this will help you fill in some of the gaps. This is the VITU device I told you about—actually, this is just the display part of it, sans the virtual reality equipment. Here at the hospital, we shy away from the VR aspect of information acquirement, because of the addiction problem.” She gave him a knowing look.

  “I don’t know what you mean—addiction problem?”

  “The average American spends roughly 50 hours a week in VR units.”

  Jack looked at the tablet display. “You said in VR units?”

  “This is a portable VITU tablet. They come standard with a helmet apparatus like the ‘music dome’ you have been using, plus they also have pressurized tactile gloves. Models used in the home are much more elaborate. There are some commercial-grade units with a chamber, where the person is semi immersed in a saline-type solution and a person’s senses are completely inundated. Sex sites are just another form of legalized prostitution, and they are just part of the problem. The ‘Midnight Sites’ are the latest dilemma.”

  “What are ‘Midnight Sites’?”

  “Remember I told you that we have developed a way to record emotions and then play them back?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, certain groups have contraband versions of this machine. They commit horrible murders with these units, connected to the killers and the victims, and you can purchase or download these right into your VITU. The places where these are available are called ‘Midnight Sites’. They are highly illegal and really quite dangerous. Our ER gets as many as three or four people a week that have experienced a sensory overl
oad; sometimes they are in such a dreadful condition, we have to perform the mind map procedure.”

  “I’ll be careful. What kind of information will I be able to access?”

  “Basically everything. What used to be called television, news, every magazine, book, or article ever published.”

  “Sort of like the Internet?”

  “Sort of, it’s been so long I can barely remember it, but a million times more powerful than that. You will see for yourself. Just be prudent, try not to absorb too much, too fast.”

  Sitting alone in his room, Jack finally figured out how to switch on the VITU machine. While it looked like his old Apple, this definitely wasn’t your mama’s iPad. It weighed practically nothing and there were no cords or physical switches of any kind. Having commented on this to Dr. Mizell, she informed him that the mechanism had a lifetime battery and the information was beamed to it by an array of low-level satellites. It powered up instantly and the display was stunning. Not only was it clear and crisp, but was four-dimensional. He viewed the display by setting it flat and the images were holographically displayed on top.

  The word ‘Google’ appeared, and Jack smiled at something familiar. Below the logo was a blank text box. Not knowing where to start, he typed in ‘Mark Twain’. Instantly upon hitting the ‘enter’ key, the screen displayed:

  FULL NAME: Samuel Langhorne Clemens

  BORN: November 30, 1835, Florida, Missouri

  DIED: April 21, 1890, Norfolk, Virginia; he is buried in Norfolk, Virginia

  This was different. Jack wasn’t sure when Samuel really died, but he thought it had been around 1910 or so. He also saw the place he was interred.

  THE MARK TWAIN FOUNDATION TRUST: The Mark Twain Foundation, a trust established under the Will of Mark Twain's son, John “Jack” R. Twain, to enable mankind to enjoy the works of Mark Twain in perpetuity.

  CAREER SUMMARY

  His family was very poor when he was growing up. His father died when he was 11 years old, so he quit school to become a printer.

  He worked for his brother, Orion, as a printer for his newspaper for a few years, but then left and spent time in St. Louis, and eventually settled in a suburb of New York City.

  In 1857, he met famed inventor Jack Riggs and went on to become a close friend and associate, moving to the Legendary “Norfolk Complex”, where he was later to build his estate, “Bicycle Bay”.

  In 1858, he wrote his first book, ‘A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court’. Upon publication, he adopted the pseudonym ‘Mark Twain’, for reasons unknown to this day.

  In the fall of 1858, Clemens used his fame to become an advocate of civil rights to gain fair treatment in the plights of blacks and the American Indians.

  He remained throughout his life close friends with fellow civil rights activist and renowned philanthropist Frances Sanger Riggs.

  Some of Clemens’ most famous works include: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, ET: the Extra Terrestrial, and holiday classics It’s a Wonderful Life, The Grinch That Stole Christmas, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

  His hands shook violently. Jack couldn’t believe what he was reading. Not only were he and Frances mentioned, but Samuel had continued his cause for the Blacks and Native Americans. Jack laughed as he remembered Sam’s interest in the Christmas stories he told that Christmas at the Complex, and the way he was riveted when he told him the story of E.T.. Samuel would have him tell his favorite modern stories while they were smoking cigars and drinking.

  His interest in technology remained strong until the end. Most of Twain’s work was written on an electric typewriter, including one of the first commercial models available in 1863, which he also helped to develop. He was also one of the first private citizens to receive his pilot’s license in 1873. An adventurer until the end, it was Twain’s love of flying that finally led to his demise when he insisted on piloting one of the first experimental jets developed at the Norfolk Complex. A shrine and museum stand in his honor at the Norfolk International Airport.

  Jack sat shaking for the longest time, afraid to check the things he wanted most—his and Frances’s bios. He wondered if he could find anything on Kazmer. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised when his biography appeared.

  FULL NAME: Kazmerilian “Kazmer” Dodek Sevenski

  BORN: June 23, 1826, Ustka, Slupsk-Poland

  DIED: January 2, 1906, Norfolk, Virginia; he was buried in Norfolk, Virginia

  This was good. It looked as if Kazmer led a long life, continuing to live at the Complex.

  THE SEVENSKI TRUST: The Sevenski Trust was established under Kazmer Sevenski to enable underprivileged children access to higher education, especially in the fields of Science and Medicine. The Sevenski Trust remains a major contributor to the National Academy of Science and the Smithsonian. Founder of the Sevenski Institute, which continues to be a world leader in the research of the Natural Sciences. The not-for-profit College abides to admit only academically gifted students on full tuition scholarships.

  CAREER SUMMARY

  In 1856, Sevenski teamed with inventor Jack Riggs and helped develop the famous ‘Riggs Ryder’. Also, along with Jack Riggs and Senator Murphy McCord, he established the industrial research facility known as the Norfolk Complex. In 1857, after the death of Jack Riggs and several months of non direction, Sevenski went on to become president and chief developer of the Riggs Corporation, a position he held until he retired in 1899, at which time his adopted son, Robbie, went on to guide the company into the twentieth Century.

  He was proud his friend had gone on to achieve so much. He was also glad he had shared with Kazmer as much as he could remember about twenty-first century technology.

  Jack couldn’t delay the inevitable much longer. He was dying of anticipation to find the outcomes of his and Frances’s pasts. As a diversion, he typed in ‘Civil War’ to see if he had made a difference. He rechecked his spelling when the main references he got were:

  English Civil War- Earl Rivers Regiment of

  Foote the Photo Gallery

  English Civil War Society - A History Re-enactment Group

  French Civil War. c.1466 By Rob Pierce

  French Civil War-The Iron Century, 1550-1660: French Wars of Religion, Thirty Years War

  The Spanish Civil War: An introduction to the role of anarchism in the Spanish Civil War / Revolution of 1936

  He refined his search, typing ‘American Civil War’, ‘Civil War US’ and several other variations, and every time the response was ‘No document matching your query’. Jack also took Internet searches too seriously, often spending an hour or more trying to find an answer or source. Reluctant to give-up, he searched ‘Abraham Lincoln’.

  Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1872) was the 17th President of the United States, serving from March 1868 until March 1872. Known as the Great Uniter, Lincoln single-handedly brought together the Black and Native American communities and from three diverse groups brought together a more perfect union. To the dismay of many, he refused to run for a second term, saying he had to answer to a higher calling. He died mysteriously less than one month after leaving office due to exsanguination.

  Whoa.

  Jack typed in ‘Stephen Douglas’.

  Stephen Arnold Douglas (1813-1868) The 16th president of the United States guided his country through one of the most harrowing times in its national history and staved off a war between the states. After unifying the Democratic Party with the promise of the Buchanan-Riggs Act, which created a home for the disposed slaves and initiated the alliance that still exists between Blacks and Native Americans today, he went on to later champion the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Known as the ‘Promise Keeper’ and ‘Civil Rights Stephen’, he is considered by many historians to have been one of the greatest, if not the greatest, American presidents.

  Shit! I wish I had a penny, I bet he’s on there. Jack reread the article. It looks like our plan worked!

  Without anot
her moment’s hesitation, he typed ‘Frances Riggs’.

  FULL NAME: Frances Jane Sanger Riggs

  BORN: March 15, 1832 New York, New York

  DIED: March 15, 1932 Norfolk, Virginia; she was buried in the family plot near her home in Norfolk, Virginia

  This was hard for Jack to look at. Of course, she died; she was a hundred years old for Christ-sakes.

  THE RIGGS-SANGER FOUNDATION: The Riggs-Sanger Trust Foundation continues to be one of the largest charitable trusts in the world. Founder of the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, the Humane Society, the Boy and Girl Science Scouts of America, APW Aid for Parks Worldwide, and the United Negro/Native American College Fund. The Riggs-Sanger Trust is also a major contributor to the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, and several other American and Worldwide Organizations.

  CAREER SUMMARY

  In 1857, Frances married inventor Jack Riggs, but Riggs was murdered on the night of their wedding. She never remarried. Personal advisor to Presidents from Buchanan to Coolidge.

  In 1918 she won the Nobel Prize for Peace for her part in calming tensions during the Austrian-Serbian conflict, with the help of her close friends Kaiser William and Czar Nicholas II.

  Chairman of the Board of the Riggs Corporation from 1858 to 1902. First woman chairperson of a major corporation in America. Civil Rights Advocate for the poor, helpless, disadvantaged, and underprivileged.

  She also fought and won many battles for those discriminated against. Is credited by many as being the most forward thinker in the last 200 years.

  Jack cried his soul out for the beautiful heart of the woman he once held. I’m graced to have been able to spend what little time with her that I did. He continued to cry as he read the longer version of her biography, which detailed even more of her astonishing accomplishments. He couldn’t take anymore; he hit the ‘power down’ key, and he did too.