by K A Duggsy
“I don’t understand...” He begins, his forehead creasing in confusion.
“How I love her so much? It’s easy, your machine worked. She travelled! I saved her when she appeared in my time and I came here to save her from you again.”
“It worked? How is that possible? It wasn’t for time travel to the future or past, it was meant to be a quicker way to get around the city. During testing we only hoped for them to jump from one tube to another in this room and they couldn’t even do that.”
“Does it matter? I’m going to destroy these tubes, maybe even the whole facility so that’s of no consequence now.”
“Can you get back?” He asks.
“What?”
“Do you have a way to travel back to your time? Because if so, we could work together, we...”
“I don’t think you understand. Even in the predicament you’re in all you care about is that invention. I have no intention of working with you. After today you won’t be working with anyone!”
Faith
It’s strange being in Fraser’s office. His desk is a deep mahogany and very large. It’s anally tidy, paperwork in neat piles, to-do lists all colour coded. He compartmentalises and I get a glimmer into his mind-set, that’s why it’s so easy for him to distance himself emotionally from the true goings on here. He can lock away each item on the agenda in a separate mental box. The walls are a rich coffee colour and his office has carpet, a burgundy shade. The room should be dark but on the wall behind me, opposite the desk are five windows, evenly spaced and in the day I imagine light floods through creating a warm hue.
I’m sat in a comfortable high back chair and watch as Fraser gracefully walks to sit in his seat at the head of the desk. I drum my nails on the desk impatiently. Now I’ve decided to end this cat and mouse I’m eager to divulge everything I know.
The woman lowers herself into a chair at my side but I don’t acknowledge her, my gaze is focused solely on Fraser.
“What do you want to tell me?” Fraser inquires.
“What do you want to know?” I fire back.
His lips purse and he rubs the back of his neck. “Where did you disappear to?”
“You might want to record this Fraser because I intend to speak of this once, and once only.”
He sighs wearily and activates his comm-rec cuff. “Happy?”
“Ecstatic,” I answer.
“Okay, now we’re recording, Faith where did you go when you disappeared as part of the Advance program?”
“To the future.”
He deactivates the comm, folds his arms and glares at me. “I thought you were ready to speak Faith. If this is still a game to you then...”
“I’m telling the truth.” I meet him head on, my eyes and voice unwavering as I show him my sincerity. “I went to the future; I won’t disclose the date. All I know is that in their time some Advance tubes were still erected and that’s where I materialised. The men who are here now, found me and looked after me.”
“That’s not possible, Faith.”
“It happened. I don’t know what else to tell you. Believe me or don’t, I don’t care either way.” I mirror his body language, crossing my arms over my chest in a stubborn manner. How typical, he finally has me talking and doesn’t believe a word of it. His loss, not mine!
His look becomes thoughtful, contemplative. He rests his elbows on the desk and holds his face in his palms. He mutters away almost as if he’s arguing with himself. He pushes his chair backwards and the wheels carry him over to the window behind him. His back is facing me. He’s rigid, the veins in his neck straining as he stares aimlessly outside.
Minutes tick past and still he doesn’t turn. I start questioning why I’m still sat here. I could make a run for it. I’m pretty fast when I need to be. But where would I run to? I can’t go back to Kye. He can’t stand the sight of me at the moment and despite myself I’m shocked at Fraser’s reaction. I’ve just told him what they’ve wanted to know since I returned all those months ago. He’s not furiously scribbling away, detailing the findings and making reports. He’s not using his comm-rec, he’s not excited. It’s just plain weird.
The hairs on my arms stand on end, a creeping sensation crawls over the back of my neck. I shudder. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this.
What scares me even more though is when Fraser finally turns to face me, he’s beaming. The broadest smile I’ve ever seen.
Fraser
If what I’m hearing is true, then the possibilities are endless.
We never believed that time travel to the distant future was possible. But now...?
Travel to the past is still off the table. It’s something that could never be achieved because the Advance tubes were created, here, now; therefore, going back in time couldn’t happen as there is no tube to travel back to. But as of here, now, time travel to the past is possible in the future. Faith has proven it; she travelled back from the future to the past, which is really the present. This sounds all muddled even to me but it makes sense.
Because in this ‘future’ a tube still existed from my creation, we can travel forwards. How far forwards? How does it work? How did it work?
I always wondered if Faith travelled, it was the only explanation I could believe for why she never ended up as ash like the other test subjects. I presumed she ended up off grid somehow even though that seemed so implausible as no tubes had been erected off grid. I thought she either never returned to us because she had amnesia and couldn’t go where she didn’t know, or that she was so confused and scared by what happened to her there was no way she would just show up.
But the future?
And she now isn’t the only one that can do it. She said the men that are here are the same men who found her in the future. So... they time travelled too! We have travelling forwards and backwards with a handful of living case studies. If we can find out why they were so compatible with the invention, then maybe we could replicate? Oh, I don’t know. My mind is spinning too fast, awash with different strands we can follow. The different tests that will be needed. And I have each sex readily available to test on... well, kind of.
I swivel in my chair, content that I’ve concluded with myself what needs to happen now. I openly beam at Faith who looks so translucent right now; beads of sweat trickle down her neck and collect in her cleavage, the tight V- shape of her t-shirt doing nothing to hide the slow slither they make across her skin.
I lick my lips nervously. How to go about this? I could give Franny the nod and she’d administer a sedative in seconds but do I want her out of it again?
I look down at my wrist, my comm-rec silently calling to me.
It has to be worth a try and is way better than meeting them face to face.
I activate it and call.
Chapter 25
Kye
I retrieve a chair from the other room and pull it before the tube. My decision is starting to waver. He’s going to die that hasn’t changed but I’m starting to think activating the tube is the way to go. Why not? He’s already inside, he was happy to let others evaporate and to be honest I don’t really relish the idea of this gun now.
He’s no longer standing. We’re still alone, my men took Donovan and have made themselves scarce, still clearing rooms and searching for the captives Johnson told us existed but we’ve found no trace of. Jonah still hasn’t checked in and his disappearance is worrying. I hope my men find him and soon.
I sit down and Johnson’s comm-rec sounds, an incoming call. He looks at me almost as if he’s asking for permission to answer and I nod. I want to hear who is on the other end.
He activates it. “Johnson?” A voice checks.
“Yes, go ahead,” He replies whilst staring at me.
“Where are you?”
I walk forward until I reach the spot where the door automatically opens and answer for him, “He’s busy sampling the benefits of the Advance tubes right now. Who is this?”
; Silence while he chews over the information about his president’s predicament and then he says, “This is Professor Laudnam, who am I speaking with?”
Now it’s my turn to fall silent. How the fuck is he calling? He’s supposed to be tied up.
I step back, the door closes and I activate my own comm-rec. I tell my men to check out the girl’s room and report back and also to keep an eye out for Faith.
As I end the call the eleview dings and I spin around. Huddled in the back is Hope, she takes a quick scan of the room before her eyes fall on me and she rushes forward.
“They’ve got Faith!” She states rapidly, “They phasered her, she gave herself up to protect us!” She sinks to the floor and starts crying. “Please, you have to help her. I left her, she’s all alone.”
I reach out to touch her arm and she pulls back startled. Right I forgot, they can’t be touched. I lower myself to the floor also so I’m more level with her to make eye contact.
“It’s okay Hope. This isn’t your fault.” No that lies solely with me for sending her away instead of protecting her.
“Where are the other girls? Are any of you hurt?”
She shakes her head. “No they’re just shaken.” She looks over at Johnson who is still speaking into his comm-rec before whispering, “I’ve hidden them but Faith told me to get help. I have to go back and be with them, but you’ll help right?”
“I’ll get her back; you have my word. I need you to be brave for a while longer, does Faith know where your hiding place will be?”
She nods. “Okay then once I’ve found her, we’ll come and get you, all of you. Can you get back without me?” Please say yes I think, if she really needs me I’ll go but I have to get Johnson off his comm. They could have planned anything whilst I’ve been talking to Hope.
She stands and wipes her face with the back of her hand. “I’ll be fine. Just please... help Faith.” She walks back to the eleview, once inside she faces me and presses the button to close the doors. Her haunted look stays with me for a few minutes before I pull myself together and comm my men informing them that the scientists somehow got free and they have Faith. Before I disconnect I hear a shout out and hold my comm cuff closer to my ear.
“Sir?”
“Go ahead,” I reply to Trask.
“We’ve found Jonah!”
Thank fuck for that. About time he was discovered, I’ve been trying to push it to the back of my mind but he’s my second in command, my friend. I’ve been beyond worried. I exhale my relief. “Good, how’s he doing? Where is he?”
“He’s... Uh...”
“What Trask? Stop stalling!”
“He’s in a bad way Sir... so are the others.”
“What others? Our men?” I ask, my worry increasing by the second that my team is hurt.
“No, Sir, the homeless. They’re... caged like animals.”
I start pacing. How the fuck did they get to him? Why did he go off on his own and not inform any of us that he was doing so? This is all I need on top of everything else. I stop pacing when I realise I’ve stood on the sensor spot that opens the Advance tube and Johnson is now stood outside it.
Fraser
It takes a while but eventually my cuff vibrates with a message. I glance down at the sender and falter when it’s who I’ve been waiting for. My deal has been declined. To make matters worse what I also find out makes me livid, my safety in numbers theory has gone out of the window. My colleague managed to get to the control room and reported that the other scientists had fled the building. So much for relying on my colleagues! I envy them their freedom; I could do the same thing but Faith has piqued my interest even more now. My inventive juices are flowing and if I don’t even attempt to gather more Intel I’ll regret it forever.
Things aren’t going so well in my favour. Thanks to the info from the control room I know where everyone is. Which means I know where the captives are and that they’re being released. It looks like I’m the only one willing to stand by and fight back, no not fight, but reclaim what is ours. Those men have no authority here; they have no law behind them backing them up. The walls are starting to close in and I’m shocked that someone claiming to love the delectable Faith turned me down. I couldn’t believe my ears when Johnson told me Faith had fallen in love but it was just another carrot to dangle. He will regret that decision.
Poor Faith is sleeping peacefully and I feel that twinge of guilt again at how she’s nothing more than a pawn. It’s such a shame but maybe I can erase her memories at a later date and have her playing to my tune, have her on my team, by my side and in my bed. In fact, while I have her at my disposal there are many things I could do. An idea has been bouncing around in my head for hours now, something that is possible as long as I have enough time to implement it.
I walk over to her and gaze longingly. Her eyelashes flutter repeatedly as she sleeps and I watch her chest rise and fall, rise and fall. It’s hypnotic and I lean over and press my lips to hers.
I stand back just as Franny re-enters the room with the AIG she released, after I found out who was tied up and where. They have no weapons and aren’t used to putting up a fight but they’re better muscle than I’ll ever be, so as far as I’m concerned they’re an asset. More importantly they’re angry; they have never been treated this way either and they look like they’re ready for revenge. Good! Franny pushes in a trolley as well with all the tools, monitors and items I need to carry out my plan.
Extraction. Implantation and alteration.
I rub my hands together.
I best get to work!
Kye
“Get in!” I yell, holding my phaser against Johnson’s back, then kicking him forward. I’ve joined my men on the lower levels after following their directions and needing to see for myself that Jonah is okay. The stench I was met with made me gag. Piss and excrement fumes climbed into my nostrils then snaked their way down my dry throat. I dry heaved for what seemed like forever, ignoring the burning of my eyes as they filled with water.
Now I’m more or less acclimated to the conditions, my anger has reappeared. Firstly, because this is no way to treat humans. What I already knew was bad but this... this is fucking disgusting. This room is filled with large metal cages similar to those you would house an animal in for short periods of time. The difference is these people have no food, water, mattress or toilet facilities unless you count the bucket in each cell. Which I don’t!
They’re shivering considerably, they’re filthy, and some of them are covered in what I can only guess is their own sick. Jonah has been beaten pretty badly, it’s not pretty to look at his injuries but none are life threatening and he in no way was in the same amount of disarray and squalor as the others. And then we get to the second reason I’m so far past angry.
Fraser fucking Laudnam.
He had the audacity to try and make a deal with me. One that was supposedly beneficial to us both, something along the lines of ‘give up yourself and your men and I’ll give up Faith.’
I considered it for a split second but there is no way he’s truthful. He also seems to forget I have his president so if he harms one hair on her head, if he touches her in any way he’s sealing his death sentence and that of his president.
I run my hands through my hair; I’m surprised I have any left. The last few weeks have been hard but the last few hours in this Godforsaken hell hole have really tested me. I’ve never been so torn. I need to get to my girl but I can’t abandon my men, my responsibilities. I’ve done that too often lately and look what’s happened. I have to pray that Faith can stay strong for a little longer while I sort out the other issues facing me. I have to but I don’t want to. I know better than anyone how resilient she is. I hope she can forgive me for not putting her first.
Saunders is busy checking over all the casualties which is how I’m thinking of these poor people, the others are helping by collecting blankets and water and dispersing them between the people. I’m beyond relieved that
there are no children here, I wouldn’t put it past this place to do such a thing, after all they bred children here.
I feel redundant. I’m not helping in any way; I’m just stood in shock yet again. What else could I possibly find here that would affect me anymore than I’ve already witnessed?
My comm-rec vibrates and I perk up slightly when I see it’s Faith. She’s sent me a film. I walk over to a quiet corner and activate the holograph feed, downsizing it slightly in front of me as I press play. Fraser starts speaking, “If you are still unwilling to meet my conditions then I thought I would share with you what your decision means. You will be sent footage on the hour every hour of the consequences you caused.” When he’s finished the comm-rec pans over to Faith.
I throw up!
Chapter 26
Fraser
Everything is prepared and I’m itching to get started. Time is of the essence. I’m going to start with Faith’s working memory which is responsible for new and already stored information. I’ve decided to start with brain imaging this time, no need to get messy this way. Extraction can wait until I’m satisfied, plus starting with this will minimize her suffering. The method is relatively simple as it’s mainly an x–ray of the head taken from many different directions. I’m looking for the awareness of the flow of information in and out of memory which is stored for a limited amount of time.
I’m familiar with neuro imaging. Faith’s brain has been studied many times especially after her memory loss. We concluded that her cognitive load was overburdened. Stress plays a mighty part in brain function and the amount of forgetting depends on the temporal density. That was the main reason we allowed her into the city, if stress caused her memories to hide then causing her more stress was not the way to go.