The Return of the Manhattan

by Lee Ecker

  CHAPTER 20

  Roger had the benefit of data from the safe which confirmed the experiments he had conducted during the voyage of the Excalibur, but he didn’t know details of what would occur along the way. He had lingering questions that nagged at the back of his mind, but knew they could proceed with confidence. He thought if the cycle continued, there would be an infinite number of voyages even as there are an infinite number of pasts, presents, and futures? Or would they all become one and the same? In the final analysis, it didn’t matter. They had already changed history, but he instinctively knew they weren’t just going through the motions, and this trip and the earlier trips if there were such a time dimension as earlier, would probably be the same as if they merged into themselves and became one.

  The testing of the Manhattan took several weeks after attaining orbit as each system was subjected to a battery of test objectives with the Manhattan away from the mountain stronghold under its own power. Brenda watched from inside the complex as the countdown included bringing the time machine to the brink of sending them back into time and David and Laura out of her life perhaps for all time. She wondered if she would ever see either of them again. She remained on pins and needles until the Manhattan returned back to their mountain stronghold where it would remain until the launch.

  Although the Manhattan itself was a complete self-contained community, the complex deep within the mountain contained a small city with all the support needed for day to day operation. The personnel in the complex would not be able to provide any support once the voyage began, but they had enormous responsibilities prior to the launch. Those support members would not have any extended time off during the voyages, but would immediately prepare for the Manhattan’s return which might be only a matter of hours or even minutes after their departure even though those aboard the Manhattan would experience years of their life before returning. Most of the crew were technicians, professionals in aircraft and spacecraft maintenance who would monitor the Manhattan’s performance particularly in the power plant and propulsion areas. They could work on the airframe of the Manhattan, although not much work was expected in that area. They were capable of modifying many different types of twentieth century aircraft and couldn’t wait to get their hands on them. During the last couple of years before launch, they had procured a number of antique aircraft, which they had torn apart panel by panel, and put back together again and again. They would spend hours en route studying the blueprints and designs of several different models and be ready when called upon.

  Although many of the crew remained aboard the Manhattan, David and Laura exited the ship to spend their last evening with Brenda. It was a difficult time for Brenda, who had to say good bye to Laura for all time. For Laura, it was just as hard, Brenda wasn’t her real mother in the biological sense, but for all other purposes, she was more than a mother; she was her companion and friend. She loved her far more than she thought she could possibly have loved her real mother, although how could she know. Laura also felt that Brenda would be a perfect stepmother if she could leave the two of them by themselves for a little while, and so she made her excuses and went back to the ship.

  David agreed as though he read Laura’s mind and didn’t put up any fuss when Laura left for the evening. David didn’t waste any time calling the manager aside requesting the perfect romantic setting at the site restaurant where the entire crew that desired to leave the ship would eat their last meal off the Manhattan for several years. Everyone at the restaurant, and everyone who could be there from the site bent over backwards to insure this was a memorable evening for the crew. Most of the personnel on the site were aware the Manhattan would be going on a long voyage, but that was all, other than knowing their destination was Top Secret. In reality, only a few of the onboard crew knew the entire story. The site supervisor who would be left behind to manage the site during their absence wanted everyone to be a part of this historic event, but he also wanted to provide the perfect evening for David and Brenda. He found a private room and provided a candlelit dinner with all the trimmings.

  David seated Brenda close to him where they could hold hands, embrace, and share an occasional lingering kiss as they ate their meal. There wasn’t much in conversation as they quietly enjoyed each other’s company. David waited all evening and finally got up the nerve to ask, “Brenda, I think you know… I love you… . Will you marry me?”

  Brenda kissed him deeply and he thought he had his answer. She broke off and looked him directly in the eyes, “David, I do love you and I want more than anything to be your wife, but I can’t… . I think you’re in love with Marie and I don’t think you will ever forget her and your memories would always stand between us.”

  David protested even knowing he would never forget Marie and he would always love her. He couldn’t even look at his daughter without seeing and thinking of Marie, but he also had a deep love for Brenda. He begged her to reconsider, but she adamantly refused, “If you stop and think for a minute, you know I can’t marry you. It’s too late, and even if we could get someone to marry us tonight, I don’t want to spend only one night with my husband. You are going to be gone a long time and there’s no way I can go. The president has told me in no uncertain terms that I can’t marry you and he wouldn’t allow it for reasons you couldn’t know now but someday may understand.”

  “Are you seeing someone else?” He couldn’t look her in the eyes as he thought about her being with Kevin.

  “No, David, I love you and have never even looked at anyone else since the first day we met. I have loved you longer than you know.”

  He was relieved, “I don’t understand, but I have to accept your reasons. Will it be okay for me to ask you again when we return?”

  “Yes, David, but I don’t think it would work then either.”

  “Darling, I think you’re wrong and I will never stop trying to win your love.”

  “Oh, I hope not, but you have already won all I have to give.”

  CHAPTER 21

  The Manhattan hummed and vibrated slightly as the countdown continued past their previous tests. For those in the control room observing the ship on their monitors, it glowed brightly for a brief moment after reaching its orbit before it disappeared from their sight. Inside the ship, the vibrations ceased, and the hum diminished as the ship began a slow rotation in a clockwise direction which the crew soon became accustomed to. Roger reported, “Everything is normal, but I have no way of knowing the exact dates we are passing through. In approximately four years the computer will initiate the arrival in the last few years of the twentieth century. When we arrive, we will have to ascertain the correct year before we begin.”

  David and Laura both earned their doctorates while en route with few distractions. David’s degree was in human resources, while Laura earned hers in physics studying electro magnetics with Dr. Roger Dorn. She spent much of her time with Dr. Baker learning as much about the medical field as he could teach her. She wasn’t planning on practicing medicine in the twentieth century, but she didn’t want to be left without recourse when encountering diseases which were no longer a problem in her time. She spent hours in the simulator keeping current on several types of aircraft known to exist in the twentieth century but primarily concentrating on passenger aircraft produced by Boeing, and Airbus. She enjoyed flying small business jets that could easily be modified with the electro magnetic technology.

  Keeping busy helped the time pass quickly although she spent many hours relaxing with her father and they often chatted together with David sharing memories of her mother and family histories. Both cherished these moments knowing they would end all too soon. One evening, Laura asked, “Dad, I thought you were going to ask Brenda to marry you. What happened? Did you chicken out? You haven’t mentioned her for months.”

  “No, I didn’t chicken out. She said no… . We both told each other of our love, but she refused. She even said she wanted to
be my wife. That’s why it doesn’t make any sense to me, and she really surprised me when she said President Albee would not allow it.”

  “I love her, and I know you love her and I really wanted her to be my stepmom. Why would the president make that restriction? Did he give a good reason?”

  “Well, yes, I guess to him it was anyway, but it didn’t make any sense to me. He told her it didn’t happen on the original voyage back in time and changing that could drastically alter the success of our mission. She really was your stepmom in every way except being married to me. Does that make sense to you?”

  “I suppose it does in much the same way I have been told I cannot marry anyone from the twentieth century. Suppose I were to marry one of our ancestors. Would that alter the family tree enough to jeopardize our existence?”

  “That’s the theory anyway.”

  “It doesn’t make sense! If I did marry and then I ceased to exist, then I couldn’t marry could I?”

  “Your logic is off a mite, I’m afraid, but it doesn’t change the fact that we have orders to the contrary. Even if you existed, you might not be the same person?”

  CHAPTER 22

  The Manhattan arrived in the twentieth century as predicted and the computer initiated the sequence to stop traveling back farther in time with precision. They were in orbit above the earth as they had been before initiating the leap through time. They had been secluded within the ship for almost four years without seeing anything but a blur when looking out viewing ports. Children born while en route saw, for the first time, sights of the world beyond the inside of the Manhattan.

  Their first few weeks in orbit were spent intercepting news stories and analyzing the political situation throughout the world, and then narrowing their analysis to the United States, correlating their findings with their history data banks. They easily had access to all mainframe computers and could access any other computer without difficulty. They were looking for the best place to start and for the best individual that could be their agent in this century working side by side with Laura. The surveillance equipment aboard the Manhattan would make George Orwell’s 1984 a reality if put in the wrong hands. In their time, controls had been stringent making sure the equipment was not used in that manner. But, the equipment here in the twentieth century was not subject to those controls, except for the authority of David Ashton, the commander. He was in fact the supreme commander, and had the power to subjugate the entire world to his control. He had no offensive weapons, but he could use many different energy forms to gain the upper hand. He had a strong tractor beam that could move huge objects, defensive shields, and mind altering stun beams that would render adversaries helpless. He could control all communications and intrude into all computer systems, which could in effect control the world. He had the technology to manufacture weapons of mass destruction beyond anything seen in the twentieth century. Although these temptations passed through his mind, he paid them no heed and went about his mission professionally.

  They looked at a wide spectrum of men and women who would make suitable candidates, but were biased toward the military since they seemed to have closer ties to the government and were subject to government control. They observed military pilots in several squadrons looking for flying ability, attitude, and leadership abilities. Their council met to evaluate the final candidates where they allowed Laura to choose the one individual she felt best suited for their purposes. After narrowing the list of candidates to a few, they stepped up their surveillance on those individuals. They observed each candidate flying their respective airplanes, working with other crewmembers, watching their relationship with the command structure, and their treatment of individuals inside and outside the military. David and Roger already knew who was chosen and would make sure Laura selected the same person. Laura in this time dimension had the same data available to her as the Laura of the other time dimension, and she made the same decision validating their choice.

  Laura announced her choice, “Major Brad Anderson is a C9A Nightingale pilot assigned to the 11th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He is one of the most experienced instructor pilots assigned to the unit, with over 7,000 hours of total flying time and almost 3,000 hours in the C9 after flying several other types of military aircraft during the latter months of the Vietnam War and subsequent assignments. He has combat experience in Vietnam flying the F4 Phantom and now enjoys flying a more humanitarian mission transporting military patients to and from hospitals all across the United States. I observed his treatment of co-workers and his masterly approach in getting the job done professionally. He is polite and respectful of all he makes contact with, and has a great sense of humor. On top of all that, he is an expert pilot, unmarried, and has nothing we can see to keep him from dedicating himself to the mission.”

  David chuckled and remarked, “Actually, he wasn’t my first choice. He’s a little bit on the stubborn side, but he’s a good choice. He’ll do fine even if we have to knock him over the head to convince him to cooperate with us. Now we wait until we can grab him out of the sky. It won’t be long as he is scheduled to fly a mission two days from now originating at Scott AFB which is scheduled to fly to Andrews AFB. I think we should grab him when he has the least number of patients on board. Will you be ready?”

  Laura replied enthusiastically, “I’m ready now, but I can wait.”

  David turned to Roger and Warren, “How about you? Is everything ready?”

  “Everything’s a go in sick bay,” Warren replied.

  Roger was just as positive, “Everything with the ship is in tip top shape. We can put them on the beam any time we want. As soon as we get their itinerary, we can plot their course and take the Manhattan out of orbit and arrange the rendezvous. It’s fine for us, but his unit will have fits when their aircraft comes up missing.”

  “That’s okay, it will take place like history has already recorded,” David replied.

  “You mean you knew all along whom I would pick! You set me up, didn’t you?”

  David chuckled, “Yes, but that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.

  Two days later, they were ready. The aircraft was scheduled to fly first to Little Rock AFB in Arkansas and then on a direct flight to Andrews AFB. Roger reported, “The flight from Little Rock to Andrews will probably be our best bet. They will have a critically injured patient aboard and because of that they will have only four other patients, no passengers, and a crew of eight. That number should be manageable. They will be at the relatively low altitude of FL190 or nineteen thousand feet for their patient’s best chance of survival. That aircraft is capable of maintaining sea level pressurization at that altitude. We won’t need to be too concerned about equalizing pressures and that area will be generally free of other traffic.”

  “Okay,” David replied, “let’s get to work and intercept them soon after they leave Little Rock.” David and Laura monitored their progress as Roger managed the speed and altitude changes, navigating to the rendezvous point waiting until the C9 came closer. Dr. Baker placed all the crew and passengers except for Major Anderson into a hypnotic trance as Roger ordered the large doors opened. They grasped the aircraft with their powerful beam, taking all control away from Major Anderson and guided the aircraft into the Manhattan. When the aircraft came to a stop on the hangar floor, David projected his voice into the cockpit of the aircraft, “Welcome aboard the Manhattan, Major Anderson! Have no fear… we have no intention of causing you any harm.”

  Major Anderson picked up the radio mike, demanding, “Who are you? What do you want?”

  David’s voice remained calm and unruffled, “No need to shout; we hear you plainly. We’ll explain as soon as you come inside.”

  “What happened to my crew?” Brad asked taking into account the unresponsive trancelike nature of his copilot and flight mechanic.

  “No need to worry; they’re fine.” />
  “What about my patients?” His tone was cool and disapproving with a hint of desperation. “I have a critically injured patient who needs to get to Andrews Air Force Base ASAP.”

  “It’s too late! Your patient will die if you don’t cooperate immediately. We can give her the care she needs. Please shut down, and allow us to help.”

  Laura and Doctor Baker waited until Brad, sensing his helplessness shut down the engines, opened the door and allowed the Manhattan crew to begin. Dr. Baker entered first asking permission to treat the patient. Brad knew he had no choice as his entire crew was in a trance and his patient needed immediate care. He stood to one side as Doctor Baker began to treat the patient, Dana Higgins.

  Laura addressed Brad, “Welcome aboard the Manhattan, Major Anderson.”

  Brad was distracted and bewildered. He found himself stammering, “What did you say?”

  Laura flashed him another bright smile and replied with a trace of humor in her voice, “I welcomed you aboard the Manhattan. Your patient’s getting the best care available; she’ll be fine. Please follow me.” She turned and left the aircraft expecting him to follow.

  Laura led Brad through the airlock into the interior of the ship directly to her father’s office. With pride, she introduced David, “Major Anderson, meet my father, Dr. David Ashton, commander of the Manhattan.” She left the room closing the door behind her.

  David gave Brad a firm, enthusiastic handshake and spoke with the same warm, friendly voice he had used earlier, “Welcome aboard, Major Anderson.”

  Brad needed a moment to find his voice and instinctively reacted, demanding, “What right do you have hijacking my aircraft, drugging my crew, and bringing me aboard this ship?”