The iFactor

by R. W. Van Sant

  “Sometimes, when a child shows greater than normal insight in one of my classes, they are transferred out without a reason. Once I tried to contact the parents to give them some artwork their child had done. I was told they returned to Earth.”

  “It happens, Jill.” Matt tried to sooth her. “People do occasionally come the realization that they made a mistake and go back.”

  “Not on a maintenance worker’s pay, not when one of the parents came out of the first trip screaming.” Jill said. “I remember how hard it was on her, having a burnout for a mother. That little girl would rather have died than go back into the tubes for the trip home.”

  “Children are not in charge of their lives. You know that, Jill.”

  “I believe, Matt. The Trust exists, I think it is corporate, I think they are connected, I think they are untouchable.”

  “Jill, you’re a teacher. You know they’ve never proven ESP. Centuries of testing and not one verifiable case in human history.”

  “What about you?” she said.

  “Sorry?”

  “Matt, don’t lie to me. You see the future.”

  “I have dreams.”

  “Some come true.”

  “And sometimes I dream about harems, those haven’t.”

  “I am being serious.” Her face looked focused. “You were exposed.to the mind rip.”

  “Yes.” he said. “I told you, I suppressed those memories they are somewhere in my subconscious.”

  “But you experienced it. All the memories of the experience are in hiding in your head. Time and space expanded, contracted and nullified during the trip from Earth.” She took a deep breath. “At four times the speed of light it takes two years to reach Sirius.”

  “Yes.” Matt agreed. “So you’re saying I retained all the memories of the two year trip.”

  “No!” She said. “You are forgetting the i factor.”

  “Pardon?”

  “The i factor. Its mathematics, special relativity at four times the speed of light time and space are moving at the square route of negative fifteen.”

  “You cannot have a negative square route. It violates math rules.”

  “That doesn’t invalidate the answer.” she went into teacher mode. “If you multiply the square route of negative fifteen by itself what would you get?”

  “I didn’t come her for a math lesson.” Matt protested.

  “It’s important. Damn it detective, there has never been anything more important. It’s the key to your problems,” she blurted.

  “Okay” he resigned himself.” Negative fifteen I guess.”

  “Space inverting itself by a factor of the square rout of fifteen about three point nine while moving backward three point nine times faster than normal.”

  “Well it’s a good thing that didn’t happen.” Matt feigned relief.

  “You are so dense. If you’re ever in a fire fight block with your head.”

  “Okay, then lay it out.”

  “Three point nine.” She said slowly and deliberately. “Multiplied by a two years. That is the i factor for the trip from Earth that most of us were exposed to.”

  “Negative. Almost eight.” Matt offered helpfully.

  “No, positive and negative at the same time. They nullify themselves out.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Matt was becoming exasperated.

  “The problem my big, brave exposure victim is this, during the trip your world expanded to seven point eight something times normal and inverted by the same amount. You experienced the trip as almost eight years into the past and the future, all in less than a microsecond and you suppressed nearly 16 years of memories every second of them. You’re dreams are not psychic Matt, they suppressed memories of events that haven’t happened yet.” Jill slumped back and waited for Matt to take it all in.

  “So you’re saying that hidden in this dense skull of mine is the memories of eight years that haven’t happened yet.”

  “Yes,”

  “But if I remember them, then I end up a screamer and have to have them burned out of my head.”

  “No, what I’m saying is that the sleep drug isn’t one hundred percent effective. Sometimes a few memories get through, people sometimes people have flashes of memories of the future. It’s not psychic ability, but a side effect of hyper light speed travel. Could you imagine how valuable these people could be to the wrong people, even if those people remembered just a little of the experience?”

  “And if they had dozens of such people.” Matt’s mind drew him back to the vision of the people strapped into the chairs each one chanting in unison. Matt didn’t want to believe it; it was too horrible to contemplate. He thought f Rishards’ theory. What if the killer was exactly as good at getting hunches as Matt was, and for the same reasons? “If such a thing were possible how could we stop it?”

  “What?”

  “It would have to be stopped. I’d have to put an end to it.”

  “Start by not letting them get you. Start by taking the threat seriously.”

  “Smoke,” Matt’s nose detected a hint of burning food. “I predict the ringing of a smoke alarm.”

  “Damn!” she jumped up and ran to the kitchen as the sensor sent out its alarm.

  “Ruined?”

  “Yeah,” sadness filled her voice. “So much for impressing you with my cooking.”

  “I’ll have to settle for a woman with brains.”

  “I got some cheese and crackers.”

  “Real cheese?”

  “No, soy.”

  “I’m in.” Matt tried to sound cheerful. Jill’s ideas had hit close to home. If he continued his therapy session and unlocked his memories, he could very well end up his career as a screamer. He shivered at the thought.

  He sat quietly for several minutes, ruminating over the prospects Jill presented. She re-entered the room with a tray with some crackers and slices of what he could only assume to be “cheese.” They nibbled in silence for a several minutes before Jill broke the silence. “Yes,” she said.

  “Yes?”

  “Someone will have to put an end to it. All of it.” She looked at him, deep sadness in her eyes, and Matt felt as though he might start to understand her. It had to stop. If the Trust existed, the shorting of the drug to passengers from Earth, the drug trade, all of had to be stopped. But how? He could see her strong façade start to crumble as he watched. It was as if long defended barricades were crashing around her. Then the tears came. “I know people… who… shorted. Damn it, if a person is resistant to the drug, they should be screened before the trip from Earth. They shouldn’t be allowed to come.”

  She turned and cried into his shoulders. Whoever it was she lost, they must have been very close. “No,” He agreed. “They should test.”

  “They know,” her tears came even faster. “The government, they know and they allow them to come anyway. Why if not in hopes some can remember, that some like you can be used.”

  Images flooded his mind, half-remembered dreams of expressionless faces strapped to chairs, vacant eyes staring at him singing. “Go to sleep and go insane—“ Matt suppressed an involuntary shutter. His reverie ended abruptly as he felt Jill’s lips on his. He had no desire to pull away. Her tears ceased in a flood of passion.

  Chapter 40

  Matt couldn’t recollect the last time he’d felt as tranquil, certainly not since before the Dallas incident. He’d had sex numerous times since arriving in Sirius, but it had always felt forced, confined, as he had to hide his true self from his lovers. He had to hide or risk driving them away in fear of revelation. With Jill, it felt natural, right. He held her close and felt her naked flesh warm against his.

  “I think I could fall in love with you, Mr. Dales.” She smiled.

  He wanted to tell her that he already had fallen for her. Instead, he could feel the barriers start to rise, forcing her out. “I’m not a safe person to be in love with.”

  She planted a kiss so firmly on
his lips the barriers dissolved under its passion. He kissed her back. “But if you willing to give it a go, I don’t know what kind of future I can promise. Police relationships are turbulent at best.”

  “I’m not asking for a future. Just try not to protect me to death.” she giggled and kissed his chest. “I know that as long as I live, I want to be with you.” Her eyes pleaded.

  He stared at her face lying on a pillow, smiling contently. Her skin pressed snugly against his. He felt at peace.

  “Let’s go away next month.” She said.

  “Go away? Where?” the familiarity echoed in his mind.

  “Yeah, to the new resort they opened up on the coast. It’s a new dome for recreation. It’s for the ritzy types, but I know a person who can get us a reservation for a week. They actually allow you to fish.”

  “Sounds expensive.” Matt heard himself say. “Detectives don’t make that much, neither do teachers.”

  “We can swing it” she smiled. “If we only had to worry about paying for one apartment between the two of us.”

  “Are you suggesting…”

  “Move in with me.” She kissed him hot and passionate. “Or I’ll move in with you.”

  “I… that might not be a great idea…I have trouble with relationships.”

  “I know you Matt, better than anyone in the world. Trust me. We’ll make it work.” she snuggled up tight. “Just let me here you say yes, even if you don’t mean it. Everything else we can work out.

  “Okay, yes. After all this is over and if you still want a damaged old, and most likely former again detective. Then I’m all yours.”

  “I know,” she said softly and drifted off to sleep in his arms.

  Chapter 41

  Matt’s palm alarm woke him early. Jill was up and nearly dressed. “Trying to leave me already?”

  “How could I, I’ve waited my whole life for you.” She leaned down and kissed him. “Teachers, though, can’t be late. It sends a bad message and gives the children an excuse to be late themselves.

  “Can’t have that.” Matt bounded out of bed and ran to the shower. “Hold on, I’ll walk you to school.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “No,” he turned on the water. “Not really.”

  Matt felt good. He almost bounced as he walked Jill to her school. The world felt like a much less threatening place than it was the day before. Still, he examined everyone they walked past and every shadowy alcove that could have provided shelter against the eyes for would be ambushers. His mood was jubilant as they approached the school.

  “I’ll drop you at the door.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “This is a school, it is completely safe here.

  “You sure?”

  “It’s broad daylight and there are people around.” She kissed him again. “Besides, teachers have to be respectable. I have to keep my reputation.”

  Okay,” he stopped. “I’ll call you when I get off shift.”

  “If we don’t hurry neither of us will have to worry about our shifts.” She blew him a kiss and walked toward the office.

  Matt had a couple of hours before his shift started and he was famished. He rushed back to his apartment so full of love he hadn’t realized that he’d let his guard down until he saw the note on his door.

  DON’T LEAVE HER, DALES.

  The note-leaver had been there, watching him. Every hair on Matt’s body rose. They saw him leave with Jill. She was in danger. He opened his door and ran to the vid com.

  “Public Elementary School section Beta switchboard.” It took an eternity before an old man standing behind a counter answered.

  “Yes, how can I help you?”

  “Can you patch me into Jill Cochiti’s room?”

  “Are you the substitute?”

  “Substitute,” Matt adrenaline surged and he pulled out his badge. “I’m no substitute. Put me through to Ms. Cochetti.”

  “I’m sorry officer,” the old man looked down onto a clipboard. “Ms. Cochetti hasn’t arrived yet, nor has she yet to call in.”

  “I just left her in front of the school.” Matt’s voice started to show the stress he felt.

  “I’m sorry officer, if this is important I can switch you to the principal.”

  “Did you call her at home?’ Matt demanded.

  “That is standard procedure. I’m going to transfer…”

  “Disconnect. Get me Chief Vanderhaar.”

  Another eternity later, the screen lit up.

  “Vanderhaar.” His former partner looked busy.

  “The woman I was with, Jill Cochetti, she’s missing. I left her at school, but she never made it to class.” Matt was almost hyperventilating. “Run a trace. I’m on my way to her apartment.”

  “Dales, hold on a second…”

  “Disconnect!” Matt yelled as he ran out his door.

  He was out of breath when he approached Jill’s apartment. Teams of officers were waiting outside an opened door, making a perimeter.

  “Stop!” one of the officer ordered. “We can’t have you contaminating this site.”

  “What. I was just here. Where is..?” His stomach cramps hurt so bad he crumbled on to the walkway.

  “It’s alright.” Vanderhaar told the officer as he walked out of the apartment.

  “Is she…? My God Ken, did he kill her?”

  He asked softly. “You were close?”

  “Were?”

  “I’m sorry Matt. She’s dead.” Vanderhaar cleared his throat. “The message was left on the board. We found the chip on her kitchen table.” He held out an evidence bag containing the bloody device. “It’s hers.”

  “I want to see the body. Ken. You have to let me see her.” Matt struggled to his feet.

  “We don’t know where it is.” he said.

  “No body? She could still be alive, you don’t know.”

  “There’s too much blood. Wherever he took the body, no one survives so much blood loss. She’s dead.” Vanderhaar’s tone left no room for argument.

  “Some of it could have been the killers. Maybe she fought back.”

  “I’m sorry. It’s been tested. It has her genetic code, it’s all hers.”

  “No, why would he take the body? It makes no sense.” Matt could feel a sympathetic hand touch his shoulder. He pushed it away and stumbled back. “Not her. Not her.”

  He started running for the door as fast as he could, he had to get out of the room, he had to think. There were too many people moving around the room, her room, walking through the pools of her blood. He couldn’t stand it any longer.

  The sound of his footfalls on the pavement became steady and rhythmic, like the beating of his heart, like the throng of the crowds in Dallas. The sound of the throng continued to grow as he ran. Soon, all he could here was the sounds of the people of Dallas rioting. He found himself pushing through the crowds of people before him. He had to get to the front of the line. This was wrong. It was a mistake. People would die if he couldn’t get through to the front of the crowd. He ran into the park, pushing civilians away as he did so.

  “Disperse,” He yelled as he pushed and shoved. “Food is on its way. Go back into your houses!”

  A glint of light flashed above him followed by a loud crack. Matt pulled out his service gun and returned fire; his bullets ricocheted off the city dome. He emptied his gun and dropped it. Then fell to his knees, paying no heed to the fleeing colonists around him. The sounds of the past faded as he collapsed on the grass. It felt warm, as warm as when Jill gave her puppet show. The image came readily to his mind. It faded to be replaced by the sight of her falling from a great height, her body crashing into the park grass with a sickening thud.

  When the officers arrived to take him into custody, Matt was weeping uncontrollably. He no longer cared what happened to him, not even when he felt the brutal cuffs cut into his wrists. He didn’t protest or put up a fight when two men pulled him to his feet.

  “Jill” he said.


  Chapter 42

  Matt was unsure how long he’d been in the cell, but he’d had several visits from his psychiatrist, his police advocate, and he’d lost count of the number of times he’d been fed. His career was over, Jill was gone, and he’d most likely brought down the reputation of the man who had vouched for him. He wanted to feel bad about Ken, but he was just numb.

  Matt wanted to be left in his cell to rot, he was worse than dangerous; he was useless. He couldn’t even to protect the woman he loved. Somehow, he knew that they would not be so accommodating, without a weapon, he wouldn’t be a threat to the colony. They would let him go and he’d have to face the world, the colonists that he terrified, and he would see the disappointed pain in the face of the Chief.

  Vanderhaar eventually arrived at his cell wearing the exact same, soul crushing look on his face that he’d imagined many times as he stared at the blank walls. The thought of hurting his friend crushed what was left of his heart.

  “I’m sorry Chief.” It didn’t feel right to call him by his first name.

  “Dales, don’t. Just don’t. It was my fault. You can’t run a department on sentiment. I let our past friendship cloud my vision. That and my belief that you might have some kind of psychic ability to catch this killer. Maybe not even that.” The chief’s gaze bore into his conscience. He had the look of a man who had failed when it truly mattered. “I’m sorry. I should never have put you in this position.”

  “I did my best.”

  “The psychologist report says that you can’t handle the pressure, even with the meds. Honestly, you’ve been having flashbacks haven’t you? That’s what happened in the park wasn’t it.”

  “I had to get away. I couldn’t stand to think of losing her, I ran and then I was back at the riots. I thought I was being fired on.”

  “It’s a miracle that no one was hurt.” Vanderhaar sat on the edge of his bunk. “Matt, it was pure luck you didn’t shatter the dome. You could have killed everyone.”

  “I know. What now?” He dreaded hearing that they would send him back to earth. He wasn’t sure that he could stand the trip. Going through the mind rip again, he wanted to start screaming just contemplating the possibility. He swallowed hard, waiting for a response.