by Mara Amberly
I assumed the fact they talked about it meant it was genuinely debated among them. Now I’m not sure what to believe. Perhaps it’s not just an engineering solution we should be looking for to permanently prevent the portal’s formation. Maybe it’s a matter of finding out who’s behind this. If someone is, we need to bring their actions to light and bring them to justice.”
Cora had given Eric a lot to think about.
“Thank you for your wisdom,” he said.
“I might not know how most things work here, but I know people. Usually, there are voices of reason unless those voices are overwhelmed or silenced. For something this big I’d expect them to be loud and numerous.”
Eric wondered what would happen if word got out about the Event sooner and in far greater detail than it had in the last timeline. He couldn’t afford to change his own course too much, in case it interrupted his journey to Earth… or could he? The larger picture was at stake, but he already knew that he wasn’t going to vanish from time. He was chronyon-shielded and so was Cora. In fact, he had several fallbacks in place, just in case he lost his TSAI. It would likely be easier for the enemy to kill him than track down all of them.
“Still, if time changes and I never end up back on Earth…”
“You work on saving your people and your world,” she insisted.
She made it easy for him to decide, though his worries nagged at him relentlessly.
“I want to find out who’s behind this, if anyone is, before we take any actions that might further complicate the situation. If it’s the Trines, then they could attack us in another way if it becomes clear their plan won’t work. If it seems a safe course, I might ask Juliane to spread the news of the Event.”
“That makes sense,” Cora said. “How do we find out? Do we go in there?”
“I’ve been thinking about that,” Eric replied. “If we go in there now, it would be too easy for them to catch us and put a stop to our plans. I think we should try some technological surveillance first. I gave my Holographic Matrix Projector to Tom on the ship, so he can work on it. I think our chances would be better if I’m disguised. That way if I’m seen or captured, it’s less likely my earlier self would be affected. Then they would still be in place if it ever becomes necessary for them to be.”
“But you don’t think that’s likely to happen?” Cora asked.
“No, I don’t.”
“I could pass for one of your officers?” Cora asked, smiling nervously.
“Maybe,” Eric said, “but I think you would be better posing as a civilian.”
“I’m prepared to do what’s necessary to save your world,” she said.
Eric wanted to hug her; no, he wanted to kiss her, but he was reluctant to come on too strong with Cora. She was from a different time and culture – a different species for that matter. How did that work?
“Does this make us spies, Eric?”
“You’re damn right it does,” he replied, grinning.
If he was going to take risks, then Eric was going to enjoy everything about them that he could. He’d always wondered what it would be like to be a spy.
Chapter 19
December 2134 – Michael’s Apartment, Relsar’o Zone 2, Valtera
“I’d find it helpful if you could describe these to me,” Cora said, as she watched the slightly blurry images broadcast on the view screen in Michael’s living room. They were in colour and showed the inside of the Relsar’o High Command.
“This is inside the building’s tallest tower.”
It was only down to Eric’s hacking skills, with additional help from Oron, that he’d managed to tap into the camera feed. As it was, he was uncertain how long they’d have before it was discovered. At least he knew it was highly unlikely they could track it back to him. He’d taken precautions.
“If you look here at that rectangular box with a semicircular lens on top, that’s the portal generator. I thought it was an entirely different system to the shield generator, but it looks like they’re tied in together.”
“How come we didn’t see the shield?” Cora asked. “You landed the ship outside the Zones and we’re in Zone 2 now. Shouldn’t we have passed through it?”
“We did pass through it,” he said. “It blocks certain types of energy. If you were to fire on the city from above with laser cannons, most of their firepower would be deflected. If you fired a solid object through, it wouldn’t be unless it’s cranked up to shield against physical objects, which it can be. It would protect against attacks like an electromagnetic pulse and to some extent time distortions.”
“Isn’t it a large weakness that physical objects can get through?” she asked.
“It is and it isn’t. Our people think of it more in terms of offering minimal protection until such a time as more is needed; that way they’re not wasting a lot of power or sealing off the city.”
“So if they lock the shield in place so physical objects can’t get through, we won’t be able to reach the ship?”
“Correct,” he said, “but I could risk jumping through it with my TSAI.”
“Could they do the same thing?”
Eric winced. The answer wasn’t no. “Maybe,” he replied.
First, they’d probably need to get their hands on the technology. If they were on the planet, they might already have done that.
Cora nodded and returned her attention to the blurry video.
“Someone’s down there working on it.”
She could see a figure walking around the generator. A minute later, a second person joined them.
“I think they’re in the process of building it. I’d love to get in there and blast the hell out of it, but they’d have another built before the Event. I’m hoping there’s a rare component they can’t replace, but with our people’s command of time, I find that unlikely.”
“I could try shorting it out from here,” he said. “It’s on a separate network to the main system, so I can’t access it the way I’m accessing the cameras. The only approaches I can think of are to gain access to its network manually and send a feedback loop through the shield. It’s easily-accessed but hard to do.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, but I can tell you sound hopeful about it.”
“Oh I am,” he said, “but the downside is it would knock out the shield and if our enemies are working against us, it would make us vulnerable. It would also let the time distortions seep through into the Zones more easily.”
“That doesn’t sound like a good idea,” she said. “If there are enemies on your planet, wouldn’t they have tried that already?”
“Maybe, but I have the technology and the know-how to do it. I’m going to need to think about this carefully. We need to find out if outside parties are influencing the government first before we proceed.”
“What’s the plan?” Cora asked.
“The one we haven’t come up with yet?” Eric joked. “We could set up scanners outside the doors of the High Command building. It would enable us to see who enters the building, when and where. If I channel the feed through my TSAI 40, I can analyse it in a multitude of ways. We just need multi-functional sensors. Technology like my Holographic Matrix Projector can trick imagers, but it’s not entirely foolproof.”
“So how do you see through the Projector if they’re using it?” Cora asked.
“It’s a trade secret. I mean, they might not be using the same technology. If they’re alien, they could be using something from their own world or somewhere else. I’m going to need your help planting some sensors,” he said. “But first, we’ll have to get a hold of some.”
“You’re not going to tell me where, are you?” Cora asked, smiling.
“No,” Eric admitted.
He could tell her, but he’d rather keep that information to himself. Besides, if she didn’t know, no one could extract that information from her.
“Leave it to me. I have some contacts who can acquire them. Stay here,” he said. “
I’m going to head out and make some enquiries.”
“You’re going to leave me here alone with them?” she asked, indicating one of the animals sprawled on the couch.
“Yep,” he said, grinning. “You’ll be okay. If they bite you, put some ice on it until I get back.”
Cora cringed; she looked far from impressed.
“On a more serious note, if anyone comes by, turn off the view screen and stay in the basement. Oh and contact me on the communicator. I’ll come and get you.”
Cora nodded nervously. “How long will you be gone?”
“I’m not sure,” he said. “A few hours probably; maybe more. Don’t worry, it’ll be alright.”
Eric enjoyed spending time with Cora, but it also felt good to have a bit of time to himself again, and on Valtera at that. It gave him a chance to breathe, and soak up the atmosphere of how life had been on his own world. He knew even the past wasn’t safe once the damage seeped through from the Event, but for the moment, he just wanted to enjoy being back home.
It took him longer than planned to track down one of his contacts, who he’d known since serving on a freighter earlier in his career. That was before he’d joined the military and worked his way up the ranks. He’d met a lot of interesting people along the way, some more-so than others. Frank had always been involved in the underhanded side of things. He knew people from one side of the galaxy to the other, and if there was something you needed, he was the go-to man for it.
It was something Eric usually kept away from for his own good, but now he’d found himself in a rather precarious position, so here he was, seeking out an old friend. Eric tried the old ship repair facility where he’d worked in recent years, but he was told Frank had moved on. Apparently he was back working on a freighter called the Paramount, but as luck would have it, it was docked in Relsar’o at the present time. Those would be the docks where he’d avoided docking the Equinox for multiple reasons, including the possible presence of his earlier self.
“Eric,” a voice called, as he finally tracked down his old friend.
Frank was an older man with salt and pepper hair, but he was still in good shape from all the work he did. Eric remembered him always working on something, even at home. He’d have engines pulled to bits, and just about anything else he came by. Now Frank was sitting in a canteen with a hot lunch, likely on a break between shifts.
“Frank,” he said, shaking his friend’s hand. Eric hadn’t been sure he’d ever see him again.
“What brings you here?” he asked, studying Eric’s familiar face. “It can’t be two days since I last saw you.”
Eric had forgotten, but he nodded, as he racked his brain to try and remember what they’d last talked about. He had no recollection at all.
“Aside from catching up, I want to source some tech,” he admitted.
“It must be serious,” Frank replied, “especially if you’re coming to me.”
Eric grinned. He wasn’t wrong.
“I’d like to discuss it somewhere a bit more private when you don’t have to hurry through your lunch,” he said, indicating Frank’s meal.
As Eric’s gaze drifted to the other diners, Frank got his meaning.
“I finish at five. Meet me here after work and we can go somewhere to talk.”
With a nod, Eric confirmed their plans.
“Is everything alright?” Frank asked with some concern. “I swear you’ve aged in the last few days.”
“Oh, I’m fine. I’ll be here at five.”
Eric hung around the docks throughout the afternoon, planning the best approaches for the mission ahead. He had lunch and a hot drink, but he took them with him, so he’d be less likely to run into any familiar faces; especially his own. Eric worked through notes on a tablet computer. They were vague enough that a stranger mightn’t make much sense of them, but they were clear enough to him to be useful.
He met Frank out by the front gate shortly after 5 pm, and he climbed into his friend’s vehicle. It was more a car than a shuttle, capable of land and air travel within the planet’s atmosphere.
“Were you waiting long?” Frank asked as Eric closed the door.
“A while,” Eric admitted, “but I had the time to spare.”
“So what’s all this about?”
They had the privacy to talk without anyone else listening in, but he opted to be careful about it all the same.
“I’m after a few devices and spare parts. Nothing too elaborate,” he said, though that wasn’t entirely true.
“You don’t need to be vague around me,” Frank replied, “unless you have your reasons?”
Frank grinned as he noted Eric’s expression.
“I’m after some digital sensors and the main circuit board for a Holographic Matrix Projector.”
He didn’t technically need the last, but he had a sinking feeling that Tom was going to let him down in that regard. In any case, there was no harm in having a spare.
“I didn’t know you had one of those,” Frank replied. “It’s a nice piece of tech.”
“Yeah, it is,” Eric responded. “Very useful when it works.”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to buying it off you for a fair price,” Frank said. “Those are exceptionally hard to come by. I’ve only seen a few in my time and that’s with military contacts.”
“I want to hang on to it if it’s all the same,” Eric said. “In any case, I gave it to a guy to fix. I’m just not sure he’s going to come through.”
“Ah I understand you,” Frank replied.
Eric wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but he didn’t seek to clarify.
“So do you think you’ll be able to get those items for me?”
“The sensors will be no problem,” Frank said, “but I have no idea what kind of circuit board those things have.”
“It’s called an A-11 Phrasus,” Eric replied. “They’re hard enough to get but a few different things use them.”
“I can make some enquiries for you,” he said. “I’ll keep the purpose between us, otherwise you’ll end up with guys looking for you. Those things are sought after on the black market, as are those,” he said, glancing at Eric’s TSAI 40. “Is it time-enabled?”
“No,” Eric replied.
He didn’t like lying to his friend, but nor did he want to tempt him too much.
“That’s a shame. It’s not surprising with the tight control the military keeps over time travel.”
“Isn’t that true?” Eric replied offhand.
He knew it was so. It helped that he had friends in the right places and a mentor with his mind on the bigger picture.
Eric knew he should say something to his friend, but he didn’t want to interfere with the timeline. He considered how best to go about it.
“You should know there are some bad things coming. If I were you, I’d take the wife and kids off-world, and make a point of staying there for a few years.”
“What’s coming?” his friend asked, his expression growing more worried as he drove them from the docks.
“Some bad decision-making with the potential to hurt a lot of people,” he said.
Eric wanted to leave it at that, but he knew if he’d been told as much, he’d have plenty of questions.
“You can’t expect me to change my life based solely on that,” Frank said. “I need to know more.”
Eric hesitated, but he’d known Frank for years. He considered how best to explain himself without involving discussion of time travel.
“I’m not sure you’ll believe me if I tell you. The government is going to open a portal to another place – another realm – a year from now, and in so doing they’re intending to fast-track our people’s ascension, spiritually and dimensionally. They’re planning to section off the city with the shield, knowing full well that the area outside the Zones will be damaged beyond repair.”
He didn’t speak of space, but it already sounded far-fetched to him.
“Bullshit,” Fr
ank replied, eyeing Eric warily.
Eric’s expression was unwavering, his lips set in a grim line.
“They wouldn’t do that,” Frank said. “No one in their right mind would.”
“Keep an eye on the news. You will see word of it coming out over time; some of it, not so much the bad side. I’m not sure if the council has been infiltrated or they’re merely fools with a disregard for most of our people.”
“I don’t believe it,” Frank said. “There’s no way that could happen.”
“What if it does?” Eric asked. “Could you go in there and change it? Could anybody?”
“The military would,” Frank replied. “They’d never let the council get away with that.”
“The council controls the military. Unless the military has a firm reason to act against orders, they’d do as they’re told.”
“Is that why you need the sensors?” Frank asked, a slight tremor in his voice.
“I have to wonder if they could be Trines.”
“No way,” Frank said, but he clearly wasn’t sure. He pulled his vehicle over by the side of the road. There was little beside it other than a parking lot with stores in the distance.
Eric turned in his seat to talk more easily. “I just want to be sure the danger isn’t real.”
“I strongly doubt it,” Frank said.
“At the very least, stay within Zones 1-3. They’ll be the safest place on the planet.”
Frank obviously had his doubts. Eric was someone he was used to believing, but it seemed Eric might’ve been asking too much.
“I’ll get the sensors for you. They’ll be 300 credits each. I might be able to swing 250, but it depends on the seller. I have no idea about the circuit board, but I’ll let you know.”
“I appreciate that,” Eric said.
Frank looked at Eric as though he wasn’t sure what to make of him.
“I don’t know what I believe yet, but I appreciate you warning me. You can be sure I’ll keep an ear out for trouble.”