But that version of himself would live out his life as it should be, making his own choices in a world without nuclear annihilation and without the grief suffered by millions.
My life is one instance of something much larger.
It was a comforting thought when facing death, making his decision a little easier.
32 Fugitives
Eggs, sausage, hash browns, even southern-style biscuits and gravy. The breakfast was large and appreciated, if the clean plates were any indication. The newly released convict pushed back from the table, his skin color and energy level noticeably improved.
While the surreal conversation with his older self continued, Daniel noticed that he spent more time looking at Vitoria than anyone else. Daniel took the hint and backed away from further questions.
Eventually, Vitoria asked if the others might excuse them for a minute. “We need to talk about our options going forward.”
Daniel and Jacquelyn took their cups of coffee to another table on the far side of the restaurant, and Aiden returned to his car to obtain the latest status from his sources.
“It’s hard to believe,” Jacquelyn said, sipping her coffee. “All that back-and-forth about time still has my head spinning. Do you really think there are versions of each of us?”
“Well, there’s two of me right here in this restaurant. It’s not a stretch to imagine more. But I still think it’s just one person at different points in their life.”
“You think you can go back and change things?”
“I don’t know. But if I get the chance, I’ve decided that I’ll make the jump.”
“But you might die.”
“Yeah. I might.”
She stared into her coffee cup and sighed. “Could you take me with you?”
Their eyes connected, and he searched for the persona this actress might be portraying. The serious, earnest Jacquelyn stared back.
“Jacquelyn. Honestly, I don’t know how to do that.”
“That belt thing that brought you here. They’ll give it back to you, I know they will. Just make it do whatever it does, and I’ll hold on.”
“And then you’ll die too?”
“You won’t let that happen. You’re smart, you’ll figure out a way.”
“But why would you want to go back to 2023?”
“Oh, come on,” she scoffed. “Look at my life. I’m already washed up at thirty-two. Sash is gone, and good riddance. But the job may be gone too.”
“There’s other work out there. I’ve seen it myself at the clothing shop.”
“Age limit for women is thirty-six. If you’re not on child leave by then, retirement is mandatory. They say it’s to keep male unemployment rates under control, but really, they just don’t want wrinkled old hags around the office.”
“What is wrong with these people?” He’d seen male-dominated cultures before, mostly in the Middle East, but it was hard to believe this was the future of America.
She waved a hand. “You don’t know the half of it. I could tell you stories… you know what it takes to get a satin sash?”
He could imagine, but he shook his head.
“Mine was easy. I only had to blow the VP of HR, but that was six years ago. These days, candidates do a full audition. Three guys. You have to do whatever they ask, and let me tell you, those guys in HR are the biggest pervs around. When you’re done, they get together and rate you one to ten. You have to score at least a seven to get your sash and a birth control prescription.”
Daniel sat ashen-faced, listening to her story of sanctioned sexual harassment and institutionalized exploitation. “They get away with this? No one sues them?”
She laughed. “Yeah, right. They stacked the courts years ago. You want a decent-paying job, this is what you have to put up with. It’s everywhere.” She pulled on his arm. “I like your time better. The rules for women weren’t so messed up, and from what my mom told me, the men were pretty decent too.”
With social struggles that never seemed to go away, Daniel had always thought of his own time as being in dire need of improvement. But, as his jump had proved, things could get worse.
He understood her reasons to return with him, but he didn’t have a good answer. On the plus side, the belt and helmet were probably still in the possession of the Committee, probably still functional since the Committee clearly wanted him to return to his own time. With Aiden’s help, he might even get it back.
But snapback was almost certainly real. He’d now heard the warning from multiple reliable sources who declared that death awaited his return. He could only speculate what the same jump might do to Jacquelyn, even if the belt and helmet could be rigged to send two people.
It was fantasy to believe any of it would work. “I’d take you back if I could, but I don’t know how.”
“But you’ll try?” She perked up.
He sighed. “Yeah, sure. But I’m not pressing any buttons if I think it’s going to kill you.”
She reached across the table to hug him, apparently only hearing the good news, not the bad. “Thank you!” She pulled away. “Oh. Don’t worry. Once we’re there, I won’t get between you and your girlfriend. Nala, right?”
Daniel nodded.
“Don’t worry about me, I’ll just blend into the crowd and you’ll never see me again. Well, not unless you want to.” Her shy persona returned. She pressed her lips together and looked like she might cry at any minute. “You do like me, don’t you?”
He leaned in close. “How do you do that?”
“What?” She gave him a pout, complete with large, sad eyes.
“Switch between personalities like that. The shy girl is your best routine.”
She wrapped both arms around his neck and pushed her lips close to his. Her voice lowered to a sultry whisper. “You bet your ass I can do shy, but my tiger act is a lot more fun.”
“Ahem.” It was Aiden, standing nearby.
Jacquelyn unwrapped herself from Daniel and returned her attention to her coffee.
“We need to leave,” Aiden said. “Enforcers are in the area. We’re splitting up. Vitoria and her Daniel in one car. You two will come with me to another safe house, and we’ll work on next steps. I’ve just confirmed with an inside source that the belt was in Committee Engineering most of the day yesterday. They’ve apparently been tinkering with it, though what they changed I can’t say.”
“Matches what Brother Christopher told me they were going to do, so I guess that’s good,” Daniel said. “At least they didn’t destroy it.”
“And Jacquelyn, I’ve got a few options for you too.”
“If it involves returning to the Committee, forget it. I don’t want that job anymore.”
Aiden tilted his head. “Well, then you won’t be disappointed. The enforcers have got you pegged as being part of the resistance. At the very least, we’ll need to get you out of Atlanta. I could put you into an admin job in New York. And get you a roommate. Or, we could sneak you across the border into Canada.”
“Guess I’m on the run now too.” Jacquelyn held her head high. “I made my choice and I’m proud of it. Thanks for the options. I might even have one more.” She glanced to Daniel.
Aiden waved for them to go. Vitoria and her Daniel were already up. He still held her arm, but he looked stronger.
Vitoria hugged Jacquelyn. “We’ll say goodbye here. Thank you for your help. Stay strong. It may take time, but we will win this fight for your generation and those who follow you.”
“Doesn’t sound like I’m going see you again,” Jacquelyn said.
Vitoria shook her head. “Probably not. Aiden has arranged it. We leave tonight for a resistance command outpost in Bermuda. We will continue our work from there.”
Daniel stood across from his older self, as if a buffer of empty space between them might prevent a matter-antimatter annihilation. “I have so much more I’d love to talk to you about, but I guess we’ve run out of time. Bermuda sounds like a good
place to rest and recuperate. I know she’ll take good care of you.”
The two men embraced like father and son. The world didn’t implode.
“Long life and happiness,” Daniel said.
“Go fix this timeline,” his counterpart answered. “For every version of us.”
Vitoria wrapped her arms around both Daniels and kissed the younger version on his cheek. “I’m not good at long goodbyes, and this whole thing is going to send me into therapy anyway.” She locked eyes with younger Daniel. “Your path may be the hardest of any of us. But I have great faith in you.”
“Vitoria, it was amazing to meet you,” Daniel said. They’d been in contact less than twenty-four hours, but he felt like he’d known her for much longer than that. “Uh… just on the off-chance that I end up in a coffee shop and bump into your younger self… any advice?”
She lowered her head and thought for a moment. “Tell her to be confident. She has already found her path—she just doesn’t realize it. Then invite her to join you, or go your own way. Your choice.”
Vitoria smiled and linked arms with her husband, and with less effort than it took to walk in, they left together.
Daniel expected their journey wouldn’t be easy either, but his optimism in the future applied even to this dystopian society. Vitoria and her husband Daniel would make it to the airport. With help from an unseen web of supporters, they’d arrive in Bermuda. They’d continue their work as resistance leaders. He might write a book about his time in prison and the lies that had sent him there. Maybe he’d even write about meeting his younger self.
But mostly, they would be together, reunited with their life partner. There was no other way to think about the future. Cynicism and doubt just weren’t a part of Daniel’s nature.
“Let’s go,” Aiden said. Daniel and Jacquelyn followed him to his car.
They drove as before, with Daniel and Jacquelyn in the backseat and Aiden checking his array of electronics riding shotgun. The route returned to Atlanta, but he skirted the center of the city, staying mostly on major highways, where they blended with traffic.
Aiden seemed pleased with their unimpeded progress, but when he took an offramp from a freeway his disposition changed. Ahead, traffic slowed and came to a stop. Flashing red and blue lights on either side of the ramp provided a hint. Aiden gritted his teeth, looking right and left while slowing the car.
“An accident, maybe?” Jacquelyn said.
“Not sure,” Aiden said, craning his neck for a better view.
Ahead, the cars were forming a single line, passing slowly between two police cars. Several policemen were checking each car as they passed.
“Shit,” Aiden said. “This might be bad.” He looked behind. Additional cars had already come off the freeway, blocking any escape route. A steep slope to the left and a fence to the right made it certain that going forward was the only path.
“Get down,” Aiden said. “Be ready for anything.” They ducked below the window line. The smoked windows already provided some cover, but it seemed unlikely that the police would simply glance in the front seat and let them pass. The other option of sitting up and playing it cool didn’t seem so wise either. The chance that this roadblock was for some other purpose or that the police wouldn’t recognize Daniel was slim.
A minute passed as the car crept forward. Daniel and Jacquelyn exchanged a nervous glance.
Aiden swiveled and spoke in a low voice. “Jacquelyn, sit up and lean against the door. Act like you’re sick.” Jacquelyn did as requested while Daniel remained crouched.
Aiden rolled down his window. “Sorry! Emergency! My wife is in labor!” He rolled the window up and sped off.
He made a hard right and accelerated down a busy street. Daniel emerged from the crouch and looked out the back window. Nothing following. Aiden swerved around some cars, slowing for the next traffic light and turned, the tires squealing as they flew around the corner.
“Don’t see anything behind us,” Daniel said.
“I’m not worried about those guys,” Aiden yelled above the racing engine. “Atlanta police. They probably won’t pursue, they’ll just call us in. It’s those things I’m worried about.” He pointed as a pole with a camera mounted at its top passed by. “We’re easy to track now. Citywide surveillance. Committee enforcers are tapped in to that feed.”
“Options?” Daniel asked.
“Well, the CDC offices are nearby. Friendly faces there. We could ditch the car and hide out.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was an Atlanta-based institution of science. It wasn’t surprising that Aiden would have contacts there.
They sped down several tree-lined streets and into an area where medical facilities dominated. On a hill up ahead were two large office towers that formed a curving arc above the trees. Aiden turned past a sign for the CDC and skidded to a stop.
Ahead, a military vehicle painted in camouflage blocked the way. Four men in fatigues jumped out with military-style automatic weapons pointed at the car.
“Down!” yelled Aiden.
POP-POP-POP-POP.
Daniel ducked. Jacquelyn screamed. The windshield exploded, glass flying everywhere.
POP-POP-POP-POP.
More loud gunshots and bullets ripped through the front seat, just missing Daniel’s head. Jacquelyn huddled on the floor, screaming with each explosion of leather and foam padding as the car seats were riddled with bullets.
Then it stopped.
A man yelled something. A radio voice answered. The front door of the car opened, followed by the back door on Jacquelyn’s side. She shivered uncontrollably as a large brute shoved the muzzle of his gun toward her face. Another gun appeared over the seat, pointing at Daniel.
“Don’t shoot,” yelled Daniel. “We’re unarmed.” He held his hands up.
The soldier at the door yelled at Jacquelyn. “Get the fuck out of the car, bitch!” When she didn’t move, he grabbed her hand and dragged her from the car.
“We’re invited guests of Father,” Daniel yelled, searching for the words that might calm these beasts or at least make them think twice.
“Out!” yelled another man. Daniel rose and climbed out, keeping his hands raised.
One man stood back, his weapon trained on Daniel while another grabbed Jacquelyn by the neck, lifting her feet off the ground. As she struggled to breathe, he snarled in her face. “Looks like we got the whore too. She’s a pretty little thing.”
“Leave her alone!” Daniel yelled. The bully in a soldier’s uniform dropped Jacquelyn to the ground and lurched toward Daniel with unchecked anger burning in his eyes.
“Who’s going to stop me? A fucking science faggot?” He lifted a boot and kicked Daniel squarely in the chest, knocking him against the car. Daniel dropped, gasping for air.
A boot pressed on the back of Daniel’s neck, pushing his face into the pavement. He sucked in air that smelled of oil and blood. The man wrenched Daniel’s arms behind his back and lashed his wrists together with a strap that dug into the skin.
The front door of the car stood open, revealing a grisly scene inside. Aiden’s body slumped out, held up only by the seat belt. His shirt was soaked red, and a puddle of blood formed on the pavement in front of Daniel’s face.
Daniel closed his eyes and thought of Vitoria’s words.
Brutes with strong arms but no education.
33 Captives
Two of the thugs tossed Daniel into a compartment at the rear of the military transport vehicle. He landed on his shoulder, with pain shooting into his neck. A metal door slammed, enclosing him in darkness.
Daniel moaned, twisting his arms to relieve the pressure on his wrists from the tie straps. He tasted blood, feeling with his tongue to find the source, a split lower lip.
A hand touched his face, long fingernails lightly scratching against his ear.
“Jacquelyn?” He couldn’t see a thing.
“I’m here,” she answered. “Are yo
u hurt?”
“Not bad. You?”
“My arm hurts, but I’ll manage.”
The engine started, and the vehicle turned a corner and accelerated. Daniel lifted his head to search for any signs of light. Nothing. They were probably inside a storage compartment. It smelled of rubber tires. He could hear the muffled sounds of the enforcers speaking. One man laughed.
“I’m scared,” she said, tears in her voice. “I’ve seen what enforcers do to people.”
“If they wanted us dead, they would have already done it.”
“Nobody stops them. They’re animals.” She sobbed quietly.
She was likely worried about more than just death. Beatings, broken bones, rape. All possible. Wild animals out of control seemed to fit the description for these Neanderthals. While it was unlikely that the Committee wanted him dead, their captors had sprayed bullets haphazardly.
Reckless and dimwitted. But bullies are like that.
“Wherever they’re taking us, there will be someone higher up in command. We’ll do better there. I can use my conversation with Father to our advantage.” It might not have been much comfort, but it was all he had.
Assess the situation. Take it from the top.
The Committee intended Daniel to take a carefully crafted but false narrative back to his own time and to die within minutes of arrival. That much probably hadn’t changed even now that they’d captured him by force. But there were some loose ends to their plan.
Now that he’d been exposed to the resistance, he was no longer cooperative, but of course, they knew that. They probably already had a plan for how they’d ensure the bogus information still returned with him. Stuff a new olinwun in his pocket and force him back in time? Shoot him and press the button? Something along those lines.
But you can’t return to an anchor in the past without first flowing empros, and he’d have to be alive at that point to select the next command on the belt. Once the world around him froze, he’d have a huge advantage.
The Quantum Series Box Set Page 84