In an instant, Alora understood. Not only had she learned tonight that Cyrus had feelings for Claire, she now comprehended Claire reciprocated those feelings and believed Alora had just slept with Cyrus. What a cluster.
“Hi, Claire,” she said, awkward energy sizzling throughout the hall. “I was delivering some supplies to Cyrus.”
“Cool beans,” she said, her voice devoid of its usual cheer. “I was going to bring him another book, but it can wait till tomorrow. See ya.” She ducked into her room.
“Wait!” Alora said, closing the distance between them. “You should take it to him now. I gave him everything he needed.”
Alora wanted to strangle herself, realizing the words sounded sexual when nothing of the sort had happened. Claire’s nostrils flared, and Alora ached to soothe her.
“It’s fine, I’ll give it to him tomorrow.” Pasting on a fake smile, she said, “Sweet dreams. Glad you’re home. I missed you.” The door closed with a soft click.
“Mierda,” Alora muttered, slapping her palm to her forehead. She’d royally screwed that up. Claire, with her kind heart, had still spoken caring words to her even though she believed Alora had just been intimate with Cyrus.
Sighing, Alora headed to her own chamber, stunned at what had just occurred. Cyrus and Claire were in love with each other but neither was brave enough to act on it. Matters of the heart were rarely easily navigated, and Alora decided she’d best steer clear. Hopefully, they would find their way to each other and release their fears. Only time would tell.
Chapter 21
The team gathered in the bunker at midnight, the atmosphere in the room tense and solemn. Luke was sheathed in the lead and zirconium-based orange suit Lainey had fashioned, created to shield him from the radiation. Beneath it, he wore black tactical gear and carried a small backpack. The image reminded her of the astronauts from the Apollo missions. She’d spent countless hours looking at old photos with Lewis, imagining how exciting it must’ve been to chart a new course in scientific history. In essence, she was doing the same at this very instant. The gravity of the moment permeated the chamber.
Luke hugged Sara one last time before stepping into the Sphere.
“Who knows what will happen?” he asked, teasing her from behind the plastic mask that encompassed his head, attached to the suit. “I might be back here tomorrow looking like an old man. I hope you’ll still love me.”
Tears shone in her eyes as she warbled, “I’ll love you across space and time. Never forget that.”
Blowing her one last air kiss, Luke stepped into the Sphere, where the stool stood only yesterday. His backpack was lined with currency from 2035, some apples, and basic tools and clothing. Lainey had chosen not to send him back with any sort of gun, lest the instability of the wormhole ignite the ammunition.
When he was standing firm, arms crossed in front of his body, Lainey gave the command to set the Sphere in motion. Sara observed, fist cemented to her mouth, as Claire hugged her close. Marie and Alora stood to Lainey’s left, completing their small family circle. Cyrus and Hunter were outside keeping an eye on the hub and ensuring the men didn’t suspect what was happening in the bunker.
Finally, the wormhole opened, and Lainey gave a nod of finality to Zach. He ignited the jolt from the fuel rod, and the rocky walls of the bunker began to slightly shake. They were far enough underground that the disturbance wouldn’t be felt above. An untrained observer would categorize it as an animal in the brush or some other mundane occurrence.
Little would they know that scientific history, on a scale unimaginable in the three million years of human evolution, was being charted. The light of the Sphere grew bright, and Luke was enveloped by the wormhole. In an instant, he disappeared.
Lainey called to Zach to close the portal, and the whirling arms of the contraption began to slow. Sara was now fully crying into Claire’s shoulder, her orange and green painted fingers stroking the woman’s hair.
Approaching, Lainey embraced them both, wishing she could absorb Sara’s pain. “Your husband is a hero, Sara,” she said, soothing her with strokes on her arm. “You should be so proud.”
“I am,” Sara said, lifting her hand and sniffling. “I just miss him already. I’m terrified for him.”
“We all are,” Lainey replied, grabbing her hand and squeezing. “This entire endeavor is frightening as hell. But he’s strong, and we’ll hopefully know by tomorrow what happens to him in 2035. All we can do now is wait for his letter.”
Sara nodded, wiping her nose with her arm. “I’ll be in my room.”
“Do you want me to come hang with you for a while?” Claire asked.
“That would be lovely. Thank you, Claire.”
“Sure thing, chicken wing. We’ll slumber party in our skimpy PJs and have a sexy pillow fight.” Lifting her hand to whisper loudly behind it, she said, “I said that for Zach. He needs something steamy to dream about tonight.”
“I heard that,” Zach muttered, sending Claire a good-natured glare.
They left the bunker, Lainey once again thankful for Claire’s spirit and sense of humor, for they desperately needed it.
Once everyone had retired to their rooms, she met Cyrus at the back door of the hub. There in the darkened hall, she confirmed Luke’s transport.
Now, they would wait.
Luke’s orders were to perform reconnaissance and gather intel, then write a letter that could be transported through the decades until it reached Lainey on the day after Luke was sent back. Once the letter was received, they would all travel to meet Luke in 2035. They would convene with his younger self, the one Lainey had just sent back. If he survived the decades in between 2035 and 2075, an older version of Luke would exist. That version would live out his days in solace, knowing he helped prevent the apocalypse. If all went well, Sara and the rest of Lainey’s team would travel to 2035 and reunite with the younger Luke. It was all quite paradoxical and bewildering, as were most things related to time travel.
“It’s done?” Cyrus asked.
“It’s done,” Lainey said, exhaustion evident in her voice.
Cyrus gave a nod. “You need to get some sleep, Lainey. Take one of Sara’s pills if you have to. We can’t have you functioning on anything but all cylinders.”
“Is that your way of telling me I look like shit?” She grinned and arched a brow.
“It’s my way of saying I care about you and need you to rest.” He placed a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “I’m heading back outside. Get some sleep. Tomorrow won’t wait for you to catch up.”
Exhausted, she took her friend’s advice and attempted to sleep—in a world where human time travel was now an unequivocal reality.
* * * *
Lainey awoke to the sounds of bootsteps outside her door. Throwing on a t-shirt, jeans, and sandals, she rushed to the kitchen to assess.
Marie had her hand on her hips, barking at the New Establishment captain, who stood a foot taller than she. “Don’t you tell me what to make for breakfast, Captain Parker. I’ve been feeding this ragtag crew for years, and your men can eat what I prepare just like the rest of us.”
“What’s going on here?” Lainey asked, wondering where in the hell Cyrus was.
“Everything is fine,” Captain Parker said, his frustration evident. “Two of my men are allergic to eggs. I’ll need extra bread for them.”
“We barely have enough to go around, and you bastards want more? I swear, I’ll murder you all myself!” Lainey imagined puffs of smoke emanating from Marie’s ears as she scolded the soldier.
“Okay,” Lainey said, moving into the room. “Marie will make extra bread.” She shot the woman a look, daring her to argue. Marie only scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. “I prefer you wait outside, Captain Parker. We have nothing to offer you here. My understanding is that you’re supposed to ensure we don’t leave the hub until Solera is overtaken. You can do that just as well outside. We’re happy to provide you with food and su
pplies as long as you treat us with dignity.”
Captain Parker’s ice-blue eyes roved over her. “That will be fine. For now. When Eli returns, I suspect things will drastically change for you. The New Establishment wants your intelligence, and you will have no choice but to help them. I’ll let you enjoy your last days of autonomy, but don’t forget who’s in charge here.”
Cyrus and Hunter strode into the room.
“A fight broke out between Hunter’s men and some of the New Establishment troops,” Cyrus said, his massive body tense. “We deescalated the situation. Did you need something, Captain Parker? The soldiers were ordered to stay outside.”
The New Establishment captain’s expression turned cold, filled with disdain. “We don’t take orders from anyone but Eli, Montgomery,” he said, addressing Cyrus by his last name. “Especially ones of your kind. Remember that next time you open your mouth.” With a nasty tilt of his head, he stormed from the room.
“Racist asshole,” Cyrus muttered.
“Sorry, man,” Hunter said, shaking his head. Looking at Lainey, he said, “We got caught trying to break up the scuffle. Captain Parker’s men might have initiated it so he had a chance to get inside and do some reconnaissance. Did he get past the kitchen?”
“No,” Marie said with a huff. “I stopped the bastard cold. Grabbed him by his damn shirt and dragged him here. I won’t let any of those traitors anywhere near the back of the hub.”
“You’re the best among us, Marie,” Cyrus said, bending to place a kiss atop her white hair. “Thank you.”
“It’s a crisis averted, but we need to be cognizant of the fact they can overpower us and enter anytime,” Lainey said. “Eli’s orders to stay outside carry weight, but he’s not here, and tensions are high. It’s imperative we all go through the Sphere at midnight. I hope word arrives from Luke soon.”
“Me too,” Marie said, turning to the large pan of eggs frying on the stove. “Now, you all get out of here. I’ve got a ton of food to make, thanks to Lainey.”
“Thank you, Marie,” Lainey said. “Hopefully, it will keep them at bay.”
As Cyrus and Hunter returned to the men, Lainey headed back to her room to examine the small bag she’d be taking with her to 2035. Its contents included a Swiss army knife, some currency from 2035, a change of clothes and underwear, and something she certainly hadn’t packed. Lifting the small box, she opened it to find a collection of condoms and a note from Claire that read:
Hey Boss,
Just in case you need some sexy times with Captain Hotness in 2035. Yes, I snuck into your room to put these in your bag. Don’t be mad. Love you!
Claire
Lainey laughed, stuffing the condoms back in the bag. It seemed her creative and well-meaning friend was determined she get laid, even if Lainey had absolutely no intention of the sort.
Feeling nostalgic, which was rare for her rational brain, Lainey took a walk around the hub to her father’s office, where she remembered sitting on his knee as he struggled to solve equations. At the bookshelf, her fingers traced over the spines of all the books she’d read with Mara. Her mother had been a voracious reader and had read to Lainey every night until she was ten. Although she’d probably been too old for the ritual toward the end, it was one of her fondest memories of her mother.
She walked outside to the chicken coop, where she’d discovered two of them mating when she was barely eleven years old. Lewis had proceeded to explain in his very scientific manner how animals upon the planet reproduced. She’d thought it disgusting and possibly quite messy. Smiling, the image of Claire’s condom stash flashed through her mind. Would it be messy with Hunter? Probably. Sticky and wet and messy. For some reason, it didn’t seem so gross in that context. Hmm…
The soldiers milled about, and she found Hunter inside his tent.
“Hey,” he said, straightening from packing his own bag. “What do you need?”
“I want to walk to the river where Dad used to fish. I can’t go alone. It’s not safe.”
Setting his pack on the ground, he extended his hand. “Come on.”
She took it, thankful for his firm grip and unwavering support. Hunter had no reason to pledge his alliance to her cause except for the greater good. It showcased the nobility he was searching to portray when he’d originally joined the rebellion all those years ago.
They strolled to the river, silent under the rays of the sun, surrounded by chirps of birds and the buzzing of insects on the warm day. When they reached the riverbank, shaded by the overhang of trees, she released his hand and crouched to sit cross-legged on the ground.
He sat beside her, picking up a flat stone and attempting to skip it across the water. It made it halfway before plopping to the bottom of the shallow flow of gurgling water.
“You’re sad to leave,” he said, leaning back on his palms, gazing over the water.
“This is my home,” she said, running her fingers over the soft grass at her side. “It’s all I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t be human if I wasn’t a bit sad.” Feeling the corner of her lip curve, she said, “Even though you and Claire think I’m incapable of being human, I assure you, I am.”
He squinted, pondering. “Eh, maybe. Or you might be a cyborg, sent here through time by the New Establishment. We’ll never know.”
Lainey rolled her eyes. “I’m not that bad.”
His warm chuckle washed over her. “You’re okay.”
She punched him in the arm, causing him to clutch it dramatically. Eventually, their smiles softened, and they both stared at the water. Hunter recounted his last conversation with Lewis upon the spot, and Lainey told him of the many times she’d fished with her father. Eventually, their words ran out, and they sat silent and pensive, understanding that tomorrow would be drastically different—if they even survived the journey in the Sphere at all.
“I have to offer you one last chance to go to 2063 and find Kara. Even if you save her for your younger self, I can’t guarantee we’ll survive in 2035. If we die there, you might never save her.”
“When I make a commitment, I stick to it, Lainey. I made a commitment to your father, and I also made one to you. I’m resolved to help you in 2035 and hopefully help my younger self prevent Kara’s death in 2063 if we survive that long. But thank you.” He surrounded her wrist, which was straight above her palm that rested on the ground, supporting her weight. Giving it a light squeeze, he released her, and she felt it, a wave of longing and desire so deep inside her very core. She was drawn to this man, who exhibited qualities of loyalty and virtue. To deny it any further would be pointless. Was she ready to act on it? Absolutely not. But digesting knowledge was important in her structured world, and her mind would fit the pieces together eventually. For now, she reveled in his proximity.
“We have to get back.”
He nodded. “I’m sure we’re being watched. Don’t kiss me, okay? They’ll begin to suspect we’re lovers and they’ll doubt my conviction to keep you sequestered until Eli returns.”
They stood, each wiping the dirt from their jeans. “But we’re not lovers.”
His firm lips curved into a smile so sinful her toes curled. “Careful, Dr. Randolph. Time has a way of making liars out of all of us. Pretty soon, that statement won’t be true.”
His arrogance should’ve been off-putting. Instead, it sent a rush of heat through her veins. Arching a brow, she said, “You’re awful sure of yourself.”
Extending his hand, he grasped hers when she offered it. “Just stating the facts, duchess.”
They strolled back to the tent, Hunter informing her that he was going to do some target practice with the men to keep up the appearance of unity.
“Are you like this with all the women you seduce?” she blurted, unable to stop the words.
“How many women do you think I seduce, Lainey?” he asked, his grin making her insides quiver.
“I don’t know. You must’ve gotten back out there over the years. Twelve years is a
long time.”
His gaze raked over her, filled with desire. “I haven’t seduced anyone since Kara. My success rate is one-hundred percent when you come to think of it. Wasn’t interested in being with anyone else after her.” Inching closer, but not too close since the men were milling around, he said softly, “Until you. Don’t mess up my streak, okay? I want to stay at one-hundred percent.” Giving her an almost imperceptible wink, he stepped into the tent.
Feeling dismissed, Lainey pivoted and entered the hub, striding to the kitchen to check on Marie. Men weren’t known to go years without getting laid, even those still in love with their dearly departed wives, and especially those as blatantly physical as Hunter. Possessing yet another snippet of knowledge to be digested, she pondered his celibacy, afraid she would let him down if he broke it with her.
Dalton’s words blazed through her mind, the snippet of the last argument they had regurgitating the pain all over again as if it were yesterday.
“You showed up tonight knowing I would be here, Lainey,” he said, his expression indecipherable under the faint light from the waxing moon. “What do you want?”
Lainey swallowed. “I just… I didn’t want things to end on bad terms. Eventually, we’ll both move on, and I’ll be gone…to a place that’s so different than here. Before I go, I needed to tell you I was sorry.”
His eyes narrowed. “Where are you going? Are you moving from Terrum?”
“Yes,” she said, the corner of her lip curving as she imagined telling him she was heading to 2035 to prevent the apocalypse. “Once my father is better, we plan to move.”
“You can move to Solera with me,” he said, inching closer. “We could still try to make this work.”
Lainey regarded him, considering his aspirations of power and his vision of the life he wanted. There was no place for her there. Not for the woman who only wanted one thing; who only had one purpose. The woman who was not predisposed for love or happily-ever-afters.
A Paradox of Fates Page 16
