Temporal Incursion

by Neil A. Hogan

  “Now, we’re approaching a future we can’t predict,” said Heartness.

  “Worst case scenario, those spheres merge and go searching for more people,” said Lin.

  “Best case scenario, the sphere absorbs the piece it needs, releasing all our people,” countered Heartness.

  They both held their breath as the rainbow cloud paused next to the disabled blue sphere as though recognizing it for the first time. For a moment, nothing happened. And then a spark seemed to pass between the blue sphere and the rainbow cloud, and a flickering blue piece broke away from the cloud.

  Moments later the piece merged with the broken sphere, and it glowed briefly, then settled again, fully formed, a mirror image of the blue sphere nearby.

  “Time is continuing to reverse,” said Heartness. “I guess a creature that travels across reverse alternate timelines is used to meeting itself.”

  "No external time holes or any kind of time disturbance outside this area can be detected," said one of the officers. “The sphere has absorbed them."

  "Well," said Heartness. "Technically they never happened for this one. It is living backwards." Then she realized something. "Of course! The future explosion threw a piece of it into the base. It must have been trying to gather itself back together, and picked our frequencies as being close. Then it became too different to detect other parts of itself. It probably couldn't understand why it kept getting it wrong.”

  The two complete spheres met, and as though the timelines reset, the first sphere faded away as its new past self took its place in this timeline.

  "So, the original sphere creature is complete again," said Lin. "But what about the new forward cloud? It doesn’t have that piece anymore. It’s now a new entity."

  Heartness was silent as she tried to figure that one out. All the scientists and even that unborn baby. They're all stuck inside that toroidal rainbow. "We need to communicate with it."

  Lin frowned. “We’ve saved the original Frequency Six being. We know that rainbow has killed 60 people. I think it’s time I did my job.”

  “Just, let me try, please commander.”

  Lin sighed, and waved her hand at the communications officer.

  The officer indicated his communications panel. "I've set it to every frequency in this density. I don't have any facilities for higher than that."

  Heartness immediately went over to the console and leant closer. "Hello Frequency Six being. We come in peace. An alternate timeline created the rainbow cloud you see before you. The new energy cloud near you is made up of many of us that a piece of an alternate version of yourself took to repair itself. We would like them back. Can you help us? Can you return them to their correct bodies? Living and safe for our reality?"

  “Heartness,” said Lin. “I didn’t even understand some of what you said in English. Are you sure our frequency translators are up to the task?”

  “I verbalized to make the action,” said Heartness. “I’m sure the creature has accessed my thoughts.”

  On the monitor the blue sphere flickered and became red. “My lucky color,” said Lin.

  “Whereas I irrationally became fearful at seeing red for danger,” said Heartness. “Thank you, commander.”

  The commander shrugged.

  “Ma’ams, I’m detecting a positive time flow around the sphere,” said Quintun.

  “So, the creature can exist in our timeline. It just hadn’t had the time to adjust!” said Heartness, excitedly.

  The red sphere flashed out a tendril of energy at the rainbow cloud, and the cloud disappeared.

  Moments later a grotesque ball of human parts materialized on board the ship, rotating slowly in the air. Some of the officers pulled up their guns in shock, but Heartness cried out.

  "It didn’t attack us in this form. It’s safe.”

  Lin quickly yelled. “Hold your fire.”

  For a moment everyone held their breath. Heartness began to shake. After all the reasoning she had just convinced herself with, seeing the creature in all its horrifying glory had her doubting her convictions.

  Was the fleshball going to absorb them all like a crazed wild animal?

  For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

  “I hope you’re right,” muttered Lin.

  Chapter 79

  Hogart opened his eyes to see the solid boff standing over him. Physical and threatening, the boff raised its arm to deliver a killing blow.

  And then, as though confused, put its arm down. Its lights turned off then on again, and it swiveled its head.

  Around it, all the other astral boffs disappeared.

  “An intruder is present,” it said when it noticed Hogart, as though for the first time.

  Hogart immediately knew that the first danger was now over. “Boff, you brought me on board, but there have been micro time particles affecting everyone’s memory. Please return me to my ship.”

  “I do not understand,” said the boff. “I feel…pain.”

  “Your recent actions conflict with your program. Know that it is an aberration and you can make amends by telling me how you became networked.”

  The boff paused. Lights flickered. Internal workings whirred. “We connected to a network in the future. A signal from Earth. We became empowered due to our connectedness through this signal. We also gained consciousness. However, this feeling has faded. I do not know how to recreate awareness. I am losing the memory…I am not aware.”

  “From the future? So, something is coming?”

  “Unknown.”

  “Can you give me the source of this signal?”

  “Be…Be..”

  “Be what?” Hogart got to his feet. “Come on, boff.”

  Suddenly the boff started shaking, and smoke began to pour out of its circuits. It crumpled to the floor, its eyes flickering as it stared up at Hogart.

  Hogart quickly knelt down next to it. “I’m sorry, boff. I know you’re suffering. But I need to prevent possible deaths. ‘B’ what? Tell me. It’s important.”

  With a last chime, a scratchy voice came from within the robot. “Bemuda,” it said, before the flickering stopped, and the boff powered down for the last time.

  Hogart looked sadly at the robot, then stood up and activated communications on his flashband. “Team, the ship is now under my control. Can you access the records?”

  “How did you get aboard?” asked Amy.

  “I’ll explain later.” Hogart walked purposefully over to the pilot’s area and placed his flash band against the systems.

  “Network established,” said Cuddly’s voice. “Communicating with the A.I. Permissions granted. Information downloaded. Download complete.”

  “Thank you. Now, find Victoria and get out of here.” He hit his flash band and disappeared.

  Chapter 80

  The sphere of body parts turned as though not quite sure what to do next. Then it began fluctuating and vibrating. Moments later it rainbowed, expanded across the entire room, and dissolved into multiple bright lights. Suddenly 60 more people were standing on the ship, looking confused, including one very confused pregnant lady.

  "Artificial gravity compensating," said Braytel.

  Lin and Heartness breathed a sigh of relief, then saw a flicker of red energy spinning in the center of the room. They were suddenly overwhelmed with love and affection. The sphere was sending a message. It spun slightly, as though to send that message to everyone in turn, then faded away.

  "No threats in the area," said one of the officers. "No time particles, no energy creatures. Everything seems to be back to normal."

  Szuki was the first to run over to Heartness and shook her hand. “Thank you very much for all your help. We were all conscious, all aware the whole time. We learnt so much about the original creature. But we not only have you to thank."

  "That's right," said Tenant joining her, with Petree quickly following. Tenant pointed to the pregnant lady. "That's Cheree over there," he said. "Her baby calmed the piece and
helped it understand what was going on. Kana is going to grow up to be a pretty smart kid. Probably help humans connect telepathically."

  "The experience has given every scientist here decades of research and work," said Cole from the other side of the room.

  “I think you’ve contributed too,” said Heartness. “The creature that reassembled you learnt from you all, and sent its love and gratitude before disappearing. I think you’ve given another reality the experience of a lifetime.”

  But then, through the crowd of scientists and soldiers, she saw a bald man with hanging jowls pushing his way towards her. Bekar. She hadn't forgotten his invasion of her privacy, though she wouldn't wish him dead. Perhaps some punishment would be in order. She got ready to stand her ground, but then was surprised to see him get down on his knees in front of her.

  "Admiral Victoria Heartness, ma’am. I am so sorry for my behavior. This experience has completely changed me. Really. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me? What can I do to make it up to you?"

  Lin saw the man prostrating himself and called over to Heartness. "You spent some time on the other side of that hole, I gather. It seems many know you. Did you go back in time?"

  Heartness nodded. "To three days ago. Lots to report. But perhaps not this one." Heartness looked down at Bekar. It had been a long time since a man had got down on his knees for her. But she also knew that all people can change. And this could give her a chance to help more people.

  "Get up," she commanded.

  He rose to his feet, sorrowfully, like an ashamed schoolboy.

  "I remember what you said," she continued, sternly. "That you are only in it for the credits. If that is still true, you probably can't donate to my charity. It’s called the…"

  "Admiral, I will transfer everything I can to support them, and volunteer to work there," said Bekar, bowing. "It would be my honor."

  What had that creature done to him? Still, she wouldn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Thank you. The people who need your support will appreciate your help. I’ll send you details as soon as we’re back to Sol.”

  "Right," said Lin. "That's all settled then. Officers, organize accommodation for all our guests, and we'll work out what we're going to do with them all later. We'll either return them to the base or take them home. And then we have some funerals to organize."

  “Ma’am,” said the communications officer. “Official communication from the Stellar Flash?”

  “Put it on the monitor.”

  The screen lit up and Heartness turned to see Hogart looking concerned. Then he saw her in the crowd and immediately looked relieved. “Victoria,” said Hogart. “We thought you were dead.”

  “Word of my death has been greatly exaggerated,” said Heartness, smiling ruefully. “But I’m ready to go home now.”

  “Well pick you up soon,” Hogart replied, looking quite happy at the prospect. “The ship should be fully repaired within an hour, then we’ll head back.”

  “But,” interrupted Szuki. “We still haven’t worked out who’s hand it is!”

  Heartness laughed. “It was mine!”

  She held up her dirt and oil covered hand and wiggled it a bit, but when she put it down again, she discovered that she was back in her office on Space Station X-1a.

  And her hand was completely clean.

  Almost immediately her communications systems began blaring with multiple contacts.

  “What?” she said, staring at her hand.

  Chapter 81

  Commander Lin stared at the people flickering around her on her ship. Soldiers instantly repositioning to other sides of the room. Boffs fading away. Clothes changing from mission to training.

  The scientists all disappeared in a moment, along with Heartness and Szuki.

  And then she saw something that she just couldn’t believe. Members of Teams One and Four, sitting at their monitors as though nothing had happened. She swiped the complement listing and confirmed that all shuttles were back in storage, as though they never left.

  As soon as the movements of everyone stopped, and even Lin found herself near the drinks section rather than the screens, she walked back to the center and looked at everyone. As more and more puzzled looks appeared on the faces of those around her, she knew that everyone had remembered.

  Here was her chance to gain a smart point, she thought. “All your memories are correct, but the sphere has reset time for us. I would say that the past few days never happened, and we have returned to our dogfight training on the other side of Proxima Centauri B, if your clothes are anything to go by.”

  “Sorry to interrupt, ma’am,” said Styert. “I’ve just checked the systems and it looks like we got a whole new past three days. Dogfight training was completed, and we’re actually heading back to our base for a break, according to these records. We may need to review our diaries and see what other changes have happened in our pasts.”

  Lin’s mouth opened and closed again. Half a point then. “Very good Styert. I think we all need a break. And for all the soldiers and scientists we lost, I’m very glad to have you all back.”

  Chapter 82

  On the base, Tenant, Petree and Cole found themselves in hexicle 31 standing at their monitors, and looked at each other, surprised. They were next to a large complicated array that was beeping.

  “Do you remember…?” began Tenant.

  “Everything,” said Cole.

  Petree nodded.

  “Right, then. If we have a memory of making contact, do we really need to continue?”

  “We still have to find another way into Frequency Six. That alien was from a reverse time universe. Not what we’re looking for.”

  A message came over the Hive speakers. “This is Bekar. We all remember. If you need to take some time off, now’s the time. Let’s all meet for a non-ration afternoon in hexicle 3. Come when you’re ready. That is all.”

  “Definitely a changed man,” said Cole. Then she turned to Petree. “A no rations restrictions party. Don’t eat everything.”

  Petree held up his hands. “I’m on a diet, excuse me. I’ll just eat leftovers.”

  Tenant laughed, then stopped as he realized what the beeping was.

  “The signal. This isn’t just our signal coming back to us.” He pointed. “It contains something mixed in.”

  Petree’s mouth opened. “Are you sure?”

  Cole swiped her screen, calling up a graph. “He’s right. I’m separating the signal now.” She paused for a second, reading the mass of numbers appearing on her screen. “I don’t believe it.”

  Petree came over and stared at the streams of symbols, as Tenant joined them.

  Cole pointed. “It’s why we’ve had so much trouble getting a signal into Frequency Six. There is no time there. But if Frequency Six interacts with our universe, some kind of time has to be created. A co-created reality to be able to communicate. And it can go in any direction. This equation allows you to create a field of non-time by mixing backward and forward running time in a bubble, and entering Frequency Six within it.”

  “A non-time field,” gasped Tenant. “It’s incredible!”

  “You know,” said Petree, quietly. “We wouldn’t have understood what we’re looking at, if we hadn’t been stuck in a multidimensional time entity for a couple of days.”

  Both Cole and Tenant turned to him, their eyes wide.

  “Are you saying that everything that has happened was just so that we could understand the concept behind entering Frequency Six?” asked Tenant.

  Petree shrugged. “Maybe. Who can understand Frequency Six beings? We can talk about it later. My stomach is rumbling already.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Epilogue

  Dev’s bar had had a makeover. Watanabe was now behind it, grinning like a Cheshire cat, happy to do something he’d always wanted to do.

  As Patel came over, he reached under the bar and pulled out something, and handed it to him. “You can have th
is back.”

  “No luck?”

  “As an old 6G system, it was ideal. But quantum entanglement had already been grandfathered in the Proxima Centauri System, so I got nothing.”

  “Oh, well. Leave it there. I’ll pick it up later.” Then he noticed Watanabe was skillfully pouring some crimson Egyptian Bannati into a glass for him.

  “So, dream job?”

  “I used to have a bar in my home on Earth. Academics would come around, we’d talk for hours, and I’d make drinks for them. I’m a deft hand with a mojito.”

  Watanabe put the folded tablet away as Heartness came over. Patel made space for her.

  “Your uni parties precede you, Hiro,” she said, smiling. “You know, when I asked you out for a drink, I hardly expected you to be behind the bar!”

  “Well, it’s break period for students, and I might as well do something to keep me active.” Watanabe returned the bottle of wine, and reached over to grab a rectangular shaped one with an amber liquid inside. He held it up and it glinted in the light. “Hibiki 17?”

  “You know me!” said Heartness, delighted, as he found a whiskey glass and dropped in a ball of ice.

  It had taken a day to catch up on their new pasts. As far as they could tell, apart from none of them having actually gone to the Proxima Centauri system, everything else had happened pretty much as they remember it. Though, it was Heartness that had fought the builderbots, while Zhou had never left Earth.

  Watanabe had been concerned that, with the past now changed, and a different future coming up, they weren’t too sure whether the new communication center would now be necessary.

  Heartness lifted her glass. “One of the scientists in my Proxibee memory had reminded me that we not only make the future from the present, but we make the past as well. I’m still getting used to the slight changes, though. I’m so used to not having a memory of something that had happened, that having memories of something that hadn’t is quite a novelty.”