Linkage (The Narrows of Time Series Book 1)
Page 42
“Too bad we can never tell anyone,” Bruno said in a matter-of-fact way. “But regardless, props to both of you. And your old man.”
Drew replied with pure joy, “We have to tell Mom that Dad’s invention saved the world!”
“Oh yeah, she’ll love to hear that,” Lucas said, realizing that atonement wasn’t the only thing that came in small doses. So did vindication, though only his family and Kleezebee’s crew would ever know about it. But at least it was something. Dorothy had supported John’s endeavors all those years, even during the lean financial times. He couldn’t remember one time when she wavered, despite constant second-guessing by her friends, her co-workers, and even her estranged father-in-law, Roy.
Lucas wondered if Grandpa Roy would ever man up and apologize for his pigheadedness. The grumpy old man would have to change his perspective once he learned his only son wasn’t a dismal failure after all, wouldn’t he?
“It’s a shame the government will never know what we’ve done for them. They still think we’re mass murders,” Drew said.
Bruno replied, “The minute Larson recovers from surgery, the first thing he’ll do is contact General Alvarez and tell him you’re still alive. I doubt we can fool them again.”
“He’s never going to stop looking for us, is he? Even now? After this?” Lucas asked.
Bruno shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not.”
Lucas asked Kleezebee, “I don’t suppose you’ll help us clear our family’s good name? Not for me, but for Drew and my parents.”
“Sorry, can’t do it. Going public would require exposing our technology and our existence on your world. But what I can do is offer you sanctuary on our world. You’ll be treated as heroes and live in peace.”
Lucas didn’t answer. He needed a moment to think.
Kleezebee continued. “Look, I know you think this is all your fault. But like I said before, it’s not. NASA and I are the reason all of this happened. Not you. In the end, you had nothing to do with this. What happened in the E-121 lab was an accident, a horribly tragic accident that you couldn’t have seen coming. Not when I kept you in the dark all these years. That was the wrong approach, and for that, I apologize. So right now, I need you to forgive yourself. You’ve done enough to atone for what happened.”
“I’d like to, Professor, but every time I close my eyes, the dead haunt me. I’ll don’t think I will ever rid myself of the guilt, no matter what you say. And to be honest, I’m not sure I really want to.”
“I understand. You’re an honorable young man, Lucas. But you need to try because this simply wasn’t your fault. The best course of action right now is for you to come with us to our universe. We’ve done all we can do here. The planet will heal eventually. It’s time to go, Lucas.”
Lucas let his eyes fall to the floor, feeling a feral mix of emotions spinning inside. Their lab was gone and all that was left on this Earth was a mountain of unpaid medical bills and an even bigger pile of public scorn headed his way. He had no future and neither did his family.
Plus, there were a slew of people who wanted his head on the end of a stick. Those same people would probably blame Drew as well, and possibly even his mother. There was no way he’d ever let that happen, no matter how guilty he was or wasn’t—his family didn’t deserve that. No, they needed to go to Kleezebee’s universe. That much was clear. But at the same time, he knew Drew would never go without him.
Lucas locked eyes with his boss. “All right, I’ll go. But I’m not doing this for me. I’m doing it for Drew.”
“What about Mom? And Abby?” Drew asked.
“They’re welcome, too. So are you,” Kleezebee said, turning to Bruno. “You should probably go get Dorothy and bring her down.”
Bruno spun on his heels and headed for the elevator.
“What about Grandpa Roy?” Drew asked Lucas.
“What about him?”
“I know you’ve been secretly emailing him.”
“Only recently. But trust me, he’d never come. His military career is all he cares about.”
“Don’t you think we should ask him? After all, he’s family.”
“No. Mom would never allow it. He blew his chance with that brawl at Thanksgiving.”
For the next half hour, Kleezebee took charge of the introductions between his crew and the diplomats from his home world. Then the elevator’s bell chimed and Dorothy walked out of the lift with Bruno holding on to her right elbow. She was grinning from ear to ear, obviously ecstatic to see both of her boys were safe.
Lucas tugged on Drew’s shirtsleeve to direct his attention away from Abby. He whispered, “Mom’s here.”
Dorothy came over to them, then hugged Drew and kissed him softly on the cheek. “I thought I’d never see you again.” She hugged Lucas, too. “Oh, I’m so happy both of my boys are home safe and sound. I prayed all night for your safe return. Thank the Lord almighty.”
Dorothy stared at Abby, who was sitting next to Drew, holding his hand. She was still wearing only Lucas’ shirt, which left most of her legs and upper thighs exposed.
“Mom, this is my . . . ah . . . girlfriend, Abby,” Drew replied with a look of pure fright in his eyes. “We just rescued her from the Krellian ship.”
“Are you all right, dear?” Dorothy asked her.
Abby nodded and then stared off into space. She wrapped her arms around Drew with her right cheek pressed flat against his chest.
“She’ll be okay, Mom. She just needs a little time to recover.”
Lucas walked over to Kleezebee and asked, “How long do we have before we need to leave, Professor? I’m sure my mom will want to grab a few things.” He figured Kleezebee would need at least several days to recall his people and gather up their advanced technology, since he probably wouldn’t want to leave anything behind that might cause a shift in the balance of power on Earth.
“It’ll take twenty-four hours to evacuate our people and equipment. You have until then.”
Wow, only twenty-four hours? Lucas thought, realizing Kleezebee must’ve had exit plans on deck for years. “Okay, we’ll be packed and ready.”
“Just keep it light.”
“Sure thing, Professor.”
* * *
The following morning, Lucas and Drew returned to the video surveillance room with their mother and Abby. Bruno and his security team had provided protection while they returned home the night before and collected a few personal mementos, including clothes and the family photo albums. When they stepped off the elevator, they saw two groups of personnel and equipment walking through the portal to Kleezebee’s home universe. The rest of the room was nearly empty.
“Are you ready to go?” Kleezebee asked.
“Yes, sir, we are,” Lucas replied, helping his mother toward the rift.
Drew and Abby were a few steps behind. Bruno was carrying two suitcases filled with their keepsakes.
“What about Trevor?” Lucas asked.
“He went through an hour ago with our entire inventory of BioTex,” Kleezebee said.
Lucas held onto his mother’s arm as they stepped into the rift. A few seconds later, they were through and standing on the other side, where they met up with Trevor and several of the elderly diplomats they’d rescued the day before.
Now it was Drew’s turn to step through.
Lucas spun around and waited, seeing a faint shadow appear near the portal’s midpoint. It started as a fuzzy mass, then grew in size. After it solidified, Bruno stepped through with the pair of suitcases.
“I thought Drew was next?” Lucas asked Bruno.
“Don’t worry. DL is sending him through right behind me.”
“What does DL stand for, anyway?”
The round man laughed, looking at Dorothy then back at Lucas. “If I tell you, you can’t let him know you heard it from me. He’ll have my head.”
“Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. Come on; tell me, what does it mean?”
“Drockmorton
Leslie.”
Lucas broke into hysterical laughter. “Really? Drockmorton? No wonder he goes by DL. I would, too.” Lucas let his smile and his amusement linger as he focused his attention back on the rift.
“How much longer?” Dorothy asked.
“Shouldn’t be long now, Mom.”
The rift shimmered a few times, then a pair of faint shadows appeared. Lucas could see the outline of a person in a wheelchair and a figure standing next to it—Drew and Abby. They were holding hands.
“Here they come,” he told his mother.
Just then, the portal flickered twice like a TV set on the fritz, then the rift suddenly collapsed. Lucas watched the vision of Drew and Abby fade to a pinpoint and disappear while they were still inside the conduit.
“Oh my God!” Bruno shouted.
Dorothy gasped, squeezing Lucas’ arm in a viselike grip.
“What the hell just happened?” Lucas screamed at Bruno, burning his gaze into the man. “Where’s my brother?”
TO BE CONTINUED
In Book 2, Incursion
(available now)
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BOOKS BY JAY J. FALCONER
The Narrows of Time Series
Book 1: Linkage
Book 2: Incursion
Book 3: Reversion
The Time Jumper Series
Glassford Girl: Part 1
Glassford Girl: Part 2
Glassford Girl: Part 3
Glassford Girl: Part 4 (coming in 2016)
The American Prepper Series
Book 1: Redfall: Fight for Survival
Book 2: Redfall: Freedom Fighters
Book 3: Redfall: Shadow Realm (coming in 2016)
For more information about the author or his books, please visit:
www.JayFalconer.com
www.Facebook.com/NarrowsOfTime
This novel is dedicated to the loving memory of John and Dorothy.
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AMERICAN PREPPER SERIES
Book1: Redfall: Fight for Survival
Book 2: Redfall: Freedom Fighters
Book 3: Redfall: Shadow Realm (available in 2016)
THE TIME JUMPER SERIES
There are several Glassford Girl books in the Time Jumper Series - scheduled for release in 2015 and 2016.
Click here for more information.
THE NARROWS OF TIME SERIES
Linkage: Book 1
Incursion: Book 2
Reversion: Book 3
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jay J. Falconer is an independent author, survivalist, prepper, engineer, and Sci-Fi junkie who lives in the mountains of northern Arizona where the brisk, clean air and stunning mountain views inspire his day.
When he's not busy paying the bills with his regular, full time engineering job, he's either trying to steal a few hours at night or on weekends to work on his next novel, or he's out training, shooting, hunting, or preparing for whatever comes next.
He makes his on-line home at www.JayFalconer.com and is the author of the critically acclaimed Narrows of Time Series, Emily Heart Time Jumper Series, and the American Prepper Series.
If the mood strikes you, please use the Contact the Author form on his website to connect with him, or send email directly to his email address below. Mr. Falconer would love to hear from you. He personally reads and responds to all inquiries.
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