But he knew they wouldn’t even turn around.
He heard a low buzzing sound, barely audible over the screams, and unlike in his dream, this time he knew it was one of those flying SQuares that the Pacifists had used to spy on him and Sera. He didn’t see where it was, but it didn’t matter. There wasn’t going to be anything salvageable anyway.
When Dak was finally able to free himself, he drifted awkwardly out of the cockpit, toward the wall with the fire extinguisher. He snatched it in his gloves, removed the safety, and aimed the nozzle at the angry blue flame, which now claimed almost a third of the cockpit. But now he knew that this was all for show. The other Dak astronauts turned and saw him trying to put out the fire, and that was all that mattered.
The older duplicates started screaming even louder, this time diving toward the center of the cockpit, near the fire, holding on to each other. Dak chucked the extinguisher to the side and bounded over to the window to see for himself.
And suddenly he was screaming, too.
Because even though he knew what he would find, it was still insane to see a massive asteroid, more than twice the size of their vessel, spinning recklessly through space directly toward them.
Instead of panicking, Dak locked the manual controls. Once he was sure there was going to be a collision, he pulled his golden Infinity Ring out of his diaper and programmed it to the present. He was just about to hit the ACTIVATE button when he looked at the two older Daks. They weren’t on his side, but he couldn’t just leave them.
He leapt through the growing fire and slapped them on the backs of their heads. They were gone in an instant and an eerie silence descended in the moment before impact.
The asteroid slammed into the Pacifist spacecraft just as the one true Dak Symth was sucked back into the warp.
25
Homecoming
A WEEK later, Riq was finally able to return to the present for good. He walked leisurely toward Dak’s place, enjoying the nice weather and the total absence of bloodthirsty warriors. It was a pleasant change.
After Dak had warped back from outer space in one piece and they had judged their mission a success, Riq had gone directly back to Anatolia to tie up some loose ends. He was finally able to release the remainder of his war prisoners, whom he personally led back into the heart of Persia. He also awarded the old man who’d informed him about Tilda’s plan a place in Alexander the Great’s cabinet. And then he had a long talk with Alexander himself, about his plan to leave the era for good. He was worried that his friend would be disappointed, but Alexander only patted him on the back and said, “Go and do what makes you happy, Hephaestion.”
Riq felt nostalgic now, realizing he’d never be called by that name again.
But that wasn’t all he had taken care of in the time since they’d thwarted the plan to colonize the moon. He also made one final trip to Izamal, where he broke every Hystorian rule in the book.
He spoke to Kisa. He had to. It wasn’t a long conversation, and he didn’t give away too much about the future, but he did reveal that she was the reason he had chosen to go home. He wanted to find whatever family he had left in the present and build a life with them. Because when he was in Izamal he had learned that it isn’t enough to simply commit yourself to a cause. In order to appreciate how truly wonderful a life on this Earth is, you must also know love. He told her that she had taught him that. They hugged briefly and then Riq said his good-byes.
Of course, he was never going to mention that detour to Dak, whom he now spotted lying in some sort of hammock outside his house. Sera was there, too, sitting on the grass, petting her dog. He was excited to see them again and called out, “Long time, no see!”
Dak and Sera both looked up and said, “Riq!”
“We were just talking about you,” Sera said.
Riq gave Sera a quick hug and slapped hands with Dak. He sat down on the grass next to Sera and her dog.
“All that time I had no idea what her name was,” Sera said. “Watch this. Laika, come give momma some love!”
Riq watched the dog jump on Sera and start licking her face over and over. Sera was laughing and pushing her away, but Riq could tell Sera loved every second of it. “So, you asked your parents for a pet and they got you the famous Soviet space dog?”
“She’s the best dog in history,” Sera said. “I’m so glad they were able to save her without causing a Break.”
“They’re suckers for animals, just like Sera,” Dak added. “They said they couldn’t let a dog get hurt in the name of science.”
“So, everything’s okay with them?” Riq asked.
“Everything’s great,” Sera said.
“They’re like the model family of the year,” Dak said.
Riq smiled, marveling at the foresight of Sera’s parents. He touched his shoulder where they’d installed the microchip that allowed him to warp around through time. He made a mental note to thank them in person before he began searching for any long-lost family members of his own.
“And everything seems to be normal again in the present?” Riq asked.
“So far, so good,” Sera said. “No dinosaur sightings yet.”
“Or pterosaur sightings,” Dak put in.
Sera rolled her eyes. “Exactly. I only worry that Dak’s going to get bored again.”
“No way,” Dak said. “I learned my lesson. I’m content to hang out. With my friends.” He looked directly at Riq. “We’re so glad you’re back here, man. Even though you are kind of a pain sometimes.”
“Yeah,” Sera said. “I mean, I’m glad you’re here. Not the part about you being a pain.”
The three of them got quiet for a few seconds after that. Riq cleared his throat, about to tell them his plans for the future, when he heard the voice of a girl behind him.
“Excuse me?” It was Arin, standing at the bottom of the driveway. “Does anyone know where I can find a Mr. and Mrs. Froste?”
Riq and Dak looked at Sera who said, “Uh, yeah. Why?”
“They told me to meet them here this afternoon. Apparently they want to discuss a job. Something that could ‘really make history.’ Their words.”
Riq saw Dak and Sera grin at each other.
“Follow us,” Sera said, standing up and grabbing Laika’s leash. “They’ve got a lab set up in the barn. And we’re going to help them test their latest invention.”
“We are?” Riq asked. “Wait. What are you two up to?”
“Riq, Riq, Riq,” said Dak. He put an arm around the older boy’s shoulder. “Let me ask you a question: Why would anybody want to study history when they could live it?”
“What was all that about learning your lesson?” he asked pointedly. But he grinned as he asked it.
“We did learn a lesson,” Dak said. “Stick together.”
“And when it comes to history: Look, don’t touch,” Sera added.
“What’s the worst that could happen?” Dak asked. He squeezed Riq’s shoulder and ran ahead to join Sera.
Riq watched Dak, Sera, Arin, and Laika start toward the barn together. He was torn. Mere moments ago, he’d been ready to leave the life of adventure behind him. To settle down. Be a normal kid again.
But he had never really been a normal kid, had he? None of them had.
Sera turned around. “You coming?”
He rubbed his shoulder, then smiled, setting off toward the door that Sera was holding open for him.
Turn the page for your Hystorian’s Guide to saving the world!
Being a master Hystorian takes speed and daring — and smarts! Has all your training paid off? Are you ready to show you’re made of the right stuff? Take the Hystorian Challenge: a grueling series of tests that will determine once and for all if you can lead the Hystorians into the future.
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Being a master Hystorian takes SERIOUS training!
It takes more than speed and daring. It takes more than scaling walls and rafting rapids. . . . Tracking down the evil SQ is also about smarts: cracking codes and solving puzzles. Think you have what it takes?
You’re on your way to becoming a certified Hystorian. Now take it to the next level. It’s time to put you to the test. Complete these quizzes, challenges, and riddles. Can you help us fix the Great Breaks and save the past — and future — forever?
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Matt de la Peña is the author of numerous books for teens, including Ball Don’t Lie, Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here, and I Will Save You, all of which were named ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. His most recent novel, The Living, was a Pura Belpré Honor Book. His first picture book, A Nation’s Hope, made several Best of 2011 lists. He lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he teaches creative writing.
Copyright © 2014 by Scholastic Inc.
All rights reserved. Published by Scholastic Inc., Publishers since 1920. SCHOLASTIC, INFINITY RING, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.
e-ISBN 978-0-545-66771-5
Cover illustration by Michael Heath
Cover design by Keirsten Geise
Back cover photography of characters by Michael Frost © Scholastic Inc.
First edition, September 2014
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