Blood on the Water

by Mark Hildebrandt

  “I guess it must be pretty obvious. After that trip, I feel like an undergraduate who just pulled an all-nighter. Even caffeine doesn’t help.”

  “Well … I’m not sure, I understood all that, but I do have a suggestion. I need to attend a meeting later this afternoon. Perhaps I can interest you in a quiet spot with a comfortable bed, where you can rest, while I tend to my responsibilities?”

  A large, but very tired smile appeared on James face, “That sounds very good. I’m not even going to make a joke about being sealed in as a prisoner. Do you need to pay anyone before we leave?”

  “No. My account was debited when I placed the order. We are all set.”

  “How about the server? Does she get tipped?”

  “Tipped? I don’t understand. The server was just doing her job. The Institute pays her.” Cassandra shrugged and focused her attention on the data pad. She needed to locate an available on-call room for James. The Institute maintained several rooms for researchers, conducting long-term experiments. It allowed them to get some rest and not have to leave the grounds. She planned to put James in one of them. Without a data pad, once the door was sealed he would not be able to leave, so he really didn’t need to make a joke about being sealed in. He would be. She found one several levels below the Trans-Dimensional research area, and immediately reserved it. “Good, I found you a room, come on I’ll show you the way.”

  After eight years at the Institute Cassandra navigated the maze of corridors and lifts with little conscious effort. When they arrived at the call room, she realized how confusing the trip must have been for James. If the look on his face was any indication, he didn’t need to be sealed in; the floor plan was ample intimidation to ensure he stayed put. The call room was not large, but it was nicely appointed. Comfortable bed, desk and chair, large view screen and complete bath facilities.

  Once inside, she gave James brief instructions on the display screen, “this is the display control. This is the on - off button. You might as well ignore most of the other functions. I’ll just leave it on the News Net.” Cassandra smiled, and looked into his tired emerald eyes, where an ongoing battle to fight off sleep was being waged. “I will leave orders you are not to be disturbed. Sleep well James.”

  She turned and left, the door rematerializing in her wake. As tired as James appeared at lunch, she was certain he would sleep for several hours. She noticed; she had just enough time to return to her office and collect the other team members for the afternoon conference with the Ministry. Cassandra may have been appointed to her position, but she worked hard to prove it was warranted. Every day she strove to demonstrate that nepotism, was not the only reason she was Group Leader.

  At first it was difficult, the members of her team were distant, and although nothing was ever vocalized, she was sure they believed the promotion was because of her name. But now after a little more than a year, as Group Leader, most of the members had come to respect and even appreciate having her for a boss. She was very intelligent and certainly knew her business, but there was an unexpected benefit of working for a Vespus. The team suddenly found themselves in the spot light. A significant amount of high-ranking Ministry attention was given to Cassandra, the project and the team. It gave each of them the opportunity to shine and be noticed by management, something that would not have happened without Cassandra as group leader.

  The common area between the offices was filled with her people. The Ministry conference would be in fifteen minutes, and each team member was vying to be chosen as support for Cassandra at the meeting. They all wanted to be in the room when she reported their success to the Ministry, and the Minister.

  “I’m glad to see everyone is anxious for the Ministry briefing. I hope your preparations are as thorough. I will need Dr. Gallium from the Energy Utilization Group, and Dr. Chew from the Biology Group. Could you two please see me in my office.” She said with cold professionalism, and briskly walked into her office, Dr. Gallium and Dr. Chew hurrying after. “Dr. Gallium, I need you to explain the energy fluctuations observed just before the portal was opened. Also, please have a graphic to explain the fuel consumption data, it certainly didn’t appear linear. Be ready to explain the deviations. I assume that won’t be a problem?”

  “Not at all Dr. Vespus. I have already analyzed the data and prepared a brief presentation.”

  “Excellent. Dr. Chew, I need you to give a brief report on the specimen’s anatomy and physiology. In addition, you need to tell the Ministry about any microbes detected, bacterial or viral.”

  “Dr. Vespus, we don’t have much to report. He appears to be a healthy male about thirty-two years old. I have prepared a summary data table on the specimen’s physiological measurements. I hope that will be sufficient?”

  “I hope so too Dr. Chew. Very well, both of you collect your things and let’s go.”

  As the three walked into the conference room, they offered an intriguing contrast in human form. On her right Dr. Gallium was a tall large man, fair complexioned, with blond hair and blue eyes. On her left Dr Chew very petite, typical Asian coloration with black hair and dark eyes, and Cassandra was somewhere in the middle. The room was arranged with two long tables facing each other, one table in London and the other a holographic image of one in Rome. Cassandra, Gallium and Chew sat in the middle of the London table; several other lab support personnel, as well as Dr. Gupta flanked them. The other table was slowly being filled with ministry officials, and finally her brother Dr. Marcus Vespus. The holographic imaging was so accurate, the only thing the participants were unable to do, was shake hands.

  Marcus waited until everyone was seated, “Good afternoon, I know we usually devote a complete hour for our update meeting. Today, however, I can only attend the first thirty minutes. Since you successfully completed the first Trans-Dimension human extraction, I want to spend what time I have, reviewing the results. My staff will handle the normal housekeeping agenda items after I leave. If there are no other comments, then Dr. Vespus you may begin.”

  “Thank you Dr. Vespus.” Cassandra activated the screen in both conference rooms and displayed a graphic representation of the Trans-Dimension apparatus. “This morning at 7:30 a portal to dimension delta-1540 was opened and one adult male was retrieved. We know from preliminary survey data, that delta-1540 is close to the median, as far as technical sophistication, for the delta series of near universes. Preliminary discussions with the specimen, one Professor James Woodman, indicate our two universes diverged sometime in the mid-eight hundreds, between the reign of Trajan and Trajan the Great. I have conducted a preliminary interview with Professor Woodman and will provide a synopsis at the end of the meeting. Now I would like to have Dr. Gallium give an overview of the physics of the extraction. Dr. Chew will follow with a physiological analysis of the specimen. Dr. Gallium.”

  “Thank you Dr. Vespus. The Trans-Dimensional portal is operated…”

  Cassandra had heard all of this so many times it was all she could do to maintain the appearance of genuine interest. She had also reviewed the energy consumption logs earlier in her office and was prepared mentally to help Dr. Gallium fend off any questions intended to harm the project. After Gallium finished, precisely on cue, Dr. Chew picked up and reviewed what was known anatomically about James.

  With ten minutes left in the allotted thirty-minute meeting, Dr. Marcus Vespus interrupted Chew, “Thank you Dr. Chew. Now if it is not too much of a bother, Dr. Vespus would you please tell us what you have learned from your personnel interviews?”

  “Dr. Woodman is a history professor at someplace called the University of Michigan. I have yet to determine where that is, but it seems to be in the middle of the Mississippian Province.”

  “Please just cut to the chase,” Marcus interrupted, “does he know anything about the virus?”

  “I don’t think so. He said he doesn’t know much about the life sciences. I will try again tomorrow. He is resting now, and we will keep him so until morning.”


  “Very well, but I’m sending a shuttle by in the morning. Make sure he is on it. I want the specimen here in Rome at the Vespus Clinic for a complete exam.”

  Marcus’s orders caught Cassandra by surprise. This was her project, and now he wanted to take over. Well by the gods, she was going to see it through one way or another. “Wait Marcus. I’m just beginning to establish a rapport with him. Allow me to stay with him. There is after all, more to learn about his universe then the virus. He will talk freely to me. If you want him in Rome, then I’ll bring him in one of the Institute’s ground vehicles. You don’t need to send a shuttle.” Cassandra knew she was the only one in the room that could see the irritation in Marcus’s face, to everyone else he was unaffected by her comment. She had called him Marcus to throw him off balance. He used his title to keep people at arm’s length, and she dropped it to make a point. He would not order her around on this one. It was as much her project as his.

  Without betraying any emotion, Marcus said, “Dr. Vespus. A ground vehicle will take most of the day to reach Rome, while a shuttle can make the trip in less than an hour. Why waste the time? Don’t you think a shuttle makes more sense?”

  “Not at all Dr. Vespus. I wish to use time to learn as much as possible about the Dr. Woodman and his universe. Besides I don’t see a problem, we will depart early tomorrow, and arrive in Rome tomorrow afternoon. I’ll forward progress reports during the trip. You will know exactly what is going on.” Cassandra knew Marcus wanted things done his way, and her open defiance was bothering him, but she also knew that he would not allow any outsiders to witness a family riff. So, with an expressionless face she just stared at Marcus.

  “Very well Dr. Vespus.” Marcus finally said, “But I will expect regular updates on your progress. Please have the specimen at the Institute hospital by fifteen hundred tomorrow afternoons. My assistant will handle all the admission details.

  “As for the rest of you, good job, and good luck with the next set of scheduled experiments, now I must prepare for my Senate hearing.

  “Good afternoon.” Marcus got up and left the conference.

  The rest of the meeting was primarily the mundane business of the laboratory. It was handled completely by Dr. Gupta’s staff and the people in the Roman office. At exactly five o’clock, the meeting concluded. Cassandra walked back to the work area, accompanied by Gallium and Chew. “Dr. Gallium, while I’m in Rome I am appointing you acting Team Leader. You need to make sure all of the experimental equipment is checked, and double checked, so we can get started on the next set of experiments as soon as our fuel supply is replenished.”

  Gallium tried with marginal success to hide the grin on his face after hearing he would be acting group leader, and answered, “Yes doctor. I promise everything will be in better than new condition when you return. How long do you expect to be?”

  “Impossible to say. One thing you can count on, I hate Rome, and will not stay any longer than absolutely necessary.”

  As soon as the three reached the work area, Cassandra quickly turned left, and went into the control room. She walked directly to the console and said to the Technician, “Please display the image from on-call room seven.”

  “Yes Dr. Vespus.”

  The room appeared to be bathed in bright sunlight, but the spectral meters on the bottom of the screen indicated the room was devoid of visible light. The imaging was made with light in wavelengths far beyond the visible spectrum. “It appears as if our good Dr. Woodman is sleeping.” She said, smiling to herself. No need to worry about him tonight, she thought. “I want you to keep him comfortably asleep until six in the morning. Then gently wake him, instruct him on the proper use of the bathing facilities, get him some less conspicuous clothing and feed him. I will be by at seven to collect him for our trip to Rome. Any questions?”

  “No Dr. Vespus. I will relay the orders exactly as given, to the night shift. Everything will be as you wish.”

  “Excellent Technician. I would also like you to place a copy of all the trans-dimensional read outs from this morning’s experiment in my inbox. I am especially interested in the power fluctuations and the biometric readings.”

  “It will take a few minutes, but I will take care of it.”

  “That’s fine, I don’t need the data until I get to my apartment, and that won’t be for at least an hour.” Cassandra watched the Technician nod his head in understanding, “Good evening Technician.”

  Then she made the rounds, and individually visited with each team member. Cassandra new it was important to talk with her subordinates before leaving, and explain Dr. Gallium would be in charge, but more importantly she needed to stress the arrangement was temporary. As her career matured she expected to add responsibility, but under no circumstances would she lose any.

  The walk to her apartment was pleasant. The day was just about a perfect London summer day. It was Sunny and warm, and thankfully nowhere near as hot as it would be in Rome. It was only a few blocks, and like always, she didn’t pay any attention to the Imperial guards shadowing every footstep. After all these years it was almost like they weren’t even there. They just blended in to the surroundings like bland wallpaper.

  Her apartment was not ostentatious. Certainly, with her family ties and money, she could have taken one several times larger, and staffed it with servants. But part of the reason she accepted the London assignment, was to get away from Rome and all that family stuff. She wanted to make it on her own, but as time went on, it appeared that was not likely. It was slowly becoming obvious, she would never be able to hide from the Vespus name.

  She made a quick stop at the small restaurant on the ground floor of her building to purchase some cold sandwiches and fruit. Once inside the apartment, she left the sandwiches in the kitchen, poured a glass of wine, and headed for the bedroom. She removed and piled her work clothes on the floor in the closet, and with her wine continued to the bath. The bath was adjacent to a large window with a view of the city below. Since the apartment was on the ninth floor and the surrounding buildings were all low-lying residential, there was nothing to obstruct the view of the setting Quintilis sun.

  Cassandra adjusted the music in the room to a soothing instrumental mix and sat down in the bath. As she sipped her wine, leaned back and watched the sunset, she felt several emotions sweep over her, much like the gentle waves created by the bath. The experiment had worked. They had moved a person between parallel universes. She smiled and toasted herself with the wine, success, she thought.

  Another glass of wine and the sun was gone. With the apartment dark she found her nightshirt. Setting the illumination at a soft level, she went to the kitchen and ate her sandwiches and fruit and went to bed where she could review the experimental data. The review didn’t last long. She was soon fast asleep.

  Chapter 6

  - The Rest is History -

  James was sitting, comfortably watching the News Net at seven, when Cassandra entered the on-call room. “Good morning.” She greeted him. That tunic is very nice. I like it. It looks very professional.”

  James made a funny face, “Are you sure? I mean the color. Isn’t it just a little … oh … I don’t know unmanly?” The tunic, as she called it, was made of a very light material resembling silk. It fit snugly from neck to mid-thigh and had three quarters length sleeves, but the color, it was green, lime green. His slacks were made of a cream-colored linen material, that like the jacket refused to wrinkle. As an academic, James had not been a slave to fashion, but he was pretty sure he would never wear this back home.

  Cassandra still smiling said, “Absolutely not. That is one of the more fashionable colors this year. And that shade of green looks so good on you. It clearly complements your eyes.” She was obviously pleased with the selection.

  “Well if you say so.” He said a bit uneasy. As odd as the outfit seemed to him, she liked it, and for the time being, trusting her seemed to be his only alternative. “So, what’s up, why the fancy new clot
hes?”

  “No one told you?” She said, and watched, as he shook his head no. “We are going to Rome today, to the Vespus medical clinic. They wish to conduct a complete physical.”

  James felt a shiver run down his spine. It was an involuntary reaction that occurred every time he thought about doctors, clinics and hospitals. “Is that necessary? Can’t you just take a blood sample here?”

  Apparently, Cassandra had not detected his angst, she simply smiled and said, “Oh come on. It will be fun. I decided to travel by car to Rome. It will give us time to talk, and you will be able to see some of the countryside. The vehicle should be in front of the building waiting for us now. Let’s go.”

  Her words monetarily displaced his dread of hospitals. Had she said, Rome, today and travel by car in the same sentence? “Wait a minute Cassandra. Did you mean to say we were traveling by car to Rome Italy? How can that be? Unless geography is different in this universe, it is almost nine hundred miles from London to Rome, the trip would take a couple of days by car.”

  Smiling she said, “I did say it, and the geography is the same. It’s just that we will be traveling in a special car, one that maintains an average speed of two hundred miles per hour. So, you see, the trip will only be a bit more than four hours.”

  “Wow, a car with an average speed of two hundred miles per hour.” He said, unable to hide his astonishment.

  “Yes average. Some places, such as the English Channel, we will go much faster. Of course, since there is nothing to see over the Channel, I’m sure you won’t mind. Across France and over the alps we will slow down a bit, so you can get an appreciation for the countryside.”