Version Innocent

by Pete Molina

  Chapter 59

  Terra felt a strange sensation as she began to return to consciousness. She wondered if the stupid backup was done yet in this new machine that Sam 6.7 had invented. It was really quite annoying. The new backup system didn’t let you see anything that was going on around you. It wasn’t open air like the other machines that she had always used for a backup. She kept her eyes closed so she wouldn’t have to look at the half cylinder door that covered her as she lay on the bed being scanned.

  There wasn’t even any audio to comfort her and let her know how much time was left. Plato, how much time has elapsed? she queried, but Plato was silent, which immediately concerned her. She should have access to her companion at all times even during a backup procedure. She tried again.

  Yes, Terra, I am here, Plato responded this time. I am functioning within normal parameters. I will now calibrate your displays. Please stand by.

  What? Why are you doing that? We’re only being backed up? she asked.

  What was this machine doing? Somehow it had caused her companion to be reset. She was going to have to have a word with Sam 6.7 when this was all over. She hoped that while she was wasting this time the Powel crew and Agent Dawson hadn't penetrated Sam’s hideout. If this machine took too long, the others wouldn’t get a chance to have their backups and then they could be lost. Jeff had no other version on Earth to be restored, the Virus and Damon Harding had apparently taken care of that one. And Sam 23.1, he’d never had a backup either after being restored. He would disappear from this universe. The unique identity branch that he represented of Sam Storm would be lost forever.

  The lines and colors began to form in her displays. Somehow they seemed more vivid than before, different but she couldn’t pin down the difference exactly. Maybe it had something to do with this new scanning system that made the backup. Experimental technology. We were fools to trust Sam 6.7 and his new backup machine. Terra had held high hopes that this technology would free her planet and the solar system from Harding and his puppet government. Maybe the space drive would make up for that and turn the tables. Terra didn’t like the thought of a military action to force the technology of restoration to be given freely, but that might be the only option.

  Terra thought hard about the problem for a few minutes while her displays reinitialized. She would need antimatter. Maybe if they could wait another five years they could collect another secret fifty kilograms. That would be enough to make a difference, but she couldn’t think how they could get it. Mars didn’t have that large a supply. Maybe they could take it from the refueling depot for the Fleet on Phobos Station. It would require thought.

  Displays recalibrated. I am now operating within normal parameters, Plato informed her.

  A click came from the half cylinder cover, and Terra opened her eyes. She watched the cover open over her to reveal a scene that was much different from the one she had left minutes ago, which confused her. What the hell’s going on here? Is this some kind of fog illusion? She asked herself as she sat up and began to have a look around. Then she realized that she was naked.

  Nudity didn’t bother her that much, but she’d gone into the machine wearing clothing, and now she had none. What kind of machine was this? She looked around at her new surroundings, trying to figure out if there were something to wear, not that the temperature was uncomfortable.

  The room was sizeable. It had two other restoration machines with the lids closed on one side. On the other there was some couches and a table with chairs and a screen that showed the stars outside. She was in a circular room about ten meters across. She didn’t see any doors or anything near by. She glanced upward and saw the ceiling which had no openings. She didn’t see any openings on the floor either. Whatever was going on, she wasn’t meant to leave the room at the moment.

  She looked back at the machine from which she had just stepped. The realization was dawning on her that she might not be the same her that she was when she’d entered the backup machine. The more she thought about it, the more it seemed that she’d just been restored. She didn’t notice a difference in her appearance because she’d only been restored a few short weeks ago. Next to the chamber from which she’d emerged was a small door that was flashing on the side of the machine. She reached for the handle and pulled. Inside she found clothing. It was a green one piece jump suit that had a large slit going down the chest. It even had built in feet coverings. She slipped into the thing hoping that it would fit, and to her surprise it fit like a glove.

  The suit had probably been manufactured for her specific measurements for when she emerged from the machine. Examining the slit to see how it fastened, she didn’t find any zippers or buttons or even snaps. She pushed the two edges together, and as she did they melted together seamlessly. Continuing until she reached the collar, she soon found the seam was gone altogether. She smiled and wondered how she would tell it to open back up later.

  She was sure she’d been restored now. This place was too different and the circumstances were just too bizarre, the clothing, the machines, and the room. How long? she wondered. How did the situation sort itself out? She didn’t know, but she wanted answers. The whole process of the restoration had been much more pleasant than any she’d known before, however. There was no neural calibration, no trying to move every muscle. She’d emerged and had no difficulty with any of that. She felt great, not even disoriented or mentally fuzzy at all as she usually did. Apparently, Sam had done a better job than she’d given him credit for in designing this machine. It did work, and that meant that everything would change.

  Just then the middle restoration machine’s chamber opened, and Jeff sat up. He sat up slowly with his eyes still closed. Terra used this opportunity to check him out, considering he was in the buff. He looked so young now and fit. No trace of the extra weight or slightly balding head that she’d become so used to. He was a young man again. She wondered if he would mind this transformation, given his Newbie code to grow old and die naturally rather than be restored or pure vanity.

  She walked over to him, and he opened his eyes, looking about in the new surroundings. “Terra, what happened to the control room? What’s going on?” He apparently hadn’t figured it out yet.

  “We’re not in Kansas any more, Toto. You’ve been restored, and I have no idea where we are.”

  “What? Is this what restoration is supposed to feel like?” he asked, looking about and then noticing that he wasn’t wearing anything. He covered himself with a little flush of red in his cheeks.

  “Here,” Terra said, opening the door to the little flashing compartment door that was next to his restoration bed. She handed him the jumpsuit, identical to hers except that it was obviously bigger and made for a man. He took it gratefully, and Terra turned away while he got out of the machine and put on the jump suit.

  “How does this thing close?” he asked.

  Terra turned to look at him and she laughed a little at the sight of him in the jump suit with the large v shape slit going from his neck down to his waist. She grabbed the two sides and pushed them together. They sealed just like hers had.

  “Normally restoration isn’t nearly as pleasant as this.” Terra answered the question he’d asked a few moments ago.

  “I hadn’t thought it was. Apparently Sam’s done a better job than Damon Harding and Second Chance.” Jeff smiled with obvious Newbie pride. Then he turned to her. “I can hear my companion!” he exclaimed. “I’ve got implants now. This is great. The displays are so much more vivid than the glasses.” He was moving his hands in front of his eyes, which were filled with awe. “If I’d know it’d be this good, I would’ve dissoluted long ago. No wonder Sam was always so much better than the rest of us after he got his implants when we were just kids.”

  The third chamber picked that moment to click and open. Sam 23.1 sat up immediately with his eyes open, looking about, trying to
figure out what was going on.

  “It’s all right, Sam. We’ve been restored. There is some clothing in that little compartment next to your chamber.” Terra pointed. Sam apparently was fine with his nudity as he gave her a brief “Thanks” and hopped off the bed opening the door.

  “So where are we?” Sam asked, pulling on the suit and making the V fasten as if it were something he wore every day.

  “Have you worn one of those before?” Jeff asked him as he watched Sam put the suit on.

  “No, but I’ve wanted clothing that did this since I was a kid. I always thought it’d be so diff, so it’s no surprise that Sam 6.7’s actually made it happen, just like everything else I wanted to do.”

  “We don’t know where we are, obviously on a ship somewhere. But I have no idea where the ship is,” Terra commented. They all wandered away from the machines and noticed that the table was now fully set with service for four. There were even candles burning.

  “I guess we’re supposed to have dinner.” Jeff shrugged and walked to the table. “Now that I think about it, I am hungry.”

  Terra’s belly gave out a growl that they could all hear, and she smirked. “Me, too. I guess Sam hasn’t done away with that part of the restoration process. I always thought it was nice to have a good meal afterwards, kind of get reacquainted with your own body.”

  “Well said,” a new voice commented. It was Sam 6.7, who had appeared behind them and was walking towards the table.

  “Well, Sam, where are we?” Sam 23.1 asked his projected other-self. At least he presumed it was a projection.

  “All in good time. Have a seat, and eat something. You must be hungry and we’re as safe as can be at the moment.” Sam 6.7 took one of the seats.

  Each plate was already loaded with food. It looked like turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Sam 6.7 started in on the potatoes with fervor. The other sat down and picked up their forks to sample the cuisine.

  “Is this real?” Terra asked, lifting some turkey and staring at it to see if it was pixelated. “It wasn’t here when I woke up.”

  “Yes, it’s the real thing…well synth-meat anyway. You didn’t notice it because it hadn’t been delivered yet. And no, Sam, my food isn’t real but I can taste it just the same even if it is a simulation. Even though my brain is nanotronic, it emulates a human brain, and so I have the need to do everything you do still just to keep happy. I find that it’s more of a comfort even if it is just simulated food and taste.”

  Terra took a bite. It was good. She took a second. “Well, it tastes great to me,” she said.

  Jeff and Sam 23.1 set in on their servings as well. They all munched and gulped and drank the juice cocktail that had been set before them. They were all so famished that there was absolutely no conversation until every one had eaten their fill.

  Once everyone had finished, Sam 6.7 spoke up.

  “You have been restored, and you probably don’t remember anything more than getting in to the machine to have your backup made so I’ll fill you in on what happened. Just after Sam 23.1 had emerged from his backup, the control center was breached by Agent Dawson and a number of armed commandoes in full battle armor. They immediately took you hostage,” he began. A screen appeared above the table with the scene that he had just described. As Sam 6.7 described the events, they were played back on the screen. Then the video stopped.

  “Now things get unpleasant because Agent Dawson, having discovered that I was not really there threatened to kill you all to get me to deliver my physical self. I told him that wasn’t possible. Apparently he couldn’t carry through on the threat so he shot Jeff in the shoulder. Then he shot you, Terra, in the leg when I still wouldn’t give up. That’s what you missed. But that’s not all that went on. I really wanted to save you intact, but I knew that when the Powel showed up that wasn’t going to happen. As each of you completed your backup, I uploaded it to this ship, which is a smaller craft mated with my interstellar ark. I used that whole time as a diversion to launch the ark from the far side of the base, where the Powel couldn’t see. I began to accelerate at a hundred g’s which I don’t have to tell you would have killed you all instantly had you been other than bits in a backup buffer.

  “Once the ark was far enough away to be out of danger, I detonated three kilograms of antimatter that’d I’d kept around for just such an occasion. There are a number of secrets that could be discovered from the base and I preferred to control who gets that information and when. Unfortunately, the Powel had already taken heavy damage from my surface defenses, which were not by the way designed to hold off a ship of that power for very long anyway. But I got in a lucky shot and hit their antimatter reactor and also managed to hit their antimatter containment system.”

  “The containment system didn’t collapse, so it didn’t just detonate. They must have been repairing because they didn’t use their life boats although they did launch some kind of pod before the battle began. I assume the pod has backups of the crew and all the logs aboard. The explosion of the base destroyed whatever jury-rigged containment system they’d setup, however, and their antimatter went as well. It was a fairly spectacular explosion, and it took your physical selves with it, along with Agent Dawson and his commandos.”

  “We accelerated away at a hundred g’s for about five hours and then I slowed to one g so I could initiate your restorations, about ten hours ago,” Sam 6.7 finished.

  “Your system only takes ten hours? How’s that possible?” Terra asked.

  “It doesn’t first grow a clone. It builds your body the same way it restructures your neural pathways to make sure you are exactly who you were at the backup,” Sam 6.7 explained.

  “So you store the entire body’s pattern, not just the brain?” Jeff asked.

  “No, not exactly. I use your DNA, and my program extrapolates it and then begins to build you much like your own body builds itself, only the process is super accelerated and in parallel. It takes nine hours for it to finish that stage and then it does the neural patterning and implant integration. You’ll all be happy to know that your implants are much improved over your previous versions. They are now equivalent to what we are giving the young Newbies back in Denver, a much deeper interface. You’ll notice the difference pretty quickly, and it will make you much faster at all those companion enhanced tasks.”

  “So we’re not being pursued at all,” Terra said, still amazed at this new restoration technology.

  “No, not at the moment. Remember we expel no propellant so we can move much more quickly with our reduced mass. The space drive ensures that. Even if we were being followed, we’d never be caught with our capability. Not that I can go that fast with you all in the flesh, but we could certainly beat them. Both the ark, and this ship are equipped with weaponry so we could defend ourselves if necessary.”

  “Oh, I found out why Agent Dawson was able to follow you so easily,” Sam 6.7 said with a frown. “Apparently Sam’s companion had been bugged. It was sending coded information. I don’t know what the extent of the information was, but I’m sure it was some kind of visual stream, probably what you were seeing and hearing, Sam.”

  “So that’s how they did it. And that’s why we couldn’t detect it,” Terra said, turning to look at Sam 23.1 who was frowning as well.

  “It must have been done when you were restored. The modifications to your companion were certainly made during that time. Probably Damon Harding hard at work to take away even more liberties, wanting to become big brother,” Sam 6.7 commented.

  “But the violation of people’s right to privacy. He’d be toppled in a week if it ever got out,” Jeff said, horror stricken.

  The violation was so personal in this age of information overload. People couldn’t do much of anything without being watched and observed by SS systems in public, but to do that in private was unspeakable.

  “No doubt, but if you’ll remember, the proof was
completely destroyed along with Sam’s old self. I’ve made sure you don’t suffer that same violation now. Your companion is completely secure now, or at least as secure as it can be,” Sam 6.7 promised.

  “Good. I can’t believe it. I just wanted to help, but I was harming the whole time. That means they know about who was involved in the antimatter thing.” The full violation of what had been done was just dawning on him.

  “Don’t worry. I’m sure no one but Damon Harding and Agent Dawson know about this. No one else would keep it private, certainly not Fleet,” Sam 6.7 reassured him.

  “And Sam, I’m sure Thurman Conrad made it to safe hiding along with the others that helped. They’re should be safe for now. Don’t worry, the damage could have been worse after all we’ve lived through, the whole thing. Damon Harding and his lackeys didn’t win.” Terra consoled her traveling companion.

  Sam 23.1 smiled. “I guess. We did make it, didn’t we?”

  “And we never could have gotten here without you, bugged or not,” Jeff said.

  “No, you couldn’t have,” Sam 6.7 confirmed. “You needed him.”

  “So what now?” Terra eyed the restoration machines, knowing that they would change everything.

  “Now,” Sam 6.7 said, “we have some decisions to make and I have some debts to pay. The ark is leaving this solar system directly, and unless you care to come with me some of you will have to leave. I’m giving you this smaller ship. It is a space drive equipped with no rocket propulsion of any sort. The ship you were on before was one of our early prototypes that needed the rocket as a backup, but this ship has no need of that at all.”

  “Well, it certainly is amazing,” Terra admitted. “But I’m more interested in that little number over there.” She pointed to one of the restoration machines.

  “Ah, Terra, you always do cut to the chase, don’t you? Yes, the restoration technology will be yours to bring back to Mars. But you have to promise me something…that you will distribute the technology as widely as possible about the solar system. I’ve made it very simple to do so, so it won’t take a whole lot of effort on your part. Let me explain how it will work.” Sam 6.7 stood up and led them over to the nearest restoration machine.

  “First, let me tell you that this technology uses uncontrolled assemblers, so it is somewhat dangerous in that respect, but I assure you that it’s for good reason. Do you see these pods hanging down underneath the restoration bed. These are for all intents and purposes restoration machine seed pods.” He reached for and pulled the pod off of the machine with a pop. “See how the pod has this display. It actually has a fairly sophisticated SS system that you can interface with. It will tell you how to set it up so it can grow…yes, I said grow…into a full machine. You will need to hook up tubes with certain bulk supplies, carbon, silicon, et cetera. It will process these raw materials, and the machine will grow itself into its full form, complete with two more pods. Once you pull a pod off, it will re-grow another in about ten hours, provided it has the proper bulk material feeds.”

  “To restore someone it also needs the bulk materials to build your body, so it needs the same stuff that your body is made of. The SS system will monitor its supplies and figure out how best to utilize them. Should you want to dissolute or go noncorporeal, the machine can also take your old body apart into its constituent materials, which can be utilized later to restore someone else. Since it uses a fog matrix inside the bed, it can restore you in any gravity, or lack there of. It will work on spacecraft, planets, deep space or anywhere else you can think of,” Sam 6.7 explained.

  Terra’s jaw was dropping. It was a radical departure from the machines that she was used to, and the method of propagation of the technology was ingenious. “That’s incredible. So all I have to do is pull a pod off, make sure it has the right power and bulk material feeds, and it will grow into a machine with more pods. Fully functional.”

  “That’s right. Now the bad news. I had to use unlimited assemblers so that the machine could grow the way it needed to. It could be done without, but it would have taken a number of more years of development. That means that if someone pulls this thing apart, they’ll have unlimited assemblers to play with. Nanotechnology has also been controlled by Damon Harding, to the detriment of most of the human species on and off Earth,” Sam blasted, slamming his fist on the console of the machine.

  “I agree that safety precautions have to be taken, but I also think that the rules, as stringent as they are now, are hurting more than helping. So now everyone will have a level playing field. Granted these assemblers can’t live outside the machine, but they could be used to build some that could. It will happen…expect it. I don’t advertise their presence in the machine; the SS system won’t mention them. But they are there, and the SS system can access them. Given proper instructions, the assembler will build things other than human bodies, so be warned,” Sam told them seriously.

  Terra just nodded, considering the possibilities. Sam 23.1 was smiling.

  “Sam, what’s so amusing?” Terra asked him.

  “Nothing, it’s just that he’s accomplished everything that I aspired to do. And I’m glad, don’t get me wrong, but now I wonder what I should do. I guess I’m not really Sam Storm any more. I’m Gregory Hillman, and I better get used to it.”

  “I’m sorry, Sam. I can’t say I know what it feels like to be you. But I have something special for you too, if you decide to stay. I would love it if you and Jeff, and even Terra would come with me on this journey. You’ll see things and face challenges never dreamed of here. You don’t have to come exclusively. You can just give me a backup and continue on here with the knowledge that part of you is out there,” Sam 6.7 offered warmly. “If none of you decide to come, I’ll understand, but I will miss you.”

  “I’ll go,” Jeff said succinctly. “After all that’s happened, and all that’s going to happen because of your technologies, I don’t think I want to be here. They’ll probably arrest me if I stay, or I’ll end up fighting a war I never wanted to see, that I worked hard to prevent by maintaining the status quo. But it’s coming, and I don’t want to be here when it happens.” he explained.

  “I’m staying…exclusively,” Terra decided. “My commitments and responsibilities are here. I can’t back out on them. And I know if I send a version of myself with you, she will always wonder what she could have done here. I can’t do that to her. I have to go back.”

  Sam 6.7 nodded with a little sadness in his eyes. “I understand. I didn’t think you’d come with me, but I had to try.” Sam 6.7 turned to his younger version. “Sam, you can come with me if you like. I know the idea appeals to you.”

  “And what place would there be for me where you’re going? I’d always be overshadowed by you and your accomplishments. And I’d always be forced to live up to expectations because of who you are. I am not you any more. We’re separated by time and by deeds now, and that can’t ever be mended. You go. Build your new world and your new society, and I’ll stay and try to do what I can here,” Sam 23.1 said, deciding on the harder path.

  “I hoped you’d come, but I know why you won’t. I have something for you, something that may give you purpose again,” Sam 6.7 said, turning and walking to the dining area table where the remnants of dinner had been miraculously cleaned up. Now on top of the table was a small briefcase. Sam 6.7 walked to the briefcase, swung it around, and pushed the release button. The top of the case clicked open, and Sam lifted it, revealing a number of what could looked like backup cubes neatly in a row in a molded cushioned insert.

  “These cubes contain most of the information from the mainframe at my base. Many Primers will be ill-equipped to solve the tough problems, but the problems will need solutions, this will help.”

  Sam 23.1 was silent for a full minute, obviously deep in contemplation of what his older version was suggesting. He nodded and then smiled. “Someone has
to clean up the mess you’ve made. But it’s my mess too. I just didn’t have to do any of the work to make all this happen.”

  “I couldn’t have put it better myself,” Sam 6.7 said with a smile, clapping his younger version on the shoulder, then turned back to Terra. “I have something else for you.”

  “Oh?” Terra asked quizzically. As far as she could tell, she’d already gotten everything she wanted.

  “Yes, when your other version and I came up with the scheme to get the antimatter, I was anticipating needing all of it for the ark and its trip. However, once we actually got the space drive technology to work, we discovered that we wouldn’t even need a quarter of it to get where we want to go. So I’m giving half of it back to you. Fifty kilograms. I figure you’ll need it because Fleet is going to come after you once word gets out that you’re violating treaties left and right.”

  Terra positively beamed after that. It was like the man could read her mind.

  “And, you can have this ship to take you home. It has the schematics for the space drive stored inside, so you’ll be able to equip your ships in time.”

  “That’s even better, I don’t know what to say. It’s like it’s Christmas or something,” Terra chuckled.

  “Just don’t forget that you’ve earned it, or at least your other version earned it with everything she did between you and her hiatus. She sacrificed herself for this so never, never take it lightly,” Sam 6.7 added seriously.

  Terra sobered a little after the comment. “I won’t forget. And believe me I know that things won’t be easy when I get back. Ariel Stoneman is still in charge there.”

  “You’ll have help,” Sam 23.1 said firmly. Terra came and stood next to him and squeezed his arm, letting him know that she appreciated the sentiment.

  “How long will your journey be?” Terra asked, changing the subject.

  “Oh, at least twenty years. We have enough antimatter to last easily that long and to get us started wherever we decide to put down roots. I’ll spend the time surveying star systems, looking for a good spot to settle. Maybe as long as a hundred years. It all depends on what we find out there. Don’t worry, though. We’ll send word when we arrive. It make take decades or centuries to get the word back here, but we’ll let you know,” Sam 6.7 said with a passion filling his eyes at the thought of the journey.

  “Jeff, you’d better start your backup and dissolution. We’ve a long way to go and the longer we chat, the farther Terra and Sam have to travel to get back to Mars,” Sam 6.7 said.

  “Yeah,” Jeff agreed, nodding. He was apparently comfortable with his decision. He stood up and walked over to Terra and Sam 23.1. He embraced each of them, giving Sam 23.1 who was also his crèche brother an extra squeeze. “Take care of yourself, both of you. And Sam, try not to rock the boat too fast with your new team. A few world changing technologies a decade at the most,” he said with a grin.

  “Oh, I can’t promise that,” Sam 23.1 said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. “Just look at the role model I have.” He indicated his older version. “Got to be who I am.”

  “Terra, it’s been a pleasure working with you. I wish you all the best in the coming Storm,” Jeff grinned and glanced at the projection of his crèche brother.

  “I’ll miss you, Jeff,” she said, with tears welling up in her eyes. “Don’t forget us.”

  “Never,” Jeff answered solemnly. Then he turned to the restoration machine and lifted the lid to the chamber. He laid down on the platform. Terra and Sam 23.1 came to close the lid, with a brief squeeze of his hand and a whisper of “Good Journey.”

  With the lid closed, Sam 6.7 initiated the backup procedure. This time the backup took a half hour because Jeff’s body had to be deconstructed. They spent the time chatting with their Sam 6.7’s projection about trivial things. Then as the count down reached zero, Sam 23.1 informed them that Jeff was now backed up and aboard the ark, which was ready to depart.

  They all got up from their comfortable seats on the couches and pulled themselves away from reminiscing of days past. Terra walked up to Sam 23.1 and gave him a hug, trying to ignore the fact that he was cold. “I can’t ever thank you enough,” she said, letting him go.

  “No, Terra, I can’t thank you enough. Without you this,” he said, bringing his hands up to indicate the ship and the ark to which they were docked, “would have remained just a dream. Good luck with everything. I wish you and your people the best.”

  Terra nodded in silent acknowledgement of Sam’s thanks.

  “Sam, I know that things have been unfair, but I hope you won’t let that get you down. There is still so much to do here. You are already a unique person, different than who I was. You have your own soul. Don’t let anyone tell you differently,” Sam 6.7 extended his hand to his younger version.

  Sam 23.1 took his hand. “I know. And it’s Gregory, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course, Gregory.”

  “Good journey, Sam,” Greg Hillman said.

  “Good journey,” Sam repeated.

  His image wavered and was gone leaving Terra and Greg by themselves on the small ship. Greg immediately had Ralphie interface with the ship’s SS system and activated a screen so they could watch the ark’s departure. The ark, which was only perhaps ten times their size, and quite a bit smaller than the Powel, detached from the small ship, leaving it adrift in space. It slowly moved away and once it had cleared them by some distance, enormous petal-shaped liquid metal radiators opened, making the ship appear to blossom like a flower. Then with suddenness and no fireworks, it began to accelerate away from them at a fabulous rate. They watched it until it grew dim in the screen and finally it was gone.

  With their business here concluded, and Terra itching to get her hard won prizes back to Mars, they set course and engaged the space drive that would bring them home.

  Chatpter 60

  As the ark accelerated away from the solar system and Sol its star, Sam 6.7 activated his laser communications system and beamed a final farewell to the world of his birth. He thought it only fair to warn them, even if the message would go unheeded. The message was short.

  CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT IN THIS UNIVERSE, ACCEPT IT, EMBRACE IT, RELISH IT, OR GET OUT OF THE WAY FOR THOSE THAT DO.

  CHANGE COMES ON SWIFT WINGS.

  BE READY.

  SAM STORM 6.7

  The End?

  Is it really over you ask? Is this the end? No, Sam Storm 6.7 has left the solar system forever, but what he leaves behind will change everything. Terra Gates and Greg Hillman, Sam’s younger version, have a mission. They must free the solar system from the tyranny of the restoration establishment, bring down Damon Harding, and end the stagnation of the human race. Unfortunately there are many who like things just the way they are. Damon Harding will not sit still while his empire crumbles, he will do everything in his power to stop them. Even the fancy tech Sam’s left them is no guarantee of success, but somehow they must succeed…

  Read System Failure the exciting conclusion to Version Innocent.

  ###

  Acknowledgements

  It would be impossible to thank everyone who has influenced, encouraged, and helped me bring this book into being, so I won’t even try. All those who played a part know who they are and I will be forever grateful.

  There are a few however who I’d like to thank by name. Mrs. Watson, my 7th grade English teacher, for setting me on this path, I never thought it would lead me this far. Valerie Aubry, the best mother-in-law and volunteer editor a son-in-law could want. Special thanks to my parents, Randy and Jan, who have always supported me in my writing, and volunteered to read the original drafts…sorry to put you through that. My wife, Mairin, who isn’t afraid to give me her honest opinion, her support, and puts up with me complaining when things aren’t going well, I love you.

  About the author:

  Pete Molina was born in Corvallis Oregon, a
moderate sized university town, and always had an avid interest in science and technology, and science fiction. Pete attended the University of Colorado receiving a Bachelors and Masters in Aerospace Engineering. A software engineer and entrepreneur by day and writer by night he currently lives and works in Denver Colorado with his family.

  Connect with Me Online:

  My Website: https://petemolina.com