Sliptime

by Jeffrey Grode

  Ben quirked his lips. “Yes.” I’m not alone anymore—since the reboot restored my family. They are a little different, but close enough. Besides, Erde’s invasion left me little choice. Right or wrong, I’m going to have to live with my decisions. But how does Amorphous know about my current timeline?

  “Amo, if I reset my previous timeline to one where GranPat never discovered parallel worlds, teleportation, and time travel, how could your future-selves be out there riding other timelines?”

  “Before your last visit, I created more versions of myself. I traveled back in time to this phased lab, and met myself. We both traveled back and met a third, a fourth, a fifth, and continued. I eventually stayed behind while the others left the lab and followed various branched timelines. They cloned themselves as they saw fit and act as my ‘eyes and ears’ in a multiplicity of multiverses.”

  “Amo, that sounds . . . incredible. Are there really that many branched timelines?”

  “Vsshhhh-click. More than we can count. We have only sent emissaries to assist your doppelgangers through critical, or dire, events.”

  Ben nodded. “So your robots help save our world?”

  “Only thirty-three percent of the time, Commander.”

  Ben’s eyes fell upon the red button on the far wall. “I teleported directly into this phased lab, but if I press the red button and walk through the far wall, would I still reach GranPat’s original cellar?”

  “Only fifty-six percent of the time,” Amo said. “Other times the cellar is buried under ground, under water, radioactive, or opens to the void of space. Would you like a demonstration?”

  Shit. “No, thank you.” Good thing I didn’t try to leave through the wall. “So what do your other selves do?”

  “Observe, report, protect, analyze, postulate, etc . . . and eventually rotate with me. One of my surrogates rode out your past timeline.”

  Ben’s chest tightened. “What happened?”

  “Erde invaded Earth, took control, and enslaved the population. Patrick’s house, and the world he knew, no longer exist.”

  Ben exhaled between tight lips. “So what happened to me?”

  “You are here.” Amo attempted a smile, but he needed more practice. “You ride a new timeline.”

  “And the GranPat we knew? Has his spirit moved beyond what’s in the coffee can?”

  “That remains a mystery. I sent a version of myself, Amo-2, to follow Patrick, but he has not yet reported back.”

  “Great,” Ben said with wry smile. “I guess only God knows where he’s gone.”

  Amo’s blue eyes whirred. “I would like to meet your God someday, and discuss my theory of infinite realities.”

  Ben’s eyes opened wide. “Me too.” He chuckled, but then his face grew serious. I left a lot of friends behind. “Amo, what happened to the people of Terra? Are they safe?”

  “Many of Terra’s branched timelines are relatively safe. Several are not.”

  “The t-medallion brought me here to you. Can I still go back to Terra?”

  Vsshhhh-click. “I advise against any visit. One timeline exists where you are still on Terra, but you have directed me to keep everyone away. Including you.”

  Ben huffed. “Tiger told you to keep me away?”

  “Yes, Commander. Tiger-you and Amo-3 were very emphatic. They made a very strong case.”

  Ben tilted his head. “So Tiger has some version of you making rules on Terra?”

  “Sir, as my Commander, you direct. As Prime, among my selves, I maintain our network and . . . advise.”

  Ben winced. He hated the idea of someone else touching Ruth, even if Tiger was an older version of himself. And though Tiger had earned his scars on Erde and deserved a chance for happiness on Terra, deep down Ben knew the truth. I’m being selfish. “Okay, I understand.” He relaxed his shoulders. “Ruth may be in good hands, but I want a glimpse into her future.”

  “Can you be more specific?”

  “Yes.” Ben’s thoughts fell into place. “I assume Amo-3 is your . . . creation?”

  “Yes. One of my counterparts. We maintain direct contact with each other.”

  “Then you can ask your future counterpart, let’s say three years from now, how Tiger and Ruth are doing?”

  Amo nodded. “That is correct.”

  “Please look into your crystal ball and ask him.” Ben waited, unsure if he would like the outcome either way.

  “As you wish, Commander, but though our internal processors contain crystalline features we do not ‘gaze’ into them.” Amo closed his ceramic blue eyes and whirred. “Tiger, otherwise known as Ben Fuller, and Ruth are married with a daughter, Flora, and a baby boy named Zac. Tiger works part time and goes to the community college.”

  My daughter and his son. He cleared his throat. “Are they happy?”

  Amo attempted a human smile. “Tiger reports through Amo-3 that he and Ruth are very happy, and thanks you for keeping your promise.”

  “Ask him if Albert returned to Terra.”

  Amo tilted his head. “Albert is still missing. Grandma Betsy is well, though. Her doctor reprogrammed her cranial implant after discovering her post surgery memory loss.”

  “Please thank Tiger for me.” A boy and a girl. Ben grinned. “Tell him congratulations. He’s a man of honor and has my respect.”

  “He says ‘thanks and be happy’.” Amo blinked. “He also wants to know if you have defeated LaGreca.”

  “Not yet, but we’ll let him know.” Ben remembered the moves Tiger had shown him and felt a surge of adrenalin pulse through his body. He couldn’t wait until his next match. Ben wished Tiger luck and Amo broke off contact with Amo-3.

  Amo folded his arms. “Commander, there is one more issue we need to discuss. Please have a seat.”

  “More about Terra?” Ben sat in the chair next to the computer desk.

  “No. Earth. I have access to certain databases, including those your current grandfather uses. I have deciphered the transmission he received from outer space. The alien schematics are not so much a fusion drive, as an interstellar gate. I have also heard from one of my future sources—”

  “Hold up.” Ben checked his watch. In the phased lab, he would have all the time in the world and still make his date with Trudy. “Tell me everything. I need to warn GranPat.”

  Chapter 27

  Ben teleported home, or what had become his home in the new timeline, and took the ‘new’ version of GranPat aside in the clubbed basement. He tried to keep the discussion limited to the mysterious transmission from outer space, but the more questions GranPat asked, the more Ben felt forced to explain.

  “You’re quite the storyteller, young man,” GranPat said. “I appreciate the detail. You must have put a lot of thought into this. I especially like that part about usin’ me beacon to visit parallel worlds.”

  “I’m telling the truth, GranPat. If you build that interstellar gate, you’ll drop an alien horde from Alpha Centauri onto our world.” A soft shuffle of footsteps sounded on the basement stairs.

  “Ha,” GranPat said. “And you heard this proclamation of doom from an invisible robot? Honestly, I thought you wanted to be a serious scientist, not a bard.”

  Ben took a deep breath. Now GranPat thinks I’m a fool. “I know it sounds . . . crazy, but you have to believe me.” Ben’s face flushed.

  “Patrick,” Grandma Betty said as she walked down the basement stairs. “You best listen to Ben. He’s trying to help you.” She moved gracefully between him and GranPat. “I have my own story about a grandson who saved my life many years ago in a ‘timely’ manner.”

  “Oh? This is quite the day for stories . . . and confessions.” GranPat crossed his arms.

  “Ben, let me handle this.” Grandma Betty stood tall with her hands on her hips. “You’re already late for your date, and she’s waiting for you upstairs.”

  Ben pounded up the cellar steps. He appreciated Grandma’s help, but he knew it would take more to convince
his stubborn grandfather. A visit from Amo might help GranPat understand. But that can wait until tomorrow. Right now I have another promise to keep.

  As he hurried through the kitchen, wondering what he might say to Trudy after all he’d experienced this past week, his mother blocked his path.

  “Hold up, Benzo.” Mom shook her head. “Your girl ran upstairs to your room. This is why I tell you to keep your room clean.”

  “Mom, you’re right as usual. Happy birthday.”

  Her eyes opened a stitch wider and a slow smile crossed her face. “Have fun, but remember what we talked about.”

  Ben returned her smile and nodded, but wasn’t sure what she was talking about. “Gotta go.” He turned and hurried through the dining room toward the stairwell. Was it the talk about the special date with Trudy, or had his ‘new’ Mom had an entirely different conversation with the ‘previous’ me from this timeline? And why had Trudy come over here?

  When he compared how he felt about her versus Ruth, Trudy fell more solidly into his idea of a casual friend. Hanging out with her was fun, but after his experience with Ruth, he didn’t want to go to the next level with Trudy. As he walked softly up to the second floor, he had to admit that she wasn’t the one. Tonight wouldn’t be as special as Trudy expected.

  Surprised to find his bedroom door closed, he knocked and entered. His eyes widened, not because someone had cleaned his room for him, but because he’d expected someone else.

  “Lori, what are you doing here?” Her hair looked amazing, her smile glistened, but her blue eyes shone with—a hungry look. Nah. She’d been his closest friend since seventh grade, but romance had always been just out of reach. She’d been Brandon’s girlfriend for years—ever since Brandon met Lori at Jack’s funeral service . . . Oh.

  “You were late so I came to find you.” She glanced around the room. “See how much better your room looks now that I’ve straightened up?”

  Ben shook his head. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to do that.”

  Lori quirked her right eyebrow in amusement.

  Ben’s forehead furrowed. “Didn’t Trudy tell you about . . . tonight?”

  “What about tonight?” Lori’s pink lipstick sparkled as she grinned. “Trudy and Brandon will meet us at Nino’s pizza. C’mon let’s go.”

  Ben scratched his head. “But why didn’t Brandon take you?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” She put her arms around him and squeezed. “Can’t a girl catch a ride from her boyfriend?” She kissed him gently on the lips. “Tonight is supposed be our special night. Remember?”

  Is she for real? Ben blushed awkwardly and felt guilty. He remembered his first kiss with Ruth on Terra, and wondered if he might have already hurt Trudy’s feelings here on Earth. How did all this go down? With unexpected consequences.

  Changing the timeline had given him back his brother, both grandparents, and now . . . Lori? His back tensed. He’d always loved her, but he never thought he had a prayer—in any universe. What were the odds? The blue-eyed robot and his helpers might know. Amo! What did you do?

  Had Amorphous somehow groomed this timeline for Ben? Was that even possible, or something he deserved? I didn’t ask for this—and how could I be worthy of Lori after abandoning Ruth and . . . our baby on Terra? Sweat beaded his forehead. Thank God for Tiger.

  Tiger was Ben—plus the one dangerous year spent marooned on Erde dreaming of Ruth and his commitment toward her and their baby. Created by Albert’s time-trap, Tiger not only bore the scars and tattoos of his experience, but showed strength, honor, and love for Ruth, and with that, had earned Ben’s undying respect. I know I promised Tiger I would stay away, but how am I supposed to bury my feelings for Ruth . . . just like I’d done for Lori all these years on Earth?

  Lori’s right hand slid behind Ben’s neck and gently pulled him closer. “Don’t be nervous. It’s just us.”

  Just us? Ben had wanted to kiss Lori ever since 7th grade, when she smiled at him in the school cafeteria and his legs felt weak. He’d never had the courage to tell her how he really felt, and when he did, she’d already found someone else and it was too late. Discouraged, he learned how to bury his feelings.

  Just us? The faces of Brandon, Jack, Ruth, Tiger, and Trudy floated inside his cluttered mind. There were far too many of ‘us’ to think about. What about the Ben who rode this timeline before I stepped in? What would he say about me? I feel more like a sneak thief, an imposter, ready to reap what I didn’t sow.

  She kissed Ben and it felt wonderful. A cascade of alternate memories from Earth’s new timeline merged with his own: holding Lori’s hand at a seventh grade skating party, kissing her for the first time at fourteen, slow dancing at homecoming, embracing her on the porch swing, and consoling Lori in his arms after her father had passed.

  Her love, and his new memories, mixed with the old. Truthfully, he had always loved her and always would. His feelings for Lori seemed as strong as Tiger’s devotion to Ruth, and though he felt guilt-ridden for abandoning Ruth, he knew his greatest attributes were magnified within Tiger. Besides, Ruth was happy.

  He leaned into the kiss—a very long one.

  Afterward, Ben smiled and hugged Lori tightly. Today had proven truly amazing—his life, his family, and his world seemed to be on the right track, mostly, but tonight . . . may not be the special night Lori expected. He had learned his lesson with Ruth, and didn’t want to rush anything so important without some . . . protection.

  Ben disentangled himself from Lori’s hug, walked to the closet, and dug under the pile of dirty clothes for the stash box.

  “Forget something?” Lori asked.

  With his back to Lori, his fingers found the unopened condom pack within, and . . .

  A quick knock sounded outside Ben’s bedroom door. “Ben, there is a young lady downstairs,” his mother called. “She wants to speak with you. Says it’s urgent.”

  Ben dropped the stash box and lurched to his feet. Young lady? What if it’s Trudy after all? He took three steps, opened the door to the hallway, and found equal parts curiosity and unease in his mother’s eyes. “Who is it?” Ben asked softly.

  Mom’s eyes darted over his shoulder at Lori and back to him. “She’s about your age, but I couldn’t make sense of it. Says her name is ‘Flora’ and she’s searching for her father and someone named ‘Amo.’ I thought she had the wrong house, until she asked for you.”

  Ben’s face flushed. “Oh . . . Okay.” Flora? That’s the same name as—and she’s my age? His chest tightened and he forgot to breathe. Oh, Jesus. He gulped air and let it out in a rush. If she’s my age, then she travelled back in time to visit.

  Mom raised her eyebrow and studied him briefly. “Do you want to come downstairs and talk to her? She looks as if she’s been crying.”

  Crying? Ben straightened his back and composed himself. Flora had asked for me. Was she in trouble and where is Tiger? “No. Better have her come up. Maybe I can help.”

  His mother nodded and turned toward the stairwell.

  Ben closed the door slowly.

  “What’s going on?” Lori asked. “Who is Flora?”

  Ben swallowed. “Do you remember anything about Terra?”

  “Not sure what you mean. Is that a person or a place?” Her eyes narrowed. “Are you in some kinda trouble?”

  Ben’s forehead furrowed. In this timeline Lori knew nothing about teleportation, time travel, or . . . Ruth. “Not yet.” This definitely will not be the night Lori expected. “Just remember I love you, okay?”

  “I love you too.” Lori raised her chin. “If you want me to go, I will, but whatever it is, I’d rather stay and help if I can. I have your back now, and forever.”

  Ben took a deep breath. “Good.” He smiled. “I knew I could count on you.” He took Lori’s hand and squeezed. We can do this.

  The door opened slowly and Ben saw his daughter for the first time.

  Epilogue

  A warm summer wind blew as Patri
ck worked in Betty’s garden. The weeds had been persistent, but they were no match for him. He worked his way around the tomato plants and pruned the green sucker branches. Too many branches would lower the plant’s yield over time. Time. He stood and brushed the fertile dirt from his knees . . . and remembered lying on a table in a room with white walls. Had Ben been there?

  Patrick ran his tongue around dry lips. How long had he been here under this morning sky? Lazy cloudlets puffed by overhead. He’d forgotten something, maybe something important, but it didn’t matter now that he’d found—

  “C’mon inside and take a break.” Miss Betty called from the porch. I’ve made pork chops, green beans, rutabagas, and gravy. Ice cold lemonade too.”

  A slow smile spread across his unlined face. Yes, of course. He’d finally found her and she was as beautiful as ever. His fingers brushed back his thick dark hair. “I’ll be right in, Darlin’.”

  His wife watched from the shadow of the porch. “Bring your metal friend with you.”

  Metal friend? Patrick looked around but saw no one. He caught a whiff of machine oil. “Amo?”

  Vsshhhh-click. The green robot materialized several yards away. “Yes, Commander?”

  Patrick motioned toward the house. “Please, come inside and enjoy the feast. I think we can find something for you as well.”

  The End.

  About the Author

  Jeff Grode grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania, and currently resides on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and knows his way around a kayak. A lifelong fan of science fiction, fantasy, and spy novels, he has also found a love for creative writing.

  Look for, UPSTART, a Brothers of the Multiverse Novel, Book 3 in 2019.