The Impossible Future: Complete set by Frank Kennedy (mini ebook reader .txt) 📕

me about this a few years ago. It’s how the observers escaped without ever being claimed dead or searched for.”

Michael nodded. “Like witness protection?”

“More or less. They protected their estates from theft. But it only works that way if you’re still alive.”

“If you’re dead,” Patricia said, “they’ll create whatever narrative is practical. You might die a traitor to your family, or maybe you die a hero at a posting where you haven’t even served for five years. I’ve seen it before. Welcome to the Collectorate, Mr. Cooper.” Patricia tapped her stream amp, examined the route to the shuttle’s coordinates, and sighed. “Let’s keep moving, people.”

And they did, even as the ground trembled in a series of aftershocks. Even when the sky to the northeast turned yellow and flames rose from the distant hillside.

“Won’t someone see?” Sammie pointed to the fiery glow.

“No,” Ophelia said. “The closest outpost is forty kilometers east. This region has been a seismic hot zone for centuries. Smart Chancellors stay away. No one has lived out here since pre-history.”

“Is it because of the fold?”

She nodded. “We didn’t appreciate the reason until we discovered the IDFs about thirty years ago.” She gestured to Brey. “He’s the real expert. It’s why we brought him onto the team. He didn’t care about the observers or the Jewel. Did you, Brey?”

The tall, thin man grimaced as he continued to hug his mangled left hand against his chest.

“Considering they cost me everything I worked for, I care enough now.” He sneered. “We were making progress out there.”

They walked at a steady pace as Sammie pursued the topic. She knew the fold might yet play a role – certainly for Michael.

“How does the fold cause earthquakes?” She asked.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he mumbled. “The science is too complicated – we don’t have all the answers yet.”

“Maybe I’ll surprise you, Brey.”

He scowled at Ophelia, who insisted he explain.

“Fine. I’ll give you the Tier 1 Educate version. Essentially, we’re talking about inertial drag. Each of these tears interferes with the nominal state of Earth’s stationary distribution of mass-energy. It’s like we’re being nudged by a parallel Earth’s gravity. But limited only to the immediate regions around the tears.”

Sammie nodded. “Oh, OK. So, a little like gravitomagnetism?”

Brey blinked. “That’s a good place to start. Yes. How do you …?”

“I like physics.” She turned to Michael. “Daddy got me started on physics, quantum mechanics, and cosmology before I was ten.”

“Who knew?” Michael said. “Wonder Woman is a science nerd.”

“Good,” Brey said. “You won’t be useless.”

“So, the inertial drag creates seismic problems on this side, but why not on the other Earth? I lived in Alabama all my life, and we never had earthquakes. Not even small tremors.”

“There are twenty-two known folds on Collectorate worlds, and each of them produces seismic disruptions – but only on this side, according to our research. We’ve discovered fifteen tears in open space, each revealed to us by space-time disruptions in their vicinity. There are theories, but I doubt we’ll prove them.”

“What do you think?”

“I suspect the multiverse is segmented, and our universe is the hub. Same thing has been happening at the other tear – in the Ukrainian Expanse. Same seismic history, but we know their Earth is not the same as yours. The timeline is significantly different.”

Sammie hesitated, wondering whether she was jumping the gun to bring this up.

“So, if someone wanted to go back home – like, say, to Alabama – the IDF we just left behind is the only option?”

“Yes.”

Michael stepped in. “Hinting at something, Sammie?”

“No, Coop. I just want to make sure we cover our bases.” She turned to Brey. “My father said the fold rift shifted over time. How long before it will be accessible again?”

“The inertial drag keeps it in flux, but the pattern is predictable. Assuming you don’t want to dig another tunnel, that tear will be surface-accessible again in eight months.”

Michael grabbed Brey by the shoulder. “So, what you’re saying is, that door is good and damn locked. Even if I pissed my pants and wanted out of this shit show, I couldn’t go back?”

“Not for eight months.”

Much to Sammie’s dismay, Michael jacked up a pair of thumbs. “Best news I heard since we crossed that damn thing. Now, what say we stop talking about it and focus on how in the hell we’re gonna find J?”

When no one seemed onboard with his proposition, Michael broke the awkward silence. “Seriously. I owe him my life. We promised to have each other’s backs, and I ain’t doing that out here running around in the woods like a damned fool. I seen nothing but people dying all around me for the past day, and all them dudes on the hill? They’re dust in the wind. Now some seriously mean mothers got hold of J, and you people are going on about inertial whatever and gravito whatnot. I want to know how we’ll find Jamie before they kill him.”

Ophelia turned to Patricia. “How far to the ship, Chief?”

“Three and a half kilometers. Terrain is challenging – a few trenches to navigate. Forty minutes at current pace.”

“And how long will you need to repair the nacelle?”

“Won’t know until after a scan. Twenty minutes? Six hours?”

“Understood.” She softened her tone. “Mr. Cooper. Michael. I realize we did not start on a proper footing. I hope to rectify that in time. You have shown yourself to be a child of passion and …”

“Again?” Michael snarled. “Child?”

“Correction. Young man. You need to understand: While our Earths may be parallel in many respects, there are far more distinctions. I did not consider that in our first contact. I need you to hear me now; what I say comes out of a desire to protect all three of you. We are