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

whole story. Valentin, they spoke to me. They showed me everything. Their origin. Their destruction. I know what they’re planning to do here. Please, Valentin. This is the end.”

“End of what?”

Even as the next words arrived, Sam struggled to believe them. Yet as she spoke, the grief of the fallen J’Hai filled her heart.

54

M ICHAEL REFUSED TO SLOW DOWN for anyone. He walked as fast as the ever-changing terrain allowed. The DR29 provided extraordinary night vision, a tool his companions lacked. Five hours, twenty-eight minutes nonstop. He heard their complaints – especially from Aldo, who had not pushed himself like this in decades. Michael didn’t expect the old man to make it the distance; even if he did, Aldo would be physically defeated and perhaps a liability. He was relieved when the former fleet commander stumbled to the ground and cursed, holding his left quadricep.

“Cudfrucker,” he said three times. “I should have known better.”

Maya raced to his side. “How bad is it, Aldo?”

“It just seized up. Damn extract. Makes you feel unbeatable when you’re wrong, but it’s no cure at my age.”

“Brontinium extract? You’ve been taking supplements?”

“Small. Occasional. Watered down.”

“You still had some after all this time? How?”

Aldo laughed through his pain. “I’m a greedy bastard, that’s how. Certain descendancies have had unofficial access to reserves. Fortunately, Aldo has a few friends out there.”

Michael didn’t care about Chancellors hoarding brontinium. It was simply another item on his endless list: Why Chancellors are Assholes. This was taking too much time.

“Bottom line, Aldo,” Michael said. “Can you keep up?”

“I could with a break.”

“How long?”

“An hour should do the trick.”

“Not a chance. Time’s running out, and we’re not far away. I estimate we got two hours before dawn.”

“Wait, what?” Maya said. “You haven’t said a word in the past hour. How do you know we’re close?”

“DR29 sweep. I’ve picked up their settlement. It’s eight and a quarter K. I think we might catch a break and find transport sooner.”

She pointed to Aldo, who was massaging his leg.

“Transport? Michael, that’s what he needs. When were you planning to tell us?”

He shrugged and let loose the truth.

“I wasn’t unless you asked. Sorry, but I’m doing my best to keep my brain from exploding. I’m still trying to sort it all, and I do it best when I’m walking. We need to go.”

“We’re a team, Michael. Will one extra hour make a difference?”

“Enough to get Sam incinerated. This shit is bigger than anybody realizes. We can’t measure the future in days anymore. It’s down to hours, maybe minutes.”

She softened her tone, falling into Maya the Counselor mode.

“Then now is the perfect chance to make us understand what is at stake, Michael. Five hours ago, you said this was ‘the end’ and never explained yourself. Bring us into the light. Please.”

“Fine. I’ll try. But only if we walk. Look, Aldo. I’ll carry you.”

Aldo raised a hand and commanded both of them to shut up.

“No. Michael, this is your mission. You’re best equipped to handle it. I’ll get in the way. If you know where the settlement is, drop the coordinates on my admin stack. I’ll catch up when I can.”

“Don’t need to,” Michael said. “Follow the river. You’ll come to a sharp drop in elevation. You’ll figure out the rest from there.”

Aldo nodded. “Simple enough. Maya, look after this fine young soldier. Make sure he doesn’t leap too far too fast.”

“Here,” she said, providing Aldo with supplies and the glow pod. “You’re certain this is what you want?”

“I am.” He examined the sky full of stars and sighed with a measure of satisfaction. “I actually made it back here. I’ll be damned. Take care of yourselves. We’ll share notes in a day or three. Yes?”

Michael shook his hand. “Thank you, Aldo. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.” He offered Cm. Cabrise a side-nod, which was reciprocated. “We gotta go, Maya. Keep up.”

Michael reset the DR29 and his emotions then pushed forward, at first oblivious to whether Maya followed. The convex gradient latched onto activity two kilometers north of the settlement. A handful of people clustered around an unfamiliar device. Machines hovered nearby. Rifters. We have to get there.

If they ran, they’d make up for lost time. But what of Maya? She was a warrior when she had to be, but an athlete? A body built to run for miles? He didn’t want to chance another delay. A couple hundred meters beyond Aldo, Michael heard footsteps close behind.

“It’s just as well,” he told Maya, maintaining a steady pace. “He would have gotten himself killed where we’re going. If I hadn’t seen you in action, I’d be wondering how to keep you safe, too.”

Maya caught up and walked abreast.

“I don’t disagree, Michael, but you need to tell me what we’re walking into. What did you learn earlier? You said that tower showed you the truth about everything. If you don’t start talking now, I’m turning around, and you’ll be on your own.”

“Yeah, look. I’m sorry. It’s just … I’ve been trying to make sense of it all, and I’m about to lose my shit inside this helmet. OK, look. When the Jewel was with you, it talked about its purpose. You said it told you about the algorithm of life and predicted all paths would intersect here. Right?”

“It did.”

“OK. And it said they were created a million years ago and have been traveling the universe ever since. Right?”

“Yes.”

“Anything else? Like, say, why they left their home world?”

“No.”

“That’s what I thought. And if I’m right, they ain’t been too keen on sharing that information with many folks. Maybe not even James. Especially him.”

“What do you mean, Michael?”

He put his thoughts in order and prepared to