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

Sammie’s Chancellor heritage, her duel acts of betrayal, and how she trained as a soldier.

Michael’s jaw slipped.

“So what are you saying? She’s … Wonder Woman?” He pointed in the direction of the boat, which was hidden around the bend. “We’re talking about little Susie Q with a pink ribbon?”

Jamie offered an ironic smile. “Yeah, that’s right. Susie Q. She says she loves me. Hell, said it twice last night. That don’t mean I can trust her.”

“J. That is hardcore.”

They reached the lakefront. The sandy shore was deeper. Miles across the lake, the eastern sky formed into shades of pink and orange. Jamie found himself mesmerized by the colors, even though he’d seen them countless times.

“Beautiful, ain’t it?” He said.

“Yep. But it can’t compare to just being alive.” Michael took a deep breath. “I feel better than I ever have. It’s like somebody injected me with a couple thousand vitamins, and the Coopster is ready to play.”

Michael rambled on about his second chance. However, any notion of taking pleasure in his best friend’s revival dissipated when Jamie heard a new but familiar voice.

“Life and death, my dear sweet boy. Ironic partners, aren’t they?”

Jamie stared down Lydia, who came equipped with a pouting lip and the soft, compassionate eyes of a doting mother.

“Go away,” he sniped. “Leave me alone.”

Michael flipped about. “What’s up? Who you talking to?”

Jamie ignored Michael. “I want you out of my life. Hear, Lydia?”

Lydia sighed. “I understand your anger. You only have three and a half hours to live.”

“I don’t need this now,” he fired back. “You said your peace already, did everything you were supposed to. Now vanish.”

“Dude,” Michael reached out a comforting hand, but Jamie didn’t notice. “You’re worrying me. This is pretty f’ed up.”

Lydia was unfazed. “I must say, Jamie, your friend has recovered well. The transference of Caryllan energy into Mr. Cooper was unexpected. A fascinating development. The potential for a transfer was not considered, at least not in my programming. Do you have any theories as to how you made it happen?”

Jamie spit at her feet. “Theories? You’re asking me? You’re supposed to be the expert. Let me ask you something, Lydia. You got any idea how this little gift of mine can save me?”

Lydia twirled her pearls. “Oh, this doesn’t change your fate, sweet boy. But it is an intriguing anomaly. I’m studying the algorithms now.”

Jamie kicked sand toward her but did not hit Lydia before she vanished. Michael kept his distance until Jamie settled down and rested himself on a log. Jamie dropped his head into his hands and explained about the Mentor. Michael took a seat next to him.

“There’s nothing else good to come out of this, Coop.”

“This ain’t the end. We’ve been through a lot, but we’re gonna make it out.” Michael slapped him on the leg. “I reckon it’s time for a swim.”

Jamie looked up confused. “What?”

“Yeah, dude. I got blood all over me. I feel nasty. Ain’t right to be going around looking like the walking dead. You know?” Michael threw off his shirt and unzipped his blue jeans. “C’mon. Water’s warm. Let’s go. We’ll clear our minds and decide what to do next.”

Michael didn’t wait for an answer. He dropped his pants and made a dash for the lake. Jamie might have stayed put had Sammie not appeared a moment later. She kept her distance and stared, as if waiting for Jamie to invite her over. He picked himself up, keeping the pistol to his side. He stopped arms-length shy of her and returned the stare.

“I’m a Chancellor,” she said. “Everything I did was because I had no choice. I don’t suppose you’ll believe that, and it’s OK. It is. I just want you to understand that no matter what my mission was, or whatever I did to you, the words I said before were true. I’ve been in love with you longer than I can remember. I’ve dreamed about you every night since …”

Jamie raised a hand. “I can’t deal with this now.”

Michael splashed far from shore, flailing his arms and shouting for Jamie to come in.

“Go,” she said. “You deserve a break. Give me your shirt and pants. I’ll wash them best I can. Coop’s, too. Maybe I can get some of the blood out.” She asked for the pistol, but Jamie hesitated to hand over the only thing that gave him the slightest sense of power.

“I’ll be right here,” she said. “I’m with you to the end, Jamie. I don’t have anybody else.”

He saw her grief as he placed the pistol in her right hand. Jamie slipped out of his sneakers then removed his jeans and t-shirt. He yanked the ponytail holder from his hair and allowed a sloppy blond mess to fall over his shoulders.

He faced Lake Vernon, but the changing colors on the far side caught his breath. The reds and pinks were turning orange. The sun would arrive at any moment.

“I won’t ever see one of these again. Will I?”

He dropped his boxers and waded into the lake, surprised by how much it felt like bathwater. When the water rose to his waist, Jamie dived forward. He remained submerged as he swam, and he knew right away that Sammie was correct. He did deserve this. He sensed something here that was lost above the surface.

Jamie felt peace.

He ignored Michael’s splashing far away and allowed his body to unburden itself and float. He almost cleared his mind of the most painful thoughts when he heard Lydia whisper from deep within.

“I have a gift for you, my sweet boy. I have been waiting for the perfect moment.”

“Go away,” he whispered without opening his mouth.

“Long ago, before you crossed the interdimensional fold, your parents prepared a series of messages for you. They hoped