Displaced - Day 11

Sorry for the April Fool’s entry, but… I had to. I just had to!

“My agenda is simple enough,” she said, looking up from her phone. “We’ve been watching you for some time. It’s clear you don’t know nearly as much as we’d hoped, and that’s a shame. We could use you. I’m here to convince you.”

Charlie regarded her speculatively. “You know a whole lot about me. How? And why? What do you need us for?”

“True, I know a lot. But not everything. How well did you know your parents?” Charlie’s eyebrow raised in surprise.

“Not all that well. Certainly not as well as I’d have liked. I was about 7 when they died.”

“I see. And how much did you know about what they did for a living?”

He frowned. “Where is this going? What does it matter what mom and dad did? They were scientists. Not the same branches of study though. Mom was a physicist, dad was … a biologist? Geneticist?”

She was nodding slowly as he spoke. “Yes, that’s right. Your mother was quite an accomplished physicist in fact, and your father was a geneticist of some renown.” She paused, tapping the edge of her phone against the wall a moment before continuing. “I’d hoped that you’d acquired the time travel technology to go back and help where you’re needed. What a disappointment that you know so little. I presume your sister knows no more than you?”

Silvia had been 4 at the time their parents died. “No, even less. She doesn’t really remember them. She’s only known the educational stewardship we were put in afterward. I’ve found bits and pieces of info about them from time to time, but …”

“But it’s not enough to replace really knowing them.”

“No.” His voice was low; long years of grief were welling up inside. To distract himself, he asked, “You sound like you know more about them.”

She looked at him, sympathy in her eyes. She nodded at his question. “I do, yes. Reg and Karen Cline, deceased for almost 13 years. Two children, Charlie and Silvia. Reg was a geneticist, Karen a physicist, both working for branches of Biodyne Corporation, both entrusted with high-level clearance.

“The time travel technology you’re using was your mother’s creation, Skeeve. Or at least it was her work that paved the way for it to exist.” Sandra’s voice held a note of awe, of reverence. “Your mother’s work is done now. Sure, there are refinements to be made, but the technology is solid. But your father’s work …” She looked him in the eye. “Charlie, we need you to find out what your father was working on.”

Displaced - Day 11

“My agenda is simple enough,” she said, looking up from her phone. “We’ve been watching you for some time. It’s clear you don’t know nearly as much as we’d hoped, and that’s a shame. Dolesham could use you, and your sister as well. I’m here to convince you.”

Charlie blinked in confusion. “Dolesham? What are you talking about? What is Dolesham?”

“You and your sister barely knew your parents, so I shouldn’t be so surprised. I’d hoped that you’d acquired the time travel technology to go back and help where you’re needed. What a disappointment the truth was …” her mouth turned down in a frown. “Not your fault though, not in the slightest.”

His parents had died when he was young, about 10. Silvia had been 6. They’d both been placed under educational stewardship. He still had no idea where the money for that had come from; he’d thought he would learn something when he came of age and graduated, but nothing had surfaced so far. He’d become a skimmer in the hopes of learning something originally, but years of dead trails had caused him to all but give up.

“This is crazy. How can you know anything about our parents?”

“Reg and Karen Dolet, dead now for almost 13 years, two children, Charlie and Silvia. Reg was a geneticist, Karen a physicist, both working for branches of Biodyne Corporation.

“The time travel technology you’re using was your mother’s creation, Skeeve. Or at least it was her work that paved the way for it to exist. And with it, the two of us, and your sister, have to go back in time almost another hundred years to a place called Dolesham. Our ancestors,” she stressed the word ‘our,’ “need our help very badly, cousin.”

Charlie could do nothing but stare at her in disbelief. “Sandra, you are crazy if you expect me to believe a single word you just said.”

Displaced - Day 10

She’s giving me a chance to check on Silvia, he recognized. She wants me to know she’s okay, and to know that she knows too. He obliged, signing in with data packets flying through space and time to servers more remote than anyone had ever dreamed when the architecture of the ‘net was first invented, still several decades off.

Silvia was online; it was 4pm and she was out of school. He’d been careful when he came back to ensure he arrived at the same time of day as his link to the future; it kept time-keeping easier.

‘Hey sis,’ he tapped out.

‘Charlie, great timing. I’m starving, can we go get something to eat tonight?’

‘No can do, Sil, sorry. I’m kind of tied up.’

‘That’s the third time this month, I’ll start thinking you’re ditching me or something at this rate!’

‘I promise I’ll make it up to you soon.’ He hadn’t traveled back to the present in weeks, he realized guiltily. He’d been too busy planning the big score.

‘You’d better. Any luck finding a place?’

‘That’s what’s got me so busy. Got some leads, need to follow up, make sure we can afford it, all that crap.’ It was true enough. She didn’t know about the time travel. He glanced at Sandra. She doesn’t know about it yet, anyway, he thought.

‘Fine, fine,’ she sent back. He could almost hear her sigh.

‘How’s this?’ He switched away from the conversation for a moment and transferred a generous sum to her account; enough to eat well for a week instead of living on school rations. He switched back.

‘!! Charlie! Okay, you’re forgiven, and yeah yeah, I won’t ask. But I’m gonna forget what you look like soon if you don’t see me.’

‘Love you sis, I’ll see you soon.’

He shut it down. “Okay, so what’s your agenda?”

Displaced - Day 9

Charlie stared at the photo for a long moment, then narrowed his eyes as he returned his gaze to Sandra. “What’s this about? I don’t take kindly to threats.”

She stared right back at him levelly. “There’s no need for threats here, Skeeve. I just want you to know that we know who and where she is. There’s any number of ways we can use this information, but the one I’m most interested in right now is how we can use it to help her, if you’re willing to help us.”

If there was one thing the life of a skimmer had taught him, it was that preparation was key to success. He carefully schooled his face to neutrality, willing his heart rate to slow to normal levels, to not give in to the immediate fight-or-flight instinct the veiled threat had triggered.

Of course he also had to assume that, good as she must be to be standing here, she was prepared too.

“I’ll hear you out.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Shall we?” She gestured at the entrance to the building.

Did she know this was where I was going, or is this coincidence? Is coincidence even possible when time travel is involved? He couldn’t decide. She said we. It’s most likely that she’s not alone in this time, and so they’ve probably got people at the most likely places I’d choose. Probably got someone back at my old place, too.

They passed through the entrance and several halls of the building, staying toward the front end. Charlie’s distraction aided their passage immensely; he carried the occupied air of someone going about his business rather than someone sneaking into a place he didn’t belong. Nobody challenged them.

The room they finally selected was a bit larger than a walk-in closet, but not by a whole lot. It had the look of an office space to it, though it was empty, and had the singular flaw of a large support column dropping down through the limited space, awkwardly close to the door. It was unfurnished; apparently whoever was using the building hadn’t been forced to consign anyone to this room.

Sandra closed the door and turned to him, a half smile playing over her face. “Since we’re being so cooperative, why don’t you go ahead and establish your ‘net connection while I call off the others?” She turned away and pulled out her phone, fingers tapping out messages rapid-fire.

Displaced - Day 8

Finally he arrived at his destination. The building looked new; the iron gate’s protective black paint still shone in the sunlight without a crack or a dull patch to be seen. He pictured the photos he’d seen in his online research; the front of the building had been intact. It was the rear that had collapsed. He needed an interior room, preferably no windows. Didn’t have to be large. A closet would be just about perfect, if he could access one.

“Well, Skeeve, don’t you seem a little out of place. What’s a nice guy like you doin’ in a time like this?” The mellow female voice startled him even before the words hit home.

“What?” He whirled, almost hitting the pretty young woman standing behind him with the bag on his shoulder. She stood staring at him expectantly, her body radiating confidence and a hint of challenge.

“Relax, you don’t have to go to all the trouble of lying. I already know when you’re from.” The corner of her mouth quirked as she said it.

“I—”

“No, don’t deny it. I followed you here.”

He frowned, eyes narrowing. “That’s impossible.”

“Are there a lot of people in 1930 who call you Skeeve? Check out the phone.” His eyes widened as she reached under her coat, looking around for witnesses. “Hey, I’m not new, man. I know better.” She didn’t pull the device out completely, just enough to allow the glow of the display to show, casting a pale light on her hand. She slipped it back into her coat pocket.

“… Um …” His mind raced. How?

“Yeah. Figured that’d get your attention. And no, it’s no coincidence that I showed up right now.”

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“Call me Sandra. No, it’s not my name, but it’ll do. I want your talent.” Her eyes were hazel, somewhere between brown and green. They were also serious and touched with cold.

He drew back a little. He was off balance, he knew that, and he didn’t like it. “You came an awfully long way just to recruit me.”

“Cute. But true.”

“Why? And how, for that matter?”

“Why? Because you’re good enough to be here, that’s why. As for how, isn’t that obvious?”

“What’s obvious is that you’re also good enough not only to be here, but also to track me down through time. What do you need me for?”

“Well now that’s a pleasant surprise. You’re sharp enough to look deeper than the surface. I came here to show you I’m serious about this. I’m also,” she reached back into her pocket again, this time withdrawing a black and white printed photo, “serious about this.”

It was a photo from the future. A group of school girls crossed the street; the same street they stood on now. They were chattering away with one another, except for one. She crossed with the group, looked happy enough at a glance, but her face had a drawn look to it you’d have to know her to recognize. It was Silvia.