Duncan picked up his comp-com and dialed. “Liam, what’s
going on with the timeline?”
“You’re not going to believe this,” Liam replied with a note of disbelief in his voice. “When Ryan died, the timeline skewed right off the charts. The computers all crashed with fatal errors. It took me almost an hour to get them all back up and running. I think we’re headed towards a major paradox,” he said with a shudder.
“Ok. Is travellator four ready?”
“Ready whenever you are.”
“Good. Has Adrienne returned?”
“A few minutes ago.”
“Ok. Thanks.” He hung up and hit the overhead page button. “Adrienne, please come to my office.” He turned to Connor. “I have a job for the two of you.” As Adrienne came in and sat down, Duncan continued, “I want the two of you to dig into the backgrounds of the members of the Tribunal. See if there is any connection between them and any of Ryan’s cases.
“Somebody is out to get Ryan. I’m leaving in a few minutes to stop the attack on him in prison. The more I study this situation the more I’m convinced that we have a temporal causality loop on our hands. Somehow, Ryan and this Ethan Evans are connected.” As an afterthought he added, “See what information is available as to when and who created the universal STD vaccines and HIV cure.”
All of this is
connected somehow. I can feel it. I just need to figure out how and to fix the
timeline before a catastrophic paradox happens. “Let’s get this done.”
He walked into the control room, dressed as a corrections officer, complete with credentials and stepped into the travellator, nodding to Liam. A half hour later he returned, looking much worse for wear. “I wasn’t able to completely stop the attack on Ryan, which was actually instigated by the guards, but I was able to get it under control.
“Ryan sustained some injuries, but at least he’ll be okay,” he said to a much relieved Liam and Connor. I want to see everyone in the conference room in a half hour,” he ordered as he left to take a shower and tend to his bruises.
Looking around the conference room at the assembled faces, Duncan began, “Okay, who’s going to break the bad news?”
Adrienne spoke up. “So far, we haven’t found any connection between any of Ryan’s cases and members of the Tribunal. We’re digging into the backgrounds of their immediate family members. If that doesn’t turn up anything we’ll dig deeper and deeper until we find something.”
“All of this is connected somehow. I know it,” Duncan spoke his thoughts out loud for the first time. Everyone around the room nodded in agreement.
“I have a surprise for you, Duncan,” Adrienne said with a smile on her face.
“I’m all ears.”
“The universal STD vaccine was created in 2133 at the same Life Sciences Center where Ethan Evans was treated, by a Doctor Jonathan Thomas, the same doctor that treated Evans. The HIV and AIDS cures were created a year later. There’s your proof of the temporal causality loop.” Everyone cheered.
“So, Ryan going back in time and administering the drugs was a necessary temporal event. Awesome news. However, I’m going to need irrefutable proof to take to the Tribunal.”
“We already have it,” Connor spoke up, sliding an info-disc across the table to Duncan who picked it up and scanned it quickly. “Excellent work, you two. Now, if we could just find some kind of connection to the Tribunal, I’ll be a happy man. There’s just no reason for them to refuse my appeal.”
“We’ll find something boss. Just give us a little more time.”
₪₪₪₪₪
Late that night Liam, Connor, Adrienne and several others were gathered around the conference room table, info-discs scattered everywhere. “We’re close to something. I can feel it. It’s right here in front of us, only we’re just not seeing it.” Connor exclaimed.
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