Birth of the Alliance Page 17

  Will glanced at the notes and nodded. “That should work.” He handed the papers to Hope, who reviewed the writing and diagrams in more depth as Will continued speaking. “They’re getting more desperate to retain control of their own, but at the same time they’ve been far too successful at manipulating human events. You inferred earlier that the Great War was instigated through the Aliomenti. They were the ones who drove the assassination of the archduke, weren’t they?”

  “Of course,” Adam replied. “They’re deeply entrenched in the companies that make materials of war. They’re also in control of the human public banks that loan money needed to buy everything. War is profitable on every level the Aliomenti desire; I dare say they’ll ensure that wars get bloodier, more expensive, and more frequent… just as you indicated they will.”

  Will sighed. “Eventually they'll sell things they claim will prevent war.” He shook his head. “But people will just invent new ways to fight.” He looked up at Hope and Adam, took a sip of the sweet lemonade sitting on the table in front of him. “The more we can do to interrupt their plans, the better. Help release their people from their mental reprogramming, remove the tracking chips, help humanity take two steps forward for each step the Aliomenti push them back. If we do that—help humanity and reduce the Aliomenti numbers in a non-violent manner—the less evil they’ll be able to inflict on the world. So, we hide those the Aliomenti seek.”

  “Agreed,” Adam said. “One of the people they seek is you. The work we’re doing to ensure you survive that encounter in the future when you’re not able to defend yourself? That’s part of that effort. It doesn’t lessen my motivation to know that saving you in the future means I’ll continue to exist today.” Will had explained that time worked in a loop, that any event that didn’t happen as it had before would have ripple effects they couldn’t anticipate. They needed to be certain that no detail drawn from Will's memory of their future changed… or in the next cycle of that time loop they might all cease to exist.

  It was sufficient motivation for each to make their own sacrifices, in whatever form those sacrifices might take.

  “We should have most memories of the future well-documented at this point,” Hope said. “We’re going to need to start figuring out what everyone needs to do. I need to make sure Will leaves the house that morning before the Hunters arrive, for example. We’ll also need to identify those who’ll hide near the house, ready to step in if needed, a year or more ahead of time.” Will glanced at her, confused. “If they need to move to the city to give the appearance of being a long-time resident, then we’ll need to make sure they arrive at the appropriate time.”

  Will nodded his head in understanding.

  “I’ll need to be the one to focus on that planning,” Adam said. “I’ll need to be the one dispassionately carrying out the behind-the-scenes activities, because both of you will be heavily occupied playing your roles during the first session of events. Hope, you’ll need to maintain an air of humanness throughout the entire process; we can’t have you arranging events when you'll need to be living them. And Will…” He broke off. Will had made it clear that the diary reported that there was no record of Will Stark starting a year or so before his recorded date of birth.

  Will nodded; oddly dispassionate about the inference to his future disappearance… and possible death. “Most of the communication made it clear that the younger me never reappears after the events in 2030, and that the old me—this me—isn't around after the time just before my birth in 1995. I’ll do what I can as long as I'm around and able to do so.” He took a deep breath. “You’re right, Adam. It’s best to assume I’m not going to be able to provide any assistance in this form in the last thirty or forty years before the attack on my family and home.”

  Hope turned away. She never liked hearing that, hearing that the man she’d spent knowing and loving the past nine centuries would be gone before this century ended. Her only consolation was that after that disappearance, she’d spend time meeting and falling in love with Young Will in the future, before he knew of Energy, nanos, time travel, and the Aliomenti, and she’d be able to help him like never before. “Let’s not forget that I will be around and I will be able to handle some tasks, and that I insist on doing as much as I can. My freedom of movement will be more limited than Adam’s, but I’ll be here.”

  Adam took a deep breath and nodded, and it was clear the man felt like Atlas carrying the world on his shoulders. “I must get all of this right. I cannot make any mistakes.” He glanced at Hope, and then at Will. “The two of you have something else to occupy your attention. I’ll take care of this, and make sure that everything possible remains in our control when those events begin to unfold. There will be aspects of this that only Hope can do, but other than that I’ll do all of it. You have my word. I won’t fail you.” He glanced back at Hope. “I won’t fail either of you, or those future children of yours.” The emotion of his task took hold of him, and his face glistened. He hid it by burying his face in the pile of notes, rifling aimlessly through the papers, pretending to order all of the pages anew.

  Will and Hope gave him the space he’d asked for wordlessly and left the room. The lack of attention outside their meeting room made the weight of their respective tasks seem all the greater, and the breeze seemed cooler and fresher by comparison. The air “outside” didn’t seem stale, weighted down by the pressure of planning events with so many parts, so many unknowns, involving places that didn’t yet exist.

  They walked over a bridge and headed for the laboratories. Adam’s plan rested on one key assumption, one key factor without which everything else would be for naught.

  If their efforts in the lab continued to fail, there would be no future children to protect.

  And all of them would cease to exist.

  XIV

  Harbor

  1941 A.D.

  Sunlight crept over the horizon and revealed a nearly clear sky, with only handfuls of clouds interrupting otherwise clear blue skies. Birds sang, and the gentle sounds of water lapping against the massive ships filling the harbor created an almost surreal sense of tranquility for Will. It was a perfectly beautiful morning near Honolulu, Hawaii. The only thing interfering with the image of an island paradise was the fleet of battleships moored here, the grease and oil of the engines overpowering the salty scent of the ocean.

  Will checked his watch. It was 7:30 in the morning. It was Sunday. It was December 7th. In less than twenty minutes, the illusory peace and tranquility would be shattered as a massive air assault erupted.

  He was prepared for this event, as much as one could be. It was one of the more momentous events in the history of his native land, an attack that would propel the nation into a global conflict. Will would serve as both eyewitness and recorder of the events of the day. His cameras were positioned to detect the fighter planes appearing on the horizon, set to film a wide view of the harbor. He would get footage of the devastation about to unfold, from every angle. Microphones would capture the sounds of bombs whistling down, the massive roars as battleships were hit and destroyed, screams as soldiers, sailors, and pilots lost their lives in the mayhem. Their most recent invention, a device able to record and play back scents and sensations, would provide full sensory immersion for those studying the event in the distant future. It would be the same as being there, without the risk of actual death.

  Will glanced out at Battleship Row, where many of the ships were docked, and was filled with remorse. Not for the first time, Will wished he wasn't honor bound to protect the history he knew. His power now was such that he could alter this event in any number of ways. He could obliterate the Japanese fleet in the air. He could destroy the bombs as they fell, incinerating them with fierce Energy blasts before they could wreak havoc on the fleet below. He could fly toward the squadron of fighters travelling south toward the Harbor even now, and convince every pilot that they’d received orders to abort the mission and return to the half dozen aircraf
t carriers of origin—and could convince Admiral Yamamoto and Emperor Hirohito that they’d issued and approved the order.

  He’d long since convinced himself of the need to avoid interference, even as he cursed himself now for condemning thousands this day to their deaths. How many thousands or millions of lives had been lost over the centuries, lives his knowledge of future history and power would have enabled him to preserve? There were no easy answers.

  Galling as the loss of life had been, it was exacerbated by the knowledge that the Aliomenti were enhancing their power and wealth in the arena of war. Arthur was now known as The Leader to all Aliomenti, the title capitalized to ensure it was spoken with special reverence, a reminder that there was to be no questioning of the man’s absolute authority. That authority had seen Arthur encourage governments of the world into ever more costly and deadly warfare. The Aliomenti had perfected their scheme: incite conflicts, encourage governments to escalate rhetoric and talk themselves into declarations of war, loan them the money necessary to buy the machinery of death, manufactured by companies the Aliomenti, at some hidden level, owned and controlled. The only member of the Aliomenti complaining about the operation was The Assassin, who believed leaving any human alive was a failure. War between humans left too great an opportunity for survival. William would be satisfied only when the last human was sacrificed to his blade. Will knew Arthur would never let that happen; humans provided raw materials, entertainment, cheap labor, and the money Aliomenti could spend to acquire everything. Killing them all, taking all of their money, would deprive the Aliomenti of their source of leisure.

  Will was disgusted by them. He hoped he survived to the year 2219, to the day after he’d be sent back in time. There would be no need to allow history to unfold. There would be complete freedom to act. And the annihilation of the Aliomenti Elites and their minions could commence in earnest.

  Until then, he needed to survive. He needed Hope to survive. And he needed to help her in whatever manner possible in her mission to ensure that he would be born in a mere half century. That mission brought Hope here this day. His great-grandfather was stationed at Pearl Harbor, and Hope would ensure that he survived the attack, returned home, and two years hence, welcomed into the world a son who would become Will's grandfather. The Stark line would continue through Hope’s efforts.

  “Something big about to happen around these parts?”

  Will turned. Adam stood behind him, watching as Will gazed to the north, waiting for the first sign of the planes he knew to be approaching. Adam had seen the earlier videos Will had produced, and knew what Will’s presence could mean. “I’d stay as far from the Harbor as possible if I were you.”

  “Advice noted. Is Hope here as well?”

  Will nodded toward the fleet of battleships moored in the harbor. “She’s keeping an eye on things, and with any luck she'll be far away from the Harbor before… things get interesting.”

  Adam started toward Battleship Row. “I’m going to go take a look and make sure she’s okay.”

  Will glanced up at the sky to the north. “If you’re going to do that, Adam, I’d recommend moving quickly. The excitement should begin shortly.”

  Adam grinned over his shoulder. “In case you’ve forgotten… I’m able to move at rather high rates of speed. Supernatural speeds, in fact.”

  Will chuckled. “Stay safe, Adam.”

  With Adam’s departure, Will began following his own advice, gradually moving away from the dry dock where the U.S.S. Pennsylvania was undergoing repairs. His diary had thoughtfully given him a few details about the attack, and he knew that the farther he stayed from the water and the airfields, the greater his level of safety. With Hope tracking his great-grandfather, though, he wouldn’t move too far away. She could protect herself from anything he could, but even the idea that he was abandoning her kept him rooted to the spot. Once his great-grandfather was safe, once she was safe, they’d move to his submarine hidden several miles off the coast, well away from the known paths the Japanese I-boats would take en route to their parts in the attack.

  The telepathic message came through five minutes later. He's about to board the U.S.S. Pennsylvania with several others. I’m following him aboard.

  Will shuddered in horror. Though undergoing repairs, the U.S.S. Pennsylvania was one the battleships due to be struck by a falling bomb. Though the damage and casualty tolls would be minor in comparison to other ships, it was far from being a shelter from the coming carnage. It did explain why Hope’s version of the diary had urged her here; his great-grandfather might well have been the sixteenth fatality of the Pennsylvania’s crew. I think he needs to think he's extremely sick and needs to return to his normal barracks.

  Love the idea, but it’s not possible right now.

  That was definitely not good. The ship is going to be hit by a bomb and flying debris in the course of the next thirty to sixty minutes. Take whatever precautions are necessary to protect both of you.

  Well, I’m not visible or touchable right now, but I can't really help him at the moment. Any ideas?

  She could remain invisible, phased into immateriality, but teleporting the man to safety would cause too much suspicion. Moving him wasn’t a possibility, so they’d need to protect him where he stood. I can use my advanced nanos to protect him. If you can send me a visual, I’ll send a large batch to shield him from injuries, and can send the internal healing nanos into him as well. That should protect him from bombs and flying debris, but if he hits the water…

  I’ll make sure he stays afloat and breathing long enough to be rescued by humans. This is making me nervous, Will. I don’t think we’ve ever been in this much immediate danger of losing any of them. The weapons are such a horrible challenge to my mission.

  The image of his great-grandfather appeared in his mind, at a mere twenty-two years of age. Will had only seen a few photographs of the man, where the man held Will’s newborn father. His great-grandfather had died not long after the picture had been taken; dying before he’d reached fifty years of age. He wondered what the man would think about the fact that his great-grandson was nearing a Methuselah-like age. Or, that said child was watching him this very day.

  With the man’s face in his mind, Will directed the entirety of his healing nanos into the man’s body, and then directed half of his allotment of general nanos to form an invisible exoskeleton around the man. That second skin had protected Will and others from sword thrusts and beatings, and Will hoped it would suffice to deflect shrapnel. OK, he should be protected now. Stay safe, Hope.

  In the distance, he could just make out the sound of aircraft engines. He felt a chill. The attack was about to commence in earnest.

  Will! Adam’s voice rang in his telepathic ears. The Hunters are here. They’re flocking toward the U.S.S. Pennsylvania. Who’s in there using Energy?

  It was the worst possible time for his enemies to make an appearance; their presence would limit Hope’s options for protecting herself and his great-grandfather. It’s Hope. She’s on the ship, protecting a very important human, and she’s going to need to keep using Energy to make sure he survives. Do you hear the planes?

  A pause. I do. The concern in Adam’s voice was evident.

  Those planes are going to drop bombs all over the Harbor, sinking or damaging a huge number of ships. The U.S.S. Pennsylvania will take a direct hit. Can you somehow distract the Hunters so that Hope can get the human out of harm’s way?

  Not sure, Will. I’m in one of the barracks right now, and it’s emptying out quickly. I think the soldiers here have heard the engines as well because they’re running out of here quickly. Maybe I can draw the Hunters’ attention here.

  It wasn’t ideal, but they didn’t have many options. OK, try that. I’ll start heading that way to help distract them, but I’ll need to travel there on foot.

  Understood, Adam replied.

  Will set off at a jog, his focus and calm a dramatic contrast to the unfolding chaos arou
nd him. The soldiers and sailors outside were watching the sky now, well aware of the noise, and more than a few were beginning to realize that the approaching planes weren’t friendly. The ground began to rumble, and sirens sounded. Will’s sensitive nose detected a rise in the fear levels around him, evidenced by the rapidly increasing levels of perspiration. Men began running in all directions, spilling out of barracks and buildings, many still pulling on clothes after the sirens sounded the alarm.

  The first bombs started to drop from the sky just as Will reached the barracks. He entered, on high alert for any Energy presence, wary of the possibility that the Hunters might appear at any moment. He sensed nothing inside, and a quick visual scan revealed no sign of his friendly target. Adam! Where are you?

  They weren’t coming after me, Will. They know who I am; my presence here wouldn’t be that surprising to them. They’re not going to pay attention to a supposedly loyal Aliomenti when a strong, unknown talent is out there. I’m headed toward the Pennsylvania now to try to intercept them before they find Hope.

  Will’s insides chilled once more. They’d made it a point to prevent the Hunters from seeing and registering Hope’s presence until now, and he had no interest in having that streak interrupted. Not now, not when bombs were exploding around them, when Will’s own ancestor was in danger.

  If they won’t be baited by your Energy, then we’ll have to use mine. Will dropped his Energy Shield, letting bits of Energy escape his body and seep into the surroundings. The leakage wouldn’t hurt him or drain him to an unhealthy degree, but it should be sufficient to attract the attention of Porthos, and lure the Hunters to him and away from Hope.