The Empire Read online

  “You could have anything you want,” Jones said.

  “You have nothing to offer that I want—certainly nothing that would make me betray my country.”

  “What if you could get Dreamland back?” said Jones.

  The general rocked back in his chair.

  Jones had his attention.

  Physics Lab

  Time Tunnel Complex

  Area 51, NV

  October 22, 2008

  10:00 hours

  Timeline 002

  Kyle walked along the wide, gently curving hallway on the blue-colored level 2. He reached a large steel door marked “Physics Lab.” He held his access card up to the card reader, and the door slid open.

  The lab was huge—over 100,000 square feet, with computer racks with flashing LED lights, conference tables with white boards, and large interactive displays. Lab stations with exotic-looking apparatus were scattered about. Cable trays were suspended from the ceiling, packed with power and telecommunication cables that dangled into the lab stations via ribbed black plastic conduit pipes. Arcane mathematical formulas filled white boards. Scientists in lab coats sat at computer terminals and gathered around science stations.

  Kyle heard banging on a glass window. He turned and saw Strangelove rapping on the glass wall of a conference room, gesturing him to enter. Parked around a conference table were Strangelove and Zhang, as well as two people Kyle had not met.

  “Good morning everyone,” Kyle said as he entered the room.

  “Good morning Colonel,” replied Strangelove. “Colonel Mason, you already know Dr. Li. Let me introduce two of my colleagues—Dr. William Min and Dr. Kristin Ahn. They have been assisting Dr. Li and me in this very interesting problem you have brought to us. Shall we begin?”

  “Yes.”

  “To restate the problem,” Strangelove began, “it is in two parts. One, is it possible to locate the original Time Tunnel. And if so, two, is it possible to go there and safely return to our own.”

  “Dr. Min, would you mind displaying our first graphic?”

  Dr. Min clicked a button on a remote on the table. An image of two universe planes appeared. Squiggly lines joined them.

  “As we know,” continued Strangelove, “the theory of multiple universes was just that—a theory—until we encountered our Gray friends and their time machine. Up to that time, there were multiple theories that contemplated the possibility of multiverses.

  “One of those was the so-called M-theory, which unified all superstring theories. That theory proposed that our universe is a three-dimensional ‘brane’ that exists with many others on a higher-dimensional brane or ‘bulk.’ In that model, particles are bound to their respective branes except for gravity. This M-theory model has been proven by the Grays.

  “The temporal transponder you brought with you uses gravitons to interact between universes. Gravitons, which carry the force of gravity, are not bound to a particular universe. Because gravitons can move freely between universes, they are an obvious choice to use for inter-universal communication or telemetry. The challenge, obviously, is getting the gravitons to do what you want them to do. Because they are not bound to a particular universe, they have a nasty habit of disappearing from the universe at inopportune times. Managing gravitons was one of the many breakthroughs our Gray friends managed to achieve.

  “In effect, the temporal transponder is a graviton beacon, sending gravitons back to its universe of origin to give the other Time Tunnel the transponder coordinates. From that point, the tunnel is reactivated, and a new space-time wormhole is created to retrieve the traveler.

  “One of the challenges associated with this problem was locating the other universe without alerting the other Time Tunnel. It would have been comparatively easy to follow the graviton breadcrumb trail to the other universe, though that would have been detected. Ultimately, we were able to devise a way to shield the gravitons from escaping our universe, while still providing sufficient information regarding their destination. I am pleased to report that we have succeeded in locating the other Time Tunnel.”

  “Excellent!” said Kyle. “Where is it?”

  Strangelove and his colleagues exchanged awkward looks in reaction to Kyle’s question, surprised that the answer was not as intuitively obvious to him as it was to them.

  “The universe is here,” Strangelove replied.

  Kyle appeared confused.

  “All of the universes occupy the same physical space,” explained Strangelove. “As we speak, similar conversations are happening around this same conference room table.”

  Strangelove knocked on the table for effect.

  “In other universes, different people are assembled around the table. In others still, the Time Tunnel doesn’t exist. The possibilities are infinite, though all the possibilities exist in the same place.”

  Kyle’s expression was blank as he realized he was sinking in the deep end of the science pool.

  “Would you like an explanation of how we manipulate the gravitons?” asked Strangelove.

  “Would I understand it?” replied Kyle.

  “I don’t believe so, no.”

  “Let’s move on, then.”

  “As for the second part of the question, as we can retrieve people from another universe, we can also reverse the process and send them there as well.”

  “We are limited to two travelers at a time?” asked Kyle.

  “Yes, the tunnel’s capacity is currently two people, with a very limited quantity of baggage, though we can send multiple groups of two.”

  “That’s a problem,” Kyle said. “Two people beaming inside the complex will not be sufficient to overcome resistance if their security force puts up a fight.”

  The group went quiet, pondering the problem.

  “Does the temporal bubble extend beyond the physical walls of the complex?” asked Kyle.

  “Yes. The temporal bubble is a sphere. The complex is a cylinder. If you imagine a cylinder within a sphere, you can get a sense of where there is more and less space outside the complex.”

  “How much space is there outside the main vault door?”

  Strangelove turned to Dr. Ahn, who began typing on her laptop computer. She punched up an image that showed the Time Tunnel complex within the sphere of the temporal bubble. The edge of the bubble sliced through the elevator shaft.

  “Not much,” she said. “The vault door is near the top of the cylinder and the edge of the bubble. I estimate about 15 meters.”

  “Enough to encompass part of the main elevator?” Kyle asked.

  “Yes.”

  “So, conceivably, we could assemble a team at the elevator platform, sending them two at a time, then enter at once through the vault door.”

  “Yes, that could work,” said Dr. Ahn, “though it would require pinpoint accuracy. A few meters off and you would end up nowhere—literally. From what I understand, you were miles off target in your first jump.”

  “We have identified and corrected the errors responsible for the problems with Colonel Mason’s previous jump,” said Zhang, “including the time-space anomalies, as well as the proximate cause of Colonel Wise’s death. In the process, we have boosted the output of the Time Tunnel by 33 percent—sufficient to transport weapons or light equipment with each team.”

  “How confident are you that we can hit this target accurately?” Kyle asked Zhang.

  “Very.”

  “Confident enough to risk a life?” asked Kyle.

  “Yes.”

  “Good,” Kyle said. “Because you’ll be joining us on this mission.”

  Time Tunnel Complex

  Time Tunnel Chamber

  Area 51, NV

  November 7, 2008

  08:55 hours


  Timeline 002

  A team of 10 Dark Star commandoes was assembled in the anteroom outside the Time Tunnel chamber. They wore black fatigues and helmets, with utility vests containing ammunition, stun grenades, and their temporal transponders. Their HK416 assault rifles were slung at their sides. Each soldier also packed a compact infrared spotlight, to be used to blind surveillance video cameras. As she had projected, Zhang Li had boosted the output of the temporal reactor sufficiently to enable the troops to bring weapons and gear on the mission.

  Zhang waited with the commandoes for Kyle to join them. The petite bookish engineer looked distinctively out of place next to the black-clad Velcro supermen standing next to her. Unlike the soldiers, she wore her regular civilian attire—blue jeans, sneakers, and a long sleeve pullover shirt.

  Zhang’s purpose for joining the mission was to disable the Time Tunnel in timeline 001 once the commandoes had secured the facility. The details of her mission were tricky. She needed to sabotage the other Time Tunnel’s ability to send people through time and space, while preserving the temporal bubble that kept its parallel universe inflated and its inhabitants alive.

  In Kyle and Padma’s townhouse, Kyle was finishing up in his dressing room.

  In the bedroom, Padma called after him, “Honey, you’re going to be late for your inter-universal Time Tunnel sabotage mission.” She sat on their bed wearing jeans and a China-blue blouse.

  Kyle emerged from the dressing room. She expected to see him in ninja-commando wear. She was instead surprised to see him wearing a very sharp black Hugo Boss suit with a black tee.

  “Is this the executive commando look?” she asked.

  “I’m feeling a little anxious about meeting the general again,” he replied. “I guess I just wanted to look nice.”

  “Seriously? That’s what you’re nervous about?” Padma replied, incredulous. “I’m worried sick about whether or not you’re going to come back to me alive, and all you can think about are your wardrobe choices. Need I remind you that the mortality rate with this Time Tunnel contraption is 50 percent?”

  “We’ve talked about this, love,” Kyle said. “The team has fixed the Time Tunnel. It’s been battle tested. It’s safer than riding in a cab in NYC.”

  “That’s supposed to be comforting?” she asked. “What if someone takes a shot at you when you get to the other side?”

  “As you insisted, the Dark Star guys are going in first,” he said.

  Kyle moved between Padma’s legs. He reached for her face and kissed her.

  “I’ll be back before you know it,” he said.

  Padma clamped her legs around his.

  “You’d better,” she said.

  Kyle smiled and turned to leave. Padma maintained her grip on his legs.

  “I’m serious,” she said.

  Kyle put his hand on Padma’s cheek. “So am I.”

  Padma released Kyle and watched him exit, remembering what happened the last time he left for a mission.

  Mission Control

  Time Tunnel Complex

  Area 51, NV

  November 7, 2008

  09:00 hours

  Timeline 002

  Mission control was a beehive of activity as the team prepared for the first in its series of inter-universal jumps.

  Colin stood above his mission director console on the center mezzanine of the mission control amphitheater. On one portion of mission control’s big screen, he saw the first two commandoes enter the Time Tunnel’s glass sphere. They were assisted by two technicians, who wore white clean-room overalls, hoods, and booties. The balance of the big screen was filled with system status readouts—statistics and graphs.

  When the technicians exited the chamber, Colin began the countdown.

  “All staff, time is T-minus five minutes. We are at final system check,” said Colin. “Respond when called.”

  “Reactor,” Colin said.

  “Reactor go,” replied an engineer. “Power at 30 percent. Go for throttle up.”

  “Temporal engine,” said Colin.

  “Temporal engine go,” replied another engineer.

  “Navigation.”

  “Temporal navigation go.”

  “Bio.”

  “Bio go.”

  “Transponder.”

  “Transponder go.”

  “All systems, all staff, punch your status buttons now,” said Colin.

  At that moment, the hundreds of people throughout the complex tied to the operation of the Time Tunnel pushed one of two buttons—green or red. A single red button would abort the jump. Gus watched the board for results.

  Percentage of respondents: 100%

  Percentage green: 100%

  Percentage red: 0%

  “Throttle power to 60 percent,” ordered Colin. “Retract Tunnel moorings.”

  Colin watched the live video feed of the Time Tunnel chamber on the giant screen. The cables supporting the donut ring detached and retracted into the ceiling. The platform that supported the sphere retracted into the floor. The ring and sphere, supported with magnetic repulsion, floated in space like a man-made Saturn.

  Colin noticed the two commandoes glance at each other as the chamber floated away from its moorings.

  Colin removed two lanyards from his neck. They held rectangular blue and red anodized keys. The keys both had hourglass cutouts. The red key was formerly the general’s. Now Colin possessed both keys and could unilaterally initiate a Time Tunnel jump.

  Colin inserted the keys into his panel and turned both simultaneously.

  The status lamp next to the ARMED indicator turned from green to red. A red ARMED indicator flashed on all monitor displays. A klaxon alarm sounded. A large button on Colin’s panel marked “COMMIT” flashed on.

  “Reactor—throttle power to 100 percent,” said Colin.

  “Throttle to 100—Roger that,” came the reply.

  The command to throttle up threw the Time Tunnel’s energy reactor into overdrive, annihilating matter and antimatter in equal parts, releasing monstrous energy.

  Colin pressed the COMMIT button.

  The giant monitor beamed a blinding white light from the video feed of the chamber, forcing the mission control staff to turn away. Moments later, the light faded, as system power levels dropped to zero. The monitor flickered back to life. The Time Tunnel chamber was empty. The first two commandoes were gone.

  Two by two, the commandoes filed into the chamber and disappeared in a blinding flash. Kyle and Zhang were the last to enter the chamber.

  The vault door to mission control opened, and Padma entered, descending the steps to Colin’s mezzanine level. She stood next to him, watching the giant display with great concern as her man stepped into the chamber with Zhang.

  “It’s going to be all right,” said Colin.

  Padma nodded bravely. “I’m sure you’re right.”

  Inside the chamber, Kyle turned to Zhang. Zhang’s face betrayed no more emotion than if she were eating a day-old ham sandwich. Taking a trip to another universe through the Time Tunnel appeared to be simply one more task to check off her to-do list.

  “Any last words?” asked Kyle.

  The normally mute Zhang replied with a Chinese proverb.

  “It is better to live as a dog in an era of peace than a man in times of war.”

  The blinding light crescendoed, then faded. Kyle and Zhang were gone.

  Main Vault Door Elevator Platform

  Time Tunnel Complex

  Area 51, NV

  October 27, 2008

  08:15 hours

  Timeline 001

  The blinding white light faded. Kyle and Zhang saw the 10 commandoes facing them on the yellow circle that marked the Ti
me Tunnel’s freight elevator pad. The exterior walls of the elevator shaft were painted red. “Level 1” was painted against the red walls in giant white letters. Recessed LED lighting illuminated the room. Behind the commandoes was the enormous steel vault door to the complex, approximately 20 feet by 20 feet, with two giant hinges on the left. An area of the floor in front of the door, also 20 feet by 20 feet, was painted with yellow and black hazard stripes, denoting the swing area of the door. A series of blue strobe lights hugged the door’s perimeter.

  Kyle looked at Zhang. Disoriented, she began to take a step backward. Kyle grabbed her arm as the commandoes pointed and shouted for him to stop her.

  “Listen to me,” Kyle said. “Don’t turn around. Take three steps forward with me.”

  As instructed, Zhang walked forward with Kyle toward the commandoes and the vault door.

  Zhang saw the relief in the commandoes’ faces as they approached.

  “OK,” Kyle said to Zhang. “Now you can turn around.”

  Zhang turned to see the edge of the freight elevator platform disappear into a darkness unlike any she had seen before. It was beyond black. What lay beyond the gentle curve of the Time Tunnel’s tiny bubble universe was void of everything—the edge of forever. She gazed at dark space with awe. Something about its complete stillness seemed perfectly attuned to the tranquility she guarded at her core.

  Kyle noted the fact that this jump did not have the crushing physical effects of his first trip through the tunnel. More importantly, none of the team members were dead. Zhang’s new and improved Time Tunnel had delivered the team safely, as promised, and with laser-precision accuracy.

  “The cameras are blinded, sir,” said one of the commandoes, nodding to the high-intensity infrared lights assembled to blind the security cameras set behind the smoked Plexiglas bubbles protruding from all four walls.

  “Excellent,” replied Kyle. “Are we good to go?”