03

Dr. Snowden pulled up to Dr. Bryson’s house. It would have been a month from Dr. Bryson’s perspective, but for Dr. Snowden, it was approximately six months. He remembered coming out of the virtual simulation when Evaran had rescued them from an alien abduction so long ago. In the simulation, Dr. Bryson and his wife, Karen, had a healthy baby boy. In reality, they were having conception issues.

He pulled up to the curb and switched off the car. In his mind, he went over several ways to start the conversation. It helped that in the last adventure, he had met a parallel-universe version of Dr. Bryson, and they had enjoyed a good laugh at the situation. This Dr. Bryson would not. Dr. Snowden pulled his lips in and swayed his head as he considered the best approach.

The thought of what Evaran was doing crossed his mind. Then the thought of what Emily was doing. He shook his head. Even when he knew what he was supposed to be thinking about, the safety of the others took precedence. He had dropped Evaran off in a sketchy part of town where a vampire club existed and Emily at a bar that had a sand volleyball pit. They were probably getting along better than he was.

After a few minutes, he exited the car and headed up the driveway. Once at the doorstep, he took a deep breath and knocked.

“Who is it?” asked Dr. Bryson.

“Albert.”

After a moment, the door cracked open a bit.

Dr. Bryson eyed Dr. Snowden. “What’s … going on?”

Dr. Snowden licked his lips. “Can we talk?” Seeing Dr. Bryson brought back a flood of emotions. He was Dr. Snowden’s best friend and had been his roommate in college. Having a strained relationship bothered him. His eyes watered a bit as he looked down.

“You okay?” asked Dr. Bryson, opening the door fully.

“Yeah,” said Dr. Snowden, rubbing his eyes. He observed that Dr. Bryson had on his usual jeans and short-sleeved patterned shirt.

Dr. Bryson waved him in, and after a moment, they were seated in the living room.

Dr. Snowden took a seat on the couch, perpendicular to Dr. Bryson in his recliner. The house was silent. The light rays filtering in highlighted the dust swirling in the air. Between that, the silence, and the smell of a room needing cleaned, he got the impression Dr. Bryson was flying solo. “Where’s Karen?”

Dr. Bryson looked away for a moment. “She … she went to her sister’s.”

“Ahh. Well, it’s always good to see family.”

“Not when you’re not sure if she’s coming back.”

“Are you and Karen … splitting up?” asked Dr. Snowden.

Dr. Bryson placed a palm on his forehead as he rested his elbow on the arm of the chair. “I … I don’t know. Trying to have a kid in your forties has its challenges, and it’s put a stress on our relationship.”

“Oh … ,” said Dr. Snowden. “I can see why you’d be distracted.”

Dr. Bryson waved a hand in the air. “I meant to talk to you at some point, I was just trying to keep my head on, you know?”

“Yeah.”

“I did try to talk to you a few times this last month, but you seemed … different. Even now you do. I can’t put my finger on it.”

Dr. Snowden harrumphed. “I can’t say much about what happened to me other than … near-death experiences can change your perspective on life.”

Dr. Bryson’s eyes widened. “Albert! What happened?”

“I can’t say.”

“C’mon man, I’m your best friend. Why didn’t you come to me?”

“I really couldn’t.”

Dr. Bryson squinted. “Is the government involved?”

“No, but … there are powerful interests involved. I just … can’t say anything,” said Dr. Snowden, chuckling.

Dr. Bryson sighed. “Okay … well … at least tell me how you’re coping with it?”

“Funny thing. I thought I was doing okay, but I have nightmares. You’ve even been in a few of them.”

“Oh, great. Not only do I have my own troubles … I’m causing them,” said Dr. Bryson, laughing.

“You know … we haven’t hung out in a long time.”

“Only a few months.”

“It seems so much longer to me.”

Dr. Bryson scratched his cheek. “That event really shook you up. The last time I saw you this way was when Dan passed.”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I don’t have much to eat, but if you want to hang, we could get a pizza.”

Dr. Snowden remembered a previous adventure when he visited Dr. Bryson in a virtual simulation. He had brought pizza he was able to conjure up from an administrative console. He checked off to his right to make sure there was no console. “I can hang until I need to pick up Emily and a friend.”

Dr. Bryson raised an eyebrow. “A … friend?”

“It’s not what you think. He’s just staying for a bit while we help him out.”

“He?”

Dr. Snowden snorted. “Okay, that does sound kinda weird. He helped me out, and now I’m helping him out.”

“Fine, fine. Don’t need to tell me everything.”

Dr. Snowden eyed Dr. Bryson. “Until Emily calls me, why don’t we get some pizza and hang out in your backyard.”

Dr. Bryson nodded. “That’s what I’m talking about. I could use that. I’d get you a beer, but you don’t drink.”

“You know what? Get me one.”

“Wow … that near-death experience did change you. All right then, but be warned, I’ll cut you off at two beers.”

Dr. Snowden grinned as they headed to the kitchen.

Emily enjoyed the accolades from the sand volleyball pick-up team that clustered around her. The court was one of her favorite places to hang out. It was maintained by the bar sitting next to it, and the bar participated in a citywide league. Her team was giving her high fives and patting her on the arms. It had been a blowout, and the other team had no answer to her spikes. She saw some of other players do double takes at balls they would have considered out, only to get saved due to her speed. Her team definitely saw it, and their praise made her feel good to be around other humans.

As the teams dispersed, she took a moment to reflect on where she was. The players on her team, and the other team, had no idea that in another timeline, the overlord and his human-supremacist Purification event almost changed the course of humanity. They had no idea what civilizations lay just beyond Earth, even in their current time period, or that in 3104, there would be a United Planets with Earth as a member and Dyson bubbles would be built. They definitely would have no idea about the Time Wardens. She shook her head. Her eyes caught the faint glow of V zipping around. Even in stealth mode, she could still faintly see him.

“That bad, huh?” said a male around her age.

Her eyes roamed the male for a moment. It was Brad, one of the guys she routinely played volleyball with. His soft black hair, good nature, and intellect were things she liked about him. His smile showed his white teeth, and the sun made the sweat glisten on his tanned skin. “I was just enjoying the moment.”

“You kicked our ass,” said Brad.

She half smiled. “I went easy.”

“Yeah, right. You were possessed out there. I’ve never seen you move like that before.”

“Practice.”

“I’d like to sign up for whatever it is you practice then.”

Emily knew she could never tell anyone about what she did. It hit her that the weight of the world, not only in this time period, but beyond, rested on Evaran’s shoulders, and by extension, hers. She forced a smile and looked down.

“You coming out tomorrow?”

She looked back up at Brad. “I think so.”

He tilted his head and grinned. “I could … give you a ride.”

She smiled. Although he might not have noticed it, she could hear his heartbeat pummeling away. “I’m covered, but thanks.”

“Oh … I see how it is.”

The subtle signs of disappointment were easy to see on his face. He tried to cover it up, but his subconscious movements were loud and clear. She raised her head a bit. “It’s cool. Maybe some other time?”

A big smile crept onto his face. “Anytime.” He turned and headed off.

She squatted and picked up some sand and let it slip between her fingers. There were those who could control and morph this sand. The thought she even knew that was no longer a surprise to her. For the last month, it was like looking at everything from a different perspective. Prior to traveling with Evaran, she was ignorant of many things, and oblivious to others. Now, she was aware of everything around her. People breathing, their heartbeats, and even their unconscious movements. It was the odors that were usually the strongest to her. Nonhumans were easy to pick out, and she was confident in her ability to handle anything tossed her way.

The near-death experience had not been as harsh on her as it had been on Dr. Snowden. Although she did not tell Evaran or V, the look of sheer terror on Dr. Snowden’s face when he woke up screaming scared her. She had always known him as rock steady. To see him unhinged bothered her. He had said he felt death itself creep through him. She would try to be as available to him as he had been to her when she needed him. His heart had been crushed when a time refugee was going to travel with them and then went another way, and now he had firsthand experience with death itself. She reflected on the absurdity of her thoughts.

The feeling of being watched washed over her. Looking around, she saw Jennifer, someone she had a yearlong relationship with in the virtual simulation. In the real world, Jennifer had a boyfriend, and when Emily was back on Earth the first time, she had slipped her arm around Jennifer’s waist and kissed her on the neck. Jennifer had pushed Emily away in disgust, and the pain of that event was etched in her mind. There were now two memories of Jennifer.

Jennifer had on server clothes and looked like she was either on break or just arriving. She waved at Emily.

Emily furrowed her eyebrows and waved back.

Jennifer looked around for a moment, then headed toward Emily.

Emily gulped. As Jennifer walked, Emily remembered all the good times she had had with Jennifer in the virtual simulation. It was real to Emily, even if they were fake memories. Her eyes traced each step that Jennifer took. The smell of her hair, the softness of her skin, and her smile resounded through Emily’s mind. Her stomach churned a bit as Jennifer neared.

“Hey,” said Jennifer.

Emily smiled. “Hey.”

“Saw the game. You rocked it.”

“It was all right.”

“All right? It was awesome.”

Emily did not know what to make of this overture. For the last month, she had seen Jennifer around, but avoided her. It was hard enough dealing with being back on Earth without the reminder of someone Emily could see herself falling in love with. Even the perfume Jennifer had on reminded Emily of more intimate encounters. “I guess.”

Jennifer cocked her head. “Have you been … working out or something?”

“Maybe a little,” said Emily.

“Well … whatever you’re doing, it’s working. You look fantastic.”

Emily smiled. She could sense that Jennifer’s heartbeat had increased, just like Brad’s had. Jennifer’s unconscious movements were familiar to Emily. The virtual simulation had replicated them in great detail. She guessed the aliens who pulled them from her memory used all the images she had of observing Jennifer from afar.

“I know this is probably weird for you, especially after … that …”

Emily tossed a hand out. “It’s okay.”

“I just wanted you to know that I had to act that way since my boyfriend, well, ex-boyfriend, was around,” said Jennifer. She cleared her throat and dipped her head forward. “I … I didn’t mind the actual incident itself.”

Emily raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

“Yeah,” said Jennifer with a smile. “Listen, I know you’re probably busy but … you got the highest grade on the last test in our Western history class. I could use a study partner. Well, for you, it’d probably be more like tutoring.”

“Sure. What’d you have in mind?”

“My place … Friday night?”

Emily could sense Jennifer’s heart beating even faster. It puzzled her that maybe the virtual simulation and real-world versions of Jennifer were the same. “That works for me.”

“Great!” said Jennifer. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a pen. “You have something to write on? I know it sounds silly that I don’t have something to write on as a server.”

Emily extended her hand, palm up. “You can write your number there.”

Jennifer gulped as she reached out with her left hand and slid it under Emily’s. Her thumb caressed the side of Emily’s hand as her breathing staggered. “Your skin is … glowing almost.” She looked up at Emily.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Jennifer wrote her phone number on Emily’s hand and continued to hold it.

Emily noted that Jennifer seemed almost entranced. “I’ll give you a call before the weekend, assuming I get my hand back.”

“Oh!” said Jennifer as she retracted her hand. “Sorry … I …”

“It’s cool.”

Jennifer gulped and looked down for a moment. “Okay … well … I’ll talk to you then.” She looked back up at Emily.

Emily felt a slight tingling as she looked into Jennifer’s eyes. It was something that she had done in the virtual simulation many times. Her initial reaction was to reach over and move a strand of hair out of the way, but she realized it might seem out of place. She nodded and watched Jennifer turn and walk away.

The thought that maybe there could be something between her and Jennifer crossed her mind, but that was part of a life she knew would be hard to have. Her new life was on the Torvatta and appealed to a side that drove her. She had been able to see parallel-universe versions of her parents, meet an incredible woman on another planet, and make friends she would have never thought possible. Still, if Evaran was going to force them to stay six months on Earth with no Torvatta access, maybe a brief interlude into her old life would do her some good.

She looked into the air. “V, you still there?”

“Analysis. I was contemplating your actions with Jennifer.”

She shook her head. “Are we clear?”

“We are clear.”

With that, she headed off to the side of the building before calling Dr. Snowden to pick her up.