22 September
126,892 BCE
Abiquiú, New Mexico
Haakon woke to the homey scent of coffee and the crackle of frying bacon. Brilliant sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows on his left and splashed onto the polished, black floor. Outdoors, tall grasses waved in the wind and a flat-topped mountain rose in the middle distance.
He stretched and yawned. The muscles in his right arm cramped, and sharp pain shot through his upper right body. Crap. Everything came flooding back. Scarborough, Gunnar, Ralf, the Vikings.
Nathan.
He sat up in bed and examined his shoulder. A circular, dime-sized welt marked where the arrow had entered him. He craned his neck, but couldn't see his back. His fingers confirmed another welt swelled there. He tried to move his shoulder in a circular motion and winced. It would be a while before he'd be fit for swordfights.
White sheets twisted around his naked body. At least someone had cleaned him up and stripped off his filthy eleventh-century clothes. It must have been Nathan. That guy for sure had a cool head on him. Brave, too. And good looking. Haakon frowned at the warmth that stirred in his loins. He didn't need the complication of romance right now, not in the middle of a Deviation. Besides, in his experience, romance never went unpunished.
Still, he owed Nathan his life. Instead of repaying him, he'd taken the poor guy here, to the Pleistocene. Chicago Control would never let him go back to his former life, not now that he had traveled in time.
Haakon resolved to work something out. He couldn't let the bean counters at Control bulldoze Nathan off to some rat-hole outpost, not after what he'd done for him.
He'd figure it out later. Right now, though, he needed to piss.
When he stood, a wave of dizziness made him steady himself on the bed. Shit. His stomach growled, and his legs turned to rubber. The nano-docs worked miracles, but they could suck all the energy out of you. He'd feel better after he stuffed some calories into his stomach. He heaved a deep breath, grimaced at the pain that twinged in his shoulder, and wobbled to the latrine.
After finishing his business, he splashed cold water on his face and stared at his features in the mirror. Sunken eyes, stubbled cheeks, chapped lips. He looked like shit. His damned braids were all tangled and crusty, too. Probably had twigs and god knew what else in them. He'd be glad when this assignment was over and he could chop them off.
His assignment. He hardened his mouth. God's toenails, he needed to get back to Chicago Control and report in.
Nathan's voice interrupted his thoughts. "You're awake."
The sound made Haakon jump, and he whirled to face him. He looked so innocent standing there at the door to the latrine, blue eyes soothing as a mother's gazing at her newborn. He was barefoot, but he'd found a pair of chinos and cargo shirt that highlighted his narrow hips and lithe form. Haakon shot him a grin. "Was that you fixing the bacon that I smelled?"
"It was." Nathan's gaze dropped. His eyes widened and he turned crimson. "Uh, there's a robe in the closet." He looked away. "I mean, if you want one."
He's embarrassed that I'm naked. God, he's so cute. Haakon inhaled Nathan's clean scent. His gaze drank in the peaches-and-cream luster that glowed on his cheeks. He couldn't help wondering what it would be like to kiss those full lips.
Then his body reacted.
Fuck, he didn't mean for that to happen. "Sorry, it's kind of an involuntary thing. Mind of its own, don't you know?" He held a hand over his crotch, but it didn't cover much.
By Mary Mother of God, his own face was heating. What was he, sixteen? Best to grab the bull by the horns. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you or anything. I was just a little surprised by you popping up like that. Er, I mean showing up." Shit, make that thirteen. Twelve. Time to stop dithering like a moron. "I'm an idiot. Where did you say those robes were?"
Nathan's gaze returned to Haakon's crotch before shooting away to a corner of the latrine. He turned even redder. "In the other room. I'll show you." He scampered into the bunk room.
Haakon followed him. "Look, I don't usually...I mean..." He stopped. A bulge in Nathan's chinos made his lips turn up. An uncontrollable belly laugh bubbled in his chest, and he winced and grabbed his shoulder. "Damn."
Nathan was on him like white on rice. He gripped Haakon's shoulders, steadying him while peering into his face. "Are you all right? You shouldn't be moving around. You almost died, you know. You've been out for over a day."
"I'll be all right. Just give me a minute." But then another round of wooziness sent the room spinning and the erotic tension withered. Haakon gripped Nathan's wrist and leaned against him for support. "Maybe you can help me? I need to lie down." His voice turned fuzzy. "I'm a little dizzy."
"Sure, man." Nathan kept his gaze locked on their destination and kept inches between their bodies as he helped Haakon stumble back to his bed. "You lost all that blood. I was sure you were going to die." He pulled the sheets back over Haakon's body and tucked him in. "Can I get you anything?" He stood close enough to touch, his hands on his hips, his blue eyes so deep Haakon thought he could lose himself in them.
Stay focused. "I need food. The kitchen should have some kind of high-calorie drink. Something to replenish what the nano-docs sucked out of me." His heart thudded in his ears, and his chest heaved.
"I saw some when I was nosing around. I'll be right back." Nathan left at a trot.
Haakon rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. He'd rest for just a moment.
****
Haakon jerked awake. He blinked his eyes open to a shadowed room. A dark figure slumped on a chair next to his bed. "Nathan?" For some reason his voice rasped in his throat, and the sound hung lifelessly in the air. Something stuck to his arm and dragged at the skin. An IV, with a tube attached to the first aid kit. Deep inside the kit's open bag, a red light flashed in perfect synchronization with his heartbeat.
"You're awake." Nathan hovered over him. "I didn't mean to disturb you."
"You didn't." Haakon glanced out the window, where an orange moon lit the veldt. "How long was I out?"
"You've been asleep for about half a day." He held a glass with a straw in it to Haakon's lips. "Here, drink some of this."
He gulped at the icy cold liquid. "That's not water."
"It's the protein shake you asked for—a Russian brand I found in the kitchen. Nadduva. Good thing that was one of the languages I chose for my doctorate."
Haakon sucked more of the drink down. His jaws ached, and the void in his stomach gaped more massive than a black hole. "They stock these places from commercial supplies. Strange to use Russian products, though." He held up his arm. "You stuck an IV in me? I'm impressed."
A grin twisted Nathan's features. "Not me." He pointed at the first aid kit. "That gizmo did it. When you passed out, I didn't know what to do. I dug through the kit, and found directions. It said hold the needle next to your arm, and the next thing I knew it was in the vein. The display in the kit said to secure it with a bandage, so I did." He frowned. "It's been whirring every so often, and I think it's pumping some clear-colored stuff into you. More of those nano-thingees?"
"Probably just saline." He paused for another swallow. This stuff was pretty good. He felt stronger already. "The kit might have stuck some minerals or vitamins in it, too." The straw made a sucky noise as he reached the bottom of the drink. "I could use another one of these."
"Sure thing." Nathan paused. "I was so worried about you."
Haakon forced a grin. "Thanks, but it'd take more than an arrow to kill me. Don't worry. I'll survive and get you out of here."
"I wasn't thinking of that, exactly, but it's good to know." He bit his lip. "I'll be right back. You want the lights on?"
"Leave 'em off for now."
It wouldn't do to drop off again. He forced himself to a sitting positing and let his legs dangle off the edge of the bed. He was wearing boxer shorts. He grinned and rolled his eyes. Nathan must have dressed him.
A shadow fell across the doorway and Nathan was back. "You're up."
"Yeah. I want to check out the control room. You've done great, but the medics at Chicago Control can have me back to 100% in no time. They should check you out, too."
"I'm fine. No arrows in me." Nathan handed him another ice-cold drink. "Uh, I took the liberty of putting boxers on you. I hope that's all right."
"Sure. Thank you, in fact." He paused to inhale half the drink. "How have you been? The jump jeebies hit you pretty hard. Headaches? Muscle weakness? Chest pains?"
"None of that." His eyes widened. "Chest pains? Really?"
"I'm sure you'll be fine." I hope. "It'd just be better if the medics checked you." He swallowed more of his drink. Speaking of heartaches. "Uh, about earlier, when you found me in the latrine. I wasn't trying to rape you or anything. I was just...well, you're good looking, and you'd just saved my life. I guess I just want to say I'm glad to learn that we play for the same team, if you know what I mean."
Even in the dim light, it was obvious that Nathan's face turned red. "Well, yeah. We both sort of reacted the same way. You're gay too, then?"
"Perfect Kinsey six." Another swallow. "Once we're out of this mess, I'd like to get to know you better." He finished the drink and pawed at the IV in his arm. "Can you help get this damned thing out?"
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Nathan loosened the tape holding the needle in place and tugged. It came out, leaving a little bubble of blood behind. "Damn. Just a minute. There are antiseptic swabs and stuff in here." He dug through the kit. "Let me clean that, and then hold this cotton ball against it."
"I thought you were a physics student, not a physician." Haakon pressed the puff of cotton against his arm.
"I've had blood drawn at the Red Cross, before donating. I just did what they do."
"Right." Haakon stood. "Let's see if I can make it to the control room without fainting." His Timepiece resting on the bedside table caught his eye and he picked it up. May as well re-charge it while he was in the control room.
Nathan cocked an eyebrow and said, "I think that's broken. It looks partly melted."
Haakon frowned and checked. Sure enough, it was dented, probably from the Viking's lance back in Scarborough. It did look partly melted, too. He remembered sparks flew during the attack. "These things are pretty tough. The controls are kind of hidden." He stroked the back, and the holocontrols flickered to life, with a "low power" warning flashing in red. Haakon flicked it off and said, "Needs recharged."
Nathan peered at the Timepiece. "How did you do that? The only place I've seen a 3D display like that is on TV."
Haakon shrugged. "It's twenty-second century technology. Don't worry about it. This shelter has a fully equipped gate."
His legs were still unsteady, but he was determined to hide his weakness from Nathan. The poor guy had enough to worry about. "Can you help me get to the control room?"
Nathan babbled as they made their way. "You wouldn't believe what I saw yesterday. There was this herd of these weird cattle, a cross between buffaloes and Texas longhorns. They were just outside, on the other side of the stream that runs next to this place. Then this ginormous cat showed up and killed one of the babies."
Haakon grinned. "I bet it was a saber-toothed tiger."
"Exactly. You warned me about them. Vicious beasts. Glad I didn't go outside."
"Me too. I'm not sure the nano-docs could save you from a saber-tooth attack. Their claws are lethal." The lights flashed on as they entered the control room. "Sometime we'll come back and I'll show you a brood of saber-tooth kittens. They're pretty cute." He sat at the main console and placed his Timepiece on the charging pad. His legs felt shaky and he tried to control the trembling in his arm.
Nathan screeched a chair across the slate floor to sit next to him. "I'd like to get to know you better, too." He bit his lower lip. "You know what else is weird? I broke my glasses back in Iowa, right before you showed up. I shouldn't be able to see anything. But those buffalo and that cat? They were crystal clear. Not blurry at all."
Haakon's breath caught in his throat, and he avoided looking Nathan in the eyes. He'd have to tell him the truth about the nano-doc injection. Not now, though. Later, when they were safe in the future. "That is weird." He winced and rubbed his shoulder.
Nathan frowned. "You sure you're up to this?"
"Positive."
A tone chimed, the Timepiece's display flashed red, then turned off. A female voice announced, "Irreparable damage. Caution. Do not use except in emergencies." A ball of ice gripped Haakon's belly. He'd never had that happen before. At least the damage, whatever it was, hadn't prevented him from using it to escape the Vikings. He was lucky it hadn't popped him onto the moon. Or the sun, for that matter.
Nathan grinned. "What's Alexa doing here? Or is it Siri?"
Haakon kept his voice level. No reason to alarm Nathan with might-have-beens. "Neither. It's just an automated message. This system's not nearly as smart as either one of those." He touched the control screen, clicked on "transport," and it lit with a list of pre-set destinations.
Chicago Control, 1936
Havana Control, 1966
San Diego Control, 1996
Cabo San Lucas Control, 2026
Press enter for more sites
Panic flared at this list. What the fuck was Havana Control? Timekeepers operations ran out of Chicago Control from the organization's creation until the Second American Civil War in 2042. What was going on?
He pressed enter. More insane locations flickered across the screen. Anchorage. Mexico City. Tulsa, for God's sake.
It had to be the Deviation, spreading tentacles all the way back to the Pleistocene. But that was impossible. If the Deviation had already happened, then it would have happened everywhere and every when, all at once. It would have swept him and all his memories of his world away with it.
At least, that was what the big brains at Control said, what they'd taught him at the Academy. Like a "phase shift," they said. That was why Timekeepers existed: to stop Deviations before they happened, since after was too late.
He frowned and chewed his lower lip. He wasn't a temporal physicist. He was just a field agent and applied historian. Whatever was going on, this made it all the more urgent he report in.
Nathan's fingers brushed against his cheek. "What's wrong? Your hands are trembling."
Haakon grasped his companion's hand with both of his and held tight. His heart beat in his chest, and his voice trembled. "I'm not sure. But I promise I'll get you back to the future." I just hope it's the one we know.