Chapter 34

“There’s only one person who could possibly do this, isn’t there?” I asked with resignation.

The others simply stared off into space. There was no reason to say anything. They all knew I was right, but no one wanted to say it out loud.

We had tacitly agreed to put off the seemingly hopeless task of writing a decent virus program. We had given it our best shot, but I’m not sure how effective our little bug would be. Instead, the four of us tried to take a positive note by exploring the various ways the hypothetical virus might be introduced into the Master Server. We had long ago decided trying to infect the MS from the outside was hopeless. Someone had to actually get into the building and ‘shoot off’ the program using Katherine’s multi-directional microwave signal to somehow find the massive computer.

As I’d said, there was only one person who stood a prayer of making it that far. In a world where neural patterns were the all-encompassing identifier of any individual, we all knew the overwhelming security systems of the building would involve some form of brainwave sensing equipment. Because I was ‘invisible’ to the neural scan devices, I would have to make the last portion of the journey alone and implant the virus. There was no other logical conclusion.

The others were certain there would also be video equipment, of course. Teknos, our reigning whiz with video equipment, had already been working on ‘masking’ signals that would camouflage my progress. He would use Katherine’s guideable microwave signal to carry various jamming signals and false video scenes to the building’s receptors. Combined with my ‘invisibility’, there was a high probability I could reliably negate the two primary defenses of the building.

Wafer was sure there would also be heat-sensing and infrared equipment that might alarm the guards. As they both used heat spectrums to register an object, Katherine had suggested that, if we could counter one, we could counter them both. Wafer had done a very careful and thorough computer search and found an old company that still manufactured archaic fire protection suits. The suit had been designed to protect workers who walked through oil rig fires in order to put them out, and was still used for fire fighting. The temperatures of an old rig fire could reach into the high hundreds of centigrade, so the suit would certainly contain all of my body heat.

We had also discussed other types of traps or defenses that might exist, and tried to compensate for them. Oddly enough, it was the ‘unsophisticated’ technology that worried us the most. Motion detectors, breakable light beams, and even sound detectors would probably prove the most dangerous to me. Because we could not anticipate where or how those would scan, I would just have to navigate them on my own.

The Revos hoped they could overcome the modern technology. They prayed I might somehow be able to use alertness, patience, and old-fashioned luck to avoid the ancient technologies. Knowing my propensities in those virtues, I figured the odds of bypassing all of those possibilities were somewhere between zero and an absolute vacuum.

“Well, then,” I answered my own rhetorical question. “I guess that’s it.”

# There was a soft knocking at my door. In this society, that was virtually unique. I knew it could only be out of deference to my past, and suspected who it might be.

“Come in,” I invited, triggering the unlock.

Katherine entered shyly. Maybe it was the dim lighting I was using, or maybe it was something entirely due to her. Anyhow, she looked particularly alluring to me. She fidgeted, which I had never seen her do before. Whatever she wanted to say seemed pretty difficult. I was just enjoying the view, and wasn’t about to rush her. I waved her to a chair, but she chose to stand. That was alright by me, as I could see her figure better that way.

“Barney,” she said at last, “I wanted to tell you something.”

“Well,” I said carefully, not wanting to sound flippant at this time, “I’m happy to listen.”

“It, uh ... this all may be coming to an end. I mean, our time here. Not just you here in our time, I mean, but all of our time here. In the world.”

I really wanted to smile at her, but was afraid she might think I was amused by her. Which I was, but not in the way she would probably take it. So I kept my face as straight as possible.

“Damn it, that sounds so stupid!” she cried out. “I mean we all might die soon. Especially you.”

The same thought had occurred to me, oddly enough. But I still didn’t want to take any chance of offending her, so I merely raised my eyebrows.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Barney!” She put her hand out towards me, as though to touch my shoulder reassuringly. Being about six feet away, of course, I had to be satisfied with the implied tender gesture. “I didn’t mean to put it so brutally.”

I wanted to reach out and touch her as well. I settled for merely shrugging my shoulders.

“Don’t worry about it,” I finally responded. “We all know it’s a pretty good possibility. But we’ve made our choices, and we just have to take our chances, right?”

“I guess so. But, before we ... well, before it’s maybe too late, I just wanted to tell you something.”

She fidgeted some more. Again, I figured silence was golden.

“I really like you!” she finally blurted out.

“Thank you, Katherine. I really like you as well.”

“No, damn it! This isn’t coming out anything like I had planned it. I mean, I really like you, Barney.”

Oh, ho! That put a whole different spin on this conversation. I knew it was time to quit playing it cool and just be honest.

“I really like you, too, Katherine. I mean, really like you. But I got a pretty strong impression your feelings for me were, shall we say, something less than friendly? I guess this is pretty surprising to me.”

“I have to admit, it’s pretty surprising to me, too. I mean, in the sense that I finally had to admit it to myself.”

“No, it’s okay, Katherine, don’t try to spare my feelings. I mean, I can certainly understand it’s really hard to like someone like me...”

“No, damn it! Nothing I say seems to come out right! It wasn’t because of you ... well, sure it was partly because of you, but it was at least as much to do with Solomon.”

“Of course! What a dodo I’ve been. I’m sorry, Katherine. I mean, I’ve known all along how you felt about Solomon, and I’ve really tried to make allowances for how hard it must be for you to get over those feelings. I mean, you must –”

“No, no! You don’t understand anything at all!” she practically screamed in frustration. “Great googles, did you think I was in love with Solomon?”

“Well, I – aren’t you?”

“No! I never have been. Will you please just shut up and let me explain this so we can quit having misunderstandings?”

I nodded my head. Just as I feared she might whack me for the ‘head bobbing’ thing again, I realized she was shuddering in an attempt to get herself together. I decided to make like a mouse in a house full of cats and wait for her to explain the facts. Seeing how meekly I waited for her explanation, she took a deep breath and composed her thoughts.

“When I first met Solomon, I had a fantastic crush on him. I mean, I was a young aspiring engineer and he was the greatest research scientist in the world. But we never had any kind of physical relationship. By now, you are well aware of the kind of conjugations and other liaisons our society encourages. I’ll totally admit, I was more than willing. But Solomon wasn’t in the least interested. Until recently, I didn’t know if it was me or because of something about him, in whatever respect. But now I’m pretty sure it was because he had already committed himself to someone else, although I don’t think even he knew that until this recent encounter with her.”

I noticed that, even now, she could not bring herself to say the name of Aimee Saito. But, because I was so happy the woman existed, was I going to be stupid enough to ask why? No way!

“Anyhow, when I first met you, I kind of liked you for many of the same reasons I was attracted to Solomon. I mean, there are certain sensitivities, certain ways of doing or saying things, some things I can’t even describe. But, I have to admit, I was attracted to you more physically.”

She paused, and certainly looked like she expected a reply. I was going to be very cautious about this.

“That’s very nice to know. So why did you act, uh, a little less than interested in me?”

I seem to have said the right thing. For once.

“Frankly, I mistrusted you at first as an outsider. Even though Solomon explained everything about your background, I didn’t know you. You know what I mean?”

I just nodded. Actually, I think I did know what she meant.

“Then I was kind of jealous of your close relationship with Solomon. I mean, here you were the ‘new kid on the block’ from my standpoint, and yet you two seemed to have a pretty good understanding of each other. You shared some kind of easy going joking the rest of us really could never attain. Now, I’m really embarrassed I ever thought that. I mean, you two are very close. I guess, without family relationships of my own, it just took me a while to get it. And you gave him all that money to develop the TDM and everything. Well. Anyhow, then I kind of felt uncomfortable because you are Solomon’s ancestor. That one was really weird, because, like I said, we never had any kind of physical involvement. So. Then, when I started to trust you, I thought your intent was to help us and then leave. You know, have Solomon take you back to your own time. I mean, there wouldn’t have been anything wrong with that, but it wouldn’t have allowed for a serious relationship. Not that I’d blame you if you didn’t like me at all, because I’ve behaved like such a fool towards you the entire time. Irritable, caustic, and condescending. I wanted to apologize. Now you know why, at least.”

I took my time before responding, wanting her to see that I was really trying to think this through. “I think I see. Well, I do think it was really sweet of you to come and tell me why, uh, well, there’s been a little tension between us. I mean, other than me getting off on the wrong foot with a couple of stupid comments when I first arrived. To tell you the truth, I thought it was because I had been such a fool in my behavior towards you.”

“Honestly? Great googles! I thought everything you did was a reaction to my attitude.”

“Well, now that we’ve got all that straight, let’s just forget about it, okay?”

“Absolutely. That sounds like a great idea.”

She made no motion to leave, so I was hoping there was more. I just wasn’t sure how to probe for it.

“So, uh, well,” I probed intelligently. “Now that we’ve got all that straight, how do you feel about me now?”

“Now? Well, now I have a better concept of this total relationship. That is, not only between you and Solomon but between myself and how I feel about things. I must say I’ve developed a deep affection for you. I mean, this thing really looks like its going to get bad. It ... it could get lethal, maybe for all of us. I’d just like you to know ... Barney, I just want you to look out for yourself.”

I stared at her incredulously. Well, what had I expected? Nothing much more, I suppose. But I had sure hoped for a hell of a lot more!

“That’s it?” I couldn’t help myself. I sounded like a little boy who had been bad all year, but still expected Santa to bring me more than a toy train for Christmas. “You came to tell me to watch out for myself?”

“No, damn it! I’m worried that you may die in a hopeless attempt to attack the MS building. I’m worried that maybe there was meant to be more between us, but the gulf in so many ways just couldn’t let us get there. I’m confused and upset, and I don’t know what to say, let alone what to do!”

She was practically crying, and I wanted to reach out and just hold her. There was only one thing to do. I stood up, reached out, and pulled her to me and just held her.

That did it. She actually broke down in tears, sobbing with a passion that almost broke my heart. No matter how intelligent and self sufficient she was, no matter how brave she was in defying the entire world order, when it came to matters of the heart she was still a woman. I had to remind myself of that so I didn’t burst into tears myself.

I had no idea of what to say, so again decided to say nothing. I was also pretty upset that I would probably die soon, and maybe all of us. I was really worried we might throw our lives away and not change a damn thing in this world. But I was so happy that Katherine was in my arms, and practically telling me she loved me, I found it pretty difficult to take any of that seriously right now.

So suddenly that I practically lost my hold on her, she pulled herself together and moved as far away from me as my arms would allow.

“And what about you? How do you feel about me?” she asked with remarkable concern.

There was only one thing for me to tell her. The truth.

“I think I love you. In fact, I know I’ve been infatuated with you ever since the first time I saw you. I mean in that vid the SF showed me. I didn’t even have to see the real thing to know you were something very special, and that I would travel through time to be with you.”

And that was the first time I had even consciously had the thought. I had convinced myself it all had to do with adventure, to helping Solomon overthrow the tyrants of the future. But I knew in my heart, at long last, that I had traveled here to find my destiny. I had come here to find Katherine.

She searched my face. Somehow, with the feminine mystique that would always elude men, she must have seen it was true. She melted back against me. I think she was deliberately keeping her face hidden as she spoke.