Chapter No.47. Decision Time.

The voyage through hyperspace was quiet and without incident. None of us really wanted to think about our problem and we spent the time in subdued thought. On our last evening in hyperspace, we felt the urge to discuss our situation during our communal supper.

"I don't understand how we could end up in a different timeline just from some stupid incident in hyperspace," Natale said.

"It must have something to do with quantum entanglement," Bridget said. "Normally two particles that are entangled keep their properties of spin no matter how separated they are. Perhaps our timelines are entangled in a similar fashion while we're in hyperspace."

"that would suggest that there are an infinite number of timelines," Janet said. "It means that we could be dead in one timeline and alive in another."

"I think it indicates that time is like a quantum particle and has properties that allow it to change," Bridget said. "When you combine plank time units together those changes would be capable of creating infinite timelines."

"It still doesn't explain how the appearance of another ship in hyperspace alters our timeline," I said.

"Maybe the interference causes plank time units to change, altering our timeline," Bridget said. "Keep in mind that time is essentially suspended in hyperspace, making it vulnerable to change."

"Your theory is as good as we'll get to understanding this phenomenon," I said. "If only we could repair the timeline change and get back to where we were."

"When it comes to quantum physics, anything is possible, sir," Bridget said.

I realized that despite her youthful appearance and teen-like emotions, she was a genius.

After we came out of hyperspace a billion kilometers from Earth, Janet and Sharon got busy trying to determine Earth's status.

"Earth in this timeline looks a lot like it did before we launched our mission," Sharon said. "In fact, it looks better."

"Maybe humans were more dedicated to solving climate change in this timeline."

"I'm not detecting any vessels on intercept," Janet said.

"Maybe they haven't seen us yet," I said.

"Or, they don't give a damn," Kali said.

"I'm detecting quantum signals," Natale said. "I think I can get a usable image."

After several minutes, she had a video signal and transferred it to the main screen. The image displayed what appeared to be a government meeting chamber. A large display had a Latin phrase – regnat populas – which means 'the people rule'. A flag on the wall above the display had a white fist on a red background.

All of the people in attendance wore black suits. A moderator at a virtual podium wore a blue suit, and he was essentially preaching to his attentive audience.

"I'm picking up a large number of GPS signals from that meeting," Natale said. "I think that they must be from devices or tags on those people."

"Is this a general broadcast?" I asked.

"I believe it is, sir."

We listened to the speech, but it was a mixture of platitudes and political rhetoric that simply indicated that this was some sort of ruling body. One thing was certain; this was not something we remember about Earth. It definitely wasn't the UN or any government assembly we remember. The people in the audience were a diverse collection of racial groups, but they were mixed, not sitting together in ethnic groups.

"This has to be a global ruling body," I said. "And, it looks and sounds like a communist-type dictatorship."

"I'm not detecting any signs of violence," Sharon said. "There's no signs of military operations anywhere."

"It looks like paradise," Bridget said. "I wonder what it would be like to live on a planet again."

"Maybe we could blend in," Natale said.

"I don't think that's wise, but if any of you wish to try living on Earth, I will take you down there. I can manage by myself."

"We have no intention of leaving you, sir," Natale said, her face exhibiting fear. "I was just spouting wishful thinking."

"I agree," Bridget said. "We would never leave you. You saved us from a slow death."

"We are here to serve you," Janet said. "We will do anything you wish."

"We are yours for as long as we live," Sharon added, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I turned to Kali, and she offered me a subdued serious expression. "I wouldn't leave you no matter what." Then she smiled. "Even if you smack my ass."

"You can smack my ass anytime, sir," Bridget said with glee tainting her voice.

"That goes for me, too!" Natale said, giggling.

"I'll make it unanimous," Janet piped in.

I shook my head. "You gals are incorrigible. Actually, you probably wouldn't last long down there. We have no identification that would be legitimate in this timeline. They would probably consider us as terrorists and torture us to get information."

"What about that last planet?" Bridget asked. "It appeared to be safe."

"I don't think so. The religious fanatic group ruling it would not like us at all."

"Yeah," she said. "They wouldn't let us have fun."

"Fun is the same as sin to religions," I said.

"Are you going to let us have fun, sir?" Natale asked.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked with a tempered grin.

"We'd like to run around naked on the agricultural deck and swim in the pool on the engineering deck."

"That's okay with me, as long as you don't mind getting your butt smacked."

"It's a deal, sir!" she exclaimed, giving me a thumbs up.

They laughed.

When they settled down to a more serious demeanor, Natale asked the big question. "What are we going to do now that we're in the wrong timeline?"

"I think we should try to duplicate the journey in hyperspace that put us in this timeline. Maybe it has a weakness that allows other vessels to enter near us. If we could duplicate the effect, we might be able to return to our timeline."

"If there is an infinite number of timelines, we could end up going from one timeline to another before we ever get back to our original timeline."

"It's a chance we have to take, but right now it's our only option."

Janet turned to her station. "Sir, there's a craft coming up on intercept."

"COMA, get us out of here on a course that takes us to the planet we had the hyperspace incident."

We quickly got strapped into our G-chairs as COMA shut down the wheel rotations. As soon as they were locked, COMA carried out a burn that took us out of Earth orbit. Whatever the craft had in mind it seemed adamant about catching up to us.

"I don't think we'll make it into hyperspace before they intercept, sir," Janet said as she watched the craft's image on the main screen grow.

"COMA, power up the object mitigation laser."

"The OML is activated and at twenty five percent power," the computer system said in an apologetic voice.

"I think that vessel is powering up its weapons, sir," Janet said.

"OML power is at seventy five percent," COMA informed us.

"Adjust the aim to hit the engine nacelle at its connection to the vessel, COMA and fire it when at over ninety percent power."

Now, it was a game of wait and see. As the approaching vessel grew larger in the main screen, there was no doubt it was hell bent on destroying us. However, our laser fired a beam that cut the engine's connection to the vessel and the resulting explosion tore the vessel to pieces.

Fortunately, we entered hyperspace just before the debris of the vessel collided with our ship.

"Whew!" I exhaled. "That was close."

"Why did they try to destroy us, sir?" Bridget asked.

"Maybe they thought that we were alien invaders," Kali answered her.

"Could be. We have no idea if there are aliens near Earth in this timeline," I said.

After the wheels started up again and reached full spin, we exited the G-chairs and gathered at the command station even though there wasn't anything to look at.

"Where are we headed to?" I asked Janet.

"Based on our trajectory just before entering hyperspace, we're on track to reach a habitable planet orbiting a K2-class main sequence star at around 250 light years from Earth . . . sir."

"That should take a week to get there," I said before standing up. "I'm going to check out the agricultural deck to make sure everything is still working down there."

Of course, Kali followed me down. After checking out the robots, I decided to sit and relax. Kali joined me.

"Where'd you get these fancy chairs?" she asked me.

"I don't know. I just found them down here. Maybe the designers assumed that we would like to enjoy nature, even though it's in an artificial environment."

"I like it," she said. "I like how they water the crops. It's almost like real rain."

After a period of silence with us enjoying looking at the crops, Kali turned to me. "Do you think we'll ever get back to our timeline?"

"I don't know," I said without looking at her. "Maybe we'll be forced to wander the universe not knowing what timeline we're in."

"I wonder how long this ship will last."

"I think that it's not deteriorating because of being run through hyperspace. If our atoms are not deteriorating, I would assume the same's true for this vessel."

"In other words, we could be doing this forever," she said.

"I wouldn't go that far, but it could be a very long time. The good news is that we have everything we need here on this ship."

Our attention was caught by some noises, and what we saw surprised us.