Time Genes

FTIME GENES

Book2 of the Time Ripple Trilogy

ROSS RICHDALE

Science Fiction

©2011

Ross Richdale

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

On Earth in our present time, Lara is involved in a serious road accident that leaves her as a quadriplegic. She is helped by going through a portal to Havenseed where technology not even discovered on Earth, is used to restore her to a normal healthy life.

But does it?

Unknown to herself and her family, her new body includes genetically enhanced genes with side effects, both positive and negative, that affect her family and herself, both now and in the future.

Travel with Lara and her family through space-time as they find the consequences of her time genes may allow carnivore plants and reptilian species destroy humanity throughout the known worlds of the 24th century.

Only Aari's unborn child, Ralina can help but this is also difficult for she cannot exist in the same world as both an adult and a baby. This conflict of space-time will mean she will never have existed.

As well, her help is illegal and she is brought to trial to answer for crimes against society.

CHAPTER 1

The metallic fittings did not add to the austere nature of the courtroom. Two judges sat behind a grey desk where only computer terminals, half empty glasses of water and a transparent globe between them were visible. Unlike his reptilian compatriot, the judge to the left was a human male but one who felt no empathy towards the prisoner. If the woman broke the law she deserved the punishment listed for the crime.

Justice Horace Kilmorton, secretly proud of his nickname by both sides of the judiciary of Horseface Kill 'em All, glanced up at the young woman in the dock and frowned. She stared back directly into his eyes and held his gaze.

He coughed and looked at his screen. Ralina Olfsten, formally of 21st century Earth, my colleague and myself have come to a decision. To the crime of murder, altering space-time for personal profit and fifteen lesser charges as documented, you have been found guilty. Before I pass sentence, do you wish to make a statement?

The young woman's voice was resolute without one sign of nervousness. I do not recognise the authority of this court and will recommend to the interworld tribunal that it is disbanded and corrupt officials such as yourself are brought to justice before a fair and humane authority. She swallowed to show the first indication of any emotion. Perhaps humane is the incorrect word. Humans of this world are anything but.

Kilmorton's face darkened and anger replaced the leer. If this was an interrogation, the girl would be dragged away and whipped for such disrespect. He glanced sideways at Judge Xanj, that liberal fool who, unfortunately had considerable authority in their hierarchy, and swallowed his pride. Finally he smiled, a smile without one milligram of warmth.

You will be recommending nothing, Madam, nor will your final statement be preserved. Like your ashes, it will be purged from all records. You are sentenced to death by incineration with your ashes cast to the wind. A crime as horrendous as yours deserves no appeal and, indeed, you will not have one.

The judge reached his gloved hand towards a black button inside the globe. One touch and Olfsten would be instantly electrocuted and vaporised. He purposely set the controls to work slowly so she would feel the agony she deserved. A pile of white ash would be all that remained after her screams died from the courtroom. He glanced up expecting to see that last look of terror in her eyes but there was none.

Damn the woman! This had never happened to him before. He shook his head, for now he could see not one but three women in the dock. A tall blonde human and a shorter but equally attractive brunette accompanied Olfsten who smiled and raised her hand in a wave.

There was a whoosh and the three women disappeared. He had not touched the button! Without even attempting to hide his fury he slammed his fist down on it. The dock flashed orange and turned to smoke that was sucked out an extraction vent. There were, however, no woman's screams or any trace of a burning flesh smell.

A court clerk carried a brush and flat shovel across to the dock. It was his traditional duty to sweep the ashes up into a tiny black bag, pull a string to close the top and deliver it back to the judge. The man stopped stared and, with his face burning in embarrassment, turned to Kilmorton.

His voice shook in fear. There are none, Your Worship.

No what? the judge retorted.

No ashes, Your Worship.

I saw the two with her, Horace, Judge Xanj, the reptilian judge whispered with his hand cupped to the side of his mouth. Even with the most sophisticated containment fields activated, her colleagues arrived and rescued her. They left before you could execute her.

Justice Horace Kilmorton stared at his fellow judge before turning back to the court clerk. If you say one word about this to a living soul I'll have your tongue surgically removed and banish your family and yourself to a slave planet. You have five minutes to find some ashes and place them in your bag.

Will the ashes from the lounge fireplace be sufficient, Your Worship? The man's lips trembled.

Get them! Kilmorton hissed. He turned to his colleague. I respectfully suggest...

Judge Xanj held up his hand. I shall say nothing, Horace but be warned, I think that young woman's family will be seeking your hide in the not too distant future.

Her family?

Xanj nodded solemnly. Remember the seven prophecies, Horace? 'And throughout the realms, three female humans of breeding years shall revenge the souls of the corrupt and deliver the intelligent cosmos into righteousness.' The second prophecy...

I know them all, Kilmorton interrupted. They are but superstitions from ignorant worlds and not worth the time it takes to repeat them.

Are they? the alien judge queried.

Justice Horace Kilmorton nodded but could not prevent a shudder of ice from floating up his spine. He had rejected the old religion forty years before but in his minds-eye he could still see his father on that fateful winter's night he had left his childhood home for the last time.

You will reject the real truths at your peril, Horace, his father had said. It is not myself or the family that you reject but yourself, My Son. One day your fate will be decided by your own actions. If you reject everything I have taught you I can help you no more.

Just perhaps, that moment had arrived.

*

Rain hit the windscreen in a torrent as Lara drove her near new Mazda onto the Stadium Freeway out from Portland State University, Oregon, where she was a student. It had been a long day; she was exhausted and glad to be heading home. Traffic was moving quite quickly at this late hour but the conditions were terrible. She was by now quite used to the early 21st century traffic but at time like this she longed for the 24th century wheelless vehicles and automated slipstream systems.

It was an exciting time on the home front, though. Through the differences in the time ripple her grandmother Aari was not in her seventies but physically, only six years older than herself. Aari's baby daughter, Ralina was due in a week and the mother-to-be was heavily pregnant. In their extended family, everyone except Aari was nervous.

Aari's husband, Verton Olfsten had wanted her to have her infant through the portal at Havenseed, on the distant planet that they had permanent access to, but she had refused. 21st century Earth was her home now and that was where her daughter, Ralina was going to be born and raised.

Lara grinned. She felt much the same herself. This was her world now and there was very little from her future Earth that she'd want to return to. Individual freedom was something she now cherished and all those little things such as the ability to hike through hills without having a single person tracking her, the knowledge that some citizen's control officer couldn't push a button to immediately incapacitate her; and her thoughts... they were her own, no-one could read her mind or attempt to control the way she lived. Sure, crime and the media's interest in everything negative from accidents to terrorists, took some getting used to but she did not have to watch the television news or listen to yet another politician slandering another one simply because they belonged to a different political party. If they only knew what really was going to happen in the future! Of course, she could not tell anyone in the present world what would happen in this future for that would change it. Even her own life would be affected if Earth as it was now, changed. The ability to travel through space-time did have its drawbacks.

It had already been changed once but that was Aari's story.

Damn traffic, Lara muttered to herself as the line of vehicles splashed a haze of water in front of her.

She really wanted to slow but to get into the flow she had to actually do the opposite. She increased speed a little, indicated and waved to the driver of car in the lane who braked enough to let her into the lane. She was now surrounded by vehicles. Cars carrying stony-faced commuters, commercial vans and several truck and trailer units, cruised along at far too great a speed for the conditions.

Idiot! Lara cried as an ancient vehicle, all crumpled fenders, patches of paint and smoky exhaust, cut across two lanes and almost sideswiped her. She braked, ignored the horn that screamed from behind and stretched forward to wipe the interior of the windscreen.

That was when her phone rang.

Hello! she spoke out and inwardly cursed. The stupid thing wasn't voice activated. With her right hand she reached across to the passenger seat, found the phone but it slipped... Damn! For a second she diverted her eyes down…just as the old car ahead cut back into her lane.

Lara never even realised what happened! There a gigantic thump, she was thrown sideways to the extent of her seat belt, an airbag burst before her eyes and she found herself propelled sideways beneath something silver.

Only later did she discover that it was a semitrailer unit that hit her roof and sliced it open like a sardine can as massive wheels cut across her vehicle.

*

Just lay still, Ma'am. Don't try to move. A crew will cut you out soon.

Lara shook her head. It was dark and raining with flashlights cutting through the air. She felt strange, her head throbbed but that was it. She could feel nothing… Nothing! Panic seized her. Where were her hands and legs? She saw a hand beside her, all bloody and sticking out of a blue sleeve. Wasn't she wearing a blue top?

She gasped in horror. That was her hand but she couldn't feel it! A cool cloth wiped her head and she glanced up at a stranger's eyes.

It's okay. Ma'am. I am John, a medic. What can I call you?

Lara, Lara Edwards. I was going home and…

You were involved in a multi-car pile up, Lara.

It was my fault.

I doubt that. It appeared that a car collided with yours and pushed it under a semitrailer. The truck wheels cut across your right side. It's lucky you never had a passenger.

I can't feel anything. Lara broke into a sob.

The man stared at her with empathy in his eyes. Oh hell, he knew she was badly injured but was too kind to tell her. Phone Grandad or Nareen but not Aari, she whispered. Their numbers are in my phone. Aari doesn't need a fright right now…her baby's only a week away. Please help me, John...

The lights around flashed and her eyes became heavy. No, she had to stay awake... it was essential for her to stay awake. What would Grandad say? He told her these ancient Earth vehicles were dangerous, especially in the wet weather. She should have taken the train.

Visions of three worlds flashed through her mind, she felt cold, wet and numb. Most of all, she felt numb. A stench of burning tyres hit her nostrils, red clouds filled her mind and she had trouble breathing.

*

The surgeon reached out to shake hands with the three men and two women in the room. I assume you are all from Lara's immediate family?

We are, the dark haired woman who introduced herself as Nareen Edwards replied. She supported her heavily pregnant companion and the pair were, in turn supported by their partners. An elderly man stood back with penetrating eyes shining from a face otherwise devoid of any expression.

Tyron Marshall? The surgeon glanced across at the old man.

I am,

Lara named you as her next-of-kin but wanted you all here.

Lara is my granddaughter, Tyron replied. Her parents have passed on. Aari and Nareen are her... err sisters. The old man wiped his chin and looked away as if he was trying to avoid something.

Lara is through the worst and can breathe by herself. However, I'm afraid her lower body was crushed by the truck wheels and… The doctor hesitated.

We know that, Nareen cut in. Please tell us straight, Doctor.

"Very well. Lara will be a quadriplegic for the rest of her life. There is a faint possibility that feeling in her upper body and left arms will be restored after therapy but that is the most optimistic diagnosis I can offer, I am afraid.

I see, Nareen replied.

Aari gasped and was gripped by her husband while Nareen's partner just stood there, white faced and almost swaying on his feet.

The old man stared at him. You are wrong, Doctor, terribly wrong. He spoke in a whisper but his words were like steel. Lara will be perfect. She has another eighty years of life before her and will be perfect, do you understand?

The surgeon was about to speak but instead reached out and squeezed the old man's hands before glancing around at the others.

She is awake and would like to talk to you all. If you will follow Charge Nurse Anderson here. He hesitated. I am sorry I don't have better news.

Lara is alive, Tyron replied. For that, we thank you. Once one is dead there is no hope but now there is.

Of course, Mr Marshall. By tomorrow I shall be able to give you details of Lara's rehabilitation program and outline the directions we need to take...

It will not be necessary, Tyron cut in. We shall look after my granddaughter from this point on.

The surgeon nodded and glanced at the other family members. He knew tragic news like this affected relatives in different ways. This tenacious old man was an enigma, though.

*

We will go to Hazelseed, Tyron said to the family after the surgeon left and they followed the nurse through the corridor. They can help. I know they can.

Nareen Edwards knew what Tyron was talking about. She however, did not share his determination and optimism. Lara's injuries were more than just paralysis. Her whole lower body had been crushed by the truck wheels. As well as a broken back, her pelvis was splintered, the femur bones in her legs broken as well as the bones in her right arm. If she had feeling, she would be in acute pain. There were enormous repairs that had to be made to her body with possibly months of hospitalisation necessary.

Nareen, Lara and their family lived within commuting distance of Portland. Their farmlet was once part of a larger farm that had been subdivided with a road circling through the land that was now covered in thirty or more upmarket homes, either just completed or in various stages of construction. The Edwards, Marshall, Olfsten Family Trust owned the original homestead with its two houses, barn and other buildings, together with surrounding fields and a plantation of trees that kept it private from the nearby development.

The 1930s vintage main farmhouse had an addition that probably no other house in the world had. The bathroom was not unusual except that beside the shower unit was an insignificant outside door. This once led to a back veranda and there was even