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CHAPTER 40

BANG!


Once again, they materialized a couple of inches above the ground for safety, and dropped with a layer of cold muck underfoot.

Martin Spencer exhaled in relief. They’d done it. Hopefully they could wrap up shortly and get home.

Inside the hangar, the Germanics looked around quickly, assessing threat, preparing to react. Slowly, they decided it was safe enough to trust their escorts, though only not to be slaughtered. They were unlikely to trust anything they were shown or told.

All the Bykos present wore pants and lab coats.

Larilee Zep was in attendance, and apparently had studied Old German to a workable degree.

She spoke in that language, and immediately her voice came from the House persona, in English.

“Welcome to our village, Wulf and people of Wulf. You are welcome, and I will take you to lodging and food.”

They seemed inclined to accept this offer, though he suspected that she being an attractive female had something to do with it. Or maybe not. He wasn’t sure what their standards were. Still, they followed, along with the Americans and two Guardians, and he noticed other Guardians surreptitiously following around the perimeter, and watching discreetly. They all had batons he assumed were stun devices as well. He expected any trouble would result in a slumber party.

Several handlers approached the horses and led them away, while others coaxed the dogs with meat. He expected some sort of field was lulling them, too.

The Nordwandlaz’s facility looked like the inside of a huge lodge, with fireplaces at each end, wooden benches, sleeping berths along the walls, and another hearth in the middle with cooking utensils. Next to it was a large table he knew concealed the serving surface.

Zep waved in welcome and said, “You will rest here, and our doctors will check you. You will have food and fire—”

Wulf cut in with, “When can we talk to your wizards?”

She smiled and continued, “—and you will be able to talk to our council. They will address your concerns as best we can arrange.”

The man glanced around and seemed quite aware of who the warriors were, and that they were all taller and fit. Wulf still had his sword—that had been a gesture that he was a captive equal, not an inferior or defeated. It wasn’t going to help him here.

He nodded, waved a “come on” to his people, and headed for a bench.

Well, that had gone better than Martin expected.

Their own quarters were familiar and comfortable after all these trips.

Elliott announced, “Formation, please.”

They lined up, and he addressed them.

“At ease. We’re back, I’m calling this a down day because I don’t know how long we have and we need to unwind before we wrap up. It’s been another three weeks, and a rough set. We’ll pick up here at oh nine hundred. Usual rules apply. Dismissed.”

That was generous and much needed.

Martin stretched and turned, and Doc was there.

“Do you think we’re done?”

“On the one hand, I hope so. On the other, there’s so much to learn here, and it’s fucking amazing.”

Amalie Raven came over. “It is. But I doubt they’ll let us stay.”

“You’re right of course. It’s still awesome to have seen what we have.”


Sean Elliott sighed. The Byko desks were very comfortable, and they’d fabricated a touchpad keyboard that worked better than the one on his laptop. He assumed they were logging everything he entered, in addition to everything anyone said. There was just no way around it here.

Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork. He had the full AAR for the Bykos and the general. He had the sanitized AAR for the Army to use officially. He was finishing a file on every recovered soldier, with notes, on what to look out for and deal with. He wasn’t sure it would be possible to keep them all quiet, but all he could do was furnish the best information possible. At least this time they wouldn’t have to prove where they’d gone. Command knew about the matter. How long before there were leaks there, also? It was pretty much impossible to keep this secret. That it wasn’t all over the tabloids already was a miracle.

The big three individual concerns were Noirot and her child, Lozano and his issues, and Munoz, who might actually try to get attention and sue. The rest could probably be debriefed and manage in some fashion, as he and his element had.

He was still writing when the troops straggled back from rec. It appeared several had a good time. Being single here would be amazing, but he had both duties and a relationship to manage. Command had obligations.

He wasn’t sure if it was complete enough, but it was as complete as he was going to get it. He sat back, rubbed his eyes, accounted for all his people, and sprawled on his bed.

The next morning he let Doc handle formation while he spoke through House.

“Can you tell Researcher Zep I have completed files for their review?”

The entity responded, “One moment.”

Seconds later, Zep’s voice came through. “Thank you very much, Captain. May I extract the files now?”

“Yes.”

“Done. Do you have a scheduled formation with the other element?”

“I should, but I don’t.”

“Can you meet me there shortly?”

He looked over. The minimal formation was concluded, everyone was doing PT under Doc’s direction. After that it would be routine chores, video training, and attempting to find more info on their hosts, an ongoing, unreferenced task.

“Yes,” he agreed. “I’m free now.”

“Please bring Sergeant Caswell if she’s free. I can be there at once. Off.”

He took that as “out,” and asked, “House, it’s right next door, yes?”

“Yes, I’ll have the doorway marked for you.”

He called, “Doc, I apologize for interrupting your formation.”

The man replied, “Go ahead, sir?”

“Caswell, we’re needed next door, if you’re available.”

“Yes, sir!” she replied at once, added to Doc, “Sir, may I fall out?”

“You may.”

Formalities, but important. She stepped back, came over, and asked, “What is it, sir?”

“We’re meeting Zep. She didn’t say why.”

“Hooah.”

Zep arrived at the doorway as they did, dressed in the usual slacks and coat that were almost uniform here.

Something he’d wondered for a long time caused him to ask, “Ms. Zep, the first time we met, was the unusual dress of your contingent on purpose to gauge our response?”

She smiled. “Yes.” Then she added, “You did fine, it wasn’t a test. You’ve seen how people dress casually around here.”

“Or undress, yes.”

“Exactly. Shall we go in? You have a query.”

“Yes,” he prompted.

They entered, and he noted with approval the troops were in PT uniform, and appeared to be cleaning up from a morning session. They were still very fit by US Army standards, from five years of manual labor. So they had that going for them. They glanced his way, and SSG Burnham shouted, “AttenSHUN!”

He waited just long enough to ensure they did come to attention, then ordered, “At ease and carry on.”

He looked at Zep. “What do we need?”

She indicated with her hand, as Noirot approached.

“Captain, may I speak with you?”

“Absolutely, Sergeant, what is it?”

She spoke in a rush. “There are complicating factors. I’m really not sure I can explain Kita back home. I’d have to claim she was adopted, or lost, but she’s obviously my daughter, and you say we’ll be back within a month or so of when we left?”

“If they do things well, yes.”

“I can’t leave her here alone, sir.” The woman was sobbing.

“Have you discussed this with anyone?”

She wiped her face and nodded. “I asked Lieutenant Cole, and then I talked to Ms Zep, who talked to some of their people. She said they can arrange for me to stay, but it has to be cleared by the Army and cleared by you.”

Well, that made a bunch of his fretting pointless.

Still, he needed to be sure she made the right decision.

“Do you think you’ll be happy here? Did they tell you what you can do or how you’ll live?”

She looked quite a bit more cheerful as she blurted out words. “I can be a child minder for now. They have training classes for it, everything from first aid to psychology and even a theory of play. I’ll have to learn their dialect and one of the other languages, but I’m sure I can do it. They said anything else would require additional education, but they’re willing to help if I can. And Kita would grow up with the best they have to offer. Rural Louisiana isn’t bad, but there’s so much more here.”

He gave that a second, and it actually sounded like an honest deal.

“I have final authority here,” he told her. “But I have to explain back home. Your daughter is a complication either way, but I think having you stay is easier administratively than bringing her. I was never considering separating the two of you.” And he was still really glad that she hadn’t decided to do that. Or that she already had children back home. He hadn’t even thought about that but, oh, shit, that would have been a nightmare.

She asked, looking hopeful, “So you’re okay with it, sir?”

He said, “There’s no good solution for me, but I think that’s easiest for the Army, and best for you and for Kita.”

She welled up tears again as she muttered, “Thank you, sir.”

He made a point. “The one thing to keep in mind is we have to close the incident. You’ll be reported dead. There’s no secret messages home, no coming back later.”

She nodded and looked very serious.

“I’ll miss my family, but Kita is the most important thing in the world to me.”

“It’s a hard position you’re in, and I’m very sorry they weren’t able to get us to you sooner.”

The woman nodded earnestly. “It’s not your fault, sir.”

“No, but it’s the mess I have to clean up. When do you want to officially transfer?”

She looked confused for just a moment. “You mean out of here to wherever? Uh, when’s convenient?”

“If you’re staying here, then there’s nothing further required from you in a duty status.”

She was wide-eyed. “Oh. Wow. I mean, discharge from the Army usually takes a while.”

“It does,” he agreed. “But you’re being declared dead.” He didn’t want to cut her off, but he wanted to make sure she grasped that.

She nodded. “Can I say goodbye to everyone? And see you off again?”

He nodded. “You’re welcome to visit as a guest, but I’d recommend limiting it. You’re doing a one-way trip to here.”

She nodded again. “Yes, they made that clear to me as well. I hate that I’ll never see anyone, but it was always a risk outside the wire. When we got lost it felt like we’d been abandoned by the world. Even by God. We felt we were dead. And we were slowly moving on in a shitty excuse of an afterlife. Then you showed up. It feels like I’ve been given my life back, and I can give my daughter a universe we never dreamed of.”

“That sounds like a good position to move forward from,” he said. “I recommend you grab the little personal stuff you have and say goodbye. We can plan to see you again before we leave.”

“Thank you, sir, and thanks for tolerating my…issues.”

He was glad of that closure, and reassured her, “Sergeant, you did a hell of a job under extreme circumstances, a lot more than you should have had to, and it’s a shame no one will know how heroic you were for your unit. Can Ms. Zep take you where you need to go?”

The researcher raised her voice and said, “I can.”

“Excellent. The general gets my report of what happened, but after that, the official story is you were a casualty somehow. They’ll work out details. Get your daughter and have an amazing life.”

He was almost tearing up himself. Poor woman. And lucky at the same time, but what a choice.

She stood and turned. “Kita! Come here, girl. Shoosa eki.

The girl ran over and took her hand.

Caswell walked over and handed Noirot a bag. “That’s your stuff,” she said, and gave Noirot a quick hug. She knelt down and hugged and booped Kita. “Be good.”

Everyone insisted on hugging them and smiling at the little girl. Even her future was complicated, but certainly a lot more comfortable and longer than it would have been.

Carefully, he gave her a hug himself, and the girl who was barely the size of his leg. They were so small, but surprisingly durable.

Then he said, “Sergeant Denise Noirot, there’s no SOP for this, but in front of witnesses, you are released from the US Army and into the care of the Byko people. Good luck and best wishes.”

She was crying now.

“Thank you, sir.”

She scooped up her daughter. The girl seemed unsure between her mother’s tears and the hugs and safety.

She asked, “Which way do we go?”

Zep smiled and pointed. “This way to transport.” She accompanied them out.

In a moment they were through the visible doorway and gone.

It wasn’t a good ending. But it was a new beginning. Leaving their world, but embracing the future and all it offered, even beyond the glimpse they’d had.

His musing was interrupted with, “Excuse me, sir.”

It was Lozano, at attention, and actually being polite.

Oh, Christ.

“Yes, Sergeant?”

The man was direct. “You could just leave me here and fix another problem.”

He was as blunt. “Sorry. Request denied.”

“Frenchy got to stay.”

“She has complicating circumstances best resolved that way.” He held up his hand against the man’s protest. “Your complications are your own. I’m sure, though, that the Byko can adjust your outlook without hurting your memory.”

The man shook his head and actually didn’t smirk for once. “No thanks. I’m fine the way I am.”

“That’s why you spend the duration locked up.”

Lozano’s shrug came across as a challenge. “Yeah, whatever, Captain. I tried to give you an easy way out.”

“It’s easy for me to take you back. How you handle it is your problem.”

“Thanks for nothing, sir.” The man turned and walked off without waiting for dismissal.

Sean shrugged. It was shortly not to be his problem.

He spoke to Cole. “Lieutenant, we’ll catch up shortly on some matters before we rotate home.”

“Yes, sir. Do you need anything regarding Lozano?”

He shook his head. “No, he’ll be someone else’s issue soon enough. He doesn’t get any more liberty, though.”

“Roger that. We’re wrapping up, then?”

“As soon as they can cut us loose, we’re ready. Keep them under control.”

“Yes, sir.”

He nodded, looked up, and called, “House, we’re going back.”

“Yes, Sean, this way.”

He was glad the mission was nearly over. It was still gut wrenching.


Armand Devereaux realized he liked these people less and less. They might have reasons for their assholishness toward recoverees, but they didn’t seem to do much about it. Sure, everyone was getting their health updated, teeth fixed, and to be physiologically as sound as when they were lost, to cover them. Lozano was not the only one who needed serious therapy. As for the Germans, entire families had been ripped apart. What was going to come of that he wasn’t sure.

Even Lex was a puzzle. Did she find him interesting as more than a novelty, being from the past, and black? That was certainly part of it, and he didn’t like it.

He sipped a beer while thinking. The sex was amazing, but did he want that kind of involvement?

He wandered over to Dr. Raven and asked her.

He kept his voice low around others, realizing House would hear no matter what.

“Do you have any idea yet how races are set here?”

She shook her head. “That wasn’t something I was tasked with, and I haven’t paid much attention, other than the baseline samples of our two escorts.” While she spoke she scribbled on a scrap of paper, and raised her hand just enough for him to read.

Wait for home.

Then she crumpled it.

“Dated the Germans yet?” he asked.

“Late 600s, early 700s, if I’m correct. They claimed 715 AD. There were lots of fragmented groups.”

“Spencer can’t place them to a group, though.”

“No, but we have no idea what our hosts found. They may have exact info. Or better than ours at least.”

“Yeah, ripping those kids from their mothers sucked. If I have nightmares, what’s it like for them?” Hell, he’d hate being separated from his mother now. As a kid…fuck.

She shrugged. “It happened enough to our ancestors. No need for us to feel guilty. Byko machinations, not ours.”

“True, but still.” Neither of them knew more than driblets about their ancestry. His family was from Antigua, but how had they got there from Africa? As for her culture, it barely existed as a footnote.

Shug was right, though. These were not nice people or good friends.


That evening Zep was back. She appeared in the doorway.

The captain greeted her. “May we help you, ma’am?”

“I have a briefing for all of you, if I may.”

Elliott called “Sure. Listen up! Gather ’round for a briefing from Dr. Zep.”

Armand stood up and paid attention.

Once everyone was nearby, she spoke.

“First, your information is complete, and the council is considering your mission final. We can send you home as fast as we can prepare and calculate. Late tomorrow.”

There was a ripple of excitement over that. It would be good to be done.

She turned, “Assuming you don’t need anything more from us, Captain.”

Elliott replied, “As long as our recoverees are fit, I have what I need. I’ll need some restraints for a couple of them, as discussed.”

She nodded. “Yes, that’s on the file.”

She continued, “The next item is to ask if you can return for another mission.”

Armand replied first. “Who’s missing?”

She said, “One of ours has taken a considerable amount of resources, traveled back, and is a risk for temporal stability.”

Spencer asked, “Why us? Don’t you have people?”

She almost seemed to sigh.

“It’s complicated. As explained, the physics team tells us it’s easier to transition people already on file, in a manner of talking. The baselines are more consistent. Then, you’ve actually been effective. Apparently there’ve been other attempts at fixing displacements and those didn’t work optimally. Also, you’ve demonstrated a level of personal trust that matters, especially in this issue. They were a bit disappointed in the changes in personnel since last time, but would like to continue the process.”

Armand asked, “So are we going home or staying here?”

She smiled and replied, “Home first, then back here. We certainly care about your personal well-being.”

Do they really? he wondered, given some of their other activity.

She added, “We need an answer before you leave, but it doesn’t have to be now.”

Elliott twisted his head. “Good, because we need to discuss that. So basically, you’ve got an established pipeline to us, precise measurements of our auras—for want of a better term—and it’s easier to control our movement than others. And you say we’re reliable.”

“Yes.”

“Aren’t you afraid of what we might learn here?”

“You, no. Your scientists, yes, and they will not be returning here again. I hope that’s not offensive.”

Raven said, “If I do, it will be to stay.”

Zep faced her and gave a single nod. She said, “That is a possible discussion, but not one I can have.”

Armand said, “I have a question about Noirot. We’re declaring her dead. It’s pretty final. She’s staying here. Can you think of any way to send her home later? Once you’ve learned enough to stabilize things.” Was it possible?

The woman wrinkled her brow and replied, “We may be able to eventually. If she wishes, and once her daughter is grown. We can possibly arrange an insertion with enough assets to reestablish her. Possibly. If Kita elects to be sterilized they can go back, but would they want to? After having been raised here?”

“So they’re casualties who get a beautiful prison and can never go home.”

“Unfortunately so. If we could have avoided this we would have. As it stands, our knowledge and control are getting better, but the incidents are becoming more common. The technology is out there and too many people are experimenting.”

“Even utopia has its issues.”

“I can see how you would say that. Yes.”

Dr. Raven said, “Like all the people who chiseled bits off Stonehenge for ‘study,’ while complaining about those doing it for souvenirs. None of them actually were studying, they were just lying to themselves.”

Zep nodded. “I wasn’t aware of that detail, but I know the site you speak of and that would be an accurate parallel.”

Raven asked, “What about us? We’ve learned quite a bit.”

“You have, but you wouldn’t be believed, you don’t know enough technical details to affect anything—we made sure of that—and displacing that many of you would be difficult to explain.”

Armand noted, “You thought about it.” This was a terrifying society.

“We had to consider all possible actions and outcomes.”

“I know. That’s what scares me every time.”

He really wasn’t sure about banging Lex again.


Dan Oglesby waited for the captain to brief them. He wasn’t sure about doing this again.

Elliott echoed his thoughts.

“On the one hand,” the captain started, “it’s a nice gesture to help our hosts who’ve helped us. On the other hand, they caused most of these issues, and our cultures aren’t entirely compatible.”

That was putting it mildly.

It was Doc who noted, “It might also reach a point where they engage in that brain-wiping or exiling they keep in reserve for problems.”

Dalton said, “We haven’t had those problems yet, though, and ours have been pretty significant. Heck, even Lozano is going back without further comment, as is Munoz.”

Elliott stated, “This is a poll of us, which I will take under advisement and relay to General McClare, who will let us know if the Army allows it. And obviously, no one is obligated, though it’s not impossible the Army may change that.”

Caswell said, “There’s only four of us the Army or Air Force can give orders to. If they need the whole contingent, that puts a kibosh on it.”

“There is that. They’re not letting the scientists back, but do you have any input?”

The two women shook heads.

Sheridan said, “Nothing relevant. It’s neat to study here, and we might expand our baseline surveys, but…” She bit her lip, obviously not wanting to continue the comment.

Raven replied, “I can’t advise you. I have the wrong background.”

Elliott nodded. “So who’s in if we get called again?”

Dalton’s hand was first up, alongside Elliott’s. Caswell was a moment behind. Dan shrugged and threw in. He’d support his people. Spencer was slow and it was obvious he wasn’t enthused. Doc was last and it felt like he was doing so only for them.

The captain half shrugged. “The summary is we’re not thrilled with the idea, but agreeable, depending on circumstances. I’ll relay that. Also, they really should be offering something as a bonus for special duty work.”

There was that. Dan didn’t want to be a contractor, but the money appealed, and basically, that’s exactly what they were.

“Okay,” the captain finalized. “Fall in.”

Dan did so, though these formations were notional with two officers and a senior NCO.

“Last night here. Everyone back by midnight. You can drink but stay sober, unless they can fix it before you sleep. No hangovers. Tomorrow we go home. Oh seven hundred wakeup, and get everything ready to roll. Dismissed.”


Rich Dalton took one last round at the Mad Lab, watching people pass by outside, and as they entered and left. There was an enthusiastic energy he’d never seen elsewhere.

He recognized Alakri Mommed, who waved, sped up pace, and arrived in moments.

“Sergeant Rich! Good luck and safe travels, and congratulations on your mission accomplishments.”

“Thank you, Mommed. How is your work?”

“I have narrowed the field to three diseases, though two are related. My understudies are eager for the challenge, and we hope to begin focus work, soon.”

“That is excellent. May I offer you a prayer?”

“Absolutely!”

He bowed his head and let the words choose themselves. “May the Good Lord bless and support your endeavors, with His wisdom and beneficence, leading to a speedy accomplishment, saving the lives of your patients, and may you all grow and learn from it.”

Alakri replied, “May the God of Abraham, Jesu, and the Prophet hear your words and bless our work. I thank you, my friend.”

They shared another drink, and watched the soldiers visit, say goodbyes, and return. It didn’t appear anyone was fraternizing tonight. They wrapped up and headed back.

“I have to leave soon, Mommed.”

“Of course. If you return, though, I hope we will meet again.”

“Absolutely. Be well and goodbye.” They shook hands warmly.

Everyone bedded down, the preps being much easier this time. Their personal gear was ready to go. He lay back and watched an aurora light show from the far north as he dozed off, warm and as comfortable as he’d ever been in the Army.


The next morning was straightforward. Up, shower, fresh breakfast, gather gear, assemble in formation, prepare to move out. They sat around with their bags playing hurry up and wait. Once out of the quarters they joined the other element.

The recoverees were accompanied by Guardians, and Lozano and Munoz were in futuristic handcuffs. Apparently, they weren’t trusted here, either.

It was a loose route step, not a march, but they moved in a semblance of formation back around the hangar to the familiar location. They did have a farewell escort.

Sergeant Spencer got a very intimate hug from that gorgeous Eurasian woman. Doc got one from Ms. Twine, and there was a mix of interest and awkwardness there he wasn’t going to pry into. Her assistant had Cal, and everyone from the first mission had to skritch the fellow. He was a fine example of a cat, and apparently very popular here.

Noirot and Kita arrived, Noirot in a local coverall with pockets, and Kita in yellow dress with scarf. She seemed to like that style. Noirot insisted on hugging everyone. She even hugged the two prisoners who couldn’t hug back. He heard her say, “Lozano, dude, you can do this. You have my thoughts.”

He tried to shrug it off, but muttered, “Goddammit, Frenchy…Fuck it all, I’ll try.”

“I know you will.”

She hugged Hamilton. “Thank you, my friend.”

“Good luck, girl.”

Zep said, “We hope to see you again in a few weeks. Good luck, and thanks for all your efforts. We’ve arranged for a bonus to be transferred with you.” She handed over a small case. It was obviously very heavy.

The captain nodded and accepted it. Rich stared at it and looked at the captain.

Elliott leaned close and whispered, “Five ounces of gold for each of us. Easiest way for them to transfer funds.”

“Wow.” He wasn’t sure exactly how much that was these days, but it was several grand.

“What about them?” he asked, indicating the recoverees.

“Also for them. How that gets transferred is something I have to work out.”

Zep announced, “It’s time.”

They stood on the platform. He was on one side of Lozano, Spencer was on the other side, and he realized how large Spencer actually was by comparison—height, chest, arms. Also, his rifle was loaded.

Doc and Caswell flanked Munoz. All the other recoverees were in front, with the scientists at the rear.

Zep said, “It will only be a few moments. You have the contact module that can transport through. If it’s agreeable that you return, I look forward to seeing you again. If not, it has been a pleasure to work with you. Good luck and live well.”

There was a chorus in return. “You too, Doc.” “Thanks, ma’am.” “Good luck with the temporal matters.” “We enjoyed the hospitality.” “Later.” “Best wishes.” There were even some thank-yous muttered from the other element.

She stepped outside the marked safety radius, holding the cat’s leash. Farther back at their screened control booth, the techs made adjustments, waved hands over controls, and—


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