Odd Jobs (Linda Kay Daniels Adventures 3.5) by Rowena Tulley

Author:Rowena Tulley
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Published: 2013-12-22T05:00:00+00:00

The End

DÉJÀ VU

Lieutenant Linda Kay Daniels came to attention and saluted as two admirals entered the small conference room.

"At ease," Admiral Rawlings said as he and Admiral Carston returned the salute. "It's been a while since we last met. Take a seat." She sat as directed.

"You probably are wondering why you were brought here," Rawlings said.

"I think I can guess," Linda Kay replied. "The first time we met, I ended up going on a mission back in time. We haven't kept in contact socially since that mission, so I can only assume you want me to volunteer for another time travel mission." Rawlings and Carston looked at each other and smiled.

"You are only partially right," Rawlings replied. "We do have another mission for you, but this time you are being ordered to go back." Linda Kay's eyes widened.

"I thought all time travel was suspended indefinitely after my first mission," Linda Kay said. "What could possibly be so important that you want to send me back?"

"The aliens uncovered the details about our time travel project," Carston said. "They constructed a time travel device of their own. Once we found out where it was located, we sent a commando unit to destroy the device, along with all of their scientists and technicians. Our lab folks went through what records remained, and found out that they had just sent a human operative back into the past to change history."

"I thought history couldn't be changed," Linda Kay said. "You told me that according to time travel theory, any attempt to alter the future by changing the past would result in the creation of a new, alternate future, without altering the existing future."

"That's what we used to think," Rawlings said. "However, the alien scientists devised a theory that the future could be altered only if the change in the past was subtle. In other words, going back in time to do something big—to assassinate a key historical figure for example—would create an alternate future timeline, just as you said. However, this new theory implies that going back in time to make a tiny tweak in an individual's life, such as making him choose a different career, could result in the future being overwritten, for lack of a better term." Linda Kay's back stiffened.

"Is this alien going back in time to affect my past?" Linda Kay said. Carston shook his head.

"Good guess," Carston said. "The aliens analyzed a scenario whereby your parents would never meet and marry, but they ruled it out when they discovered the future would be the same. No, they sent their agent back to change Professor Stephan Cramer's life. Ever hear of him?"

"No Sir," Linda Kay replied, shaking her head.

"I’m not surprised," Rawlings continued. "Like many scientists, he was brilliant in his youth, but faded as he got older. He spent the last fifty years of his life teaching. However, his graduate work and doctoral dissertation in nuclear physics and quantum mechanics provided key stepping stones for the work of Dr. Judith Schrödinger, and I know you've heard of her.

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