The Universe Builders: Bernie and the Time Lords: humorous epic fantasy science fiction adventure by Steve LeBel

Author:Steve LeBel [LeBel, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Argon Press
Published: 2019-09-13T04:00:00+00:00

A Suicide Mission

All the bubble people had been asked to assemble in the meeting room. Gorod, Shera and Loranta waited patiently for the last to arrive.

When everyone was seated, Shera began, “We’re here to talk about the results of our first intervention. Everyone knows our goal is to accelerate the development of scientific knowledge. You also know what we’re doing has consequences. The present, as we remember it, will never be the same.

“That was why, before we even started, we developed the Unacceptable Consequences Policy. Our goal was to avoid changes that would have unnecessary impact on us and our present. We also promised if our changes effected one of us, that we’d try to undo that change.” Shera looked around the room. “I believe that policy was naïve and unworkable.”

A soft murmuring spread around the room.

“We’ve learned that changing the past is more complex than we ever imagined,” Shera continued. “It’s impossible to predict the outcome with any certainty.

“On our first mission, three hundred and fifty years ago, we introduced high-yield crops, hoping to produce a surplus of labor that could work in the factories. But those factories didn’t exist at that time. So, instead, our change produced an oversupply of food, which caused food prices to tumble and ultimately caused farmers to stop producing. Thousands of people died of starvation.

“Yet our next change will create factory jobs for those people. Each change alters the timeline, sometimes for the better, sometimes for worse. Every change produces its own unacceptable consequences. Yet, the next change is likely to correct those problems. That’s the same thing that happened in our own history.

“We’re seeing history from its most unflattering angle. And it’s not pretty. If we tried to follow our policy, we’d have to undo every change, and we’d never accomplish our goals. We’re left with the brutal reality that some people in this room no longer exist in the current reality outside our bubble.”

“What does this mean for them?” asked Bertai, one of Loranta's researchers.

“We don’t know,” said Shera. “It’s possible, as we introduce more changes, that some of the missing people may be restored to the timeline. For example, when we create opportunities for people to work in the cities, we hope to avoid or at least minimize the famine. That could restore some of the 'lost' people. We’re planning other interventions to make our world safer. That will also improve everyone’s chances. But, as I said, the only certainty is that everything will be different from what we knew.”

“But you can’t be sure the changes will bring us back,” said another.

“No. There is no way to be sure,” said Shera.

“So,” said one of the technicians, “basically, our rescue mission has become a suicide mission, and there’s no turning back.”

“I’m sorry,” said Shera.

Whispers and mutterings broke out. Loranta stood and looked around the room. All eyes turned to her, and the room became silent.

“I left my family behind. I know most of you did the same,” she said. “I’m not sure we’ll ever see them again.

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