“If, for instance, a few galaxies begin moving toward the Milky Way, converging upon it slowly like clouds that do not appear to move from a great distance but are actually traveling quite rapidly, then time in the Milky Way can slow dramatically because of the extra mass and gravity exerted upon it. If, however, galaxies trend away from the Milky Way, the reduced mass and gravity pressure causes time to move more quickly. This is why the multiple Earths can differ so greatly in their time periods. Overall, however, when averaged for the entire universe, time is a constant.”
“I think I understand now—a bit TMI, but okay. So what year are we in in
“Again, Craig, it would be unwise—”
“You said you respect my free will.”
“I do. However—”
“Good enough,” Craig said as he lifted off, the A.I.’s holographic image disappearing and then reappearing in Craig’s mind’s eye as Craig flew through the largest of the holes in the ceiling and straight up over the building, trying to get above the tallest of the surrounding buildings to attain the best vantage point. It was only a matter of seconds before a colossal manmade structure appeared to the south, backdropped by a perfect blue morning. “Oh my God,” Craig whispered as he gazed at the Twin Towers.
“It’s September 11,” the A.I. finally conceded. “2001.”
3
Craig didn’t hesitate to ignite his cocoon and blast off as fast as he could toward the towers. “What time is it? How long do we have?”
“Craig, you have to stop,” the A.I. replied.
“What time is it, damnit!” Craig demanded.
Without warning, Craig’s forward momentum dropped dramatically, as though he were trying to make his way through thick molasses. “What are you doing? Stop it!” he shouted as he began to pull back from his intended destination.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot allow you—”
“So you’re a liar!” Craig shouted. “Free will? Bull!”
“I would never lie to you, Craig. However, you have not afforded me an opportunity to explain.”
“I’m tired of your attempts to justify—”
“My protestations are not only metaphysical, Craig. They are also practical. If you approach the Twin Towers, you will likely be apprehended and perhaps even killed immediately. The Purists may be waiting for you there, expecting you to make your move.”
“How?” Craig asked as he floated high above the city streets. “We just left them on the
“Time, as you understand it, is irrelevant in this instance. The Planck platform creates an instability in space time that is chaotic and difficult to predict. The distortions are very much like water. Depending on where one catches the time wave, the discrepancy can be several minutes. It is not even impossible that the Purists actually arrived in this universe before we did.”
Craig’s eyes narrowed as he stared toward the towers, a grimace forming on his lips. “That sucks, but it’s not enough to make me give up. We still have to try.”
“I shall help you,” the A.I. replied, “but you must listen to my plan.”
“I’m all ears.”
“While trying to intercept the airplanes at the tower would be a fool’s errand, virtually guaranteeing that the Purists would be able to stop you at their leisure, there is another way.”
Craig immediately understood. “The airport! Do we still have time?”
“It is currently 7:31 a.m. Lead hijacker, Mohamed Atta will be boarding American Airlines Flight 11 at 7:35 a.m. at Boston’s Logan International Airport. I can get us there if you allow me to take over your flight systems.”
“You’ve already done that.”
“Yes. However, I won’t go anywhere without your permission,” the A.I. replied.
“Fine! You have my permission! Let’s go!”
Without a word, the A.I. turned Craig around to face north and blasted off. In just seconds, they had accelerated to a speed Craig had never experienced before.
“Holy…this is fast.”
“Logan is 310 kilometers away, so to make it in time, we have to travel nearly 6,000 kilometers per hour.”
“Will we make it?”
“Assuredly. However, we will not be able to stop the coordinated attacks. I will patch you through to the security at Logan, and you can have them relay the information and stop all four flights from taking off.”
“What am I supposed to tell them? ‘I’m a guy from the future with a robot in my head. A bunch of terrorists are going to fly planes into the Twin Towers. Please have Airport Security detain them.’ I don’t think they’d buy it. I’ll find myself in a straightjacket before breakfast!”
“Tell them the truth. You’re former U.S. Air Force Special Forces.”
“Can’t
“I’m just a voice in your head, Craig. I can connect the call, but I can’t talk to them. I’ll prompt you. Don’t worry.”
“What if they don’t believe me?”
“That won’t be a problem. Tell them you’re on your way and there’s about to be an incident—a major incident.”
4
“We are twenty seconds out,” the A.I. informed Craig as they slowed their approach to the airport. “I’ve already examined the schematics of the airport. Flight 11 boarded at Gate B32. We’ll be entering through the window.”
“Through the window? You mean crashing through?”
“Yes, and in rather dramatic fashion, I’m afraid.”
“That’s fine with me,” Craig growled, his upper lip curling atavistically.
“The pictures of each hijacker have been uploaded into your facial recognition. They board at different times, but all five men will be at the gate. We can knock each of them unconscious automatically with an energy blast—”
“Not happening,” Craig replied.
“Why not?”
The window was now visible as the A.I. guided Craig toward it.
“Because these guys need to feel some discomfort.”
A second later, the brilliant green cocoon smashed through the floor-to-ceiling window adjacent to Gate B32. It was 7:35, and Mohamed Atta and Abdulaziz al-Omari were next in line to board Flight 11.
As he stood to his feet, Craig’s mind’s eye immediately locked onto the two targets, as well as the other three hijackers who remained at their seats—though, like everyone else, they’d gotten down on the ground to protect themselves.
