Regression (40 page)

“
I have coursework in
every major discipline from most Ivy League schools taken by
correspondence or during summer sessions. Philosophy, economics,
engineering, geology, mathematics, physics…a foundation in each of
your specialties. I may not have the depth of theory or practice
each of you does in your specialty, but I have a greater breadth of
knowledge.” Peter looked stunned, Melik incredulous and Troy
sceptical. Only Babak had known more than the others but still
expressed surprise at the extent of her education. “I also had a
significant role in operations of a number of charities. Nothing to
the scale of Three Eleven, yet large enough to give me the
experience in dealing with the public and with employees. In this
room is an amazing collection of men who have excelled in their
individual fields. And, therein lays the problem.” She paced to the
front of the table, sparing a final glance at Janak. “I would like
to return to where I started, if I may. A group of blind men are
led into a room and positioned close to an elephant. They are told
what they can feel in front of them is an elephant. The first blind
man takes hold of the elephant’s trunk and exclaims ‘An elephant is
like a snake, sinuous and long, with a mouth at the end.’ The
second blind man wraps his arm around the leg of the elephant and
states ‘No, an elephant is like a tree, strong, thick and
immobile.’ Yet a third blind man takes hold of the elephant’s ear
and says to his companions ‘You are both wrong, the elephant is
like a leaf, thin and fragile.’ The men then began to argue about
what was truly the nature of the elephant. All of the men were
correct from their individual perspective but none of the men were
able to truly understand what the essence of elephant was because
they were restricted to their own area of experience.” She tapped
the whiteboard displaying their initiatives.

“
You have all only
focused on how to use your individual knowledge and technology to
deal with the future catastrophe. I have been introduced to a
number of approaches to solving the threat to the world, both here
at the tower and at Sanctum. There really was no continuity, no
cooperation. Granted, you do coordinate your meetings and inform
each other of your work, but–excuse the use of another metaphor
here–you do not seem to see the forest for the trees. Abraham ran
this company as CEO and I do not want to besmirch his memory but
what we need is more than that. We need to bring the world on board
and we need Dawn Ingram to do it.”

“
You’re saying we
should go public?”

“
In a manner of
speaking. Envision the world united under one banner cause, working
toward a common goal, to avert a dire threat to humanity. What you
have accomplished to date is incredible, it is amazing and so
hugely commendable. But imagine what you could do with everyone
else’s help.”

“
They’ll think we’re
crazy.”

“
Think back to the
Global Warming panic of the first timeline. The world united to a
cause ten, twenty, one hundred years into the future. I’m not
saying we tell the world something terrible is going to happen on
November 11, 2011.” Adya pivoted to face Kian. “How…shall we
say…irrefutable is your information about the possible comet strike
you mentioned a month ago?” Kian’s eyes widened, accompanied by a
few gasps around the table. “Is there anyone able to argue against
us if we announced there is a…” she paused, “what, seventy five
percent probability of impact? Eighty-five?”

“
No one else has a
space telescope, we have absolute control. We could very
easily…enhance…the perception of risk.” Understanding and
recognition dawned on more faces.

“
I realize in a way we
are lying. Claiming a disaster which might not happen, to activate
resources around the world for a common cause–saving humanity. Not
much different than current practice but with far wider effect. If
we send out the clarion call−our recently launched satellite has
detected danger−we can sow the seeds of productivity farther and
wider than ever before.”

“
With you at the
helm.” Peter’s eyes were glazed. Adya almost felt sorry for
him.

“
Is anyone else
willing?” A chorus of “No’s” was loud and clear. “I don’t propose I
run the show or call the shots. Everything should still be group
decisions. But what I offer is a way to maintain a unified front
with one person representing the company voice…your voices. For as
long as you consider me fit, I will assume the position. If you are
willing to accept me as such.” Adya sat, to a round of applause,
finally standing and walking around the table, shaking hands with
the men. 

Journal of Doctor Nicholas Weaver

November 7, 98 P. I.

The body must die to
free the soul for the regression. And, in the next timeline, the
body must sustain a serious head injury to accommodate the new
soul’s arrival. That is the price to be paid for regression. I
arrived in the second timeline, hoping to find Adya and Hope.
Instead, I found myself in the hospital and my parents killed in
the accident that put me there.

Ten times I have
killed my parents. It does not get easier with each successive
occurrence. I also know that I was responsible for at least four
other deaths related to Adya’s regressions, where someone was
caught in the crossfire of her transitional accident. The weight of
guilt is at times unbearable, especially when alone. And yet, I
persist in the hope that by sacrificing those lives I may yet save
so many more.

Adya hid in the sick room on the executive level while Babak
made the devastating announcement to the assembled Three Eleven
staff. Her stomach roiled with upset at perpetrating the deception,
she could feel her belly stretching with the pressure. Stopping her
pacing, she slid her hands down her waistline, the pants she wore
uncomfortably tight. She unfastened them, looping an elastic
through the hole and over the button. “Whew, definitely need a new
wardrobe for you boys, and soon.” A secret smile twitched the
corners of her mouth. Shaking out her newly chopped locks, finger
picking the roots for more body, she resumed her pacing. She
absently rubbed her birthmark with her other thumb, alleviating the
stinging with counter pressure.

Peter’s exclamation of surprise
upon entering the room was followed by his laughter. Adya’s chin
length bob, red hair a stark contrast to her white skin, elicited
his beaming grin.

Pouting, she fought to keep from
smiling herself. “I need a new look. Too many staff knew Adya
Jordan and I need to be drastically different so there’s no
question in anyone’s mind.”

“
I don’t know if red’s
the way to go, though, A…Dawn.” He stifled his laughter, sobering
as Babak entered the room with red rimmed eyes.

“
May I never have to
do such a thing again. Everyone was asking about a funeral service,
I told them you were being sent back to your family for burial. An
aneurism was your final cause of death, Adya.”

“
Dawn.” She gasped.
“Oh, my God, I have to notify…wait, I can’t.” Tears sprung to her
eyes. “We’ll have to notify them. They’ll be worried sick after
hearing about Abraham and to then find out that…” She turned pained
eyes to them. “My family is going to be devastated and here I’ll
be.”

“
There’s nothing to be
done for it. And I think you are right. We need Adya Jordan but the
world won’t accept her. So we reinvent her.”

“
Could we tell my
family, bring them here? Or to Sanctum?”

“
And do what with
them? Too great a risk. The fewer people aware, the
better.”

“
The pain they’ll
feel… Someone should personally deliver the news. This sort of
thing can’t be done over the phone. Neither Abraham nor Norton had
living family to be notified, thankfully. ” She shuddered at the
thought of being so alone in the world.

“
I’ll do it. I met
them on our trip through and that might help. I’ll go right away.
We can’t let them wait another minute. I will have to tell them
there is no body.” Peter turned to her. “Is there anything you want
them to have?”

“
I would say my
journals except they’re filled with stuff from the future. If they
ask about them, tell them they must have been on the plane. Mom
bought one for me so I wouldn’t be surprised if she asked.” A
single tear slid down her cheek. “I suppose it would be appropriate
to return my clothing, if you bring everything here first I can
take out the stuff I got here, no point sending it back since I
need something to wear.” She drew a shaky breath. “I have a sketch.
I think it should be sent home but I need to take a copy first.
Remind me, to tell you where that came from. It’s exceptionally
important but I want to tell everyone at the same time. Can you
stop by the cottage and get everything up here?” Peter nodded.
“Okay.” Another deep breath. “I think I need to be alone right
now.”

“
Are you sure?” He
covered her hand with his. Raising her tear streaked face to his,
she could not even bring herself to smile.

“
Yes, Peter, you can’t
help me through this one. Thank you for offering.”

Babak quietly left the room. Peter
murmured “I love you” before leaving. She collapsed on the bed, the
weight of loss crashing down on her as she felt entirely and
utterly alone. A flutter beneath her diaphragm caught her breath. A
second flutter confirmed the babies were moving. The wonderment of
new life calmed her tears as she gently cradled her abdomen,
whispering “Hello. This is a new life for you and for me. I’m so
sorry you’ll never meet your grandfather and grandmother. They
would have loved you with all their hearts. But I promise you I
will make up for it. I will love you enough for everyone. No matter
what your father is.” Lying on her side, she closed her eyes as
tears continued to slip between her eyelids. A deep, dreamless
sleep carried Adya through the rest of the night.

“
Love the
hair.”

“
Thanks, does red do
it for you, Melik?”

“
Absolutely. With
those eyes…” Adya, Babak, Melik and Peter viewed the cell samples
from her amniocentesis on the monitor connected to the microscope.
Melik had moved a set upstairs to the executive level just so she
could participate.

“
Have you ever
wondered how they know? Cell division is beautiful, the incredible
symmetry of movement. The chromatin condenses into the chromosomes.
How do the cells know how to do it? When to do it? Why they do it?
It amazes me they align in the centre of the cell. What tells them
where the centre is? What tells them they need to line up there? We
already knew things like carcinogens and viruses can affect cell
division, but are there other means of control as well? Like the
plasmid?” Silence and puzzled frowns met her query. She challenged
them. “You can’t tell me you’ve never thought about it, the things
we call instincts. How do butterflies know when and where to go?
Cells when and how to divide? How can we make the leap from simple
proteins being encoded by DNA strands to thinking, feeling and
aware human beings?”

“
Too deep right now,
Adya. Let’s just look at these samples from the twins. The plasmid
is present but has begun to disintegrate. I’d like to do a
karyotype, polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis on the
samples, we’ll use the same techniques which have been reasonably
successful in studying your cells. I’d like to see if the foetuses
are identical or fraternal. Both definitely male. Y chromosome in
every cell. Too bad we don’t have a sample of the paternal
DNA.”

“
I…” she hesitated,
“should be able to provide that.”

“
Really? How?” Melik
furrowed his brow.

“
The clothes I wore
that night. Remember the presidential scandal?” He slowly nodded,
recognition dawning in his eyes. “Something like that. The dress is
in my quarters, I’ll bring it tomorrow.”

“
Wow, you keep showing
me new facets of your personality all the time, Adya…remind me not
to anger you.” Peter laughed but his guarded expression warned her
he was not entirely joking. She sighed. A light touch on her hand,
and the reassurance in his eyes, let her know he was still there
for her. Her thankful smile trembled on her lips.

“
When do you think
conception happened?”

“
August−”

“
Can’t be.”

“
What do you mean? The
date was August−” Babak looked at the ultrasound monitor again,
leaning toward it, shaking his head.

“
I’m telling you,
these babies are too advanced to be only sixteen weeks, has to have
been at least May−”

“
I wasn’t here
then.”

“
Could your previous
self…”

“
That doesn’t fit your
gonadotrophin theory.”

“
No, but could
she?”

“
Test this sample.”
She thrust the skirt at him, pushed aside his hand, and stalked
into her bathroom, locking the door. He knocked softly. She hissed,
“Go away,” hands cradling her abdomen.

“
I’m sorry, Adya,
you’ve got to think straight here. I know you were attacked, but is
there any chance your earlier self would have been pregnant before
the regression happened?”