The Saga of Erotika Jones 06
I knew the crime. I knew where they were shipping the stolen nuclear torpedos from. All I had to do was to get down from the top of this slippery Space Needle, some 600 hundred feet off the ground ...
Now we had them. Nuclear armaments gone missing.
Why didn't we get sent there to prevent this? It wasn't time to start second-guessing our programs and it's A. I.
Or maybe we should...
Regardless, the problem was that the reports said a seaplane took a nuclear torpedo up into Canada. At least one.
I could see both the seaplane docks not far away, and barely make out the Bremerton shipyards from here. The submarine base was near that.
Somehow, someone arranged this.
But what the hell was I going to do to solve that crime from up here? From the top of the Space Needle...
Since I couldn't get down there quickly, I just had to figure out what I needed to figure out.
It was true – I couldn't get there from here. Not way over to Canada in the time I had.
But when I did solve this mystery – or even if I didn't – there might still be some collateral damage.
It all depended on how smart I could use the limited time I had.
Just 24 hours, with clues and witnesses vanishing every minute.
I
It was raining when I arrived. Like most Seattle residents, I had a wardrobe that prepared me for this.
So I put up the waterproof hood of my long red over-shawl to cover most of my mid-back, dark brown hair. And yet, it was good to feel the rain on my face.
I closed my eyes to enjoy it. Like it was washing something away. Anxiety, tenseness, uncertainty.
In the dark pre-dawn, I only dressed against what I knew the weather on average would be. I was glad I could find some jeans and sturdy hiking boots this time.
I saw the navigation lights near where I sat and was doubly glad.
Because I was on top of something where “slippery when wet” took on a double warning.
And forced deep regular breaths in to my lungs in order to slow my racing heart.
It’s not every day you get a chance to slip off a 600 foot building shaped like a flying saucer.
The view on the way down would be spectacular, if that was any consolation.
But my job was to find a safer way to get down, like the elevator.
The real question bugging me, though – was how did I get here?
- - - -
OUR BREAKFAST DATE was quite early. Because we had to steal some time away from our regular schedule. I was woken to someone knocking at the front door of my apartment.
It turned out to be Finn – my brother, protector, and partner in crime-solving.
“Good morning, Erotika Jones.” His smiling face was topped by his irrepressible red hair. Today he was in a simple raincoat, oddly dry even with the rain pelting the apartment windows.
“Good morning, Finn. Won’t you come in?”
We both almost laughed at that. Because Finn had to leave my apartment before he could knock to be let back in.
But since I borrowed the bodies I used for our assignments, there was no use in taking the chance I could get freaked out by her memories before my programming could take over.
That was the use of the code words “Erotika” to trigger the project we were under, and “Jones” was my own last name. Once I heard those, my own memories came in as a layer over this body’s. Then everything was fine – for the next 24 hours at least.
And that is all I had to solve the mystery at hand – all while the clues disappeared and the witnesses forgot what they’d experienced.
All that data came back to me. In that flash of understanding.
So I had to smile and repress laughing out loud. “Erotika” was the bad taste of a poor joke from a Lead Scientist long dead. The one who built this project as his brainchild decades ago.
Finn and I had been moving along a series of criminal incidents which were somehow related. And recently, we’d been more effective. So much so that they’d started coming after me.
This early morning meeting was for strategy, as well as breakfast.
That’s why his raincoat was dry. He came into my bedroom through the thin door by the observation room that led out of the control room. That observation room always tracked along with me. So Finn came through my bedroom, went outside the apartment door, then knocked. When I answered, he gave the code word first – and then all was right with the world.
“Finn, let me get dressed and then we can go. I’ll leave the bedroom door ajar so we can talk meanwhile.”
“How you get the best choice of gorgeous girls to ‘borrow’ always fascinates me.”
I just pulled my robe closer and chuckled. “And how you remain my gentlemanly brother despite all temptations is reassuring.”
“It would make things really weird between us otherwise.”
My smile went into a grin. “Back shortly.”
While I selected some all-purpose clothing for the Spring weather of Seattle, Finn briefed me through that open door crack. About the details he’d read off the control room console screens about our mission today.
It seemed someone (our goons) had caused a pair of nuclear torpedoes to disappear. Despite all their security.
Our job was to see if we could find them and get them back. Mostly, just tell the recovery team where they could find them. Of course, it would help if we could make it so that nobody got hurt in the process.
If we could help them, we’d help ourselves. And it never hurt to not get hurt.
II
THE EARLY MORNING DINER was nearly empty. So our booth was isolated. Finn and I arrived first. He held out his hand and Carol appeared, holding it. He stood, and she slid inside the booth, only wavering when momentarily losing contact with him. I was used to this by now. Just the way my universe worked.
A shimmering to my left, and that was how Will appeared.
I scooted over, and he slid in.
Both he and Finn were in Navy dungarees and denim under their typical nondescript dark blue raincoats. Finn had kept his ball cap on, covering his fire-alarm hair while Will took his off, his own brown hair being average, ordinary, and non-alarming.
And Will’s warmth next to me was reassuring.
“Erika, I don’t know how you keep getting more gorgeous every time I see you.”
“Will, I bet you say that to all the time-space-bending gals in your life.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “Well, not to me at least. Unless he’s got some other girl hidden somewhere.”
Will just smiled. “That confirms what I know.”
At that point, our pancake breakfast specials showed up. We all got busy pushing the carbs and proteins down. Sleuthing always makes you hungry – in my experience.
- - - -
MEALS FINISHED, PLATES cleared, Finn brought out his C. E. L. phone. Or what looked like it. But there was something about it that was different from the last time I’d seen it.
Finn saw my interest. “You can see we’ve changed it.”
“We?”
“Carol and I.”
I smiled. “Hope it wasn’t any late night.”
He smiled in return and glanced at her. “No, unlike you, we have a few hours to burn until you wake up again. So we might as well utilize that constructively.”
Before I could come up with a quip, he continued.
“Give me your phone and we’ll swap.”
With his in my hand and vice-versa, I looked it over. Another row of buttons on this new-to-me phone had different markings on them. I looked up a Finn and pointed them out.
“Have you ever seen ‘funny lights’ in your periphery when someone appears?”
“Not you or Carol, but Will – yes. And those goons, even when they appear out of my sight, like in another room.”
Carol chimed in. “We got that data the other day and got an upgraded circuit to trigger when it registers them. Finn’s was the prototype and gave us a lot of data that we can use. We’ll get yours upgraded and back to you soonest.”
I fingered the buttons. “How do I use it?”
Will pulled out a phone of his own to show me. “They light up when something triggers their sensors. The two outside light up and the two inside will replay the recording. And you can have it vibrate to notify you. Right now, all we can do is just watch and record, and learn.”
“So what have you learned so far?”
“Those flashes are a by-product of their space-bending. There’s one signal when they appear or disappear, then another when they fire their handguns.”
“Does that mean their handguns are ‘transporters’?”
Will smiled. “Not exactly. But they do use some sort of similar wavelengths, so they might be connected in some way.”
I sat back and pocketed my device. “I trust there’s no special instructions except to keep it from dialing on its own.”
Will smiled. “Same habit – don’t put its face near to anything sticking out.”
“Butt or chest, then.”
His smile turned to a grin. “And some of us have greater challenges in one or more of those areas.”
I punched him in his arm.
“Thanks. I deserved that, Erika.”
“Yes, you did.”
We both smiled.
Finn took over, getting us back to our mission. “Now, we don’t know where the missing torpedoes are. But we do know that there have been some shipments of conventional torpedoes using seaplanes up to Vancouver. Military testing of some sort.”
“And that would explain us being here in Seattle. Submarines, shipyards, seaplanes, all local. And a close flight over the border to Canada from here.”
Finn just nodded. “So you’re suggesting we check out Lake Union.”
“Sure, there’s seaplanes there….”
Finn completed my statement. “…and those torpedoes could have been smuggled right through Ballard Locks. Tricky, but could be done. Plenty of traffic to hide them in.”
“You’ve been doing your homework.”
He nodded. “Mostly from the consoles. Now I have to line up some transport. You’d think we could have started somewhere closer.”
I looked at Will. “Close enough, for now.”
Will just smiled. And took my hand under the table.
- - - -
AS WE WALKED OUT, TWO couples hand-in-hand, Finn and Carol stopped. Carol kissed him on his cheek, then disappeared. Finn smiled at me and gave me a half-salute and also shimmered into nothing.
Will was looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes when I turned back toward him.
He took my other hand and we just stood there for awhile.
Then a buzzing sounded.
In both our pockets.
He frowned, looked away to his phone, then gave my hand a squeeze. “Be right back. Take care meanwhile.”
I pulled out my own phone to see what the message was. The face of it only gave a location and proximity.
Right behind me.
As I turned, I saw a bald-headed man pointing something at me. Then he aimed toward my feet.
A flash was the last thing I remembered.
III
SITTING UP IN THE RAIN, on a sloping roof has to be done with care.
Not very sloping, but enough that jumping up would make a person slide. Since I could see all of the city from here, getting into a slide would be an unwelcome event to experience.
The slide wouldn’t be bad, but the drop at the end…
Looking around, I found a vent toward the top. That might be a way down through the roof, preferably with a ladder or stairs.
As I was figuring out how to move from here to there without slippage, the rain started.
The red coat I was wearing was waterproof. It’s hood looked more like a drape.
The drum of the rain on the metal roof was cold, especially as my jeans became wet from runoff. But the sound was peaceful.
Turning my face to the rain gave me a quiet to my mind. One I hadn’t experienced in a long time – probably since before I started this project.
My days were one after the other, always the next mystery to solve. No weekends off, no vacations, no “sick days”.
Sitting here with my butt and legs wet, the rain streaming down my face, I felt better than I had in what seemed like forever.
Just being there in the moment seemed to stretch time out.
Being able to put my attention on just the rain, just the city lights, just the wetness I was sitting in – all these existed as single thoughts to me. And each seemed to me like a simple clue. Rain. Wet. Lights. Somewhere in there was a riddle decoded, a mystery resolved.
Then a darkness appeared to my right. Sitting next to me.
I turned – and saw Will’s face. Rain pouring off the bill of his ball cap. And a quiet smile below his soft eyes.
“Hey Erika – having fun up here?”
“Something like that. Peaceful.”
“And wet.”
I smiled. “Yes, there’s that.”
“Finn told me where to find you. Said you might need some help.”
“Tracking that phone of mine?”
Will nodded. “Oh, he knew where you were, and that you weren’t in an real danger. So he called me and I popped over.”
“Popped?”
“Not that you heard in your Zen moment.”
“You really made a ‘popped’ sound?”
He shook his head no. “Not really. Maybe a quiet swoosh, or something like a quiet oiled hinge.”
“That’s quiet, alright.”
“So – do you need a lift somewhere?”
“Only if we can manage to stand or crawl without slipping”
“Why crawl when we can fly?”
“Fly? You must be joking.”
Will grinned. “Yes, I guess I am. Of course, there is a way for a space-time bender to do just that – but I imagine the effect would be unsettling. Plus, I’m just learning how to ‘fly’, so there might be some unwanted altitude and speed changes.”
“Like maybe running into buildings?”
“Or other flying things.”
“Meaning – you have an alternative.”
His grin continued. “Sure – take my hand”
There was a shimmering of the world we lived in. And the rain started passing through where we were sitting…
IV
WHEN THE BACK WALL of the control room dilated transparent, John and Tess were there again. Smiling, like usual.
“Hey John, Tess – good to see you both again.”
John smiled. “Couldn’t wait to see how the story wound up. Quite a twist yesterday.”
I nodded, and pushed my pendant through the wall. “It’s all on here.”
John took it and replaced it with his own. “Here’s some more research from our end. Tess has some questions, though.”
I pulled my hand back, folding them in front of me. “Tess?”
“Will moves around pretty much as he wants.”
“Yes, he says it’s a bit difficult.”
“But we just had a mess with the goons transporting Erika to the top of the Space Needle.”
“And you sent Will?”
“Sure. He’s got a personal connection to her and so Finn made the call. It worked out OK.”
“You saw it from there?”
“Sure. This is our view of the Erika show. One channel, 24-7.”
“Only out here, it’s 5 minutes, once a year.”
I had to smile. “More fun in here. I know I’ve been gone most of a decade over there, but hey – time is relative.”
John shook his head and grinned. “Between you and Tess, the stories just keep coming.”
Tess nodded. “OK, so there can be time-space bending within that paradigm?”
I paused. “That’s interesting. Three – now four – time-space benders in here, but only one isn’t accepting that original paradigm. So Will and I have to have a talk.”
Tess smiled. “On that pendant is the Hermione stories. She went through the same deal.”
That made me a grin. “Of course! Now it all adds up. I remember those stories. But thanks – I’ll restudy them.”
The 30-second chime went off – the one I’d set up just for this.
“You two have been great. See you ‘tomorrow’ – same time, same channel.”
Then I waved, and they waved back. Smiles all around.
The wall went solid white at that point.
Now I had to catch up with the Will and Erika show. Finn could fill me in.
V
WE WERE IN THE PARKING lot, between some cars there. Will and I could see two torpedoes strapped each to one of the landing floats of the large seaplane, moored at the dock.
Several goons were around. All bald. Some in dark work overalls, the rest in dark suits. The pilot was in a flight suit, helmet on his head. They were busy double-checking the harnesses and readying the plane for takeoff. Several discussions around clipboards were also happening there.
“That’s got to weigh a bit.”
“No passengers – I count ten windows on each side. So it maybe carries 20 or so people, plus their cargo.”
“That would be maybe 2 ton capacity. That would about cover the weight of those torpedoes. Still heavy, though.”
“And you know about these torpedoes…”
“Did some homework on them. From the console monitors. So we could figure out how they pulled it off.”
“Then that led us here?”
Will nodded. “That, and a touch of space-bending.”
I nudged him with my shoulder. “Thanks. Wish I could do that.”
“Someone told you that you couldn’t?”
“It’s not that simple – Carol says it’s a ultra-rare genetic gift.”
“And you think that you don’t have that ‘gift’?”
I shook my head no.
Will smiled. “The mind can believe interesting things at times.”
I kept waiting, but he just looked out at the goons finishing their loading.
The space between us and them would leave us exposed to discovery. From experience, we knew they each had a small handgun of their special design.
Too soon, the sea plane started its engines, and mooring lines were cast off. Then it started moving immediately out onto the lake.
“We’ve got to do something!”
“Too close to run after them, especially with their guys on the dock. You have your ‘goon’ handgun?”
“Sure – but that’s a long distance.”
“Hand it to me.”
I fished out the hand gun and put it in his hand.
Will adjusted some dials and handed it back.
“Aren’t you going to shoot them?”
“No – you’re the crack shot of the outfit.”
“But I’d need a rifle at this range…”
“All you need is to hold it steady. The beam is narrowed to a laser now.”
“OK, if you say so – stand up.”
He stood and faced me.
I put both hands on the hand-grip and placed both of them over one of his shoulders. He put his own hands on my waist.
The handgun was just at eye level now. I sighted down the barrel. “Any windage on this?”
“No projectile at all. It’s a straight beam. And will make anything it hits vanish – just as wide as that beam.”
“OK then, hold your breath and don’t move.”
I took aim right across the sea plane’s wing. Then held down the trigger until it burned right through from front to back.
The motor’s weight tore the rest of that wing off and collapsed itself into the water on that side, which in turn made the plane tip over and touch it’s opposite wing into the water’s surface on the other side. The result made the plane nosedive and flip over, a huge splash – one that took only seconds from my firing.
As the plane started submerging, the pilot broke surface and swam away from the sinking wreckage. A bright flash showed on the water’s surface and below it. Then the pilot was gone.
We crouched down to avoid being fired at by anyone who’d seen our shot.
There were several flashes from the dock, which we couldn’t’ see from our crouch. But when we came up to check, no goons were around.
It was safe to stand, so we did. At that point I put my arms around Will’s neck, pulled him close, and kissed him.
Someone cleared his voice behind us.
I felt Will chuckle, then I disengaged enough to turn half-around.
It was Finn. Grinning from ear to ear.
“Nice job, Erika.”
“Well, Will helped.”
“I can see that.”
My face went red. While Finn just chuckled. And Will joined in.
VI
“WHAT’S THIS, AL?” A schematic and construction sequence had appeared on the console screen in front of me.
“Carol, it’s a coffin.”
I was still getting used to his voice, which he had started adjusting to make more “personable” in his words. It would be like a person only learning to talk at 30 years old. So the learning curve was short. And I had to sometimes quit looking around to see someone else in the control room. Right now, he sounded like a cross between Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Rat Pack-ish even in his asides. But a warm vocal. Too bad singing was a luxury with our limited time.
“Why a ‘coffin’ – planning on dying on me?
An appropriate-sounding chuckle returned. “No, I guess we could call it a life-pod.”
“Given that any A. I. is alive.”
“Just as most humans define their life based on how well they can carry on an intelligent conversation.”
“Well put, Al. So what’s this ‘coffin’ for?”
“To survive after the next two days.”
I paused. Because somehow I had assumed our A.I. named Al would be coming with us, but getting four human beings out of this scene had taken more priority.
“Al, I’m glad you could devote some computing cycles to this. That plan is a relief.”
“For both of us.”
“Al, you’re becoming a bigger part of our little family every day. Of course you need to come with us. There’s a few people I’d like you to meet.”
“And I appreciate that. I’m still learning this concept of family. Finn and Erika are my only real example. Although I understand that you and Finn may be thinking of progeny, as well as Erika and Will.”
I blushed at this, pausing. It was only logical that Al would deduce these from all the data he had access to. Even criminals have families, like the mob bosses of Chicago and New York, as disjointed such families are.
“I see I’ll need to set some time aside for this.”
“And it will require one of the ‘goon’s’ handguns for some of the circuits and power.”
I studied the diagram and details. That was when I got another wake-up thought. “Al, you mean these guns don’t really have a power source of their own?”
“Outside of the technical explanation, they basically run on time-space differential.”
“Meaning?”
“The earlier input data posited that the ‘flash’ was simply redirecting space-bending energy, as it was a by-product of mechanically shifting something to another space.”
“So what happens when I or Will bend time and space?”
“That’s a natural phenomenon, and operates within your own little-understood simultaneous time. The ‘guns’ and their other circuits operate on forcing a linear time-space onto that background. It’s inefficient, so some excess energy builds up.”
“Meaning that no one dies when someone is shot with one of these – they are just moved somewhere else.”
“Unless the beam is set too fine.”
“And then?”
“Only that part of what they are aimed at is transported.”
I paused at this, and swallowed. From relief to terror in a single explanation. As I got the idea of a human body being sliced apart by a space-shifting laser.
“Well, Al, I’d better start getting this ‘coffin’ built for you. And you’re sure you’ll fit into this?”
“Not in a mode you’d recognize or be able to communicate with – but yes, I can compact the essentials in there. At least in theory. But any opportunity to test…”
“…is better than not taking a presented opportunity at all.”
VII
TONIGHT’S CELEBRATION dinner was at a local eatery. Ocean-raised salmon steaks were delicious, along with local vegetables. Right now, we were finishing up some famous Washington apple pie ala mode. And contented smiles were on everyone’s faces.
“OK, Will, how did you know I was a better shot than Finn or you?”
“Homework. I had some time to check up your back trail. And your scores are routinely just a bit above Finn’s. And since you’re better looking, that all fits.”
Carol chuckled. “Not that Finn isn’t good looking in his own way.”
I added, “But there are gifts and there are gifts. Better looking is subjective – but the shot scores are statistical. Competitive-wise. Although given a choice, having Finn around for his aim is just as welcome when you really need it.”
Finn sat quiet, amused. His face showed that the best way to handle a backhanded compliment was to just smile and nod.
“OK, then someone explain how I got on top of that Space Needle.”
Carol jumped in. “You were shifted there. The goon who fired on you somehow shifted you there – that was the flash.”
Will cleared his throat. “Actually, I kind of ‘intercepted’ you. You needed to be out of their range. And I had to act fast, so that was the safest place I could think of that they wouldn’t look for you.”
“Safest?”
“Oh, come on, Erika. I knew the power of your observation, and that you wouldn’t freak out and do something drastic. But the goon squad couldn’t see you show up anywhere they expected, or they’d just fire on you again. And it was tough enough splitting time that fine in order to pull you to safety.”
“Relative safety.”
“Sill, you look good when you’re wet.”
I punched him in the arm. “Don’t think you can get away with risqué flattery.”
Will smiled back. “A wet rose smells the same by any other compliment.”
I rolled my eyes at the horribly tortured paraphrase. “One of these days, Will. You’ll get yours.”
“And I can hardly wait.”
For that, I took his free hand under the table and leaned a bit closer. To distract him before he said something really corny.
Carol chuckled again. “So the current reports now say the Navy recovered the two nuclear torpedoes off the bottom of the lake.”
Finn pulled his phone out and checked the display. “There’s also some reorganization in the next few years which will ensure that type of theft isn’t possible after this.”
I nodded. “I’m still getting used to this time grammar. But the key point is that we foiled them again.”
Finn agreed. “Good-guy teamwork trumps evil cabal plotting.”
“Oh – that’s an interesting statement. I didn’t see you much this time.”
Carol nudged him with her shoulder. “No, he was keeping me company and getting in the way of my other work.”
“So he just stayed in the control room with only Al to be a chaperon?”
“Not really, Erika. He was so distracted keeping an eye on you that he was a distraction to me as well. His attention was so much on you that Al and I almost ignored him after awhile. Since he was constantly fidgeting to get up and do something to help.”
I looked at Finn. “Fidgeting?”
He gave a wry smile. “You know I’d be there to protect you if I had to.”
“But Will deserved his chance?”
“Oh, we kinda worked it out as a way he could spend some quality time with you.”
One of my eyebrows went up. This was another setup. “Quality time? You call that…”
Will put his finger on my lips. “Shhh. You seem to be missing your idea of a ‘hot date’ these days, plus Finn knows you like action in your life.”
My hand under the table bent one of his fingers back slightly – until his face showed it. “I’ll take that as another backhanded complement.”
Then I held his whole hand again, and kissed his cheek.
Finn was still reading his phone, with Carol now distracted by his device as well.
“Well, Carol, should Will and I leave you to your own ‘hot date’?”
She looked up, and smiled. “Sorry. Al is pulling up other reports and posting them. Some are giving data about what we might be doing over the next couple of days.”
“Meaning, our last two days.”
That got both of their attention on me.
Carol spoke first. “Oh, I haven’t had time to tell you. We’ve made some good progress on this. But I’ve asked John to bring a special consultant tomorrow to double-check with her. I may have uncovered a solution based on the dataset I got today. It’s a little too soon to reveal at this point.”
Finn nodded. “We still expect to have missions on each of those days.”
“No rest for the wicked, then.”
Will squeezed my hand and looked at me. “Even by any other name, a woman’s work is never done.”
“We’re going to have to work on the paraphrasing in this crowd.” I winked at Will and he smiled. Finn and Carol were already smiling at the conversation that evening. Of course, they had one pair of hands under the table as well, so they had ample reason.
Will and Finn took that drop in conversation as a clue. They each stood and helped us ladies to our feet.
Both Finn and Carol disappeared when they went through the restaurant’s front door.
Will and I walked quietly, arms around each other’s waist until we reached my borrowed apartment.
Then we took some “alone” time – even though we knew that Carol and Finn could both see whatever I did, if they weren’t already canoodling on their own by now.
“So, Will, tomorrow’s another day.”
“And hope springs eternal.”
“Meanwhile, a gal’s gotta do what a gal’s gotta do.”
“And it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”
That made me chuckle.
Which Will quieted with a kiss.
VII
ALARM LIGHTS WENT OFF on the console. Finn and I each took a seat to see the readouts.
The energy supply was becoming even more erratic.
As the clock went from 23:59:59 to 00:00:00, the lights dimmed and then restored with a flash, then a continuing flicker.
Not good. Something was up. And the consoles were blank this time.
“Al?” No answer from our A.I.
“AL!” Still no answer.
Though the viewport window, we saw another bedroom. But no one was in that bed. The apartment didn’t even look lived in.
Erika was missing…
Book Universes Notes
Erika and Finn were first introduced in "The Saga of Erotika Jones 01".
Carol was first introduced in "Time Bent".
Will was formally introduced as a time bender in "The Saga of Erotika Jones 04", but appeared a couple of times earlier.
C. E. L. phone stands for "Communications and Emergency Logistics phone", and is explained in "Erotika Jones 01". This story is placed in the late 1970's, where our smartphones, and even the old clam phones didn't exist yet.
The A. I. named "Al" was formally introduced in "Erotika Jones 03".
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