Bleaker

washed it down. “What can I do for you, Mr. Quinn?”
“Tucker.” Quinn folded his hands on the table and leaned forward. “On behalf of the United States government and NASA, I would like to extend our deepest regrets and apologies for not selecting you for the Genesis. It was unfair and I think that your rejection was purely political. Having you on Earth gives people nice feelings.’
“That’s nice. But did you have something to do with the decision for me not to go?” Tucker asked.
“No.”
“So why are you apologizing?”
“I wanted to be the one.”
Tucker whistled. “Wow, you came all the way here to apologize. That was really nice. Not necessary…then again you can’t call here.”
“No, Tucker, I came all the way here with hopes to get you to grab your stuff, come with me, and be part of the Genesis.”
“Really?” Tucker asked.
“Yes,” Quinn answered.
“Question,” Sam said. “All of you on the Genesis are paired off with procreation partners, how’s that going to work for him?”
“I will give him mine.”
Tucker laughed. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Nothing.”
“You’re giving her up awfully fast.”
“Okay, she’s not nice.”
“And you’re stuck with her. I’m sure she’s probably sore she’s stuck with you and she’s actually a nice person.”
“What’s wrong with me?” Quinn asked.
“Nothing that I know of.” Tucker shrugged. “Maybe you aren’t her type.”
“Okay, okay. Obviously, a procreation partner isn’t important to you,” said Quinn. “So, can I take it you’ll come back with me?”
Tucker groaned out and sat back. “I feel really bad.”
“Why?” Quinn asked.
“You came all the way here and I am gonna have to say thank you and wow, how cool, but I also have to say no.”
“Tucker, please, give this some thought. I am here until tomorrow morning. Think about it tonight. Sleep on it. Don’t just say no right away,” Quinn said. “This is a huge opportunity. They made a massive mistake when they didn’t select you. I told them that. Hell, when I saw the manifest I got mad and was shocked not to see your name. But you are needed.”
“I am needed on this one. I already made a commitment to folks that wanted me on the mission from the get-go. They even gave me a title: Agricultural Geoengineer. It’s a new thing. They made it for me. And they’re pretty nice.”
“Tucker,” Sam said, “if you want to do this, please don’t feel bad. This is something you dreamed of your entire adult life. Maybe you should take time to think about it.”
“No, Sam, there is really nothing to think about,” Tucker said. “Honest, this is where I stay.”
“Tucker,” Quinn spoke up, “you are a brilliant man. You have to realize the odds of success on these private missions are going to be slim. Most of these ships will crumble when they go through the Androski.”
“Oh, we won’t. I have faith in Sam’s vision and ship,” Tucker said. “I believe the odds will be in our favor. He built a good ship and thinks of things NASA does not.”
“Like what?”
“Like attaching a line to the probe and sending it into the Androski so it comes right back,” Tucker said.
“We did that,” Quinn said. “That’s how we learned about the power loss as you pass through. The probe was dead when it returned.”
“Sam’s wasn’t.”
“What?” Quinn looked at Sam. “How?”
“He fixed it.”
Sam spoke with a lowered voice, “I’m really not so sure you were supposed to say anything.”
“Oh, who cares. What’s Marshman gonna do, kick me off the mission?” Tucker asked.
“True,” said Sam. “But…”
“Did you see what’s on the other side?” Quinn asked.
“We did.”
“Tucker,” Sam warned.
“Heck, Sam, what is it gonna hurt if we tell him what our probe saw?” Tucker asked. “This isn’t a race to see who can conquer it first. It’s a race to save humanity.”
“It has nothing to do with secrecy or trying to be one up on information,” Sam said. “It has everything to do with how big the news is and how it could affect the mission. People may back out.”
“Whoa, whoa, you have me curious,” Quinn said. “Is it bad?”
“No,” Tucker said.
“Yes,” Sam said at the same time.
“Doesn’t it depend on how you look at it?” Tucker asked.
“You look at it one way,” Sam replied. “I look at it one way, others may not.”
“Enough,” Quinn stated. “Well, why don’t you tell me and I’ll make the decision, as commander, if I tell others. Okay? Obviously, this is something I should know.”
Sam looked at Tucker and nodded.
“You’re right.” Tucker stood.
“Where are you going?” Quinn asked.
“I have to run to my quarters and get something,” Tucker told him. “Plus, I think you’re gonna need that peanut butter sandwich.”
<><><><>
Slowly, Quinn shuffled through the pixelated images. The folder was open on the table, with his sandwich next to it.
“This is unreal,” Quinn said in shock. “I will say this actually crossed my mind.”
“I think,” Sam said, “it crossed all of our minds but it was too bizarre to admit.”
“You said you sent the probe back in several times.”
“Ten times we sent NAT through,” Sam answered. “Each time was a…different time. It’s hard to tell by the earth images, but you can see continent changes, unwanted changes, cloud coverings in this one”—Sam pulled an image forward indicating to the darker spot—“this is dust, lots of it. Some explosion, volcanic eruption. The distinct difference is Planet X.”
Quinn nodded. “Apparently, Planet X hasn’t settled into its new orbit in four of these time frames. Which leads me to believe…”
“They’re in the past,” Sam said. “It’s nowhere to be seen. My guess is it’s before 2015 when people started continuously seeing it in the sky. And by the images it looks a lot like Earth today. But X…it’s nowhere.”
“Past?” Quinn asked. “Or could it be so far in the future that it’s gone?”
“It’s past,” said Sam.
“Jesus.” Quinn sat back. “So there is a chance we can go through and end up back in the 1800s.”
“Rare, slim,” Sam stated. “I’m not an expert, but it’s only ten percent.”
“You can look at it this way,”