Chapter 12.

SOMEWHERE NEAR THE PROXIMA CENTAURI SYSTEM (CIRCA 1976).

Major Zefram Kagan looked at his co-pilot and astrogator. "Well, Brent?"

"The photographs we just took are a 100% match to the astronomical projections made by the computer before we launched, Skipper. We're exactly four years in the future!"

"Then, let's get going! The sooner we activate all systems, the sooner we intercept Liberty One."

"You heard the man, boys. Get all systems up and running!"

The remaining two crewmen did as ordered. Consequently, five minutes later, NASA Research Vessel Liberty Two left the orbit of Proxima Centauri I. Before doing so, however, they deployed a communications beacon that began transmitting a pre-recorded message in the direction of Earth. True, it would take another four years to reach their home world! By that point, however, the manipulation of time by the heads of Project: Quantum Leap would hopefully be a lot smoother than they had been for their predecessors at Project-Tic-Toc. Thereby enabling the crews of both ships to be brought eight years back into the past (vessels and all).

But, hope was precisely what Sahjhan of the Granok was hoping to dash.

"You've got six months before they intercept, and assume remote control, of their sister ship. If they do, then all bets are off."

"How do you suggest I do that?" demanded the man currently calling himself Technician Jerry Sterling. "After what happened with Brandon* at Project: Tic-Toc, five years ago, internal security is tighter than ever!"

"I leave that up to you," replied the Timeshifter. "I'm just the disembodied messenger."

Whereupon, he faded away.

The next day, "Dr. Sterling" carefully programmed a secret (almost virus-like) subroutine into the project's mainframe computer. A subroutine that would remain dormant for two years! When the two years had elapsed, the subroutine would cause the computer to realign the modified time tunnel array. So that the ensuing wormhole it generated... would send both spacecrafts two thousand years into the future.

THE FORBIDDEN ZONE, EARTH (3978 A.D.)

It was first light when Professor Milo called a halt. Suggesting that he and Cornelius rest up for the bulk of the day.

"I know I said time is of the essence," he added. "But the heat will be too much for us and the horses. It will be better traveling during the cool of the night."

"I quite agree, sir."

Suddenly, however, there was a bell-like chime followed by an equally sudden shower of bright white orbs of light! Light that just as swiftly coalesced into three distinct forms. Two of whom left the younger chimp scientist almost literally speechless! Almost, but not quite.

"Zira? Cornelia?!"

"Hi, Daddy," replied the latter with a weak wave of all five fingers on her right hand.

Zira, though, let her actions speak louder than any words as she ran towards her husband and flung her arms around him in the most public display of affection they had ever engaged in since they were Cornelia's age!

"How. . .? Where. . .?" he stammered, once more trying to be articulate in spite of his confusion.

Cornelia pointed to the seemingly human female in the white robe.

"Daddy? Meet Dawn. Dawnie? My dad."

"Hello, Dr. Cornelius. Nice to see you again, Professor Milo. I'm just sorry it has to be under such hectic circumstances."

"Why?" asked the elder chimp scientist. "Has something else happened, even more dangerous than what we barely escaped?"

Whereupon, they each compared notes. The two-thousand-year-old White Lighter letting Milo go first. By the time Dawn had finished recounting her side of things, both male chimps were shaking their heads. Cornelius, in disbelief just as die-hard as his wife's; Milo; in plain old exasperation.

"If I know that repressive old hypocrite, Zaius is undoubtedly ordering the destruction of those computing machines, even as we speak. All that precious knowledge lost. Forever!"

"We have far worse things to worry about," countered Zira (ever the pragmatist). "If what Cornelia told me about these creatures is true, waiting for nightfall would be ill-advised. As they can cover ground faster than any horse at night!"

"Not to worry, Mom," grinned Cornelia, hefting the Scythe of Empowerment. "We've got you covered."

As if Fate, itself, were contradicting her optimistic statement, there was suddenly a near-deafening clap of thunder from southwest of them. Followed by a silvery object, shaped roughly like an arrowhead, leaving a trail of fiery smoke behind it as it headed roughly northeast.

"Wow!" exclaimed the simian Slayer. "What was that?!"

"Ordinarily," replied Professor Milo. "I would have said that was a mate to the 'falling star' that passed over Ape City three weeks ago. Only, I now suspect that was no falling star, any more than this one was."

"Unfortunately," affirmed Dawn. ". . .you're right."

tbc

*Brandon incident: refers to the leader of a pair of Russian double-agents in "One Way to the Moon" (THE TIME TUNNEL, Episode 1.2, 1966).