Echoes of future past, part 4

Dylan blinked, "You've been to Tarn-Vedra?" Ryan nodded, "It was a last ditch-attempt to find help: The Than Hegemony and the Nietzschean Alliance tried to fight back, but Enga's Redoubt and San-Ska-Re fell to the Magog. Even the Pyrian's fought-back, until they lost Krrendar IV. Harper said we should try and re-trace the rout used by Hasturi, the Mad Perseid. It took us two years, and nearly killed us, but we finally made it to Tarn-Vedra."

Dylan was in shock, "What did you find?" Ryan's eyes fell, "It was deserted: we didn't find a single sentient lifeform in the entire system, not even an AI. There where no ships, no records, and no help. Harper found a point-singularity round in an arms-depot, and had the idea of trying to recreate the teleporter he used to send you back to the Starry Wisdom. We scavenged enough computer components to power it, then made our way to this point in space, but 21-years in the future. Rommie got the Maru into position, and just as the Magog found us, Harper sent me back."

Harper shook his head, "Man: Imagine the ability to send someone back in time at will!" Ryan shook his head, "It only had a 10% chance of success: if the Maru had been out of position, or we got time setting wrong by just a few seconds, I would have died." Rommie looked at him, "Then why risk it?" Ryan looked at her, "Because I saw the look in your eyes when we saw what the Magog had done to the Milky Way: you said it was the same as M81." Rommie's eyes went wide, "All of it, gone?"

Ryan nodded, "Every star, every planet, every non-Magog life form, dead. The Known-worlds where finished, the Maru was almost out of fuel, and we hade nowhere to go. I knew it was a one-way trip, what ever happens: Ether I fail, and I die back here, or I succeed, and disappear as the time-line changes. I don't care, I just don't want to see that happen to a Galaxy again." He looked at the others, "You can't tell my parents who I am: it would only complicate matters." Dylan nodded, "As far as the rest of the crew are concerned, you're just a messenger. I'll tell Tyr and Beka you're from Trance's time, but not who you are. It's better that way."

"What's better that way?" A voice from behind them inquired. Dylan turned to see Tyr standing in the doorway, "Try, this is Ryan: he's come back from the future, like Trance did, and he's brought us some disturbing information." Ryan stood as Tyr approached. The big Nietzschean looked the newcomer over, "And who is he?" Trance smiled, "Let's just say he's a friend, and we can trust him." Tyr snorted, "What pride are you?" Ryan kept his face steady, "I have no pride: I am alone."

Tyr shook his head, "What is it with this ship? We seem to be a magnet for all the weird and unusual events in the known universe." He turned and left. Ryan took a deep breath, "Well that was kind of tense: the last thing I need is to get into a fight with him!"

TBC