Chapter 12
Parallel Sydney's POV
I never believed in life on other planets. The whole concept of aliens and UFOs and all the other stuff like that just seemed ridiculous to me. (I think that might have had to do with having Dad as my father. He was always stressing the importance of everything having an explanation; of course that's when he was home.)
When I first started working at SD-6, the whole concept that all things have a reasonable explanation went out the window. I saw things that were so crazy that, after a while, a small floating red ball full of water almost seemed normal.
While I've grown accustomed to the strange and unexplainable nature of the world I live in, Kendall's announcement that our world was in danger and that it had been agreed to contact a parallel universe in order to seek refuge was so far out of the realm of the believable-unbelievability that I was sure I was dreaming. His subsequent announcement of his true affiliation with the DSR just added to the weirdness that was my life.
"We have a spaceship from the landing at Roswell, and we plan to use this ship to travel to that planet. What I need from you all is a volunteer to take the trip. Do I have any takers?"
I had no intention of volunteering, but when Vaughn's hand went up, I knew that he'd want some company on the trip. I was right. Three days later, the ship took off from Earth, and as we sailed through the vast darkness, he chose then to tell me about his history with the DSR.
I was shocked, of course, but as that old saying goes, "Love is never having to say you're sorry."
After all that had happened up to this point, I wasn't going to let a little secret get in the way of such a promising relationship. As time wore on in the complete and utter darkness, we both realized that there was really only one way to pass the time. (If you ever get a chance, getting it on in zero-gravity is so erotic it's not even funny.)
After about a week and a half on the ship, we were alerted that we were nearing Parallel Earth number 137. I transmitted the distress call and waited for a response which came promptly. When we finally agreed on a landing site and time, we adjusted our speed accordingly.
Three days later, there we were, landing on a parallel version of our planet. I could see my parallel self standing there, waiting for me.
Suddenly, as I stepped of the ramp of the ship, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach. The easiest way to describe it is like someone had thrust a knife into my abdomen and began pulling on something inside me. I passed out before I knew what had happened.
I don't know how long it was until I woke up in the hospital bed, an IV in my arm, and an ethnic doctor looking over me.
"How are you feeling, ma'am?"
"My stomach hurts," I mumble, looking up at him.
"I've gone over your vitals six times already. There's nothing abnormal about them."
"What'd you compare them to?"
"To the Sydney of this universe. Sydney 1 if you wish."
I pull up my hospital gown so that I can examine my stomach quickly. My eyes quickly land on an odd scar. I know I didn't have this scar when I left.
"What's this?"
"That's where your eggs were extracted."
"When…Why were my eggs extracted."
"I don't know. When I got your…pardon me…Sydney 1's file, she had reported that her eggs had been extracted."
"Can I talk to her?"
"Of course," he says, and leaves. Moments later, I…she walks through the door.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Why were my eggs extracted?"
"You don't know?"
"No," I state clearly. "Should I know?"
"It happened during the two years."
"What two years?"
"After the fight with Allison…"
"Who's Allison? Is that Vaughn's ex-girlfriend's real name?"
"No, her name is Alice."
"Then who's Allison?"
"She's Francie's double."
"Double? You mean with Markovich's machine?"
"Yeah."
"It's Francie? She's the second double?"
"Yeah. What year are you from?"
"We left in 2003. What year is it now?"
"It's 2007."
The words sink in.
"You guys are from four years in the future?"
"I guess from your point of view, yeah. From my point of view, however, you're from four years in the past."
"What's going on with Vaughn and you? Are you married?"
"No, we're just engaged."
"It's been four years, and you're just engaged?" I ask incredulously.
"He was married to Lauren for…"
"He got married to someone?"
"During my missing two years."
"What do you mean 'missing two years'?" I ask, but I'm not sure I want to know.
"After my fight with Allison, Francie's double, I passed out. When I woke up, I was in Hong Kong with a strange scar on my stomach."
"Where the eggs were extracted."
"Right. Vaughn came to the safe house where I was staying. He had a ring on his finger. I asked him about it, and he told me that I had been missing…" she starts to tear up. "He told me that I had been missing for two years, and in that time, he'd gotten married."
"To who?"
"Lauren Reed. She was the daughter of Senator Reed and Olivia Reed."
"Was?"
"Vaughn killed her."
"Why?"
"She was evil."
"Vaughn married an evil woman?"
"She was a double agent for a terrorist organization who had been ordered to seduce and marry him."
"Will the Vaughn on the ship marry her?"
"Wait, is Vaughn's parallel version here too?"
"Yeah, he's here."
"Why didn't he come out?"
Before I can answer, the doctor comes in again. "Just ignore me. I need to check on the baby."
"Baby? I'm not pregnant!"
"Well, you are now."
I look over at my parallel self. "Are you?"
She nods slowly.
"Oh, s," I say quietly. This isn't good.
"What is it?"
"Sydney," I start, "I need you to do me a favor."
…TBC…