Author: Milady Dragon
Disclaimer: I own neither House nor the Tomorrow People
Author's notes: Once again, I want to thank my readers and reviewers. You make me want to write.
Chapter Thirteen
"What did you discover, Tim?" Cameron asked, tilting her head up to regard the biotronic computer's housing.
"What I have discovered, Allison, puzzles me greatly."
"Are you going to share, or do we have to guess?" House snarked.
"I apologize, Dr. House," Tim replied.
"Just ignore him, Tim," she sent to him telepathically. "Take your time," she said aloud.
"Firstly," the A.I. began, "I have managed to discover what breakthrough the scientists at Intellex would have announced: an electronic womb."
Cameron sat back in shock. "That…that's amazing!" she gasped. She could immediately grasp the implications of such a device.
So, obviously, did House, judging from the gobsmacked look on his face. "I'd say that would certainly increase the standard of living for at least one half of the human race."
"That is not all," Tim continued. "They were also working on a technique that would allow specific forms of genetic engineering within the womb itself."
House whistled. "Being able to fix genetic defects has long been the Holy Grail for most doctors and scientists for years."
But Cameron was frightened. Yes, she could understand how this would be a good thing: hundreds of thousands of children and adults both were stricken with hereditary diseases every year. And House was right: millions of dollars were spent in just such attempts at curing such inherited illnesses.
But what about her?
What she was – a Tomorrow Person – had also been caused by the same type of genetic mutation as many of the illnesses that could be passed through generational lines. What if the same technique could be used to manipulate the genome to the extent that no more Homo Superior was born? What if, in determining that certain genes were inherently bad, the Saps decided that the ones that made Cameron what she was were also bad?
She'd been taught that, someday, Homo Superior would outweigh Homo Sapiens. That evolution hadn't ended, that the human race was destined to change into something greater. It had happened before, on other worlds, and it was expected that Earth would follow the same example. And, eventually, Homo Superior would evolve again, into Homo Superior Temporum…those beings with the ability to travel in time. While Cameron had never met one of the Time Guardians, she knew they existed, and that they monitored the time lanes and kept history safe from tampering. But what if that didn't happen? Would the Time Guardians even realize they'd been wiped from existence?
"Are you alright?"
House's voice – and a light touch on her arm – brought Cameron out of her morbid thoughts. She shook her head to clear it. "Just…taking the idea of genetic manipulation two steps too far, that's all."
He nodded, and Cameron realized that he must have been thinking along the same lines as she'd been…even though he couldn't add the Time Guardians to whatever mix had been in his own head.
"You just can't stop evolution," she murmured. "You have to let it run its course."
His blue eyes stared into hers. "But if there was a way to save thousands – perhaps millions – of people who'd normally have been cursed by severe genetic defects…"
For one of the few times since she'd started working for him, House was taking what would have normally been her argument. But then, he wasn't the one facing the idea of genocide…
"I understand that," she answered. "And I agree that some genetic defects should be repaired. But it could be taken to the extreme…it's my people you're talking about, House. My own race. If someone got it into their heads that what makes me a Tomorrow Person is, in itself, a defect…" She didn't bring the "g" word up. She didn't think she had to.
"That is unlikely now." Tim put in. "The prototype – and most of the actual research – was destroyed in the explosion."
"Can they rebuild it from what they have left?"
"I highly doubt it, Allison. The only information I have on the actual device is simply a prospectus that had been meant to be distributed during the press conference."
She breathed a sigh of relief. This was another thing she hadn't missed about being a Tomorrow Person – the threat of being destroyed by any evil-minded Sap that took it into their heads that they were the bad guys, and needed to be done away with…or at worst, studied.
"However, that is not the only thing I have discovered."
"What else is there, Tim?"
"When John and I first began to investigate Intellex," the computer went on, "we realized very early on that their computer system also had been augmented by whatever alien technology that had fallen into their hands."
"But developing an electronic womb and a tightly secured computer system just aren't the same sort of technology," House said.
"I agree, Dr. House. Such applications are mutually exclusive. However, I can now say that the Intellex mainframe has indeed been augmented by alien science. Yet, it isn't the same alien science."
Cameron's mouth dropped open. "You mean we're dealing with two different forms of aliens?"
House was practically rubbing his hands, as he went over to the still-set up whiteboard. In the second column, under "breakthrough" he once again wrote, "alien technology," but added "different" with an exclamation point. "Which of these two technologies belong to the Sharrion, then?"
"I do not have much information available on the Sharrion," Tim admitted. "Although, through process of elimination I can safely say it is the womb device."
"That would mean you recognize what the mainframe's security is based on," Cameron replied.
"Indeed I do. It is Thargon technology."
Cameron shivered. "Oh, God, please don't tell me we're going to have the Thargons knocking on our proverbial doorsteps, are we?"
"I take it you know these new aliens, then?" House snorted.
She pinched the bridge of her nose, in an attempt to fend off the sudden onset of a headache. "I wish I didn't. They're an advanced and highly warlike race."
"The Thargons have visited Earth at least twice," Tim added. "They are currently still locked in a devastating war with the Sorsons, so I do not think they would take the time to hunt down any lost technology…if they noticed its loss in the first place. I think we have nothing to fear on that front, Allison."
"Good. Because I don't relish having to save the world without back-up," she answered tiredly.
"We would, of course, send for the other Tomorrow People…" Tim offered.
House was staring at her; Cameron could feel his eyes on her, even though she had her eyes closed. "I take it you're not exaggerating."
"I wish I was." She looked up at him. "The last time the Thargons were here, they threatened to destroy the planet just because they thought the Sorsons were hiding on Earth somewhere. It was pretty well hushed up, even though we – meaning the Americans – actually fired missiles at the Thargon fleet and caused what could've been a major intergalactic incident."
"It led to the temporary banishment of the Tomorrow People from the Galactic Federation," Tim added, "and John's imprisonment on the Trig."
"I didn't know that last bit, Tim," Cameron answered.
"John doesn't like to speak about it."
House snorted. "I can imagine. Do you guys often get thrown in jail?"
Cameron actually cracked a smile at the question. "It's all part of the job, I suppose."
"Well, I can see why you don't want to tangle with these Thargons, then. But, I'd like to know how Intellex got its greedy little hands on two different types of alien tech." House added the new information to the whiteboard.
"As would I," Tim said somberly. "According to the records I am accessing, Sharrion and Thargon technologies are not the only advanced sciences that Intellex has acquired. There are also at least two examples of Federation technology."
"Well, that can be explained in a way, can't it?" Cameron asked. "After all, we have the access, and the Tomorrow People have been working on Earth since John broke out. With all the things we've been involved in, some of our own stuff could very well have fallen into their hands."
"Yes, Allison. However, the Tomorrow People are very careful about leaving advanced devices lying around. As well you know."
She had to nod at that. Tim was right; it was part and parcel of being a Tomorrow Person that one developed a healthy sense of paranoia. Their very lives sometimes depended on it…
"Is there anything else you can tell us, Tim?" she asked.
"There are no records of how Intellex received such technology. However, since I now have near-total access to their mainframe, I can search at my leisure."
"Good. Keep at it – "
"Tim? Paul? Allison?"
Cameron's heart literally stopped beating in that moment. She was frozen in her seat; then, she was placing her hands flat on the surface of the link table. "Elena?" she called, at the same time she heard both Tim and Paul – from New Jersey – answer the telepathic sending.
"Where are you, Ellie?" the younger TP asked, excitement making his mental voice a little squeaky.
"Are you all right?" Tim added.
"I'm fine…I think," came the reply. "I have a dreadful headache, though. How long have I been out of touch?"
"Nearly sixteen hours," Cameron answered.
"Do you know where you are?" Paul asked again.
"I'm afraid not. Although it must be some sort of spacecraft, though. It just has that look, if you know what I mean."
Cameron did, having seen the inside of more than one in her time. "We have some information you might find useful." She filled the other woman in on what they'd discovered about her captors.
"Well, it would have been a fine thing if someone would have clued me in," Paul snarked, after Cameron was done.
She let her physical sigh echo in her mental voice. "Sorry, but we just found out ourselves."
"That helps, though, Allison. Thanks." Elena paused. "I could escape from here really anytime I want, but I think I should hang around, try to talk to the Sharrion. Maybe they can give us more information."
"Like who – and how – they were tipped off as to where their missing tech was," Cameron agreed.
"Perhaps we can come to some sort of arrangement…get their property back, and they leave the planet."
"You can try. Let us know if you need any help."
"I will, Allison. Right now, though, I appear to be locked in a cell."
Cameron decided not to share that fact with House. He'd just think it funny that yet another Tomorrow Person was locked up…
"I now have your coordinates, Elena," Tim replied. "I can send you a replacement jaunting belt anytime you might wish it."
"Thanks, Tim. Mine's gone."
"Just remember, Ellie…we can break you out of there anytime."
"I appreciate that, Paul. But I don't think that's going to be necessary. Let's try diplomacy before you barge in, guns blazing. Okay?"
"Sure. Whatever you say." He didn't sound very happy about it.
"Allison?"
"Yes, Elena?"
"How's John?"
Cameron smiled. "He woke up, for a short time. We ran some tests, and everything looks good so far."
"Thank God." Elena's mental voice went breathy with relief. "Your Dr. House does good work."
"Even if he's a prick," Paul said.
Cameron laughed. She heard House ask what was so funny, but didn't answer. "Keep us posted, Elena."
"I will. It sounds like someone might be coming. I'll let you know what happens."
"Leave your mind open to me, Elena," Tim requested. "That way I can best monitor your progress."
"I will, Tim. And I'll be careful, I promise. I should go now. I'll talk to you soon." With that, the other woman's voice went silent.
But her presence was still within Cameron, and she was definitely comforted by it.