Chapter 5: Koenig's Decision
Tony Allen delivered the Professor straight to medical, where John, Helena and Bob Mathias were waiting outside. Victor felt like a naughty schoolboy while he stood with his hat, gloves and coat in his hands while the others checked out his strange clothes. Helena stepped up to him, running her hand along the rough fabric of the jacket and he kissed her cheek.
"So where did you go?" John asked with a smile.
"Russia, 1902," Victor replied, smiling too.
"Well, let's get you checked out," Helena said, dragging him by his arm. "Then you can tell us."
"Alan is OK?" Victor asked. "I heard Tony mention something…"
"Yes, he's fine," John laughed, "almost too fine. He came back a few hours ago."
Victor pulled off the heavy Russian garments in one of the examination rooms. "Hygiene was not too great where I went," he grinned. "Sorry."
"I'm curious," Koenig said from the doorway and Victor smiled at his friend.
"Kaluga," was all Victor needed to say. John Koenig was a student of space exploration history too and he had it in a flash.
"Konstantin Tsiolkovsky?"
"Exactly," Victor smiled while the doctors did their thing. "I ended up in his village and was able to work with him for a couple of days. It was most fascinating!"
The Commander paced, thoughtful. "Very interesting, Victor. That thing threw the two of you to a time and a place where both of you could make an impact…"
"Where did Alan go?" Victor asked.
"Battle of the Somme, France, 1918. He landed at an Allied airfield, got himself in a plane and shot down Von Richthoven!"
"Well," Victor exclaimed, "that is most fascinating. So that portal seems to have some kind of… intelligence? Has anyone else gone?"
John shook his head. "When you guys disappeared, it became off limits. Oh, people have gone to look at it from a distance, but we didn't know what had happened, so we stayed away from it."
Helena had her hand on his shoulder. "Well, like Alan you check out just fine, Victor."
He nodded, getting up. "Look in that coat pocket, John," he smiled. "Tsiolkovsky's parting gift."
Koenig pulled the bottle of vodka from the pocket and laughed. He showed the label to Helena and Bob; they studied the bottle with wonder. "If I didn't believe the stories before, I do now," Mathias grinned.
Victor grabbed the Russian clothes and snatched the bottle from Koenig's hands. "I'm going to clean up," he said with a grin. "If you want some, come over later."
John looked at Helena and Bob and the three of them shook their heads, watching the Professor's departing back. "Now what do we do about that thing out there?" he said to the two doctors. "The stories will spread quickly and others might want to go have their own adventures."
"I think we need to observe Victor and Alan for a few days first, John," Helena suggested. "They may look fine now, but there may be a delayed reaction. Alan was a little too euphoric for my liking, but Victor seems more stable. I'd rather we be cautious though."
John ran his hand down her arm. "I agree. We'll have a leadership meeting anyway. We don't know where that thing came from, and why it is here, but we have to make some decisions about it."
"Time is not really linear. Only our perception of it in a specific location is."
The leadership team, gathered in John Koenig's office, watched Victor Bergman, waiting for him to continue.
"We observed time on earth as the passing of seasons, phases of heavenly bodies, night and day, but even then, in different locations those observations would have differed."
"But we age?" Koenig observed.
"Only in relation to our location," Victor retorted. "The closer we get to the speed of light, the more distorted time would become… it would, in essence, slow down, and our observation of it would change. All time simply is there, at all times," Victor smiled, "past, present and future, we've simply not experienced it. That's what makes time travel possible."
"It sounds terribly confusing," Sandra said with a small smile. "All I observe is that my daughter is growing and getting older."
"And she's still doing that according to earth time," Paul added.
"Because that is the time we know and have adapted to. It may very well be that generations from now those born here could be different."
"Like a form of evolution?" David Kano enquired. "Each successive generation born with greater adaptation to the conditions in Alpha Nova?"
"Exactly. Now we know that during our journey on Alpha we passed through some time distortions. Because our gravity generators essentially froze the passage of time for us based on our earth lives, that's how we perceived it, and what our journals and data reflect. But it may be that we traveled to a future, or a past; it may be that on earth right now it is still the dark ages, or the renaissance, or a future we have not even named."
"But the ship from earth, Professor?"
"We perceived that ship from our perspective in time. But remember David's and my calculations: according to the data from their computers the journey would have taken 600 years."
"We're a little off track here," John Koenig interjected. "We're here to make a decision about that space pyramid."
"Yes, sorry John. We can philosophize about time forever," Victor chuckled, "but we'll still have no definite answers."
"Do we need to make a decision about it?" Alan Carter asked. "It has not harmed us. Maybe we can just use it from time to time… sort of for a vacation?" Those around the table laughed. Alan indicated the bottle of vodka in the middle of the table. "After all, we can learn to bring all sorts of wonderful things back with us!"
"We don't know the long term effects of time travel on the human body," Doctor Russell interjected. "Granted, both you Victor seem fine now, but who knows, days from now, or weeks or even years we might observe delayed effects."
"My concern is more immediate," Koenig continued. "If that thing was sent to us, who sent it and why? And why is it just hovering there, as if waiting? Or is it going to be permanent?"
"Computer cannot analyze it, Commander," Kano offered. "It has simply remained silent on the matter. However, it was able to provide us with detailed history of the two events witnessed by Alan and Professor Bergman from our databanks."
"The only way to learn more about it is to make use of it," Victor said.
"I don't know," Koenig sighed. "I don't like the idea of just sending more of our people into it. What if someone ends up in a situation where they get hurt, or even killed?"
"Both Alan and I seemed to reach our point of return during a situation where we were in danger," the Professor said. "The portal gave us the opportunity to return exactly then, so if people go with that directive in mind they could return unharmed."
"The only way we can find out, Commander, is to try again," Alan grinned. "I'm willing to go for a second time."
"I appreciate that, Alan, but I'm not sure I'm willing to risk it."
"I'm sure we'll have plenty of volunteers if we throw it open," Paul said. "The stories have generated a lot of interest and speculation." He turned to Doctor Russell. "What if you went back and landed at the time of a great medical breakthrough; like the first heart transplant. You knowledge could improve things enormously."
"It sounds very tempting, Paul, but I'm with John on this. I just don't think it is wise to play with that thing."
"There are some inconsistencies," Victor admitted. "It did not take the moon buggy or the instruments we were using, yet it did our commlocks and Alan's stun gun. It did not return Alan in his plane but it allowed me to bring back that bottle and returned us in our different clothes. So why is it selective?"
"We could find out what goes and what stays by pitching different things at it," Kano chuckled.
"I have a theory that it's based on the relative temperature of the object," Victor continued, "but that's not really our goal, is it?"
"No, it's not." John Koenig said to keep the meeting on track.
"It is 40 km away and not threatening us in any way," Paul said. "Why don't we just leave it there?"
"Human nature is such that people will still go there and even try their luck," Koenig replied. "I'm not sure I want to waste manpower by posting a permanent guard."
"And we are all curious about it," Sandra stressed. "We'd like to know more about it."
"Just issue a command that it is off limits," Paul suggested.
"I'd love to be able to trust every one of our people on that," John Koenig smiled, "but I think some people's curiosity might get the better of them."
"Well, if they disobey the command, let them suffer their own consequences."
"I am ultimately responsible for the safety of us all," John said. "What if someone disobeys and comes back with something harmful… a disease for example." That was a sobering thought, and the team exchanged glances.
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of," Helena nodded. "Something long-term attaching to the time travelers."
"At least we didn't return to 1350 Europe, but yes, that is a possibility," Professor Bergman admitted.
"Do we have enough input now to come to some kind of decision?" Koenig pushed.
"I'm with Alan," Victor offered. "The only way to get more data is to continue sending people into the pyramid. I don't think it means us any harm."
"I say we wait at least a week before we do so," Helena added. "And check Victor and Alan every day medically."
Alan groaned and the Professor grimaced with him in agreement. "Only if you'll let me be the one to have a go at it in a week," Alan said.
"I think it's a good idea to let someone go who has already experienced it. That way we can see if they experience the same adventure, or have a different one," was Kano's contribution.
Koenig looked at Alan Carter. "I'm not sure I'd be happy for Alan to go back to the same event. What if the outcome is different? Or what if, due to the nature of his skills he gets projected to another dangerous endeavor." The Commander turned to Victor Bergman. "If we wait a week, would you be willing to go, Victor?"
"Of course, John."
Commander Koenig caught the glare sent his way by Helena Russell and addressed her: "Victor had the safer experience."
"But he may not end up in the same one," Helena protested.
"That's true, but if that portal has some sort of intelligence and projects according to skill set, it'll probably be a parallel event."
"Do we guard the pyramid in the meantime?" Paul asked.
"Yes. I'll issue a no-go directive, but we'll keep a couple of men there as deterrent. I could live with that for a week."
"So, in a week the Professor goes again?" Kano asked. "What happens when he returns unharmed from the same or a different adventure?" Are we back at this point?"
"I'll take a camera," Victor said. "Perhaps other equipment if it will go through with me. Hopefully we'll have more data."
"What if he doesn't return, Commander?" Sandra whispered, glancing at Doctor Russell. None of the Alphans liked that question and there was a long silence, but it was the Professor who finally answered:
"Our data so far suggests that I will return, and unharmed." He placed his hand on Helena's reassuringly. "And it's still a week away. The space pyramid might leave before then."
"Right," Koenig affirmed. "When Victor returns, progression suggests that we send a new man through the pyramid. By then we should know which instruments we can take with us. Victor will take a stun gun on his next trip," Koenig smiled slightly while saying this, but then he met the glances of his team and turned serious again. "Once Victor returns I will step into that portal."
Helena Russell was in a combative mood as she paced their quarters. "Why the two of you?" she asked, facing John Koenig, then Victor Bergman, who had Thor on his lap. "The risk is too great. Why not let Alan go. He volunteered first. And then send someone else."
"The risk would be the same to whoever goes," Victor replied.
"Not to me!" she exclaimed. "The two of you are just not some kind of experiment to me!"
"No one on Berg is," Victor soothed, but her eyes shot daggers in his direction.
"You're turning yourselves into lab rats! The two men I care about most."
"We'll be perfectly fine…" Victor continued.
"You don't know that!" Helena interrupted, and John Koenig, sensing that this was escalating, held up his hand.
"When the Bethans affected us with their virus we were all only too happy to try the experimental treatment," he tried.
"That was different and you know it," she countered, not backing down. "We developed the medicine. It did not involve traveling to an unknown time and place…" Victor opened his mouth to say something, but she stopped in front of him. "No… don't say anything more," she threatened and the two men glanced at each other. "And don't even try making fun of me. I'm not happy!"
Fortunately for the two men, Thor chose that moment to let out a squeal and reach for his mother. She picked him up but resumed her pacing, patting his back. When her back was turned, John and Victor glanced at each other and shrugged. She swung around like a flash as if by some extraordinary sense, but they looked up at her innocently.
"Alan did volunteer first," she repeated. "Let him go in a week."
"And if he gets harmed that's OK?" Koenig drew in a deep breath as his friend blurted that out. Victor might be a very smart man, but sometimes he was just clueless. That kind of confrontational logic was no weapon against an emotional woman and he saw her eyes turn to slits.
"I understand the risk," he started, "no matter who goes." It was time to try defusing the situation. "I based my decision on the data we have available from the two encounters, Helena. Yes, Alan volunteered first, but he had landed in a very volatile, dangerous situation. While he may have enjoyed it, it could have easily ended badly for him. Victor has a different skill set, which that portal seems to know, and he would be far better equipped to keep himself out of harmful situations."
"But you have no guarantees," she persisted. Then she turned to Victor. "And don't you tell me it is the same as for Alan. Yes, I care about Alan, but you have a son now. I want him to know his father." She held out Thor, who reached for his father and gurgled excitedly.
John had to turn his back to suppress his smile. His friend had no chance here. But the Commander still thought it was best that Alan not go. Now was not the time to press things though, so to change the subject he said: "I'm ready to try some of your vodka now, Victor, before I go home."
It was a funny sight: the Professor with Thor on his hip fetching the vodka and three glasses. As he set everything down trying not to drop anything, Helena shook her head. "You go ahead. No vodka for me."
Since Victor had his hands full, John poured them each a shot. Victor had sat down and held out his hand to Helena but she was far from satisfied at the outcome of the conversation. She sank on the couch beside him without taking his hand and pulled Thor to her.
"Here's to Konstantin Tsiolkovsky," John said, handing Victor his glass.
"Here's to the Red Baron!" Victor retorted with a grin and threw back his shot. He came up grimacing. "You know, there in Kaluga I had to pretend I liked this stuff so as not to offend, but really, it's ghastly."
"You can always save it for the next black sun," John grinned.
"One of those is enough for a lifetime," the Professor shot back, but his eyes searched out Helena. She was focused on Thor, ignoring the men.
"OK, Helena," John decided. "Let's talk about the pyramid."
"You've made it very clear what you want to do." She was still not giving in.
He sighed. "Well, it's not really what I want to do. I have something to confess." Now he had the attention of both of them. "I have a feeling that thing is waiting for something specific," he said.
"What do you mean?" Victor enquired.
"I have no proof, just an intuition. I have been having dreams… strange dreams that almost seem real…"
"John, you should have come to me." Now Helena's voice was filled with concern. "I could have checked you. We went through a period of extreme stress, you more so because of your command…"
"They are not bad dreams." He looked at his two closest friends, thinking, and then made up his mind. "Do you remember our encounter with Zenno?"
Victor scratched his head and then snapped his fingers. "They captured you to use you for some kind of experiment… do you think that's what that pyramid is for?"
"I think that pyramid is from Zenno, yes," Koenig nodded.
"What does it have to do with the dreams?" Helena asked.
"In my dreams the girl from Zenno has been visiting me," Koenig replied. To give them credit, his friends did not laugh at him, but were paying him rapt attention. "She has been encouraging me and giving me advice. She also told me that she is looking for a way to come to our world."
"Why doesn't she just come?" Helena asked. "We would welcome her if she meant us no harm."
"The Zennites are a race of the mind," Koenig explained. "They create what they want through their highly evolved minds. We are far inferior. That's why they wanted to use me on our previous encounter: their minds are so evolved they've forgotten what anger, fear and many other human emotions are like."
"Are they humanoid?" Victor asked.
"Very much so," John replied. "I got the feeling that earth man could have been descendants of the early Zennites. But for her to cross over, she would, in fact, have to regress, if such a thing is even possible."
"And you think the portal is her doorway?" Victor drew the conclusion.
"It's either her doorway, or an invitation to me," Koenig said. "I have the feeling that thing is waiting for me, and that you and Alan took it by surprise."
"But if it is meant for you and you step into it," Helena frowned, "you'll be taken to their world and be lost to us."
"I'm merely speculating," Koenig replied. "But I'm thinking it would take me to their world and allow me to return with Vana… that's her name."
"Why would she give up her highly evolved state to come to our primitive world?" Victor asked, puzzled. "Evolution is always for the betterment of a species."
"We are rather fond of each other," John said softly. Now he had their undivided attention as two sets of eyes filled with astonishment locked on his. Even Thor seemed to be homing on him, uttering a few sounds that might be taken as an attempt at laughing. Finally it was Helena who smiled.
"That's wonderful, John."
The emotional implication bypassed the scientist though. "So you're suggesting that you should just step into that pyramid to test your hypothesis?"
"Yes, Victor," Commander Koenig replied. "That's what I suggest. No more tests, just me. Even if I'm proven wrong, I'm bound to just have an adventure similar to yours and Alan's, and return in a few days."
"You don't know, John!" Helena exclaimed again. "And what if it just takes you to Zenno, and you never return?"
"That's a chance I just have to take," John smiled. "Look, like I said before, I have no proof, just a feeling. But that thing is going to sit there and keep the curiosity alive among all our people until it gets what it wants. People would want to take chances, with good or bad outcomes. I don't fear it, but I fear the long term effect it could have just sitting there… I don't think sending Victor or Alan back into it is going to give us a satisfactory answer. I have to just do what I feel is the right thing and step into it. If it is a portal to just take me to their world," he reached for Helena's hand, "I will be happy. If it is a portal to return both of us here, I will be doubly happy."
"You're in love with her," Helena concluded. John nodded, grateful for her understanding, but he could see Victor was still puzzled. Still holding Helena's hand, he turned to the scientist. "If I don't return, Victor will take over my command." He noticed she wanted to say something, but he squeezed her hand and continued: "You'll miss me, but you will survive. You have a new home, families, and a future. Even if I don't return, I'll have a new home too. And who knows, out here in space where we understand so little, what might happen in future."
"But it is your hypothesis that you will return… with Vana?" Victor asked. John nodded. "Then I agree… you should test it. After all, the pyramid gave us a choice; both to Alan and me. It appeared in our new world, and we could have made the decision not to return. I think it will be consistent."
"I think so too. So tomorrow I'll speak to our people, tell them about my decision without giving them this background… it was for the two of you only… and step into the pyramid. Now it's time for me to head home."
"OK, John," Victor said, starting to get up, but Helena thrust Thor in his arms. The baby immediately clasped both hands to his father's face and started pulling nose, ears and hair. John laughed: it was still a sight to see his friend with the little boy.
"I'll walk with you." Helena had gotten up and Victor just nodded, trying to control the little grasping hands.
"I'm still not happy," Helena confessed as she and John Koenig started heading towards the command unit in Uzazi, where his ATV was parked.
"Poor Victor," John laughed, opting to change the topic yet again. "We could be having a steaming hot affair, and he would have no clue…"
Helena hooked her arm in John's. "He may not be demonstrative, clingy or emotional, but he has everything that really matters," she smiled. "He's observant, considerate, gentle… and he listens. Granted I don't give him much choice… but most of all he is dependable and consistent, and he does the little things that count…"
"I'm glad, Helena."
"Perhaps the cosmic forces you guys are always crediting knew best in the end." Helena mused. "You and I would have been fire and fire, and it would have been fun… sometimes… but we might have burned each other out. With Victor it's more like earth and fire… earth can contain the fire, even allow it to rage, but it will not be destroyed by it and will always recover."
John laughed. "That's pretty deep, Helena. But… also a beautiful way to think about it." They had reached his ATV at the command unit. She smiled up at him, and he kissed her cheek. "Don't worry about my decision. I'm convinced it's the right thing to do and therefore it will work out the way it should… for all of us." She nodded, reaching out for a hug. Then, as he swung onto his ATV he grinned once more. "Now, get back to your rock… and don't be too hard on him!"
(To be continued...)