My family always focused on business when I was a child, and I spent years learning how to run that business. I relaxed by reading books in my free time. I flipped through real paper books, I read electronic books, and I walked through full holographic novels. There are so many ways to create and experience fiction, and I explored them all. It was my way of escaping from my family when I was young. I found other ways when I grew up, but I never gave up on that love of reading.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Charles stepped through the hot afternoon rain, water droplets running off his suit jacket. He wore the same style of black civilian dress suit he had grown up with. It was the kind that told anybody who knew anything about Class that the wearer was Old Money. Christian wore a streetwise suit topped off with a trenchcoat and a fedora that was far more at home in a cheap bar than a boardroom meeting. Dorothy and Rio walked beside them, one holding a frilly umbrella over her ankle-length black dress and the other in a trenchcoat of her own. They made for an interesting quartet walking down the sidewalk as rain splashed onto their clothing from below or tried to soak through from above.<\/p>\n
\u201cCould you have picked a less comfortable day for this meeting?\u201d Christian asked with a sour expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Charles returned and turned his gaze to their destination. The oldest bookstore outside the Terran system towered over the street like an ancient castle. Stone parapets decorated the top of the building, round towers decorated the corners from roof to street level, and large wooden doors hung open, waiting for customers to enter. Charles gave Christian a sidelong glance. \u201cBut I think the weather matches the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charles walked into Landing Books with the others in tow and stamped his feet on the sodden entry carpet. He shook his jacket and watched the water droplets spray as he walked through the security scanner. Then he began to scan the shelves full of actual paper books. Some people still bought them, and Landing Books made certain to place their<\/em> paper books front and center at the main entrance so everybody could see real<\/em> books on sale.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. \u2018It was a dark and stormy day\u2019 doesn\u2019t have the same ring to it,\u201d Christian said as he gave the bookstore an appreciative gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cTrue.\u201d Charles saw many of the classics on display as his eyes scanned the shelves. Many were books he did not enjoy. Don Quixote was insane. Brave New World was neither brave nor new. But the Wizard of Oz and Tom Sawyer were enjoyable books to read. Or there were real histories like to Kill a Mockingbird and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. It was an impressive collection of paper books, one of the better ones in a store he\u2019d seen in a while. \u201cBut a dark day sets the mood well.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles walked past the bookshelves and into the part of Landing Books that most people would recognize as a bookstore. Digital displays promoted new stories. Many of them were just text on pages like books had been for thousands of years. Some were movies or even full holographic interactive stories that took the watcher\u2019s actions into account.<\/p>\n Bright colors and animals proclaimed the children\u2019s section, while bare-chested handsome men filled the romance area. Displays full of scantily clad beautiful women promoted the science fiction and fantasy stories to their readers. Charles liked them for the stories, but he was honest enough to admit that the girls helped. The store had all of the other sections any bookstore had, from the self-help to the religious to the travel areas. It was a good store.<\/p>\n Charles walked to the back of the store to where the previewing rooms stood, and scanned the room numbers. Some of them showed green status markers, proclaiming them open for people to use. A few were red, declaring they were occupied. A small number flashed between green and red and Charles smiled as he found the one he wanted. His reservation for room eleven was ready, and nobody had arrived yet.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure he is the right man for the job?\u201d Christian asked and leaned against the wall like a gumshoe detective from one of the old stories Charles had loved as a boy.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Charles answered and stepped towards the door. \u201cDorothy?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy smiled in response. \u201cThe store tells me you can enter now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles said to both Dorothy and the store. Then he turned to Christian with a smile. \u201cMake sure no one else tries to enter, please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Christian said as he scanned the interior of the bookstore for any threats. \u201cGood luck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles returned with a nod and stepped forward to open the door. He walked into the previewing room with Dorothy on his heels and scanned the clean white walls.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease load the simulation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Master Hurst,\u201d the store\u2019s artificial intelligence answered in a suitable old English accent. \u201cLoading now.\u201d<\/p>\n The cobblestone street appeared first, followed by a flagstone sidewalk, and a stone fence next to him. Grass and flowers and trees flickered into existence, along with houses and sky and clouds. Finally people walking down the sidewalk, a single horse drawn carriage began to roll down Baker Street, and Charles found himself looking on a high-class residential neighborhood in London of the 1880s.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like to begin the narrative, Master Hurst?\u201d the store asked.<\/p>\n \u201cNo thank you. I am meeting someone here. Please let him in when he arrives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course, Master Hurst.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles opened a gate next to the number 221 and walked onto a flower-lined footpath not that different from the one he had grown up with outside Philadelphia. He carefully stepped over the flowers and walked across the immaculate yard to a private sitting area he knew well. He had explored these stories for most of his life, and enjoyed simply sitting and watching the world much more than following the stories. The London of the 1880s was so interesting to visit.<\/p>\n Charles sat down on a wooden bench, leaned back into it, and breathed deeply of the flower-scented air. It smelled good, very different from the smells of New Earth. Dorothy sat down next to him and he blinked as the bench shifted from her weight. He realized the hum of his holoemitters were gone and smiled at her. She was using the previewing room\u2019s emitters.<\/p>\n Dorothy answered him with a self-satisfied smile, lifted herself up off the bench, and sat back down with a firm motion that moved the bench again. She enjoyed having real interaction with her surroundings. He did not blame her. He tended to take that interaction for granted.<\/p>\n Charles patted Dorothy\u2019s shoulder and she felt as real as the bench he sat on. She grasped his hand with one of her own, holding it in a firm grip. He closed his eyes and they sat like that for what felt like a long time, listening to the sporadic English banter on the other side of the wall. He did not mind waiting. This was a beautiful place. The gate finally creaked open and he smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is here,\u201d Dorothy announced.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles answered and turned to watch his old friend walk into the yard. \u201cHello,\u201d he called out with a wave of his hand.<\/p>\n \u201c221 Baker Street?\u201d Malcolm asked with a smile and stepped over the flowers.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an old favorite,\u201d Charles returned with a shrug. \u201cNever fails to remind me to study the smallest details, for they are often important.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm stopped, placed his hands on his suit\u2019s pockets, and looked up at the magnificent house with an intrigued gaze. \u201cDo you think he was based on someone real?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded. \u201cIt is possible. The more I learn, the more possible I begin to believe it is.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded, walked over to Charles and Dorothy, and held his hand out to her. Dorothy smiled and raised her hand for him to take. He grasped it, leaned over, and kissed the back of it in a gentlemanly way. \u201cMy lady,\u201d he whispered. \u201cIt is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Malcolm.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy glanced at Charles. He just cleared his throat and covered his mouth to hide a smile. The twinkling of his eyes betrayed him though, and her smile grew as she turned back to Malcolm. \u201cDorothy,\u201d she proclaimed in a regal tone. \u201cI have heard so<\/em> much about you,\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll scurrilous lies, I assure<\/em> you,\u201d Malcolm said with a wink. \u201cUnless it speaks well of me of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then it is a complimentary<\/em> lie?\u201d she asked without missing a beat.<\/p>\n Malcolm laughed and released her hand, stepping back to sit down on the bench facing them. \u201cYou\u2019re a good one,\u201d he finally said with an elaborate wave of a hand.<\/p>\n She smiled and nodded, accepting his compliment in graceful silence.<\/p>\n Malcolm turned to Charles with a smile reserved for old friends. \u201cFor what it\u2019s worth, Chuck, I think you made the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded in return and patted Dorothy\u2019s shoulder again. His decision to volunteer for the military had not<\/em> been approved of by his family. Hursts were expected to lead from business or political positions, not fight like a common-born brat after all. \u201cThat is why I wanted to talk to you<\/em>,\u201d Charles said with a smile. Malcolm cocked his head to the side, inviting Charles to continue. \u201cWe had many plans when we were children. Do you remember them?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm glanced at Dorothy and smiled. \u201cI remember all of them, actually. Do you have one in mind now?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled. \u201cI do actually. And we need someone with far<\/em> more time than I have to do it. We also need someone with your contacts,\u201d he finished with a chuckle.<\/p>\n Malcolm chuckled back and relaxed into his bench. \u201cMy contacts? I\u2019m afraid I have no idea what you mean,\u201d he returned with a perfectly straight face.<\/p>\n Charles sighed. Back when they were kids, Malcolm had always been the person anyone talked to when they wanted to get anything they couldn\u2019t get by walking to a store. And according to his reports, Malcolm was still<\/em> the guy to go to.<\/p>\n \u201cMalcolm, it is time to activate the colony plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm blinked in surprise and stared at Charles. And for a moment they were both back in the family gardens that looked so much like this one, conspiring over their future plans. \u201cThe colony plan? You\u2019re kicking that off now<\/em>? In the middle of a war<\/em>?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled and relaxed back into his bench. \u201cI think we have to. My family does not see the big picture. All they see is the profits they can squeeze out of this conflict. They redouble their corrupt practices and party politics. They think they can grab whatever power they want on Earth or the other Core Worlds.\u201d He aimed a finger at Malcolm. \u201cThat is why you left.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded. \u201cYeah, I guess you\u2019re right there. Although I wouldn\u2019t have said it as bluntly as you just did.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles spread his hands out wide to show he was not hiding anything. \u201cAnd that<\/em> is why I<\/em> said it.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm scratched his chin and let out another long breath. \u201cWe made those plans a long time ago. Are they still even workable?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI never forget a plan,\u201d Charles said with a smile. \u201cAnd this one I have kept updated.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm aimed a penetrating look at him. \u201cWhat about the funding? It\u2019s an expensive plan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFirst stage funding is complete,\u201d Charles noted and felt pleasure at Malcolm\u2019s surprise. It did not represent the largest collection of wealth on Earth, but a million here and a million there turned into real money after a few decades. \u201cI can initiate the second stage whenever you need it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then, color me interested,\u201d Malcolm said. \u201cBut I need to know something before I decide.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles pulled in a long breath and held his smile. \u201cAsk.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded. \u201cHow determined are you to see this through? What are you going to do if your father finds out?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled. \u201cTrust me, Malcolm. My father will<\/em> find out. That is part of my plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm blinked and his face went slack for a moment before he shook his head. \u201cYou know he\u2019s really<\/em> not going to like you doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Charles spat out. \u201cBut I am sick and tired of alien civilizations coming into our territory and making Contact<\/em> with us. We know<\/em> there are other races out there, beyond the Peloran, the Arnam, the Shang, and the Roderan. We are a backwater<\/em>, Malcolm. A local<\/em> power. To them we are just some backward race of humanity that needs uplifting to galactic standards the way we uplifted dogs<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s eyes narrowed the way they had all those years ago when they\u2019d complained about that very thing. That was good. Charles had worried that his old friend had forgotten. But Malcolm had still been out of the process for a long time. Charles needed to remind him of it all.<\/p>\n .\u201cWe need to change the playing field,\u201d Charles said in a passionate tone. \u201cWe cannot squabble over our handful of planets here. We cannot play our politically divisive and crony capitalist games. I am sick and tired of hearing about another of our paid for politicians who gets away with murder because he has the right last name and knows who butters his bread! We have to end it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow do we end it?\u201d Malcolm asked with a helpless shrug. \u201cYou remember what they did to John when he tried.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded. \u201cI remember. He was right then, and he is right now. But we do not have the power base to make the change here. And if we try, here in our little corner of space, it will not change our alien problem. They will continue to come here to Contact<\/em> us, and we are never<\/em> going to be a galactic power. We have to break the corrupt shackles that bind us. We have to go<\/em> out there<\/em>,\u201d he said, waving a hand at the sky. \u201cWe have to establish free colonies in their<\/em> neighborhoods. We have to sail our ships over their<\/em> worlds. We have to join<\/em> them out there, or we will never be one<\/em> of them. We will be infants squabbling over toys in the playground.\u201d Charles let his voice fade away and shook his head. \u201cBut if we can break the cycle, if we can go out there\u2026the galaxy<\/em> is the limit to what a man with the right connections could do out there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve been practicing your pitch,\u201d Malcolm whispered in approval, his eyes glittering with the idea of just how much money he could make. \u201cBut why do you need me<\/em>? Why don\u2019t you<\/em> do this? Why did you\u2026why are you fighting<\/em>?\u201d he finished in a tone that showed he really did<\/em> want to know.<\/p>\n Charles sighed again. \u201cBecause, no matter how much I planned, there were still some contacts I needed to make the plan possible.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles turned to Dorothy and swallowed. A part of him had hoped that Malcolm would not ask that question, but he had known it was a possibility. And whatever the cost, he would not lie. He gritted his teeth in anticipation of her displeasure and spoke. \u201cI needed to contact Aneerin, to get his support, but he does not trust my family and would not meet me. So I had to take\u2026extraordinary measures to contact him,\u201d he finished, keeping his gaze on her, and waited for her response.<\/p>\n He did not have to wait long. She smiled. \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles blinked in confusion. He had expected\u2026anger\u2026something<\/em>\u2026for using<\/em> her. Not\u2026calm acceptance.<\/p>\n Dorothy pulled in a deep breath and gave him a proud look. \u201cMy mother studied you extensively before she chose you.\u201d Dorothy spread her hands out wide and her smile grew. \u201cI was born<\/em> to help you complete your mission.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles felt his mouth fall open in surprise as he wondered just how much they knew.<\/p>\n \u201cI love you.\u201d<\/p>\n The words broke Charles out of his confusion and he turned to see Malcolm beaming at Dorothy, his face showing he meant all three words. Charles\u2019 eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me?\u201d he growled.<\/p>\n Malcolm turned back to him with a smile. \u201cSeriously, do you know how long I\u2019ve waited for someone to outthink you so profoundly that you\u2019re speechless<\/em>?\u201d the man asked in an amused tone. He turned back to Dorothy and waved a hand at her in a debonair manner. \u201cThank<\/em> you, my lady, for such an amazing<\/em> sight.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles saw Dorothy straighten in her seat and smile at Malcolm. \u201cYou are welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pulled in a long breath and sobered as he looked back to Charles. He nodded in understanding. \u201cSo\u2026you\u2019re willing to risk your own life to make this plan work?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles swallowed before nodding back. \u201cYes,\u201d he said, keeping his response short and to the point. Nothing more really needed to be said after all.<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded slowly, deep in thought. \u201cThen I\u2019m in. What do you need?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled at his old friend and collected his thoughts. \u201cI need freighters and transports, rugged ones that can take a hit and keep on flying. They have to be at least<\/em> first generation gravtech. Rockets will not fly where you must go.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded in understanding. \u201cGot it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI also need supplies. At least one full class one colonization package. No cutting corners on that regard.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded in agreement. \u201cYeah, that makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI need man-portable weapons, security AIs, combat vehicles, and fighters. Maybe even some combat ships if we can find them. Most systems have old patrol boats that they were looking to unload on some private corporation back before Yosemite. I honestly do not know if any still are. I do have contact information for the places I was planning on purchasing from though. Some may still be willing.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded and gave him a sly smile. \u201cI might be able to find something. Weapons are going to be tough now, of course. How\u2026aggressive do you want to be about getting them?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head, recognizing the real question. \u201cWe can not afford to hurt The War effort. Nothing that is going to the military can be touched.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded. \u201cUnderstood. We can\u2019t get top line equipment then. The best I can manage with that restriction is old surplus stuff that nobody wants anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cI guess that makes me nobody then.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm laughed at the joke. Then he paused and tapped his chin for a few moments as his eyes flickered back and forth in thought. \u201cI remember some old first generation gravtech fighters that were up for sale a few months back. I think they were Blackhawks. I can see if the seller has more he\u2019d like to unload.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease do.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded slowly and considered Charles for a long moment. \u201cKnowing you, you have plans in very complete detail saying what you need and where you need it.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cI do.\u201d Then he shrugged. \u201cOf course I never planned for Yosemite, which makes things\u2026difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm pursed his lips. \u201cMaybe not.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles cocked his head to side. \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm shrugged. \u201cIt\u2019ll be harder to get the equipment, what with The War, but it will be easier to hide what we\u2019re doing from your father.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled in approval at how Malcolm\u2019s mind worked. \u201cVery true.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm held a hand out. \u201cWell, if you\u2019ll give me your files, I can get started working on this.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles turned back to Dorothy with a smile. \u201cDorothy?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy gave him a curious look. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles let out a long breath. \u201cCould you send him the appropriate files?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy blinked and cocked her head to the side, examining him for several seconds. \u201cI am afraid I have never accessed those files, Charles. They are behind a wall.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cWell then, I suppose you will just have to go through the wall.\u201d<\/p>\n One of Dorothy\u2019s eyebrows rose. \u201cAre you certain?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles nodded. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy pulled in a long breath and her holoform flickered for a moment. \u201cWow,\u201d she whispered, her tone impressed. \u201cYou had a good AI running your privacy screen.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles frowned. \u201cHad?\u201d he asked in a concerned tone.<\/p>\n Dorothy shrugged. \u201cWell, she actually trapped me and then began trying to shred my code. I really could not<\/em> allow that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOops,\u201d Charles whispered with a wince. \u201cI forgot she was supposed to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy smiled and brought a hand up to pat the pocket of his jacket that held his private personal computer. \u201cWell, no worries. That instance of her program will never get another chance to do anything<\/em>. I took the liberty of replacing her with more secure privacy code. I hope you do not mind?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head rubbed his temple in amazement. \u201cYou realize that was the best privacy AI my family has ever written?\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s smile took on a proud look. \u201cYes. I do.\u201d Then she blinked in surprise. \u201cCharles. There are millions of folders here, each one named a different random number.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles chuckled. \u201cWell then. Maybe you should not have destroyed that privacy AI. She had the algorithm. Now you will just have to scan every folder the old fashioned way,\u201d he said with a wicked grin.<\/p>\n Dorothy gave him a disapproving frown. \u201cAm I going to find any nasty surprises in there?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed. \u201cWell, my diary is there.\u201d He smiled at her. \u201cI may have admitted my true feelings for you in there.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s eyes narrowed. \u201cFine,\u201d she finally whispered. Then her holoform flickered again and she stepped back from him in alarm. \u201cOuch! There are data<\/em>mines on that thing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOops,\u201d Charles repeated and let out a sigh. \u201cI suppose you should hurry then. If you activated one of them<\/em>, the automatic scram<\/em> program would have kicked in. You only have seconds to save the data before it is all<\/em> gone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo not look so smug,\u201d she returned in a tart tone. \u201cI have already disabled that program.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles shook his head in wonder. \u201cWe really should have recruited cybers before now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid you really think you were the first Hurst to try?\u201d Dorothy asked and gave him another smug smile. \u201cI have found the files.\u201d She pointed an arm at Malcolm. \u201cTransmitting now.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s suit beeped and he looked at the display on the inside of one sleeve. He pressed a button, accepting the file transfer, and nodded. \u201cThank you, my lady,\u201d he said, came to his feet, and smiled towards Dorothy. \u201cI think I\u2019ll take my leave now and let you two talk,\u201d he finished with a wicked grin and turned to leave.<\/p>\n \u201cWait,\u201d Charles said and dug a small crystal out of one of his suit pockets. He held it out towards Malcolm, and the man gave it a doubtful look.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cThat is something my family has been working on since\u2026oh\u2026before World War II. Very Secret Squirrel kind of project. My family has spent untold resources keeping it very private and out of the hands of anybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat didn\u2019t actually answer my question,\u201d Malcolm said with a very doubtful tone.<\/p>\n Charles chuckled. \u201cTrue. You know of the United States government\u2019s Spartan Program?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Malcolm said in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was our inspiration,\u201d Charles added with a pleased smile. \u201cAnd this is our program. All of it. Centuries of study and experimentation. Every treatment we have ever developed for any use is saved right there. You might find the Ares serum to be of particular interest right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe base Spartan serum is designed to enhance a soldier\u2019s need to follow orders, along with the super-soldier package of increased reflexes, strength, and everything else. Rather similar to the process that created the Peloran, actually. It makes soldiers,\u201d Charles said with a shrug. \u201cThe Ares serum was designed to create\u2026free thinking leaders<\/em> rather than soldiers.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm took the crystal from Charles\u2019 hand and whistled. \u201cHow does it compare to the Peloran treatments?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed. \u201cThese are not health treatments. They are enhancements.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see.\u201d Malcolm shook his head. \u201cThen what about for combat purposes? Compared to\u2026one of us? Or a Peloran?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cComparable.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm whistled in surprise. \u201cHow reliable is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sucked in a deep breath and met Malcolm\u2019s gaze to show he was serious. \u201cVery. Though it is not permanent. The serum must be injected at regular intervals to maintain peak performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm just looked at the crystal for several seconds before responding. \u201cWe need this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know,\u201d Charles answered and nodded towards it. \u201cTake all of it. Study everything in that crystal and use it out there where my family cannot do anything to stop it. No random car accidents or suicides. No sudden onset of cancer or some heart attack that no one saw coming. Get this away from them so they can never stuff this genie back into the bottle.\u201d<\/p>\n Malcolm nodded and slipped the crystal into one of his pockets. \u201cI understand,\u201d he said and turned to leave once more, his long legs taking him back to the flower lined footpath with meter-consuming strides.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you,\u201d Charles called out to the retreating figure.<\/p>\n Malcolm waved back at them, stepped over the flowers, and strode down the footpath to pass through the gate onto Baker Street. Silence filled the space between Charles and Dorothy. Charles breathed in and out.<\/p>\n Dorothy broke the silence. \u201cThere was no need for me to scan every file to find the right one. You could have kept your secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled. \u201cYes. I could<\/em> have,\u201d he answered in a serene tone. He held a hand between them, palm up, and looked at her.<\/p>\n She returned his look, smiled, and brought her hand up to lay in his with an intrigued expression on her face.<\/p>\n Charles squeezed her hand, pleased at the feeling of solidity it had here. \u201cThe time for secrets has passed. I need your help if the plan is to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy\u2019s smile grew soft and she squeezed his hand in response. \u201cWhat about the things you said in your diary?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles sighed and hoped she would not take offense. \u201cAll true.\u201d<\/p>\n Dorothy met his gaze for several endless seconds before smiling and aiming a swift nod at him. \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles smiled in relief and came to his feet, still holding her hand. \u201cWould you care to walk with me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI would love to,\u201d Dorothy answered and came to her feet with a graceful motion.<\/p>\n Charles pulled in a deep breath as they turned and began to walk through the flower gardens of 221 Baker Street, four centuries in the past. It was amazing to be considering the future of the human race in that scene with a beautiful lady his side. It was a very pleasing way to walk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My family always focused on business when I was a child, and I spent years learning how to run that business. I relaxed by reading books in my free time. I flipped through real paper books, I read electronic books,[…]↓ Read the rest of this entry…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-2304-forge-of-war-earc","uentry","postonpage-1","odd","post-author-medron-pryde"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5648","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5648"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5649,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5648\/revisions\/5649"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jackofharts.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}