Chapter 18: Causal Loop

Later that day, I joined Laine and Saria in the lido. I even swam in the pool with them. I knew that Laine loved swimming, and she was overjoyed to have my company.

“Your swimming is improving,” said Laine.

“Thank you. I had a good teacher,” I replied.

Laine smiled at me.

“Have you shown Saria to the gymnasium yet?” I asked.

“Of course,” replied Laine. “She offered to teach me self-defence techniques.”

“Excellent!” I said.

Saria joined us at the side of the pool.

“Saria, there’s a delay in the firing range. Ship is working on how to use material from the orbital station. The plan is to line the firing range, to absorb any stray shots,” I said.

“Understood,” replied Saria with a smile.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” I asked.

“Sure,” she replied. Her smile changed to a look of concern.

“You were formally in the special forces, yet when we met you were working aboard a passenger transport. Why is that?” I asked.

“When I was in special forces, my mother became ill. I left to take care of her. She eventually died,” replied Saria.

Laine put her arm around Saria.

“I was fortunate to be with her before she died. After her passing, I was unsure if I wanted to return to the military. The passenger transport job was something to keep me busy until the right job came along,” said Saria.

“It’s fortunate we met you then,” I said.

She smiled again.

Later, I got out of the pool and moved to a recliner. Laine continued swimming laps, while Saria sat at the side of the pool.

It didn’t take long for me to fall asleep in the warm climate.

Later, Laine woke me up from my slumber.

“Brian, move into the shade or you’ll get sunburn,” she said.

“Oh, thanks!” I said. I got up and fetched a drink of water from the food dispenser. Then I sat at a small table in the shade.

Jem arrived and took her favourite spot in a hammock nearby.

“Hello, Brian. I’m glad to see you relaxing,” said Jem.

“I swam with Laine and Saria, then I took a nap. Now I’m enjoying a glass of water in the shade,” I said with a smile.

“Have you seen Mina today?” asked Jem.

“No,” I replied.

“Could you check on her? She was in her lab earlier,” she said.

I stood up and finished my water.

“On my way,” I said.

I stopped by my cabin and changed into a jumpsuit before visiting the botany lab. The lab and the garden were Mina’s favourite places, and I expected her to be around somewhere. She was in the lab.

“Bri-an!” exclaimed Mina. “How are you?”

“Well, thanks. I came to check in on you,” I replied.

“I’m preparing more plants for the garden. In a few days I’ll transfer them to their final location,” she said.

“It sounds like the garden is doing well. But how are you?” I asked.

“I’m fine. Working with plants makes me happy,” she replied.

“Great! I wouldn’t want you stuck doing something you didn’t enjoy,” I said with a grin.

Mina wiped her hands clean on a towel.

“I’m happy here. It is enjoyable to spend my time during our travel between star systems. I get to create a beautiful garden that everyone can enjoy, including you,” she said.

I smiled.

“Come and look over here,” she said.

I followed her over to a section of the lab.

“In here is my vegetable garden. I’m growing various herbs and vegetables. In time we won’t need to stop to buy fresh vegetables. I’ll supply all we need for our cooking,” she said.

“That’s awesome!” I replied.

Mina smiled.

“The food dispensers can replicate foods, but nothing beats fresh grown,” she said.

“No argument with me on that. You’ve given me an idea for a special project,” I said.

“What’s that?” she asked.

“You still have that database of Earth plants?” I asked.

“Yes. Follow me,” she replied.

We walked over to the wall display. She pressed a few keys, and it came to life.

“Search for Coffee,” I said.

Moments later, we had pictures and data about different coffee plants. More than I cared to know about coffee, but Mina was interested.

“What if we got some live coffee plants? You could grow them and we could process our own fresh coffee, not replicated,” I said.

“Wow! We’d have to sneak into the Earth system and risk disturbing a protected species,” she replied.

“We’d have to get the plants without disturbing the primitives. But then we could grow our own coffee,” I said.

“I’d need to do more research on growing and processing the coffee,” said Mina.

“Well, no hurry on that. I don’t know how I can get the coffee plants yet,” I said.

“Based on the popularity of the beverage, the trading possibilities of the live plants are significant,” she said.

“I can see that. But it doesn’t fit in with our peacekeeping mission. If the opportunity arises, then great. If not, we’ll do with replicated coffee,” I said.

She frowned.

“The Earth system is under the protection of the Baglogi. So we have reason to check in occasionally. It might be possible for a cloaked probe to take a modified maintenance bot to the planet surface to collect a few plants,” said Mina.

“I’d have to clear it with the Commodore. For now, it’s just an idea,” I said.

“It’s a marvellous idea, Brian,” she said. Then she hugged me.

“Thank you for coming to check on me, and thank you for sharing your coffee idea,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” I replied.

About a day later, I was resting in my cabin when Ship called me.

“Attention, Commander,” said Ship.

I sat up on my bed.

“Go ahead, Ship,” I replied.

“I have found information in the data download on the energy absorbing material,” said Ship.

“What is the information?” I asked.

“The material comes from a different quantum universe. It transfers any energy from our universe back to the other universe,” replied Ship.

“That’s why the material seems to defy the law of conservation of energy,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“That sounds dangerous,” I said.

“It is extremely dangerous. The cargo bay where I store the hull sections is over forty degrees below zero. I have to apply extra heat to keep it from getting colder,” said Ship.

“What if we launched a piece of this material into a star?” I asked.

“The material is a gateway that sucks energy out of this universe. If we launched a piece of this material into a star, the star would expend all it’s energy and collapse,” said Ship.

“What would happen if we touched it?” I asked.

“It would drain the heat from your body. The result would be lethal,” replied Ship.

“Wow! I want you to restrict access to that cargo bay to all personnel. If they ask, explain why,” I said.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“How about manipulating it?” I asked.

“It has a unique quantum signature. To manipulate it, we need to use energy with the same quantum signature,” replied Ship.

“Do we know how to do that?” I asked.

“The message includes details on how to do that,” replied Ship.

“That’s wonderful news, Ship,” I said.

“Confirmed. I am developing the required equipment as we speak,” replied Ship.

“Excellent!” I said.

“There’s one more thing, Commander,” said Ship.

“Go ahead, Ship,” I replied. This is great!

“The information in the data download, it comes from you, Commander,” said Ship.

“What do you mean?? That data comes from a long-dead civilization. It’s thousands of years old,” I asked.

“You included a copy of your credentials in the data. It matches your ID with a few exceptions,” replied Ship.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“They’re from a future you. They include details that haven’t happened yet, Commander,” replied Ship.

“Wow! So, at a point in my future, I go back in time to send a message to us?” I asked.

“Confirmed. The evidence suggests something like that,” replied Ship.

“And I left a convenient message for you to find?” I asked.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship.

“The message timestamp matches time when the long-dead civilization was alive?” I asked.

“Confirmed,” replied Ship. “I had to decipher their date-time system, but it matches.”

“We need to talk with the Commodore,” I said.

I found Jem talking with Laine in the main bridge.

They both turned and smiled as I approached them.

“Do you have time to talk, Commodore?” I asked.

“Yes, Commander. Did you want to talk to just me?” asked Jem.

“Perhaps I should,” I replied.

“No worries, I’ll return to the lido,” said Laine. She got up and left.

Jem patted on the sofa beside her. “Take a seat, Commander.”

I sat.

“I had Ship trying to figure out the hull sections from the orbital station. It absorbs all forms of energy,” I said.

Jem nodded.