Chapter 10

Friday, March 16h, 2029

GAVIN

I can see why Andy does what he does. There's something about how he presents himself in court. It makes me realize that times have really changed. It makes me think back to the times I'd hear him going over and over again trying to get his public speaking right.

He really kept us afloat out here. I don't know how we would have kept a roof over our heads if he didn't pick up the weight that was dropped on all of us. Seven years ago I met Andy and I am more than ten million percent sure that I'm still here because of him.

We hit out on the road after finding out that his mom killed herself—she wasn't infected by Radical-9, but couldn't handle the both of her children being lost forever inside of Elysium. Jay and Lindsey were there for him, then. Jay was his mentor and Lindsey his lover. I tried to be there as best as I could, but I needed someone to be there for me, too. It was a tough adjustment for all of us, that trip across the country.

I spoke with Jay frequently, but I didn't know how to connect with the others. They already had their own little group knitted up. I wasn't ever really the best at throwing myself out there socially. It wasn't until we stopped in Topeka, Kansas that I broke the first barrier.

We were in a shoddy motel—Jay's expense because the rest of us were flat broke—and I remember staying up that entire night trying to plan out our course of action. At that point we knew we had to find the boy that Jack and Micah were searching for, but we only had New York as a lead. I had to work out a solution—my mind doesn't work well without a plan.

The others had all passed out either on the floor or the small cot the motel provided while I sat against the wall with a notebook in my hands with all the different districts of New York lined out. I was trying to find the likeliest location our target would be—nothing seemed anymore likely than the other, however. It felt like I was asked to pick a random choice and work from there. I couldn't leave it at that.

That was when Andy joined me. Turns out he couldn't sleep after what he'd seen, so we started to talk about it. In a way, I think he knew that I wouldn't be able to stop focusing on the plan myself unless I figured everything out. I knew how he looked, his eyes were like a raccoon's. He stayed up to keep me talking, and soon I told him how my parents died, and we sorta bonded over that. It's a strange thing, I admit, but I think it really helped the both of us. We started talking about the things we'd much rather be doing, but that circled back around to saving the world.

That was when I learned all about what he went through—I knew the general story from Micah, but everything was filled in when Andy told it. Funny thing is, he seemed way more interested in hearing my side. I remember that clearly. It was probably about three in the morning when the both of us just fell asleep there on the floor. I didn't get anywhere with our plan, but I didn't need to, then. We needed rest, and Andy helped give that to me.

After that we kept moving east and I got to know the others better, too. We ended up staying in Rochester for some time...we probably spent about a year there. That's where Andy set up shop for his own freelance firm. Avery wasn't in office yet, so it was pretty fend-for-yourself there in Rochester. It wasn't as bad as Buffalo—nowhere even close—but it wasn't as fixed up as Queensbury is.

We found clients, and Andy screwed up a bit in the beginning. He never went to college, so he had to wade through the procedures until he eventually got the hang of things. It didn't take him too long, and thankfully so. I'm sure we would have had to move much more if he didn't improve.

He found a rhythm and he stuck with it, refined it, and practiced until his voice was hoarse. I helped him study, that was one thing he wasn't so good at to start that I was. He had a great eye for detail, but it wavered often.

All in all, his hard work has paid off. Seeing him live gives me chills when he feels confident about himself. I don't think at any point in my life I've held that much passion. I never could have imagined that all of this would lead me here—as strange as it sounds it's probably the most normal thing I've done in a long time. I feel...if things were different it could have been me with that energy—that fire.

I'm not really from this time, not yet, anyway. I'm supposed to be thirty-one this year. I first learned how to jump in time back in 2018. Now I'm in a body that doesn't age because it isn't really human—but a bionic clone of what my twenty-one year old self looks like called an automaton. It isn't easy to tell other people this. If they've managed to hang on to the confusing hurricane that is my life then I can bet that that would throw them to the wayside for sure. Andy, Jen, and Lindsey know because of how much time we've spent together. I trust them completely. I hope he understands why I've been silent.

"Gavin, are you alright?" Iris asks.

It's her. She's the reason why. She reminds me so very much of people I used to know...people I connected with. She has that same energy—that same pulse. It's almost like how John and Sarah share the same energy—and that is a strong energy. I only needed to see John on the stand to feel a familiarity with our new golden girl.

"Hello? Earth to Gavin?" Iris asks, not for the first time.

"Wh-What? I kind of zoned out," I say.

"Yeah, I can see that. We need to go to the lobby! They're going on recess!" Iris says, grabbing my arm. I flinch instinctively, but thankfully she doesn't notice. She pulls me out of the gallery and we're running at a pace much faster than everybody around us. She has that same energy.

"Hey, are you going to hang back there all day or am I going to be doing all of the running?" She asks, laughing. I give off a smile and run up beside her. "Come on! We need to go celebrate at least a little bit!" She lets go of my arm and looks right into my eyes.

We reach the end of the gallery in a matter of moments and it's Iris who reaches the doors first. She swings them wide open and then resumes her pace. I hold the door open a second longer and pick up my pace as I try to reach her. I catch up to her in a few seconds and I can see that she is surprised by the look on her face when I run up right beside her. I bend over, my hands on my knees and I'm breathing heavily. It feels different, though. I feel like my vision is waning and a rush of thousands of emotions rush over me like a waterfall. I'm feeling everything and nothing in one moment. What is going on?

"Hold up, what's the rush for you guys?" Andy asks. Everything is murmured. I can feel my heart beat slowly and I blink slowly. I look up and Iris is saying something, but I can't hear her. Then, all of a sudden Andy cuts through and everything turns back to normal. "Hey, can we get back onto the important topic, here?"

"Uh, right. My apologies," I say, still breathing hard.

"Now, I don't want to jinx anything, but I think we may have this in the bag," Andy says. "If that note comes out as a positive match, which I believe fully it will, then I doubt that Jake will have an argument for the legality of it," Andy explains.

"You really think this is it? Are we almost done?" John asks.

"Yeah, I think so."

"That detective just rubs me the wrong way," I say, wiping my face with my hand. "And talk about that Carroway guy cracking near the end."

"That asshole detective should be reprimanded just for leaving us out to die," Iris nods her head.

"What?"

"That detective, before he arrested John we had a bad car wreck. John pulled Iris and me out of it. When he did arrest him he left us both to rot there in the forest."

"That's terrible. You could totally use that against him," Lindsey says.

"How did you make it back?" I ask.

"We had to walk to the hospital and we were lucky to only have a few bruises and scratches. John had a broken leg when they'd arrested him."

I look over to John, who doesn't seem to be in any physical pain whatsoever. "If he had a broken leg, why the hell isn't it broken now?"

"I don't know. I could only walk then because of the adrenaline and when the detective showed up I couldn't even stand by myself. Once I woke up in the cell everything seemed to be fine."

"Maybe they treated you?" Lindsey looks to him.

"When I was in the future they had these machines that could keep people alive cryogenically, maybe there's something similar with the idea of icing your leg over?" I suggest.

"Woah hold on there partner," Iris says, looking to me. "Really? You're going to just drop that out of nowhere? The future?" Iris looks to me.

"I don't have time to explain it at this very second," I say. "but maybe you were taken in, John and they have some sort of machine like it? I mean, I didn't really get to know who made that thing and if the good detective is working with the new government, maybe they're further along with technology than we'd expected," I explain.

"There was also when I woke up in the gym…" John begins. "The night I disappeared, I had a wound on my head and it was pretty bad. When I woke up it was completely gone. It's gone even now."

"Yeah, I was wondering how that went away so quick. It's like it was never even there," Sarah says.

"Reminds me of Jack, to be honest," Andy says.

"Huh?" Iris asks.

"Andy's right, Jack has a healing factor, that was one of the abilities he'd received from the radiation of the Radical-9."

"You said he was burnt nearly to a crisp when it first happened, correct? I...I guess that sounds like it matches up." Iris says.

Just then, the door behind us opens and the bailiff peeks his head in. "Five minutes until court resumes, Mr. Cress. You need to head back to your stand."

Andy nods his head. "I'll be right out."

Sarah stands up and gives John a hug. Lindsey bows her head slightly, Iris looks away. We all walk back into the hallway and we pass by the bailiff who has come to watch John.

When all has changed Iris bumps into my side, an expectant look creased on her face, "So, tell me about the future."

"What?" I ask.

She looks at me, her brown eyes shine. "The future. You said you didn't have much time to talk about it there, so how about here?"

"Right, it is technically a future, just not ours. The time I visited was the year 2060."

"And this is where you figured out this whole parallel universe travel thingy?" she asks.

"And all the terrible things it's wrought," Lindsey says.

"Yeah, no kidding," I say, scratching the back of my head. "This time wasn't a happy one," I start.

"Are they ever?" Lindsey asks.

"That's a pretty fair point," I agree. "Little known fact about our mischievous Micah—he's...well, he's the Gavin Daniels from that universe. Of course, he's much older and dangerous. He's discarded anything tying himself to me. Jack imbued him this weird power that made him a monster, almost like a wolf."

"How could something like that happen? One universe apart and be so radically different."

"Ha, radically," Sarah adds.

I give her a look of mild discomfort, "I already get my fair share of puns from Andy, I think we're good on that quota."

"You'll get used to it," Lindsey says.

"Anyway...Micah became who he was because of the time he lived in. In that world humanity is all but extinct. Where he is in 2060 isn't on earth, it's the moon. There's a settlement there that was created in the case of a nuclear fallout. This part is important—when people who have Radical-9 in their system die, the excess amounts of Radical-9 begin to form a chain reaction, causing a nuclear explosion."

"What?!" Sarah asks. "So I'm like a bomb right now?"

"I'd choose your locations wisely of where you ask that question," I say, hushing her. "But yes, but there is good news. I think that there might be a solution to neutralizing that reaction. Jay and I have been working on that for the past few years."

"Let me guess, in that timeline a lot of people got exposed to Radical-9?" Iris asks.

I nod. "They got exposed on March 18th, 2029 after a single man exploded in Denver, Colorado. Thirteen years later in 2042 the world as we know it disappears and my consciousness of that time is the only one tending to the last pillar of humanity for eighteen years until this timeline's Jack reaches out to him for help."

"Huh, a bit more doom and gloom than I would have hoped," she replies.

"That's why this is very important that Andy gets John acquitted, so that doesn't happen" Lindsey says.

"So, that's what happens on the eighteenth? Jack explodes?" Sarah asks.

"From what I learned, yes," I say.

We reach the end of the hallway and I open the doors. Inside of the courtroom, I see Andy has returned to his bench and so has Jake. Jen is standing back on the witness stand and everything seems to be back where it was before recess had begun.

Just how safe are we from this virus' lasting effects? Are we truly immune to the effects of Radical-9, or can it only be biding its time for the coup de grâce? This poison inside me, how long will it be until I succumb to its grasp? I can already feel the effects of my mind wanting to tear itself from my own body, its sick call beckoning me to join it in the darkness. My mind wonders eternally, but I can't give up on hope. The one thing I have left is hope.

ANDY

"I call for the trial of State V. Baker to reconvene," the judge says.

"The defense is ready, your honor," I say.

"The prosecution is much the same, your honor," Jake calls.

The judge nods his head. "Alright, witness, would you please indulge us in your findings?" the judge asks.

"Of course," Jen says.

"This should finally prove once and for all just what a hack you are," Jake says.

"We'll see," I say.

"The results of the tests were positive. They matched Micah's handwriting down to the "T" if you don't mind the accidental wordplay," Jen says.

"I don't mind it at all," I smile. Somewhere in the gallery I can hear Gavin slap his hand to his face.

"That's impossible! Your test is flawed!" Jake calls.

Jen shakes her head. "Nope, this test was overseen by my boss and I can have him testify that the test went without a hitch," Jen says.

"Why you…"

"Why I, what, Prosecutor Carroway?" Jen asks. Ouch, I felt that sting from here.

"Why do you side with him? He's in jail now!" Jake roars. The courtroom is silent for a moment.

"Mr. Carroway, what is your problem?" the judge asks.

"E-Excuse me?" Jen asks.

Jake looks like he's just seen a ghost. "I-I'm sorry, your honor. I don't know what came over me," he says.

"Well, alright then, don't let it happen again. Otherwise, I'll find you in contempt of court. Now, I find it is time we bring out Detective Harde to clear up what all of this me-"

Just as he is about to finish the lights cut off and we're standing in complete darkness. I hear a bunch of panicked sounds coming from the gallery. Just then, a voice cuts in through what seems to be a megaphone. I can't quite figure out how far away the speaker is.

"Now, now! No need to be all upset, there is no cause for alarm!" A terrible voice casts out and then cackles.

"Who is out there? Reveal yourself!" Jake calls out into the darkness.

"My, my! Is that Prosecutor Carroway's voice I hear? I'm so very disappointed that you couldn't use the gun to get the boy sent to prison already,"

"The gun?" I call out.

"Ooooh! Andrew Cress, Attorney at Law! How I've yearned for hearing your voice in person again. It's been much too long. Yes! This failure of a lawyer was supposed to get that miserable boy locked up, as part of our agreement. I even let him borrow my gun for the job."

"Why the hell are you here now?!" Jake calls back.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Prosecutor. You should have had this case zipped up and filed away by now. That's the purpose of that forged gun. You've taken too long, and now it is time I take matters into my own hands. You can consider our agreement now null and void," the voice calls out.

"The gun was forged?!" I ask.

"That would mean…Prosecutor Carroway, did you not say that the other evidence was submitted by yourself?" The judge asks.

Jake is silent.

"The angel realizes he's finally falling, huh? This is magnificent! It's like a living, breathing soap opera!" The voice yells jubilantly.

"What do you want now?" I call out to the voice.

"Well, I've already pretty much got it, so to speak," the voice says.

"Would you care to explain what that would be?" the judge asks.

"Well, since Prosecutor Carroway couldn't lock this boy up I've taken it upon myself to take him if you don't mind, of course. Feel free to take the good detective, he's lost his use," the voice calls.

"What?!" I yell.

"Yes, you and your filthy laws almost corrupted the poor boy into believing he's innocent! Well, I'll make sure that blunder doesn't happen again."

"B-Bailiff! Go and check on the defendant!"

There is no response.

"Bailiff?" The lights cut back on and the first thing everybody sees is the Bailiff on the floor. His head has been separated from his body completely and his blood pours onto the ground around him. His entrails are strewn about on the floor and there is a long cut across his chest and stomach.

The gallery erupts in chaos and people begin to stampede out like wild animals. He was right here. That must've been Micah. He was right in this room and we couldn't do anything about it.

"Well, I see this as enough evidence to be convinced of Mr. Baker's innocence, And you, Mr. Carroway, forging evidence in a court of-"

Jake bolts out of the room. I don't see where he runs to, but he looks horrified.

"I'm going to get him," Jen says.

"No, no way in hell," I say.

"We're not arguing about this, go get the others and get in the car and get John. With them I wouldn't fit in the car anyway…five seats total, six people," Jen says.

"O-Okay, I'll put it in good faith that you'll find out what the hell happened to him. You still have your phone on you, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'll call you if we need help, okay?"

"Got it."

I don't wait another moment. I'm running out of the courtroom and catch up with the rest of the group in the lobby.

"Okay, did anybody see where that guy went?" I ask.

"I don't even know who nabbed him," Iris says.

"That's Micah," Gavin says, out of breath.

"You sure, Gavin?" Sarah asks.

"Wholly."

We leave the hallway and we're in the main lounge. "Well, we need to go report to Jay. He can help us out," Lindsey says, she looks as scared as Jake did.

"What are we going to do about Jake?" Gavin asks.

"At the moment, he's proven to be a hindrance to us so we're not going to worry about him. Jen volunteered to open that barrel full of monkeys," I say.

Gavin nods, and the others must agree as well because that's the last that is said on the matter. We continue running out of the courthouse. "C'mon, I parked the car in the parking garage across the street, we need to find John and fast," I say. "We need to be fast."

Please be safe, we still need you.