Discovering new universes wasn’t the only boon that came from the days of newly opened doors. Each new universe had infinite potential compared to the one that was known. Each time a new door was opened, every universe that was known (a friend in need), had great interest in what would be found. It became a matter of strict regulation and secrecy, leading up to an opening event.
Not every opening went smoothly. Some events were duds, no other explanation. Sometimes those doors would not open. It defied all logic, success after success, then a complete stymie. Almost as if a lock latch had been thrown from the other side. It became an all out obsession, across the already discovered universes, the reach for knowledge, a search, the quest for a universal key.
The freighter accelerates into the outer beltway of Timblerain. All vehicles using the beltways are piloted by AI, humans not allowed. 1courier wonders if it’s possible to test that reality, as they join the other traffic heading into Timblerain. The AI -now human, sits at the front of the freighter scanning the m-com link.
They are still hidden. The freighter has additional features that prevent unwanted attention, and the oddly shaped and slightly heavy package has decided to play along for the time being. There was a brief flash of that ethereal light as they boarded the freighter, but nothing changed. The thing had gone cold after that, and the images and visions had eased as well.
Their course was bringing them into the center of Timblerain, it would still be another thirty minutes before they made the outskirts of the city. It’s immense size was equivalent to a small country, on the planet Earth, in 1universe. It is as good a place as any, for getting lost in, and somehow their arrival had been anticipated, perhaps engineered.
With this in mind, it was safe to assume they were on the way to meet the engineer. This was also a part of it, 1courier didn’t know for shit how he knew this, he just knew the path forward was down this road. Unknown roads were always a good drive, even the ones with keys, disguised as oddly shaped and slightly heavy packages.
The AI comes to the rear compartment, and bears news. ” We will arrive at the destination soon, there is a meeting for you to attend.” She continues despite his building protest,”there is no cause for concern, a client wishes an audience, and the key is active, and has selected you. It’s unlikely it will allow interruption of it’s plans.”
It’s a good pitch, the part about the key, in particular, he decides to play along, ” what if it zaps us away before we do this meet?” The odds are good after all. This whole day has been a zap fest. It has been the most predictable thing about this day, the unpredictability of the zap. Her answer holds no comfort.
“It won’t.” She turns and moves back to the front of the freighter. He watches the the traffic blaze by at speeds not yet mastered by humans.
Thirty minutes later and they have arrived at the unknown location. It appears they have come into the government district of Timblerain. The freighter has moved into an underground tunnel that is delegated for official use only. Now the red flags start, 1courier had expected them, just not these particular flags. Cheeky joins him at the rear of the freighter. He shoulders the package again, as the freighter comes to a stop.
They step down from the freighter and are greeted by a familiar voice that turns 1courier cold as ice. The last time he heard this voice, he was standing at an old whiskey barrel, about to be terminated. There is no mistaking the sinister tone emanating from all around them, as they disembark the freighter.
“Hello 1courier, you are late.”
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