Faith's Embrace

By Timothy Ray

After a difference of opinion, Skylark has been split into two factions, the other being led by a mysterious figure who claims to be a messenger from God. They both send teams to the past to repair the Slipstream, as Rifts centered around America's greatest conspiracies begin to send enormous waves into the future, drastically changing the world into an unrecognizable horror show. Jennifer must find a way to repair the Rifts while avoiding the Templars, who seem intent on killing anyone that messes with the Slipstream, including those trying to fix it. A battle on two fronts, people dying around her, she struggles to survive amidst religious dogma, betrayal, and insidious horrors thought lost to history forever. Will she pull it off, or will she be the next to burn upon the pyre of destiny?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Timothy Ray
• Release date: May 16, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463560037

Timothy Ray

Timothy Ray (1978-) was born in Tucson, Arizona, where he resides to this day. His family is from eastern Arizona, from Safford to Morenci, and he enjoys camping on Mt. Graham during the summer months. He attended Desert View High School, where he was inspired by an English teacher to explore his creative writing skills and work on his first novel; the Acquisition of Swords. He joined the Writer's Group under Mrs. Wakamatsu, and finished the rough draft of his first book in 1995.

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Prologue

I

The air was dense, the humidity so thick that she could feel it pressing against her skin; creating an involuntary stir of claustrophobia. Walking through it was like wading through water, her strength being sapped faster than usual, a yawn escaping as she brought up her arm to cover her mouth; lest some unwanted predator hear it. The nearby ferns were larger than she’d ever seen, the conifers towering high above, and she could see large droplets of water clinging to their leaves as if part of their skin. The smell of death was upon the air, slightly hinted at but present all the same. She had to be careful not to add her own corpse to the near-gagging aroma.

Her overlay was active, the nanites within her interfacing with her neurons and optic nerves to alter her perception to her specifications, the heat vision allowing her to see all the wildlife present within the vicinity, no matter how small or insignificant. It could be disorienting if you tried to focus on any one object as the pattern showed up regardless of vegetation and such that might be in the way, so she had to keep her eyes relaxed and see it all as a whole rather than the sum of its parts. Her vision was slightly misty, the humidity causing the world to look like it was bleeding rain in an upward direction, defying gravity.

A leafhopper buzzed by her ear. She immediately ducked her head away from it; her flesh sprouting goosebumps and a chill snaking its way up her spine in the process. She had to control the urge to reach up and scrub at her skin, as if it had somehow been contaminated by the insect’s presence.

Damned bugs. Give me the creeps.

Judging by your vitals, that’s an understatement, Kathryn told her matter-of-factly. She had been the A.I. running her Slipstream device for the last three years, and over the course of that time, she’d rarely broken form; always proper to a fault. She wasn’t Weena, but then again, no one could ever be her, so it wasn’t really fair to compare the two. She hadn’t personally created the A.I.’s personality, as Kathryn had been placed on her Slipstream device during her kidnapping by Signex and was already running when she first strapped it to her thigh.

The name had been Blake’s idea, meant as an inside joke, as he knew that she had a fondness for ancient television shows, Star Trek: Voyager chief amongst them. There had just been something about Janeway that had been different than all the other captains, and she didn’t think it was just because she was a woman. She had been the coldest of them, the get down to business attitude so close to her own that she had identified with her instantly. As far as childhood heroes went, she could have done far worse.

Pushing her loose raven colored bangs behind her ear, she kept her blue eyes focused on the world around her, her head swiveling as her hand returned to steadying the plasma rifle she was holding against the crook of her shoulder. She had it set to maximum, not knowing if any other setting would have an effect on the creatures of this temporal period, and secretly prayed that she didn’t have to find out either way. The moment it was fired it would draw attention of all manner of creatures in the vicinity, and she didn’t want to end up as a prehistoric reptile’s lunch.

Tell me why I’m here again.

Because of all the places in time that you could have stranded Rylos, you chose to send him to the original Jurassic Park, Weena’s voice answered. And trust me, no rescue helicopter is going to be able to pull us out of here if the shit hits the fan. Wow, that’s an enormous dragonfly, the fucking thing has to be two meters across at the least. The former synthetic was too excited about being here. She’d been full of spunk before, but now that she was mortal it had only increased the intensity of her reactions. That kind of thing changed one’s perspective on life, made them more apt to enjoy the world around them; not that she knew of any other creature that had gone from being nothing more than an algorithm into a being of flesh and blood.

It was a rhetorical question, and not directed at you, she snarked back through their comms, her nanites taking her intended thought patterns for speech and translating it over the network as if they had gained telepathic abilities; yet it was just 24th Century science at its best.

Weena’s enthusiasm was starting to grate on her nerves. They were here on a mission, not a sight-seeing tour; she wanted to get this over and Drift home as swiftly as possible. There were a lot more friendlier destinations to be explored in the history of the world other than this period of history where everything wanted to eat you alive and one misstep could instantly end your life. Even the vacuum of space was a more preferable way to die. At least then she didn’t have to fear still being alive while the creature’s stomach acids went to work dissolving her.

The bio suit she wore was regulating her temperature, cooling her body in the unbearable heat, but that did nothing for anything above her neckline, and she was at the point of activating her helmet to save her lungs from catching fire. Her black body armor had been strapped over the suit, the material light but still feeling cumbersome, and it didn’t help with the heat in the least. It was also a pain in the ass to move around in, making her a bit more clunky then she was used to, but there was no way she was coming here without it; because fuck that shit. If she ended up being a dinosaur’s meal, she’d make the fucker work for it.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is capable of exerting upwards of fifty-seven-thousand N of force, that armor won’t protect you any more than if you were wearing rags. Although, the smell of soiled rags might actually make them think twice before trying to eat you, Kathryn informed her, and if she had a face, she’d be smiling by the sounds of it.

I’m not shitting myself for protection against a T-Rex. I’m sure other animals have shat themselves at the sight of the beast and I’m quite sure it didn’t do shit to stop them from getting eaten, any more than the armor strapped to my chest would protect me from their bite.

Distracted, she hadn’t noticed that the corner of her trench coat had caught on a cyclad leaf, the dark green plant swaying slightly with her motion as it sprung free. She inwardly cursed herself as the world around her grew silent; her mistake had been noticed and she froze in place, her breath in her throat. Fuck.

Movement off to the right, Weena informed her with urgency. I’ve located the nest, there are babies milling about, but I’ve yet to see an adult. You know, you have Niko, you think—?

No, you’re not taking a velociraptor home with us, she answered quickly, cutting her off. Weena, her best friend, her partner, had a reckless streak in her, and it was rare that she could control her impulsive nature. Weena, I mean it. Don’t do it, she commanded, eyes sweeping to the right in order to track what Weena had seen.

You’re no fun, Weena whined. Even over the comms it sounded high-pitched and no different than nails on a chalkboard. She couldn’t see her, but she knew the woman was grinning ear to ear.

Glad everyone is having a grand ol’ time here.

Probably not the best time for this conversation, she admonished over her comms. The heat signature of a four-legged creature running on hindlegs darted past, hidden from view by the abundant plant life, but easily tracked on her overlay. Damn thing was fast and barely visible in the masking humidity; not to mention the fact that it was only knee-high. Okay, what the fuck was that?

That was a Velociraptorinae of the family Dromaeosauridae, Kathryn informed her.

You’re just as bad as Weena was with the technical jargon. I’m guessing that means raptor in layman terms?

That is correct, her A.I. confirmed.

That can’t be right. Was that one of the babies? They should be my height or higher.

She could hear Weena laugh over the comms. No, that was one of the adults. I can see several more off to the left watching us. Our presence has been noticed.

Her eyes drifted that way, five heat signatures appearing nearby, their heads swiveling from side to side, looking their way too often to be a coincidence. Adults? Bullshit. We’ve happened into a nest and the babies are scattered about waiting for Mommy to come save them.

You, of everyone, should know the difference between fact and fiction, and their depiction in media such as movies. What’s more intimidating? Those or the big ass ones you saw in Jurassic Park? I know you love all those historic films, but you had to know better. You’re just as bad as Blake with that Wyatt Earp obsession of his, Weena inwardly chuckled, her thoughts broadcasting as if being whispered in her ears.

Knock it off. Stay on point. You said you found the nest, did you find our target as well? When she had sent Rylos here, it had been to permanently deal with a traitor, one that had tried to get them all killed just to save his own hide. What she hadn’t counted on was his damned bones surviving until the 20th Century, where they were dug up within a fossilized velociraptor nest. The discovery of a human skeleton, carbon dated to be the same age as the dinosaurs around it, had created a controversy that still hadn’t been resolved in the 24th Century, mostly because the public at large was still in the dark when it came to time travel. Space aliens crash-landing on Earth was one thing, but traipsing through time? Complete science fiction.

Some claimed it was a hoax, others used it as proof that Man came from outer space; they had no clue that it’d only happened because she had a sick sense of humor and wanted Rylos to die in the most horrific way possible for his betrayal.

I have. He must have died shortly before we arrived, they’re still picking at his bones. Quite gory, actually. I should frame a shot for you, put it up on your wall back at home. If anyone deserved it, it was him, Weena stated.

How about not? I am perfectly fine with the mental image, not to mention you’d scar my daughter for life. She might have hated the man, but that didn’t mean she wanted to see his corpse being eaten by raptors, nor have a picture of it up on her damn wall like a work of art. Are you able to get at it?

Not currently. They are all over it. There’s too much of a chance one or two of these cuties will Drift with it.

She sighed. She was going to have to do something she might not get a chance to regret. Why does it always have to be me?

No answer, from either of them.

Figures. What are the chances that anything I do might affect later events?

You mean, after a meteor strikes the Earth and wipes out almost all its biological life? Remote, Kathryn supplied with a hint of sarcasm. Killing a few raptors is not going to send waves down the Slipstream. It’d be no different than stepping on an ant.

Snark from all sides, wonderful. I’m counting on you to watch my six. Shift me the instant I’m in danger.

That’s obvious. If you die, I do as well. Especially considering you refuse to back up my programming on the Skylark servers. Probably to give you leverage should you find my actions undesirable. Can’t threaten me with death if I’m backed up on the Cloud, Kathryn returned.

Shaking her head with frustration, she let out a deep breath, brought up her weapon, and fired at the five heads focused solely on her position. The air erupted in high-pitched yelps, the velociraptors dodging away from the incoming blast so fast she almost lost track of them. Firing again, she aimed at a nearby tree over Weena’s position and heard a chorus of panicked screams from that direction as well.

Movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention, her weapon coming around and her finger lightly pressing upon the trigger. A turkey sized creature with dark green and brown feathers, elongated snout, and dozens of gore covered teeth had launched itself at her, small arms extended as if wanting a hug. Yet, that mouth was all business and she had no doubt it would tear her to shred in an instant.

Her vision doubled, her Slipstream device activating, a slight hum on her thigh the only warning something was happening as she disappeared right before the creature could rip into her. She appeared three feet forward from her position, turned ninety degrees, her weapon discharging instantly. The plasma blast struck the beast in the torso, feathers exploding outward, burnt reptilian flesh searing as it slowly began to disintegrate.

Two more heat signatures were bobbing to the creature’s rear, bodies moving as they began running straight for her.

Left flank, Weena warned.

She Shifted once more, her finger depressing the trigger, the light green and yellow ball of plasma streaking forward, the raptors hopping to opposite sides and barely avoiding the strike. However, they did briefly cease their attack, their snouts coming up as if caught by surprise. That’s right bitches, you have no idea who you’re fucking with.

Her hair was struck by a blast of air.

Oh, fuck me.

Turning her head slowly, she disregarded the raptors as they dashed away, knowing full-well that something much larger had stumbled across their path; something dangerous enough to scare a pack of velociraptors into hiding. Five feet overhead was a large snout, nostrils flaring, lower jaw open slightly, brown scaled lips pulling back with satisfaction. Two eyes peered at her from either side of the snout; leaving no chance that he was there for anything else but her.

Mission complete. Let’s get out of here, Weena told her, sounding satisfied and not the least bit worried about her current predicament.

The large head snapped upward faster than her eye could track, and she knew that instead of Rylos, her own bones were about to be dug up millions of years later; another Rift created by that discovery. Her only thought was, maybe Weena will be sent to collect my remains as well?

The jaw began descending, the head twisting slightly, the massive maw drawing wide.

She screamed just as Kathryn activated her Slipstream device and Drifted her home.

Chapter 1

I

She was still screaming when she Drifted into her office, the feel of teeth barely scraping against her skull sending her into an uncontrollable spasm, her body contracting into itself. Her life didn’t flash by, but urine did start coursing down her leg.

You’re safe, Kathryn’s voice assured her, trying to break through the panic gripping her soul.

It didn’t matter, she was still cringing and preparing to be eaten alive. Why the fuck did you wait that long to Drift me out? she screamed, unable to stop herself.

Traveling that far to the past, it drains power. You Shifted several times, depleting it even more. Power levels had to rise sufficiently to return to the present.

Sure, she managed, doing her best to stand up straight and not quite able to accomplish it, her thighs wet and the stench slowly rising to greet her. Walking around her desk, she reached for her hover-chair and sat down, her fingers trembling so bad that she dropped her plasma rifle to the ground in the process. She’d have maintenance clean her office after she left. Right now, she could barely keep her feet under; she was not going to drop to the floor. Holy shit.

If you don’t slow your heart rate, I’m going to Shift you to the med lab.

Now you’re worried about my pulse? Seriously? she blurted. If Kathryn had been so worried about her health, she wouldn’t have almost let her become Allosaurus food. That sure as shit was not out of a movie.

They are the least portrayed in popular culture, but I agree. That was close.

She looked about at her sparsely decorated office, and tried to use that to her advantage, allowing it to soothe her rapidly beating heart.

The door to her office slammed open.

Fuck me! she hollered, her knee banging on the desk and exploding with pain.

She winced as Weena bounced through the door with a wide grin on her face, her crimson hair cut short and flopping into her face with the movement. Her round features and oval green eyes gave her a childish look, but the rest of her body was all woman, the curves greatly exaggerated and having an artificial feel to them. That was fitting though, as she had been a synthetic for the majority of her life, having only recently been turned human by a virus no one had seemed to be able to replicate.

Did you see the size of that thing? It was huge! Weena exclaimed in her high-pitched voice.

It’s safe to say that I did, she uttered, her hand rubbing her throbbing knee and shooting the woman a dirty look. Did you really have to just burst in here like that? You scared the shit out of me! If there’s any left in there, she grumbled under her breath. She was going to have to change soon, the smell was beginning to get to her.

Weena’s grin showed that even as she said sorry, she clearly wasn’t. It’s not like I had a clear shot, and I was sure you’d be Drifted out before it even came close to biting you.

It was sure as shit close enough. And not a clear shot? It stood five feet above my head! You had plenty of space to take a shot, even without your targeting software, she admonished with a shake of her head. "You just didn’t want to draw attention your way in case your own Slipstream device was slow getting you out. Thanks for the assist, ass."

Weena laughed, what are you bitching about? You’re perfectly fine. You’re alive, our mission is complete, and I think we should go celebrate.

First, I need a shower and a change of clothes. Then I need to report to the Council, let them know the job is finally done. They wanted this taken care of six months ago and made it clear this morning they were done waiting, she relayed, not really feeling like there was anything to celebrate. The wave created by my actions might not have been severe, but it caused enough of a stir to make the Council uneasy. I want it over with, so I can move on and get back to work.

Weena waved her hand dismissively. Blake’s got your back. He can take care of relaying the message to the rest of the Council for you. And I know you take desk duty and teaching new recruits as punishment, but it’s clearly been more of a vacation; something I know my Goddaughter is quite pleased about.

"It is punishment, it can be nothing else. I’ve been ready to get back into the field long before now. They were just making sure they’ve reminded me of my place in all of this. God forbid I go off book to save their asses. No, a point has to be made," she snarked.

Her best friend shook her head, I know it’s natural for you to go negative first, but has it occurred to you that maybe they’re just looking out for you? Letting you take some much-needed time off? You’ve done more than your share of the heavy lifting around here, and if anyone deserves a break, it’s you.

We will have to agree to disagree, she told the woman, looking at her clean desk top, beige walls, and empty coat rack in the corner. Motioning with her hand, and with a slight twitch in her fingers, she pulled up her four-dimensional interface and tried to calm her nerves. Multiple windows appeared in the air before her and she used her finger to scroll to the list of Rifts. Punching the virtual representation of Rylos’s event, she touched the closed button, the file turning light blue, and flashing once before disappearing. That’s taken care of.

Should have just left him to rot, Weena growled. Dude was an asshole. He deserved worse.

Sighing, she sat back and looked at the other woman as Weena pulled out a chair across from her and took a seat. It’s not like I don’t agree with you, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t the right thing to do. I’d like nothing more than to leave him to the raptors to pick clean, and if his remains had turned to dust instead of being preserved for millions of years, I would have done just that. But our job is to fix Rifts, minimize waves, and that bastard just wouldn’t stop creating problems even after his much-deserved death.

A Rift wasn’t the only issue his death created, Weena snarked and rolled her eyes.

Don’t really want to talk about that, she remarked, flicking her wrist and making the interface disappear.

Of course you don’t.

Glancing away, she looked out the window at the command center, the large three-hundred and sixty-degree screen tracking multiple missions, keeping tabs on waves rippling through the Slipstream, and occasionally flashing as something changed. They are pretty busy, aren’t they?

Weena didn’t turn around to see where she was looking, despite knowing exactly what she was referring to. Yeah, though I’ve yet to see a pattern to it. Then again, I’m a bit slower than I used to be. And the name? I mean, really? The Templars?

Four months before, their company had gone through an upheaval, two members of their Council breaking off to form their own version of Skylark and taking half of their staff with them. They were off the grid for a while; no one knew what they were up to until they crossed paths with one of their agents and their new brutal doctrine was exposed. Their agent’s account of the incident made it clear that this new branch of time travelers wasn’t just going back to stop people, to incarcerate them for their crimes. They were taking a hard line against transgressors, their solution permanent. She had been accused of being a judge, jury, and executioner, and now these people were taking that to the next level.

The new Council had ruled that any interactions with the Templars was forbidden; they were not to intervene in any way with what they were doing. Yet, she knew that sooner or later things would come to a head, then all bets would be off. She might have crossed the line now and then, and what happened in a firefight was one thing, but to immediately kill someone the instant they Drifted into existence, without even attempting to restrain them first? She had thought the Briar Patch was inhumane, but she still had a conscience to look after. These Templars appeared to be psychotic, their attitude making it clear that they’d do whatever it took no matter what the cost.

Bringing up her interface once more, she looked through the flagged Rifts, noting those that indicated Templars’ involvement. Wait, she said, eyebrows drawing together, there’s a new one here. June 8th, 2014, Vegas. I worked that Rift. It was already closed, what they hell were they doing there?

The waves created by your intervention have reverted back to their normal state, the Slipstream restored to its former course, your actions rendered useless.

Her temporal lobe throbbed for a few seconds, then her nanites began working on the headache that was quickly forming, and the pressure let up. I stopped them from committing a massacre, minimal changes were made to the Slipstream, why bother going back at all? And how does that affect me, Slipstream device or not? If they changed it so I didn’t need to go back, why do I still remember doing it?

You know what you didn’t do on that particular mission? Weena asked. She had been Jennifer’s A.I. at the time and would retain memories of it as well.