The Restoration of The Real

By OT Strange

Following the destruction of her Kapple empire by The Dissenters, Amelia had become fixated on searching for and exacting revenge upon Lola, the young girl who was once her best friend.

In another reality the young Amelia was also searching for her own Lola, whom she had accidentally switched into a strange and unknown reality.

As the strands of space and time are stretched beyond ordinary science, these two realities are destined to collide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781008986350

Book preview

https://www.otstrange.com

Chapter One

T

he sights of the sun setting over the central Kapple Plaza was something that rarely failed to provide Amelia with at least some semblance of calm satisfaction, no matter how bleak things might have appeared.  It filled the gap within herself, a sense of a disconnect or remoteness from the rest of the world, whilst harboring a deep yearning to somehow still be part of it.  It was this sensation that had in many ways been her drive for everything that she managed to achieve following that fateful day when she lost her friends all those years ago. 

The only memories that she still held of those first few days following the loss of her friends, were now little more than nightmarish flashes. The sense of a flailing, overwhelming and unrelenting guilt and grief. 

Her father had done the best he could to try to console her, even working alongside her in her futile efforts to bring her friends back. 

Although after time his words of enthusiastic encouragement faded into a starker acceptance that they were seemingly lost forever.  For Amelia however, this acceptance would never truly arrive, a peaceful mind was something that could only be achieved by the people.

Over time this sense of removal from other people became a trellice like structure for her relatively young mind to develop around. Torn away from its natural development, her mind grew like a thick, twisted, gnarled and lonely looking oak tree, shaped by a lifetime stuck in the desolate climate of willful self-neglect.

Taking a large sip from her drink, she swallowed hard hoping help force stray or rogue emotions back into line, before turning and tapping the panel beside her to close the image of the Plaza.  Sometimes she could almost believe that the image she was viewing was still real, today was not one of those days.  Today was a day that seemingly nothing she did would distract her from her sense of abject lonely failure.

  Having felt the breath of failure stalking her for so much of her life, she had come to view her weakness in managing her emotions her greatest failure of all. 

Sliding through the application options she tapped the screen to open the temporal view screen and scrolled across the infinite spread of realities before her.  For many, the opportunity to explore the boundless the realities would be the adventure of a lifetime.  Surely anyone in their right mind would at least try to seek out a place to exist in happiness, or at the very least quiet contentment. 

Amelia however was far from being in her right mind, in fact the ‘Good Ship Right Mind’ had sailed away almost half a century ago.  Following her encounter with her best friend Lola, that metaphorical ship was subsequently, scuttled, set alight before sinking into a bottomless oceanic trench.

The days leading up to hers and Lola’s final confrontation had been the closest thing to a joyful bliss like existence, at least compared to her entire adult life.  She had her best friend back, she had a young man to care for, and the growing inner confidence to explore areas of her emotions that she thought had withered and died long ago. 

These glimmers of hope were now merely the latest addition to the embers of her glowing pile of bitterness and failure. 

Now as time had passed, these white coals had begun to smolder with resentment and anger, and in the absence of anyone or anything to focus, or project this powerful vitriolic energy onto, it had instead found its way into focusing upon the figure of Amelia’s oldest friend, Lola.

The physical injuries that she sustained during Lola’s assault were still visible, even after all these months.  The real wounds however would never show themselves in anything as obvious as a bruise or a scar.  Although for those who knew where to look, they reflected clearly in her recent actions and intent.

Just as the development of her Kapple empire and its creeping, subtle control upon society had been driven as a salve to the loss of her friends.  Her latest drive, to hunt down and exact her revenge upon her old friend had enveloped what was left of her sense of being. 

To date, tracking her down across the infinite web of universal realities had proven a fruitless search. An already difficult task which was further compounded by the lack of background data that she had to identify her, Lola.  Even at a glance there were thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of ‘Lola’ type individuals. 

In her darkest rages, she had even considered taking each one out individually, only her cold light of day calculations had shown that this would take more years than she most probably had left to live.

Therefore, a clean precision strike was required, hereby the problem lay. For Amelia to carry out such a strike, this would require information and data that she just did not have.  In fact, other than a few scrambled temporal log files, she had very little to work with indeed. 

One of the few things that she did know, was that Lola and her Dissenter friends, had managed to blink to another reality before her own temporal core had completed its reset, and in turn resetting her own reality.

Following this reset of her temporal core processes had compacted down to the temporal singularity where she was now lived.  The benefit of this, was that under the right circumstances, her world could be ‘re-inflated’ back into something resembling its former self.

The bad news was that she could no longer trust the rules of time and reality, the original accident all those years ago, had already come back to haunt her, both figuratively and literally and she was determined not make the same mistake again.  However, before she could restore everything that she had lost, there was a far more important focus, that of finding and destroying Lola.

It was simple, find Lola, kill Lola and mop up her stupid little friends all in one nice clean strike.

To assist her in the search for Lola, Amelia had created a new temporal algorithm to try and isolate any temporal signatures that could then be cross referenced to those of her home reality.  Theoretically this should lead her to Lola and her friends, unfortunately this theory was being hampered by a high number of false positives, seemingly caused by her being inside the artificial temporal singularity. 

Computer, what is the progress state of the Temporal Isolation Gateway?, Amelia croaked.

Temporal Isolation Gateway status is Active, temporal distortion levels have dropped by 23%, the computer replied.

Re-filling her glass and dropping in a single cube of ice she tried to remember what the status had been the last time she had asked. 

Computer, what is the temporal search outcome with the current levels of distortion?, Amelia asked quietly before taking a long gulp from her drink.

Count of current temporal search results = 218, based on current algorithm parameters., the computer replied.

"That’ll do…Computer display current search output onto the main view screen and continue cleansing process.

Processing, current search output results have been sent to main visual display as requested., the computer responded.

Excellent, now let’s see where you are hiding you fricking bitch…, Amelia spat.

…

Four friends were sat silently together in their favourite spot in the diner, the silence punctuated only by the sound of Tommy slurping down the last remnants of his soda, this unpleasant noise was furthered by a loud burp from Tommy, before breaking the awkward silence with his usual directness.

Are we gonna just leave her in there or what?

Sorry Tommy are we impacting your busy schedule?, Evan asked sarcastically.

No one asked you Ian, it’s your fault she is in there anyway!, Tommy replied sternly.

Ian?, Amelia asked,

It is not my fault!  And my name IS NOT IAN!, Evan yelled.

That’s what they all say…, Tommy said continuing to goad Evan, into an even angrier response.

Have I missed something?, Scarlett frowned.

Just a private joke, isn’t it ‘Ian’?, Tommy beamed, this was the final straw for Evan who stood up and stormed away angrily without uttering a word.

What the hell is wrong with you Tommy!, Scarlett exclaimed, smacking him across the side of the head

It’s for the greater good Sis, new Lola hates him, and to be honest it was a whole lot funnier than just asking him to leave.  By my count, that now leaves the three of us to go and get her., Tommy said slightly smugly.

In all fairness, I don’t think that she is overly keen any of us., Amelia shrugged.

Speak for yourself!  Everyone loves Tommy!  You two go and do some Brainiac stuff, I’ll fix up things here., Tommy said, much to Scarlett and Amelia’s surprise.

Are we seriously going to leave her with this dufus?, Scarlett asked Amelia.

I am wondering if our Tommy has been replaced as well, if I am not mistaken then this is possibly the second sensible thing that he has said in the last hour., Amelia began.

But it’s Tommy?, Scarlett complained.

It does make sense, he seems to be the only one among us who Lola hasn’t reacted negatively to.  Also, I could really use some more time to trying to figure out how we can track down our Lola and get her back.  So why not leave Tommy to make sure she is, erm…entertained., Amelia suggested.

She will kill him though!, Scarlett grumbled.

And when she does, she can call us., Amelia said with a cheeky smile.

With what?  Smart ass?, Scarlett sulked.

Your phone…, Tommy grinned as he plucked her phone from his sister’s pocket.

Scarlett leapt across the table faster than a lizard’s tongue and snatched her phone back,

Don’t you DARE touch my phone!, she growled as Tommy cowered from any further assault.

Here take mine, tell her to call us if she wants., Amelia said, reaching over to hand Tommy her phone.

Cool, I’ll see you all later…, Tommy smiled before getting up and casually heading to go and see Lola.

Erm, Tommy, she is in the girl’s restroom?, Scarlett called out.

Yeah so?  We all gotta pee Sis., Tommy waved over his shoulder.

Come on, let’s get out of here before whatever he does can be associated back to us, Amelia said hurriedly.

Good idea., Scarlett said grabbing her stuff swiftly and leaving a handful of cash on the table for the server.

Wait, but you don’t drive!, Scarlett said with a fearful look in her eye.

And?  I’ll get us a cab?, Amelia replied as they made their way to the diner exit.

A cab, like as in, an actual real-life Taxi Cab!?  Amelia, OTHER people, have SAT in those things, maybe even poor people!, Scarlett complained snootily.

Would you prefer that we took the bus your highness?, Amelia said with a gentle smirk.

Oh, dear God no…, Scarlett shuddered as she hurried after her friend.

…

Hey Lolanator?  Are you still peeing? Or is the other thing?, Tommy yelled, having already marched into the girl’s restroom without a care in the world.

Lola who was already incredibly embarrassed after losing her temper and storming off the way that she had. Combine this with her current status of hiding in the toilet, this was already a new low tide mark for her reputation.  Tommy however, had managed to lower the bar to a level that had been previously unimaginable.  Her mind raced thinking of a way where she could somehow retain a glimmer of self-respect, when Tommy’s voice called out once more.

Hey Lola! Are you finished yet?  Cos you might want to see a Dr if you haven’t!  You’ve been in there for ages!

Yes Tommy, I have finished peeing…How can I help you?, Lola replied in resignation to the fact that Tommy was not going away any time soon.

I got rid of the losers for you, figured you might wanna go scope out some betties or something?, Tommy suggested loudly and chirpily.

Lola shook her head in dismay before finding herself responding, Tommy, whilst I cannot speak for ‘Your Lola’, ‘scoping for betties’ is not something that I generally would devote a whole lot of time to.

Then you got some catching up to do, you can be my wingman!, Tommy replied.

Tommy, I do love you dearly – well not love, but you know what I mean, sadly and with regret I must say, that I am not going to be your wingman…, Lola began.  As she was talking, she found herself realising that this ridiculous conversation could be possibly be slightly less ridiculous if it was held outside of the girl’s restroom.

Lola took a slow deep breath, stood up and unlocked the door, Come on then, let’s go scope out some betties., Lola smiled, just as the other toilet door opened and a little old lady stepped out looking outraged.

Young people these days have no respect!, she grumbled as she shuffled slowly to get to the sink and wash her hands as Tommy and Lola swiftly left the old lady and the restroom behind.

Well it’s just as well that wasn’t embarrassing at all., Lola squirmed.

Ha ha, the old girl loved it., Tommy beamed.

I shall ignore that and instead focus on the task at hand, where does this ‘Betty’ scoping go on then?, Lola asked adding heavy emphasis and finger quotes upon the word ‘betty’.

A guy like me is always on patrol babe., Tommy said proudly, before Lola grabbed his arm and pulled him sharply to one side.

Now listen to me very carefully, you can invade the restroom, you can embarrass me, I will even be your ‘wingman’, but if you call me ‘babe’ one more time I will break your arm., Lola whispered sternly.

Tommy went to smile, but even he could see from the look in Lola’s eyes that this was a time to listen and obey not to be himself.

Yes Maam…, Tommy said quietly, like a small child having been told off by a teacher.

A simple ‘Lola’ will suffice, now come on you big oaf, let’s get out of here., she grinned, dragging his bulky frame alongside her.

Chapter Two

H

igh up in the canopy looking down upon the makeshift camp below, Glock was filled with an uncomfortable mixture of emotions.  On the one hand seeing his old friends working alongside some of the locals, building and planning for the fight that lay ahead, reminded him of his early introduction to ‘The Dissenters’ back in his home reality.

Their hopeful, almost blind optimism, comradery and strength found with strangers, each with their own story for fighting against the control of the system.  In those early days, no-one really felt any real or immediate danger.  There even felt as if there was an unspoken agreement as to a reasonable level of acceptable conduct by either side, they fought the system, the system fought back – simple.

Here in this new world, things felt very different, for one there was no clear system or rules or boundaries, no clear enemy to fight.  For Glock, most situations effectively boiled down to a simple choice fight to exist…or die trying, although this was most certainly not a view held by all.

Evan’s opinion on the groups next steps had become increasingly entrenched and vocal, to the point where there were those who saw his behaviors as was slowly and quietly influencing the others.  Evan believed that their entire effort and attention should be focused on leaving the new reality to safety and moreover that they should leave the current inhabitants to fight their own battles.

In Lola’s and D’s absence, Evan had become bolder in establishing or promoting his intent and Glock was now starting to feel isolated among those few who he still counted as his friends.  Even TV and his team were looking like decent allies right now, at least they would have been if anyone knew where they were.

Are you laying an egg up there boy?, Beans called out from below.

How come that you ain’t seeing that’s there’s work that needs doin?  Ole Beans is getting a little too old to be saving the world on his own again!, Beans added grumpily.

Sorry Beans, I was just scoping the perimeter for any signs of incursions., Glock lied, whilst starting his climb back down to the main camp.

Call it what you like, but it ain’t working…I’ll see you later!, Beans yelled as he walked off grumbling.

…

Evan watched closely as one of the new guys tapped speedily away on one of the temporal network’s control panels, whilst a younger looking girl sat hunched over another watching lines upon lines of seemingly unintelligible code stream on a small screen below.

I have lost count of the different coding languages I have tried, but this stuff you’re doing, I have to admit that I am really struggling to get my head around.  That whole section here is one long string?  No clear variables or attributes, logic partitions or basic notations, how can you even read that let alone program in it?, Evan groaned.

Why would you need any of that?  We code the way the system wants us to, and as far as I can tell, what you do is tell your system how to interpret the code before you actually write the code?!  Such a waste of time., the young girl shrugged before turning her head and calling out to her friend.

Hey Laz, how’s that adapter coming along?

Installed and pretty much good to go once you have finished up., he smiled casually in reply.

Good timing then., she announced with a final tap on the console to execute her code.

Evan was not used to having to play catch up when it came to technology and this unfamiliarity was starting to feed into a growing feeling of insecurity bordering on paranoia.

What is it that you have done again?, Evan said, trying neither to sound suspicious or most importantly stupid.

Laz has upgraded you guys onto a broad-spectrum connection across the entire network and I have added a temporal decryption onto the gateway.  Now you will see those areas on your scanners that are not native to this reality and those which are.  I have even colour coded them for you, so it’s nice and simple., the young girl explained proudly.

Ok thanks, but how do I know you haven’t actually lit us up like a Christmas Tree in June?!, Evan complained, immediately forgetting any previous attempts to hide his suspicion as his paranoia flared.

The girl looked shocked and confused, before Laz got up and turned to look Evan closely in the eye and said, I have no idea what the hell a Christmas Tree is, but it sounds to me like you don’t trust us?

Evan stammered for a reply as Laz got more and more in his face, when the pair were interrupted by the cheerful voice of Tam.

Everything in control?  Or do I detect the full Evan charm in full effect?, she joked.

I was only asking a question…, Evan said quietly.

I bet you were., Tam replied with a knowing smile.

I figured you all must be thinking about taking a break soon, so I brought up some food., Tam smiled laying some fruit and baked snacks on top of the main power unit.

I’m not hungry., Evan grumped before abruptly and huffily stomping off, leaving Tam alone with the two youngsters.

Tam winked to the pair, took a glance over her shoulder to make sure that he had gone before adding, Don’t mind him, believe it or not – he is actually trying his best.

I’d hate to see him when he isn’t…, the young girl said frowning.

He has a good heart, he has just been through a fair bit these last few days, just give him time, he’ll soon relax.  I’m Tam by the way, not sure we have met properly., Tam explained.

Hi, I’m Laz…, the boy began.

And I am Lexi!, the young girl burst excitedly and bounding towards Tam.

Wow, erm please to meet you at last Lexi, your energy reminds me of another bouncy excitable person I know, have you met Scarlett yet?, Tam asked warmly.

The princess?  No way no! She wouldn’t want to speak to a digi-monkey like me., Lexi frowned.

Princess?  Scarlett?, Tam said looking very confused.

Yeah, did you not know?  She was the princess of all the pretty things back on her world, but then she had help everyone escape because some mean old witch tried to turn them all into robots., Lexi babbled.

The Princess of all pretty things eh?, Tam said slowly, as she began to consider where this tale may have begun.

You don’t even know what a princess is, I have told you to stop listening to all that nonsense from those kids., Laz said

I do so know what a princess is!, Lexi replied indignantly.

Well either way, I am sure that after all your hard work I can figure something out with ‘The Princess’ for you., Tam smiled as an amusing plan began to unfold in her mind.

We really don’t wanna be any trouble Mam., Laz interrupted quickly whilst Lexi’s face looked about ready to explode with joy.

Shouldn’t I be saying that to you two?  After all, you live here!, Tam laughed.

Besides you two are no trouble at all. And you Lexi, you are so cute, I want to keep in my pocket!, Tam added rubbing Lexi’s head.

Come with me Lexi, I’m sure that her royal highness can find some time in her busy schedule for our new friends., Tam said whilst gently ushering them back towards the main cabin.

Princess of all pretty things, Scarlett you might wish!, Tam chuckled to herself.

…

What do you mean you have lost them?  They were right there!  You saw them too didn’t you Doug?, Tobin yelled at a confused looking blue man beside him.

Who is Doug?, the Blue Man replied.

Tobin stood still for a moment or two and studied the Blue man carefully, before stepping in to examine him even closer – much to the Blue man’s discomfort.

Ha Haaa!  I see what you did there Doug and you are spot on, ‘WHO IS DOUG!’.  Hilarious stuff, you are so much more fun than the dead ones!, Tobin guffawed whilst slapping the Blue Man heartily on the back.

Doug was not actually the name of the Blue man, although whilst he had not been conscious all that long, he had been around long enough to realise that disagreeing or confusing the Tobin would not end well for him.

As far as he knew he didn’t have a name, but he was pretty sure that it wasn’t Doug, he felt more like a Paul, or David maybe.

He also didn’t have any memory as to why he was Blue, but Tobin had assured him that these details would come back to him eventually.

Anyway, where was I?  Ah yes of course, I was busy chastising this so-called computer system here., Tobin said to ‘Doug’ whilst smacking the side of the console sharply with his hand.

I am still awaiting an explanation Computer…, Tobin tutted whilst rolling his eyes dramatically towards ‘Doug’.

Tracking Process of Unauthorised Network access point has been lost., the computer replied.

’What do you mean lost?’  That was my question!, Tobin demanded.

Astray, off-course, off-track, off the right track, disorientated, having lost one's bearings, adrift, going around and around in circles, at sea…., the Computer began.

his spirit still walks among the hills, searching for lost travelers…", the computer continued.

Computer don’t get sarcastic with me, you know exactly what I meant!, Tobin growled.

What about the erroneous temporal signatures?  Surely, they also have not been ‘lost’, Tobin added.

No trace of erroneous temporal signatures, nor residual data packets are within the measurable network or temporal spectrum., the computer replied.

Computer speculate as to reason signals lost., Tobin ordered.

Following a brief pause the computer responded, All evidence suggests interpretation error by user."

An interpretation error?!  AN INTERPRETATION ERROR!!, Tobin boomed.

Destroy their last recorded geo-location and don’t spare the salting of the earth!, Tobin