Far Fetched

By Steve Hertig

Back in the Milky Way, a series of most unlikely events plague Tec and Ruby while they and the Family try to unravel the mystery of an asteroid that followed the Vera back into the Milky Way and the evil within it. Along the way, Ruby embarks on a journey of self-discovery while Tec learns more about their benefactors, the Family. Far Fetched is the sequel of Far Flung and the latest Fractime story. (Ver 1.1)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steve Hertig
• Release date: Jun 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215575390

Steve Hertig

Steve Hertig is a geologist with over thirty years experience observing and studying the Earth. With degrees in geology and physics and author of numerous technical publications, he is now incorporating his love of the Earth and the universe into science fiction.All Fractime ebooks are free! Please pay it forward and give a STAR review!

Book preview

Far Fetched

Steve Hertig

Smashwords Edition

All characters in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved.

Copyright 2024 Steve Hertig

ISBN 9798215575390

This eBook is for personal enjoyment only and may not be sold or given away. If you would like to share this book with another person, please download an additional free copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Version 1.1

This story is a living work in progress.

Check Smashwords for any free, newer versions.

This book contains mature content.

Illustrations, in part, via Bing Image Maker

Star Dates from http://trekguide.com/Stardates.htm STNG

Far Fetched

Like a bad penny…

The Blip: Stardate 98011.82 (March 2425)

The sentient machine flexed its three articulated limbs in the airlock of the small spaceship. It focused EM sensors out the lock's viewport taking in the surrounding stars of the Milky Way's delta quadrant. It was in good repair for a robot several billion years old. Its newfound allies saw to that. They had new parts replicated as well as dutifully filling and then polishing its pitted outer surface. Looks had never mattered to the robot, but now it felt a subtle processor efficiency increase as it surveyed its glistening form as the ship's geobot retracted its main appendage from the ancient machine.

For the first time on mission, the robot was hesitant to pursue its sole prey, other machines committed to destroying all biological life. A recent war between humanity and his enemies saw the near elimination of these brutal machines in this galaxy as well as several of the multiverse's surrounding fractimes. This fact did not change his mission. Nothing ever changed his mission. Nevertheless, leaving the current intellectual environment was proving difficult, costing precious nanoseconds. As its warp field reached full power, the fixation faded into hardwired focus. Engaging the drive to a maximum, it glanced back at the geobot for just milliseconds.

Ruby wondered what her first mission would be like then scowled at the ever-so-subtle blip on the main 2D display of the MSSL Vera. The blip's intercept course had not changed since its discovery after rescue by their new employers, the Family. Their timeship, Monitor, had brought the Vera back within the Milky Way, close to their new destination.

Ruby was anxiously studying the blip. Tec, she called out. There was no answer from the captain's quarters but she could hear his vintage music. He had been ecstatic when their new employers delivered a lost drone filled with many of his personal effects including a vast 20th-century music collection.

No wonder he can't hear me, she thought.

Her captain, an asteroid geologist, was still adjusting to his new responsibilities not to mention his last new body after she had replicated him over a dozen times in intergalactic space.

Tec, she shouted to herself in frustration.

I'm coming, Tec called out from behind the captain's hatch as his music suddenly fell silent.

Ruby sighed.

What? Tec asked wearily as he entered the bridge while securing the last snap on his flight suit. "Did the Monitor leave already? I told you to wake me."

Ruby looked up from the display at