What If... Science Fiction and Paranormal Short Stories, Vol. 2

By Tim Trott

     Come for the fiction, stay for the science with  What If... Volume two, a second collection of ten Science Fiction and Paranormal short stories with a twist of reality.  

        A spaceship is propelled through space and time by the chain reaction of a neutron bomb that destroys the planet Mars. "The Last Martian" takes refuge in the Great Smoky Mountains until  being discovered by a hiker wandering off the Appalachian trail.

In "The Man in the Mirror" a mysterious encounter with his own reflection causes George to evaluate his past choices.

    In the next story, Susan has a vivid dream of her abduction by aliens, or at least she's pretty sure it was a dream. 

    "The Abduction of Ralph" is a parody of the abduction theme.

    Then a young man experiences the "Butterfly Effect" using a time machine to prevent his sister from being injured in a motorcycle accident but becomes the center of something much worse. 

    "A Dangerous Brew" sends Samantha on a new mission to confront a criminal enterprise.

    William discovers that his new pet dog has special abilities in "My Dog is my Doctor"

    A physics professor and his students travel back in time to correct the course of history in "Saving Mandela".

    The United Nations becomes the stage for "The Meeting" between Earth's representatives and three races of extraterrestrial beings.

    Finally, an EMT must overcome her "Haunted Dreams" with the help of her partner and a ghost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: TimTrott
• Release date: Apr 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224844456

Tim Trott

Author Tim Trott has a diverse range of writing styles and interests. Let’s explore some facets of his work:Science Fiction and Paranormal: Tim Trott’s short stories often blend real science or theories with imaginative elements. Some of these stories draw inspiration from his work experience or focused studies on specific topics. His unique take on science fiction and paranormal themes sets him apart.Non-Fiction: Trott is not confined to a single genre. He delves into both non-fiction and fiction writing. His ability to explore various worlds, emotions, and adventures through words makes his work intriguing and multifaceted.Aviation Enthusiast: Inspired by the Sky King television series, Trott developed an early interest in aviation. This passion occasionally finds its way into his narratives, adding an exciting dimension to his storytelling.Whether you’re seeking thought-provoking science fiction, captivating paranormal tales, or a mix of non-fiction and fiction, Tim Trott’s writing offers a delightful journey for readers.

Book preview

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Copyright © 2024 by TIM TROTT

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Revision 3a, April 13, 2024

Contents

The Last Martian

The Man in the Mirror

The Abduction of Susan

The Abduction of Ralph

Butterfly Effect

A Dangerous Brew

My Dog is my Doctor

Saving Mandela

The Meeting

Haunted Dreams

About the Author

The Last Martian

Alone in his spacecraft, the pilot probed the conditions of the planet Phaeton, capturing data and images to plan for future exploration. After transmitting the data back to Galaxy Control, the pilot was concerned there was no confirmation. Perhaps the distance was too great.

Concluding the exploration mission, the pilot configured the controls for a return to Mars.

At long last, the hyper-drive disengaged on approach to the fourth planet. The pilot listened for communications before making the call for landing instructions. The repeated calls to Galaxy Control went unanswered. All the communication channels stayed ominously quiet.

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The pilot gazed out through the view port only to see an enormous red cloud engulfing everything below. The ship's sensors recorded a massive neutron irradiation event devastating the entire planet, as heavy readings of Xenon 129 were detected in the escaping atmosphere. In a scene of horror, the pilot watched as a tremendous red cloud appeared from the surface, pushing the tiny spaceship through an invisible vortex of space and time with a powerful neutrino force.

When the spaceship emerged from the vortex, the pilot was amazed to find all the ship’s systems functioning normally, except for the chronometer, which had advanced by three hundred million years. The navigation instruments showed the tiny ship had somehow traveled more than a hundred million miles toward the next planet. That planet was Earth.

Though only a small exploration vessel, the spaceship’s Zero-Point Energy system could continue to provide unlimited power for the ship and its anti-gravity propulsion system. However, survival on another planet would be another matter. The home planet, now centuries in the past and likely uninhabitable, severely limited the pilot's options.

As the small spacecraft approached the blue planet, instruments detected satellites and other items and objects in orbit. The pilot maneuvered the spaceship into an orbit.

The spaceship maintained the orbit as the pilot turned his attention to deciding on a landing point. As the planet rotated below, the ship’s sensors scanned for a suitable location. The location would need to provide extended access to resources while still maintaining the secrecy of his presence in the hostile environment. Once a suitable location was found by the ship’s computer, the pilot set a course for a secluded and uninhabited section of the Great Smokey Mountains in North Carolina.

Anyone observing the small spaceship’s rapid descent could could be mistaken it for a shooting star or meteor.

The pilot knew he would need to learn about this planet’s inhabitants at some point. With the spacecraft safely hidden in the dense forest, he turned his attention to intercepting communications signals. With no further use for its original purpose, the space communicator was reconfigured on the spaceship to receive local signals and transmissions. The repurposed communicator screen produced a jumble of sounds and images. The spaceship’s computer assimilated the communications and produced language training for the pilot generated from television news and movie broadcasts.

The spaceship’s supply of edible fungi would last for a long time, but the ship’s supply of water was all but depleted from the previous exploration mission. Fortunately, a small stream flowed through the bottom of the valley, providing the pilot with the ability to collect water and bathe himself and his clothing. At other times, he would sit under a tree, absorbed in thoughts about his precarious existence. At one point, confronted by a bear, the pilot had used a pocket-size laser beam to distract the bear, providing the pilot with time to escape inside his spaceship.

Over time, the pilot gained a rudimentary knowledge of the English language. He also decided on a common name, assembled from the various entertainment shows he received on the repurposed spaceship communicator.

***

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Ryan Mitchel felt a strong attraction to nature. He’d hiked countless trails, but the Appalachian Trail held a special attraction for the young college student. Spring Break was a perfect time for a hike on the Appalachian trail in the Smokies.

This day, he walked among the towering trees and with cool breezes and the scent of pine in the air. The trail followed a ridge overlooking a deep valley. Looking over the edge of a precipice, he saw the glint of sunlight reflecting on something in the deep vegetation in the valley below. Concerned that it might be the undiscovered wreckage of a downed aircraft, he marked his location on the GPS application on his phone and ventured down the slope to find the source of the reflected sunlight.

Pushing his way through the vines and branches into a clearing, it surprised him to find an old gentleman, or perhaps a hobo, sitting on an outcropping of rock. The old man appeared to be deep in thought until the crack of branches and leaves drew his attention to Ryan’s presence. The man wore what appeared to be coveralls with military-style boots, a strange attire not practical for hiking on trails.

Hello, Ryan called out. At first, the man seemed flustered, unable to decide how to respond.

Hello, Ryan called out again as he came to stand in the clearing just below where the man was sitting.

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The old man simply nodded, as if Ryan were merely a passerby.

I’m Ryan, he said finally, looking up and hoping for a response. How did you end up this far in the wilderness? Who are you?

The pilot mumbled something.

Ryan repeated his question. What is your name?

I am, he hesitated. John, the man finally replied. John Martin, he said with what appeared, for a moment, to be a sly grin. The pilot, (now John Martin), although he might be more than a hundred years old by Earth measure, showed few signs of aging, other than his thick silvery hair. His skin bore no visible lines or wrinkles but appeared almost plastic in texture. He wore loose dark coveralls and boots, bearing no brand markings of any kind.

As John fixed his gaze on the approaching hiker, he revealed human-like eyes, but with a decidedly orange tint.

Are you lost? Ryan asked.

No, I am not lost. I am living here, John replied. Please do not stay.

As the man spoke, his deep steady voice did not match his hobo-like appearance, and his words, somewhat robotic and devoid of normal intonation, in a strangely stilted accent Ryan did not recognize.

Ryan stood erect for a moment, taking in the situation. His anthropology education made him aware of subtle nuances in behavior and language, which only increased his curiosity as he pursued the conversation.

It can be pretty lonely out here.

John, with some hesitation, replied, I … prefer alone.

People can be a bit … perplexing, Ryan continued. They can react with hostility toward those outside their culture or who don’t fit in. I guess it’s always been in our nature. Foreigners, the Indians, people who look different, sound different, all have a hard time fitting in. Ryan was starting to sound like an anthropology textbook.

John turned to Ryan, studying him for a moment. What you say is true, he said. I have seen it … in news and movies. That is why I stay here.

I can see your perspective, judging from news and movies, but not all people are like that, you know. I’ve always been drawn to cultures and perspectives that challenge the norm. Some of us appreciate what makes each culture unique and can value those differences.

This world is … complex, John answered succinctly.

Ryan thought he had gained John’s trust. Where did you say you are from? he asked.

I did not, was John’s quick response. He answered with such finality Ryan decided not to press the question further.

John knew he could trust no one on this planet with knowing just how really different his culture was. I must go now, he said, but making no motion to leave.

Ryan took it to be an invitation for him to leave.

***

Climbing back up the hill, Ryan turned to look back at the old man, but he had vanished into the forest. Curious to know how the old man could survive out in the open, he crept back to see where he had gone.