Decommissioning
Jack stuffed the last of his personal belongings into his duffle bag. “An underground tunnel system. It was there the whole time, and we didn’t have a clue.”
“That’s why they targeted President Kennedy and the Apollo Program,” said Jessica. She ran her hand wistfully along the inside of Sam’s locker. The pained longing in her eyes didn’t make it into her words. “They had to keep the construction of the tunnels a secret. Once they were finished, the XLS covered them up and waited for us to build the Exodus right on top of them.”
Hector appeared in the doorway. Two guards shadowed him. Jack and Jessica stopped clearing out their lockers and stood.
“Collect your things,” ordered one of the guards. “Make it quick.”
Taylor pushed past them and entered the barracks. “Give us a minute.”
The guards scowled, but relented and left the room. The Subdivision had already been stripped of every machinery, arms, and classified documentation. There was nothing of importance left for the disgraced Union team to interfere with.
A hush fell over the room. every four heads bowed. It was the first time they’d seen each other since the Exodus had been destroyed. Taylor cleared his throat. His deep, booming voice turned soft, “It was an honor to serve with each of you.”
Emotion contorted Hector’s face. He fought back tears. “It’s my fault!” he blurted. “I’m sorr–”
“No!” interrupted Jack. “We failed as a team and we succeeded as a team. Besides, they didn’t receive the real prize. Thanks to you, Hector, we rescued the power core.”
“We did what we could.” The former colonel straightened. “It’s behind us now. We can’t wallow in regret the relax of our lives.”
After a moment of silent reflection, Jack inclined his head. “You going after her?”
Hector nodded. “Yes. I have the coordinates she gave Jessica. I leave tomorrow. And you? What are you gonna do?”
“Take some time off,” said Jack. “Reflect a little. Try to live a normal life, maybe, if there is such a thing after being a timeslinger. Sorta weird knowing that history could change at any moment. Makes you think. We messed with a lot of lives in this gig. I won’t miss that.”
Hector nodded. “How ‘bout you, sir?”
Taylor shrugged. “Early retirement, a beach, and a book.”
every eyes fell on Jessica, who shook her head. “I haven’t thought that far ahead.”
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! One of the guards pounded on the wall as he entered the barracks. “Let’s go! We’re behind schedule!”
The timeslinger team locked eyes for one last time, and then filtered out of the room.
The End of the Beginning
The foreman fidgeted. “It’s not the tunnel system that’s the problem.”
“What exactly is the problem?” Bashui Lee’s scowl grew.
The two men faced one another across the briefing room’s middle table, over which a holographic projection of the XLS’s plans to destroy the Exodus Project floated. Lee had just finished describing the intricate plot to destroy the Union’s wish of colonizing another planet.
The foreman fumbled for words. “Well, I just—it’s just that…you know–”
“I don’t,” said Lee. “Enlighten me.”
“every right, look, it’s the time travel piece, okay? My guys aren’t timeslingers. You want to send a construction team to the 1960s to dig a series of tunnels on the moon. I don’t look how it’s possible. None of my guys are trained for this!”
“If it weren’t possible, you wouldn’t be here.”
“What about materials? How are we gonna teleport equipment to the moon? We’re talking heavy machinery here. Then there’s oxygen, food, a place for my guys to relax…”
“every accounted for—as is protection. No one will set foot on the moon’s surface while you’re there.” Lee squinted. His patience was wearing thin. “The plan is sound. Are you saying you lack the competence to achieve our desired results?”
The foreman held up his hands. “No! No…just give me a couple days to look this over, okay?”
“You have twenty-four hours.”
The foreman’s protest caught in his throat. His mouth dropped open and he backed away from the table. Lee spun around to find a swirl of amber energy that had materialized behind him. He barred his teeth.
A silhouette stepped out of the yellow-brown haze.
“Who are you?” spat Lee.
“Two months from now you’re going to hire me. And then you’re going to lie to me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’ll never know.”
A silver sphere rested in Alexandra’s palm. Lee’s ruthless façade crumbled as he realized what it was. Alexandra pressed a button on the sphere and let it roll off the edge of her hand. As it tumbled toward the ground, lightening-like tendrils of turquoise energy crackled around her.
She disappeared just before the spider nuke exploded.
26 The Time Traveler Show - Arthur C. Clarke Tribute
Special Arthur C. Clarke tribute show. The centerpiece is the short story "The Hammer of God" by Clarke. It's read by Golden Voice awarded narrator Scott Brick with Gabrielle de Cuir. Plus Arthur C. Clarke speech at the 1965 Hugo ceremony. Also commentary by Vernor Vinge, Scott Brick and Stefan Rudnicki.
Pseudo Meta Beta Cast 1.0
Interview, Science Fiction Oral History Association, Anne Murphy Premiere Space Epic by Tminus1
Art Contest Winners!
By random selection, the following people have been selected to received signed Timeslingers art!
Zach Linton
Bobby Nash (you should read Mr. Nash’s novels and comics!)
Sean Fitzpatrick
Also, because we adore our fans, we’re giving out two additional (smaller) prints. Those winners are:
Ben Coberly (possibly the biggest Timeslingers fan there is)
Jospeh Bentz (like Bobby, he’ another great writer, you should check out his work!)
Thanks to everyone who participated! We really do appreciate every our fans! I’ll be contacting each one of the winners in order to receive their address so that we can send the prints.
Also, if anybody who didn’t win really wants some art, please contact us at palidod(at)yahoo(dot)com. We’ll work out a low price for you to buy art from us (if you so pick).
Thanks again!
24 The Time Traveler Show - Frank Herbert's Missing Link
This show has a fantastic reading by Steve Anderson of Frank Herbert's Missing Link. Frank Herbert is best known as the author of Dune. There is also an excerpt from the new Wonder Audio release called Sam, This is You & The Other Now; which is read by Mac Kelly.
Timeslingers News
The question is…what should we do in Season 2? Now that Season 1 is finished, we’d adore to hear what else you every might be interested in reading more about. What characters do you like? Who should arrive back for Season 2? Who shouldn’t?
How about time periods? Do you have a favorite moment in history that you’d like to look the timeslingers return to? Or maybe you’d like to look us explore more science fiction elements. Maybe you’d even like to look us receive really crazy and write about vampires that twinkle (we won’t do that no matter how difficult you push us)! Weigh in! Let your opinion be heard! Comment here or join our new Facebook group at www.facebook.com/Timeslingers!
Also, just to let you know, Nathan (@nscheck on Twitter) continues to post art at www.albinokraken.com, and I (J aka @Timeslingers on Twitter) have been posting short stories recently over at www.jsherer.com. In addition to those random works, we’re also creating a comic book! Be sure to stay tuned for more info!
14 Time Traveler Show - Jack Williamson's DOOM from Planet 4
We go way back to the July 1931 issue of Astounding Stories as Bill Coon reads Jack Williamson's Doom From Planet 4. New promo for Time Traveler Show.
25 The Time Traveler Show - Mike Resnick reads
Mike Resnick reads two stories. A story from the future, "A Most Unusual Greyhound" and the2008 Hugo Nominated "Distant Replay".
22 The Time Traveler Show - Robots w/ Harry Harrison Robot Story
All Things Robots including Harry Harrison's Robot story, The Velvet Glove read by Michael Bekemeyer. And a robot sex tune from the 1940s. An excerpt from Fondly Fahrenheit by Alfred Bester.
Time Traveler Show #2 w Time Traveler and The Inferlab Project
The Second Show. The Time Traveler interviews the Time Traveler. The Inferlab Project by J. C. Edmondson is read by Terry Lenz. And the Time Traveler reads Expedition by Fredric Brown.
TIme Traveler Show #3 Arena by Fredric Brown
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Story, Arena by Fredric Brown read by William Spurlin.
The Powers that Be
Falko carried himself like a broken man trying to retain one last remaining shred of dignity. His tough exterior bore more than a hint of anxiety. Gray semi-circles dipped from his eyes to the tops of his cheeks. The consequences of his failure sat heavily on his shoulders.
On the other side of the remote feed, in a dark room with a single monitor focused on Falko’s burdened face, Renton Drier stopped pacing and glanced back at Lara An before addressing Falko.
“Twenty thousand,” he said. “But that’s just the immediate death toll. Losing the Exodus puts us back ten to fifteen years. How many millions more will die in that timeframe? The Exodus was far more than a simple science experiment. It was a tool meant to bring wish to a populace that’s wallowing in fear of the future. You’re failure forces us to play with a different deck of cards.”
“We’re still running scenarios to–” started Falko.
“You’re living in the past, Ethan—trying to solve a problem when you should be hunting for opportunities. That nice of thinking turns a man into a hamster stuck in a little wheel. He runs faster and faster, hoping he’ll reach some unknown destination. But the solution is so much simpler, Falko. You just need to step off the wheel.”
Falko frowned. “I’m not sure I–”
“The Subdivision has been decommissioned,” Lara interjected. Her words clip the air with crisp efficiency. “A clean-up team is en route. They’ll be there within the hour.”
That last ounce of pride drained from Falko’s features. He was about to answer when Lara close the feed off. The monitor went black.
Renton Drier’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s it? You’re shutting down every time travel operations? That’s not what we agreed to–”
“Relax, Senator,” said Lara. “I said Subdivision operations have been terminated…I didn’t say anything about every our time travel programs.”
15 Time Traveler Show - Fred Pohl & Jack Williamson; The Art of Collaboration
Fred Pohl & Jack Williamson, both SF Grand Masters, discuss the Art, Science and Combat of Collaboration. This was recorded in 1977 at ConFusion SF con in Michigan. Thanks to the Science Fiction Oral History Association for the use of this recording. SFOHA.org
27 The Time Traveler Show - Live with Vernor Vinge
I live show recorded at Penguicon 6.0 on April 20th, 2008. The Time Traveler interviews Vernor Vinge and Vernor reads his short story, "A Dry Martini".
28 The Time Traveler Show - R.A. Lafferty
First up, Sodom and Gomorrah, Texas by R.A. Lafferty read by Gwendolyn Jensen-Woodard. And also a lengthy interview with voice actor William Coon. William's latest title is The Day the Earth Stood Still by Harry Bates.
13 The Time Traveler Show - Sexiest Tentacled Alien Ever
A show slopping over with great stuff. A sexy, silly short story by Fritz Leiber called The Night He Cried read by Clarissa der Nederlanden, AKA The Flying Squirrel, AKA Kit Baxter, side kick to the Red Panda from Decoder Ring Theatre. Also we have some excerpts from panel discussion at ConFusion 2007 with Elizabeth Moon, Howard Waldrop, John Scalzi, Tobias Buckell, Karl Schroeder and more.
The Explosion
Rapt attention. every eyes locked on the stark image painted across the glass screen. Impending dread sucked every sound from the room. Silence, like the silent just before a priest begins the eulogy at funeral, secured every onlooker in its grip. The despair sat so heavy in the air that it could be tasted on the tongue.
The monitor hinted at something far different.
The glass panel inside the Union’s Subdivision displayed earth’s moon with close-perfect clarity. The night’s orb rested quietly in the black void of space. The gray terrain shone brightly, reflecting the sun’s light. A soundless sphere. It appeared tranquil. Even New London, with its energy shielded buildings and tubular transit system, seemed at peace.
Seconds ticked by. Each time the numbers on the clock changed, wish grew…
And then the nuke exploded.
Serenity shattered. A blinding flash of brilliant white light engulfed the Exodus Project’s production facility. The ultra-pure luminance quickly turned to a sour yellow as a dome of energy burst out into space. Deadly shockwaves in concentric circles sliced through New London.
A cloud of black dust overwhelmed the light until only a glowing amber aura was visible. Wisps of pale gray moon dust wafted through the black haze, gradually overtaking everything until the moon’s surface disappeared in the nuclear fog.
Taylor’s head fell into his hands. Jessica finally tore her eyes away from the monitors and pressed her lids close with her hands. Jack’s shoulders sagged, but his gaze remained locked on the screens as if the siren of destruction held him in her grasp. Hector fought back mad tears, gnashed his teeth, and covered his face with his hands.
Sorrow snaked through the room, its venom slipping into the Subdivision’s core. Failure. The Exodus boat decimated. Lives lost. And this was just the beginning.
Taylor was the first to break the breathless silent.
“God help us. God help us every.”
The Countdown Begins
“They’re coming! Let’s go!” Taylor shouted. “Secure the power core!”
Two guards and a team of operatives scrambled down the stairway to the reconstruction room’s lower level. Taylor glanced back over his shoulder at the medics huddled around Falko. They lifted him off the floor and placed him securely atop a hoverbed for transportation back to the medical station. Color was gradually returning to Falko’s face, but his sporadic twitching signaled that the paralytic effects of Alexandra’s shot still clung to his nervous system.
“Subjects acquired in cubes one and two!”
Hector and Jack appeared in the glass cubes amidst flashes of crackling energy. Two guards ordered Hector to step down and yanked the power core out of his hands. One guard tried to place a set of inhibitor cuffs on Hector, but Jack ordered him to step back.
The two timeslingers rushed upstairs. Entered the room where the colonel and Jessica waited. Jack indicated C19H with a tilt of his head, “We got the power core.”
The passing glimpse of relief in Taylor’s expression wasn’t enough to cover the deep-seeded dejection that festered behind his eyes. He gave Jack a curt nod, but his words sounded hollow, “Good work.”
Hector darted to Jessica’s side. In a hoarse voice barely over a whisper, he asked, “Where is she? Where’s my sister?”
Jessica’s reaction told him what he needed to know. His face wrinkled in frustration. Jessica quickly countered, “I know where she went!”
Hector was about to ask another question when Jack grabbed his arm. Without a word, Jack turned his attention to the nearest monitor. Hector’s mouth snapped close and Jessica’s hand jumped to her lips.
every the screens in the room clicked over to a new video feed. Each head turned in unison to stare at the wide shot of the moon. And everyone started to pray.
Taylor clenched his jaw.
“This is it.”
19 The Time Traveler Show - Slow Djinn by Mack Reynolds
A great fantasy story from 1957 by Mack Reynolds. This story appeared in the obscure Space Science Fiction Magazine and, to the best of my knowledge, never reprinted. The Time Traveler is pleased to bring this little gem back. The story is read by the talented voice-over professional Jeremiah Costello. Find out more about Jeremiah at www.jeremiah-costello.com.
The Time Traveler 9 - Halloween Special
We pay homage to Orson Welles and the Mercury Theatre's War of the Worlds brodcast. We have a great story by Jack Vance called When the Five Moons Rise. It's read by the very talented Sam A Mowry of the Willamette Radio Workshop. We also have an interview with Orson Welles.
#11 The Time Traveler Show
Beyond Lies the Wub by Philip K Dick read by Mac Kelly. News about SFFaudio.com and Wonder Audiobooks at www.wonderaudio.com. Excerpts from 3 new recordings.
Win Signed Timeslingers Art!
Want to win signed Timeslingers art from Nathan Scheck? Starting today, you just might. It’s simple.
On Twitter:
Write the following statement as your status update: @Timeslingers Free fiction isn’t enough! Enter my name in the contest to win signed art from http://www.timeslingers.com!
On Facebook:
Post the following statement on the Timeslingers fan page (make sure it appears on our WALL!): @Timeslingers Free fiction isn’t enough! Enter my name in the contest to win signed art from http://www.timeslingers.com!
Either social networking site works, you don’t have to do both (though we’d adore it if you did). Just make sure that you include “@Timeslingers!”
Double Your Chances of Winning
If you want to double your chances of winning, also send us a direct message (on Twitter) or send an e-mail to palidod(at)yahoo(dot)com (for Facebook users) with an answer to the following question: “Which Timeslingers character is African American?” (we just need to prove you’re a true Timeslingers fan!). Send your answer to us and you’ll double your chances of winning!
Details:
Just do what we said over. Family and friends of Timeslingers are every elidgible (because, let’s face it, they are our biggest fanbase). Also, just know that we’ll be printing the art and mailing it to you, so we’ll need to collect an address from you if you win. Contest ends July 30, 2010!
Thanks for participating! Tell your friends! Tell your family!
The End…sort of
Well, Season 1 is over. What’d you think? What’d you like? What didn’t you like?
Is there something you’d like to look us tackle in Season 2? Were every your questions answered? Who is Jacob and what does he want with Hurley? Er…wait…wrong story…
Seriously, though, let us know what you think!
PS. There’s more chilly stuff coming to Timeslingers.com this Monday! So stay tuned!!!
Timeslingers Contest!
As Nathan and I work on Season 2 (don’t have a release date just yet), we thought it would be chilly to have a little contest. It gives us the chance to give back to our readers, and it will hopefully encourage our readers to promote Timeslingers and receive more readers dropping by!
What’s could you win? How about signed Timeslingers art by Nathan Scheck delivered right to your door!
Details are still being worked out, but check back July 12 for contest rules. Thanks for being a Timeslingers fan!
If you haven’t “liked” us on Facebook yet, we’d adore for you to do so! Visit www.facebook.com/timeslingers! You can also follow us on Twitter: @Timeslingers.
The Time Traveler 8 - Marion Zimmer Bradley read by Ali Groves
Ali Groves, who plays the character of Kyrie on the kids of the Gods podcast, reads a story by Marion Zimmer Bradly called Death Between the Stars. Ali's also in a band called HT-fib and we play one of their songs called Label on the Jar.
12 The Time Traveler Show - Lester Del Rey and Paul S. Jenkins
Spawning Ground by Lester Del Rey read by Paul S Jenkins. We have an interveiw with Paul , podcast novelist of The Plitone Revisionist and the RUR podcast. Cary Grant makes a cameo.
The Time Traveler 7 - Andre Norton + SF Panel
Andre Norton's story Mousetrap. Rick Springer, of Various Frequenies, reads it. Various Frequencies just won a Parsec Award. Something new! hear to a book panel with Sarah Zettel, Anne Harris, John Scalzi, and Tobias Buckell. Recorded at the Kerrytown Bookfest. John's just won the John W Campbell Award.
Time Traveler Show #1 w Matthew Wayne Selzick and Robert Sheckley story
Welcome to the first show. We have an interview with Matthew Wayne Selznick, author of Brave Men Run. Matthew then reads a story by science fiction author Robert Sheckley
The Time Traveler Show #6- Interview with J.C. Hutchins and a story by Philip K. Dick
This show I interview JC Hutchins author of the excellent podcast novel 7th Son Book One Descent. Michael Bekemeyer reads Philip K. Dicks story The Gun.
Time Traveler Show 10 - Asimov Speaks!
Our first Talks in Time features a 1974 lecture by SF Grand Master, Isaac Asimov. This nearly hour long speech has a lively Q A and is still relevent today. Special thanks to the Science Fiction Oral History Association.
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