Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative From: wgarmil@world.std.com (Wayne S Garmil) Subject: Paradox: part 4 Message-Id: Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 21:20:19 GMT PARADOX ------- Part 4: 1999 ------------ Goshie studies his console closely, looking for that elusive piece of information he missed the previous 5 times he looked over the data. Sighing, Goshie admits there is nothing there to indicate why using the imaging chamber is draining WildCard, or why it's teleporting Al into the past instead of just sending Sam a holographic image of Al. Goshie is about to leave, when he sees that Al is trying to open the imaging chamber door. Dreading what he has to do next, Goshie types a message to Al: "No, I will *not* open the imaging chamber door until I know it is safe for WildCard to do so! Otherwise, we may kill him! Now stop bothing me so I can work!" Goshie smiles to himself; he knows he could never talk like that to Al to his face. But with Al trapped in the past, Goshie decides to show a little courage, especially when what Al wants could endanger everyone present, as well as Sam and Al. Shaking his head, Goshie begins to review the history records Ziggy found on WildCard's life. "This is going to be tough," Goshie tells Tina, who's trying to help while Al is stuck in the past. "How do you determine the correct history for someone who has at least two sets of valid, conflicting histories? I mean, look at this. According to these records, WildCard dropped out of college in Dec 1983 and enterred the Navy in March 1984, yet it also shows that he completed his college degree in May 1986 at the college he dropped out of in 1983." "So which one is the correct history for him?", Tina asks. "The problem is: both of them.", Goshie replies. "I don't understand. How can he have two completely different histories, and both of them be valid?" "Well," Goshie begins, not sure what exactly to say, "it's as if Sam had leaped into WildCard's life and changed the past, but somehow both sets of histories became real rather than just the new one. I'm not sure how this happened; it has something to do with the way WildCard teleports through time. He's literally living in a Paradox. Right now, he's in the history where he went into the Navy, then restarted college after his discharge. Details on his other history are very vauge after 1986, so my guess is this one whhe he dropped out is the one we should go by." "Okay, if we have to decide on one of the other, then lets go with that one. Now, what did Ziggy find in WildCard's history for Sept, 1991?" "Well, so far, Sam hasn't changed history," replies Goshie. "WildCard did have that car accident, exactly as Sam did, on that date and time. However, there's nothing in WildCard's history after that for almost a month that's significant. This is literally a dull time for him, no adventures, no more accidents, nothing!", Goshie says, very fustrated at still not turning up anything that would make Sam leap into WildCard's life at that particular time. "What about his future wife? Doesn't her meet her around then?", Tina asks, hoping that maybe Goshie missed that detail, or something related to it. "No, I checked that. WildCard doesn't get her first letter until October 15th and finally makes contact on October 31st. That's three weeks from when Sam is at the moment." "Well, what about this Mary from Callahan's Place he went out with?" "Sorry, Tina, but she' still over a month away as well. The only thing linked to that when Sam is now is the news posting WildCard did that day about the accident. Say, that's right! I never told Al about the posting. We have to make sure Sam does it if we're to keep the chain of events in tack!" "Uh, what does a news post have to do with this Mary?" "It was that posting that prompted both Mary and his future wife to write him! If that posting isn't made, he won't meet either of them! Tina, you're a genius! I forgot how little events like that can have big effects in the future! That has to be the key event Sam has to preform. There's nothing else happening that's important for the three weeks!" As Goshie begins typing a message to Al and Ziggy looks up the text of WildCard's post, Tina reviews the histories again. That little event isn't enough to cause Sam to leap into WildCard's life. They must have missing something else. -- _ __ _ __ Remember: The WildCard always stacks ' ) / // / / ) / the deck in his favor. Anyone care / / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ for a game of strip poker? My deal. (_(_/ <_