Newsgroups: alt.ql.creative From: wgarmil@world.std.com (Wayne S Garmil) Subject: Paradox: part 3 Message-Id: Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1993 21:19:07 GMT PARADOX ------- Part 3: 1991 ------------- "Sam, bad news. I'm stuck here with you." "Huh?", Sam says as he turns his head to look at Al, who suddenly appeared on the car seat beside Sam. A bleeping horn causes Sam to suddenly pay attention to the road again. "Don't sneak up on me like that, Al, especially not when I'm driving. So, you got the directions to where I'm going? And what do you mean, you're stuck here with me?" "Well... it seams that every time I use the imaging chamber, WildCard passes out. Goshi thinks the quantuum accelorator is draining power from WildCard rather than from the power grid. Until he can find a way to insolate WildCard from the drain, I'm stuck here with you." "But why...," Sam begins to ask. "I've got it! The bracelets were designed to use WildCard's time travel abilities, not the quantuum accelorators. Remember all the trouble I went through trying to understand how they worked? I'll bet anything that when I finally duplicated the bracelet's destination circuitry, I also must have duplicated whatever lets the circuitry use WildCard's natural abilities. But why would he pass out? Eight years is a small jump for Wil-" "Sam, look out! That truck is swerving into your lane!" Sam swings the car to the right hard, avoiding another accident. However, when Sam swerved the car, Al is thrown to the left and literally bumps Sam. "Al, did you just touch me?", Sam asks as he reachs over and touchs Al's arm. "Oh, boy. I think I know why WildCard has been passing out." "So do I, Sam. We haven't been sending my image into the past to help you. We've been sending me. Sam, I think we're in bigger trouble than we first thought." "Why, Al? This is great! Once WildCard is up for it, we can send you back to 1999, then send him here with the imaging chamber. He, in turn, can send me home." "No, Sam, you don't understand. WildCard is naturally immune to paradoxes caused by being in two places at the same time. So are you, apparently, due to the quantuum effect. But I'm not. Somewhere, out in the middle of the ocean, I've been disappearing and reappearing on the bridge of the ship I'm currently stationed on in this time. If not, then we've got a real paradox on our hands." "Al, you may also be immune it this type of paradox now. Remember, not only have you also leaped into the past but I've leaped into your life after that. No paradox occurred when there were two of you in 1999; maybe no paradox will occur with two of you here in 1991." "Sam, I can't take that risk. I was on a critical mission around now. I better get back to 1999 just to be safe. I'm signaling Goshi to open the imaging chamber door one more time. I just hope WildCard can survive this abuse we're doing to him. Maybe he'll have some ideas once I'm back in 1999." -- _ __ _ __ Remember: The WildCard always stacks ' ) / // / / ) / the deck in his favor. Anyone care / / / o // __/ / __. __ __/ for a game of strip poker? My deal. (_(_/ <_