Hector stepped on the gas and sped past another car. Checked his watch. Since the bounty hunter’s attack they had been skirting from motel to motel, trying to stay off the XLS’s radar. Meanwhile, the Subdivision hadn’t been able to find any additional information regarding the XLS’s target. Their best assumption remained the Apollo Program, but they were running out of time.
“We need to call the local authorities.”
“HQ said ‘no.’ Not enough evidence,” said Jack. “We can’t prove they altered anything.”
“What if we missed something? What if it explodes right in front us? We’re measuring risk with human lives!”
Hector pulled off the highway and slid to a stop. Both men exited the car. Jack’s communicator signaled an incoming call. He put it through on speaker so Hector could hear.
“Anything?” asked Jessica.
“I was gonna ask you the same thing.”
“Nothing new here, either.”
Hector punched the chain link fence. “We have to call off the launch!”
“Negative, we’re staying at Level 1—limited engagement. We’re stuck unless we can prove there’s been a significant breach.”
Subdivision rules of engagement stated that history could not be altered by a Union phase traveler unless a serious infraction forced intervention.
“Significant breach? They assassinated a president! They’re re-writing history and we’re standing here with our hands tied!”
“What else can we do?” asked Jack.
“Find my sister. Maybe she knows something. Maybe–”
bbbbbbBBBBBBGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
The rumble came at them like an earthquake. White smoke billowed up around the launch pad. The Saturn V came to life. It started as if in slow motion, harnessing its colossal power before catapulting skyward. It gained speed, leaving an ashen exhaust trail as it burned through the blue horizon.
A long moment passed before Jack turned to Hector. “I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or terrified.” He gazed back up to where the smoke vanished. “If they didn’t blow it up, then what did they do to it?”
