“Let me guess,” Kaitlin added. “It was destroyed by a bomb sent back in time by the Tel Group.”
“Yes,” Melody said. “But it’s not quite that simple.”
“That’s simple?” Kaitlin said. “Wow, you must lead a complicated life.”
“Believe it,” Quinn muttered.
“We always believed that the cataclysm was the first true timeline,” Melody continued, “and as such, we were not allowed to interfere. That’s one of our most powerful laws. Whole systems were destroyed when people tried to meddle with time. That’s when my organization was started—the Federal Bureau of Time Management. We police time, make sure no one messes with it and causes changes which could have catastrophic effects on the future.”
“Cool,” Kaitlin said. “Where can I sign up?”
Melody grinned and continued, “But then, because of Quinn, we realized that the cataclysm was not the first timeline but only occurred because someone had already gone back in time and intervened.”
“The Krellians actually invented time travel,” Quinn said. “We know now that was so they could come back in time, to this moment, and retrieve the DNA database and restore their people and their home. They planned to send a time machine with a team of scientists. Unfortunately, that time machine wasstolen by Tel agents employed by the Bhaxians. They intended to take a bomb back and destroy the mothership.”
“Are you sure of all this?” Kane asked.
Quinn cast him a superior glance. “Totally sure. We went back in time to when the time machine was launched. We saw the ambush. Saw them load up the bomb.”
“Why the hell didn’t you stop it?” Kane asked.
“Hey, we did our best. And we did manage to change the time and place it was going.”
Kaitlin’s mind whirled as she thought that through. She glanced back at Kane; saw the stunned expression on his face. Here, finally, was the answer to where their ancestors had come from. Why they existed. “Oh my God,” Kaitlin said. “You sent the time machine back to Uganda ten thousand years ago.”
“Not on purpose,” Quinn replied. “We damaged the guidance system. But yes—I saw the timer on the control panel. Ten thousand years.”
She shook her head. “They were our ancestors. You’re the reason Kane exists. The reason all of us exist.”
“You can call me God,” Quinn murmured.
“Hah,” Kane replied. “Delusions of grandeur.”
Quinn raised an eyebrow at Kane. “Yeah, and you’re officially one of the bad guys,” he said with a grin.
“So are you,” Kane replied. “We all come from the same people.”
Kaitlin caught Melody’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Melody grinned.
“Anyway,” Melody said. “The cataclysm was clearly not the first timeline and was the result of someone interfering with the real time, which meant that we could come back and stop that from happening. Which was just as well, because Quinn was not happy with the idea of leaving you all to your fate. So here we are. To stop the cataclysm.” A look of sadness crossed her face.
“What’s wrong?” Kaitlin asked.
“If we change the cataclysm, my future will cease to exist.”
Kaitlin frowned at that. She remembered what Stella had said about how they were the result of accelerated evolutionafterthe cataclysm. Did that mean they’d all cease to exist? “What about us?” she asked.
“I don’t think you’ll vanish,” Melody said. “Or me. At least, I hope we won’t.”
“Well, that would be a total bummer. To save the world and then just...go poof.”
Melody frowned. “I’m pretty sure it won’t happen...ninety-five percent sure anyway.”
“Thanks for that,” Kane said dryly.
Kaitlin had been focused on the time machine—nothing had changed—now she glanced back at Kane. How was he taking the news that his mission had been to blow up this ship…and cause the cataclysm.
Chapter 43
