"We have options," the A.I. informed. "We can either find the Planck the Purists used to enter this universe and continue on our journey as Aldous intended-"

"Whoa! Wait a second there," Craig interrupted. "I thought you said we couldn't alter our course, but now you're saying we can?"

"Not exactly," the A.I. replied. "What I am saying is that the Planck platform the Purists used on the t.i.tanic, the one we procured from them to travel to our current location, is an older model. While it is perfectly safe, it isn't as powerful and has a smaller range. If the Purists are to be believed and Professor Sanha Cho is really helping them, then it was he who activated their Planck and set it on a course to match us with a range of three parallel universes. After the third universe, it will only have enough power to bring the Planck back to Universe 1."

"Our universe? Home?"

"Correct."

Craig slapped his hands together excitedly. "Well hot-diggity! We're in business then!" He reached down and grabbed Paine by the back of his jacket before dragging him across the roof so he could do likewise to Degrechie. "Let's get to it," he said as he lifted off the roof of the building and began flying toward the short-range Planck platform.

"Indeed, but Craig, remember that Aldous wanted us to remain in the bulk, traveling from universe to universe so we could avoid detection and return when it was safer. If we return ahead of schedule, we are sure to encounter-"

"It's already too late for that," Craig replied. "The Purists are on to us. Whether we run for one more universe or fourteen more, it won't matter. In the end, there's only one way back to Universe 1-through the Planck machine back at the complex."

They set down several blocks away on the rooftop on which Craig and the A.I. had originally entered Universe 332. He roughly placed both Paine and Degrechie on the platform, folding their limp prosthetic limbs so they fit safely on the silver disk.

"There is more that you need to know, Craig," said the A.I.

"Okay," Craig replied as he huffed and puffed from the exertion of moving the heavy bodies. "Hit me with it."

"The next universe-the next historical event-is one for which you may not be prepared."

"Why? What could be worse than what we've been through already?"

"Craig, we'll be going to a universe that is fourteen years behind Universe 1-to Shenzhen, China."

6.

"You're kidding."

"I'm not particularly comfortable with humor at the moment, Craig," the A.I. replied, "so I avoid 'kidding,' as you put it. Unfortunately, I am quite serious."

"I'm going to see my own SOLO jump?"

"We should be appearing on the ground to witness the confrontation between you and the MAD robot known as Robbie. Then we will witness the destruction of the Chinese A.I. by a tactical nuke not long afterward."

Craig placed a hand on his forehead and shook his head. "Why would Aldous possibly have wanted to see that?"

"It's one of history's most important events," the A.I. replied before adding, somewhat uncertainly, "amongst other possible, more personal reasons."

"Other reasons? What are you talking about?"

"As I've said, Craig, since I have not yet pa.s.sed the Turing test, my understanding of human psychology is purely objective. Please keep that in mind when listening to my theory."

"Noted," Craig replied impatiently. "Go ahead."

"Have you noticed any similarities between the three worlds we've visited so far?"

"Yeah," Craig nodded. "I've noticed a whole lot of people on the verge of dying in each one."

"But beyond that," the A.I. responded, "have you noticed a certain pattern in the events?"

"Just cut the bull. What are you driving at?"

"In my opinion, Aldous chose these events because they have a particular fascination for him. Both the t.i.tanic disaster and 9/11, it can be argued, are examples of magnificent human achievement thwarted. The t.i.tanic was the world's largest ship, and the most technologically advanced human-built structure in the world when it sank. Similarly, the World Trade Center buildings were the tallest in the world at the time of their completion. Also, it can be argued that the t.i.tanic and the Twin Towers were the ultimate symbols of both the British and American empires, and both empires crumbled shortly after those important, yet devastating events."

"But the Chinese didn't have an empire. They'd been isolated."

"True, but empire was their goal. Indeed, their A.I. was that civilization's crowning achievement-before it was destroyed."

"So you're saying Aldous has a fascination with tragedy?"

"I think a man who has spent his entire life trying to cure death and give birth to strong artificial intelligence could certainly be accused of a degree of hubris, wouldn't you agree?" the A.I. asked rhetorically. "I think Aldous is drawn to these events because they are examples of magnificent technological achievement-yet they are also the embodiments of the myth of Icarus-humanity reaching too far, going too close to the sun and, therefore, drawing too close to the G.o.ds in a sense. Surely you can see why this story might apply to Aldous. He must subconsciously fear that he, too, will face Icarus's fate."

Craig nodded impatiently. "Okay, so Aldous is a freak. I knew that already. Luckily, while you were giving your psychoa.n.a.lysis, I was coming up with a plan."

"Oh?"

"My plan is to go to the next universe, save my SOLO team, destroy the Chinese A.I., and then bring a couple of them back with us to Universe 1."

"Members of your SOLO team?" the A.I. reacted, surprised.

"Yes. They're heavily armed. It would give us a fighting chance once we get back home."

"May I remind you, Craig, that the SOLO worked for the Purist government? Their stated mission is the destruction of strong A.I.-not the preservation of it."

"After we save their b.u.t.ts and help them destroy the Chinese A.I., I'm sure they'll be happy to return the favor. I'll just need to explain a few things."

The A.I.'s expression was one of dubiousness.

"Trust me. I know these guys," Craig said rea.s.suringly.

"That sounds familiar."

"Ha! An attempt at sarcasm. And you said you never kid."

Craig stepped onto the Planck platform, careful not to step on either Paine or Degrechie in the process. He clapped his hands together once again and exhaled excitedly, shaking out his arms and rolling his neck as he prepared for yet another universe jump. "Okay. I'm ready. Let's do this, Hoss."

"As you wish," the A.I. replied before activating the platform once again.

7.

Craig had forgotten how h.e.l.lish the terrain of Shenzhen was on the lip of the impact crater. The fallout had not yet receded, and the sun was blocked by the dust cloud that enveloped them.

"I'm keeping the platform's magnetic field active to protect the Purists from the radiation," the A.I. said.

"I guess I'll have to activate my field as well once I step off the platform."

"Actually, that won't be necessary. Your nans are capable of repairing any physical damage that the radiation may cause."

"Nice," Craig replied, impressed. "What time is it? How long do we have?" Craig asked.

"I would need to see the position of the sun-"

"Done," Craig replied immediately as he ignited his coc.o.o.n and flew straight up through the dust cloud. In seconds, they emerged and entered the sunshine.

"We've arrived after your SOLO jump began," the A.I. informed Craig. "They'll be here in two minutes and four seconds."

"The Chinese A.I. hacked our HUDs and threw us all off course. We were supposed to open just above the crater-"

"Yes, it is all contained in the historical record," the A.I. interrupted.

"We have to catch them. Can we do that with the magnetic field?"

"I'm afraid not," the A.I. replied. "In the future, the technology will have more capability, but as of yet, the protective coc.o.o.n and the flat wall we used to push the t.i.tanic are the only shapes the fields can take."

"Can we use the flat surface-"

"Like a giant trampoline? I'm sorry, Craig, the technology does not, as of yet, have that capability."

"So what do I do?"

"You'll have to find a way to make them open their parachutes earlier."

"Heh," Craig scoffed as he blasted upward, streaking to meet his SOLO team and his double, "thanks for the help."

A second later, Craig's HUD suddenly went blank, before briefly turning back on and then going blank once again.

"Uh, my HUD just went down," Weddell stated in controlled alarm.

"Mine too," Craig replied.

"We're all down," Wilson quickly realized. "We're gonna have to open high and do it manually!"

Then, just as suddenly as they had flashed off, the HUDs came back online.

"I'm back up!" Craig shouted.

"Is everyone back up?" Wilson shouted.

Each member of the team confirmed.

"Okay! Then we stick to the original plan. Adjust to thirty-five degrees!"

Craig watched the time to opening tick down on his HUD. They were now only a minute away from their computer-controlled low opening. Their speed was slowing, but something didn't feel right.

"Commander, have the onboard SOLO systems ever glitched like this before?" Craig asked.

"No. This is a first," Wilson replied.

"Then I recommend we do a high manual-"

"Cut the chatter, Doc!" Wilson shouted. "Concentrate!"

The yellow dust covering the ground was closing in below them, its surface gleaming in the sunlight as it crawled like a yellow, living fog.

Then, suddenly, something else became visible. A green light, growing larger by the second, was coming toward them, seemingly emerging from the dust below.

"We've been compromised!" Wilson shouted as soon as he saw the luminescent projectile moving in. "Break formation! Break formation!" he screamed out.

The SOLO team members broke away from each other, hoping to evade the unknown weapon that was quickly bearing down on them.

Unfortunately for Craig, the evasive maneuver did nothing to help him. The green missile had a bead on him, moving intelligently to match his speed and trajectory, and impact was imminent. The horrifying reality suddenly reached into Craig's skull and laid its frozen fingers over his brain. "Oh no," he whispered.

And then, just as all seemed lost, the projectile stopped only a meter in front of him and he saw, what appeared for a moment to be his reflection on its surface. When the reflection moved its lips and urgently gestured for Craig to pull his chute release, he realized this was something else-something bizarre-something fantastic.

With twenty seconds left before his computer-controlled opening was scheduled, Craig pulled the emergency lever, and his chute billowed out above him. When his drop speed settled into a gentle descent, the green light suddenly disappeared, and Craig was left looking at his reflection, un.o.bscured.

"Hey there," it said. "We need to talk."

8.

"How am I hearing you over my com link?" Craig's twin asked him.

"I've got a computer in my brain," Craig replied. "They call it the mind's eye. I'm using it to connect to your com system."

"A computer in your brain? That technology doesn't exist. I'd know if it did."

"It doesn't yet. I'm from the future."