The more timeI spent with Judy, the more I found myself drawn to her.She wasn’t just smart, but personable too.And she also had a certain social grace.She was a person who was comfortable in her own skin, obviously happy with who she was.
Earlier today, during our meeting with Xander and Nadine, Judy had shifted into sales mode, thinking she needed to pitch her research to impress them and secure funding.Others she’d approached had been openly skeptical of the ideas she was promoting.Little did she know, my grandparents were already on board with the idea.All she had to do was name her price; they were more than ready to fund her work.
It was fascinating to witness Judy’s transformation into a more confident version of herself just a few minutes ago.She was an absolute firecracker.Once she grasped who Reed and I were and comprehended our background and the journey that brought us here, she became a different person.Now she held the upper hand, and she planned to use it.I had a feeling she wouldn’t let us leave alone until she got the answers she was after.
As I sat on the sofa, waiting for Reed to join us, Judy paced the room with restless energy, clearly preparing.Every few seconds, she sent me a sidelong glance, making sure I hadn’t vanished.At this point, she had no idea of how time travel worked or what method we used to get here.Only a day ago, she couldn’t have fathomed meeting someone from the future.Yet, here we were.And I knew perfectly well that she couldn’t share this news with anyone.As Xander had reminded me earlier, if you made this kind of claim to the unwary, they’d think you were out of your mind.
Glancing toward the kitchen, I hoped Reed wouldn’t limit himself to wine.I could use something stronger.
I’d laid out my cards with him, expressing what needed to be said.My entire plan was now in motion.I had nothing else up my sleeve.Now, it was Reed’s turn.He would either accept or reject my demand.Yet, the nagging truth remained that everything I had accomplished this week could unravel in the blink of an eye if he chose to reset the clock by sending an agent or going himself to an earlier time.
My entire existence teetered on the edge, hanging on Reed’s decision to spare Nadine’s life.The threats I had made against Judy and the surveillance plans Xander had for her felt pointless now.I knew that.Reed knew that.
The simple maneuver of a time traveler landing here earlier than me could change the circumstances.They could make it impossible for me to locate Judy, no matter how hard I tried.But even more than that, Reed was now aware of my identity.He could intercept me at the very moment I joined the agency, before I ever had a chance to come here.
No matter how I analyzed the situation, Reed held nearly all the cards.Yet, there was one exception—I could resort to extreme measures, even eliminating him.And I was still willing to take that step if necessary.I’d always had a tough time trusting someone else with my life.
Still, eliminating Reed wouldn’t resolve the issue of the kill list.Nadine’s name would stay on it.If Reed didn’t return, other agents would likely be tasked with finding out what happened to him and assassinating her.I couldn't know if I’d have another opportunity to jump time and intervene before they captured Nadine.One thing was certain, because of Judy I would lack any leverage with another agent like I had with Reed.
I was counting on him to make the right choice.My greatest hope rested on the possibility that he would feel an emotional bond with his mother and be motivated to do the right thing.
The stress that had been weighing heavily on me was briefly interrupted when Judy halted her pacing and directed her gaze at me.“So, Avalie, what do you do?”
“Grant writer?”I ventured.
She responded with an eye roll and a dismissive wave of her hand, signaling for me to give it another shot.
“Truthfully, I’m terrible at picking careers.To my parents’ great disappointment, I could never see anything through to the end, especially when it came to academics.I’ve got two half-finished degrees with no diploma to brag about.”
She chuckled, shaking her head.“You’re here, so you obviously have a great deal going for you.So, spill it.What do you do?Or should I ask, what you are good at?”
“Well, computer hacking and teaching martial arts classes keep the lights on,” I confessed, acknowledging my professional side.But then, thinking deeper, I delved into who I truly was, what motivated me, and why I kept moving ahead, putting one foot in front of the other.“But as a person?I’m a born rebel, I guess.Definitely an outsider.I’m comfortable moving on the fringes of society.That’s been my life.But I’m also ferociously protective of my family.”
I paused, allowing unexpected emotions to wash over me and then subside.I needed to maintain enough composure to speak without falling apart.Coming to San Clemente in this period had proven to be far more emotionally taxing than I had ever expected.Meeting Nadine and Xander, and actually holding my mother—these experiences had raised the stakes sky-high.It wasn’t that I hadn’t loved them before; I’d always cherished my entire family, including my father.However, after last night and today, I felt a deeper connection with the individuals they used to be.Whatever bonds we shared before, they were infinitely stronger now.The thought that they might not have the chance to live out their lives seemed even more tragic.These concerns weighed heavily on me, and these thoughts didn’t even include the reality of my own future, which would be nonexistent.
If Reed erased Nadine, he would also erase me.
“My love runs deep, but I suppose I’m also what people in your time would label as a radical.In the future I come from, the system has failed humanity on so many levels.Those who dare to speak out against social injustice and inequality often face severe consequences.In my own way, I try to make a difference.”
“Is that where hacking comes in?”she asked.
I smiled.“Oh, yes.No system is safe from me.”
“That’s very interesting.I’ve never met a professional hacker in person before.Tell me some of the things you’re an expert at.”She shook her head and held up a hand, stopping me from answering.“In our society, and the eyes of most people and, of course, the law, hacking and hackers are seen as a growing problem.But I’m fascinated by the future, and there’s absolutely no judgment in this.So, I hope you don’t mind me prying.”
“I get it.And I don’t mind.”I was never one for bragging.But right now, given the situation, and knowing Judy’s future, this felt more like a casual conversation between two friends.
“Some things haven’t changed.The government in my time sees hacking as disruptive, and it is often exactly that.I engage in nano-technology sabotage to stop intrusive surveillance.I use biometric exploitation to forge personal identities for other outsiders.I also create virtual identities through AI manipulations.”My thoughts drifted to Payam and how I’d fallen short in that department.I should have been smarter about the encryption and the shields.“And a bunch of other things.Believe me, you don’t want to get me started.I’ll be talking all night.”
“Let me tell you,” Judy asserted.“In this day and age, no four-year, nine-year, or post-doctoral degree work will make you an expert on what you do.”
“Maybe, but I’m guessing none of those degrees tend to put someone in jail, either.”I shrugged.“On the positive side, look at how far it’s brought me.”
“All of this is impressive,” she replied, smiling.
“One more thing.Above all else, I’m a fighter.I’ll go to the ends of the earth to protect the people who mean everything to me.”
“Are you talking about Xander and Nadine?”she asked.
