Read Online Birth of the Alliance by Alex Albrinck - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Alex Albrinck
Tags: Science-Fiction, Literature & Fiction, Fantasy, Time travel, Science Fiction & Fantasy, cyberpunk, High Tech, Hard Science Fiction, Metaphysical & Visionary
Ads: Link
no impact on your ability to stay here.”
“What's the answer, Will?” It was Judith, who hadn't yet shown an interest in immortality. “How will we find the answers?”
Will thought about it. And he realized he'd had the answer to the question all along.
“We need to make the microscopes smaller. Much, much smaller. And we need to give them the ability to send the images they create to another location, much as we might telepathically send images to each other.”
He glanced at each of the eager—but confused—faces around him. “We need to put the microscopes inside the very cells of our bodies, and watch the effects on the cells from the inside, as they happen.”
In other words, they needed to create nanomachines.
V
Scutarium
1723 A.D.
It was a warm summer day in the city of Philadelphia. The population of the city had more than quadrupled since Will’s first visit, growing from a mere three thousand then to more than twelve thousand now, almost a quarter century later. It was a warm day, not terribly hot, but the humidity meant Will was sweating inside his clothes. The general odor of eighteenth century cities was one he’d never grow used to, especially after so much time spent breathing the fresh, clean air in the Cavern.
Hope had relayed to him the names of over fifty people she’d identified as potential Alliance candidates. Will had watched them, assessed the thoughts and emotions and deepest held beliefs and behaviors, and narrowed the list to two dozen. He’d made verbal contact with fifteen, and found that they were intrigued by his message. He told each of them that he must travel to New York, but would return in a month or two, and if they were interested in further conversations they would talk then.
Pleased with the crop of potential new recruits, Will purchased a newspaper and dined at a local restaurant. He found the writing exemplary, the stories fascinating, and asked the owner of the establishment the name of the publisher and directions to his shop.
The man glanced down at the newspaper, nodding in recognition. “That’s the New England Courant, correct? I believe the publisher is quite young, a lad named Franklin.” He provided directions to Franklin’s printing shop. Will thanked the man, paid for his meal, and set off for the printing shop operated by seventeen-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
An hour later, Will was aboard the Nautilus , staring at his copy of the New England Courant as if it was made of gold. Will had asked a few questions about points made in a few of the articles, and Franklin had obliged his reader, jotting notes in the margins for elaboration. Will had been amazed at the maturity displayed by the youngster. In this era, a seventeen year old was expected to be a man, and Franklin exuded maturity Will would rarely find in one under the age of thirty in the twenty-first century.
He was still staring at the written notes when Hope teleported in. When he didn’t acknowledge her, she zapped him with a small bit of Energy, causing him to look up. “What?”
“What’s got you so mesmerized?”
Will held out the newspaper. “This.”
Hope took the paper. “It’s a newspaper that someone doodled on. This is exciting because…”
“It’s not the doodling, specifically. It’s who did the doodling that’s so fascinating. One of the most revered men in history. Of course, he’s only seventeen at the moment.”
Hope shrugged. “If you say so.” She activated the Nautilus’ navigation system, setting a course for the island of Eden. “Think this will be the last run to Eden?”
Will considered. “It’s probably the last trip I’ll have to take. I should be able to get the rest of my gold and silver into the Nautilus this time. The new vault in the Cavern will be rather full.” He chuckled. “I hope I’m done hauling fresh soil; I think there’s still dirt in here from the last of those runs.”
Hope
“What's the answer, Will?” It was Judith, who hadn't yet shown an interest in immortality. “How will we find the answers?”
Will thought about it. And he realized he'd had the answer to the question all along.
“We need to make the microscopes smaller. Much, much smaller. And we need to give them the ability to send the images they create to another location, much as we might telepathically send images to each other.”
He glanced at each of the eager—but confused—faces around him. “We need to put the microscopes inside the very cells of our bodies, and watch the effects on the cells from the inside, as they happen.”
In other words, they needed to create nanomachines.
V
Scutarium
1723 A.D.
It was a warm summer day in the city of Philadelphia. The population of the city had more than quadrupled since Will’s first visit, growing from a mere three thousand then to more than twelve thousand now, almost a quarter century later. It was a warm day, not terribly hot, but the humidity meant Will was sweating inside his clothes. The general odor of eighteenth century cities was one he’d never grow used to, especially after so much time spent breathing the fresh, clean air in the Cavern.
Hope had relayed to him the names of over fifty people she’d identified as potential Alliance candidates. Will had watched them, assessed the thoughts and emotions and deepest held beliefs and behaviors, and narrowed the list to two dozen. He’d made verbal contact with fifteen, and found that they were intrigued by his message. He told each of them that he must travel to New York, but would return in a month or two, and if they were interested in further conversations they would talk then.
Pleased with the crop of potential new recruits, Will purchased a newspaper and dined at a local restaurant. He found the writing exemplary, the stories fascinating, and asked the owner of the establishment the name of the publisher and directions to his shop.
The man glanced down at the newspaper, nodding in recognition. “That’s the New England Courant, correct? I believe the publisher is quite young, a lad named Franklin.” He provided directions to Franklin’s printing shop. Will thanked the man, paid for his meal, and set off for the printing shop operated by seventeen-year-old Benjamin Franklin.
An hour later, Will was aboard the Nautilus , staring at his copy of the New England Courant as if it was made of gold. Will had asked a few questions about points made in a few of the articles, and Franklin had obliged his reader, jotting notes in the margins for elaboration. Will had been amazed at the maturity displayed by the youngster. In this era, a seventeen year old was expected to be a man, and Franklin exuded maturity Will would rarely find in one under the age of thirty in the twenty-first century.
He was still staring at the written notes when Hope teleported in. When he didn’t acknowledge her, she zapped him with a small bit of Energy, causing him to look up. “What?”
“What’s got you so mesmerized?”
Will held out the newspaper. “This.”
Hope took the paper. “It’s a newspaper that someone doodled on. This is exciting because…”
“It’s not the doodling, specifically. It’s who did the doodling that’s so fascinating. One of the most revered men in history. Of course, he’s only seventeen at the moment.”
Hope shrugged. “If you say so.” She activated the Nautilus’ navigation system, setting a course for the island of Eden. “Think this will be the last run to Eden?”
Will considered. “It’s probably the last trip I’ll have to take. I should be able to get the rest of my gold and silver into the Nautilus this time. The new vault in the Cavern will be rather full.” He chuckled. “I hope I’m done hauling fresh soil; I think there’s still dirt in here from the last of those runs.”
Hope
Similar Books
