Shyfts in Time

by Murray R.A. Smith

Overview

Roger stared in amazement as her face duplicated his; collapsing, her body continued to mutate and grow. Her whole body shuddered and writhed in deep pain and agony. Tori transformed back to Aimee Reed, then morphed to the large testosterone-filled frame of the museum security guard. Her conservative size six-business jumpsuit ripped. Like a rerun of the Incredible Hulk, her body continued to mutate to another female Roger didn't recognize, then quickly into the sleek, sexy form of the vivacious redhead. Opening her eyes, she smiled. Exhausted, she whispered, "I can trust you. We can trust you."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Canadian best selling author, Murray "Ray" Smith is a single father, Carleton University educated, ex-military officer and real estate guru. A firm believer in fitness, 'Ray' works out five days a week on his body and seven days a week on his mind. Entrepreneur, lecturer and author, 'Ray' is inspired by grand masters such as Tom Clancy and Arthur C. Clarke. Discovering his forte in science fiction, 'Ray' hits light speed with alien adventure and world espionage. Shyfts in Time goes beyond James Bond[TM], X-Files[TM], and Star Trek[TM] in a sci-fi saga that enters the fourth dimension.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780741404701
Publisher:	Infinity Publishing PA
Publication date:	08/24/2000
Pages:	239
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

Read an Excerpt

Kelton, at the controls of the Mantis, noticed the two fighters. They had disengaged the cloaking device to allow them to scan the planet's surface. There were three possible locations that registered traces of the Carta Stones' unique signature. Now they had uninvited company. Kelton slowed the ship and armed the weapon system.

"No." It was Raylar. He took his position in the Captain's chair. Both jets were converging. They seemed so tiny compared to their craft but Raylar couldn't take any chances. One was flying right at them then turned quickly to avoid the midair collision.

"Blow them away or engage the cloaking device."

Raylar stared at Kelton, so much anger inside. "Computer, shields full power."

"Shields activated." The synthesized voice responded.

"Why not cloak? They won't be able to see us."

"We're sending Tori to the planet's surface. We can't transport her with the cloaking device engaged."

Tori took pride in being chosen. It had only been twenty-four hours ago when the time travelers touched down on their planet, so many things had changed. She glanced at Raylar with acceptance. Distracted by a communiqu� coming through on her wireless headset, she touched her temple with her hand in concentration, focusing her thoughts on the transmission. "They are hailing us in over a hundred languages. What should we say?"

"Nothing. We are not here to make friends."

Kelton sat down in the firing position. The chair lifted and swiveled. Lowering the black visor, he started to track the two jets. "If I even think they are going to attack, I am going to take them out."

Raylar's voice was calm. "We can out fly, out maneuver, out run and out gun them. It is not even a contest. We are here to save Fyte, our planet, our civilization, not to destroy theirs!"

Kelton's chair swiveled again in response to the jet's flight paths. It seemed to float on air, the magnetic force fields shifted as the jets' movements were calculated, and then an attack solution inputted. Kelton watched the cross hairs follow the two steel prey like a trained sniper. His thumb pressed the safety, releasing it.

"Computer. Take us to forty thousand feet."

The Mantis shot straight up like a bullet. The jets were close, too close. The sonic wave from the Mantis hit them unexpectedly like a wall.

Renegade's jet had been closing the distance when it happened. "Saber, I hit their turbulence. Pull back." The force threw his jet into frenzy. Renegade fought his controls as his jet started to spin.

High above the clouds, the Mantis's view screen displayed the spinning jet. Raylar was quick to react. "Computer calculate impact and projected crash site including potential casualties."

The computer extrapolated the data. The view screen zoomed to a busy interstate, then the number of estimated casualties flashed on the bottom of the screen. "Two hundred and three casualties."

Raylar knew what he had to do but he didn't like it. "Kelton, when the pilot ejects, take out the jet before it hits the surface."

Kelton watched and waited. Every second counted as he set his sights on both jets. Armed, ready and impatient, he hovered over the firing sequence.

Inside the cockpit, Renegade continued to fight for control. His body was struggling with consciousness while he used every ounce of strength and determination to inch toward the eject lever. His outstretched fingers, shook with the turbulence, he could hear Saber's voice over the communications when he managed to get his hand around the lever. Not responding to Saber's call he said a little prayer. "God, if you get me home alive, I will ..."

The jet exploded. An ion laser pulse from above disintegrated the bird of steel into a ball of fire, white heat evaporated the structure and passenger instantaneously.

Saber heard his partner's warning but it was already too late. The last thing he saw was Renegade's jet exploding when his aircraft was hit from above. He had no time to put his hand on the emergency eject lever, the explosion ended everything.

The Mantis hovered, not moving. Tori closed her eyes. She felt the pilots die. Raylar sat still in his chair, their ship now hovering at forty thousand feet. It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Kelton glared at Raylar, his leader, waiting. "I said to take out one of the jets before it caused the death of innocent people. You are out of control. They didn't have to die."

Kelton raised the black visor on his helmet and powered down the chair. Rising, he spoke. "This isn't the first time we haven't seen eye to eye. Something inside of me, stronger than what you believe is right and wrong, told me to do it. Part me, part the time traveler I cloned, we are tired of being second guessed." He shook his head.

Raylar knew what was happening. It was the host form, the human that Kelton touched back on their planet, an unfinished argument. How much were their thoughts influenced by the personae inside them? It was happening too fast. These experiences were still so new to them.

Kelton turned his back on his two friends. It was time to take control. They were all dying. If he didn't choose now, it would be too late. Why save the planet and trap themselves below the surface of the planet again to merely exist? He was finally living, even if he only had a little time to feel, to explore. If Tori and Raylar changed the past, he would cease to exist, cease to feel. Returning to his old existence of living under the surface of his planet seemed like a prison to him now. Kelton activated the transporter sequence. His body faded to tiny snowflakes of static, then completely disappeared with a flash of light.