The Clocks

Ptica shuffled her papers together, stuck them in her briefcase, then addressed the class: "Well, that's it for Applied Sociology VII this year. Even after teaching this class for 117 years, I still enjoy watching the performances. For those of you who want to learn more, and won't have a panic attack when you realize that I'm also the only instructor for Applied Sociology VIII, it will be offered next semester. For now good-bye."

With that she stalked out of the classroom, leaving many beings in her wake sighing with relief, as well as some with speculative looks on their faces.

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Two days later Ptica was interrupted by a knock on her door. She wondered how many there would be this time.

She shut off her monitor and holographic displays, then made sure that her vocal limiter was firmly in place. Having any kind of leakage in the confines of her office could knock a sensitive being unconscious. (Which had happened a time or two in her first decade at the university.)

"Enter."

A full hand of seven trooped in, and she waved them to seats. She watched as they sorted themselves out. This itself was part of the test. She was pleased to notice that several of them looked carefully around the room with questioning glances. Her "office" was as large as a small classroom and had seating for at least one of every species that attended the university.

She was surprised to see that two of the students were ones who had barely passed the course, each with a score of exactly 80% on two or more tests. One of the others was the Qalla, a species that was off their home planet so rarely that personal names were not used elsewhere. All were called "Qalla" by other species. Most of them were also so shy that it was almost pathologic. That made it even stranger that she would associate with others at all, much less come here where she might get personal attention from a fearsome full professor.

Well, that's what this screening was all about. Some of the most useful were.... Bah, no wool-gathering allowed. "And what is it that I can do for you all? I assume that since you've waited two days you've decided on your questions and your spokesbeing?"

She was again surprised when the huge, slow-moving, and thus generally considered slow-witted, Hrath stood and spoke in a deep voice that had a bit of an echo. "As for that Professor, yes we have. We've had discussions off and on during the course and have done considerable research, both then and even more so in the past two days.

"We all found the course presentations to be extremely interesting and instructive. The cultures implied and implicit were fascinating. Requiring us to analyze the underpinnings of these 'artificially created' cultures as a means of increasing our understanding of what the term 'culture' truly means has enriched us all. The acting skills of those performing in them were exquisite, as well as the computer graphics used for the settings...which are what led us to our conclusions and our question."

It turned to its classmates, who all nodded back, then it turned back to the professor. "Therefore our conclusions, while unanimous, required a great deal of research to confirm. We have, quietly and thoroughly -- so as not to arouse suspicions in the experts we consulted -- studied video and even single pixels from several hundred of the scenes that were presented during the course.

"Our conclusion is simple. These were not superb actors portraying roles assigned to them for the purposes of this course. There were no computer graphic backgrounds. Contrary to what you said the first day of class, this was in no way a simulation. What we saw were recordings made of real beings living their real lives, and that is what boggles our minds, so to speak.

"If that is true, then what we saw was surveillance video. If that is true, why were they being watched, and what was so important that justified the incredible effort and expense required to obtain and preserve these records from time periods that were approximately 1800 and 1100 years in our past?

"Well, ah, that's our question, or I suppose to be more accurate, our questions." It looked around nervously then sat.

Professor Ptica watched them for almost a full minute, seeing anxiety, some fear, and, most important of all, intense curiosity on all their faces. They'd put in an incredible amount of work to pull the images and have them analysed. She knew because all computer searches containing certain key words were monitored while Applied Sociology VII was being taught. This group had been unusually deft, and she suspected that it was the Qalla who was responsible. The most highly sophisticated queries, and the most difficult to monitor, had come from her devices.

Ptica peered at them intently. "I see. I did indeed promise to answer questions after the end of the course, and I didn't specify that they had to make sense."

That prompted a definite spike in anxiety among her "guests." Her species wasn't one to torment others, so she continued quickly, "Fortunately for us all, yours DO make sense. A great deal of sense, seeing as your conclusions are entirely accurate.

"Now, if there's nothing else?"

The students huddled for a few minutes, during which the professor looked on benignly, at least as much as a predatory species like hers could.

"Yes ma'am, there is something else. Since we've established the veracity of the original video records, there's something else we'd planned to ask. It was easy to identify the planet upon which these events took place. Specifically one referred to as 'Earth' in the Sol system. We checked out the history of the appropriate area called "Italy." There was never such a place as The City of The Bells.

"That has us at least as puzzled and curious as did the original matter. If not in our 'verse, or the other four parallel universes of which we are cognizant, where was it?"

Had she been alone the professor would have been jumping up and down and possibly breaking out a few windows with her shouts of joy. However, she wasn't alone, and the university had been wroth with her the last time she damaged the building. Therefore she managed to restrain her reaction.

She did decide to let out some emotion though and asked somewhat scathingly, "I see that you at least, and possibly all of you, have missed something important. In fact I think it is more fitting to call it critically important.

Turning to one of the others in the group, Ptica asked, "I'm especially disappointed in you Camir. You're in the Department of Applied Physics, are you not?"

Her target responded anxiously, "Yes professor, that is correct. What...."

Ptica sighed theatrically. Might as well put on a good show. "Are you certain that you are a regular student and not someone pretending to know something about physics? Don't you recall that the "Temporal Engineers" reached back in their time and worked to establish The City? And do you not also know what happens when you make a change in your past history?"

Camir stood, threw back his head and shoved his arms above his head. Then he gave out with a great bellow. (Well, it was for his species. To all the others it sounded like a rather high-pitched squeak, but one must make allowances in such a multi-species environment. Suffice it to say that they all understood that it was his species' way of saying, "I've been a stupid idiot!")

"I can't believe that I missed it. I'm SO SORRY professor!"

"Fine, be sorry, but if you wish to stop being thought of as an idiot, you might explain it to your fellows. You're the only physics major in the room."

Camir turned to the others and waved both arms in a complicated gesture meaning, "Sorry everyone. My bad."

"What Professor Ptica is referring to is the, well, it's called by many names. It's been hypothesised by many researchers on many planets. In a nutshell, it means that if you change the past, even in a minute detail, it causes the creation of another universe. A separate timeline splits off from that point and continues independently from the first. It's frequently called the "splinter universe hypothesis."

"Of course, nobody can do that. Go into the past at all I mean. So.... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Surprisingly it was the Qalla who answered him, in a quiet, and somewhat tremulous voice, but still clearly, "During one ov her presentations, the Provessor clearly stated that Lady Blue was the one being in the universe that she was certain ov who could move around in time. It was also clearly stated that she created that 'verse."

She turned to Ptica, "Is that not correct provessor?"

Ptica simply nodded. "The question of the moment is this: Now that you have confirmation of your suspicions, what do you intend to do about it?"

They spent some time exchanging wordless looks. None of them had truly thought beyond this moment. How could they seeing as the scenario they'd envisioned was in itself so incredibly unlikely?

Ptica raised a wing-hand to get their attention. "I don't expect you to answer right now. I am however going to show you a brief video that was not part of the regular course material. After you see it, knowing that it really happened and is not a fabrication, you'll have more than enough to think about for the next decade or so while you finish your degrees.

"If you wish to pursue this further, you may contact me. I must admonish you though. You are not EVER to discuss what you have just learned and what you will shortly see with anyone, not even each other, unless you come back here and do it in my office. It's the only place in the entire university with enough shielding to prevent all known methods of eavesdropping and visual surveillance.

"Should you fail to comply with this restriction, you will be expelled with an official reason of either being convicted of morals violations or security breaches, whichever your species considers most heinous. You may then tell anyone whatever you wish. Nobody who matters will believe a disgraced criminal."

Seeing total shock on the students faces, and, in Qalla's case a med-bot administering treatment due to her having fainted, she added, "Though I doubt that possibility. You wouldn't have come here today after taking such stringent precautions in your research if you intended to divulge anything."

Qalla responded rapidly to treatment and resumed her seat.

"If you're all ready, I'll present the video. It's short, but sometimes the most important events in the 'verse take place in a matter of moments.

"What you're about to see is part of the record of when one of the major players in Lady Blue's 'Project' was recruited."

Playback Engaged:

"OK. So here's the deal. We want you for a clandestine project. It's going to require a commitment of about 1,500 years, spread out over several lifetimes on two planets. Don't worry if you're somehow discovered during the first phase. The planet will be instantaneously vaporized by the enemy. Neither you nor the billion or so beings living on it will feel a thing.

"The planet for phase two has protections in place, so, once you get there, you and your team will be the only ones at risk of obliteration.

"Who's in charge of the project? Don't worry about that. She has a lot of experience. She may be a bit on the young side, so to speak, and she does have a rather warped sense of humor, but don't worry. I'm told that she'll grow out of it.

"How young? She's actually not quite hit puberty yet. But don't worry. She's highly qualified.

"Who told me that? Uh...well...she did. She said that if I didn't tell you what she said she'd.... No, never mind. I don't want to even think about it.

"Moving right along then. What's your next question?

"Security? Of course we'll have it. Nothing better exists anywhere in our multiverse cluster. We're going to seal your memories of who and what you all are until the project is complete. That way there's absolutely no chance of a leak.

"Really! You didn't have to break the chair. It never did anything to you! Oh, I see. It was either that or break me. Excellent choice. I knew there was a good reason to include you in the project.

"No, wait, don't leave! I was saving the best for last. Just one more thing, then you can go if you must. Please?

"Sure, I'll make it fast. The one you've had a secret crush on these past 200 years has already agreed to participate. If you join, you'll be together nearly every day for the duration of the project.

"Excellent! We're glad to have you on board. I guarantee that you won't regret your decision...since you won't remember making it.

"What did I just say? Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. I was just talking to myself. Truly...."

Once She'd left, he turned to his communicator and made a call. After it connected, he said, "Well, that was the last of them. Neither the hardest or easiest to convince, but it still amazes me that anyone would even think about thinking about going along with such a crazy idea." He flinched and then hastily added, "Not that it isn't a WONDERFUL idea as well!"

The being on the other end of the call smiled. "Don't worry little one, it IS a "crazy idea", but, that's what makes it more likely to work. The enemy would never in a billion years think that he might be attacked from this angle, and, since everything that remains to be set in place will take less than another two thousand years or so, we actually have a chance to pull it off."

"That being said, there's only one loose end left to wrap up."

"Oh, what's that My Lady?" He blinked then said to himself, "Now, where was I? Oh right, I have an appointment at the Ambassador's Club in an hour. I'd better get going."

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Ptica stopped the recording and stared at her students. This time it wasn't that she wanted to intimidate them but rather than she wanted their full and serious attention.

Satisfied, she spoke slowly and clearly, "Once again let me remind you that you are not to discuss what you just saw with anyone unless it is here in my office.

"Before you ask, or think to ask, there is one other topic that, while not directly related to your course-work you are not even to THINK about unless I am present."

She cleared her throat, gently. It wouldn't do to break the dampener at such an important time. "Eventually you would have come to realize that none of your classmates have ever mentioned that they had even the slightest idea that what you saw in class might really have occurred. All I shall say at this point is that if they were to discuss the possibility in public, there could be serious...no, disastrous repercussions.

"Why that would be true, and what has been done to prevent such discussions.... Consider that your homework.

"For now, farewell. I'm sure that we will discuss this, and other topics, in the future."

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After the students had left, each in a temporary state of emotional numbness, the professor returned to her desk and activated the video on one piece of equipment that had, to that point, only had the audio channel engaged.

"Well, what do you think?"

"To tell the truth I wish that there had been more of them, but, I say that every time, don't I? We always need at least three times the personnel we have.

"Overall, I must say that each of them is a bit above the level of your average recruits.

"You will make sure that the academically marginal ones receive adequate tutoring so they don't flunk out?"

Ptica glared at Grgur, who flushed with embarrassment and mumbled, "Can we please pretend that I didn't say anything that stupid?"

Ptica glared a bit longer then relented. "Very well, but you'd better promise to get that slippery tongue under better control. Paolo had excellent control by the time he was 30. You're almost 20 times his age. You'd think that you'd be doing better by now, even if you're only a young adult as your species counts such things."

Grgur nodded compliance. "Assuming that things go as usual after you teach Applied Sociology VIII, I'll start my next class in about four or five years -- as soon as we have enough prospects from the various worlds assigned to me to make it worthwhile. No matter how it turns out, things will likely be interesting."

It shrugged its shoulders. "In the world we agents live in, things always are."