The Other Side, Part 3
Downtown Konstanstadt - May 10, 2010, 8:00 AM
High over Konstanstadt’s Ostend, a large four-rotor drone zipped over the looming skyscrapers. Anna sat inside, listening with interest to the computer-generated tour guide as her ride piloted itself to its destination at Unification Island.
“The Grand Hotel, formerly known as the Hotel Attraction, designed by Catalan architect and socialist Antoni Gaudi and built in 1908,” the guide said, outlining a spaceship-like building through one of the windows, “It has a total height of 360 meters. Its construction was subsidized by the Socialist Party of Greece, the ruling party of the communist Union of Red Themes, as part of the Party’s campaign to turn Konstanstadt, then known as Constantinople, into the modern jewel of the proletarian revolution. Construction was interrupted by the overthrow of the Socialist Party in 1910 by dictator Michael Anatolios and resumed four years later. The building was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt with Viennese influences in 1956 under the Empire-aligned Kingdom of Anatolia and later the Federal State Kingdom of Anatolia, despite Empress Octavia’s belief it was too unrealistic to be part of the new Konstanstadt.”
As they flew west toward the Bosphorus, Anna noticed several cordoned-off blocks along the waterfront on both sides of the strait and further north, near Kyparades Park. The computer outlined the cordoned-off area near the park.
“X Incident 2461,” the computer said, “A semi-permanent thin spot formed in October 2000 due to the actions of the terrorist Erwin Lukesh, who attracted X-Division’s attention when he began creating spatial breaches to evade capture. Efforts at containment initially led to the maiming of Agent Diana Frank, the death of Agent Brad Folger, and the temporary disappearance of Agent Olga Kirova, who was recovered in critical condition shortly before the area was quarantined. Lukesh’s body was never recovered. Regardless, the area remains off-limits due to the continued presence of naturally occurring spatial distortions. The general public is warned of high radiation levels.”
The computer highlighted the Hippodrome, Augustaeon Square, Great Palace, and Hagia Sophia, which were surrounded by no less than three electrified barbed wire fences and four heavily armed military checkpoints.
“X Incident 89722,” the computer said, “An unstable wormhole at the Hippodrome which would not close was contained by X-Division in 1985 and explained as an RAF dirty bomb attack. Due to recent legal developments, the 10,000 citizens encased in Quarantine Amber, the substance used to contain Class 5+ breaches, have been ruled legally dead. Snap elections were held for the political figures who lost their lives during containment.”
The drone turned south and descended toward Unification Island, the Statue of Octavia the Steel Empress welcoming Anna with a sword raised skywards.
“Unification Island,” the computer said, “Developed in 1956 to commemorate the final unification of the Holy Roman Empire under House Anniona, the statue was completed in 1962, several weeks before the death of Empress Octavia. Appropriated by the revised eminent domain provision of United Nations Resolution 1246, it is now the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense.”
Ministry of Defense, Unification Island - 8:15 AM
Major Karl Heidelberg walked into the room and saluted to Walternate.
“Herr Minister,” he said, “You said to inform you if we found anything odd, sir.”
“Yes,” Walternate said, looking up from his desk.
“Sir, we received a report of a high-priority individual being admitted into the emergency room at St. Eudokimos Hospital last night,” Heidelberg said.
“Who?” Walternate said.
“That's the odd part, sir,” Heidelberg said, "It's you.”
Angela’s apartment - 8:30 AM
Angela’s phone hummed, and she tapped snooze. It hummed again. She looked at Demetrios, who continued sleeping next to her, and then at her phone. It was Colonel Kurtz. Sighing, she picked it up.
“I thought I had this Monday off,” she said.
“Afraid not,” Kurtz said, “I’m uploading your assignment now.”
Ministry of Defense
Kurtz hung up and turned to Walternate.
“Team's on the way,” he said, “We'll get them, sir, quickly and quietly.”
“Good,” Walternate said, “You may go now. Keep me informed of any developments.”
Kurtz saluted and left the office. Several minutes later, the door opened again. Anna walked in, looking interestedly at the maps, portraits, and devices in the room before focusing her attention on Walternate.
“Herr Minister,” she said.
“Hello, daughter,” Walternate said, “I've imagined this moment so many times. I can't imagine how strange it must be for you.”
“I've seen the strange,” Anna said, “But this... this is something else.”
St. Eudokimos Hospital - 9:00 AM
Angela, Olga, and Tesla stood in line in the lobby of the hospital, waiting for their turn at the receptionist’s desk.
“This is the last hospital Walter would likely go to,” Tesla explained, “If we don’t find him here, we’ll head over to the Ostend.”
“Okay, well, how do you know he's not already in custody?” Angela said.
“I've checked with my sources at both Homeland Security—that’s what they call it here—and the Ministry of Defense,” Tesla said, “I don't believe Walternate's people have found him yet.”
“Walternate?” Olga said.
“It's a nickname Walter gave his counterpart years ago,” Tesla said, “Over here, he's the Minister of Defense. The X-Division answers to him.”
“To Walter?” Olga said.
“I know, it takes a little getting used to, doesn't it?” Tesla said.
He stepped out and cut to the front of the line.
“Excuse me,” he said.
“Sir, please get back in line,” the receptionist said.
Tesla took out his Show Me and handed it to the receptionist, who stared at it.
“Oh, sorry, sir, I didn’t realize,” the receptionist said.
“That’s quite alright,” Tesla said, “I believe a friend of mine is being treated here."
“What's the patient's name, please?” the receptionist said.
Angela tapped in Tesla’s shoulder. “Uh, Tesla?”
They turned around and saw Angela and Olga walking into the lobby.
“You two go,” Tesla said, “I'll buy you some time. You find Walter and get him out. I'll meet you in the parking lot.”
Angela and Olga ran into the hallway, while their counterparts approached the receptionist.
“Ma’am, we’ve been told Minister Humboldt was admitted to this hospital last night,” Olga said, “Could you check your records about him?”
“Give me a second,” the receptionist said.
“We'll also need his medical files purged from the system,” Angela said, taking out her badge, “X-Division authorization.”
The receptionist tapped on her tablet. “Done. You can find him in bed 18.”
“Thanks,” Angela said.
Tesla intercepted them before they could walk down the hallway.
“Uh, excuse me, excuse me,” he said, “Don't I know you from somewhere? Wait, I, I have it. You're agents, X-Division. You work for the Minister.”
“Sorry, sir, we're in a bit of a rush,” Olga said.
“I'd imagine you would be,” Tesla said, “Chaotic times, aren't they? Chaotic times indeed. I'm terribly sorry. The Minister and I are old friends. I'm Wilhelm Tesla. I see you're carrying those 76-Pulse Glocks. I designed those, you know.”
“Uh, I'm sorry, Herr Tesla, but we have to…” Angela said.
“…the 76 models don't have the phase repeater,” Tesla said, "That's a design flaw.”
While Tesla kept their counterparts at bay, Angela and Olga walked into a room and found Walter sitting on a bed, seemingly in good health.
“Uncle Walter?” Angela said.
“Angie,” Walter said, “It is you, isn't it?”
“Yes, Walter,” Angela said.
“Prove it,” Walter said.
“Oh, come on, Uncle Walter!” Angela said. “We don’t have time for this!”
“Yep, that’s you,” Walter said, “And you, Olig?”
“For the last time, it’s Olga!” Olga said.
“That’s you,” Walter said, “Wonderful.”
Back in the hallway, the other Angela and Olga looked annoyed by Tesla’s attempts at small talk.
“They also don't have the pulse function,” he said, “Which I am putting in the 77 model.”
“Oh, for frak’s sake,” Angela said, pushing Tesla aside, “Excuse me, sir.”
They walked towards Walter’s room. Inside the room, Angela helped Walter to his feet, but it looked like he didn’t need help.
“I thought you were shot,” Angela said, “You can walk?”
"I can dance, if you like,” Walter said, changing back into his normal clothes, “They have absolutely fabulous drugs here, Angie. I feel just great. Oh, and accelerated healing techniques. It, it's miraculous.”
“Okay, come on, Walter,” Olga said, putting her hand on her gun, “Tesla’s waiting for us.”
“Willy’s here?” Walter said.
“Yes, he is,” Angela said.
“That's nice of him to finally show up,” Walter said, scowling.
A minute later, Angela and Olga entered the room, but it was empty. Olga picked up Walter’s discarded hospital gown.
“Clothes are gone,” she said.
“He was wounded,” Angela said, “He couldn’t have gotten far.”
“I'll lock down the hospital,” Olga said, walking out
Angela took out her phone. “I need the security footage for this unit. Now.”
Outside, Angela and Olga escorted Walter to the parking lot. Tesla drove up to them in an old sports car and rolled down his window.
“Hello, Wilhelm,” Walter said.
“Walter,” Tesla said.
“I see you've aged,” Walter said.
“It appears I'm not the only one,” Tesla said.
“Is that the Porsche we sent over thirty years ago?” Walter said. “Looks like it.”
“Indeed it is,” Tesla said.
“How did you find it?” Walter said.
“I have my sources,” Tesla said.
“Get in, Walter,” Angela said, pushing him into the backseat.
Angela and Olga got into the car, and Tesla sped away. Back in the hospital, Angela connected her smartphone to the hospital’s CCTV network and streaming the high definition footage from Walter’s room. She gasped when she saw Angela and Olga leading Walter away. Olga walked over to her, and Angela stared at her in shock.
“Hey, you okay?” she said. “Looks like you just saw a ghost.”
Ministry of Defense - 9:30 AM
Anna and Walternate sat down opposite each other. Walternate handed her a cup of coffee, which Anna graciously took.
“Thanks,” she said.
She noticed the large map of the Reich hanging on the wall. The entire Rhineland and neighboring Elsass and Lothringen were covered in red, with smaller red dots spread out across the rest of the Reich, especially in the yellow-highlighted eastern provinces.
“What’s the yellow highlighting?” she asked.
“The federal state kingdoms of Greece, Syria, Anatolia, Armenia, and Alania, among others,” Walternate explained, “Organized out of the remains of the Eastern Roman Republic after the Great Unification War, reorganized after the nuking of Rome. Officially independent but for all other intents and purposes part of the Empire.”
“And what’s the red for?” Anna asked.
“Quarantine areas,” Walternate said, “Places where we contained anomalies.”
“The Rhineland?” Anna said. “Elsass-Lothringen?”
“They were the worst hit,” Walternate said, “We barely contained the area and covered it up, but we had to evacuate the entire population to Hesse and Burgundy. Because of what that man did. The man who stole you from me.”
“That's a lot of blame to place on just one man,” Anna said.
“But it’s true, I'm afraid,” Walternate said, “When our two universes first interacted, it caused soft spots on the other side. But it was much worse here. The laws of physics were turned into mere suggestions in some places. But I'm hoping you can change all that.”
“I don't know what you heard about me, but... changing the laws of physics might be slightly above my abilities,” Anna said.
Walternate smiled. “That's fair enough. But there have been breakthroughs on the the other side in science and engineering we haven't achieved yet. And these are things that you understand. Have you taken a look at the schematics I left with your mother?”
“Yeah, I looked at them, and whatever it its, I’ve never seen it before,” Anna said, “What is it?”
“It's very old technology,” Walternate said, “My father said he found it in his youth. It's something I believe can be applied to heal the problems of this world... of your world too. I've replaced the missing parts with new equipment your grandfather helped reverse engineer, but unfortunately it still doesn't work. My engineers tell me the problem likely lies in the power source. I was hoping that you would have a look at it.”
“Of course I will,” Anna said.
“Anna, I know it wasn't easy, making the choice to come home,” Walternate said, “But I'm very glad you did.”
Heidelberg walked into the room.
“Sir, Agent Hansen is here,” he said, "She doesn't have an appointment.”
“Send her in,” Walternate said, “You may go, Major.”
Heidelberg saluted and left.
“Angie’s here?” Anna said.
Angela walked into the room and saluted to Walternate.
“Sir,” she said.
Anna stared at her, confused. Angela stared back at her.
“Do I have something in my teeth?” she said.
“No, you remind me a lot of somebody I know,” Anna said, “But your hair is different. Blond, not red.”
“Would you excuse us, please, Anna?” Walternate said. “I need to speak to Agent Hansen. I'll be out in a moment to show you around.”
Anna got up and walked out of the room.
“Agent?” Walternate said.
“We lost him at the hospital, sir,” Angela said, “We think he had help escaping.”
“That's not why you're here, is it?” Walternate said.
“No, it’s not,” Angela said.
“I told you there would be invaders coming over from the other side, but I didn't tell you they would be us, did I?” Walternate said.
“No, you did not,” Angela said, “How many lies do we need? The public’s being fed one lie, the X-Division’s being fed another, and we’re being fed a third?”
“I prefer to call them half-truths,” Walternate said, “But I apologize. It’s time you know who we’re really up against. They're our doppelgängers, alternate version of ourselves, but don't be deceived by that, Angie. They're monsters in our skin. They'll do anything, say anything to gain our trust, but they can't be trusted.”
“My cousin,” Angela said, “She disappeared when she was four, about thirty years ago. She barely knew anybody beside her parents. But she knew me. Or the other me. That’s why she was staring at me. Is she from over there?”
“No,” Walternate said, “She is your real cousin.”
“Anna?” Angela said. “The same Anna who disappeared?”
“Yes,” Walternate said, “They kidnapped her, but she’s home now, thank God. Angie, may I ask a favor of you?”
Arcadia Cafe and Bar - 10:00 AM
Angela poked at her food, not that hungry, while Olga constantly looked out the window, checking if there was anybody following them. Tesla sat quietly on the other side of the table, wearing a baseball cap for the Konstanstadt Dodgers and reading
Die Zeiten. The front page headline read: “New Pentagon Opened.” The cap unnerved her a little bit. In her universe, the Dodgers had moved to Damascus from Constantinople a long time ago, so this cap would never have existed.
She was still coming to grips with the differences this universe had with hers, especially the life her counterpart lived. She took out her wallet and looked at the old picture she kept of Alexandra as a toddler. Things could’ve gone differently for her. They did go different over here for her counterpart. Demetrios was still alive, and she had raised Alexandra. This Alexandra had grown up into a brilliant young woman who had Angela’s brains and Demetrios’ smile. Angela never saw her own daughter grow up, never got the chance to raise or love her. Was this what Walter felt when he first saw Anna on the other side, after his own Anna had died?
“They had cameras everywhere,” Olga said, “We must be on the hospital surveillance tapes. They’ll be coming after us soon.”
“Which means we are fugitives,” Tesla said.
“Double breaded for a big crunch,” Walter said, munching on his fried chicken, “It's so good. Tastes just like on our side. It was Wednesday, 1975, when I happened to identify the last of the 11 secret herbs and spices.”
“Walter, I think that we should split up,” Olga interrupted, “Angela and I can look for Anna faster if it’s just us.”
“We have a larger problem,” Walter said, “Without Nick Larsen and the others, we won't be able to cross back to our side.”
“Angela can still open the door,” Tesla said, “That's her gift, is it not?”
“I don't know how much of a toll crossing over took on her,” Walter said, “You may be able to open a crack, but without the others to enhance your power…"
Tesla snapped his fingers. “That’s it, then.”
“What?” Walter said.
“We need a doorstop,” Tesla said, “Something to hold the door open where Angie has already provided a crack. You could build one, Walter.”
"A doorstop!” Walter said. “No... no, no, no, no. For starters, I'd need a particle accelerator. I don't think they exactly sell those at the local drugstore.”
“No,” Tesla said, “But I think I know where we could get one.”
“Oh!” Walter said. “Oh, of course. I'm sure your great-grandfather Nikola opened Tesla Dynamic on this side as well.”
“As a matter of fact, he did not,” Tesla said, “I did not…"
“…inherit the Reich’s largest and richest mega-corporation while I was rotting away in a padded cell in the middle of nowhere,” Walter finished.
“Oh Walter, will you please…” Tesla said.
“Hey!” Angela said. “Come on, you can work this out another time. Okay, Walter, you go build a doorstop, If you can. Olga and I will go look for Anna. Now do you have a cell phone?"
“They monitor all communications networks,” Tesla said, “That's probably how they knew about our rendezvous at Kyparades, or Zypressenpark over here. It's safest if we don't try to communicate with one another. We'll meet back at the Opera House in twelve hours.”
“Alright,” Angela said, getting up, “See you then.”
She and Olga walked out of the restaurant. Tesla turned back to Walter.
“We've accomplished a lot together over the years, Walter,” he said, “But she might just be our greatest achievement.”
Walter didn’t answer. He was too busy finishing his fried chicken.
Safe house, Sandigesvertiel (Psamathia) - 11:00 AM
Angela led Anna into an apartment room and showed her around.
“Uncle Walter thinks you'll be comfortable here,” she said.
“Thanks,” Anna said.
“So, uh, it's UV-proof glass,” Angela explained, “State-of-the-art anti-fire tech. There's viral purging, air filtration, and a gym and a pool upstairs, bar downstairs. That wall over there doubles as a TV, got all cable and premium channels. That other wall can turn transparent when you want, gives a great view of downtown with the Trans-Imperial Pyramid and the Twin Towers clearly visible. Your desk has a built-in computer with 5G network capability. Has all streaming services on it for free, maybe even a few of the best games from this decade and the last. There are some comic books on the table. You got your best ones from IC.”
Anna looked at the comics. There was one called “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” with Empire-Girl holding a lifeless Empire-Man. Next to it was “Death of Templar,” followed by “Red Lantern & Red Arrow.” Finally, there was “Empire Man: Man of Steel Returns.”
"There are also some good books on the bookshelf over there, more on that Nile Kindle there,” Angela continued, “Your sister donated a lot of stuff from her old collection, by the way. She’s really excited you’re back…”
Anna, though, barely paid attention. As Angela continued, Anna walked around the room, trying out the appliances and looking at the books and devices. She saw no TV or remote, but when she raised her hand toward the wall, it suddenly turned into a screen. INN, the Imperial News Network, was playing footage of the rededication ceremony for the New Pentagon.
The broadcast was interrupted by commercials, including an advertisement for “Hofburg” Season 11 (which looked like their equivalent of
Bukoleon). There were several videotapes and Blu-Rays placed next to a VCR/Blu-Ray player plugged directly into the wall. She knelt down and looked at them. The movie titles were all quite familiar:
Back to the Future (starring Erich Stolz instead of Michael Fuchs, it seemed),
Clue,
Templar vs Empire-Man: Law and Order,
Arizona Gruber and the Hex of the Hydra,
Krieg von Sternen: Episode II - Legion of Droids,
Splash 7, Smokey and the Bandit: The Final Lap and
Mask vs. Joker.
Angela stopped talking because Anna was just staring at her.
“Did you understand what I just said?” she asked.
“Not really,” Anna said, “All I got was that there’s a lot of cool scheiße here.”
“Anyways, Uncle Walter will send a car to pick you up at 8, take you to dinner,” Angela said, “That’s the earliest he finishes work.”
However, Anna had wandered off to the kitchen table, where an old photo album sat. She opened the album and leafed through it, finding pictures of her, Annie, and her parents dating back to the 1970s. It was undoubtably her in those photos, but she didn’t remember when she took those pictures or what she was doing. It was like she wasn’t the Anna in those pictures. And yet, she was that Anna, and that was her.
“By the way, what was it like on the other side?” Angela said. “Uncle Walter told me a little.”
“A lot like it is here,” Anna said, “Just... slightly different. It's subtle, but definitely different.”
“You know, when people find out that you're back…you’ll be famous,” Angela said, “We’ll all be famous.”
“What do you mean?” Anna said.
“Well, your disappearance,” Angela said, “It's a famous story.”
“So I'm like Amalie Earhardt?” Anna said.
“Who?” Angela said.
“Never mind,” Anna said.
“Actually, people have drawn comparisons between your disappearance and another abduction,” Angela said.
“And who would that be?” Anna said.
“Your brother, Anders,” Angela said, “He disappeared a year before you were born. Annie went into the X-Division because she wanted to find out what happened.”
“I see,” Anna said, “On the other side, Anders is still around, but Annie disappeared instead.”
“And how is he?” Angela said.
“He’s fine,” Anna said, “He goes off on tangents sometimes about aliens and Sentinel, but he’s still alive and kicking.”
“And what about Annie?” Angela said.
“He tells me he found out what’s happened to her,” Anna said, “Long story, I’ll explain later. But she’s still alive.”
Angela nodded. “And how about me? Who am I over there?”
“She’s just like you, only she didn’t dye her hair,” Anna said, “Darker in the eyes, maybe. She's always trying to make things up. Right some wrongs she never tells anybody about. Haunted, I guess, by all the people she believes she got killed. Eager to get to the bottom of things. Or maybe she's nothing like you at all.”
“And what about Demetrios?” Angela said. “And Alexandra?”
Anna thought for a moment.
“I…I don’t know much about them,” Anna said, “The other you rarely talks about them. She’s very private about these things.”
Angela’s smile disappeared, but she nodded resolutely.
“I understand,” she said, “I feel like that sometimes.”
“Anyways, thanks for the ride, Angela,” Anna said, hugging her.
“Of course,” Angela said, “It’s nice to see you again.”
Strasburg - 1:00 PM
Tesla’s self-piloting jet dropped down to subsonic speeds with a loud boom, shaking Walter out of his nap. He cursed. It was a very nice and cozy chair he was sitting in. It even dispensed Valium and some other drugs he and Willy liked when they were younger.
“We’re arriving,” Tesla said, walking over to him.
Walter looked out the window as four blade-less rotors extended from the sides of the jet and started spinning, allowing the jet to vertically descend into Strasburg…or what was left of it. The countryside surrounding the city was desolated, a mess of scorched earth and dead plants. Cars lay abandoned on the sides of what used to be highways. Some of the skyscrapers in downtown had collapsed, while others had gaping holes in their tops and sides or had their façades scorched. A thick amber-like material covered several smaller buildings clustered in the northwestern part of the city, around what would’ve been IU Strasburg.
“What happened here?” Walter asked.
“The deadliest containment breach this universe dealt with,” Tesla said, “The Rhineland and Elsass-Lothringen were already on their deathbeds, because of a massive blight which disrupted the local ecosystems, but this was the final nail in the coffin. The official story was two sisters, Susan and Sarah Patzer, blew themselves up with miniaturized dirty bombs stolen from the Malian nuclear arsenal, but the truth is they had manifested pyrokinetic abilities after participating in a Ministry of Defense experiment. The ensuing blast took place near a soft spot which had been recently quarantined, breaching containment and leading to the formation of multiple Class 2 spatial distortions around the University of Strasburg. Due to the high casualty rates and impossibility of regular coverup, the city was evacuated under the explanation that the dirty bombs had spread lethal amounts of radiation throughout the region. The entire place is now uninhabitable.”
Walter looked out over the barren landscape and the dead city. “Am I responsible for this?”
Tesla nodded sadly. “Yes, Walter. I'm afraid you are.”
They landed on what was once the quad of the University of Strasburg campus. Tesla powered down the jet, and they walked outside. The first thing Walter felt was the smell. A smoky and metallic sensation permeated the hot and dry air. The air was also dusty and dry, thin enough to make Walter breathe faster than normal. His feet crunched over the rigid remains of dead plants and cracked cobblestones, making the only noise he could hear besides Tesla’s footsteps. The entire city was completely quiet. No birds sang. No dogs barked. No insects chirped or hopped through the dead grass. No winds blew. Nobody said anything. The city was dead, and he had killed it.
Tesla forced open a rusty door and walked into a building, followed by Walter. They descended a flight of stairs and walked down a hallway, entering Walter’s lab—or rather, Walternate’s lab—at the end. Inside, the lab was filled with old plastic-covered equipment from the 70s and 80s, some of which Walter recognized. They began uncovering the equipment, searching for the right one to get them home.
“At one time, Walternate was intent on finding a means to cross between universes, just as you were thirty years ago,” Tesla said, “He didn't succeed, but... it stands to reason the technology we need might be here.”
“Didn't Walternate work with you?” Walter said. “Or, rather, the Wilhelm Tesla from this side?”
“Walternate?” Tesla said. “No. Nikola Tesla here never founded Tesla Dynamic. Only my sister was born. Over here, the other you and the other me never had occasion to meet.”
“What a shame,” Walter said, “Imagine how much money you could have made if there were two of you.”
“Inheriting Tesla Dynamic and making it into what it is today was not my idea, Walter,” Tesla said, “We both talked about borrowing this world's technologies to help our own."
“You didn't help the world, Wilhelm,” Tesla said, “You helped yourself. You pilfered this world for profit.”
“As a byproduct, yes,” Tesla said, “Let's remember, the only reason I came back over here was to prevent Glocke and his fanatics from starting a war and to stop a chain of events set into motion the day you stole Anna!”
“A little truth, if you please,” Walter said, “You say you want to prevent the war while you quietly fuel it. I know you helped craft the shape-shifters. Your design signature is all over it, as is my father’s. And my real father is dead.”
“I had little choice,” Tesla said, “If I wanted to keep tabs on Walternate, I had to remain valuable to him. This Reich isn’t a meritocracy. It’s a sham of a democracy.”
Walter sat on one of the pieces of equipment in the room.
“I've lost...seventeen years in a mental institution, Wilhelm,” Walter said, “Seventeen years! And even now, I’m, I'm still incomplete. I forget things. Uh, names. Places. Connections that I used to be able to make so easily. They just, they just dangle, just outside of my reach. I know what you did to me. I know you cut out pieces of my brain.”
“Walter…” Tesla said.
“...what kind of man could do that?” Walter said, his voice rising, “You robbed me of my memories of my wife, of my parents, of my children, of my past!”
“Walter!” Tesla said, pointing to the equipment he was sitting on. “I believe you've found what we're looking for.”
Walter lit up. “We should get started, then.”
Tesla started unplugging it. “Help me get it on the jet. We can work on it on the way back.”
Angela’s apartment - 7:00 PM
Angela entered her apartment again and set down her backpack and leather jacket on the couch in her living room. Walking to the kitchen to get something to eat, she put her gun and badge down on the countertop and opened the fridge. Inside, she found a honey pie, with a note attached to it:
Melopita pie, your favorite. Gone out with friends, be back in a bit!
-Alex
Angela smiled. She took Alexandra’s dish out and walked with it to the living room, eating it as she went. Just as she finished the pie, she heard two guns clicking behind her. Putting down the empty dish, she stood up and slowly turned around, finding Angela and Olga standing there, their guns pointed at her. Angela did a double-take at Angela, who had shorter red hair and wore a trench coat. And Olga did her hair differently.
“Hey there, other me,” Angela said, “Can I call you Angelalt or something? Saying ‘the other Angie’ or ‘other me’ is a mouthful, and ‘algae’ is disrespectful to myself, or yourself, or ourselves, or whatever. You hear that, Olga?”
“Okay, Angie, we get the point,” Olga said, “Not you, other Angie.”
“How…what…” Angelalt sputtered. “How did you—”
“We both leave our spare key in the same place,” Angela said, “I haven’t lived here for about nine years, but I still remember.”
Over Macedonia
As the supersonic jet drew closer to Konstanstadt, Tesla and Walter continued work on the equipment taken from Walternate’s lab, which now looked like a giant spring surrounding an equally large Tesla coil. Tesla finished soldering the connections on an old circuit board, and the machine beeped, one of the screens displaying a very old boot up message. They stepped back and pumped their fists.
“This should do,” Tesla said, “With some modifications, this should act as a doorstop.”
“Now, we need to simultaneously amplify and limit the molecular destabilization margins,” Walter said.
“Well, we should try not to electrocute everyone in the process,” Tesla said.
“Okay, this will reopen the crack in the door,” Walter said, “But without the others, I'm not sure if Angie will be strong enough to keep it open.”
“We have this jet’s fuel cells,” Tesla said.
“But how are we going to get it to the opera house in Chalcedon without anybody noticing?” Walter said.
“Well... leave that to me,” Tesla said.
Angelalt’s apartment
“Alright, me, I need your help, or mine, or whatever,” Angela said.
“Well, you have a funny way of asking,” Angelalt said.
“Okay, I need you to take me to my cousin, Anna,” Angela said, “You being me, I assume you know where she is.”
Angelalt’s smartphone rang, and she reached for it with one hand.
“Don’t,” Olga said.
“Show me,” Angela said, “No sudden moves.”
Angelalt showed her the phone. The caller ID simply read “Melissa.”
“Melissa’s alive?” Angela said.
“Yeah,” Angelalt said,
“She's alive?” Angela said. “What’s she like?”
“Well, the last few years have been hard for her,” Angelalt said, “My brother Bill lost his wife in childbirth fourteen years ago. I lost him a little bit after that as well. You still have them?”
“And a nephew, Matthew,” Angela said, “He’s thirteen and a half.”
“Angie, stop,” Olga said.
“And how’s Demetrios over there?” Angelalt said. “And Alexandra?”
“I haven’t seen Alexandra since she was three,” Angela said, “My Demetrios died fourteen years ago.”
“Angie, she’s stalling,” Olga said.
“How’s Anders?” Angelalt asked. “Anna told me he was still around on your side.”
“He’s fine,” Angela said, “But you’re implying you know where Anna is. I need to speak with her now. She’s in danger here, and she needs to understand that.”
“You don’t understand, do you?” Angelalt said. “Anna wanted to come home. This universe is her home. We are her family.”
“No,
we are her family,” Angela said, “And family always looks out for one another. Please, I need to speak with her. You have to trust me. I’m you.”
Thrace
“By the way, you haven't answered my question,” Walter said.
Tesla looked up from the doorstop device. “What question?”
“Why did you remove my memories?” Walter said.
“I had my reasons,” Tesla said.
“Willy…” Walter said.
“Walter…” Tesla said. “Let the past be the past. We’re descending into Konstanstadt and dropping below Mach 1. We should start forming a plan.”
Angelalt’s apartment
“Okay, fine,” Angelalt said, slowly reaching into her jacket pocket, “I’ll help, if that’s what you really want.”
“Okay, but please keep your hands where you are,” Angela said, “Olga cover me.”
“I’m just getting my keys,” Angelalt said.
“Then give me the jacket, and I’ll get them,” Olga said.
Angela took Angelalt’s purse and rummaged in it for her spare pistol. She always kept her backup there, so her counterpart probably did as well. Only she didn’t find a gun. She heard two guns clicking and saw Angelalt pointing two guns at her and Olga.
“Put it down,” Angela said, “If you shoot and kill me, is it technically a murder, a suicide, or a murder-suicide? I don’t want to test that out, by the way.”
“You keep your backup gun in your purse, don’t you?” Angelalt said. “I have two spares. One in my jacket, one on my ankle.”
“You shouldn’t have given your ankle gun to Anders,” Olga muttered.
“How would I know I’d have to use it against myself?!” Angela said.
