The Iron Empire

“So, how are things going to work now?” she asked. “I know that talking about this stuff can drive you nuts, but since we corrected all the Breaks . . . then that means you don’t need to start the Hystorians. But if you never start the Hystorians, how will we know to go back and . . . Oh, never mind.”

Dak was glad she stopped. His head was starting to hurt.

Aristotle chuckled, a great sound coming out of the great man. He looked a million times better than he had right after the fighting.

“Not to worry, Sera. I suspect these things are simpler than we make them out to be. Most people will have no memory of the former time line, though for you two they will remain linear recollections. In fact, including your Remnants, you will have memories of three distinct time lines, in whole or in part. ”

Now Dak’s head really hurt. “Boulders in the river of time. That’s what I always say when I don’t have a clue what anyone’s talking about.”

That earned another couple of laughs, especially from Sera.

After a few moments, Aristotle grew serious. “Still, we know now that history is a special thing. And that it can be changed — but with dire consequences. I’m still going to form the Hystorians, and create a society that will last throughout the ages.” He paused, scratching that grand beard of his. Then he held up a finger in true philosopher form.

“But this time things will be a little different,” the old man said. “Instead of putting our focus on changing history, we will now do everything in our power to protect it. That’s what we’ll do, my friends. We will protect history until our last, dying breaths.”

Dak wanted to high-five the guy, right there on the spot. But instead he hugged him.

Then came the good-byes, along with more tears.

TO THE future they went.

They warped to the Hystorian headquarters first. But . . . it wasn’t there. Instead, all they saw was a big field, lined with rows of corn.

So they zapped themselves nearby to Sera’s house next. Half of her was terrified to discover what awaited her in this new world, and the other half could hardly stand the wait. Dak had to break into a run to keep up with her as they made their way through the neighborhood.

“Things sure seem . . . normal,” Dak said, slightly out of breath.

“Yeah. They do. And it’s weird about the Hystorians being gone.” But everything around them seemed brighter, the people happier, the colors and edges sharper. So far they hadn’t seen one sign of destruction or oppression.

“I bet they still exist in some way,” Dak responded. “Maybe they’re a lot smaller now, without the SQ to fight. I don’t know. But it sure looks like we re-created a pretty good planet, if I do say so myself.”

Sera slapped him on the back. “Say it all you want. By jove, I think we’ve done it.”

Dak whacked her on the shoulder, though not as hard. “You know, funny that you say that. The phrase ‘by jove’ originated in . . .” He trailed off, his face showing that he’d just been kidding. Although she honestly missed his constant spewing of historical facts. She hoped he relearned everything quickly so he could get back to it.

And then they were there. Her house. Where her uncle had raised her but she’d felt a thousand Remnants that her parents would arrive at any second.

“They’re alive,” Dak said, standing by her just as he’d always done. “I know it.”

She nodded, then let instinct take over. The next few minutes were like a dream, as if the Remnants of her past were slowly unfolding to her like a storybook.

The front door was locked.

They rang the doorbell. No one answered.

They went around the back.

Through the yard.

Down the little dusty lane.

A long, beautiful, dreamy walk.

To the barn. That barn way behind the house.

And the doors opened.

And out they came.

Her mom.

Her dad.

Smiling.

Talking.

Laughing.

When they saw her, she bolted into a run, crossing the grassy distance faster than any horse ever could. They were shocked at her excitement when she hugged them fiercely, kissed them, laughed, and cried.

“My goodness,” her mom said, pulling back and looking delightedly at her daughter. “What in the world has come over you?”

“I just missed you is all,” Sera said. “I just missed you so much.”

The day had been a total blur for Dak.

Everything had changed, yet in some ways, it all felt the same, too. There was something perfect about it, and he felt happier than he had in a long time.

After the incredible reunion between Sera and her parents — he was man enough to admit it, he’d gotten a bit choked up — they’d walked over to Dak’s house, where his own mom and dad were busy in the lab, working on twenty projects at once. It was a huge relief when he saw them alive and well. But what really made him happy was that they were doing what they loved — solving the world’s problems, one by one.

The Smyths and the Frostes had actually joined forces, forming a company to seek out, discover, and invent practical scientific solutions to everything from illness to environmental issues. Their company was called Solving Quantum Physics.

Yep, Dak thought. The SQP. He thought that was just about the best thing ever.

“Dak.”

It was Sera, pulling him back to the real world. They were sitting on a big branch of their favorite tree, enjoying the cool air and the cleanness of it, drinking juice. She had a tablet out, scrolling through some article with taps of her fingers. It had caught her interest big-time, judging by the look of her eyes.

“So?” he asked. “What did you find?”

“Oh, you know. Just checking out the history of Alexander the Great. That’s right, the Great. And his best friend, Hephaestion.”

Dak’s jaw dropped. “What? Yeah, right.”

“I’m serious! Look for yourself. It’s in the Encyclopedia Britannica.”

Dak took the tablet from her and read through the article she’d found. He couldn’t believe it. He absolutely couldn’t believe it. Alexander and his armies had crossed the world, fighting when they had to, but also bringing food and knowledge and resources to countless people. Riq — renamed Hephaestion by Alexander himself — had become a dear friend and confidant to the hegemon. He was thought by many to be the true force behind the king maintaining respect for other cultures at the same time as advancing the world in the greatest leap yet in human history. They called it the Iron Empire.