And Space

AND SPACE

Books by Lesley L. Smith

Temporal Dreams

Neutrino Warning

Kat Cubed

Reality Alternatives

Conservation of Luck

The Quantum Cop Series:

Book 1: The Quantum Cop

Book 2: Quantum Murder

Book 3: Quantum Mayhem

The Space Operetta Series

Book 1: A Jack By Any Oher Name

Book 2: A Jack in the Dark

Book 3: A Jack for All Seasons

The Perils of Tiffani Series

Book 1 Part 1: A Discovery

Book 1 Part 2: Of Time

Book 1: Part 3: And Space

And Space

By Lesley L. Smith

Quarky Media

Boulder Colorado

And Space

Published by Quarky Media, PO Box 3332, Boulder, CO 80307

www.quarkymedia.com

Copyright © 2023 Lesley L. Smith

ISBN: 978-1-950198-68-9 (ebook)

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Making or distributing electronic copies of this book constitutes copyright infringement and could subject the infringer to criminal and civil liability.

AND SPACE

The Perils of Tiffani Book 1 Part 3

Chapter One

I just did a bizarre time travel experiment. I was in the dorm office with my three best friends, er, my two best friends and my potential boyfriend. That also felt kind of weird—but weird in a good way, not in a bizarre way.

We discussed the whole evening again, multiple times. The sodas were long gone.

Bottom line, I said, the future was weird; it didn't seem like my future. But when I time traveled to my past, it did seem like my past.

Do you think it's significant? Ethan asked. Traveling into the past versus traveling into the future?

Well, I hadn't until he'd said it. But now, it seemed significant. Yes, I said, nodding wisely.

What's the difference? Rory asked.

Uh… My mind was racing. Clearly, the past has already happened. So, it's sort of fixed, right?

That tracks, Lin said, dipping her head.

Yeah, Ethan said.

Rory nodded.

Ooh! I think I get it, Lin said. She sat up straight. I could, no, I'm going to kiss Ethan. Right on the lips, right now. It's going to be epic. Colossal. Amazing.

I felt annoyed. Why was she kissing my boyfriend, er, my potential boyfriend? I tried to calm down. Chill, Tiff.

Rory looked confused.

Ethan looked confused. What?

But Lin just leaned back in her chair and smiled widely. No kissing. Ah ha. She wasn't kissing him; she was making a point. That made more sense. As long as I'd known Lin, she'd never gone for cis straight guys.

I don't get it, Rory said. Are you kissing him or not?

Not, I said. My brain was whirring along. She could have kissed him. But she didn't. But she could have. I think the point is, we all have free will. Humans have free will. Our futures aren't fated. They aren't set in stone yet because we haven't decided on them yet.

Lin nodded. I don't know if I could have explained it that well, but that's what I was getting at.

So, what does it all mean? Rory asked.

I think it means I need to talk to Josh, the guy who's supposed to be a time expert, I said.

They all agreed.

Friday morning after physics class, Professor Hernandez set up a meeting with Josh Williams and me in Josh's office, D221. Rory was standing right next to me when he told me, and she immediately texted Ethan and Lin the where and when. She looked well put-together as usual in her pink shorts and a short-sleeved white lace blouse.

Ethan and Lin were still lounging in the back of the classroom, so Rory and I walked up the stairs to meet them. Lin wore new turquoise hair extensions, the same color as her turquoise t-shirt and converses; her board shorts seemed to have more pockets than ever. For his part, Ethan's hair was in a perfect messy-casual coif, and he wore khaki shorts with a teal polo shirt tucked into them. His belt had embroidered …whales. Wow. Was it possible to be too preppy?

What? he asked me.

Nothing. I shook my head. Do you, by chance, have a fraternity meeting later?

Yeah, he said. Why do you ask?

No reason, I said.

It's a FAC, a Friday afternoon club with food, he said. Basically, an excuse to drink beer. You guys are all invited if you want.

Thanks, I said. We'll see.

Rory nodded.

Anyway. Lin interrupted. What did Hernandez say? Did he set up the meeting?

Yeah, I said. It's a go.

The four of us quickly walked over to Josh's office.

As I lifted my right hand to knock on the closed door, Rory said, This will be great.

Yeah, I'm excited to get some answers, Lin said.

Ethan reached for my left hand and squeezed it gently. I agree. Whoa. A tendril of warmth spread from my hand to the rest of my body. Were we at the hand-holding stage? Apparently.

Regarding the meeting, I was on the same wavelength as my friends, excited. I knocked.

Come in, Josh called from inside.

I opened the door. Josh sat on battered wooden chairs with his girlfriend, Kairi, in the small room. Hi, I said. Thanks for meeting with us.

Kairi nodded. She wore a colorful, floral, dotted blouse. Josh wore jeans and a geeky t-shirt.

His office in the physics building was very similar to our resident advisor's office in the dorm—both had old, mismatched furniture, battered walls, and no windows. Heh. It was funny how the campus was such a mix of old and new: old and new buildings, old and new furniture, and even old and new people, for that matter. The professors were old, and the students were new.

Me and my friends swarmed into the small room.

Josh held up his hands. Whoa. Who are all these people? I said I would meet with you, Tiffani, as a favor to Professor Hernandez. I didn't say I'd meet with these other people.

Shoot. But an idea was percolating. I inclined my head back towards the hall. I'll be right back. The four of us stepped into the hall, and I pulled Josh's office door closed behind us. What if I call one of you and put my phone on speaker mode? I whispered. You should be able to hear everything.

Good idea, Tiffani, Ethan said softly.

But, then, we're eavesdropping? Rory whispered. That's not fair, is it?

Tiffani's going to tell us everything that happens anyway, right, Tiff? Lin asked quietly.

I nodded.

So, what does it matter? Lin asked.

Rory nodded.

We all walked a little way down the hall, and I called Rory. We both put our phones on speaker, and I slipped mine back into my pocket with the mic end sticking out. I walked back to Josh's office. Outside his closed door, I whispered, Can you hear me?

Yes, Lin said loudly.

Someone shushed her.

Maybe don't talk, I whispered.

Okay, I heard Rory whisper.

I knocked on the door.

Come in, Josh said.

I walked inside.

Close the door, Josh said.

I closed it behind me. Thanks for talking to me. I sat down in a rickety wooden chair.

He said, This is my girlfriend, Kairi Djaru. I already knew that. In fact, I'd already met Kairi and talked to her about time travel. But that timeline was overwritten. From his perspective, he didn't remember it, but I did.

Hello. Kairi's smile lit up her face, making her beautiful.

Professor Hernandez says you have some kind of temporal interest or ability? Josh asked. That's pretty hard to believe, but I trust him.

I nodded. Yeah, you could say I have a temporal ability. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. It's confusing.

Wow, Kairi murmured.

Josh and Kairi exchanged a look.

What's your ability? he asked, looking skeptical.

I think I can travel in time, but I don't understand how or why. At least I'd finally decided I really could time travel.

They both looked shocked. Yeah, it was shocking.

So, Josh, what can you tell me about time? I asked. The future, the past, timelines, that kind of stuff.

Please keep what we're about to tell you quiet, he said, glancing around the room as if for spies.

I fingered the phone sticking out of my pocket, feeling a little guilty. Is it a secret?

Josh and Kairi glanced at each other.

Not technically, Josh finally said. Go ahead, Kairi.

I'm a time traveler because I'm a native Australian. Kairi fisted her hands in her lap. My people have sacred myths, including the ancient era known as Dreamtime, when the spirit ancestors created the world. My clan believes in Dreamtime or The Dreaming and thinks it still affects us and is accessible today. Dreamtime is the sacred river of all of time. My clan can utilize The Dreaming, she said. We are able to traverse the river of time via our special dreaming ability.

Neat, I said. You dream, and then you time travel? Yes, I already heard this, so I was a little impatient.

Yes. Her face relaxed, looking much more natural. You've gotten it quickly. Most people take longer. Can you utilize The Dreaming, too?

My phone pinged. Someone sent me a text. I pulled it out and glanced at it. Lin sent me the text, 'OMG!'

That sounds amazing, but I don't think that's what I do, I said.

Are you a native Australian? Josh asked.

I thought back to my DNA test. Yes. I have some native Australian DNA—but not a lot.

Let's not jump to any conclusions. Josh held up his hands, palms out. Do you sleep or dream when you time travel, Tiffani?

No, I said. I don't sleep or dream when I time travel.

So, your ability seems different than mine? Kairi said. That's amazing. She turned and looked at Josh. How many kinds of time travelers are there?

That is a good question, he said.

I shrugged. I understood very little about all this.

Do you want to see me do it? Kairi asked. Dream? Travel?

Thanks, but not right now, I said. I'd already seen it, but they didn't remember that.

My phone pinged. I glanced at it. More texts, 'OMG!' 'Wow!' 'WTF.' I put it back in my pocket.

Let's put a pin in that. I tried to gather my thoughts. I was here because I wanted to ask about the science behind time. "Can I