Time Traveler: E113 - Goodbye to the Future - Part 3

That was it. Kaleigh left Robin's house and headed for hers. She decided to walk in order to calm herself down, but-- What were those tears that appeared in her eyes as she walked? Where were the friggin' suppressants when you needed them? Maybe they weren't working anymore? On top of it, Collin cried all the way too.

It turned out Collin was hungry.

"That's why you were crying. "Why didn't I think of that? First time mum mistake, I guess". She quickly took out the bottle and gave it to Collin. "I'm sorry, here you are little one, enjoy".

That calmed him immediately.

"Phew, thank the gods for baby formula".

Meanwhile, still at home, Robin had finished checking the two files that Kaleigh had given to him. Sure enough he couldn't open the second one, but that wouldn't be a problem, he knew someone that could certainly do it, his best friend and genius: Dustin Shen."

He changed to more comfortable and less flashy clothes to try to go unnoticed for the surveillance cameras. Thankfully it was still dark, that would help, but you couldn't be sure in the over-monitored Oasis Landing streets.

He had hope that Emit had been able to stop all the process. But he couldn't stay and find out. He had to leave Oasis Landing without delay.

"Damn it", he mumbled as he descended. All this was so absurd and unfair, having to leave his place, the home where he had lived happily and without worries for so many years. 

"Forgive me, Collin. I'll do my utmost to come back someday".

Anyway, there was no time for regrets or second thoughts. He should get out of there before the police and their tracker plumbots would arrive. And before the drones would start hovering the place, looking for him.

"Well, goodbye home sweet home. Goodbye to the Future-- for now".

Time Traveler: E113 - Goodbye to the Future - Part 2

Before leaving, Kaleigh let Robin say goodbye to Collin.

"I'll come back for you, son. I promise", he said, giving him a hug and a kiss.

"I hope those files help you to find what you're looking for".
"I hope so too. If they really contain the info I need, this could be the end of my mission".
"Well, then--", Kaleigh smiled.

...

"What was that for?", he asked.

"For good luck", she explained.

 "Yeah, well, I think I'll need it, so-- thanks, I guess", Robin flushed.

"You're welcome. Please, take care of yourself, okay?"

"Don't worry, I will".

"Well, then, see you soon".

"See you soon, and again, thank you-- for everything".

"Again, you are welcome".

Time Traveler: E113 - Goodbye to the Future - Part 1

"There you go--it's yours now". Kaleigh said, giving the flash drive to a stunned Robin. "I could get in a lot of trouble for this, Crane, so I hope that is proof enough that I'm on your side".

"It is, believe me".

"Just, whatever you do, please don't tell anyone I gave it to you".

"Of course I won't".

"Like I said, the document is password protected, so you'll probably need a hacker to open it".

"No problem, I know someone who can do that".

"Good".

"Now get out of Oasis Landing as fast as you can, and wait for Emit to get in touch with you to give you instructions".

"Okay. I just hope he doesn't betray me too".

"Emit would never... And don't say 'too' as if I had betrayed you. You know I'd rather die".

"With 'too' I meant the Council not you. In fact, I thank you for everything you've done for me and--I apologize for the things that I said to you, I was rude and unfair".

"Apology accepted. I know that wasn't yourself. So please, please reconsider wearing your bracelet again, for your own welfare and health".

"Yeah, we'll see about that--"

"Now promise me you'll take good care of yourself and Collin".

"Rest assured I will".

"When-- do you think I'll be able to return?"

"That depends on Emit. He'll give you some more options, make sure to pick the one that's convenient for all of us".

"I'll do my best".

"Okay. Now if you excuse me, I need to go pack", Kaleigh said and hurried to the elevator.

Time Traveler: E112 - The Good News

"Alright, you win. I'll leave as soon as you and Collin have arrived home safe"".

"Perfect, but before I go, there's something else I have to tell you, it's important".

"Why, more bad news?"

"No, actually these are good news, or at least I hope so".

"Please, Kale, get to the point already".

"Ok. The night you found me at the computer, I was looking for information on you in the Population Council's data base.

"What kind of information?"

"Well, I was worried about what that doctor said about your DNA. I thought there was a problem with your genes that could affect Collin, so I decided to investigate".

"And? What did you find?"

"At first I didn't find anything, just a file with general info about your birth. But digging deeper, I found this other file, it was marked as Classified".

"What was in it?"

"I don't know, I couldn't open it, it required a password. But I got a feeling that it contains the information you've been looking for about your parents".

"What?" Robin's heart skipped a beat. Are you sure? Kaleigh, you know how long I've been waiting to find something about my parents, so please don't joke about that".

"It's not a joke, I'm very serious. And I'm sure as hell this file contains the answers to all your questions, or at least some of them".

"Can you enter that data base now and show it to me?"

"No, we don't have time for that. But lucky for you, after you caught me that night, I copied the files to a flash drive".

"Omg. Do you have it with you?"

"Of course".

Time Traveler: E111 - The Restart

What happens if I stay?", Robin asked after thinking quietly for a minute.

"You'll need to hide from the police. Not a great idea considering Oasis Landing is such a small place. Sooner or later they'd find you and arrest you, they'd take Collin away, lock you in jail probably a year, it depends on the judge. But the true punishment would arrive when you come out".

"The Restart", Robin answered somberly.

"That's the only way they would allow you to travel in time again. By restarting your memories, they make sure you'll forget about the people you met in 2016, your wife and children included". 

"Sounds like hell".

"Well, it's a better than 'deleting' them permanently from the world, which would be the other option".

 

 "I won't have any of the two. I'd rather rot in jail, even die!"

"Very brave from you, but they won't ask you what you'd prefer. They'll just sedate you and proceed to restart your memory. They'll wipe away every recollection from the Past. You won't remember anyone, not even me or Collin".

"Say no more. Just the thought of it gives me the creeps". 

"Me too. That's why you must get out of here right now. Don't worry about Collin, I'll take good care of him".

Robin became pensive again. He didn't like any of the options. If he stayed, he'd get the maximum penalty; if he returned to Aurora Skies, he'd face another dilemma: tell Juliette what was happening in Oasis Landing, and about Kaleigh and Collin. He'd also should tell Ann about Juliette and Rowan. None of the two girls would be amused with the news, but anything was better than a Restart, wasn't it?"

"Robin?", Kaleigh insisted.

Time Traveler: E110 - Trapped - Part 3

"You want to save Collin from living like an orphan, but you're taking him out of his home on the very night of his birth?", Robin reclaimed.

"It's not the optimal, I know, but understand, they could arrive anytime now. If they find me here, they'll consider me a suspect and probably will arrest me too. Then both of us would lose Collin forever".

"Not if Emit speaks in our behalf".

"I know he'll do the impossible to protect us, but I'm not so sure that he'll achieve something. The Prime Councilor is furious, he thinks you betrayed their trust."

"So? What do you suggest? I mean, aside from taking Collin with you and Archibit".

"Well, you have two options. The first one, you appear before the Council right tonight and beg for mercy..."

"No way. We know that they're anything but merciful."

"They will take away my badge and my passport, they'll reinforce my suppressants treatment, not to mention-- the other stuff. I'll never get to see Ann, or Jul, or my other children again".

"Well-- then there's the second option. Emit surely will kill me for advising you this but, if you're not planning to turn yourself in, it would be better for you to return to the Past. The Council doesn't have any powers there, it's another time, another country, their laws wouldn't allow them. My suggestion is that you stay there until Emit obtains the pardon for you".

Robin let out a sigh. He was trapped. The Council considered him a traitor and if Emit failed in his attempt to save him the punishment wouldn't be long in coming. Staying in Oasis Landing at that moment was extremely dangerous, there was no other option but to leave Collin temporarily in Kaleigh's hands and get out of there immediately, otherwise he would lose all of his children forever...

(To be continued)

Time Traveler: E110 - Trapped - Part 2

"Robin, I'm sorry but the situation has changed. Your contract with the RSL has been cancelled. The Council will take away your parental rights".

"My parental rights? What does that mean?"

"It means that, technically, you'll stop being Collin's father, and you won't be allowed to engineer any more babies either".

 What? Why would they do that?"

"You broke the statutes of the Population Council. As soon as they put together your case file, they will issue an arrest warrant against you. They can come for you any minute now, so--" 

"Wait. An arrest warrant? On what grounds?"

Where do I start? Procreation by forbidden methods in another time frame--a serious crime. Improper use of the Time Traveler's passport, and exceed the allowed number of children, which is two per citizen. Those are three counts, Robby, and you must respond for them before the Council. 

You have until tomorrow morning to show up, if you don't, they'll come for you. So I better take Collin with me tonight, otherwise, a social worker will pick him up at the moment of your arrest and take him to the Community Center".

"I see", Robin whispered, with tears in his eyes. "So, you gave me away after all. That was what you were doing when I caught you at the computer the other night".

"I'd never give you away. They already knew everything. If they sent me here with a microphone was only to confirm it".

"They spoke with Emit, they admonished him and pressured him to take you to the Council. He of course didn't want you arrested that's why he decided to intercede for you. I don't know what he'll tell them, I just know that right now he's putting his own job on the line to save you from punishment".

"And if he's willing to do that for me, why do you turn against me, trying to take my son away?"

"I'm not trying to take him away, nor I'm against you, Robin. I just want to keep him from falling into the hands of the Government. You and I know what it is to grow up in the Community Center. You want the same for Collin? I bet you don't. If I take responsibility for him, he'll grow up in a safe home filled with love and care. Not like a poor orphan, always from one place to another like you and I did".

Time Traveler: E110. Trapped - Part 1

 

"Did you think I wouldn't notice? You wouldn't go anywhere without your medical bracelet, now you're simply not wearing it. You changed your hair color, your hairstyle is different, you even talk different! Your whole behavior is strange, you argue and yell, sometimes it seems like you're going to burst out crying... You're not nearly the cheerful, relaxed young guy I once knew, Robin. You're totally out of control!"

"Alright!", Robin exploded. "Yes, I stopped taking the suppressants. So what? I don't need them."

"Really? Well it seems all the opposite to me."

"I don't care what it seems to you. To hell with the suppressants, those are not the issue right now, but Collin. He's my son, I am the one who asked the RSL for him. I donated the DNA to engineer him." 

"My DNA is in him too. Like it or not I am his mother, you can't take that from me".

"That much I do know. But the contract is clear: you must give up the baby after his birth. It's the law, Kaleigh. You, from all people should know it".

Kaleigh went quiet. She slowly turned her back on him and sighed.

"I know the law", she answered, "And I would give you the baby right now, without objection, but-"

"But?" 

Time Traveler: E109. Bad News - Part 2

"And FYI..." Robin continued, oblivious of Kaleigh's thoughts. "I'm not planning to abandon Collin. I'll come back for him as soon as I'm able".

"Yeah, and when will that be? Solving your problems will take months, probably years. You could even go to jail. By the time you get out it will be too late. I'd better ask for a permission to adopt Collin. Edwin and I will raise him as our own".

"What the hell are you saying?"

"What you just heard. Edwin and I will solicite Collin's adoption".

"No, you won't. Over my dead body, you hear me?"

"For the love of Jupiter, calm down, okay? It's not a big deal, it's just an option, plus it isn't against the regulation".

Robin walked away a couple of steps, trying futilely to contain his anger.

"I don't give a damn about the regulation. It's my son, I requested for him, you were only a temporary mother, you had to return him to me as soon as he was born! What part of that did you not understand, Kaleigh?"

"Robin, stop it, will you? We're not going to argue right now. There are serious things to take care of. Besides, you're clearly not on your right mind.

"Of course I'm not on my right mind, you're trying to steal my son from me!"

"I'm not stealing anything from you. And that obviously isn't the reason why you're out of your mind. We both know what the true reason is".

"I don't know what you're talking about".

"Stop pretending, Robin. I know that you stopped taking your suppressants.

"¡...!"

Time Traveler: E109. Bad News - Part 1

At the beginning, Kaleigh didn't know what to say, she was still angry at Robin, but at the same time, she was worried about the risk he was running. And about Emit, who should be appearing in front of the Council at that moment to try to help him.

"Kaleigh? Are you going to tell me why you are so angry with me?

"It's difficult to explain".

"Maybe if you calm down you could give it a try".

"Alright, let's cut to the chase. The Council already knows about your life in 2016. They know about Juliette, Rowan and your marriage with Ann Conners. They have the evidence they needed to arrest you, unless..."

"Unless?"

"Unless you appear before the Council of your own free will, take blame for what you did and promise not to go back to 2016".

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that. Ann is having my baby, I must be with her. Plus, I promised Juliette that I would give Rowan my name".

"You will do all that when your problem is fixed".

"Fixed? Come on, Kale, we both know that if I confess, they will take mi passport away and I'll never time travel again".

"And what do you prefer? Return to the past just like that, leaving Collin orphaned like your parents left you?"

"My parents didn't leave me. They died".

("Yeah, I'm not sure about that anymore"), Kaleigh thought to herself.

Time Traveler: E108 - The Calm Before the Storm

When Kaleigh got out of the shower Collin was already sleeping, so she took a much-needed nap.

Robin took a bath. Not the classic futuristic 'quickie cleanse', but a real one. Nothing like a a good old fashioned bubble bath to relax the tension.

After checking on Collin once more, he went down to the kitchen to fix lunch, something traditional as well. A dish he used to cook for Ann.

When Kaleigh woke up, the first thing she did was go to the night table and take out the pendrive where she had copied the information from the Council's data base. 

"I shouldn't be doing this. But you deserve to know who your parents are and what happened to them. Maybe this will calm you down and put you back on the right path. Handing you these files will be the last thing I do for you, Crane..."

Robin didn't hear from her until lunch hour, during which, again, she didn't say a word to him.

He had almost finished, when she told him that they needed to talk.

"About time", Robin muttered.

"This isn't about Collin, it's something else".