JACKIE:

“Grace, don’t go!” I stormed after my mom, desperate to keep her on my team.

She picked up her pace, ignoring my pleas.

I ran through the cafeteria full tilt. “Please, we have important work to do together.”

Sensing I wouldn’t give up, she stopped and faced me. “What do you want from me, Jackie? Money? Is that what this is about? Of course it is. That’s what everything is about.”

She walked over to a cash machine in the lobby and scanned the DNA Identifier I her finger.

I pushed her hand away from the machine’s scanner. “No, I don’t want your money.”

“Don’t lie. You want me to pay in exchange for your silence on what you’ve discovered about me, don’t you? It’s fine. I have plenty of money. We can settle this now.”

She scanned her DNA Identifier, but I pushed her hand away again.

“No, you’ve got it all wrong. I don’t want your money. I’m trying to help you, Grace. Don’t you see what Feraz is doing to you?”

“Who put you up to this? Suzy? I’m on to her tricks. She’s been trying to break us up for a while now.”

“What? No! Who is Suzy?”

“Then what do you want from me? I’m a good person. I saw you needed clothes, food, shelter. Jackie, I’m happy to give you the shirt off my back, but please don’t tell anyone about the…”

Grace looked around, not wanting to be heard. She’d do anything to keep her good girl appearance and protect her secret serum.

The cash machine screen timed out, hopefully showing Grace my true intentions. I needed more information to know what we were up against. She had to be convinced to tell me everything, but how?

With only one more trump card in my hand, it had to be played. Grace had to understand that billions of lives were at stake.

“Let’s get the facts straight. I don’t want your money. I don’t want to break up your relationship. Well… Listen, there’s another power that comes with having the phoenix gene,” I whispered.

Grace’s eyes grew wide, intrigued. “What? Tell me.”

“Is there a fireplace nearby that we can use? Without other people finding us?”

“There’s one in the Arts and Sciences library. No one ever goes in there. It’s pretty deserted, especially this early in the morning.”

“Perfect. Let’s go there. I can show you how to use fire portals to get into the slipstream.”

“What the heck is the slipstream?”

“It’s a place where anything is possible, but probabilities reign supreme. It’s how I got into this timeline.”

“So you actually think you’re my unborn daughter from another dimension?” Grace’s shoulder slumped. “You can’t be serious.”

I kept a stone face. She needed to understand the truth, no matter how wacky it sounded.

“Yes. I’m from an alternate future, and I’ve come here to stop you from making the biggest mistake of the century. We can’t let the Life Rite serum get out. It’ll lead to the redistribution program.”

“What are you talking about? You sound like a madwoman.” Grace shook her head, still unable to accept my story. “I should get you an appointment with my psychiatrist. He writes prescriptions for literally anything. Your level of crazy would get us a whole pharmacy!”

“Come on, let’s go to the library. Let me show you the truth.”

Grace contemplated my offer. “I don’t think so, Jackie. We’re done here.”

Firestorm echoed in my mind. “Jackie, help! I’m losing my grip!”

I had no idea what was happening to him, but it didn’t sound good.

My voice sounded shrill when I appealed to Grace, more desperate than before. “Hurry! Time is running out. I could get sucked out of this stream any minute. We need to work together.”

Grace rolled her eyes. “Find someone else to stalk, weirdo.”

“I promise, I’ll show you a next level high… It’s so pure, but also so addictive.”

Grace bit her lip, enticed. “Fine. I’ll bite.”

“Once you see the slipstream, you’ll have to believe me.”

“I doubt I’ll ever believe you, but this is your last chance. If this is a wild goose chase and I say we’re done, do you promise to leave me alone?”

“I promise.”

“You’ll never come back to my apartment?”

“Deal.”

We shook on it.

“Thanks, Grace. I promise you won’t regret this.”

“Whatever. Follow me.”

We trudged over to the other side of campus toward the Arts and Sciences library. On the way, we came across Baxter painting a white building.

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Grace walked over to him. “Hey, Baxter.”

“Miss Claudi, lovely morning, isn’t it? The way the Grid casts that faint glow over everything. It’s beautiful.”

Grace looked around and smiled. “It has a certain charm, I guess.”

Baxter asked, “Do you need me to restock the lab with medical supplies again?”

“No, not yet. Thanks for asking.”

Baxter noticed me next to Grace. “Hello, ma’am. I see you do know Miss Claudi. I meant no disrespect at our last meeting.” He bowed his head politely. “It’s not everyday I find a stranger wearing my uniform in my private quarters.”

Grace shot me a chilly look.

Caught in a lie, I stood there speechless. What could I say? My heart raced. Was the jig up now that Grace heard Baxter call me a stranger?

Grace said, “That’s okay, Baxter. I’ll ensure you get a few new uniforms to keep things fresh. Need anything else?”

Baxter’s smile made my heart melt. I wished he knew how much I loved him.

“I’m all set, Miss Claudi. You’re too kind.”

I told Baxter, “You look great, by the way. So young and healthy.”

He didn’t understand the compliment, but said, “Thank you, Miss.”

Grace waved goodbye and continue to the library, so I kept the pace.

“Let me explain…”

She crossed her arms defensively. “Why did you lie about knowing Baxter? Sounds like you’re complete strangers! He found you in his uniform? What’s the deal? For all I know, you’re some homeless person infiltrating my life.”

“Technically I am homeless. I own literally nothing. When I rebirthed into this timeline, I was stark naked. Probably because I haven’t been born yet.”

“What about that sob story about growing up with him, barely affording birthday cake? That really pulled at my heartstrings. You’re so manipulative!”

“I lived that truth. Baxter raised me in my original timeline.”

“If you’re my daughter, why wouldn’t I raise you?”

“The details of that dimension don’t matter now. We need to stick to this timeline. Otherwise, it’ll get too confusing.”

Grace stopped, defiantly. “No, Jackie. I need answers. Tell the truth or I’m done.”

I sighed. “Think about it. If you found out you were pregnant right now and you couldn’t keep the baby, who would you go to?”

When that truth sunk in, the color drained from Grace’s face. She looked like she was about to vomit.

“Let’s stick to the plan. Let me show you the slipstream. Then it will all make sense.”

“You’re on thin ice,” Grace warned.

“Understood.”

We walked in silence the rest of the way. She asked no more questions about other timelines. She wasn’t even able to handle the drama of this one. Would my plan work to keep Grace on my side? I sure hoped so.

We stepped into the prestigious Arts and Sciences library. Grace was right. It was a ghost town.

A small fireplace warmed a corner of the cold, dank building. We pulled over a pleated leather couch and sat near the flames.

“The fire’s small, but it will have to do.” I threw a fireball at the fireplace to beef it up a bit. The larger the fire portal, the easier it was to get into the slipstream.

“Okay… So, now what?” Grace asked.

“Focus on the flames. Let them take you away, into the deep recess of your mind. Release all thoughts, especially any doubt about me and what I’ve told you.”

“How convenient.” Grace crossed her arms in front of her chest, defensive.

“Please. Give me this chance to prove it. You’ve seen some of my powers. You have them too. We look alike. We’re connected, you and I.”

“That’s true… I never would have believed our powers were possible.”

She uncrossed her arms and stared into the fireplace. Her body relaxed. The flames flickered in her light eyes.

“Jackie, this is boring. How long do we have to do this?”

“Hush. Concentrate.”

Grace looked into the fire, but noticed me watching her. “Why are you staring at me? Are you going to look at me the whole time? Aren’t you going to do it too?”

“Yeah, I’m coming in, too. I want to make sure you get into the slipstream first…. Here. Let’s do it together.”

Grace and I settled into the sofa and peered into the fireplace.

Thirty seconds later, she broke out in a laugh. “Jackie, this is so stupid.”

She saw my stern look and tried to suppress her giggles. “Okay, for real. I’ll do it this time.”

A few more chuckles escaped from Grace before she settled down. I had my work cut out for me.

A pit of doubt made my stomach flip. My armpits sweat despite the chill in the air. If I went back into the slipstream, would it kick me out of this probability? The risk was worth it if Grace agreed to work with me to fix the timeline.

“Relax, exhale. Stare into the flames as they flicker…”

My mom followed my direction, exhaled, and finally relaxed into the moment. A few breaths later, the fire grabbed Grace and pulled her in. Its trance was taking effect.

Yet time passed, and we weren’t in the slipstream. Grace’s half-closed eyelids drooped.

Luckily, Firestorm’s guidance echoed in my mind. “There’s something different about the serum she’s taken. It’s not the real stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s making her sick. I don’t know who’s making it… She needs to see more before she’ll tell me. How can I get her into the slipstream, Firestorm?”

Grace, half-asleep, asked, “What’s a fire storm?”

Firestorm said, “This is a bad idea, Jackie. I’m barely hanging in.”

“No lectures, please. Without this, I’m at a standstill. How do I get her in?”

Firestorm sighed. “You’ll have to let her ride your stream. Can you feel how to do that?”

I nodded. Luckily, I was a pro at this by now. A mini slipstream master in the making.

The flames overtook me quickly, and I half-slid into the slipstream. My consciousness split between the realms long enough for me to grab Grace and take her with me. I can only describe the process as ethereal.

“Be careful,” Firestorm warned me.

“Let the fire take you away, to an in-between place…” My words lulled a sleepy Grace into the void. Her eyelids fell, and she drifted off. Her body slumped on the coach next to me. I let the slipstream overtake me fully, and I brought her with me.

I woke up in darkness. Existence without any shape or form. The slipstream void. Instead of my previous panic, this place now felt peaceful to me. Like home.

“Grace, are you here?”

“Jackie, what is this place? Am I dreaming?”

“Welcome to the slipstream.”

She hyperventilated, panicked. “I don’t understand… Are we still in the library? I must have fallen asleep, but I seem to be awake. No… I don’t like this. Get me out of here.”

“Relax. Stay with me… We’re safe here.”

Firestorm’s voice boomed into the mix. “What’s your plan, Jackie? This is dangerous.”

“She has to see how things will unfold in order to trust me.”

“Who are you talking to?” Grace asked. “I’m freaking out, Jackie. It’s all so… unknown, you know?”

“I’ll stay hidden,” Firestorm promised.

“Good idea.”

I comforted Grace. “It’s alright. I’m with you. Deep breaths. Stay relaxed. This is the slipstream, a place where anything’s possible.”

Grace regained her composure. As she relaxed, several sparks of fire rained down around us. Not as many probabilities as I’m used to though…

“These are the limited streams Grace has access to,” Firestorm explained.

“Is someone else here? Who is that, Jackie?” Grace’s voice was laced with fear. “I don’t like this high. How long will it last? Take it away.”

“Don’t worry. You’re safe. Stay with me.”

Grace breathed her way through the panic like a natural. Guess that talent runs in the family.

A limited amount of portals were available to us. I felt my way through them to find the most probable future. A distant stream called out, attracting me to it.

“Aha! Over there.”

As I moved toward the portal, I spied a ghostly silhouette behind it. Beatrice pushed the stream toward us; ever present, ever guiding. A sign I was on the right track.

“It can’t be real,” Grace whispered.

“What?”

“No. I don’t believe it. It’s my… dead mother.” Grace burst into tears. “I must be hallucinating. What did you slip into my coffee, Jackie?”

“Remember, anything’s possible in the slipstream,” I told her. “Beatrice sent me here. She’s watching over us.”

“No way.” Grace shook this off as her mind playing tricks. The reality of such a place is a hard concept to accept.

“Come on, Grace. This way.”

I grabbed her hand. We moved toward the portal that contained Grace’s most probable future… Time to see what would happen if my mission didn’t succeed. I was terrified to find out how many people would die - and how…