Queen of Freedom: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Mrs. Chen Book Two

Chapter 1

Jonathan thrust at the last minute, trying to inflict damage before his enemy disappeared completely, but he was too late. He rushed around the desk and tried to get back into his system. Mrs. Chen was good. It took him a full ten minutes to peel back the layers of encryption, another fifteen to reset his own security. It might take days to search the data and see what exactly had been taken, altered, and damaged.

He started to call the police, but she'd be long gone by now. The transporter was fairly easily traced, but she'd only gone a few blocks, and he assumed she had a backup plan from there. His one solace was the pain it had likely caused her. He’d never used a transporter, but he’d heard enough tales to get a little satisfaction.

Home.

It was surreal that he was finally back. He would have to explain his prematurely aged appearance to family and friends, but he hoped it wouldn’t be too shocking. He drummed his fingers on the table and his pinky hit the glass screen, activating a simple message that flashed Welcome Home.

Home.

It was all he’d wanted for the past ten years.

He closed his eyes and saw Sam, her face bathed in firelight as she slept, Bai’s toothless grinning face, Julian…friend and surrogate father. He waved his hand over the screen and it went to sleep.

He headed upstairs and stood under a warm shower for an hour. He should've ordered ice cream. Jasper, he said when he finally emerged, show me records for any Samantha Sutton alive in the 1700s.

None available, sir.

What about Charlotte Sutton?

None available, sir.

Jonathan went through his entire crew and found a couple birth and death records, but nothing to indicate any of their fates. Jasper, find Mrs. Chen.

No trace available, sir.

You’re not good for much today, are you?

Any further instructions, sir?

No, Jasper, go to sleep.

It was still early and there was plenty to do. The entire planet was under surveillance…Mrs. Chen couldn’t hide for long. If she chose to head offworld, she'd be detained fairly quickly. He sent a quick APB. The web would be looking for her now. He needed to clear his mind, and the best way to do that was to work on the TimePod. The Cessna hull needed to be replaced, at the very least, and then he could work on security and manual override so nothing like this would ever happen again.

The afternoon passed quickly and he scheduled dinner with his mom and dad for the evening. They glanced at each other with worried expressions, but chose not to comment on his appearance.

I warned you, he said with a wry laugh.

Son, you look like hell. It must have been some wild night. His father chuckled.

Something like that.

So, ten years, huh?

Yeah, a little more.

Tell us all about it, honey. Jonathan recounted his tale and when he was through his mother patted him on the knee. Oh, sweetie, it must have been terrible. No wonder you look so sad.

Do I?

Well, it’s been a few months since we’ve seen you, but you always seem happy when we visit. I’m not complaining…you’ve been attacked, beaten, enslaved, shot…that would get anyone down.

It actually…it wasn’t bad. Jonathan thought about the Maria, standing on the bow with the wind in the sails, sunset off the port side.

Of course. You can’t think negatively, or it will just ruin the rest of your life. We’re just glad it’s all over and you’re home safely. I hope you destroy that thing.

Destroy what…the TimePod?

Of course. Don’t tell me you’re going to keep working on it with everything you’ve been through.

Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I repaired most of the hull today, in fact.

What for? You can’t seriously be thinking of taking another trip! Jonathan’s mother looked like she was going to faint.

The TimePod works. Don’t you see how amazing that is?

And if it strands you again somewhere for another ten, or a hundred years, what then?

I’m not going again until I have more control, and I’m looking into restructuring so I don’t have the same issues with the hull. I’m considering some tech that would actually grow a new skin for it in a day or two if it gets destroyed.

We’re more worried about your skin. What happens if you aim wrong, and end up in space, or inside a rock? What then?

I haven’t seen you for ten years, and this is what we’re going to do? Fight?

Sweetie, we’re not trying to fight, but we can’t let you do this. It’s not safe.

No, it is most definitely not safe. Sam’s words made him smile.

Then why?

Why…that was the question. Sam always said it was the only important question. Why try again? Why had he chosen not to return before he left…prevent it from happening? The origin point, plus or minus about a minute was always the most stable point. He’d purposely programmed it forward a little. He told himself it was so he wouldn’t create a paradox, but he’d made enough stir in history, and still returned to the future he remembered. Cassie said things happen the way they happen. He couldn’t explain but he believed her. He could have been young again, rich, handsome…no crooked nose or jagged scar on his shoulder, blissfully unaware of a rugged life on the sea or in rural China.

Because I’ve never been so happy.

Silence. Jonathan looked at their shocked faces. He took an uncomfortable sip of his water.

Oh my god, you’re going back, aren’t you?

Before he could answer, they began to talk over one another. Over my dead body! Honey, you’ve got a life here, your dad and me, your sister is about to have a baby… Are you fuckin’ crazy? …not to mention all of your employees. There’s no way in hell you're doing this again, if I have to knock you out and lock you in the basement! You have everything you’ve ever dreamed of here, a beautiful house… God damn it, Jonathan, listen to your mother! …your dream car, not to mention running water and proper medical care. How could you even think of going back? they asked in unison.

Other diners were beginning to stare and the maître d’ began to head over, but Jonathan waved him off. I never said I was going back. You guys can quit yelling now.

Relief washed over his mother’s face as she took her seat again. Promise us you never will. Please, Jonathan, just destroy that thing. Imagine the damage it could do, not just to you, but to the world.

I’m working on making it safe, and I promise not to use it again until I have better control, but I’ve worked on this for years, and I’m not throwing all that down the drain.

Jonathan…listen to reason…

This conversation is going nowhere. I know you mean well, but you couldn’t change my mind when I was seventeen. I’m a thirty-five year old man. I love you, but I don’t need your permission.

The realization hit them hard. He wasn’t their kid any more, not even the twenty-five year old version he'd been just a few days ago. He watched them wrestling with the fact. But honey…

He changed the subject. How are Sean and Sidney doing? I can’t remember how far along she is.

Jonathan’s mother shook her head, clearly holding back the tears. She’s due on the twenty-ninth. Very excited.

That’s good. Did they decide on a name, or are they waiting until she’s born?

They’ve got some Excrikorian names I can’t even pronounce, Shakalali…Shatalali…Sha something. I voted for Josie, or Olivia. Something I can spell.

Good luck with that. I’m afraid you raised two stubborn kids.

Please, honey…

Mom. Jonathan took her hand. I’ll be careful.

In bed that night, Jonathan thought over the rest of their very stilted conversation. He couldn’t even recall what he had to eat. They thought he was crazy, and maybe he was. But if he got the TimePod working, he could see his friends, see Samantha again…his heart skipped a beat. He could prove her story and send her home to her family, if that’s what she wanted to do.

Jasper, when's the next possible jump time?

The next optimal conditions will occur on November 21, 2329 at 6:24 pm.

That gave him over five months. His biggest obstacle was increasing the size to accommodate three people…it would mean recalibrating everything and maybe stretching the anomaly he was traveling through. Might not even be possible. If not, he'd have to wait much longer to wait for one to naturally occur. One large enough for Sam’s Cessna only happened every twenty-five years or so.

He began to work out shapes in his mind before transferring the numbers to his screen for Jasper to hone. It was frustrating…every single module failed the simulation. Five months. I can do this. He worked on it until six a.m. and went in to work at eight, mulling over a potential prototype.

His office door swung open without requesting a code, and he groaned. He should have locked it down altogether. Hopefully Mrs. Chen had not gotten back in. He stopped cold. The place was trashed. He saw a FuBot drive and knew every byte of data on his computer was gone. Just to make sure he couldn’t recover it, someone had taken a sledgehammer to everything. Jasper?

There was no answer.

Jasper? Jonathan put his backup earpieces in, but all he got was silence. Shit, he said out loud as he noticed the FuBot’s antenna. He rushed to open his screen, but it was black. He threw it across the room. Every inch of data on his entire private server would be corrupted beyond repair by now.

He turned around, already knowing he'd find the TimePod completely destroyed. The hull was smashed to pieces, the motherboard and all key components missing. He picked up a chair leg and began beating on the wreckage in frustration. Security pods glided in. Sir? Are you okay?

He tossed the leg down and sank into his couch.

Sir…did you do all this…or?

No, this is how I found it this morning, he growled. Check the security log and get someone to clean this mess up.

Are you okay otherwise, sir? Your appearance is altered.

I know what I look like. Just do as I say.

I’m sorry, sir, we’re going to need to confirm your identity.

Jonathan glared as the guard scanned his body to compare the capillary map in his file. It was only a ninety-eight percent match, so it scanned Jonathan’s cornea and FamScanned his DNA. Happy?

Yes, Mr. Chesterfield. Please forgive the intrusion. We’ll send maintenance to refresh your office and put out an APB on the perpetrator.

Find out who it is first and let me see before you send it out to the web. Jonathan had a terrible idea forming. There was only one person who had carte blanche access to his security. It was supposed to be emergency access only.

A few minutes later, he watched footage of his father systematically destroying three years of Jonathan’s life. He sighed, suddenly feeling too tired to be angry. In a way, it was funny really…kind of ironic. There was no way he could rebuild the TimePod from scratch in five months. Without Jasper, it might be impossible altogether.

Unless there was another copy. Mrs. Chen most likely had one, and Jonathan hadn’t mentioned it to his father. Suddenly he hoped she was guilty of larceny. He summoned security again and they flew around the corner. Yes, sir.

I have a rough draft of Jasper in the drive in the vault at SecTech. You, retrieve that for me. One of the pods zoomed off to comply. "You…if you don’t want me to dismantle you and all your security buddies piece by piece tomorrow, find me Mrs. Chen."

Chapter 2

The door to his parents’ house tentatively opened, and his father stood there, defiant, waiting for the firestorm to start. He looked nervously at the dagger tucked inside Jonathan’s belt and took a half a step back. Missed a spot. Jonathan gave him an ironic smile and held out a thin piece of the TimePod’s hull that had avoided demo.

His father took it and Jonathan pushed past him and went into the living room where Sidney stood up and cheerfully waddled over to him. I always wanted to be a younger sister. This isn’t exactly what I had in mind, but I’ll take what I can get. She threw her arms around his neck. Mom and dad told me what you went through. How horrible!

It wasn’t horrible.

What part? Doing your business in the corner of a jail cell? Being tied to a post and beaten? 'Cause if you’re into that sort of thing, I do not want to know!

How’s the little one doing? Jonathan asked, and put his hand on her belly, where it had just poked out and was now undulating under her sweater dress.

Healthy and coming soon, thankfully. I’m glad I don’t have to carry her through the summer.

Jonathan laughed. Try it without environmental controls. Then I'll sympathize.

No, thanks. I can barely stand the twelve feet from the curb to our apartment building entrance already. Keep in mind I can hardly breathe.

Well, you’re doing great, and you look beautiful.

Oh, good god, you went and got all sentimental.

Being away from home for ten years will do that to you.

Not my big bro…you’re the least cheesy person I know. She punched him in the chest, but her eyes were soft. What’s that? She pointed to his dagger.

It’s from my collection at my office, from when Grandmother died. You got the silver from the Chesterfields, I got this. He pulled it out and looked it over. My secretary said there’s some legend attached. I vaguely remember mom telling me a story one time, but I wasn’t listening.

You always did have that nose stuck in the web somewhere. What did you do for fun back in the olden days without electronics to tinker with?

I take it mom and dad skipped over the part where I was captain of my own trading vessel and traveled the world.

Sidney laughed out loud. You? A sailor? I don’t see it. You’ve never used those big muscles to pick up anything bigger than a neural interface. How many times did you crash your boat?

He chuckled and shook his head. I was pretty worthless up front. Captain Gomes and Oliveira got me to where I was fairly competent.

You ever make anyone walk the plank?

His eyes sparkled. No plank, but I threw a pirate overboard with my bare hands once.

Yeah right. You’re just trying to impress us.

If you find executing a thief and murderer impressive, I suppose so.

Sidney looked skeptical. Jonathan nodded to her questioning expression and her eyes got wide. Serious?

Can’t get far on the ocean without swift justice.

So, what did you sell?

Bunch of things…market trends change there just like here. I had a great time with silk and tea…those were kind of staples. But I also traded porcelain, cotton, rare spices, sometimes even coinage. It was fun being a venture capitalist. Different from inventing, but I found the strategy part of it challenging and interesting. I’m actually quite wealthy.

Not like you are from the tessalator.

Well, money is different there. It’s not exactly…even. My quality of life there…my status…was every bit as good as here.

So you were rich, handsome, traveled the world. Please tell me that with no computers you finally noticed women. Any fine pirate lasses try to take over your boat…or your heart?

Jonathan looked at his parents, who were also listening curiously.

I knew it! There’s a girl! Ha! Sidney shouted, triumphant.

I didn’t say that, said Jonathan uncomfortably. He didn’t want to share Sam with them. It would scare his parents all over again, and he didn’t want to think about the possibility he'd never get back.

You don’t have to. I can see it on your face. Don’t tell me someone finally landed my ‘most eligible bachelor’ big brother. Do you have little mini-Jonathans running around history?

His misery was rapidly increasing. He apparently didn’t do a good enough job hiding it. Sidney’s face turned white as a sheet. She gasped and sat down. It suddenly wasn’t funny anymore.

Oh, Jonathan, I’m so sorry.

You have a wife and children back there? Jonathan’s father stepped forward and demanded.

No…

Honey, why didn’t you tell us? His mother was close to tears.

I wouldn’t have… His dad looked horrified.

Wouldn’t you, dad? Jonathan asked. It would still be just as risky. I would have done the same to my son. Hell, you did me a favor. Starting all over means I can fix the mistakes I made the first time.

Doesn’t your wife care about your safety? Is she so selfish she begged you to come back despite the risks?

Samantha is not my wife, Jonathan said quietly, and no. She begged me to destroy the pod and never come back.

You had a kid with a chick you’re not married to? Sidney started to smile again. She leaned forward and whispered loudly in his ear, You run…I’ll hold them back!

It’s not what you think, and unfortunately, I can’t explain. Please just trust me when I say I am not at fault. He glared at his sister, who was enjoying this way too much.

So you abandoned this Samantha to take care of herself and your kid in China.

Jonathan closed his eyes, wishing to be anywhere else in all of space and time. He’d been more comfortable in jail in Septa.

How could you do something like that, Jonathan? Women were helpless back then with no one to protect them.

Jonathan smirked before he could catch himself.

Son, I’m going to wipe that smile off your face if you don’t. This is serious. His father was fuming.

If you knew Sam, you wouldn’t worry about her, or Charlie. She can take care of herself financially and physically, and I gave my men instructions to check in on her when they are in the area. She also has Julian, one of my crew, who's staying with them. Get off my back. I would never leave someone I love helpless.

Jonathan hoped they would assume Charlie was his. He could never in a million years admit the truth to them. His first research once Jasper was online would be whether he was his own ancestor. Plot for a great melodrama…perhaps he needed to go into entertainment production. He smiled again to himself.

They seemed to take the bait. So you’re going to start again, his father said in a low voice.

It was clearly not the conclusion for which they had hoped. I’ve already started ordering the supplies…and changed my security, in case anyone present wants to know. There's a copy out there, at least I think. Jonathan swore he remembered seeing Mrs. Chen with a drive. He'd gone from hoping she failed to praying she'd been successful. But if I can’t find it, I’ll start from scratch.

Sidney came and put her arms as far around him as she could, which wasn’t very far past her own protruding belly. Just…be safe.

I'll do my best, ‘little sis’, he joked.

At least you can go get your face fixed. No one else even has to know you’re practically ancient.

Jonathan’s hand came to his cheek as he remembered Sam’s fingers lingering there, the sincerity in her eyes as she asked him not to change. No, I don’t think I will.

Even your nose?

Sam gave me this nose…seems ungrateful to go altering it.

She broke your nose? Maybe she can take care of herself after all.

In her defense, she fixed it, too.

Sidney grinned and turned to their mother. It smells like dinner’s ready. Do you need some help? Something tells me we’re going to need sustenance for this part of the story.

Chapter 3

Sam camped early the first night of her trip so she could pull into Mr. Chou’s village midafternoon the following day. He was generally out patrolling the forest at that time, and she wanted time to put Charlie and Jiao safely in the hotel room before she sought out his company. She didn’t see evidence of his men on watch yet, so she gave the girls instructions to stay put while she did business with her roguish partner.

The dining area of the inn was deserted when she got inside. One of Chou’s lady friends brought her a plate of food and a mug of wine and Sam tipped her handsomely. You’re early, my lady. Mr. Chou has not come back to town yet. Shall I send word for him?

I don’t mind waiting. I need to get an early start tomorrow, so I figured I'd get to bed early. How's your son doing?

His ears are much better, my lady. Thank you for looking at him.

I’ll pass your thanks on to my housemaid. Jiao has many surprising uses for oils. Keep flushing his sinuses with salt water like I showed you. Hopefully he'll grow out of those allergies and get fewer ear and sinus infections.

He's so much more comfortable now.

What about you? Have you any family to take care of you? You mentioned an uncle in Nánchāng that might get you work as a tailor. The embroidery you did on my petticoat was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. You truly have a gift.

The woman bowed shyly. No, my lady, my uncle won't have me back.

I’m sorry to hear that. Perhaps you can find some work in Nánchāng. If someone sees your talent, I know you can get hired somewhere. It’s a larger city…easier to escape wagging tongues.

You're kind, my lady, but I’m too far gone for redemption. I make good money, my son is fat and happy, and my house is comfortable.

Sam replied softly, I understand. Here, take this. She pushed a small bag full of silver coins across the table. Set it aside and don’t spend it…just in case you change your mind someday. Think of it as a way to keep your options open.

No, I can’t take that.

I insist. You can put it in your pocket, or I can leave it on the table for thieves. You’re a good girl and deserve to choose. You’re no longer trapped, with this in your purse.

The woman hurriedly put it in her pocket and swept out of the room. She was strong and proud, and Sam knew she wouldn’t want to cry in front of her.

Are you trying to chase away my whores again, my flame-haired temptress?

I wish you wouldn't call them that.

I flatter no one, not even for you. He pulled a chair around and straddled it backward.

Sam noticed that several of Chou’s men were standing closer than usual, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood up. He kept his eyes on her, but he was drumming his fingers on the back of the chair. It looked like nothing, but she watched, and noticed a pattern…one two two, one two two…a signal, and his men were responding.

She kept her face passive and friendly, nonchalantly dropping her hands to her lap, gripping the hilt of her Jian in one hand, a long dagger in the other. I came to give you some news, Mr. Chou. If your charms aren’t sufficient to entice your lady friends to stay, that’s hardly my fault.

I’ve offered many times to give you a taste of my charms. You know I'm eager to taste yours as well.

The drumbeat stopped, and Sam listened closely to the steps of the men around her. There, to the left was the one with the shuffling steps, his knee stiff from an injury falling off a horse. To her left, the stealthier steps of the left-handed one…she would need to make allowances for his freakishly long reach. The nose-whistler was behind her to the right, his whistle getting louder as he accidentally stepped on a loose floorboard.

Mr. Chou licked his lips, which curved into a Cheshire cat grin.

She replied, I fear my charms too sweet for you, Mr. Chou. I’m not sure you'd appreciate losing your teeth.

With her final word, Mr. Chou gave the signal to his men, who lunged forward. Sam’s weapons appeared with barely a sound as she jumped up and kicked her chair backward, catching one of the men full in the ribs. His breath was knocked out with a whoosh, as Sam whirled around and elbowed a second man in the face. His sword came down on hers as he cursed in pain and annoyance.

Whistle Nose threw the chair out of the way and came to help his friend, and the two of them rained blows down on Sam. She caught them all and managed to stay on her feet, putting a table between her and the two men. One of them tipped it up against her and she fell back for a second, barely ducking in time to avoid losing her head.

Mr. Chou barked a loud command at the man, and Sam used the distraction to get some distance. She took out a throwing knife and flung it past Whistle Nose’s head. He objected loudly and dropped back. The other two men tried to flank Sam. She was running out of room in the dining area, and with the bar to her back, the two had her cornered. Shuffle Foot told his friend to hold back while he deflected her Jian and tried to rush her.

She ducked low and thrust with her dagger, turning it at the last minute so the handle caught him in the ribs, then she stood tall and let his momentum take him over her shoulder, into the air and over the bar. With more space, she freed herself from being trapped and headed back to the center of the room. She eyed Chou warily as he sat there and watched. He was waiting for her to tire, then he'd be on top of her.

The remaining man was by far the best