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The New Millennium

The St. Vincent_crew decided that they did the same thing they came in anyway, without the _Wind of Change communication part or any other communication made at the time. That, however, was a mistake.

They got out of the fifth dimension and Lunera could clarify it from the star. The first thing they did was to try to hail anyone from the sub-space communicator, but then something was out of place the moment they realized it. There was no outpost that they used for contact with the Federation. They felt something was wrong, so they quickly move. By this point the whole crew turned normal to their age.

As perceptive as ever, Lunera quickly contacted the navigation division as to where they were. There was no answer from the other side, but when they did answer, the whole bridge went silent.

"Sir...we are currently...225 mil from Luna," said the officer.

"225 mil? 200 millions?!" exclaimed Lunera. "Are you sure the reading is correct, officer?"

"Sir, we are currently in Federation sector space. We are currently orbiting Ares, but...I have some strange readings."

"What is it?"

"There's no colony on Ares. All we can find is a survey robot currently surveying the planet's surface. I'll put it on screen."

The whole window showed the surface of the red planet Ares. For Atho, the planet felt familiar since he practically lived there for two years. He may be able to walk on the surface of Terra, but then alien ambassadors with no proper authority on Terra would only operate on the planetary embassy in Ares. Moving some of his people to Terra was out of option since they multiply very quickly, and Terrans had already had a visionary movie about hive-mind feral aliens with clear intention to kill. Atho watched that movie once, and realized how it paralleled the Black Creatures. With a title simply called 'Alien', it gave him the shivers. Until that point, the Black Creatures were still unknown aliens.

But that thought was drowned by so many surprised thoughts that told themselves the impossible. An Ares colony would be as big as a big city in Terra, but the whole planet looked like as if it wasn't touched for many years, or had not been touched at all. But then a voice took over the thoughts of uncertainty with surprise and disbelief.

"Wait, that's the Rover!" exclaimed Pritchard. "And it's still moving!"

"The Rover?" asked Lunera.

"It's a late 20th to early 21stcentury survey robot used for transmitting images of the surface of Ares back to Terra, back when our space technology was primitive and we still use up too much carbon fuel. But...It can't be possible! That thing's in an Arean museum!"

"How come I never heard about that?"

"I studied Terran history back in college," replied Pritchard. "It's not very well-known to Lunarians like you. But...if that thing's still operational then..."

"Wait, Pritchard, we can't just get to the conclusion that we jumped back in time, right?"

"No, not just time. Time and space," said Pritchard with certainty. "We apparently got out of the wrong place and wrong time. Somehow, judging from that Rover's operation and our current position, I'd say we're in late 20th century or early 21st century. We need confirmation. Set course to Terra, but don't get too close to Luna."

"So, are you saying my home does not exist, too?"

"Apparently so. What I'm more concerned about is the Terrans of this era. If we are seen by one of their long-range telescopes, we'll screw the timeline and cause a paradox. First encounter happens in 2088, and until that happens, we can't let anyone see us."

Lunera couldn't agree more to Pritchard's intuition. He may not look like someone reliable, but he was smart in his own rights. No one would've thought he know about these facts.

As _St. Vincent_moved towards Luna, they reached the place in just two hours and stopped. They kept their distance and stayed in the dark side of the satellite so as to not get caught by any camera. To Lunera's surprise and dismay, there wasn't any colony on the lunar surface except a flag symbolizing the first travel to Luna.

From their position, they could see the surface of Terra, and how everyone in the bridge and throughout the ship was surprised by how primitive everything was. Even when one officer tried to access the net, he could only found early internet websites. This proved Pritchard's theory. From there another problem started.

They needed to find a way to contact a person not yet born during that time, and they needed to find a way to deliver a message 400 years to the future, directly into the Wind of Change. It was easy to put a time capsule and hoped that anyone from the future would put it inside the Wind of Change like a recording device, but by the time of their present, media system such as compact disks and especially diskettes would be redundant.

Another problem was the transport. They needed to find out how to get out from that time period and position, but doing so without a futuristic teleporter was a hassle. In the end, Pritchard and an away team opted to use a shuttle while trying to stay under the radar. Of course, only Terrans could volunteer. The appearance of the alien races would freak everyone on Terra out, especially Rendloks and Aqura whose race had no Terran counterpart. Scyllas could potentially blend in as a draconian, but they would be out of place, too.

Pritchard and the away team, consisted of all Terran-born races, boarded the shuttle and blasted off towards Terra. Knowing very well that they could not use their futuristic clothes, they opted to blend in with contemporary clothes they fitted based on holodeck simulation. Some of the away team were given a crash course on how to behave in 20th century Terra.

To not cause suspicions, they tried to buffer the signal around them when they enter the atmosphere and land somewhere they could store the shuttle. Pritchard then looked around. They landed in the middle of a giant park in which he could identify as the Central Park, or a Central Reservation Area in 24th Terran Century.

After a brief explanation, one of the officers said, "Wait, sir, this is Metro Area?"

"As it looks like 400 years ago," said Pritchard nodding. "I guess we landed perfectly. Now, let's go to the central archive from here. I hope you know how to hail the taxi, right?"

They all nod.

"Good, because that simplifies things. Now, let me handle things. I know some early 21st century culture."

They got out to the sidewalk and Pritchard whistled towards an oncoming taxi. The taxi stopped by the side and let them in, with the rest of the away team get in, albeit feeling uncomfortable. The driver, a blue-scaled wingless draconian, looked at Pritchard and said, "Where to?"

"Central Archive."

He looked confused. "It's closed."

"We are meeting someone there."

"Oh, okay then. I guess he recommended you that pizza parlor in front of the archives. Strap up."

While the driver was driving, Pritchard pulled out some green colored paper which confused his team, but he tried not to cause the driver felt like they were from the future. He looked at them to let him handle things, but looking at how uncomfortable they were, it seemed that the captain was the only one who enjoyed this trip to the period he liked.

Meanwhile, on board the St. Vincent, Lunera was manning the captain's private communication while Atho watched from behind him. He seemed to hear a lot of Atho's telepathic voice, but he couldn't seem to hear the signature clicking sound his kind usually did when talking to each other. He knew that it would be annoying after a while, but Lunera was curious. This curiosity slipped his mind and was heard by Atho.

"We don't do that clicking sound often, you know," said Atho. "Your mind is just saturated by 20th Terran Century entertainment with giant man-sized ants terrorizing a small town."

"Wait, that was a thing?"

"At least for pre-space Terran. Care to watch one later?"

"I'll stick with current date entertainment, thank you very much."

Lunera kept looking at the communication device and the away team as they walked inside the archives. For a place that's supposed to be off-limits, it was surprising that it was still open, despite of a limit of operation back on that era (there were no robots or advanced AI, so not all stores were not 24/7). He did not look at Pritchard all the time, however. He occasionally looked at the Metro City, one of the busiest and biggest metropolis on Terra. He was initially surprised by how grimy and dirty the place was, but knowing that even in the 24th Terran Century there were still crime, he tolerated it.

After a while of silence, Atho, fed up of waiting, opened up his mind channel and said, "Lunera, I know your reservation of our race. You kept telling yourself that we are an honest race, but deep down you still don't trust us. Isn't that right?"

"I guess I can't fool a telepath," said Lunera. "Yeah, to be honest, I'm not so keen around bugs."

"A draconian who can breathe fire, afraid of bugs?"

"No, not afraid! I just...don't like them. It's not that I have something against your race. It's who you are, but seeing how you look like you can dissolve my innards and eat me inside you any time made me shudder."

"The fact is, we may look like insects, but we don't do that. We eat meat."

"Yeah, you've tried to prove us many times already, but still...you're the first alien race that has four arms and four eyes. I know we shouldn't be scared since there's this black-colored eyeless feral alien in the movies, but...fiction can't beat the real thing."

"I suppose you're right. And about that thing..."

"Yeah, I know. Xenomorphs are similar to the Black Creatures. But, let's not talk about race. Let's talk about you."

"What about me?"

"You have been travelling with Dairyu Tsukasa for a while, right? How's he?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself when we are out of this?"

"We're...not actually close. We may be Orients, but his status as a Warrior and a war hero made me feel out of place. He's also not known to be a friendly guy."

"To be honest with you, he isn't," said Atho. "He can be a little too honest and a little too violent for my taste. His morale is a little bit rustic, if that's the right term."

"Rustic like?"

"He does not face enemies head-on, and does not like fighting for a greater good. He's just...normal and going with the flow. Do you know the current Kaf'rak of the Scyllas?"

"Renziletis Mankoreta the third. Yes, I also know that he was one of his crewmates."

"Don't tell anyone that I told you this, and especially not Let. It's our little secret."

After Lunera nodded, Atho said, "Let was a slave owned by an Aldoon when we first met him. Somehow Dairyu knew who he was and buy him off."

"Wait, what?"

"You did not hear that wrong."

"Dairyu Tsukasa, a war hero, slave trader? That's one hell of a secret you let me on."

"You don't feel betrayed?"

"Nah, I'm not. To me, Dairyu earned that commendation. His past may be shady, but he proved himself to be a strong leader and great warrior. I'm not sure about Seiryu, though."

"He's quite infamous in your history."

"He was a tool for the old regime, who were xenophobic. I know Dairyu was one, but Seiryu was the one who tarnished our history as peace-loving, wise draconians from the East. I know he's a ghost, but knowing that he looked like he had recently died, I don't know how he will act in this peaceful time. It's no longer his element."

"Well, the universe will be the judge of that." Atho then looked at the screen. "I guess Pritchard is clear now."

Lunera resumed watching the screen in front of him. Pritchard had finished doing something in the archives, presumably recording something that he could use to contact Wind of Change in the future. It wasn't a guaranteed success, but he needed to try.

Depending on what he said in there, it could be something that needed waiting, as they walked to the other side of the road and disappeared inside a store with a giant writing in front of it: 'Mick's Pizza Parlor'. Lunera sighed and closed the camera, knowing very well that it would take a long time.

400 years into the future, the Wind of Change happened to see the video Pritchard and the other made, and it was preserved in the ship's databank. A quick check from Capisa revealed that it had been planted in the ship when it was first being built, but they did not know about this before. It was scheduled to broadcast something at the most specific moment they could say, which was right after the_St. Vincent_ disappeared.

"Okay, this is going to be an urgent but bizarre message. I am talking to you from inside the Metro City Archives, 400 years ago. We are one night before the new millennium and we are currently trapped in this time period. We accidentally stumbled upon a dimensional tear, but our effort in getting out turned out to be a dangerous task with random results. We tried to replicate the same moment when we were thrown inside the fifth dimension but somehow, we ended up in a different time and space."

Capisa found the pause function of that video (fortunately it wasn't a streamed video) and said, "Is this a hoax?"

"Given how urgent that is, I doubt that's a hoax," said Dairyu while looking at Pritchard. "And given how everything doesn't make sense, this might be one of the risks. Do you know anything about this, Seiryu?"

"All I can say is, the Fifth Dimension is a very confusing place you can't understand. Nothing in there is set, and everything is flying aimlessly in between dimensions. Basically, reality is twisted in that plane. A stranded ship like the St. Vincent will not be able to get out to the same place if they don't know how things work. I don't even know how things work, either. I only died for a week and you are already old and the galaxy is at peace."

"So, time and space is irrelevant. How are we going to get them without a time machine or time distortion or shits like that?"

"You know, let's watch the whole video first before we make assumptions."

The rest of the crew agreed. Capisa resumed the video.

"We don't know how to proceed from here. We'll resume the video some days later. We hope we can find a way back to our time before everything's too late. Pritchard out."

The video stopped momentarily before it started again, this time with a different time stamp. It was some 2 years later and it was from a different place. It wasn't Metro City anymore.

"Hey, long time no see. When you see this video, then I guess you still don't know how to do things, huh? To be honest with you, we don't know either, but we recently heard about a theory regarding time distortion due to the dimensional tear. We cannot be sure since we got the idea from a TV show, but what if we can create a bridge from this point in time and the future so we can go home? There is a problem in that, though. You won't be able to pinpoint your position, and it is very dangerous to attempt this. Unless your ship is a time ship, it is impossible. However, here's the thing. We got into contact with one of your ancestors, Dairyu. His name is Jiro Tsukasa."

"Jiro?" said Dairyu in confusion. "Isn't he the award-winning astrophysicist?"

"How do you know?"

"He's quite popular. Not sure why. It's 400 years ago."

"He can be your bridge," said Pritchard. "Another thing you should do is to get to our last known position. That way, we can try linking you with us. Anyway, you gotta be quick. This knowledge is beyond our understanding and is clearly not something that will happen soon. It's all theoretical and seems fictional, but it's our only chance. We are slowly losing our original selves because of the time trying to adjust its way around us. If we wait for much longer, we will forget that we were 24th century people. The St. Vincent is still orbiting Luna, but sooner or later we will not remember. Please make haste!"

The video then ended. The group hoped that there would be another transmission, but after a while, they realized that they could not remember who they were. Everything they heard made no sense at all. How could a mere TV show inspired them to try that maneuver? Even existing theories about time paradox and such were not explained.

But then, despite of hesitation, the group realized that it was their only way to save St. Vincent from being trapped in the past and causing the future to be jeopardized. They needed to act fast so they could find a way to get to the group in the past before time re-adjust around them.

What they didn't think of, however, was how Pritchard could explain everything as if he was a theorist. He may be a smart and resourceful person, but was not a theorist. Dairyu, and especially Rose, was pondering about that as they prepared for the FTL jump through nearby Relay Gates.

Meanwhile, in the past, at the same moment after Pritchard gave that transmission, he was utterly confused as to why he could recite everything as if it was clear. He knew Dairyu's ancestor, Jiro Tsukasa, was a great Orient with a great mind, but he never would've think about it. He devised the same theory about time and how it flows, but not how to travel with a dimensional bridge.

But, that message could be the final message before they came looking. Whatever happened next, Pritchard could only hope that Dairyu and his group came towards them without fail. If not, the future is going to end.

His problem right now was Dairyu's ancestor. Jiro was clearly perceptive and it ran in the family, down to Dairyu's generation. He quickly knew that Pritchard and the away team were not from his era by the confusion they had on some contemporary things (like complaining on the internet's speed while it was basically the fastest Jiro had, or any internet speed during that time).

After some persuasion and push, Pritchard had enough and invited Jiro into St. Vincent. For being only 25 years old and a geek, he thought everything in St. Vincent was cool, down to the Rendloks. He was, however, not obnoxious, relaxing Pritchard even though he knew this was out of regulation.

After invited to the captain's quarters and met Atho and Lunera, Jiro then turned serious and said, "So you want me to become a time bridge with my future descendant, right? You know that can cause a paradox, right?"

"I don't think so..."

"We are still the same blood and the same Orient, so of course that can go wrong pretty quickly. But, well...I guess I'll try to trust one of those time travelling episodes of 'Time after Time' if I want to make this thing work."

"Basing everything on TV shows won't give us the conclusion we needed." Inside his head, Pritchard sighed and said, "This is the award-winning astrophysicist?"

"Hey, everyone needs to start somewhere," said Atho through his mind. "It's a good start to know that he's not freaking out around me."

"So, uh...you look like an ant," said Jiro while he looked at Atho. "Doesn't look like a typical bug-eyed monster, so I guess I can trust you. I assume you guys are from the future, right?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

"How is it like there, in your present? I bet it's a utopia, unlike the grimy, criminal-ridden Metro City of my present," said Jiro, but along the way he tried not to look towards the group. Lunera was the first to realize that his expression turned from fascination to sadness.

"Hey...you don't need to talk about it if you don't want to," said Lunera. Jiro looked at him and was left speechless with the Orient's height, but despite of that, it did not return his fascination of the future. The others in that room also felt the same. They thought they would be annoyed by a future astrophysicist asking too many questions, but then they felt something with Jiro. This prompted Atho to look into his mind, and found out that he had so many 'locked' memory sections, which he could only conclude as a secret that he didn't want to share.

"Hey, Jiro..."

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me," said Jiro forcing himself to smile. "I just...don't feel like asking things now."

"Is there something that we can help aside from showing you around? I mean, we thought..."

"No, I don't think that seeing a future starship can help me either way. Don't get me wrong, I still like sci-fi. It's just...seeing the real deal makes me feel...empty."

"We're sorry to disappoint you, but either way, we need your help."

"What am I supposed to do? People from 2001 doesn't have interstellar spaceships, let alone FTL drive. But I'll trust how you're going to do for this. Just tell me what to do."

"Nothing for now. We are trying to wait for a sign," said Pritchard, which made the rest of them turned towards him in surprise. "Somehow, I believe that sign to be right, but right now, we'll wait."

Pritchard was then pulled by Atho aside, while Lunera walked outside with Jiro. He looked at the youth's expression as he looked Earth from the bridge. It was a mix of fascination and sadness, so he said, "Wanna look at it in the rec room? It has a big window just like this."

Jiro complied and walked with Lunera to the rec room. The Orient was clearly depressed despite of walking inside a place that's clearly a science fiction for him. Jiro looked like he had just lost someone very important that it was overriding his need for fascination and disbelief.

As they reached the rec room, Lunera ordered two cups of coffee from the replicator. He then offered one of them to Jiro while inviting him to see Terra. Jiro was fascinated by the replicatior, but Lunera could still see his reluctance. The planet looked so bright from the window, which took Jiro's attention. Lunera was glad that he could be bright and happy upon seeing Terra from up above. He then patted his shoulder and said, "Not bad for a hospital ship, huh?"

"This is a hospital ship? But it looks more like an exploration ship like the one in 'Star Travelers'."

"We have a sister ship that's currently travelling to another galaxy. It will take 20 years before they reach that place, so we can only wait. Also, I understood that reference, Jiro. Never thought the future they imagined would be a true thing."

"Yeah...I guess that's right."

Jiro and Lunera looked at Terra for a while, before Lunera said, "So...you're ready to talk about it?"

Jiro sighed. "You're clearly a perceptive Orient, huh. What's your name?"

"Lunera."

"Lunera.... That's an interesting name you got there."

"I'm not born on Terra. I think it's obvious from my height. That is also why I cannot go to Terra."

"Huh...yeah, I guess that's cool."

Lunera nodded, then looked towards Terra. "You know, everyone on the bridge quickly realize that our little guest of honor does not look interested in future technology, and yes, everybody in there knows that you just lost someone."

"How can you tell?"

"Where to start...you look just like me when I lost my brother in a war. I suppose you lost someone too. That's why I invited you to this lounge, so we can talk about it."

Jiro then quickly looked at Lunera and smiled. He looked like someone who found someone who he could relate to, and that made the Lunarian proud. He could convince someone to talk about himself, unlike some of his friends who tried to fight for it themselves...and himself, back when he lost his brother in the Black Creature Crisis.

They talked and relate about their problems. Jiro related his problems, especially that his parents were in the collapsing office tower when an aircraft accident hit it and cause it to collapse. Many did not survive, including Jiro's parents. It happened recently in Metro City, as it was recorded in history. He had been trying to find a decent job and even any paid projects in his university, but nothing came to light, especially since the traumatic incident was still fresh in everyone's mind.

The sadness of that discussion turned to be a cheerful and humorous situation between the two Orients. Slowly but sure, they talked about contemporary culture and future culture, which were vastly different. Jiro returned his fascination with the future when Lunera talked about the Federation and space frontiers, while Jiro intrigued Lunera with old technologies that seemed to work like it was still new. Lunera was fascinated with the primitive laptop that could not give out holographic screen, in addition to being bulky and low-tech, yet was able to hold so much things inside, including a classic video game that had mostly turned into virtual reality stuff or even holodeck simulations. The Orient recognized the game Jiro played was a real-time strategy called 'Sins of the Space Empire', a classic game remastered so many times after the series ended with the fifth title.

In turn, Lunera showed Jiro the 'game of the future', showing him a holographic 'playground' with the same game in Jiro's laptop. Lunera knew that it had a risk of creating a paradox, especially since Jiro was an astrophysicist and not an engineer. But he knew an Orient had recently lost his loved one would not care, and the fire Orient did not tell Jiro as he played the game, clumsily, since he wasn't playing it with keyboard and mouse, but virtual touch. Lunera offered to play with him, and both laughed when Lunera, clearly not a gamer, failed miserably in the game.

After a while, however, Jiro and Lunera were called to the bridge. They both quickly went there and found Pritchard in the captain's room, where he showed them an impossible thing.

There was a subspace communication between the ship and a currently unidentified ship, clearly from the same frequency as the Wind of Change. However, it was distorted and garbled. Pritchard then turned towards Jiro and said, "Now it's your turn, kid."

"Wait, what am I supposed to do? I'm not..."

Somehow, that was the only thing that was needed for the connection to the unknown frequency. The moment he talked and touched the communication table, there was a wormhole forming near Luna, where a much smaller ship quickly appeared on their radar. Everyone in the captain's room ran out of the bridge to see a familiar ship flying in front of them. There was a cheer and great celebratory noise in the bridge when they realized the ship's design and defining features.

"St. Vincent to Wind of Change," said Pritchard with a smile. "What took you so long?"

"We took the scenic route," said the recognizable voice of Dairyu. "Kept you waiting, huh?"