Free Touchstone (Meridian Series) by John Schettler, Mark Prost

keep
the Arch running forever—and I damn well won’t be a prisoner here because of a
glitch in your time theory.”
           “It’s more than a glitch, Robert—it’s Paradox.  Christ,
we’ve one member of the team down already. Now what if you vanish in a haze the
instant we set foot outside this lab?”
           “I won’t,” said Nordhausen. “I’m a Free Radical—you said it
yourself—and more than that: I’m a Prime Mover. My head is a living process.
It’s a mini-Nexus all on its own. Time wouldn’t dare lay her greedy little
hands on me. I was the one who deciphered the Palma clues that led us to Minifir. I’m an original Founding Father.
You hear me?” He shouted that last bit at the ceiling, not at Paul, as if he
were hurling a challenge at Mother Time herself, daring her to interfere.
           “No,” he said again. “Kelly’s down, and I’m responsible—responsible
for it all —for every living being outside that door: all the misery, the
suffering, for everything that’s going amiss now, or ever will go wrong because
of my foolish meddling. It all depends on me. I’m the one that caused it, and
if time wants me, then by God, let her have me. But I’ve got to see
about Kelly, one way or another, no matter what happens.”
           His expression was almost pleading now, tormented by
everything he had concluded. Paul knew that there would be no stopping him, so
he stepped quickly to Nordhausen’s side, putting his arm on his shoulder.
           “Then we’ll go together,” he said with finality. “I’ll
second your motion. If time wants to pick a fight with you, then I’ve got your
back, Robert. She’ll have to take on the two of us. Let’s go.”
           They started for the door. In spite of his resolve,
Nordhausen could not help the thumping of his heart as they pushed it open and
stepped into the foyer. His mouth was dry and a sheen of sweat misted his
brow.  The cooler air of the outer foyer played upon his forehead, giving him a
momentary start when he felt the chill.
           He hesitated, a shiver taking him as he stood there. What
if Paul was right? Then he felt his friend’s reassuring touch at his elbow, and
his strength returned.
           “I’m a bloody damn Prime!” he bellowed, his voice echoing
in the foyer. “You want me? Here I bloody well am!”
           Paul could not help smiling, in spite of his own anxiety.
As they pressed ahead, he cast furtive glances this way and that, as if he
expected to see a pack of ravenous hounds fall upon them the instant they set
foot outside the door. There was a bluster of wind outside, a low growl that
preyed upon his emotions.
           But nothing happened to them. They pressed on, Nordhausen
boldly pushing at the outer door until it gave way and they were out in the
twilight of the early evening as it settled on the parking lot.
           “Well, that’s done it,” Paul breathed. “We’re outside the
Nexus for sure now. How do you feel?”
           “I’m fine,” said Nordhausen. “I told you, Paul. You said it
yourself. We’re all Prime Movers now—possibly more. We’re imperative to the
whole notion of time travel. You don’t fuck with an imperative, my
friend. I’m fine—you’re fine— “
           “Then what’s happened to Kelly?” said Paul, and a bit of the
bravado eclipsed in Nordhausen’s eyes. “I wouldn’t be so smug until we figure
that out, Robert. But the fact that I was proven wrong just now leads me to
believe that the Nexus is deeper than we thought. It’s not just the physical
Nexus about the Arch now…it’s something more. Time is waiting. She isn’t
certain what to do. I’m not exactly certain either, but whatever the answer is,
you and I have something to do with the outcome.”
     
    ~
     
           The two men had much on their minds as they drove to University Hospital . When they got there, they