Page 29 of Harbinger of Destiny

There was something in his eyes that looked like he was hiding something from her. She pulled back a little. “You didn’t choose me, did you? Somebody else did.”

The moment she said the words, she saw in his eyes that she was right.

Joshua nodded, looking somewhat embarrassed. “We were chosen for each other because our genetics and personalities provide the best chance of being an ideal match. Not just to produce children, but also to…” Again, he hesitated. “To fall in love.”

“I understand.” It was sobering to hear that it had all been initiated by somebody other than Joshua. “Did they force you to do this?”

“They? You mean the Institute for Time Travel? No, of course not. I volunteered. Just like all the other guys.”

“But you didn’t get to choose which woman to bring back, did you?”

He sighed. “That’s true. But you and I, we have chemistry. You can’t deny that.” He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger and brought his lips close to hers. “In fact, I believe we set the bedsheets on fire last night.”

She had to smile. “I guess we did.”

He kissed her gently, before releasing her again.

“So when are you supposed to take me back to the future?”

“Before September 29th. But given that there isn’t anything holding you here, we can go earlier. Tonight, tomorrow, at the end of this week. Next month. Whenever you’re ready.”

It was sudden, but Joshua was right. She didn’t have anything to hold her here. But she had to find out more about the future first, before she could leave the past behind her.

“Tell me more about the future,” she demanded.

17

A FAREWELL TO FRIENDS

For hours, Amy asked questions, and Joshua answered them. The more he told her about the future, the more she was certain that he wasn’t lying. His answers remained consistent, no matter how often she asked. The things he showed her on his holocom, pictures of the future, newspaper articles and government records of events still to come, helped her believe in his words. Nobody would go through so much trouble to set up such an elaborate prank. The technology of the holocom alone was far too advanced for a college-aged guy like Joshua to own. Maybe a tech billionaire could somehow get a fancy prototype like this made, but even then, she doubted that it would work like Joshua’s holocom worked.

“How does it change its color and texture to adapt to your skin?” Amy asked.

“There’s a technology that was developed from the stem cells of chameleons. Just like they adapt to their environments, so does the holocom. If you come to the future with me, they’ll fit you with one too.”

“What else is it used for other than like the internet?”

“You can make payments with it, because it’s connected to your funds. And any doctor can access your medical history in case of—”

“Funds?” she interrupted. “But I have no money.”

“Every citizen of the world receives a basic amount that covers things like food and shelter. Healthcare is free, so you’ll never have to worry about that.”

She was surprised at that. Why would a government be so generous? “Does that mean people don’t work anymore?”

“No, they work, but in jobs they enjoy. Many of the menial and back-breaking jobs are automated. By giving people enough money to take care of their survival, they’ve been given the freedom to educate themselves, work in jobs that fulfill them, and have enough time for enjoyment, self-fulfillment, and innovation.”

“Self-fulfillment and innovation?”

Joshua nodded toward her sketchbook. “You could devote your time to your art, learn everything you want to learn, and be an artist if you want.”

The freedom this thought awakened in her, was indescribable. What would it be like to not have to worry about survival anymore? “It sounds like heaven.”

He chuckled. “Don’t get me wrong. Not everything in the future is perfect. The worry for our species’ existence has put a damper on things. The population is aging, which brings a lot of problems with it. Life experiences aren’t passed down to the next generation anymore, because there barely is a next generation.”

“I understand that.” And she knew what she had to do to change that. “If I come with you, I’ll have a duty to perform, won’t I?”

He nodded. “Yes. You’ll be expected to bear children.”