Smug

Smug

August 21, 2024

“I can begin the challenge immediately. All you have to do is walk through the “doorway”. Miss Winters, you are not of this time. You have learned too much, expressed too many opinions, and have a robust hatred of societal conventions you feel are holding you back. Thus, it is time to put your money where your mouth is. I will open the portal and, if you have what you say you have, mainly the intestinal fortitude, then forever forsake our time and go to another.”

“Even if what you say is true, where or when will you send me?”

“You once told all of us that anywhere would be better than here. I will use the power saved from an accurate hold for a precision hold. In essence, when you arrive will not be as important as the quality of the arrival. The “doorway” will not close until you finish exiting. You will not be hurt on the journey. However, you also will have no recourse in which to return. In essence, this is a one way trip.”

“Then I accept the challenge. I will go to another time, possibly another place, and prove to all I encounter, I am the best prepared representative for the trek.”

Miss Winters rose and waited for the machine to spool to full power. Once the doorway opened, she gave a final statement.

“You will hear from me again.”

Miss Winters walked through, never to be seen again.

That is until she walked through the “doorway”, in the exact same spot, nearly 230 years in the future. That is what the Greeter told her as she made her entrance.

Millions watched the historic event. Billions more viewed the video currently streaming through the galaxy. The greeter called for silence and the audience understood.

Miss Winters took the time to see the “doorway” close and the dome come into focus. The Imperial Fleet kept a low orbit, despite the power drain. The High Counsel wished to be part of the historic event.

Miss Winters wanted to speak, but the Greeter did not permit anyone to break the imposed silence. He simply raised his hand to accept her hand to escort her off the ceremonial podium to an awaiting shuttle. Miss Winters moved without hesitation as the galaxy’s population watched.

“Think she knows she will be the breeder for the next generation of humans, all ten billion of them? One guard asked another as the shuttle rose to rendezvous with the Imperial slave ship.

“Who cares? It is not like she has much choice?” The second guard answered before extending his sticky tongue, capturing a small male human and pulling him into his ravenous mouth for both nutrition and taste.