The ELI Event B007R5LTNS

our past in order to positively affect our present, I propose that this event is where we should begin.”
    The four comrades looked at each other in silent agreement. Aurora finally spoke, weakly but clearly. “I’m going, you know.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Pan-Li said instantly.
    Lucinda smiled a little and placed a hand on his arm. “No, Pan-Li,” she said gently. “You’re needed here to run the equipment. Temporal displacement calculations are complex and critical. You’re the only one with the computational skills to get us exactly where and when we need to go and back home again. I’ll go with Aurora.”
    “That’s very noble of you, Lucinda,” Denes said, “but I’m afraid the same reasoning holds for you. You know more about the system’s physical construction than anyone else. You designed most of the components; if something breaks, you’re the only one who can fix it. No, I’m afraid you must stay here with Pan-Li if we hope to succeed.” He shrugged. “And that leaves me to accompany Aurora.”
    Lucinda’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You planned it that way, didn’t you?”
    “I would have if possible,” Denes admitted. “But the fact is, our arguments are both valid. The most logical approach is for Aurora and me to go, and for you and Pan-Li to stay. It’s our best chance. Agreed?” He looked around the table for general assent. “Very well, then. Pan-Li, what’s our next step?”
    “On the presumption that we would agree on the target event,” Pan-Li began, “I did some additional research into the, um, demise of Los Angeles. I came up with some interesting causal connections, both pre- and post-event, and identified some individuals whose actions shaped the event and its outcome. However, due to certain factors, I believe it is in our best interest to approach the event obliquely rather than directly. I have some ideas, if you’d like to hear them.”
    “Yes, yes,” said Lucinda.
    “By all means,” Denes agreed.
    Aurora nodded. She regarded her friends as they discussed the plan, and admired their courage in the face of this daunting task. She thought of Borok, gentle Borok, whose dream of a better world had been taken from him long before his life was extinguished. She knew in her heart that he would want, no, insist that she follow that vision to the end.
    In one single stunning moment she realized both the challenge and the opportunity that lay before them. The responsibility for nine million past souls was in their hands. Indeed, the responsibility for every soul since, countless millions of them, including her beloved Borok, now lay with this little group and, she felt, rested on her shoulders most heavily of all. She could not, would not fail them.
    Aurora swallowed hard, sat up straight, and wiped away what she promised herself would be the last tear she would ever shed.

Five
    “Let me see if I have an accurate picture of your report,” the voice said calmly.
    Small beads of sweat were trickling down Trooper Sazar’s forehead, tracing their way past his eyebrows, running irritatingly into his eyes, but he dared not move to wipe them away. Next to him stood Trooper Valik, also at full attention. He could hear Valik’s breathing, slow and careful, as if he thought even to breathe improperly would add another transgression to their already substantial list. Perhaps it would.
    “I sent three troopers on a simple mission to apprehend and detain eight unarmed scientists,” the voice continued, its even tone and measured cadence eerily disturbing. “Not a terribly difficult task, one should think. Yet the net result of the mission was that four of the dissidents were killed, while the other four escaped. Not exactly the desired outcome.”
    The speaker paused for effect; Sazar winced as the hammer fell. “Oh, yes, and you managed to lose one of your own number in the process. Does that about sum it up?” The troopers stood silent, petrified with fear, praying that the question was rhetorical.
    It wasn’t.
    “Answer!” the voice demanded.
    “Yes, sir!” they responded in unison.
    Lokus, Vice Governor of the Western Region for the Protective Alliance of North America, rose slowly behind the huge desk and paused again, regarding the troopers. They avoided looking at him, although in the deep shadows of his private office, they could hardly have seen his features had they tried. Besides, Valik had heard that Lokus was paranoid and often wore