A Piece of Time

Copyright 2021 by Kat Thomas

All rights reserved.

Cover design by Canva Kat Thomas

Book design by Kat Thomas

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Due to many thefts of online work This copyright notice will be there on every online posting from now on. I will also say I will take action on any person or company who posts my work without permission.

The group of people gathered in the building’s lobby waiting to have their names etched in history. However, one lone female stood off to the side not really excited nor did she want to be a part of history. She wanted to go home and shower and sleep for a few days. However, she was ordered by her commander and the general to attend this event. She was the only civilian attached to one of the militaries elite teams and also the only one qualified to understand the inner workings of this experiment and its possibility. She thought it was boring and on top of that, she was tired from the latest mission they had which ended only a few hours prior.

A man showed up, and she easily pegged him for a research student. His excitement was radiating off of him. It was almost visual. She wasn’t much older then the kid if she was at all. She thought that, and she knew it was true, what she lacked in age she made up for in experience, and none of that was pretty. Her determination led to fast promotions and advanced her learning curve she was already a doctor twice over at a very young age. Though she knew if she hadn’t been fast-tracked she would be where this kid was, happy to be ushering in honored guest who would be witnesses to a groundbreaking event. A Revaluation that would change life on the planet. She understood the concept and the practical use of the technology but didn’t see that it was possible. She would wait and watch her scientific mind processing and question all she saw in the open room with fold-out seats. She notated the other people in the room, a few billionaires, noteworthy businessmen and women, and a few other scientists like herself. She was a representative also of the military. She would report back to all she needed to on whatever she saw. She would see all anyway.

She took her seat in the front row and calmly waited as they connected with the other university in Kyoto for the beginning half of the demonstration to begin. She wondered at what she was about to see, still tired and dazed she waited impatiently for it to start and of course end. She had her notepad to take quick notes as one of the businessmen tried to start a conversation with her. As he tried to be smooth, she just glanced at him and didn’t say a word. She hoped it would make him stop however he seemed Oblivious to her not caring or even listening. She watched the overhead screen of the workshop in Japan. She noted some of the scientists had looks of concern when they started their half of the machine. She wrote that down. The second half of the device began seemingly on its own to small cheers from the scientists in the room with her. They started their speeches.

She was grateful that she didn’t have to wait for the translator as she could speak nine different languages. She waited as the speeches went on and on. For an hour while seemingly the machines warmed up and synched with each other thousands of miles away the people who were waiting had to sit and listen.

Finally, she could breathe again as they were going to run the test. They had three tries, and then everyone could leave. She was waiting for that part. She took out her water bottle and sipped slowly and then placed it back in her backpack. The machine in Japan began its process, and on the screen, they could see an apple placed in the middle of an arch that was nearly seven feet tall, its mate was in the room with her. It also began making noise and high pitch screams. The Apple seemingly disappeared. As the excited scientist in japan clapped the ones in the room stared at the empty spot she assumed it was supposed to appear. Nothing happened. One down she thought.

The team in Japan replaced the apple with another one and flipped the switch again. Their machine started the process again, and within minutes it too had vanished. The scientists in the room with her again stared at the spot and back to their control panel and waited. They looked up at the audience and smiled as if this was a show and they weren’t freaking the freakout. She chuckled to herself and thought Two down bed soon!

The team in Japan again looked at their colleagues across the water and figured the problem had to be on their side, not their own. The scientists in the room increase the frequency level and they began to retry the test. The scientists in Japan also increased the frequency, and they replaced the apple one last time. This time their machine started to make an unearthly sound like a giant groan, and the device in the room with her did as well. It was becoming unbelievably loud with high pitch sounds, and the rest of the audience got up and ran out. She stayed in her seat, she knew her ears were bleeding, but something kept her there as the lone witness to history in the making. Just as both teams tried to shut the machines down an apple was thrown from the archway which had gone from clear to a translucent blue hue. The apple smashed into the wall and made applesauce. However, the machine was not shutting down either was its counterpart half a world away. Another apple flew out of that arch and smashed into something off camera probably a wall. The glow from the machine grew and then something happened. She saw a hand come thrusting out. Then as it seemed the device was finally going to give way a pile of limbs and bodies on both sides came through and landed about six feet away from the arch which now was on fire. The scientists ran to put out the fire as she ran to the pile of bodies before her. There were six here. She counted four more on the screen. She yelled over the sound to what seemed her counterpart to check for vitals. He did.

She stared at each man who was before her tangled with each other. She touched each one’s neck and surprisingly they all were alive. She glanced up at her counterpart, and he gave the thumbs up to her. They came through from where? They were not from this time period unless they were period actors. She waited until one who was on top came too so she could ask his name. He jumped up and drew a katana from his waist as he spoke classical Japanese. She was in shock.

“What have you done to us?“, he demanded.

“Please put the sword down.“, she asked back.

“You’re not Japanese!“, he said as the others were coming too on the floor.

“No, I am American, not Japanese. I can, however, speak Japanese. Please put the sword down.“, she said again trying to talk him down nicely.

“Where the hell are we?“, he demanded yet again.

“You are in the University of Connecticut’s research lab. There was an experiment to move one object over a great distance to another place. It failed. Somehow it brought you and these people AND those people” she motioned to the screen,” here.”

He looked at the screen, and the others all began to untangle themselves and stand. She mentally sized up each and hoped they wouldn’t be as hostile as he was. He started to lower his sword and looked again at her then the machine, then back to her. She then asked,“What is your name?”

“Masamune Date,” he said. She searched her mental records, and she knew that name. She glanced at the rest of the men. This could not be happening. She mentally screamed NO, NO, NO! But the evidence before her was too great. She looked at the screen, and her counterpart must have reached the same conclusion. They both shook their heads as the scientists who had finished putting out the fire were now interested in what and who they were. Both she and her counterpart looked at each other 1000′s of miles away both said the same thing. One in English and the other in Japanese “this experiment is over. We mark these people as ours, and we will take possession of them.”

Masamune helped his friends up as they all looked about and stared openly. “What is going on here?” one asked.

“I don’t know. That woman seems to know she also speaks Japanese though she isn’t. Whatever it is we can trust her I believe. ”

“You would trust a pretty face.”

“She stood up to me, with no weapon of her own. Either she is brave or a fool. But I don’t think she is a fool. Those other people are afraid of her. Look at them.”

Six pairs of eyes stared at the people in white coats. They could see they were afraid of the woman. Who had just said something to them. As one came briskly to talk to her, she raised her hand to his face. She was walking to a weird sachet as she took out a shiny square item and she pressed the screen it lit up, and they all jumped. She began talking into the square thing and was motioning with her hands. She didn’t seem happy when she touched the square again and looked at them. She wasn’t afraid as she walked closer. A few of the men instinctively reached for the swords at their sides. She smiled at them, and each man eased a bit.

“Masamune. Could you please introduce me to everyone?“, she asked.

“I could. However I do not know your name.“, he replied gently.

“My name..... hmmm everyone can call me Doctor.“, she responded simply.

“Doctor that is an interesting name. Guys this is the doctor, this is Nobunaga Oda, Mitsuhide Akechi, Mitsunari Ishida, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, And Ieyasu Tokugawa.”

“It is a pleasure to meet all of you.“, she said as she bowed slightly as a sign of respect. “Now can you identify those men for me?” She said as she pointed to the screen.

“Those Are Kenshin Uesugi, Shingen Takeda, Yukimura Sanada, and the ninja Sasuke Soritoba.”

“Thank you again.“, she said. “I know this is all difficult and different but if you give me a moment I will explain what I can. I am trying to figure this out all myself. However, I will begin by explaining what happens next.”

All six men were listening to her and nodded. She did seem like she was in control of the next part at least.

“Would you like to sit?“, She motioned to the chairs, and they all looked at her like they had no idea what she meant. However, they all just sat on the floor when she asked. “Damn that’s right chairs aren’t a thing in your time.” She pulled a chair over and sat in it backward so she was leaning on the back and could place her arms on the top. They all looked at her oddly, and she let out a laugh they were not used to a woman doing anything that wasn’t demure and she was taking control of the situation. “Next we will go to my building. Where we will do some test to make sure you are all healthy. We will also set up some kind of housing arrangement for a stay here.”

“We are all healthy.“, Nobunaga replied.

“I am sure for your time you are, however here you may not be. Again let me explain something that this is.“, she motioned in back of her to the machine.” This was a test an experiment. It was to move an apple through space on a molecular level from one place to another. The other testing facility is in Kyoto. That is it.“, she motioned to the screen.” Even though we can see it like it is the other room they are thousands of miles away.”

“Are we to believe that I mean really? How farfetched”, Mitsuhide stood up and went over to screen and touched it. Until he gave up and realized this was different than anything, he had ever seen. She patiently waited for him to come back and sit. She smiled again at them. “What year was it?“, she asked.

“1581”, Mitsunari replied in his sweet voice.

“Okay. Here right now it is 2018.”

“You must be jesting.“, Nobunaga said with disbelief on his face.

“I am sorry, but I am not. It is 2018. Look around you. Is anything familiar?”

“No,” was the unanimous replied.

“Okay then. I will try to help all of you understand this. I will not lie or sugar coat anything to you. We will figure this out together all seven of us.“, She said, and the look of doubt had been erased from their faces. She was pleased about that. She did have to keep them contained somehow for their safety and the safety of the world as well. “My team should be arriving shortly. We will go in a van to my building. I will go with you, so you don’t have to deal with so many new people and many who don’t speak your language. Here we speak English which you will hear a lot.”

“What is a van?“, ieyasu asked with a huff.

“A van is a transport vehicle, ummm it’s like a horse without a horse and can hold many people.”

“That makes no sense.”

“Work with me here, please.”

She took out the square thing again and said,“show me a picture of a van” the square thing talked back and said,“searching complete would you like to see the top hits?”

“What in the eight hells is that?“, Hideyoshi jumped back.

“It is a cell phone. A smartphone. Here let me show you this then I will show you what it can do.“, She showed the picture of a van to them, and they all wanted to reach out and touch it. She then slid her finger across it and moved to the next image. They were amazed.

“That’s too small to hold all of us.“, Ieyasu said.

“The picture is small, yes, but a right-sized van can hold us. Now on to what a phone can do.” She pressed a button, and another picture showed up with little pictures all over the screen. She pressed another that had lots of numbers on it. She pressed it and then quickly hit another. They could hear the ringing. The shocked expression on all their faces was priceless. “Hello?“, a male voice replied.

Hideyoshi again jumped back pulling Nobunaga with him,“there are people in that thing!”

“Hello, Johnson you called?”

“Yeah, what is your eta?”

“15 out. Are we coming in?”

“Yeah, not full tac though. They will come with me no problem.”

“Roger that!”

She was laughing at the reaction of Hideyoshi’s. “No there are not people in here. Its a way of communication in this time. He was in the van coming to pick us up. It won’t hurt you, I promise.”

“You said you wouldn’t lie.”

“And I won’t.”

They sat there in silence for a few minutes just looking at her, the room, it all. They all sighed collectively, and so did she. Somehow she forgot to be tired anymore. She was going to have to do some serious research later when things calmed down. She looked at the screen and laughed as one of the men in Japan they identified as Kenshin Uesugi was chasing her counterpart with his katana raised. She looked at the six men before her and thanked god she got the easier of the bunch. She just had to wait. “Give me a moment please.“, she stood up and walked over started to ask a question of one of the white-coated people.

“What do you think she is doing?“,Mitsunari asked.

“She is talking that is what woman do.“, Ieyasu replied.

“She seems pretty smart. Maybe she is trying to fix this.“, Masamune said.

“She is just a woman.“, Nobunaga replied.

“She has the square thing. She said it was smart.“, Hideyoshi said.

“I think we should trust her. At least we can enjoy the sight of her while she is around.“,Mitsuhide said.

“Agreed,” everyone said together. She had turned around and smiled at the sight.

“What do you agree on?“, she asked cautiously.

“You.”

“What about me?“, she asked.

Masamune was the first to speak,” We agreed not to kill you.”

“Well, that’s nice of you.“, she replied back.

“We really agreed to watch you.“, Mitsunari said.

“Okay then. That’s not creepy. At all.“, she said scrunching her face.

“We agreed to trust you. Until you screw up.“, Ieyasu said flatly.

“Well here’s to hoping I don’t so that.“, she said laughing.

“You are going to be fun.“, Nobunaga said.

“Fun how?“, she asked.

“Fun to conquer of course.”

“Yeah about that. No conquering okay?”

“Why not?“,he pouted.

“Because. I am not a piece of land.“, she replied.

“That makes it even more fun.“, He said with a rare light in his eyes. She looked around into each one’s eyes, and they all shared it. She shook her head slightly.

“I definitely am asking for a raise. I don’t make nearly enough to deal with you six.“, And she began to laugh. This was most definitely going to be the ride of a lifetime. She wasn’t sure if she was going to enjoy it though, only time will tell.