Advancing ((Advance Industries #2))

  ADVANCING

  Advance Industries

  Book Two

  K.A DUGGSY

  Advancing

  Advance Industries

  BOOK TWO

  This edition published in 2016

  Copyright © K A Duggsy

  All rights reserved.

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  Interior Formatting & Design: BellaTrix Books

  Set in 14pt. Garamond plc

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published without the prior written permission of the author. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This edition is also available in paperback.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  More from K A Duggsy

  News & Updates

  Because when time is involved

  Everything can change in an instant.

  Chapter 1

  Kye

  We’ve been sat on the windswept beach side by side for hours, reconnecting after all she’s been through, after all we’ve been through. Sharing details of our final hours spent in Faith’s time, working out what we do now. We’re sat peacefully savouring the fact that we’re together again, no obstacles, no one to fight or try to escape from. Spending our time blissful in each other’s company. Lavishing the affection, I’ve wanted to give her since I found her and she had no clue who I was. She’s snuggled against me, her head against my chest. She’s exuding a sense of peace and calm that’s foreign considering what happened mere hours ago. Recently I’d forgot what it’s like to breathe this easy, to just sit and relax, to enjoy the calm.

  Figuring out where we are would be helpful as I still have no clue. My Comm assures me we’re in my time and I wonder whether I’ve just never come across this beach before. I thought I knew every inch of my city but even I’m wrong sometimes. I’m ready to explore but Faith seems content watching the lull of the waves as she snuggles closer against my shoulder. She’s so peaceful. I still can’t quite believe we escaped, can’t fathom how travelling with an extra person worked. She continues to amaze me. She always has and likely always will. How does she bounce back so quickly after all that was thrust upon her?

  I rest my head on top of hers. Relief still rolls over me whenever I look at her. We were lucky. I failed my mission or one part of my mission but my men will pull through – I hope. I still have lingering guilt over the way I abandoned my team. How I left them to clear up what I started. What I dragged them into. I’ve never abandoned a mission before, never, not once, and that strikes me to my core. I’m restless, I want to get moving and figure out what to do next. I want to be with my girl with no remaining anxiety, stress or worry and to do that we need to move.

  I tilt Faith’s head up and brush my lips over hers. “We need to go Sweetheart.”

  She studies me with those crystal blue eyes swallowing me up. “Go where? We don’t know this place. Let’s just stay here a while, it’s completely deserted.”

  “As much as I’d love too we can’t, we need to figure out what kind of mess we’re in now.” I kiss her lightly on the corner of her mouth.

  She sighs but allows me to pull her up by her hand, brushing the sand from her jeans as she does. We start walking along the beach hand in hand as though we’re a normal couple and haven’t been through the worst hours of our lives. Strolling along looking for any signs of life wherever it is we are. We’re walking close to the water’s edge, lost in our own thoughts and the quietness of this place. There’s not a soul around, no rushing, no urgency, just a sense of calm... Until yelling snaps us out of our reverie. At first, I think I imagined it but it grows louder ensuring I can’t ignore the direction it’s coming from.

  “Hey you, you there! You can’t be here!”

  I turn and automatically pull Faith behind me. As usual, she huffs and bats my hand away. She narrows her gorgeous blue eyes at me, pouts those full lips, then steps to my side. My equal. I half grin, half scowl at her stubborn nature. It’s my job to shield her, to protect her but I have to admit she’s pretty adept at holding her own.

  An old man approaches slowly but steadily. He walks down the hilltop that’s opposite us on the beach. My stance automatically relaxes. He has a shock of white hair and a matching beard. If he weren’t heading our way with a look of sheer frustration he’d look like a loveable old man. He’s slightly stooped over as he walks but he kind of resembles my grandfather and my gramps is not threatening in the slightest.

  I start walking towards him so I don’t have to shout back to be heard, and as I gain the resemblance to my grandfather becomes more pronounced. We stop a few feet apart and stare at one another for a while. He clutches his chest. “Bugger me, you look the spit of my son,” he exclaims, brows creasing in confusion.

  “Grandad?” I question, taking another step closer. I’m surprised that he found me, elated at the same time but distracted because he’s being weird. Of course, I look like his son. I’m the spit of his son because his son is my dad.

  “No boy, I’m no-one’s granddad, my only child died before he blessed us with a grandchild. The likeness is uncanny, though.”

  What the fuck? Now I’m completely freaking out because this is my granddad though he doesn’t seem to know me. Is he winding me up? It’d be just like gramps to find my confusion funny. My dad did die but when I was a teenager. I stand staring at him wondering what to say. Where to start? I decide he’s definitely ‘pulling my leg’ as he’d say but I haven’t the patience for his games right now. I’ve missed him too much.

  “Very funny gramps!” It takes two long strides before I gather him in my arms and hug the life out of him. God, I missed this old man!

  “Gerroff!” He shouts as he tries to push me back. I let go and stumble a bit as I study his reaction. He seems deadly serious and is looking at me like I’m insane.

  “Now, be gone you two. This is private property; everyone knows not to step foot here. Advance Industries will string you up!”

  Faith steps closer to him and trying to diffuse the tension says, “We’re so sorry we didn’t know. We’re kind of lost, can you tell us where we are?”

  He narrows his eyes, steps away from me while shooting me an indecipherable look and focuses on Faith. Good, she’ll sort him out, get him to admit this game isn’t funny.

  “Don’t know where you are? Lost? You’ve been Advancing haven’t you?” He accuses.

  “Uh... It’s a long and confusing story,” I answer bringing his focus back to me.

  “I’m all ears boy, come on come with me befor
e you’re seen.” He starts walking away towards the hilly part of the beach muttering something about ‘always having to deal with Advancing strays’. We follow wordlessly, smirking at each other. Gramps is the same no-nonsense, bossy old guy I love and remember but why doesn’t he remember me or us? He adored Faith and even urged me to go after her even though he’s completely against technology. If he and my grandma hadn’t insisted on it, I’m not sure I would’ve left. I was completely torn between saving Faith and abandoning my family- I’m all they have but they wouldn’t hear of it. They wanted to make sure I had someone as they’re now old and past it (their words not mine) they couldn’t leave this world knowing I’d be alone. They’re strangely morbid like that but the youngest oldies you’ll ever meet.

  We reach the top of a grassy mound and my mouth drops open. A gleaming building stands below us, the back entrance of what was once Advance Industries labs, sprawling gardens stretch before me. My Grandpa starts walking towards the building and I put my hand on his shoulder halting him. He whips around pretty quickly for an old guy.

  “Where are we going?” I ask.

  “Ignore the building, no one’s there right now. Don’t worry we’re not going there.” He points to a smaller bungalowesque building to the left which is partially hidden by trees. “I live on site, that’s my home.”

  I expel a quick puff of relief but things are making less and less sense. That house didn’t exist before I left, the labs were in ruins and my grandparents had their own house.

  “Who owns it?” I ask.

  “John F Laudnam.” he throws over his shoulder.

  “Shit!” I look at Faith who is deathly pale and hope she hasn’t reached the same conclusion that just dived into my head – that maybe we are in my time but everything is fucked up because we changed the past? I can think of no other explanation and as hard as I’ve been trying to ignore it, it’s all I keep coming back to. When I left everything was fine, normal. Now I’m back and it’s all different, wrong. This is my fault. I was warned repeatedly about meddling in the past and the repercussions it could have but I was selfish, I disregarded the advice and did what I wanted. If I’m right then I got my girl, I got what I wanted but what are the consequences? Can I live with the decision I made? Did I really want to exchange one hell for another? No, I must be wrong. I’m not thinking straight. In fact, maybe I’m dreaming? Hallucinating? Fuck knows!

  Gramps pushes open the door to his single storey house and stands aside ushering us to go through first. I step into the unfamiliar home and I hate it. Their other home...Old home... Real home? Whatever it was, was warm and comforting, the decor matched my grandparents perfectly. They put on no airs or graces, they’re of the opinion that people should take them as they are and if they don’t like it they can lump it. But this place- it’s bright, modern and very unfamiliar. It’s all open plan. White carpet, settees, walls, even the kitchen worktops, cupboards, and appliances are white. The only splash of colours are vases of wildflowers dotted everywhere and holograph photographs adorning the sideboard, changing the image every few seconds.

  While I’m taking in the surroundings a woman appears from a hallway. I don’t notice her at first as I’m too busy digesting this farce. I turn as a whimper leaves her lips at the sight of me. She stands stock still before rushing over and throwing her frail hands around my waist.

  “Is it really you?” She whispers pulling back slightly to gaze up at me, tears are trickling slowly down her wrinkled face.

  Gramps rescues me, “No you daft bat, how could it be? Let the boy go, Lizzie.”

  Her hands fall and she steps back looking awfully embarrassed. “It’s okay gran...”

  “Gran?” My grandparents question at the same time.

  I run my fingers through my hair in agitation and plead with my eyes for Faith to help me. I’m lost. So epically lost and helpless. How could I prepare for a situation such as this?

  “Why don’t we all take a seat?” She suggests, “Then we can have a long chat?”

  They motion towards the settees and we sit, Faith and I together on the one couch and them on the opposite facing us. Gramps takes Grans trembling hands in his and holds them in his lap, he doesn’t say anything, offers no words of comfort but that one act alone tells her he’s there for her, he understands and he’s by her side. ‘It’s the little things we do in life that speak volumes’, he taught me that all the time. Grand gestures look good but they don’t carry the same weight. Gran’s eyes don’t leave my face and I start worrying that she’s gone into shock. It’s so unsettling being observed so closely by my Gran knowing she thinks I’m her reincarnated son. They keep their focus on us and I don’t know who should start or what I should tell them, they’ll think we’re crazy. I start rubbing my jaw, my go to when I find something tough and Faith takes pity on me. Thank fuck for her!

  Faith begins and tells the story better than I ever could. She tells them everything from the beginning of when she initially travelled to my time, to me going back to save her and how we ended up here. But when she gets to the end Gramps makes me double over with laughter. Looking at Gran and patting her hand gently he says, “They’ve been Advancing love, they’re still delirious from the high!”

  “What is Advancing?” Faith asks and then looks at me probably thinking it can’t be the same here as it was in the past.

  Gramps rolls his eyes and throws a look at Gran as if to say ‘see told you’. “Advancing is travelling anywhere you like in a flash, but its downfall or design flaw, if you will, is that it’s addictive - like a drug. If done too often it messes folk up, plays with their memories, causes psychosis, but they can’t stop. They crave the adrenaline Advancing brings.”

  “That’s not what happened to us.” Faith says, “This should never have happened people freely being able to Advance.”

  “Advancing love, it’s called Advancing,” Gramps corrects her.

  “This is all wrong. Everything’s changed. Kye is your grandson I promise you or was or... I don’t know, this is so confusing.” She puts her head in her hands.

  “I can prove I know you,” I say to my grandparents but then start wondering what details I can tell them that haven’t been changed and therefore I wouldn’t know.

  “Go ahead,” Gramps says as a challenge, looking thoroughly pessimistic.

  “O-okay,” I say. Shit where the hell do I start? Hopefully, they have the same names? Didn’t he call gran Lizzie? I have no idea what changes have occurred so I go out on a limb, praying I’m right. “Gran was Elizabeth Ella Epstein before you married and you Gramps are Jack Clarke. My dad was James Clarke, an only child.”

  “How do you know that?” Gran gasps leaning forward.

  “Lizzie they could have researched on the Comms, don’t believe an addicts word,” Gramps pipes up.

  I slump back in my seat. This old man is so annoying. He always was but he’s getting on my last nerve. Begrudgingly though I’m also proud that at his age he’s still no fool. He won’t allow himself or Gran to fall for a con. I love how astute he is, just in this case, he’s highly frustrating. I can’t blame him, it’s one hell of a story to expect anyone to digest. Gran is still looking at me like I’m an apparition or some other shit she believes in.

  “I didn’t research it. Like Faith said, you told me to go to the past and rescue her. I did, but something must’ve gone wrong because now we’re back everything has changed. We must have changed something and it changed the future? I don’t know. This is as much a shock to me as it is you guys. I’m just relieved that you’re okay.”

  “How does Advancing work?” Faith asks Gramps.

  “I’m not entirely sure Lovey having never messed around with it myself. It’s a programme built into the Comm-recs. People can travel back in time from the days of the old President right up to a certain point in the future. So many did it before they realised the fault with the system and they’re changed. Not quite right up top.” He points to his head. “Wor
king for the new President has given me some insight and I can’t say that many benefit from it. There are a lot more crazy people in this world now from overusing the system. I think it fried their cells!”

  “And the new President, what was his name again?” She asks.

  “John F Laudnam. Very fine young man but then he had a fine example for a father.”

  I watch her swallow before she asks quietly, “Who was his father?”

  “Fraser Laudnam. He did great things for his city and eventually it spread to other cities,” Gran answers.

  “Is he still alive?”

  “No, he lived to a ripe old age, though and then his son took over.”

  Fuck! If that’s true, then something went wrong with my team. How did he live to take over as President? Johnson was obviously dealt with but I never expected this curve ball. I try to Comm my men but the call fails. Either they’re not back yet or something happened to them. I start pacing around the room worrying my lip between my teeth. What the hell did I do? I wonder if I should leave Faith here with my... grandparents while I go back and re-join my men.

  “What’s your name young man?” Gran asks gently.

  I stop pacing and face her. “Kye.” She nods almost as if she expected that’s what I’d say. She pulls free from gramps hold and walks towards me. She stares at me for the longest time and I take in her wrinkled face, it used to be full of what she called laughter lines but now all I see is a woman ravaged by worry and loss.

  “You look tired boy. We have a spare room you’re welcome to use. Get some rest. I think we all have a lot to mull over. I’ll make dinner afterwards and we can talk some more.”

  “Lizzie...” Gramps starts but she shuts him down with a look. I’ve received that look many times and like me, Gramps knows to shut up or else.

  Gran links her frail arm through mine and starts leading me out of the room, she gestures for Faith to follow us and avoiding my Granddads glare Faith gets up and trots behind. I don’t have the energy to argue. My mind is in free-fall and being in the presence of my Gran, fake or not is weirdly comforting. We walk down a small hallway before she pushes open a door on the right and walks us through.