Until Time Stands Still Read Free

we can use. Anything we can trade.”
     
    Mykel nodded. “I believe that.” After the fourth World War, the world’s economy suffered to the point that it crippled every country. Between the bombings, diseases and starvation, well over half the world’s population had died off. Chaos ruled, until the government declared Martial Law. They had gone almost exclusively back to the barter system after the economic collapse. Every boarder between countries was closed to civilians. No one traveled or did business; except for sanctioned trades through government channels. “What exactly do you want with me?”
     
    “We need you.” The General said, simply. “There are very, very few people whose genetic structure allows them to handle doing what you can do. We recently lost an entire team, on a mission that went sideways in Africa. So, in essence, I want to recruit you. To do what you have always done, without side effects, and serve your country.”
     
    “I’m not a solider.” Mykel said.
     
    “We can train you.” The General said. “You just need to go through Basics really, at least for now. We can give you the specialized training in between missions. You’d be paid very well. You will own a home, fully furnished, here on base. You won’t have to live in that dinky rat hole of an apartment. Free food rations, water. Even coffee. Real medical and dental expenses all paid for. You won’t get a better offer anywhere else.”
     
    “To what end?” Mykel asked. “I don’t want to die in some shit hole place in history that no one has ever heard of. I’m a simple man. I want a family. Kids. You know, grow old with someone. I never wanted to be a solider.”
     
    “Well, son…if you want those things, my program is your best shot.” The General said grimly. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this, so keep your trap shut about it until the rest of the boys know.” The man eyed Mykel.
     
    “I won’t say anything.” Mykel said firmly.
     
    “If you do, I’ll shoot you myself.” General Palmer said.
     
    “Just tell me.” Mykel sighed. He hated the posturing macho crap.
     
    The General studied the man for a moment. Mykel had dark hair, and blue eyes that showed him to be far wiser than his years. Maybe he was an old soul, or perhaps he had just seen too much. Like so many others had. Finally, he made a choice and nodded, more to himself than to Mykel.
     
    “According to our last government census, over half the women who got pregnant last year, had spontaneous miscarriages. My own wife included a few months back. Several more who made it to full term had stillborn births. One of the doctors at the CDC said something about residual radiation sickness and the genetic code being fucked. No woman can produce healthy offspring anymore. At least until we figure out how to fix it. Honestly, I don’t really understand the medical mumbo jumbo. All I know is, at this rate, the human race could die out within the next generation, maybe two, if we don’t do something about it now.”
     
    “What do you plan to do about it?” Mykel asked, frowning. “And what does it have to do with me?”
     
    “Almost all of the women of our time are sick. Most of the younger women, teenagers, don’t have a clue they can’t have children yet. To keep the human race alive, we have to go back to before the Third War, and bring women here, and produce healthy children.”
     
    “Wait…a breeding program? You want me to be a part of a breeding program?” Mykel sat stunned. “You can’t just…do that.  It’s wrong.”
     
    “We can do it with the Time Jumper Program. And we will. I have orders to follow, same as my men do. It’s out of my hands. We need your help. People are dying too quickly for the population to survive.”
     
    Mykel shook his head. “People die all the time. You can’t just steal women from other time periods and force them to have children. That’s barbaric and I won’t be a part of