Full Transcript for GHOST DATA

00:04:16.879 Which is precisely why he doesn't need to be involved in this conversation. 00:04:17.120 --> 00:04:23.600 He knows Solomon is missing, and whilst technically he should be grieving, he seems uncommonly resilient for now. 00:04:23.920 --> 00:04:25.920 We have to be thankful for that. 00:04:26.160 --> 00:04:27.839 And the investigation. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:29.279 Continuing. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:33.199 Director, you ordered us to remain in Mars orbit. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.560 I did, and you will remain there until I say otherwise. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.439 Then we need to be clear about what we're doing. 00:04:39.759 --> 00:04:43.040 We continue the search for Solomon, we don't return to Earth. 00:04:43.279 --> 00:04:44.000 Correct. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:48.000 We don't disclose the full capability of the Chronocoil to the crew? 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:49.360 Let me be clear. 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.160 At this moment, absolutely not. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:56.800 And we keep the investigation as far from Earth as possible. 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:58.720 Mars is preferable. 00:04:58.959 --> 00:04:59.759 And the crew? 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:01.759 You contain the rumors. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.240 Give them something else to talk about. 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:07.040 Give them answers they are permitted to have. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:08.240 And Helena? 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:09.040 No. 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:11.199 She needs to know, sir. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:12.560 Not yet, no. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:16.079 She is still part of the research team looking for the meridian I take. 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:19.279 And she is at the critical stage of that research. 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:22.000 Disturbing her now gains us nothing. 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:22.560 Okay. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:25.199 Or perhaps we're simply buying ourselves time. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.120 Captain, at the moment, time is precisely what we need. 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:31.199 Contain this, Captain, please. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.240 Understood. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:33.040 Good. 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:34.639 Then we are agreed. 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:36.560 This meeting never happened. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.240 Understood. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.959 Caspar sat alone at the console. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:49.839 A wall display showed a constantly shifting field of numbers and dates and faint graphical traces. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.399 He hadn't been sitting there continuously. 00:05:52.720 --> 00:05:54.480 He had slept and eaten. 00:05:54.720 --> 00:05:58.560 He had been dragged away when someone decided he needed to leave. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:00.720 But he always came back. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:06.079 Four weeks of searching, four weeks of nothing that he could call a signal. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:08.959 Oh, for pity's sake, what more do I need to do? 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:15.439 Come on! Another filter, a different layer of residual data appeared. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:18.800 Small spikes, tiny disturbances. 00:06:19.199 --> 00:06:20.560 Nothing significant. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.560 Casper leaned closer. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:24.079 Now I'm interested. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:25.040 What's that? 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:27.600 An historical record appeared. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:29.120 A discrepancy. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:32.480 One entry didn't agree with the surrounding data. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:34.399 Then another appeared. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:36.079 A different location. 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:37.519 A different record. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:39.279 Different date. 00:06:39.839 --> 00:06:41.279 He brought them together. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:46.160 The computer overlaid the results, and three points became seven. 00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:48.319 Seven became nineteen. 00:06:48.720 --> 00:06:50.399 Caspar stared at them. 00:06:50.720 --> 00:06:52.399 That is not random. 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:55.120 The door opened and Cicily entered. 00:07:00.079 --> 00:07:01.680 Casper did not answer. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:03.279 Come on, Casper. 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:05.120 Give yourself a break. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:06.000 Hello. 00:07:07.279 --> 00:07:07.920 Casper. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:09.680 Come and look at this, Cicily. 00:07:10.879 --> 00:07:12.240 Right, what am I looking at? 00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:14.480 You are looking at corrections. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:17.600 Corrections you mean by temporal interference. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:20.399 No, no, no, not exactly. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.199 This is a date. 00:07:23.439 --> 00:07:24.959 This one is a time. 00:07:25.680 --> 00:07:28.399 This is an attendance entry. 00:07:28.720 --> 00:07:30.480 Cicely looked at him inquisitally. 00:07:31.120 --> 00:07:32.079 Attendance entry? 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.519 It was very specific. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:36.240 They're all just tiny changes, you see. 00:07:36.480 --> 00:07:38.319 He brought up another cluster. 00:07:38.560 --> 00:07:45.199 A ledger, a name, a time, a delivery entry, and a school record. 00:07:45.439 --> 00:07:50.079 You see, my theory is nobody has changed anything important. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.360 So then come on, why am I saying this, Casper? 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:56.000 Casper didn't answer immediately. 00:07:56.240 --> 00:07:58.800 He started arranging the records chronologically. 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:01.199 Well, because they're wrong, Cicely. 00:08:01.680 --> 00:08:03.040 Somebody's corrected them. 00:08:03.519 --> 00:08:05.680 That's my theory, anyway. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:08.319 Cicely watched the pattern build. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:13.200 It could be local interference, it could be natural temporal settling. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.160 Perhaps. 00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:15.279 But look here. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:17.360 Look at the way they're being corrected. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:18.720 She looked again.

00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.440 The changes were almost imperceptible. 00:09:21.680 --> 00:09:23.600 The time moved forward. 00:09:23.839 --> 00:09:26.399 A name appeared where there had been a blank. 00:09:26.720 --> 00:09:28.319 An entry disappeared. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:30.879 And a date shifted by a day. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.399 Nothing dramatic. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.120 Nothing that would ever have made the history books. 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:36.480 Yeah, okay. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:39.440 But from what I can see, they're all different, Casper. 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:41.360 But my question is what connects them? 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:42.399 The decision. 00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:44.000 Sorry, what decision? 00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:45.600 Well, the decision. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:49.519 The fact that somebody saw that something was wrong and decided to fix it. 00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.039 Cicely looked at him. 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.679 Caspar's hands began to shake. 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:55.919 Look, Solomon used to do that. 00:09:56.240 --> 00:09:57.440 Fix things. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.240 He is very good like that, you know. 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:02.000 A faint smile. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:04.799 It disappears almost immediately. 00:10:05.120 --> 00:10:07.200 He returned quickly to the data. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:10.159 The computer began correlating the records. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:13.759 The historical anomalies are concentrated within a defined temporal interval. 00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:15.360 Caspar looked up. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.080 How long? 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:18.080 Approximately 35 days. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:19.279 Five weeks. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:21.360 Almost five weeks. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.279 He expanded the geographical data and a map appeared. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:27.919 The points were scattered and disparate. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:30.159 Then the computer began waiting. 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:35.120 And the wider map faded, and the concentration narrowed. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:38.000 Geographical location updating, standby. 00:10:38.559 --> 00:10:40.559 Northern England, West Yorkshire. 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:42.240 Ah, and what have we got? 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.639 Highest probability, Holmferth. 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:47.919 Casper said nothing, and Cicely looked at him. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:48.879 Caspar. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.679 Caspar, you did hear that, didn't you? 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.639 He zoomed in further, and the map resolved into a valley. 00:10:56.960 --> 00:11:02.000 Houses, a river, roads, and industrial buildings. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:03.440 A bridge. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.879 And a small cluster of historical records. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:08.000 There, look. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:09.840 Right, what am I looking at? 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:12.000 The school, the school. 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.919 The computer overlaid the surviving historical references. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:17.440 School records. 00:11:17.759 --> 00:11:22.159 Local records, mill records, dates, times, names. 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:25.039 Caspar stared at the repeating sequence. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.519 They're all around the same place, so. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:30.000 He moved through the records. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:31.600 A mill entry. 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:32.960 A delivery. 00:11:33.200 --> 00:11:34.799 Another school entry. 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:38.159 So I think we can say he's moving around, not just the school. 00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:38.799 Sorry. 00:11:39.039 --> 00:11:40.000 Solomon's school. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:41.279 Casper nodded. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:42.480 Yes, him. 00:11:42.720 --> 00:11:44.559 But he keeps coming back here, okay? 00:11:44.720 --> 00:11:45.679 That's my point. 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.919 The display changed again. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:50.799 Several times appeared in sequence. 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:56.960 9 o'clock, 10 30 a.m., midday, 1 p.m. 00:11:57.600 --> 00:11:59.519 and 3 30 p.m. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:01.519 Caspar stared at them. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:02.960 Well, what are they? 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:04.480 He didn't answer. 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.399 The times repeated. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:10.080 Not once, not twice, but again and again. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:13.039 Caspar slowly leaned towards the screen. 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:15.360 They're not dates, they're times. 00:12:15.600 --> 00:12:16.480 I don't understand. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:17.039 Come on. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:19.679 His eyes moved across the sequence. 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:22.080 Then something clicked. 00:12:22.240 --> 00:12:25.039 Not in the computer, but in him. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:27.519 It's a timetable. 00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:32.879 The briefing room was sealed. 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:36.879 No minutes and nothing that would later require an explanation. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:39.759 Captain Eliza stood at the head of the table. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:44.320 Around it sat the small group of people who already knew the truth. 00:12:44.639 --> 00:12:50.080 Director Kofi appeared on the teleview from UESS headquarters. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:53.679 For several seconds, the room was silent. 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:55.600 Then Caspar spoke. 00:12:55.840 --> 00:12:58.480 I'm satisfied that Solomon is alive. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.000 Eliza looked at him. 00:13:00.159 --> 00:13:02.480 I take it you have some evidence, Casper. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.159 Casper didn't hesitate. 00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.759 It was the residuals. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:08.159 You see, we kept looking for a signal. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:10.720 He brought the first set onto the display. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:17.279 Dates, times, names, small alterations to historical records. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.360 Sicily stepped forward. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:21.200

Firstly, there isn't one. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.960 A signal, that is. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.519 But not in the way that we expected. 00:13:25.679 --> 00:13:28.159 The residuals aren't carrying a message. 00:13:28.320 --> 00:13:30.960 They're the result of something that happened in the past. 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:34.399 This is great work, Sicily, but what do you mean, something? 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:36.080 Caspar answered. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:38.159 We were looking for corrections, sir. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:40.080 He enlarged one of the records. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:41.039 Here, sir. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.559 Look at the date. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:44.879 Now watch the dates change. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:46.159 Here another. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:48.080 An attendance entry. 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:49.120 A time. 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.399 Now watch them both change, sir. 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:55.440 Eliza studied the display carefully. 00:13:55.600 --> 00:13:58.320 And you believe Solomon caused these, am I right? 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.480 I'm certain he did, Captain. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:03.039 Ryan shifted slightly in his chair. 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:07.840 Well, that's a very large conclusion from some very small changes, Casper. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:10.000 Well, that's the point, officer. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:12.720 They're small because that's what he'd do. 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:16.960 They aren't spread randomly, they're concentrated around one area. 00:14:17.120 --> 00:14:18.639 The map appeared. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:23.679 Yorkshire, then West Yorkshire, then Homefirth. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:26.639 Here, look, he keeps coming back to the same places. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:33.600 School records, mill records, local records, anything that survived as a written routine. 00:14:33.919 --> 00:14:36.960 From what we can work out, he has found somewhere safe. 00:14:37.279 --> 00:14:38.960 Eliza looked at the map. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.720 It looks like a school. 00:14:40.879 --> 00:14:41.759 I think so. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.720 You should also see these, Captain. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:46.240 The captain read them. 00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:47.519 What are they all? 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:49.279 As far as we know, a day. 00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:50.639 Now I'm confused. 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:52.159 What you what do you mean day? 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:53.919 But a school day. 00:14:54.159 --> 00:14:56.480 He isn't hiding in the records. 00:14:56.720 --> 00:14:59.039 He's living inside the routine. 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:01.440 It's the sort of thing Solomon would do. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:03.759 He moved through the sequence. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:07.679 Morning, break, lunch, afternoon. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:09.440 The pattern repeated. 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.240 The captain looked at him for a long moment. 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:14.399 Then at the map. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:16.879 Then at the historical records. 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:19.360 Okay, given this, can we locate him? 00:15:19.519 --> 00:15:21.840 Cicely looked towards the computer. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:24.480 We're in the process of narrowing it now, Captain. 00:15:24.639 --> 00:15:24.960 Good. 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.399 Then narrow it faster. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.720 Casper stared at the display. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:33.519 And for the first time in four weeks, there was somewhere to look. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:39.440 Aya, Brian. 00:15:39.519 --> 00:15:41.600 I heard you were baking today, is that right? 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:42.240 Yes. 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:44.240 We managed to get one of the ovens working. 00:15:44.399 --> 00:15:45.600 We've made as much as we can. 00:15:45.840 --> 00:15:47.440 So you've got a bit of bread for us. 00:15:47.679 --> 00:15:49.600 If you quit, there's bound to be somewhat left. 00:15:49.840 --> 00:15:50.879 Oh, that's good news. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.799 I'll best go and get some money, then. 00:15:53.120 --> 00:15:55.360 We'll just have to get some more flour for Mr. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:56.000 Taylor. 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:57.200 Thank you, Brian. 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.559 Right, I'll be seeing you, Mrs. 00:15:58.639 --> 00:15:59.360 Boudroy. 00:15:59.759 --> 00:16:00.480 Home first. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.480 1852. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:08.399 Solomon crouched in the shadow of a stone wall that smelled of damp and coal smoke. 00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:11.679 The town beyond it was quieter than it had been. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:15.200 Mud still clung to the edges of the road. 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:19.440 Broken furniture had been piled where carts could collect them. 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:22.559 Men were still clearing debris from the lanes. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:24.799 Women carried buckets. 00:16:25.200 --> 00:16:27.600 Everybody seemed to have a job. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:30.720 Solomon had learned that that was useful. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:36.879 If you looked as though you had somewhere to be, people were less likely to ask you where you came from. 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:41.840 His suit had long since powered down, stripped for parts. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:44.639 The battery and the interface was gone. 00:16:44.879 --> 00:16:50.080 What remained was a pencil stub, a scrap of paper, and rules. 00:16:50.399 --> 00:16:53.360 The writing had become faint from handling. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:55.440 He wrote the rules again. 00:16:55.679 --> 00:17:00.720 One, don't be seen unless it's absolutely necessary. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:05.840 Two, don't change anything big. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:09.759 Leave markers where they'll survive. 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:20.960 He stopped, looked at the fourth rule, and then added another. 00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.079 Five. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:26.559 Correct mistakes when you see them. 00:17:27.039 --> 00:17:35.360 He folded the paper and tucked it into a

crack behind a loose brick, leaving a trail that only someone looking for him would understand. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:41.599 He had discovered that the best place to hide was somewhere nobody thought to look. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.200 The school had been first, Dob Lane. 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:49.519 The schoolhouse behind it gave him another place to disappear. 00:17:49.840 --> 00:17:52.079 At first he'd simply watched. 00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:54.320 Then he'd found a way in. 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:57.519 And nobody had asked too many questions. 00:17:57.920 --> 00:18:06.640 After all, there were children who had lost homes, those whose families were living with relatives, children who had stopped turning up altogether. 00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:11.839 After the flood, an extra boy was hardly the strangest thing anyone had seen. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:18.960 And so he learnt the timetable, the names, when the teachers arrived and when they left. 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:22.319 He learned which doors were usually unlocked. 00:18:22.640 --> 00:18:25.119 He learned when nobody was looking. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:29.200 One morning, however, a teacher stopped beside him. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.160 You lad. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:33.119 Yes, you stand all. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:35.359 I haven't seen you before. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:36.559 What's your name? 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.480 The teacher waited. 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.400 Just Solomon, sir. 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.920 Solomon or what? 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:44.480 Solomon looked down at his desk. 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:49.119 He had learned enough by then to know that too much information was dangerous. 00:18:49.359 --> 00:18:51.039 Just just Solomon, sir. 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:52.720 The teacher studied him. 00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:56.720 For a moment Solomon thought he'd made a grave mistake. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:19:00.000 Then the teacher looked towards the empty desks. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.839 There were several. 00:19:02.079 --> 00:19:03.599 And where do you live, Solomon? 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:06.319 Solomon glanced towards the window. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:09.920 Outside, men were still clearing the mud from the road. 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:12.160 I live nearby, sir. 00:19:12.400 --> 00:19:16.160 The teacher sighed, not suspicious, but tired. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.799 He put a slate in front of Solomon. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.559 I take it you can read. 00:19:20.720 --> 00:19:21.359 He nodded. 00:19:21.599 --> 00:19:22.400 And numbers? 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:24.000 Mathematics, yeah. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:27.039 The teacher looked at him for a moment longer than. 00:19:27.359 --> 00:19:28.640 Right then, seat there. 00:19:28.880 --> 00:19:30.720 He pointed to a desk near the back. 00:19:31.119 --> 00:19:33.279 Try not to disturb the others, okay? 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:34.640 Thank you, sir. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.480 Solomon sat. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:42.160 No interrogation, no discovery, just a place at a desk. 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:46.640 For the first time since the jump, he felt something approaching safety. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:48.880 At night he disappeared. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:19:53.200 He would leave the schoolhouse grounds, returning before morning. 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:57.200 Nobody saw it, and so nobody questioned it. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:00.319 There were too many other things to worry about. 00:20:00.799 --> 00:20:08.079 The mills were still trying to recover, machinery had been damaged, many records had been lost. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:12.319 And everywhere Solomon went, he found the same thing. 00:20:12.640 --> 00:20:14.960 Things that were slightly wrong. 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:22.640 A delivery recorded on the wrong day, a worker's name entered incorrectly, and so he would correct them. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:26.160 At the mill he found a ledger left open on a desk. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:31.200 He waited, he listened, and then changed one figure. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:35.359 At school he found an attendance entry that didn't make sense. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:37.839 A child had been marked absent. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:41.920 Solomon knew he'd been there, and so he changed the mark. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:47.119 Tiny things, things that would have been forgotten, except they weren't. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.279 If he saw something wrong and could put it right without hurting anyone, why shouldn't he? 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:58.640 He sat beneath the stone wall and listened to the distant hammering from the mills. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:01.519 For a moment he closed his eyes. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:06.240 He thought about home, about his family, the ship. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:10.960 He couldn't be sure if they knew where he was, but he knew one thing. 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.960 Caspar would look. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.519 Solomon opened his eyes. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:21.279 Another day was beginning, another collection of small things that needed putting right. 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.960 He stood and walked back towards the school. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.599 And that was how the signal escaped. 00:21:27.839 --> 00:21:31.039 Not as a cry, not as a beacon. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:34.960 It escaped as a consequence of Solomon being Solomon. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:45.599 A boy who had no idea that more than 300 years later, somewhere in 2185, his brother was beginning to understand. 00:21:48.960 --> 00:21:55.680 The chronocoil hummed, not awake, not dormant, perhaps listening. 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:58.400 Caspar watched the lattice tighten. 00:21:58.559 --> 00:22:01.599 The residuals shifted across the display. 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:03.200 And then, there. 00:22:03.680 --> 00:22:04.240 Look. 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.839 Computer freeze. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:07.599 The numbers resolved. 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:09.680 Not a precise coordinate.

00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:10.559 A band. 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.039 Fuzzy, resistant, but definitely present. 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:17.839 Sicily stared closely at the display. 00:22:18.079 --> 00:22:19.119 Oh my goodness. 00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.640 He's not lost. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:21.680 He's hiding. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.279 Do we have a time frame? 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:27.599 Sigma studied the figures and enlarged the projection. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:29.279 Multiple overlaps. 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:32.559 The signal originates from a zone of historical convergence. 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:34.960 Retrieval will require precision. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.720 He is so clever. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.039 He sent us instructions. 00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:40.960 A small silence. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:45.359 Eliza allowed herself the faintest of smiles. 00:22:45.599 --> 00:22:48.079 Then she turned towards the command well. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:50.160 Okay, that's enough. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:22:51.839 Let's go get him. 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:08.880 And somewhere in time, a boy paused mid-sentence. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:11.119 The air changed. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:13.200 And Solomon looked up. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:14.480 He smiled. 00:23:14.799 --> 00:23:16.160 They had heard him. 00:23:16.400 --> 00:23:19.359 And now there was only one thing left to do. 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:21.839 Bring Solomon home. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.799 The insertion was clean. 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:27.599 No thunder, no spectacle. 00:23:27.839 --> 00:23:34.240 Three figures simply appeared beneath the cover of a stone outbuilding, well away from the school. 00:23:34.559 --> 00:23:38.160 The recent rain had left everything dark and glistening. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:40.559 Eliza looked towards the school. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:45.599 It was further along the lane, partly obscured by the surrounding buildings. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:48.000 She looked at the rest of the landing team. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.079 They were dressed for the period. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:52.160 Nothing modern visible. 00:23:52.480 --> 00:23:54.799 No equipment that would attract attention. 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:56.559 It's a breezy day. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:59.200 We are just taking a walk, folks. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:06.640 They moved out, keeping to the edge of the road, letting carts and pedestrians pass between them in the school. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:11.519 Casper had recognized the place from historical imagery they'd studied. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:18.160 The narrow lane, the stone buildings, and the bridge further down towards the mill. 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:25.519 They had passed a man clearing silk from a doorway, a child carrying a bucket almost as large as himself. 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:29.519 Nobody paid the three strangers any particular attention. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:32.559 That was exactly what Eliza had wanted. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:36.480 At the end of the lane, Cicely touched Eliza's arm. 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:41.200 The school came into view. 00:24:41.519 --> 00:24:44.240 Some children were beginning to emerge. 00:24:44.559 --> 00:24:48.720 Voices, movement, and finally a bell. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.400 Caspar stopped. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:51.759 His breathing changed. 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.359 Oh my goodness, that's it. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.160 That's the school. 00:24:54.400 --> 00:24:56.400 Casper, hang back, hang back. 00:24:57.680 --> 00:24:59.359 You're sure about this, right? 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:01.119 Casper nodded. 00:25:01.359 --> 00:25:07.200 Eliza studied the school, then the road, then the people moving around them. 00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:14.799 Okay, everybody, we don't rush, we don't ask questions, and nobody sees anything they don't need to see, so help me God. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:18.400 They moved towards the school as the bell rang. 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:23.200 The door opened, children spilling out onto the lane. 00:25:25.440 --> 00:25:28.319 And then Solomon appeared. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:30.480 Caspar saw him first. 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:31.920 He didn't run. 00:25:32.319 --> 00:25:37.359 He walked slowly, like someone approaching something fragile. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:41.759 Solomon looked up, meeting his brother's gaze. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:45.839 They stared at each other for half a second, and Solomon smiled. 00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.279 You made it then. 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:49.440 You took your time, didn't you? 00:25:49.759 --> 00:25:55.119 Caspar grinned, pulling his brother into him so hard that Solomon yelped. 00:25:55.359 --> 00:25:58.480 Cicely turned away, giving them a moment. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:04.880 Eliza watched, jaw tight, eyes bright, internally relieved. 00:26:05.119 --> 00:26:08.240 Solomon! The teacher stood in the doorway. 00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:09.680 Solomon turned. 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:17.279 And for the first time, the extraordinary moment looked dangerously ordinary. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:18.880 He lowered his head. 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.720 Well, sorry, sir. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:23.839 The teacher came a few steps down the path. 00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:28.000 He looked at Solomon closely, then at the three strangers. 00:26:28.240 --> 00:26:32.319 His expression changed, something closer to relief. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:35.440 Well, you have a fair turn of speed on you, haven't you, lad? 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:38.480 Solomon gave the smallest of smiles. 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:40.559 The teacher shook his head. 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:45.359 Then, almost as an afterthought, by the way, who are these people? 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:47.599 Eliza glanced at Caspar. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:51.119 Caspar stared at Solomon, and Sicily stepped in. 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:52.480 Um, good afternoon. 00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:54.559 We're we're his family. 00:26:54.799 --> 00:26:55.759

We're his parents. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.480 Hey. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.279 Hey. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:59.519 Well, your son did very well today. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:00.960 You can be rightly proud. 00:27:01.200 --> 00:27:03.920 Oh, well, that's good to hear. 00:27:04.160 --> 00:27:06.559 The teacher's eyes settled on Solomon. 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:10.319 Whatever questions he might have had seemed to disappear. 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:12.400 I'll say good day to you then. 00:27:12.960 --> 00:27:16.799 The teacher nodded and turned back towards the school. 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:18.799 Okay, let's get you home. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:33.680 Solomon stood between Caspar and Sicily, still trying to take in the fact that the walls around him belonged to the Sulcas. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.039 Home. 00:27:36.079 --> 00:27:38.720 They made their way towards the bridge. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.519 The familiar hum of the sulcas surrounded them. 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.599 Crew turned. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:49.759 Several stared at Solomon, certain that something extraordinary had happened. 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:53.039 Captain Eliza walked towards the command well. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.000 Sigma? 00:27:54.640 --> 00:27:54.960 Captain. 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:56.640 Chrono Coil Status. 00:27:56.960 --> 00:27:57.359 Stable. 00:27:57.680 --> 00:27:59.599 120 crew currently aboard, ma'am. 00:27:59.839 --> 00:28:02.880 The captain allowed herself the faintest of smiles. 00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:05.440 Then, the lights flickered. 00:28:05.680 --> 00:28:07.920 Not enough to trigger an alarm. 00:28:08.240 --> 00:28:10.480 Just enough for everyone to notice. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:12.640 Sigma's display changed. 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:13.279 Captain. 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:13.920 What is it? 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:16.319 I'm detecting an anomalous energy signature. 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:17.039 Where? 00:28:17.359 --> 00:28:18.720 Ship's bridge, Captain. 00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:21.920 A low vibration passed through the deck. 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:26.720 Not mechanical, not electrical, but something deeper. 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:29.920 Some of the crew recognized it immediately. 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.279 Others didn't. 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:33.920 They simply looked around, uncertain. 00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:37.599 The air ahead of the command well began to gather light. 00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:41.359 Caspar instinctively moved closer to Solomon. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:43.519 Eliza raised a hand. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.599 Stand fast, everybody. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.839 Whatever it is, this is our ship. 00:28:48.079 --> 00:28:49.759 The light condensed. 00:28:49.920 --> 00:28:51.519 A form emerged. 00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:54.640 You have been the boy. 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:57.279 Eliza stepped forward. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.480 The boy. 00:28:58.640 --> 00:29:00.400 Yes, Solomon. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:03.599 You have to have

motived him from resolved history. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:05.599 We are aware, we know. 00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:07.599 This retrieval violence. 00:29:10.079 --> 00:29:11.759 So does abandoning a child. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:14.960 The boy was aware where he was meant meant to be. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:17.839 Eliza's expression hardened. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.160 Well, that doesn't work for us. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:23.279 Right now, the ship is where he's meant to be. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:28.720 The integrity of this timeline demanded his continued presence. 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:31.119 And I have decided otherwise. 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:34.319 You understand the consequences. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:36.000 I understand. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:40.720 This paradise is ours, our responsibility. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:41.839 I ordered it. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:43.759 This boy's destiny is with us. 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:44.480 Captain. 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:44.960 Yes. 00:29:45.200 --> 00:29:46.960 Chrono Coil remains stable. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:49.440 Prove consensus, unanimous. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:52.480 They wish to congratulate you on a successful outcome. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.519 The shimmering light turned towards the crew. 00:29:55.839 --> 00:29:56.880 Then they have chosen. 00:29:58.079 --> 00:30:00.640 Attach attach over optimization. 00:30:01.119 --> 00:30:02.079 Every time. 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:07.039 For a moment there was stillness and silence on the bridge. 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:10.799 Then the entity's form began to dissolve. 00:30:11.359 --> 00:30:13.440 You will move forward. 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:15.039 The light collapsed. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:17.039 The vibration disappeared. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:19.279 The bridge returned to normal. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:20.000 Captain. 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.039 Go ahead. 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:24.160 Captain, the anomalous energy signature remains. 00:30:24.319 --> 00:30:25.759 I recommend we record it. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:26.799 Go ahead. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.400 But do not speculate. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.279 That's an order. 00:30:29.599 --> 00:30:30.799 Aye, Captain. 00:30:33.279 --> 00:30:37.279 On the bridge, the crew slowly returned to their stations. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:47.039 Most of them would remember the strange light, the brief failure of several instruments, but only a handful would ever know what actually stood before them. 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:51.839 That, for now, was exactly how the captain wanted it. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:31:01.440 The ship struggled on the jump home, not because of resistance, but because Solomon mattered the timeline now. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:04.160 Almost five weeks had passed. 00:31:04.400 --> 00:31:12.559 He had lived there, learned its rhythms, left traces, become, however, briefly part of its history. 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:16.000 And now the Solcass was asking time to give him back. 00:31:16.480 -->

00:31:18.079 Transition field drifting. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:20.079 Harmonic instability increasing. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.519 Then hold it. 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.440 Harmonic stabilizing. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:24.559 Good. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:26.960 Sigma began to sing. 00:31:27.440 --> 00:31:33.920 Not a melody, a sequence of controlled harmonics tuned to the limits of human hearing. 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.599 The vibration deepened. 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.400 The sulcast groaned again. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:39.920 And then silence. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:42.319 The stars returned. 00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:45.359 Earth orbit and home. 00:31:52.480 --> 00:31:57.359 Later, much later, Solomon sat in the mess. 00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:01.359 A member of the mess staff placed a tray in front of him. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.640 Warm food. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:05.039 Nothing remarkable. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:09.680 He was wrapped in a borrowed jumper, sleeves too long for him. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:17.519 Gaspar sat opposite, elbows on the table, watching him as though looking away might make him disappear again. 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:20.400 Cicely nudged another plate towards Solomon. 00:32:20.720 --> 00:32:21.440 Dessert? 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:23.519 He frowned. 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.319 Dessert? 00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.599 Are you having a laugh? 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.480 That's not pudding. 00:32:26.799 --> 00:32:28.799 Well, it is if you eat it quickly in the architect. 00:32:29.039 --> 00:32:32.240 He considered this for a moment, then shrugged and dug in. 00:32:32.400 --> 00:32:34.799 Across the mess, people were talking. 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:36.559 A tray clattered. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:39.680 The Solcass continued its journey. 00:32:39.920 --> 00:32:42.799 Life to some degree had resumed. 00:32:43.839 --> 00:32:45.519 Eliza stood in the doorway. 00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:49.519 Officer Ryan joined her momentarily. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:53.440 Sigma reports the timeline is stable. 00:32:53.839 --> 00:33:00.559 These past few days, officer, you have performed at the captain. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:06.400 She looked again towards the brothers. 00:33:07.359 --> 00:33:08.559 Then at the mess around them. 00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:10.079 She smiled. 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:14.880 Small, tired, but very real. 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:15.920 Sure. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:16.880 Yeah. 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:20.319 Go ahead, we brought everybody home. 00:33:20.720 --> 00:33:23.119 Solomon looked up, mouth full. 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:24.640 So what happens now then? 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:27.200 Caspar answered without thinking. 00:33:27.599 --> 00:33:29.920 Now we carry on. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:36.319 The mess continued around them. 00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:42.000 The sulcast continued towards Earth through the darkness of space. 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:46.640 For the first time in a long while, the ship was quiet. 00:33:48.240 --> 00:33:54.240 Not because it was holding its breath, but because it could finally exhale. 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:28.559 The full cast soccer will return.