Dark Futures

Scientists Jeff McGregor and Mackenzie Randall are partners in the firm Systems of Sentience, LLC, housing CETCOS II, a quantum computer-enabled telepathic device which affords the ability not only to travel in time but also into other dimensions.

At the outset of the story, a past acquaintance from one of those dimensions informs them that a mutant form of the COVID-19 virus has obliterated the populace of yet another world with the implication that it must be restricted to that world or other worlds will suffer the consequences.

No sooner than this is learned, a unit of the FBI arrives on the scene to take over custodianship of CETCOS II. Unfortunately, a sinister criminal organization steals CETCOS II away from that agency setting in motion a series of events leading up to an ultimatum to President Preston Saunders: release 23 prisoners and pay the organization one billion dollars or the mutant virus will be released into our world.

The intriguing story which follows has McGregor and Randall attempting to outmaneuver a gang bent on taking over not only our own world but several others in the bargain.