Return to Earth

by Brad Stucki

  That’s what Nemesis would do, but he would arrive ‘earlier’ and take control of things. When Javin and Sauros arrived, they would have a nasty surprise waiting for them. Then they’d see who was in charge.

  With a plan of action settled upon, Nemesis had little to do in the way of getting ready. He already had his pouch filled with the two Articles of Power. He went to a side slot in the wall of the chamber and ‘thought’ about food. A shimmering shown in the slot and Nemesis reached in to pull out a bowl and eat what he’d learned was nourishment. It didn’t taste all that good, but it was hearty, filling, and apparently healthy. That’s all he needed. He sat at a small table on the far side of the chamber and began to finger-spoon in the pasty food as he continued to think through his plan.

  Just as before, he would use the legends of the Promised Ones, which had apparently been sowed across the galaxy to gain the trust of the indigenous people he found when he arrived. Then, as necessary, he would use the Gestalt Stone and the 2nd Article of Power to get the people to do his bidding. In this he had to be careful. Javin had shown he could disrupt the thrall he could place on the people. It would be best not to use any powers on them, but instead to convince them that he, Nemesis, was the True Promised One, and that Javin was the counterfeit.

  When Javin and Sauros arrived, he would have the people merely capture and hold them until he could come bind them with the 1st Article of Power, and then he could forcibly drain them both dry. That’s how he would get what he needed.

  Nemesis finished his food and placed it back into the wall slot. It shimmered again and disappeared. He went to a section of wall, touched a hidden sensor and a hidden doorway swung open and Nemesis stepped into the main chamber of the pyramid.

  He stepped down the two levels to the lowest level that contained the slender stone Archway. Around him on each level but the lowest sat the large rectangular slabs of dark stone. Javin had thought these a matrix of some kind that set coordinates when they were in certain positions.

  Nemesis knew how to use the Archway. He just didn’t use it because it would be a way his Masters could find him. Nemesis didn’t know this for sure, but it was entirely possible his former Masters were tuned into the Archways and whenever they were used, they knew about it. In this case it couldn’t be helped. Nemesis would just have to do his work and be gone by the time his former Masters could sort out where he was.

  He furrowed his brow and directed his thoughts to the inert Archway. Nemesis concentrated on the next location. “Take me to the next location I need to be,” he mumbled aloud to assist the focus of his thoughts.

  The Archway popped as if a circuit had been joined. The center of the Archway covered over in a flowing, shimmering, gray metallic sheen. The slabs in the room began to move to new positions. When they finished and all settled into quiet, the Archway popped again and turned pitch black. Nemesis knew the doorway had just opened.

  Before he stepped through, Nemesis focused his mind and body on the right resonance of the time he wanted to arrive. His body adjusted to his controlled thoughts and Nemesis felt himself ready for the shift so he would arrive at his destination about three months prior to the time of Javin’s present. That should do it. Then Nemesis stepped through, swallowed up in the blackness.

  The main chamber fell into silence, then on the opposite side Nemesis had entered, another door swung open and another being stepped into the room. This being had a humanoid, muscular body, dressed in a loin-cloth and leather harness decorated with faceted jewels and hung with a long, curved knife in a leather scabbard. The head of the being was that of a slender-necked bird with a long pointed beak and bright, glistening eyes that reflected deep intelligence. The feathers on the neck and head were a mottled brown and gray indicating immense age.

  He was Thoth, one of the ancient Gods of Egypt. He had been set here by the Ancients to watch, wait and assist the Promised Ones at the time of the convergence. He had been awakened from his long sleep by a presence. It had the flavor and feel of the Prime, but something was off. It wasn’t what he had expected it would be.

  Thoth stepped down the levels to stand in front of the Portal arch. He reached out and touched a hand to the warm stone and felt the after-image of the being who had just passed through. Yes, it had the feel of the Prime, but it was subtly different than it should be. Not quite . . . complete. Why did he not stay? Where had he gone? Thoth must think on this . . .

  Chapter 7

  Javin, Sauros and Kokos stood in front of the Portal of the closest pyramid on Kokos’ world. Javin and Sauros had replenished their packs and affixed their long belt-knives prepared to step through the now active Portal, trusting they would be taken to their next destination.

  Kokos would remain, continuing to keep watch over the Archive along with Manos, her brother, who was standing guard night and day. They had met with him and he had related his encounter with Nemesis.

  Javin had been impressed with Manos' resourcefulness in discouraging Nemesis from attacking or doing something equally foolish. Then extending an invitation for Nemesis to join them, to cooperate. Sauros had growled at that, but Javin knew it was the right thing to do. Nemesis knew the Dark Guardians. Nemesis also had two of the Articles of Power. They'd have to face him again at some point, and it would be best if they could work together.

  Sauros had said it would be far easier to kill him and take the Articles rather than trust him. Javin understood Sauros' feelings. Nemesis had killed Sauros' betrothed on Sauros' world. But that was a problem for another time. For now, they had decided to move on to their next destination.

  Javin hugged Kokos. Sauros, a bit uncomfortably did the same. Then they turned and stepped through the Portal.

  The travel through the Portal was longer than Javin had remembered it ever being before. The distance must be great, he thought as his disembodied essence was propelled through the abyss. Streaks of pin-point light flew past, indicating the vast speed they must be traveling. Those streaks must be stars we're passing, Javin continued his musing. They were of different sizes and colors as they sped past, trailing a tail of light behind as if they were a mass of comets. Javin knew differently.

  This technology was amazing. It had all been built by the Ancients, and then they'd abandoned it. No. That wasn't right. They'd left it here for the younger races to find, use and bring them to safety, if they could all work together and activate what had been left.

  Javin hoped they'd be able to pull it all together so he would be able to meet these Ancients. All he'd seen of these Ancients was a eons-old memory of the first Keeper on Kokos’ world, showing him the Archive they had established as part of the grand rescue plan for the younger races. That memory had shown a being that looked very human! Something in the back of Javin's mind itched about that. Something in his blocked memories about the Ancients.

  Then Javin's musing was interrupted by a pinpoint of white light, growing in diameter directly ahead. It was the opening, the end of their journey. This time Javin would be prepared.

  Timing it perfectly, Javin stepped forward just as the opening engulfed him, and he ended standing on the hard packed earth on the other side of the stone Archway. Sauros stepped out beside him, turned and looked back at the Portal just as it popped off, revealing an empty Portal showing the scenery beyond. Sauros let out a groan as he turned a full circle.

  They were standing on a small mass of barren land completely surrounded by water as far as the eye could see. A bright sun shone directly overhead, It seemed a bit larger than Javin was used to. Sauros wasn't used to seeing a sun at all. His world was constantly shrouded in clouds with the sunlight being refracted to ground level.

  The Portal stood on a tiny island only large enough to contain the Archway and about ten paces dropping away from the rise on all sides. It was steep enough they'd have to slide down the slope to get to the water. It was tall enough to be kept mostly above the water level unless there were heavy seas.

  "Not again
," Javin said turning to look at Sauros.

  Chapter 8

  "Seems like we've been here before," Javin said.

  "What?" Sauros looked back at Javin. "Have you been here? I haven't. Do you remember something finally?"

  "No," Javin said. "Sorry. It's another figure of speech. What I meant is this reminds me of the last time we came through, ending up with only the portal and the scenery barren around us in all directions. Last time it was desert. This time it's ocean."

  "I see," Sauros said tilting his head and concentrating, trying to fathom Javin's meaning. "You are relating the lack of appearing in a pyramid and arriving at a place that has essentially nowhere to go as being similar to our last arrival."

  "Yes," Javin chuckled. "You're catching on. I think it helps that we're connected through the Crystals, so you can catch my meaning even if you don't understand my words."

  "Catch . . . Yes," Sauros said again turning around. "Although this time, barren has a different meaning, and as for there being nowhere to go . . . I think this is more serious than the last. At least on Kokos' world, we could walk until we found the entrance to her underground cities. This . . ." Sauros spread out a hand indicating the vastness of the ocean. "Doesn't allow us to walk anywhere."

  "You're right about that," Javin said, squinting across the blue horizon, seeing if he could see any ships. The concept of ships was not something he'd encountered on the worlds he'd visited, but again, something within his mind told him of the images, the principles of powered boats gliding over the water. Then another concept came to him and he looked into the sky.

  There were airships, planes, jets, balloons. These concepts flooded into his mind as possible modes of travel across the expanse of ocean they were facing. Shaking his head in ironic frustration, Javin realized he probably would not see either planes or boats on this world.

  "I see strange images crossing your mind," Sauros said. "Strange containers that move people across the skies or across the waters. Where you come from must have be an amazing place!"

  "Our bond seems to be getting stronger," Javin said, astonished. "How clear were the images?"

  "Very clear, though I'm not sure exactly what they were. I could understand their purpose because of your thoughts about them. Planes, boats . . . Strange names."

  "Yes they are. I know what they mean and have the images in my head, but I can't place any memories with them. Sometime we're going to figure out a way to unlock those memories. I have a feeling it's going to be important we do at some point."

  "We'll do it carefully, though, I hope," Sauros said. "We haven't had much luck using brute force." Sauros was silent a moment then spoke again. "You said you wanted to unlock the memories. Perhaps what we need is to find the right key.”

  Sauros continued his thought. "I believe we'll find that key as we continue searching. I believe it is all tied in with our purpose and mission."

  Javin smiled at his large friend. "You're getting quite eloquent in your speech. I believe that's the longest I've heard you speak in one stretch. But, as usual, you've made an excellent point. And I also believe you've, again, prodded us to move forward."

  Then looking out at the ocean surrounding them Javin asked, "Do you have any suggestions?"

  Sauros didn't say anything. Instead he looked around again then started down off the rise toward the water. Javin followed him. Javin ‘felt’ what Sauros was doing.

  He was ‘feeling’ out, using the Crystal in his breast, and following the impressions it gave him. Javin had actually done this before, and as he thought about it, another memory surfaced where the Pontu' gi leader had also done the same thing, letting himself be guided by the Crystal.

  Javin quieted his mind and sought for his own inner feeling, trying to confirm the direction Sauros was following.

  There it was! A slight nudging to go to the water’s edge on one side of the tiny island. It was only a matter of a few strides and half sliding down the mount until they stood together at the edge of the water.

  The feeling persisted, slight as it was, that they needed to continue in the direction they were facing.

  Sauros turned to Javin. "I know the direction we must follow, but I know I can't walk on water."

  "Neither can I," Javin said. "However, just like you, I feel this urge to keep moving forward." Javin knelt down by the water, looking to see how deep it was. The water was quite clear and Javin could see the land fell off drastically. They were at the top of a mostly underwater hill with steep sides. They would step off and sink into very deep water.

  Javin put his hand into the water. Then hesitated a moment, staring at his hand. Between each finger was a thin layer of skin that went halfway up and a little past the second joint of his knuckle above his hand. “Look”, Javin said, holding up his hands, “they are webbed.”

  Startled, Sauros gazed at Javin’s hands. “Look at your hands”, Javin said. Sauros held his hands up. They were webbed too. “Each time we go through a Portal”, Javin said, “we’re adjusted to our environment, remember? And we are given the language of the world on which we arrive. The webbing on our hands are to help propel us through the water.” Javin gestured over the vast expanse of water.” He leaned down and cupped some of the liquid into his hand and brought it to his nose. For some reason he expected it to have a slightly salty smell - whatever 'salt' was. Then Javin leaned forward a bit and licked the water, testing it with his tongue, and then taking a bit into his mouth. It was a pleasant taste.

  "It's fresh water," Javin said, surprised.

  "Why wouldn't it be fresh?" Sauros asked.

  Javin stayed kneeling down, staring out across the vast expanse of water. “This large a body of water should have more salt content.” Then something in the back of his mind came forward. “Great Lakes,” he said.

  “What?” Sauros said.

  “Just something I remembered . . . and not remembered.” Javin shook his head. “I think where I came from there were large bodies of water called Great Lakes that were fresh water also. This is really driving me nuts.”

  “What has this to do with nuts?” Sauros asked. “We packed some. Are you hungry?”

  “No”, Javin chuckled. “Sorry, just my stupid manner of speech again, and none of this gets us any closer to moving forward, my friend.”

  Absentmindedly Javin started to rub his neck with his hand. He felt something funny. Something on his neck that had not been there before. “Look at this, Sauros,” Javin said, tilting his head aside, exposing his neck for Sauros to see. He rubbed his hand across small ridges he’d felt. The angling of his head stretched the skin of his neck further exposing three slits that hadn’t been there before.

  “Are you all right, Javin? It appears your neck has been slit but I see no bleeding!” Sauros extended a hand and gently rubbed across, peeling back the skin. “The slits are there but they appear to have healed. You did not have these before.”

  Suddenly Javin thought of something and rubbed the other side of his neck. Yes, the same three slits were on the other side as well. Javin stood and faced Sauros, “I’ve got matching slits on the other side.”

  “What other adjustments have we been given?” Then an idea occured to Javin. “I have gills! I’ll be able to breathe under water.”

  “You have what?” Sauros said. “Feel your neck,” Javin said by way of answer. Sauros gingerly did so then pushed his mane aside to let Javin see. “I have gills too.” Sauros seemed concerned but not alarmed. Not much ever ruffled the big lion-man.

  “Gills are what fish have along the sides of their necks to allow them to breathe under water. The gills filter the water and extract oxygen much as our lungs do. But this is really curious.” Javin continued. “We also can breathe air. So whatever we are to do here, we will be breathing both air and water it seems.” Then holding up his hand, again, splaying his fingers, stretching the web between them, “Looks like we are not expected to walk on the water but swim under it.”

 
“No,” Sauros said, “what is this swim? I will sink.” Then Javin remembered on Sauros' world there had been an abundance of water strained out of the atmosphere each morning left in small pools, ponds and an occasional river. But nowhere were there large bodies of water that Javin was aware of.

  “Don’t worry,” Javin said. “We’ve been adjusted and I’ll show you what to do. First, I’m going to test this.

  “Our packs and clothing won’t fare well in the water, much less our food. Let’s leave it here along with most of our clothes. The water seems warm enough and we’ll explore.”

  Javin suited words to action. Shrugged off his pack and trudged it back up to the top of the hill to the landing where the Portal was. He placed it beside the Portal then began to strip off his clothing, leaving only his briefs as covering. He belted back on his knife, just in case, and took off his boots and socks, noting that his toes were webbed as well.

  Sauros had come up the incline and copied Javin until he also stood dressed similarly. Javin made his way back down off the incline to the edge of the water. Instead of stepping off, Javin dove in.

  Sauros stood aghast until Javin’s head bobbed above the surface again. Javin knew he could swim. He couldn’t remember ever swimming before but knew how. It just came naturally. With Sauros, who had never swam before, it would be different.

  Javin wanted to first test his gills so he could give clear instructions to Sauros before inviting him to jump in. He felt surprisingly buoyant, not having to move arms or legs to remain at the surface with his head above water. Must be dense water, Javin thought to himself, and knew the concept came from his blocked memories . . . again. At least these snippets that came out were useful for the most part.