Oblivious to his surroundings, Jaden hunched on Han’s broad back as they flew south, his thoughts careening into one another, his mind reeling from his mother’s revelations. He couldn’t accept there were no alternatives. Wouldn’t accept it. There must be another way. He would find it. And soon, because time was against him—against them.
Still unclear about precisely what it was they were supposed to do, Jaden couldn’t hazard a guess on how long it might take. Meaning he should use this time to concoct a few creative solutions before things flew out of control. But the more Jaden concentrated on the problem, the more impossible it seemed. Annoyed by his lack of progress, Jaden abandoned the process, leaving his subconsciousness to work.
His gaze inevitably went to Kayla, astride Taz on his right, her long, blonde hair flowing around her stunning face as they surged toward their destination. Her presence made this ordeal infinitely more bearable. After his mother’s bombshell revelation, Kayla had caught his hand as they climbed the stairs to the roof for their departure, whispering they would find a way.
It was the first time she’d initiated contact since pulling away from him that night at his Gran’s. That simple touch, her belief in him, and her resolute support had made him want to pull her into his arms. At that moment, she couldn’t possibly know how much he’d loved her.
Jaden’s brain stuttered on the thought. Loved her? Well, there are all kinds of love, aren’t there? Friends love each other, don’t they? Jaden snarled, a low guttural sound at the base of his throat. Now is neither the time nor place for such thoughts. But the distress Kayla had tried so hard to hide when he’d unwittingly let go of her hand earlier that same day flashed to the forefront of his mind.
There was no mistaking her hurt. And didn’t that tell him she more than liked him, if just not enough to admit it yet—even to herself? No, I can’t think like that. We have a mission to complete, and I won’t complicate matters by pursuing more than friendship with Kayla before we finish this.
Han glanced at him over his shoulder, and Jaden grimaced. He wasn’t sure how the bat sensed his inner turmoil. Rubbing Han’s neck, Jaden wordlessly conveyed his glider need not worry. Han accepted this because he flew on without further inquisition.
Jaden’s mind returned to their departure a few hours earlier. Just as he and Kayla had hoped, their bats appeared at the exact moment they stepped out onto the Jameson’s rooftop landing site with his mother. Their typically serene faces wore concern until they established the teens weren’t in any immediate danger. Then they were all business, ready to rush on with the next stage of their journey.
Jaden’s mother, hoping for a glimpse of the magnificent creatures after her own mother’s endless gushing, was disappointed when the gliders remained invisible to her. Too addled, Jaden hadn’t thought to offer his mother the relic stone. Instead, he and Kayla mumbled commiserations and indulged in fierce farewell hugs.
When Han and Taz circled lower for their pickup, Jaden warned his mother that he and Kayla would probably become as invisible as their gliders once they reunited. Despite this, his mother’s shock was evident when they vanished. Jaden’s last impression as they whirled away was his mother’s utterly distraught face. It seared its way into his mind and distressed him even more. If only his mother had seen the gliders. Then she might be more confident in their success following her mind-blowing confession.
As Han angled them away from his mother, he discerned Jaden’s anguish. After several unsuccessful attempts at cheering Jaden up, Han gave up. Now their group flew in silence, headed for the destination the book had revealed. Soquazba. Incredibly, the bats were familiar with the ancient name, so Jaden let them lead. He hadn’t thought to question their steeds as he and Kayla bowed under the burden Clara Jameson had laid on them.
With a sigh, Jaden roused himself from his fugue. His legs were stiff, his shoulders tense. They must’ve been flying for longer than he’d thought. Relieved when the bats hadn’t insisted on practicing their aerial skills, as was their wont, Jaden now considered whether they were just as anxious as their voyagers about completing this mission and getting on with their lives. Jaden shattered the silence accompanying them for too long. “Are we nearly there?”
“No, young one. We have some distance to go. Would you care to discuss what’s troubling you?” Han’s tone indicated he found Jaden’s brooding disconcerting.
Jaden deliberated. Honestly, I don’t want to think about what my mom said, let alone talk about it. Because saying the words out loud would be akin to confessing their truth, admitting defeat. However, a nagging certainty in the back of his mind said this was exactly what he should do. Growling, Jaden hailed Taz, and once the girls joined them, Jaden related his mother’s dream.
Their bats listened without comment, finally understanding why their voyagers were so withdrawn.
“Thank you for sharing that, Jaden,” Han murmured. “We will join with you in considering ways we might rescue your parents, without allowing you to become a captive yourself.”
“Thanks, Han. I appreciate that.” Jaden sighed, relieved the burden was no longer solely his to bear. Han shifted under him, surprised by his use of the bat’s new abbreviated name for the first time.
The bat ruminated. “Han . . . I like it. Do you have a shorter name for Tazanna too?”
“I think Taz will do.” Jaden glanced her way to witness her reaction, delighted when Han’s body quaked under him with repressed mirth.
Taz graced Jaden with a bored glare. “If you must.”
Did the absence of her usually scathing reproach reflect Taz’s reluctance to destroy the fragile tendril of normalcy he was displaying? From the way Kayla leaned over and caressed the side of her glider’s neck, Jaden suspected it was.
“Speaking of weaknesses, should we share some of the Gaptor’s flaws?” Taz asked.
I’m so right about Taz’s motivations, Jaden thought. She was trying to distract him by offering information. How very sneaky.
Kayla’s broad smile confirmed her agreement with the sentiment. “That would be useful.”
“Obviously, we’re a lot more graceful than that floating monstrosity—” Taz began.
Jaden grinned, recognizing Taz’s usual superior tone.
Kayla giggled. “Of course you are!”
Taz grinned, showing her tiny, sharp teeth, and warmed to her subject. “We’re nimbler because we’re smaller, permitting quicker adjustments that allow us to outmaneuver him. And we’re faster across shorter distances.”
Over Taz’s head, Kayla grinned at Jaden, and they shared silent laughter. “Is there any area where you don’t surpass the Gaptor?”
Taz measured the question, before sniffing. “I suppose I have to concede he can fly further than we can in one stretch. But his power wanes when he does. So it can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the situation.”
“His power?” Kayla questioned. “You mean that EMP thing?”
“Yes. He can’t sustain the blast for as long or send it out with as much power when he’s tired. But it’s still a potent weapon and one we should avoid.”
Han cleared his throat. “Don’t forget about our arcachoa.”
Taz glared like he’d betrayed some secret. “Yes, then there’s that. We have one, but he doesn’t.”
Her reluctance to divulge even that scrap of information was evident. Jaden couldn’t let it slide. “Your arca—what?”
“Arcachoa,” Han repeated. “It’s the name for the space on our bodies made especially for your medallions.”
Taz’s glower was noteworthy, meaning there was definitely more to this. Jaden pressed in. “Tell us about this arcachoa.”
Han’s powerful shoulders rolled under Jaden when his bat shrugged at Taz with apology. Jaden smirked. Apparently, even in the gliders’ world, males had to be mindful of the unpredictable female psyche.
Taz harrumphed. “If you must know, it’s just below the ridge on our neck.”
“Oh, like a holding space,” Kayla said, exploring the fur in the region Taz had mentioned. “But why would you want to keep that a secret?”
Kayla had picked up on that too. Jaden waited for Taz’s response.
“It’s not exactly a holding space,” Han explained when Taz didn’t answer. “It serves a unique purpose.”
“What?” Jaden prodded, sensing they had reached the crux of the matter.
Taz growled, and Kayla’s probing fingers immediately ceased their exploration. Frowning at Han, Taz said, “This was not something I planned on sharing with you. But since the proverbial cat’s out of the bag, I suppose you should know what it does, should the need ever arise for you to use it.”
Jaden squirmed on Han’s back. “Spit it out already.”
Taz sighed. “It’s difficult to explain, but essentially, when you place your medallion in the space, it allows both the glider and voyager to travel through time.”
Chapter Two
Jaden sputtered, sure Taz was joking. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously. But like the adverb you so aptly used, we should only use it in the most extreme circumstances and, even then, only when exercising every precaution.”
“Like a time machine effect of sorts?” Jaden guessed this would be their only opportunity to gather information on the peculiar medallion space if Taz had any say in the matter. The moment he heard he could travel through time, an idea had formed in his mind. He needed to establish whether his plan was viable.
“I suppose so,” Han said. “You move through time but don’t change locations. I guess if there was such a thing as a time machine, that’s how it would work.”
“But unlike your mythical time machine, our time travel has two important limitations: it only functions when you’re in an area containing an artifact—” Taz began.
Jaden interrupted. “An artifact? What’s that?”
“An item that’s present in both your world and ours.”
Jaden blew out a sigh. This is exasperating! First, Taz withholds mention of the medallion space. Then, when Han’s revelation forces her to discuss it, she agrees unwillingly. And now, she’s intentionally concealing something else. If she wants us to know how the medallion space functions, why isn’t she telling us everything? Isn’t more knowledge better than less?
“Could you give an example?” Jaden asked in a measured tone.
Taz glanced at him, as if wondering whether he was being obnoxious. “They’re difficult to define, but an example that comes to mind is your medallion.”
Jaden scowled. “That’s not helpful.”
Han, sensing the rising tension between the two, cut in. “Start by thinking of what you might find in both our world and yours.”
But it only stoked Jaden’s temper. “Easy for you to say when you know what’s in your world. We don’t have that insight, so how do we work out whether it’s something we might find in both worlds?”
“There aren’t that many,” Han admitted, “but an artifact would typically be something ancient and unusual in this world.” He must’ve sensed Jaden was puzzling over something specific, because he asked, “What are you concerned about?”
Jaden snuck a calming breath. If he wanted information, he couldn’t lose his temper. “Taz was clear about this only working when there’s an artifact in the area. Therefore, it follows we should know exactly what an artifact is, in case we ever need to use this time jump effect. Hence the question: How do we identify an artifact?”
Taz nodded. “You’re right.”
Jaden blinked, sure he hadn’t heard correctly. Since when does Taz admit someone else is right?
Taz continued. “If ever there’s a pressing need to use our arcachoa, it will already be too late then to explain. Think of an artifact as something you would need or find on this quest you’re on. My guess is the relic stone your grandmother gave you is also an artifact. It serves a purpose in this world but comes from ours.”
Kayla’s face brightened. “And the key Jaden’s Gran gave him would be one too?”
“Most likely,” Han answered. “But we’re guessing what an artifact is as much as you are. The definition is vague. We’re not deliberately trying to be obtuse. We just don’t have the information.”
Jaden calmed. Han’s response persuaded him they were on the same side. “Thanks, Han. I suppose we’ll figure it out together if the need arises.”
Han purred, and Jaden felt his pleasure. They flew for a few minutes before Jaden thought of something else. “Taz, I’m sorry. I interrupted you earlier. You said there were two limitations to the time travel. The first was that it would only happen when there was an artifact in the area. What was the second?”
“Oh yes, I’m glad you reminded me. Should you ever use our arcachoa, it will only take you to the exact time period when the artifact was in that area, not just any random time period.”
“So we can’t set a date to ‘jump’ to, like they do in the movies?” Kayla asked.
“No. The time we ‘jump’ to, as you so appropriately worded it, is the exact point needed to locate the artifact at that precise spot in that particular time period,” Taz said.
“Then it’s like the ‘jump’ is preset to transfer you back to the last time there was an artifact at that location?” Jaden asked.
Han smiled. “You understand.”
But Taz, studying Jaden, must’ve perceived the hidden agenda behind his question. “Jaden, what exactly are you thinking of doing?”
“Nothing right now—only an idea I’m noodling.”
Taz pursed her lips. “It’s imperative you inform us before using our arcachoa. Using its effects puts both glider and voyager on an extremely hazardous path.” Unsure whether she was getting through to him, she tried again. “Jaden, do you understand you shouldn’t activate the arcachoa shouldn’t except in the most exceptional situations, when there is absolutely no other option?”
Han nodded. “She’s right. Using the arcachoa affects us both. Please don’t be cavalier in thinking you can use it at any time.”
Kayla’s eyes sparked. “What’s so dangerous?”
Taz’s glare was stern. “I don’t know all the adverse consequences, except that there are plenty. One of the most devastating is that you can get lost in the time period you travel to if you aren’t careful. Imagine not only leaving your friends and family forever but also landing in a culture that’s foreign to your own, possibly even with a language you don’t understand.”
“What do you mean ‘lost?’” Kayla pressed.
Taz was quick to elaborate this time. “When you travel to what we could term the ‘parallel past world,’ you can only exist there for a limited time. If you exceed that time, you’re stuck there forever, with no way of returning.”
“How much time?” Jaden asked, causing the gliders to glance nervously at one another.
“It varies, and we don’t really know what determines the variation,” Taz confessed. “That’s what makes using the arcachoa so perilous. It’s impossible to know how long is too long.”
“I see,” Jaden muttered. A quick peek at Kayla showed even she was getting suspicious. Her next statement confirmed it.
“Jaden, please, tell us what’s going on in that head of yours.”
Jaden exhaled. He had accumulated enough information to conclude what he was considering was impossible. “Really, it’s nothing. I thought the time travel might be useful for, uh, finding something, but now that I understand how it works, it’s not an option.”
“Jaden Jameson, you’re still hiding something. You would never give up so quickly. Tell us what you were thinking, or so help me. I’ll take your medallion away from you right now!”
Startled by her anger, Jaden tried pacifying her. “No need to get upset. I was just thinking it might be a way to help my parents.”
Sympathy softened Kayla’s response. “You thought you might somehow go back in time and rescue them?”
/> “Yes, that was my initial idea. But now that I understand how the time effect works, I know I can’t get back to them, primarily because they aren’t artifacts.”
Jaden wanted to squirm as Kayla studied him for signs of deceit. Convinced he truly had no intention of taking whatever scheme he might have had in mind any further, she said, “Okay, but do nothing crazy before speaking to all of us first.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jaden teased, touched she cared. If he wasn’t such a wimp, he would tell her how much that meant to him. But he kept his mouth shut. Until she could recognize her own feelings for him, he wouldn’t force her hand.
Kayla smiled, but Jaden saw her fatigue, as though all the emotions of the day had finally come crashing down and were crushing her.
Kayla moaned. “How much farther?”
“Actually, we’re nearly there,” Han replied. “Jaden, bring out that map of yours. It’s time to set more precise bearings.”
Jaden removed the wooden disc from his pocket and manipulated its various parts until the map splashed up into the surrounding air. The bats whistled appreciatively, getting their first glimpse of the spectacular map. Without the walls of Jaden’s room to restrain it, it was even more impressive, floating all around them on a far larger scale. That wasn’t the only difference.
Jaden and Kayla both saw it simultaneously. A prominent X had appeared. How is that possible? Are we imagining it? But one look at Kayla and Jaden knew they were both questioning the same variance.
Then Jaden noticed something else. As they flew, the X changed its position relative to their movement. It was guiding them, like a compass, toward their intended destination. Jaden gawked in stunned amazement.
“How on earth did they have technology like this even a hundred years ago, let alone more?” Jaden breathed.
“I don’t know,” Kayla whispered, awed. “Something else to add to the growing list of things we should ask Zareh the next time we see him.”
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