The Nibiru Effect

by G Sauvé

  “You’re observant,” says Avalon. “There’s just one thing you got wrong.”

  “What?”

  “I didn’t create the plague. The Nibiran energy contained within the Mountain of Fire took care of it for me. It contaminated the water supply and started killing innocents months before I arrived.”

  “Does that mean…” I begin, but I can’t bring myself to say it.

  “That’s right,” says Avalon. “There’s no cure.”

  “That’s a lie,” says Kara. “You cured King Kanto’s daughter.”

  I hadn’t thought of it, but she’s right. The arkane ruler’s daughter got infected by going for a swim in the river. She would have died if not for a mysterious stranger—Avalon—providing a cure for the ailment that afflicted her.

  Avalon chuckles. “She was never ill. I poisoned her. It was the only way I could get that fool Kanto to help me. All I had to do was stop poisoning her, and she was miraculously ‘cured.’”

  It makes sense. It also means everyone in this time is doomed, be they korrigan or arkane. Nothing we do—or have done in the past—can help save them.

  Many things that once seemed illogical now make sense, yet there are still a few details that trouble me.

  “How were you always one step ahead of us?” I ask. “There’s no way you could have anticipated everything that happened.”

  “You’re right,” admits Avalon. “I had a little help.”

  “Arko?” asks Jonn.

  Avalon shakes her head.

  “The arkanes?” suggests Kara.

  Another disapproving nod. Both obvious answers have been voiced, which leaves only one remaining possibility.

  “You used the dinosaurs,” I say.

  Avalon nods, a fond smile curling her lips.

  “That’s right. I used a modified version of the mind jacker to take control of a couple of Tyrannosaurus.”

  “Is that why their eyes are red?”

  Avalon nods.

  “I used them to spy on you. Not only can I control them, but I can see what they see.”

  “That’s cool,” I can’t help saying. I regret it instantly, but it’s too late.

  “If you think that’s cool, you’ll love this next part,” she tells me. “My pets did more than spy on you. They followed you from afar, protecting you from dangers you didn’t even know existed.”

  That explains why the T. rex didn’t devour us the first time we encountered it. He was protecting us from the Triceratops. What it doesn’t explain is…

  “Why?” I ask. “Why bother protecting us if you wanted us dead?”

  “I couldn’t have them die too early, now could I?” she says, nodding toward Jonn and Kara. “That would have ruined everything.”

  “Then why did it attack us?” I ask, thinking of our second encounter with the

  Tyrannosaurus. If not for Jonn’s heroic actions, it would have devoured us.

  “The mind jacker was damaged during the fight with the Triceratops,” reveals Avalon. “It broke, and I lost control.”

  That explains why its eyes were no longer glowing when it attacked us.

  “What about that one?” I ask, pointing to the T. rex that stands in the nearby cage.

  “It replaced the one Jonn destroyed,” explains Avalon. “Unlike the first, it was merely there to observe and report on your progress, not to intervene.”

  That explains the mysterious sounds I heard when Kara and I were travelling up the mountain. It also explains why Kara and I came so close to death without so much as a single assist from the Tyrannosaurus.

  Everything now makes sense. Well, almost everything.

  “Why am I here?” I ask.

  Avalon smiles like she knows something I don’t.

  “That’s not important,” she says. “All you need to worry about is that your role here is done.”

  “I don’t understand,” I confess.

  “Maybe this will help,” she says, reaching into her pocket. She pulls out a small, shiny item and tosses it to me. I catch it without understanding what it is. It’s not until I uncurl my fingers that I recognize it.

  It’s my mother’s ring. I have no idea how she got her hands on it, but it doesn’t matter. It’s back in my possession, and nothing else matters. Well, almost nothing.

  “Why?” I ask. “Why give it to me?”

  “Like you said, this was never about you. It was about Jonn and Kara.”

  I glance at my companions. I have only known them a short time, yet I have grown quite fond of them—especially Kara.

  “Also,” adds Avalon, “you saved my life. This is your reward.”

  I peer at the ring. It’s so small, so innocuous, yet within it lies the power to grant the one thing I have wished for ever since I first appeared in this time. One turn of the triangles that adorn it is all it will take to open a portal. A few steps later I’ll be back in my own time. If what I learned about time travel is true, I will reappear moments after I left. Being reunited with my mother will be as simple as waiting for the train to take me to my destination. It sounds like a no-brainer, yet I can’t dispel the feeling of self-hatred that overpowers me at the mere prospect of abandoning my friends.

  “Go home,” says Jonn. He doesn’t sound angry. Or jealous. Or resentful. If anything, he sounds happy. He may not want to admit it, but he cares about me.

  I glance at Kara. She’s crying, yet a smile curls her beautiful lips.

  “You deserve to be happy,” she says.

  I’m torn. Part of me wants to help my friends, yet I’m painfully aware any sort of escape attempt will not only ruin my chances of returning to my own time, but it will ensure I share whatever fate awaits Jonn and Kara. As much as it pains me to admit it, there’s only one thing I can do.

  I glance at my friends one last time and walk away.

  Memory 78

  I wander around, numb. I stumble forward, too overwhelmed with shame and guilt to care where I’m going. I abandoned my friends in their time of need, and nothing I do can ever make up for it.

  I eventually end up at the rope bridge. My fear of heights keeps me from crossing, so I sit on a nearby boulder and bury my face in my hands. I want to cry, but the tears won’t come. I just sit there, drowning in an ocean of self-hatred.

  I want to help my friends, but more than anything, I want to go home and forget any of this ever happened. But how can I live with myself if I abandon Jonn and Kara to their fate?

  I think of Korri. He was so small. Not to mention cowardly—I’ve lost count of the times he bolted because he thought he heard something. But, even with all of this working against him, he still found it within him to make the ultimate sacrifice. Because of him, Jonn is alive today. I can’t let his sacrifice be in vain. I won’t.

  I will save my friends.

  Pride swells within me. For the first time in my life, I feel as though I can accomplish anything. I’m smart. I’m resourceful. But, most of all, I can shift. I’m not sure how this ability will come into play, but I suspect it will be the key to saving my companions.

  The feeling of indestructibility persists for a few seconds before I realize how highly stacked the odds against me are. Avalon has an army of trained arkanes. She can shift, which means she likely can tell a real person from a replica. Oh yeah, and let’s not forget the fact that she has a pet T. rex. But the worst part of all is she owns a time travel ring. One twist is all it will take for her to escape this time, taking Jonn and Kara with her.

  The hope and pride that once inhabited me are gone. Only despair remains.

  “I can’t do it,” I groan. “I can’t save them.”

  There’s a moment of silence before a voice reaches my ears.

  “Yes,” it says. “You can.”

  I look up but see no one. I get to my feet and scan my surroundings, but there’s no sign of life. It’s not until I notice a man hiding in the shade of a tree that I realize I’m no longer alone. He looks familiar, but
his face remains hidden in the shadows.

  “W-who are you?” I stutter.

  “There’s no need to be afraid,” he says. Once again, the voice sounds familiar. “I’m a friend.”

  “Prove it. Show yourself.”

  “As you wish,” says the man as he takes a step forward and emerges from the shadows. I immediately recognize him.

  It’s me.

  Memory 79

  I stare at the man standing before me. He looks a lot like me, but there are a few subtle differences that make me doubt his identity. He’s older than me. His muscles are prominent—he may not be as buff as Jonn, but he’s definitely in peak physical condition. His jaw is square, and beard stubble coats the lower half of his face. His eyes are filled with pain and sadness. I can tell he’s seen things normal humans can only dream of in their wildest nightmares.

  It takes a while, but I eventually muster the strength to speak.

  “Who are you?”

  The man chuckles.

  “I’m you, of course.”

  “You don’t look like me.”

  “I’m older,” he explains. “I’m you, three years from now.”

  That would make him—me—eighteen.

  “How is that possible? How are you here?”

  “It’s complicated,” admits the older Will—if he’s indeed who he claims to be. But who else could he be? Avalon? I guess it’s possible, but why would she go through all this trouble? It doesn’t make sense.

  “Why are you here?” I ask, deciding that, at least for the time being, I will pretend the man standing before me actually is an older version of me.

  “I’ve come to help you,” he says. “You must not abandon Kara and Jonn. They will die unless you help them.”

  “Don’t you think I know that?” I snap.

  My older self smiles. “I’m sorry. I forgot how upsetting it was to be on your end of this conversation.”

  This is getting confusing.

  “Are you here to help me?” I ask.

  “Sort of,” says Will 2.0.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He sighs. “It’s complicated. All I can say is one day when you’re me, and I’m long dead, everything will make sense. In the meantime, you’ll just have to trust me.”

  “Don’t you mean me?”

  He chuckles. At least I didn’t lose my sense of humour.

  “We’re the same person,” he says. “You. Me. Us. It’s all the same.”

  “Right,” I say, though I’m still kind of confused.

  There’s a moment of silence during which I wonder if perhaps this older Will is Avalon. But, no matter how hard I try, I can’t come up with a single reason for her wanting to manipulate me. She gave me my mother’s ring. She let me go. Why do all that if she planned on pretending to be my older self? Come to think of it, is it even possible to shift into an older version of a person?

  “It’s not,” says my older self.

  “How did you know what I was thinking?”

  He chuckles.

  “I’m you, remember?”

  “Right,” I say. I’m not a hundred percent sure I believe Old Will is who he claims to be, but right now, it’s easier to believe than to rebuke. Not to mention I’ve just realized I finally have the perfect source of information at my disposal.

  “I’d love to spend the next few hours answering all of your questions,” he says before I can speak, “but I don’t have much time. Please listen and try to keep an open mind. Can you do that?”

  I nod.

  “Good. There’s only one way for you to save your friends. You must master your shifting ability.”

  “I already did,” I blurt out, forgetting about the promise I just made.

  Old Will rolls his eyes.

  “The power you have mastered is mere child’s play compared to the potential that slumbers within you,” he says. “When the time comes, your mentor will appear and assist you in reaching the next level.”

  “Who is my mentor?” I ask, thinking of the hooded figure that taught me to control my powers. “Is it you?”

  My older self shakes his head. “His identity is irrelevant. Heed his advice and succeed. Rebuke it and fail.”

  “How do you kn—Oh, right. You’ve already experienced what’s about to happen to me.”

  Old Will nods. “I’m glad to see you’re starting to understand.”

  Did I just insult myself? I can’t tell.

  “Why can’t you just tell me what’s going to happen?” I ask. “Tell me exactly what to expect, and I’ll take down Avalon.”

  “I wish it were that easy,” admits my older self, “but it’s not. The journey has been long and painful, but the end is now in sight. The only way to ensure everything goes according to plan is to make sure events play out exactly as they have. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Is that why you can’t tell me what’s going to happen?” I ask. “Because just knowing the future would affect my behaviour and thus alter it?”

  My older self nods.

  “That’s exactly right.”

  “Okay,” I say. “Then tell me what you came here to say.”

  “Listen closely. We don’t have a lot of time.”

  Right on cue, the ground starts shaking. The tremor only lasts a moment, but it’s enough to instill in me a sense of urgency. The time for questions has passed. It’s now time to listen to what my older self has to say.

  “You must save your friends and stop Avalon,” he says. “The lives of countless innocents depend on it.”

  “I thought this time was already doomed.”

  “It is, but what happens now will set into motion events that will impact the lives of everyone on Earth. Their survival depends entirely upon your actions in the next few hours.”

  “No pressure,” I mutter.

  Old Will chuckles. “Sorry. I keep forgetting how difficult it is to be on the other end of this conversation.”

  “It’s all right,” I say, though to be honest, it’s not. Not at all.

  “All you must do,” says my older self, “is ensure your future plays out as I remember it.”

  It sounds simple enough, but I can tell it won’t be.

  “How?” I ask.

  Will 2.0 gives me a broad smile.

  “It’s simple. Just believe in yourself. The power is within you. All you need to do is embrace it.”

  “That’s it? That’s your advice? ‘Believe in yourself?’ No offence, but that sounds like a bunch of—”

  “I know how it sounds,” interrupts Old Will, “but it’s the truth. Do you remember when you first arrived and the korrigan priest showed you that painting on the cave wall?”

  “The one claiming I’m a hero?”

  The older Will nods, smiling.

  “Hold on,” I say. “Are you saying—”

  “That’s right. You’re a hero. You’re destined for great things, but none of it will come to pass unless you believe in yourself. Have faith in your abilities, and you may well save the world.”

  “If I do this,” I say. “If I accept my destiny, will I get to meet my mother? My father?”

  Old Will nods. “You’ll get to meet both of your parents. I promise.”

  My heart skips a beat, then starts racing. I’ve never felt this happy. But I’m also worried.

  “What about my friends?”

  “They’re safe. For now. But they have no means of escape. You must find a way to rescue them.”

  “How?”

  “I can’t tell you,” admits my older self. “All I can say is this: Help will come when you least expect it.”

  “That’s it?”

  He nods. “It’s enough. I’ve told you all I can. Now, it’s time for me to leave.”

  I’m not sure what he means until he starts fading. He gradually grows paler, until I can see right through him.

  “Wait,” I call out. I lunge forward, but by the time I reach my older self, he’s almost en
tirely gone.

  “Good luck,” he says, just as the last wisps of him fade away.

  Moments later, I’m alone. Or so I think until Old Will’s body rematerializes.

  “I almost forgot. Kara likes you. Stop being a coward and make a move.”

  He fades away again, and this time he stays gone. I stand there for a while before deciding I have very few options. Given everything I just heard, there’s no way I could ever live with myself if I returned to my time without at least trying to save Kara and Jonn. I glance at the ring which I still clutch in my hand and smile. When I’m ready to use it, it will be waiting for me. And when that time comes, Jonn and Kara will be standing by my side.

  It’s with a proud smile that I slip the ring onto my finger for safekeeping and set off toward the tower. Unfortunately, I only make it a few steps before I start sinking. It takes a moment before I understand what’s happening. I somehow ended up in a pool of quicksand, and the more I struggle, the faster I sink. So much for my great destiny.

  Memory 80

  T he irony of the situation isn’t lost on me. No sooner did I accept my destiny than fate chose to intervene. Now here I am, inexorably sinking deeper and deeper into a pool of quicksand.

  I’ve seen enough movies to know the worst possible thing I can do is struggle. Unfortunately, panic has gained me, and that’s precisely what I do. I claw at the edges of the pool in a desperate attempt to free myself, but every lunge, every kick, every movement, no matter how small, quickens the sinking process.

  It takes a while, but I manage to calm myself. The sinking slows but persists. I close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. Once my heartbeats have slowed to a relatively normal rhythm, I open my eyes and study my surroundings.

  The pool is small. From the looks of it, it’s no more than two metres in diameter. Unfortunately, I’m smack dab in the middle of it, which means reaching the edges is impossible. As worrisome as this is, what frightens me the most is the fact this sandpit should not be here. I travelled across this very patch of earth twice before. Once on my way to Avalon’s tower and once on my way back. Jonn and Arko also trudged across it, and neither of them sank. That means the sinkhole that caused this natural trap formed quite recently.