T is for Time

by Paul Vayro

  Chapter Thirty Nine

  “I’m sorry dear. It was my fault entirely.” Fate still wasn’t entirely sure what he’d done, but offering an apology was easier than a two day mood and constant berating.

  “I know. And I forgive you.” Karma knew full well what he’d done wrong. Not that she was saying. “I hate it when we argue…..” Karma moved on to an alluring, kitten like mood; the very tactic that left Fate’s memory unable to dwell on her angry moments. Fut felt the tension in the air dwindle. It had been a long and tawdry argument over nothing. Irony had fallen to sleep. Fut had been watching the ship.

  As the new peace between the lovers threatened to turn coital, Fut saw something he felt the rest of the team should know about.

  “I do believe the next chapter of our mission has begun.” Irony stirred from her light slumber and shuffled to the edge of the basin. She was ready to deny she’d been asleep. Fate was entirely unaware of the nap. He was busy waiting for Karma to disengage their kiss. He didn’t want to break off first and be accused of not caring. She duly parted lips and looked lovingly in to his eyes.

  “Is that Zarg?” Irony spoke through bleary eyes, without certainty.

  “You can never be sure. They all look exactly the same, yet intriguingly different.” Fate fell straight back into mission mode, his body still tingling with passion.

  “I told you those two couldn’t be trusted. They’ve let Zarg escape.” Irony remained positive.

  “For a dude escapin’ he ‘ain’t makin’ no haste to return home.” Fut commented on the alien's, they presumed to be Zarg, ambling approach.

  “Maybe he’s confident because he’s wiped them all out.” Irony shook her face to re-awake fully.

  “No. They and Coincidence would have appeared here to tell us if anything went wrong. This must be part of their plan.” Fate felt confident, even if the group didn’t.

  “They couldn’t plan a trip to the front door without ending up in the kitchen.” Irony didn’t concur.

  The as yet unidentified alien paused around thirty feet from the ship. A muffled conversation ensued between the being and the craft. Movement at the windows increased as news of the encounter spread. Once the dialogue was complete a few nervy minutes passed before a ramp slowly descended. Once contact with the floor had been made the alien toddled on board and the ramp began its ascent.

  “That was exciting.” Irony wished she hadn’t bothered waking up.

  “The scene ain’t over my grouchy ally.” Fut had continued watching and noticed the ramp's abrupt halt. After a brief pause it started back towards the floor, this time swarmed with aliens clambering to leave before it reached the ground.

  “Now that is interesting.” Fate almost felt smug.

  Several further ramps descended, accompanied by an alarm. The windows contagiously emptied. The aliens that had filled them quickly becoming part of a fleeing stream of green. The little green men, women and children disappeared over the brow of the basin, in two directions. Neither led them towards the observing concepts.

  The flow of panic remained steady for some time, gradually reducing to a trickle. By the time the basin was clear the concepts were no nearer to understanding what had just happened.

  “I suspect this all part of a plan we are yet to hear.” Fate’s suspicions were instantly answered by movement on the opposite side of the basin. Fut relayed the scene in his own way.

  “I spy with my medium sized eye four regular dudes and one small, green guy.” Five figures appeared tentatively over the brow. It was Team A, including Zarg. Team B made their presence known, inducing an exchange of waves and thumbs up.

  “If Zarg’s there, who went on board?” Karma asked, more for her own curiosity than relevance to the mission.

  No words of explanation were needed as a long and spindly leg appeared on the ramp. Joined by another three, they planted themselves firmly on the ground in order to support the swinging, monstrous head that controlled them. Gordon emerged and waved a hand in the direction of Team A. The group waved back, except Zarg who averted his gaze and told himself everything would be alright.

  “Must have been some form of disguise.” Fate poked at the truth.

  “That be some fancy dressing. I need to find the tailor that weaves that magic.” Fut had nothing but admiration for the effect achieved.

  Team A emerged over the lip and strolled down to the ship. Brick decided walking was far too time consuming and tripped, within three steps. His arrival in a heap was swift. The recovery took as long as the others did to arrive.

  Spiritwind offered his friend a scotch egg as he helped him to his feet. He declined the treat. Team B watched on as pleasantries were exchanged between the cacklejack and the group. With the social admin complete everyone but Gordon headed on board. Within moments all ramps except one were lifted. The spider remained at the point of access, acting as a bouncer.

  “What do we do now?” Karma allowed a hint of annoyance in to her question. Fate aimed to quell it with a suggestion.

  “We could go down there and have a look around while we wait?” It was generally accepted as a good idea.

  Team B climbed to their feet and ambled down the side of the basin. The wings remained in place on the ground. Nobody felt the need to remind Karma to bring them.

  “Remind me again why we’re not transporting ourselves around.” Irony still had nothing but complaints.

  “Fun, exercise, the opportunity to bond through conversation.” Fate shouldn’t have bothered. Irony didn’t want an actual answer.

  Silence seemed the easiest way forward for the foursome, until Irony found a further flaw she felt duty bound to raise.

  “How will we get past the spider?”

  “I’ll engage him in conversation. If Team A have befriended him I’m sure he’ll realise we are colleagues and allow us through.” Fate thought out loud as the downwards incline demanded a slight jog.

  “Only flaw to my shaded eye is Team A didn’t deprive this guy of his ability to fly.” Fut made a valid point as Karma’s resolve found a focus. She was ready for round two with Gordon if needed. Fate hadn’t considered there may be repercussions from his girlfriend’s original meeting with the monster. It was too late for further discussion. They’d been spotted by the beast.

  Gordon gave the approaching group his best bouncers' appraisal. Standing tall he assigned two eyes to each person and began a multiple staring out challenge. Three concepts relented instantly, one stood firm, Karma. The cacklejack sought back up from his victorious six eyes, but Karma remained determined. She’d beat a thousand eyes if she had to. As eyelids were narrowed, and stares increased, a moment of recognition descended upon the spider. It knew this face. Reading the footnotes to the memory, Gordon took a deep breath of pain laden air. The still fresh wounds in his back tightened in agony at the sight of their creator. He didn’t have time to consider the Monster Council’s view of his actions, Gordon fled without hesitation.

  “Or we could just do that.” Karma rubbed her hands together in dismissal of the beast. “Shall we go on board?” She ushered everyone forward.

  “Thank you dearest.” Fate went to offer a thankful kiss before seeing Karma’s still seething face. He froze in place as she took the lead.

  “So, need a woman to fight your battles.” Irony mocked Fate as she followed her friend on to the ship. She had nothing but scorn for the all seeing leader. Catching up with her female ally, she noted Karma smiling to her self. The purveyor of justice felt she was doing well, and nobody planned to disagree.

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