“It should be safe now to start time again.” He held the Great talisman in his hands before him and concentrated on his next command. He must have his thoughts clear and precise, as a command that is impure could have terrible consequences. From his lips came the word, “Start.” It was like watching a giant video screen as the pause function was released to recommence play. The Earth began to rotate again as cloud masses slowly crept over the planet surface. The stars began to twinkle and the rays of the Sun were once again reflected by the brightness of the atmosphere below.
A familiar mystical voice echoed from the emanations of the Great Talisman. “My liege, I believe congratulations are I order.”
“Lord Valour!” Ryan exclaimed, realising he had forgotten all about him. “I think you have been imprisoned long enough.” As the thought passed through Ryan’s mind, the Great Talisman obeyed. Before them emerged the impressive crystalline figure of Lord Valour. From his golden lips came a sound like wind passing through a deep mountain valley. “Once I was the teacher, and now you are my mentor. You have triumphed where I have failed. You are the true master of the Rings and the Great Talisman. I bow in honour.” He lowered his great crystalline head in subservience.
Ryan reached out and placed his hand on Valour’s shoulder. This was the first time that Ryan had ever touched him and his skin was like holding a well cut diamond. “Valour, it was you that showed me the path that I needed to follow. Without your guidance I would never have conquered Zardon.”
“It was my failure that born this terrible tale, I am pleased that I was of some assistance.”
“There is one thing that you can still do for me?”
“Anything my liege.” Valour replied while bowing again.
Ryan presented the Great Talisman to Valour, “Take this thing back to the Creator, it is far too dangerous to be in the care of anyone else. And while you’re at it, make sure Hellion is put somewhere that he can do no more harm.”
Ryan’s words stunned Katie, “After all that you are just going to give it away!?” She pulled his arm so she could confront him face to face.” With the Great Talisman you could undo everything! You could return to thirty first century and stop Zardon from ever getting his hands on the Rings of Venal. You would stop all this madness from ever happening, and save the human race from extinction!” Anger and frustration poured out of her mind and into her words. “Am I the only one thinking clearly here!?”
“Katie, if I were to stop Zardon then I would never come back in time to Earth. Before what we called the Great Cataclysm, the human race was on a one way track to self-extinction. It was the cataclysm that stopped us from destroying ourselves. If I were to stop that, then the future would be darker than we could possibly imagine. Besides, the human race was never completely wiped out. There is still me, Kim Lee and Uncle James. There may be more back in the future still in hiding.”
“With the Emperor gone and the Warrian army wiped out, the Warrians are somewhat humbler as well. Maybe this was the turning point for their race as well.” Katie lowered her head as she absorbed Ryan’s words. “I just wanted to see my family again.”
“I too want to see mine again, but this is one time I have to think of the bigger picture.” He turned away from Katie and handed the Staff to Valour.
Valour bowed again when he received the Great Talisman, and immediately threw a protective shield about them all. “Your wisdom humbles me my Liege.”
“I am no longer the wielder of the Rings of Karn, you can call me Ryan.”
“Old habits die hard, Ryan. Still it has been an honour to serve you.” Valour said as a smile grew across his crystalline face.
“You know,” Ryan said. “I don't think I have ever seen you smile before. It suits you.”
“Until now I have had very little to smile about. I shall be doing more of it from now on.”
“Can you send us back to the Endeavour before you go?”
“Certainly.” Valour moved before Katie. “Miss Mitchell, it too has been an honour. And you will see your family again, one day.” Valour looked at Ryan and asked, “Tell me, what shall you do now that it is all over?”
“We are no longer needed here in the twenty first century. I haven’t given it much thought, but I would like to go back to the future and get the human race back on its feet. What do you think Katie?”
“There is nothing her for me now, and it sounds like we are needed somewhere else.”
“Good luck to you both, whatever the future has to offer.” With that Ryan and Katie were propelled back to the Endeavour at an impossible speed. The next moment they were standing on the Bridge of the Endeavour watching a bright flare in the distance as Valour returning to the spirit world.
From behind came the excited voice of Charlie, “Thank God you’re both all right.” He pulled them together and formed a group huge as a big smile grew across his face. “That was quite a display you put on, at first were not sure what was going on.”
“You know me, always the showman.”
“Well done, my boy, well done.”
“Charlie, I think it’s time for everyone to hear the full explanation. Prepare the main theatre.”
“I’ll make the announcement.” Charlie said with a smile.
**********
The young corporal stormed into the silent room at the heart of the Strategic Command Centre. As he looked about at the disapproval of his insubordinate entrance, he immediately stood erect and soluted. Short of breath, he said. “Sir, the hurricane has subsided.”
General Harding was first to react, “That’s impossible. It only started a few minutes ago.”
“I didn’t believe it either until I saw it with my own eyes, sir.” He remained at attention with his eyes looking straight ahead, though he glanced at Harding to see his expression.
Harding stood and left the room with Jones and the others in tow.
Moments later, Harding stood at the door that led outside. He glanced back at the faces of the other Generals with uncertainty before opening the door. Then with a brisk motion, he opened the door to let the sunshine in. The sudden influx of light made them shade their eyes. Slowly and with caution, they left the safety of the Centre and walked up the short stairway that led to the surface.
When they reached the top of the stairs, they looked about at the wasteland that was once Omaha Airforce Base. Every structure had been swept away leaving little more than the foundations, and there was no sign of the numerous aircraft that once cluttered the base.
General Townes said what was on all their minds, “Oh, my god. It’s all gone! Everything, is gone! How fast was the hurricane again?”
“Over a thousand kilometres an hour.” Stated Marcus.
“I wonder if there is anything left, anywhere?” Harding asked not really expecting a reply.
Marcus added. “We still have no contact with any of our satellites. I’d say it will be some time before we know anything about the rest of the world.
“One thing is for sure,” Harding said as he looked up at the blue sky. “Our friend has come good with his word.”
**********
Herbert Conley stood outside the entrance to the bunker and stared in shock at the devastation about him. Beside him was his wife Jean and his two daughters. All that he could muster was, “Oh my god!”
“The base is gone!” Said Jean. Then she turned to Herbert with great concern on her face. “What about our house?”
Their youngest daughter of eleven years looked up at Herbert and asked, “Dad? When can we go home?”
Their other daughter who was four months past her fourteenth birthday replied. “Melanie, don’t you get it! There is no home left to go to.”
The parental instinct within Herbert reacted quickly. “Annett!” He crouched down so he could look Melanie in the eye. “We can stay here for a while until we can build another home.”
Jean then stated with regret. “We will have to start all over again.”
As Herbert stood, he added. “Maybe we will get it right this time.”
THE FUTURE
Ryan stepped up onto the podium and cleared his throat. In front was most of the staff of the Endeavour that filled the ten thousand seat amphitheatre to capacity. “This is a very proud moment for me. I see a crew that has fought bravely against the greatest of foe and won. A foe more terrible than you may realise. You have not only saved Earth, but the entire universe. I shall do my best to explain. Many of you may recall during our first encounter the sudden and mysterious destruction of the Warrian Battle Fleet, and more recently the bazaar behaviour of the planet killers, and the reconstruction of the Moon. The explanation for these events requires the explanation behind the Warrians seemingly die hard attitude to destroying us. What I am about to tell you is the most incredible story you will ever hear, and after you have had time to absorb it, everything will make sense and it won’t seem so impossible.....”
Ryan when on to tell his audience of the Great Talisman, the Rings of Karn and of Venal, and the Battle that took place behind the scenes. As the story unfolded, stunned silence was the reaction from the Endeavour crew. He then went on to explain the positive side of the impact the battle will have upon the humanity.....”I strongly believe the Creator had this planned from the beginning, and a part of that plan was always to use it as a catalyst for putting the human race back on track. As you know I am from the future, and man went on to do amazing things.” Ryan paused for a moment to let his words sink in, and scanned the undivided attention of his audience. “Now for our future.
The remains of the human race now have a stable planet to rebuild upon, and so we are no longer needed here in the twenty first century. From here on in they can be left alone make there own choices, and as I explained, those choices were with wisdom. You are all aware that we cannot return to Earth and regain our lives, however there is one place where we can go.”
A thousand years into the future, the human race is all but wiped out, apart from one or two exceptions. There may be more, in hiding, struggling to survive after the terrible destruction inflicted by the Emperor. They need help, our help. I propose we travel to the thirty first century and help rebuild what has been destroyed. And become a part of that future. You are free to make the choice, but I call upon the humanity within you all to join me in reforming a future for our people. If you are not, then I will do my best to find a new home for you in this century.
If you are willing to join me in this noble cause please stand and be counted.” Ryan watched and waited. The first to stand were two seated in the front row, James and his daughter Kim Lee. Next to them was Adam and John Masters, who were next to stand. John Cerrico, who seat further back helped Sarah to her feet as Charlie joined them in their stance. Slowly but surely more and more crew stood, like some sort of highly infectious disease spreading like wildfire. Before long, the entire theatre was filled with people standing. One remained seated.
Then the lone person stood, and walked up to the podium next to Ryan. As she spoke the microphone picked up her words. “We followed you into battle and we saved the world. We will follow you anywhere.” As Katie finished, she hugged him. ”Besides, where else would you find anyone with the qualifications?” A roar of approval came from the audience that shook the theatre and just about defend the two occupants of the podium. A great smile grew across Ryan’s face as he replied loudly, “Thank you!”
**********
Later back in Ryan’s quarters, he was surrounded by familiar faces as they discussed the events of the day. Sarah was seated on the lounge with John by her side, Adam and Kim Lee were having a private conversation near the doorway. Charlie and James were standing near the AutoChef discussing differences in living in two different millenniums. John Masters bragging as usual about his flying prowess to Sarah and John with the aid of the three dimensional imager in the centre of the room. Ryan and Katie were standing alone near the window that revealed a stunning view of the Earth.
“There is something that I have been wanting to ask you for quite a while, but an appropriate moment never arose.” He said as he held her hands.
“What is it?”
He then got down on one knee and looked up at the angelic face of Katie. “I love you, I have always loved you. Please, will you do me the honour of being my wife?” Suddenly, the room was void of conversation as everyone stopped to hear her reply.
Katie noticed the sudden lack of background noise, but Ryan seemed oblivious. Katie thought, maybe he was too nervous to dare look anywhere else. The suddenness of the question took her by surprise and for a while she stood there stunned. The words soon sunk in and Katie considered how much she loved him. He was like no other man she had ever met. He was intelligent, very good looking, kind and good hearted, and man who was devoted to a cause he believed in. He had his faults, bad tempered, not willing to ask for help when he needed it most, but the good aspects far out weighed the bad. Sometimes, sometimes when he looked into her eyes in that certain way, her knees would go weak.
It had been a six year roller coaster romance that tested her relationship skills to the fullest, and never did boredom feature as an aspect. Katie did not only love him, but was very much in love with him, and to spend the rest of her life with Ryan was what she wanted more than anything. She gazed into his deep blue eyes as her knees became unsteady, and replied. “Yes, of course. I only wish you hadn’t taken so long.”
Ryan stood and they kissed as the others applauded in excitement. They separated and he turned to the gathering of rowdy friends. “Anyone want to come to a wedding?”
RESOLUTION
Lord Valour strode across the broad diamond encrusted path toward a pair of great pearl white gates. As he neared, the gates opened to reveal a light of pure brilliance that made his captive avert its cold black eyes. In Valour’s right hand was the Great Talisman that shone with a brilliance similar to the light from the gate, and in his left were the ruby chains that shackled Lord Hellion.
Valour stopped at the gateway and knelt upon the diamond path. “My Lord, I bring you the source of the ill that has inflicted Heaven and the universe. I also return the Great Talisman to your divine keeping.”
The voice that came from the gate was old as time, and more glorious than the most beautiful of sunrises. “Lord Valour, your service to me has been true and gracious. For this you will be rewarded with the paramount service of the keeping of the Great Talisman. As for you Hellion, a sentence deserving of your wickedness. Exile for eternity in the keep named Hell, where you can suffer in oblivion with other outcasts.” The moment the echo of the Creator’s command faded, Hellion was sucked through the diamond path and disappeared with a cry of impending horror.
Valour glanced at the empty chains that dangled from his hand and gathered them up. “My Lord, with all my strength I will guard the Great Talisman from further ill.” He rose to his crystalline feet and turned and strode away with the same sense of purpose as he arrived. Behind, the gates closed the latest chapter in book of Heaven - the story of Intersect, and the battle for the Great Talisman.
THE END
The Great Talisman (Intersect Book 2) Page 21