The Last Time Traveler

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  “Azure,” Cleo said, turning her eyes to her companion. “Do you like swimming?”

  At this question Morgan bit his index knuckle in eager anticipation.

  “What's the water like?” Azure asked.

  “Eighty degrees year-round, crystal clear to about a thousand feet, filled with brightly colored fish and coral even at shallow depths, and nothing dangerous. I figured we could go snorkeling for an hour or two. It's been ages since I've gotten to.”

  “Sounds great,” the blue maiden said with a smile.

  Minutes later the ship landed and the girls went to change into their swimsuits. Morgan nervously paced the bridge trying to psych himself up to face tan lines.

  “Rob,” the young man said, wiping his brow, “will you hold my hand.”

  “No, Morgan,” he replied shaking his head. “And I think you're getting a little over excited.”

  “Rob,” Morgan replied, staring his friend in the eyes, “this is one of those situations in life where there isn't enough excitement in the universe to get over excited.”

  “If you say so, Hos,” Robert replied.

  “Doc,” the young man said thoughtfully. “If I collapse make sure it's one of the girl's that gives me mouth to mouth.”

  This evoked a glaring stare from Robert.

  “Azure, Doc,” Morgan corrected. “Make sure Azure gives me mouth to mouth.”

  The young man's ears caught the sounds of the approaching young women, causing him to jam his knuckle once again into his mouth. Seconds later the moment arrived. It wasn't the moment he had been waiting for...

  Both the young ladies were unquestionably dressed in swimsuits. They were not what Morgan had been hoping for, however. They were full body diving jumpsuits. They even had gloves on... The young man stared in disbelief. This was absolutely the most dressed they had been since he had met either of them.

  “What is this?!?!” he asked, a stunned tone in his voice. “What are you two wearing?”

  “Swimsuits,” Cleo replied shaking her head.

  “Those are not...” he said, before throwing his hands in the air and dropping his head on his chest. “Rob, is this for real?!?! Are those considered standard swimsuits?”

  “Well... Yeah, Morgan,” the traveler nodded. “They're very functional and...”

  “Man the future really stinks sometimes!” Morgan interrupted. “Rob, is there any period swimwear on this ship?”

  “Yeah, I think,” Robert replied. “There should be some trunks in the bottom of one of your underwear drawers.”

  “Right!” the young man exclaimed. “Wait right here, ladies!”

  Minutes later Morgan returned wearing nothing but flip-flops and a pair of blue and white swimming trunks.

  “This is a swimsuit!” he explained, turning around slowly to give them the full effect.

  “It's also blindingly white!” the traveler pointed out. “Doc, you've got to add get some sun to his fitness routine.”

  “So it would seem...” Doc mused.

  “You'll notice ladies,” the young man said, pointing at his chest with his open hands, “that at least eighty percent of my flesh is completely exposed.”

  “At least!” Cleo exclaimed.

  “Wow...” Azure replied, a look of mild embarrassment on her face.

  “So, why don't you girls try again,” Morgan suggested, pointing over his shoulder with his thumb. “I think you might enjoy kickin' it old school for a change.”

  “What's the point of swimsuits like that?” Azure asked.

  “Oh, this is gonna be good,” Robert chuckled. “Go on, Morgan, explain it to her.”

  “Well...” the young man replied thoughtfully. “They help to...”

  “Help to what?” the traveler asked.

  “Okay,” Morgan said nodding, “First off, they help to get vitamin D.”

  “Extraordinary,” Doc replied. “He's actually right.”

  “Exactly,” the young man said. “And they help to get rid of any tan lines you may have.”

  “I don't have any tan lines,” the girls said in unison.

  Morgan swallowed.

  “And anyway, Morgan,” Cleo pointed out, “these suits are tan through.”

  “Yea, Morgan,” Robert chuckled. “What about that?”

  “Okay,” Morgan replied confidently. “Okay. But you have to think about the fact that our bodies are mostly water.”

  “Again,” Doc said, “that's true.”

  “And so,” the young man explained, “when our skin comes into direct contact with the water it's like a return to nature. It's like being back in our mother's wombs.”

  “Wow,” Robert said. “I can't believe you used the word womb...”

  “Well I did,” Morgan replied. “It's natural, Rob. And you need to grow up. In fact, the more the skin the more the nature. So, if you want to go really natural...”

  “Either way, Morgan,” Cleo interrupted, her head cocked to the side. “That suit of yours ain't gonna do nothing to protect you from the sun.”

  “She has a point,” the traveler nodded. “Doc, we got any sunscreen?”

  “I have some SPF85 in the medi-bay,” Doc replied.

  “Eh,” Robert replied. “I guess that'll knock the edge off, anyway. You girls go ahead and get started. We'll be along after we've fireproofed Morgan.”

  “Why did you do that, Rob?” Morgan asked as soon as the girls left the room. “I had 'em on the ten yard line, man.”

  “No,” the traveler replied, shaking his head. “No, you didn't. Anyways, you gotta help me carry the cooler and setup the volleyball net. Oh, and I got a surprise for ya.”

  “What is it?”

  “A surprise,” Robert pointed-out. “Vox, Doc, what are you guys wanting to do?”

  “Nothing!” Vox immediately replied. “I'm sitting in the sun, watching the waves with my toes in the sand, and not fixing the ship!”

  “And you Doc?” the traveler asked. “You hanging out or what?”

  “I'm going fishing, Rob,” Doc smiled. “And I'm going fishing on the other side of the island where your inane chatter won't frighten the fish. Then I'm going to catch a whale which we will eat later tonight.”

  “Sounds great, Doc,” Robert chuckled.

  After they had practically dipped the young man in SPF85, Robert and Morgan grabbed the cooler and the volleyball net and headed for the beach. Once they had setup a few chairs and dug a bit of a fire pit the traveler revealed his surprise.

  “Voila!” Robert said, throwing open the cooler.

  “Baja Blast!” Morgan exclaimed. “Awesome, bro! Thanks!”

  “Not a problem, man,” the traveler smiled. “So, you want to dig some clams or something while we wait for the girls?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  For roughly three hours the traveler and his companion wandered the beach digging up space clams as the warm, but not hot, breeze fluttered around them. The air was scented by countless flowers and Morgan sampled some of the local and very alien fruit. It was pretty good... All things considered the young man felt this had to be one of the most peaceful places in the universe.

  Shortly after the girls joined them the volleyball net was put up and a quick game of guys vs. gals started.

  “Look, Morgan,” the traveler whispered on their edge of the court, “to the best of my knowledge, Cleo has never beat me at volleyball. But she's about to if you don't get your head in the game, man!”

  “I can't help it!” the young man exclaimed. “I keep getting mesmerized by Azure's giant...”

  “Morgan!” Robert barked under his breath. “This is exactly why you don't need a...”

  “I was going to save serves,” Morgan lied.

  “No you weren't!” the traveler pointed out. “How stupid do you think...”

  “Are we going to play or what?” Cleo shouted. “What are you two talking about?”

  “Rob's mad 'cause we're gonna lose!” Morgan shouted back.


  “We're not going to lose!” the traveler lied.

  “Yes you are,” Cleo smiled.

  They lost. For several minutes Cleo sang We Are The Champions at Rob before the four of them strolled over to Vox and one by one dropped down into beach chairs.

  “So, Vox,” the traveler said, gazing at his friend. “What are you thinking about?”

  “My wife...” Vox replied, staring into the distance.

  “I'm sorry, man,” Robert nodded. “I'm going to get you home as fast as I can.”

  “I know...”

  “There ain't nothing for it...”

  “I know...”

  “Anything I can do?” the traveler asked.

  “I don't know, Rob,” Vox replied. “We may just have to tell her the truth, man.”

  “I've been for that since the very beginning.”

  “You're a liar, bro.”

  “Yeah...” Robert sighed. “Yeah, I am. Still, I can see some sense in telling her the truth when we get back. It might make things easier in the long run.”

  “I don't know, bro,” Vox said shaking his head. “She loves you like a son, but if she found out about that whole e-zombie thing she might just choke the life out of ya...”

  “Yeah...” the traveler said thoughtfully. “But I could probably lie my way out of it.”

  “True,” Vox chuckled. “You probably could.”

  “And really,” Robert continued, “if we had her on the ship she'd be in easy lying distance, if you see what I mean.”

  “I think I do,” Vox laughed.

  A few hours of relaxation later Doc showed up with several massive fish. They cooked these along with the clams they had collected and a few lobsters the girls caught. All in all it was a truly delicious non-MRE meal. The sun began to set as they finished eating and twin blue moons slowly rose on the horizon.

  “Morgan,” Robert said, pulling the young man aside. “I have a serious favor to ask, man.”

  “Ask away?”

  “Well,” the traveler began, “I may be the last time traveler and the savior of the universe and all, but I'm also a man.”

  “What's your point?” the young man asked.

  “My point, Morgan,” Robert explained, “is that we're in one of the most romantic places in the universe with two pale blue moons slowly rising into the sky.”

  “I guess I'm with you so far.”

  “So,” the traveler continued. “I want to go for a moonlit walk down the beach with my not-exactly-a-girlfriend.”

  “Makes sense.”

  “Right,” Robert nodded. “But... I also want to hold her hand.”

  “So,” Morgan replied with a shrug. “What's the big deal?”

  “Did you pay any attention to those stories I told you?”

  “Dude,” the young man said quite seriously, “I've got 'em completely committed to memory.”

  “Well then,” the traveler said raising his hands, “you should see the danger! Me and Cleo could go from holding hands to who-knows-what in like ten seconds!”

  “Yeah...” the young man sighed. “I suppose that's true...”

  “What's wrong with you?”

  “I don't think me and Azure could go from holding hands to who-knows-what in like ten years...”

  “Ahhh...” Robert replied. “Well, we can work on that later. But tonight I need your help, man.”

  “I'm in,” the young man nodded. “What do you need?”

  “You've got to watch me like a hawk,” the traveler replied. “If I look like I'm getting distracted even a little bit you're going to have to run up and punch me in the head or something.”

  “I'd be glad to.”

  “I'm serious, man!” Robert explained. “If I go to kiss her you have to stop me, no matter what!”

  “Trust me, Rob,” Morgan replied, nodding his head. “If I see you going to kiss her I'll very happily break your jaw.”

  “Thanks, man! I owe ya big time!”

  “Not at all,” Morgan grinned.

  The two young men stepped over to the two young ladies.

  “So...” Robert said slowly. “Me and Morgan were thinking that you two might want to take a stroll in the moonlight. And don't worry, we can protect you from any wild animals.”

  “Are there any wild animals?” Azure asked.

  “Only the two of them,” Cleo giggled.

  “If you will,” the traveler said, offering his hand to Cleo.

  She took it as Morgan offered his hand to Azure. The four began strolling across the sand in the moonlight side-by-side. After just a few minutes Robert ran his finger down Cleo's arm and took her by the hand. Cleo stepped nearer and for a moment and Morgan thought he would have to spring into action. She only laid her head on his shoulder, however. For the moment, the danger had passed.

  “This is so strange,” Azure mussed as they sauntered along.

  “I've been surrounded by strange lately,” Morgan pointed out. “Can you be more specific?”

  “I don't know,” she replied. “This just seems surreal. I mean... you guys show up out of nowhere just as my planet's exploding, I end up trapped on your ship, I'm a missing person and so I can come with you... This is all just crazy!”

  “It is,” the young man agreed, “but it's true none-the-less.”

  “I know!” she replied. “That's the crazy part! If this was a dream I could understand it...”

  “Well,” he said, “If you want to think about strange consider this: in a few hours I'll be trying to convince you that we know each other because you'll have never met me.”

  “Yeah...” she agreed. “That is strange...”

  “And...” he said slowly, “So... if you wanted to do anything to show how much you appreciate all the effort we're about to go to in order to pick you up, now would be the time to do it. I'll remember the absolute rapture of it, but you'll never have gone through the terror of it. It'll be nothing more than a sweet memory of mine.”

  “You don't give up do you?” she giggled.

  “I don't see any point,” he confessed. “Getting nowhere is getting nowhere whether you're trying or not...”

  “And do you plan to keep trying after we meet again?”

  “Oh yeah,” he sighed. “I figure I've learned enough about you to make a better first impression. Maybe it'll give me half a chance.”

  “I doubt it,” she laughed. “But I honestly wish you luck.”

  “Thanks,” he nodded.

  “I'll tell ya what,” she said, stopping him and turning him toward her. “You did get this far.”

  As soon as she said this she kissed two of her fingers and then pressed them to his lips.

  “Eh,” he smiled. “I'll take it. Who knows, maybe I really will have a chance.”

  “I doubt it,” she replied shaking her head. “I only did that because I knew I never would. And even with that in mind that was as far as I could go...”

  “I see where you're coming from,” Morgan replied.

  The rest of Morgan's stalk-Robert evening was lovely but unremarkable. Robert and Cleo controlled themselves completely and all Azure was up for after the finger-kissing thing was conversation. When they got back to the fire pit they made a couple of improv-beds for the girls out of large tropical leaves. They then lie down, gazing up at the stars together, until both Azure and Cleo fell asleep.

  “Let's go,” Robert whispered. “She'll never even know we left.”

  As he said this he bent down to pick up Cleo, but stopped before he did so, gazing at her for several seconds.

  “Vox, bro,” he sighed, “you better carry Cleo.”

  “Not a problem,” Vox replied, gently lifting her from the ground. “Hold on, small-girl, we got to get you to bed.”

  “Doc,” the traveler said, “you got it?”

  “I do,” Doc replied. “I'll meet you on the ship in five minutes.”

  “Thanks,” Robert replied. “Come on, Morgan, let's get our stuff.”

&
nbsp; “Alright,” he sighed. “You know, I'm really gonna miss her.”

  “Not for long you won't,” the traveler smiled.

  Fifteen minutes later the ship was in non-space headed for Never Never Land.

  “So is sci-fi the only real history?” Morgan asked, leaning back in his seat, his hands behind his head.

  “What do ya mean?” the traveler asked.

  “I mean, like is Lord of the Rings or The Prydain Chronicles real?”

  “I keep trying to explain…”

  “Yeah, but I mean are they based on real history?” the young man interrupted.

  “Why?” Robert chuckled. “You afraid of the Horned King?”

  “Yes,” Morgan admitted. “But I have other, better, more practical reasons for asking.”

  “Well, even if there are elvish chicks, and I’m not saying there are, I ain’t going to pick any up.”

  “So you’re not saying that there aren’t any elvish chicks?”

  “Look, Morgan,” the traveler said, turning his gaze to the young man, “you stumble across more than enough women to offend and-or annoy. We don’t need to go looking for more.”

  “Yeah…” the young man sighed. “I guess that’s true... You ever notice how like all the spells in Harry Potter were just like Latin or something?”

  “I guess.”

  “I've always wanted to know how to say make woman in Latin,” Morgan said.

  “Ake-mae Oman-wae,” the traveler replied.

  “That's pig-Latin.”

  “I got the feeling it would work for you, bro.”

  Not quite an hour after this... I guess you could call it a conversation... the ship emerged from non-space on the outskirts of Never Never Land. Cleo was awakened just long enough to join in the honors. As soon as she was on the bridge they got the party started.

  “Time to take out a time machine,” Robert nodded. “Hit it, Vox.”

  “Done!” Vox replied, having pushed a series of buttons on the console.

  “That's it,” Cleo said with a yawn. “Fifteen minutes after everyone left the dock Delmont's machine exploded.”

  “That was proximity disability!” the traveler replied with a grin.

  “The orb was un-stolen,” she added, “and the time-lines are very close to corrected.”

  “Perfect,” Robert replied. “Now let's all get to bed. First thing tomorrow we pick up Azure.”