“I feel like a ninja,” Morgan pointed-out, smearing black grease under his eyes.
“I am a ninja, Morgan,” the traveler replied.
“Seriously?”
“Metaphorically, yes!”
“I prefer literal to metaphorical...”
“To each his own...”
Shortly after this world changing snippet of conversation the guys and girls snuck silently from the invisible interior of the loading platform. They had parked a couple of miles outside of the little hamlet where stood the blacksmith's shop that contained their prize. As they strolled along questions filled Morgan's mind... who'd have guessed it, right?...
“So, Rob,” he said thoughtfully, “If Star Trek is based on history why do they have transporters, but we don't?”
“That was a TV show, Morgan.”
“I know, but it was inspired by history, right?”
“Let's say that it was, so what?” Robert asked.
“Well then, why did they have transporters?”
“Morgan,” the traveler explained, “I didn't say that everything everyone ever thought of was based on history. Imagination is a very real and powerful thing. People expanded the fiction in their own ways. I mean, we may not have transporters now, but that doesn't mean we'll never have them. If we ever fix the future then it may happen one day. That's the much more classic formula of the past changing the future. You see what I mean?”
“I guess...” Morgan replied thoughtfully. “So, some sci-fi is just sci-fi?”
“Some of it is,” Robert said. “Take Galaxy Quest, for example. It was a great movie, but it's based on Star Trek more than the actual future.”
“I got ya,” the young man replied. “And that brings up another question that's been bothering me.”
“What's that Morgan?”
“Seriously, Rob, am I just Guy?”
“Guy?”
“Crewman number six,” Morgan explained. “I mean, honestly, am I expendable?”
“Morgan,” the traveler replied, stopping and turning back to face his friend. “What would make you ask that? We're obviously friends, man. And none of my friends are expendable.”
“Well,” he sighed, “there's just a lot of red shirts in my closet. I mean, I haven't worn any of them because I didn't want to tempt fate. But I still wondered why they were there.”
“Oh, that,” Robert chuckled. “I just thought you'd look good in red.”
“Really?”
“No. I actually put them there to mess with your head and then forgot all about it. I'm sorry if it upset you, bro. It was just a joke.”
“So I'm not expendable?” Morgan asked.
“To tell you the truth,” the traveler replied, “if you died, Morgan, I would have to try to alter time to bring you back from the dead. That's how important you are to this team, man.”
“I know you're lying,” the young man chuckled, “but that still makes me feel better. It makes me feel like Lois Lane.”
“What?”
“That time Superman...”
“Oh yeah!” the traveler exclaimed. “I didn't really like that one. I mean, flying around the world backwards? What's that supposed to do?”
“I know,” Morgan nodded, “that didn't make any sense to me either.”
“Well,” Azure replied, “the more I hang around you guys the less sense you seem to make.”
“Don't worry,” Robert smiled, “when you get back to Never Never Land we'll straighten that out.”
“Anyways,” Morgan observed, “even if we did have transporters they probably wouldn't work in the ion storm.”
“Probably not,” the traveler agreed.
“Which raises another question.”
“You surprise me.”
“Really?”
“No, Morgan,” Robert replied shaking his head. “What this latest question?”
“How can the ship work in the ion storm?”
“Okay,” the traveler replied, “that's a fair question. The ship's shielding is much more powerful than the personal shields or the stealth field generators. It can handle that kind of power bombardment.”
“I understand,” the young man replied. “I just wish we could have used the invisibility belts.”
“I'm sure you do!” Cleo giggled. “It would give you another chance to accidentally bump into someone.”
“What do you mean?” Azure asked.
“Well,” Cleo replied, “the first time Morgan used one of the belts he...”
“That was a complete accident,” he interrupted.
“Oh, I'm sure it was,” she giggled.
“Cleo...” he said after a few moments of silence.
“What, Morgan?” she asked.
“What did I touch?”
“Shut up, Morgan!” Robert replied.
“Well she brought it up!” the young man said defensively.
Shortly after this a large moon slowly rose over the horizon.
“That's beautiful,” Morgan said staring off into the distance. “It reminds me of that moonlight stroll on the beach.”
“It does,” Robert admitted, “except we were much less likely to get ourselves accidentally killed that night. So shut up. We're almost on the outskirts of town.”
“Azure,” the young man whispered, “can I hold your hand?”
“No.”
“But we might get separated.”
“I can see you in the moonlight,” she pointed-out.
“Better safe than sorry,” he replied.
“I'll take my chances...”
Just seconds later Robert ordered Morgan to remain silent until after they had successfully broken into the blacksmith's shop. The young man obeyed, but it wasn't easy for him. Not that he really had any more questions, he just got bored easily...
“This is it,” Robert whispered, stepping up to a shadowy doorway in the middle of the little town. “And it looks like we're in luck; the door's open.”
“That's odd,” Cleo observed. “I mean, the owner's probably got some valuable stuff in there.”
“I'm sure,” the traveler agreed, “but theft is a capital offense around here. So, they don't have a lot of problems with break-ins!”
“Oh, nice...” she replied softly.
Just moments later all four companions were standing inside the shop. The traveler cracked a light stick and started gazing over the merchandise in search of the weapon they sought. Morgan followed his example and was amazed at the variety of tools used to kill people that filled the building. There were also several suits of plate armor that attracted his attention.
Morgan had always had a hard time with look but don't touch. And, as inanimate objects couldn't slap him in the face, he often couldn't keep his hands to himself when dealing with them. As a result the temptation to handle one of these suits of armor became overwhelming. Doing this, however, knocked it slightly to the side. He did manage to grab hold of it before it fell over completely though, so it didn't make quite as much noise as Church bells ringing out Mass would have...
“Nice, Morgan,” Robert exclaimed under his breath. “Why don't you just go get one of the town guards to see if he can help us find the sword?”
“Sorry...”
“Well just be quiet!”
About half a minute later two things happened at the same instant. Robert found the blade they had come to retrieve while Morgan noticed a man stepping into the room with a crossbow aimed at Azure's head. Once again Morgan's inner hero filled his mind with a single primitive thought: must save woman!
“Azure!” he yelled as he dove between her and the weapon.
His timing was perfect, at least from a certain point of view; the bolt struck him squarely in his left lung rather than hitting Azure in the skull. In roughly the time it takes to blink the traveler had drawn his tranq gun and shot their adversary in the throat with a dart. The man was totally unconscious in just fractions of a second, and fell without so much as maki
ng a cry.
“Morgan,” Robert said, kneeling down beside his friend.
“Rob,” he gasped.
“Listen...”
“No!” the young man exclaimed. “You listen. I've only got moments, man. I just want you to know that I don't care that it ended this way! I'm still glad you came to get me! You gave my life meaning! Thank you, Rob... and goodbye...”
“You know, Morgan,” the traveler replied, “that night gear is made out of armor cloth...”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he explained, “that the bolt didn't go through it... Well, I guess it did a little. I think you may be scratched...”
“............... So I am...” the young man replied after having looked his chest over carefully. “So... we probably need to get out of here...”
“We do...”
“Did you find the sword?...”
“I did...”
“Well then, grab it and let's go, I guess...”
“Alright...”
Robert helped the young man to his feet before stepping over to the unconscious man and pulling the dart from his neck. He then took a small cylinder from his pocket and begin spraying the man all over with it.
“What's that?” Morgan asked.
“Hooch,” the traveler replied.
“Hooch?”
“Yeah,” Robert chuckled. “Hooch, booze, ardent spirits, call it whatever you want.”
Having said this he pulled a hypodermic needle from his jacket pocket and jammed it in the man's arm.
“What's that?”
“More hooch,” the traveler replied. “This guy's blood-alcohol level is now DUI.”
“Why do that?” Morgan asked.
“Well,” Robert replied, “when he wakes up tomorrow he's going to tell everybody he can find about us. However, he's still going to be seriously drunk when he does. It'll lessen the chance that anyone will believe him.”
“Where did you get a crazy idea like that?”
“That Halloween episode of The Simpsons.”
“Oh yeah!” Morgan replied. “When Kang and Kodos ran for president.”
“Yeah, they did,” the traveler agreed. “Let's get outta here.”
Moments later they had swapped the swords and were making their way out of town. As soon as they passed the last of the outlying buildings Azure spoke.
“Morgan,” she said softly, “will you hold my hand?”
“Rob!” Morgan exclaimed as loudly as he dared. “Help me! That arrow was poisoned! I'm hallucinating!”
“You're not hallucinating,” she giggled. “I just want to hold your hand. May I?”
“Yes!” he exclaimed. “In fact, I'd cut it off myself and hand it to you if you wanted to hold it.”
“That won't be necessary.”
“I'm glad! Because I'd even be willing...”
“Morgan!” she interrupted. “Just take my hand please!”
He did. It was awesome. Holding hands is awesome. At least it is if you build it up with romance and take your time... Our society has gotten too jaded...
They could have gotten back to the ship much faster than they did, but they were out of danger and a huge moon was slowly rising into the sky. Morgan saw Robert glance over his shoulder before reaching out to take Cleo's hand in his. The four strolled slowly back to the ship through the moonlight hand in hand. Well... not all four of them, but you know what I mean...
Minutes after this little improv-stroll the ship was once again in non-space heading for their next destination. Morgan, for his part, was in a cold shower. He needed it. The last forty-five minutes or so of his life had just been chock-full of excitement.
As soon as he was dry and dressed Morgan made his way back to the bridge.
“I'm glad you're done,” Robert said, turning his seat to face the young man. “You did great saving Azure back there...”
“Thank you, Morgan!” she interjected.
He simply smiled and nodded.
“But you messed up major with the armor, bro,” the traveler continued. “No more mess ups. For real!”
“Right,” the young man replied. “I'll watch it, man, honestly.”
“You better,” Robert chuckled. “If you don't you're going to end up getting us killed at some point. Anyway, we're almost there...”
“Already?” Morgan asked.
“Yeah,” the traveler replied. “And this time it's just going to be me and you...”
“Rob,” Cleo interrupted “I want...”
“No,” he immediately replied, turning his gaze to her. “This is too...”
“We'll be fine.”
“Cleo,” he said, staring her in the eyes. “I've done the boyfriend thing already today. Now I'm doing the captain thing and you're staying here ensign.”
“You're an ensign?” the young man asked.
“No,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Rob's just nuts.”
“Maybe I am,” he replied, “but you're still not going. This is almost a one man job and I only need Morgan.”
“No offense, Morgan,” she said glancing from the young man to Robert, “but why do you need him?”
“I agree with her,” the young man pointed out.
“For one thing,” Robert replied, “I'm still showing him the ropes. Cleo, you and Doc and Vox know what you're doing. Morgan's still learning. He needs more field time and he's going to get it.”
“Well I don't like it,” she said, staring out into non-space.
“Well then don't think about it,” the traveler suggested. “Why don't you just sit there contemplating that moonlight walk we just got back from? Personally I thought it was very pleasant. Didn't you?”
“Very much so...” she nodded.
“Then concentrate on that,” Robert replied. “And anyway, I actually need you on the ship.”
“Why?”
“Well,” he replied, “their security will only be down for about fifteen minutes and there's a small chance that we could get trapped inside. If we are I need you to help get us out.”
“Alright, Rob,” she sighed.
“Now Morgan,” Robert said turning to the young man, “this time we're taking shields, stealth fields, laser guns, and transponders. If these guys were a little less advanced I'd even take some short range communicators, but I don't want to risk those. Besides we're going to do our best to stick together.”
“Got it.”
“Good. Let's go suit-up.”
Just minutes later the pair stepped from the loading platform loaded to the gills. Not only did they have the aforementioned equipment they were still packing the tranq guns and one conventional weapon each. Morgan was in seventh heaven. He almost felt like Arnold.
“Now keep in mind,” Robert said as they marched quickly and invisibly into the city, “when the ion storm hits it's not only going to knockout their security systems. It's also going to temporarily kill our shields, stealth fields, and energy weapons. So, if you have to grab a gun and your stealth field is off grab the tranq gun or the standard pistol.”
“Right,” Morgan nodded. “It's weird though. What are the odds that this planet would suffer from ion storms too?”
“The odds might be slim, Morgan,” the traveler replied, “if this weren't the same planet we were just on...”
“Oh right...” Morgan mused. “Still, it's odd that Delmont would come here during an ion storm.”
“Not really, man,” Robert replied shaking his head. “Not when you consider the fact that the ion storm is what made Delmont's plan workable. He looked for opportunities, bro. Just like any other scavenger.”
“Oh right...” the young man replied. “Well, on an unrelated topic: do you think my training's going well.”
“Basically.”
“Good,” he replied. “Because I want to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi like my father.”
“That was a movie, Morgan.”
“I know,” the young man sa
id, “and I'm mainly joking.”
“Mainly?”
“I want to learn to use the light saber. I think I've earned that.”
“It's not...”
“Okay,” Morgan interrupted. “I want to learn to use the photon saber.”
“Morgan,” the traveler sighed, “do you know what the main, nay definitive, difference between a light saber and a photon saber is? I mean, other than the fact that one is real and the other isn't.”
“What's that?”
“Do you know what happens when two photon saber blades touch?”
“They make this weird noise and kind of spark a little?”
“No, Morgan,” Robert replied. “You see, that's what happens when two light saber blades touch in the movies. What happens when two photon saber blades touch in real life is that they pass right through each other like flashlights do. As a result they're not very good defensive weapons. They don't block bullets and they can pretty much cut your limbs right off. So people don't use them as weapons. They're tools. Trying to fight with one would be like trying to fight with a chainsaw.”
“Warhammer.”
“Which is also not real life.”
“Man,” Morgan sighed, “sometime the future is a bit of a letdown.”
“Well who knows?” the traveler said. “Maybe after we fix the future someone will invent a real light saber. Then we'll be able to beam up with our light sabers switched on and look really cool for the girls.”
“That would look awesome,” Morgan admitted. “And that brings up another question... Why weren't there any transporters in Star Wars?”
“Well, it was a long time ago.”
“Yeah... that makes sense, I guess.”
For the next three hours the pair continued marching on toward their destination.
“We should have switched these stupid things off and caught a cab,” Morgan pointed out as yet another car drove past them.
“Right, Morgan,” Robert replied. “And then we explain to the cabby that we just happen to be carrying an exact replica of one of their crown jewels.”
“You could've lied,” the young man pointed out. “In fact I find it hard to believe that you passed up a perfectly legitimate reason to lie. You lie for fun all the time.”
“No I don't!”
“That's a lie!”
“Crap...” the traveler admitted. “You're right... That is a lie... I've got to start cutting back. Either way, we couldn't risk a cab. But look at it this way, once we dump the sword we can head down an ally, switch these things off, and catch a cab back outta town.”
The Last Time Traveler Page 23