“Well I can tell you this! I'm sick of holding your hand!”
“Trust me, Morgan,” Robert replied, “it ain't exactly making my heart pound with delight either.”
“You need to make it where we can see the transponders.”
“You may find this hard to believe, man,” Robert replied testily, “but I didn't invent these things.”
“Well then you and Vox should perfect them!”
“Maybe we should, but we've been busy,” the traveler pointed out. “I doubt the guys that invented them meant for them to be used en masse. Still... you do make a point. Me and Vox might be able to come up with something. I'll give it some thought. Either way, we'd never had to use them in groups like this before we started this whole fix time thing.”
“Well your palm sweats like a basketball player! We're gonna have to change hands!”
“Fine...” Robert sighed. “We're almost there anyways.”
Just a few minutes later they were resting invisibly on a bench across the street from the museum that held the crown jewels.
“Fortunately,” Robert said with a stretch, “we got a few things really going for us. First, there's plenty of light in the building because of all those windows. Second, they are utterly dependent on their high-tech security systems. Third, they use energy weapons too. So, when the power cuts out we'll have weapons, but they won't. Of course, we do not want to use them. But it's still nice to know.”
“I agree,” Morgan replied. “So what's the plan?”
“Well, in about ten minutes we're going to invisible our way into the bathroom,” the traveler said. “Then, the moment our stealth fields go off we're going to make a mad dash to the room where the jewels are on display. We wait there for Delmont to show up and steel the sword, then we replace it and head out. He only just got out in time, so we need to be right on his heels. Then, when the power comes back on we turn on our stealth fields, walk about two blocks, and catch a cab. As the sword won't be stolen there shouldn't even be any uproar.”
“Awesome!” the young man replied. “You really think it'll be that easy?”
“I really hope so,” Robert chuckled.
Ten minutes later the pair were headed for the museum bathroom. A few minutes after that the power failed and they emerged quickly, but cautiously. Crowds of people were mulling around here and there as the guards were trying to figure out exactly what was happening. The traveler had carefully studied all the routes and where the guards would and wouldn't be. As a result they were in position in less than five minutes, hiding behind priceless relics of the royal family.
The museum had mainly been emptied and the guards were standing here and there waiting for orders. After a little over five minutes more Delmont appeared right on schedule. He stepped carefully this way and that narrowly avoiding the watchful eyes of the several guards in the area. As soon as he entered the chamber he grabbed the sword and, without catching sight of Robert or Morgan, turned and fled. His timing was perfect and he was in a gone before the guards knew anything had happened.
Before he was even out of sight Robert stepped up and put the second sword in place. He then motioned to Morgan and the two did their best to avoid the wandering guards while making their way out. And they almost made it. But not quite.
“Hey you!” one of the guards yelled suddenly.
The pair made a mad dash for the exit.
“Grab my hand!” Robert yelled.
“No!” Morgan replied “There's no point!”
Several guards drew there non-functioning guns and tried to fire at the fleeing young men.
“Grab it you idiot!”
“No! Get off me!”
“Morgan! Grab my hand or I'll break your legs when we get back to the ship!”
“Fine!” the young man replied grabbing the traveler's hand.
Just as he did so their stealth field generators switched back on. Beams of energy fired all around them, several of them even hitting their shields. The invisible companions ran a few blocks, went into a public restroom, and switched off their generators. They emerged moments later and hailed a cab.
“Let's see,” the cabby said as he stopped just outside of town. “That'll be...”
“Here, mac.”
“Alright. Out of a hundred...”
“Eh, keep the change...”
“Thanks, mister!”
Just minutes later the pair were back on the ship, their mission accomplished. The time-lines had been partially corrected and the first civil war had never happened. All they had left to do for this mission was make their way back to Never Never Land and un-steal the sword in the first place. They started immediately.
Chapter 13: Double Date
“I don't know,” Morgan sighed, “I guess I just don't see what I've got to be confident about.”
“Well try,” Robert encouraged.
“I guess I'm not as fat as I was...”
“That's it?”
“That's all I can think of at the moment,” the young man confessed. “Why can't you just ask them?”
“You want me to go on your honeymoon for you too?”
“No,” Morgan replied. “I think I could handle that.”
“Man,” Robert replied shaking his head, “if you can't ask Azure out on a date there ain't no way you could handle a honeymoon with her!”
“Why?” the young man asked, his eyebrows raised. “What do you know?”
“Something I ain't tellin' you!”
“Come on man!”
“No,” the traveler insisted. “If I told you now it would spoil the surprise! You'd never forgive me, man!”
“What?!?! You gonna leave me hangin' like that?”
“Looks that way, don't it?” Robert pointed-out. “And anyway, we're getting off topic. We're talking about your self-confidence, remember?”
“Well then,” the young man sighed, “get me started.”
“Let's start with the big one,” the traveler suggested. “You've saved her life twice. Do you have any idea how few men ever get to save a woman's life, Morgan? You're already amongst the few and the proud, man!”
“I guess...”
“Guess?!?!” Robert exclaimed. “That right there's half your problem. Brother, you gotta know! You saved her life. Twice! You do realize that, right?”
“Yes,” he sighed. “It's just not a big deal. Anybody would have done the same.”
“No!” the traveler corrected. “Not everybody would have, and that doesn't even matter. The point is that you did. And you'd do it again! Keep that in mind!”
“I'll try... You got more?”
“Look at your...” Robert began before pausing to laugh. “Your love list. Not only can she be in the same room with you without puking, she can even kiss you without puking.”
“That's not much...”
“Whatever, man!” the traveler smiled. “She kissed you because she wanted to. Sure, she wanted to slap you, too. But trust me, Cleo wasn't playing, she'd've slapped you and taken her chances. And when a girl says it wasn't that bad she's saying she'd be willing to try it again in the future.”
“She was just being nice.”
“Maybe, but I'd keep gum in my mouth if I were you,” Robert replied. “And dude, she was holding your hand strolling through the moonlight just a few hours ago.”
“Well I had just saved her life again.”
“Exactly you moron!” the traveler laughed again. “And honestly, Morgan, you're buffing up, beginning to tan, and you're even fairly good looking.”
“Well Cleo said...”
“Two things, man,” Robert interrupted. “No man, nowhere, looks as good as I do to Cleo. And, no, you're not as handsome as I am. But you're taller!”
“You're right! I am taller!”
“You can use a gun now,” the traveler continued, “and do not forget that you're one of the saviors of the universe, man!”
“I'm just your jester.”
“Stop saying that!” Robert demanded. “That was just a joke, bro! Come on! Psych yourself up!”
“Right!”
“You da man! You're over six feet tall! You done saved her life! Twice! You even threatened to stomp me once!”
“Yeah! I did!” Morgan exclaimed.
“Son!” Robert continued he voice filled with excitement. “You are big, bad, Morgan Harker! Now go get em, boy!”
“Go time!” the young man said, leaping up from his bed and charging toward the bridge.
Morgan strode into the chamber as if he owned it, crossed his arms, flexed his muscles, gazed down at the girl of his dreams, and spoke.
“Azure,” he said loudly, his voice booming with confidence.
“Yes, Morgan,” she replied softly, smiling up at him. “What is it?”
“Well...” he began in much quieter tones, his confidence already quaking in its boots. “Well, ya see... Me and... Rob... Me and Rob were kinda talkin'...”
“Yes?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “And we were kinda thinking that maybe... I don't know... Maybe you're hungry... or will be, I mean...”
“I probably will be at some point in the future,” she asserted.
“Right...” he sighed, wiping his brow. “This is crazy... I talk to you all the time...”
“You do,” she agreed.
“I mean,” he continued, “I say things to you that I'm not sure won't get me slapped in the face on an almost daily basis.”
“That's true, too,” she admitted.
“So, logically I should be able to do this, right?”
“I can't say, Morgan,” she pointed-out, “since I'm not positive what you're trying to do right now...”
“Well, I'm trying to ask you and Cleo out on a double date with me and Rob,” he explained. “But for some reason I can't seem to do that.”
“You just did,” she smiled.
“I did?”
“Well, no,” she giggled. “Not exactly, but you got close enough. And I can't speak for Cleo, but I'll go.”
“Really?” he asked, his voice filled with surprise. “You do realize I meant that you'd be on the date with me, and that Cleo would be with Rob, right?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “I figured that out almost right away.”
“And you'll still go?”
“I will,” she smiled.
“Cleo?” Morgan asked.
“Oh, I don't know,” she sighed, giving Robert a coy smile. “Is this going to be another of Rob's micro-dates where we don't go anywhere or do anything?”
“Oh no,” Robert replied, stepping slightly nearer. “This is going to be the real deal. I mean, most everybody knows how great it must be to be Robert Hood, but now I want to give them something new to gawk at. I want to strut around with my girlfriend on my arm, who just happens to be the most beautiful woman that ever lived. And if my boy here is out with the next most beautiful woman that ever graced the universe with her presence, so much the better. I love being good looking in large groups.”
“So we're just trophies then?” she asked, raising one eyebrow.
“Oh, I wouldn't say just,” he replied taking her hands in his. “But I readily admit that you two are seriously the trophiest. So, how 'bout making our dreams come true by helping us become the envy of all of malekind? I mean, I do let you girls ride around in my spaceship-time-machine constantly, and Morgan is all the time bringing you ice-cream.”
“I'm afraid he's right,” Cleo sighed.
“Well then,” Azure replied with a sigh of her own, “I suppose we don't really have any choice.”
“So, Rob,” Cleo said, trying very hard to sound essentially uninterested, “where exactly is it you plan to take us in order to show us off?”
“How about Paris on the Half-Shell,” Morgan suggested. “It's a pretty nice place.”
“Oh,” the traveler said with a wide smile, “I can see where that would be fun. Girls?”
“It's up to you I guess,” Cleo replied with feigned indifference.
“Yeah,” Azure agreed. “We're doing this for you, so you guys get to pick.”
“And what are we supposed to wear?” Cleo asked, turning her face away from the traveler.
“Brand new dresses,” Robert replied. “Order whatever you want as soon as we get back to Never Never Land.”
“And what will you be wearing?” she asked, gazing at him from the side of her eyes. “I don't want to be dressed in my best on the arm of a man in a Van Halen T-shirt.”
“Don't worry,” the traveler chuckled. “We'll be wearing our best.”
“Oh,” she replied rolling her eyes, “I think you might want to do better than that.”
“We will,” he agreed.
“And after dinner?” Azure asked.
“We'll just see what we come up with,” Robert grinned.
“Cleo,” she said, turning to look at her friend, “I think we should probably bring mace.”
“Pepper-spray would be better,” Cleo replied thoughtfully. “And fortunately I have some.”
“That'll do then,” Azure smiled. “So, when is this date supposed to take place?”
“Tomorrow night?” the traveler suggested.
“We'll have to check or schedules,” Cleo replied, “but we'll tentatively set it for then. And that doesn't give us much time to get ready, Azure. I need to at least show you the basics of self-defense if you're going to go out with Morgan.”
“That's a good point,” she giggled.
Having said this she and Cleo rose, quickly making their way from the room.
“Well done!” Robert exclaimed as soon as they left. “I knew you had it in you.”
“I did do good, didn't I,” Morgan said throwing out his chest. “They never stood a chance!”
Just minutes after Morgan actually managed to setup a double date... well, kinda... I mean, you saw what happened... the ship dropped out of non-space on the very edge of Never Never Land. Almost immediately Delmont's time machine was exploded for the fourth time making our heroes even bigger heroes than they had been before. This action un-stole the sword, which pretty much put things back to rights with regard to that particular theft.
Cleo decided it would be best to actually go shopping for the dresses rather than trying to order them off the space internet. As a result she infected the ship's computer with a rather serious virus she had coded up over the last few months. It would keep Rob from being able to fly off without her for at least a few hours. Of course, she could disable it whenever she wanted, but as the override password was IWillNotActLikeAnIrresponsibleJerk she knew Rob would have a hard time cracking it. For one thing he would probably spend hours trying variations of CleoLovesRobert and RobertHoodIsTheGreatest! before it hit him that she had been angry when she set the password...
“Alright,” the traveler said as soon as the girls were off the ship. “We're going to give them like fifteen minutes and then we're heading out.”
“You're leaving them here?!?!” Morgan asked, genuine shock in his voice.
“No, you moron,” Robert replied shaking his head. “I'm never going to leave Cleo again, man. Well... Not for a while anyway. I'm running low on last chances at the moment. Anyway, you heard me tell her I'd never leave her again!”
“Yeah,” the young man agreed, “but lies are your native language. You speak with forked tongue there, bro.”
“True... But this time I wasn't lying!”
“Then where are we going?”
“Well,” Robert replied, “a few places really. We've got a lot to take care of in the next twenty-four hours or so.”
“Like?”
“To start with you need a real haircut,” the traveler explained. “I mean, I could use a touch up, but you're a mess.”
“Agreed.”
“Then we've got to pick up some serious suits,” Robert continued. “I was thinking like blue pinstripes for you maybe, and I'll probably go with a dark gray... Ac
tually, make that black. We can kinda match your suit to Azure and mine to Cleo's hair. Hopefully it'll come across as kind of a subtle compliment. And they need to be custom cut...”
“Is there gonna be time for that?”
“Are you kidding, Hos?” the traveler chuckled. “I'm Robert Hood, son. They'll make time for me!”
“If you say so,” the young man laughed.
“We've also got to pick up some fresh flowers... Or really we should probably have them delivered to the ship an hour or so before we go. What do you think of like blue and green roses?”
“Epic,” Morgan nodded. “You know, for a guy that's never been on a date you seem to have a lot of ideas.”
“I've had a lot of time to think about this,” the traveler pointed out.
“What about reservations?”
“Reservations?” the traveler burst out laughing. “What part of I'm Robert Hood don't you get?!?! Oh... actually no, that's good, Morgan! Then we can tell the girls that we made the reservations. It'll give the appearance that we're responsible and not too arrogant.”
“Or the illusion in your case.”
“You're right!” Robert replied. “And illusions are all part of fantasy, Morgan.”
“Oh,” the young man grinned, “I know all about that! So, what else?”
“A limo?”
“Space limo?”
“Future limo.”
“Works for me,” Morgan replied. “Anything more?”
“I'll have to think about it,” Robert nodded. “But one thing's for sure: we have to avoid them completely for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Why?”
“Tension and suspense my friend,” the traveler answered. “When we pick them up tomorrow...”
“Pick them up?”
“From their rooms,” Robert explained. “Anyway, man, we want to drop the bomb on them, if you see what I'm saying. We want to just appear out of nowhere, haircutted, sharp suited, flower bearing, etc. Basically we want to look like something that just stepped out of their dreams. We have to go from T-shirted slobs to GQ in the twinkling of an eye, bro.”
The Last Time Traveler Page 24