Timekeepers

by Dave Weaver

  Jack saw the others studying him for a reaction to Lucas’ question. Should he tell them about ‘Honour’? No; now was not the time for further complications. He’d discuss the implications of what happened to him later when, if, he survived the next few hours.

  “It was trying to save its own life but I think it means to help us as well, help the EGs I mean,” Jack told them, “even though they were trying to kill it.”

  Portia had looked across at her father. “What do you think, Dad?”

  It was the first time Jack had heard her call Lucas that to his face. He’d detected an undercurrent of friction between the two from the moment Lucas introduced her in the carport; the nervous smile as if he were showing Jack some force of nature he couldn’t control in the same methodical way as his research. He’d failed to even mention her existence till then, despite the two spending most of that odd first day together. The revelation of her double life must have hit him hard. Father and daughter were both idealists in their own way, more alike than either probably cared to admit.

  Lucas had looked into her green eyes for a long moment.

  “What you tried to do with the bug was very dangerous, Portia, but also very brave. I’m proud of you.” He’d turned to Jack. “And I also think you may have done the right thing in helping Chrono fight it off. But I’m afraid I have no idea what the programme intends to do next.”

  Chapter 21

  Back in the Transference Capsule, Borg was staring at Jack again. Then Jack realised that Borg was actually looking past him. He turned around to see a host of red pictograms race across the huge slanting screens. One by one they turned to green as Chrono maintained the countdown.

  A familiar figure stepped into his line of vision. It walked towards the Capsule until its face was inches away from Jack’s on the other side of the glass. The Centre’s newly promoted Head of Operations spoke. “Hello Jack.”

  Jack pushed the intercom reply button. “Hello Michael, betrayed anymore mates lately?”

  “I don’t have any ‘mates’. I look after number one, something I’d advise you to do from now on. Oh, and don’t forget to watch out for those spears.” His face held a smug expression that Jack would have dearly loved to wipe off with his fist. He still didn’t know why Borg hated the EGs but at least according to his own warped logic he believed in what he was doing. Michael had betrayed his friends, lied to his boss and broken Portia’s heart. And Jack was pretty sure now that he was also a cold-blooded killer. The bomb in the coffee shop in Calleva was his doing, leaving enough evidence to implicate his own EG rights group. After all, who would have been better placed to do that? Portia could have been there with her mother, he realised. Suddenly Jack wanted to kill Michael for what he’d done to the Stewarts.

  Instead he swore violently at him and thumped the Capsule’s toughened glass side, probably not the wisest thing to do under the circumstances. The object of his anger wagged his finger, then turned to face his new boss.

  “Everything’s ready, Sir. There’ll be a minute countdown to the jump that you’ll be able to see on the tracking screen. You’ll feel no different, just some white noise and slight disorientation then you’ll be inside the walls of Fulchestorium. We’ve positioned you in a safe area with no danger from physical obstruction. We can’t risk putting you down inside the Palace itself but you’ll be cloaked of course, as will the container you use to bring back the truth serum. You both have your portals?”

  He indicated for the two of them to hold them up although they’d been over all this in Borg’s ‘mission briefing’ an hour earlier, ironically in the same oval room that had almost witnessed the death of the Time Mainframe which they now relied on to safeguard their journey.

  Borg held his up.

  “Just get on with it.” Jack told Michael.

  “When you show me your portal.”

  Jack reluctantly held the gold disc up for Michael to see. It shone in the Capsule’s bright lights.

  “As I explained before in the briefing,” Michael reminded Borg pompously, “you’ll have to uncloak to actually gather the Truth Serum. Don’t forget the two thought-codes you chose; one to de-cloak and the other to re-cloak.” These were triggers only Borg, Jack and Chrono itself would know; key mental images fed into its jump projection. “When you are ready to de-cloak you must relay the first thought-code to the Time Mainframe. Then when you have completed your task the second must be sent immediately so it can pull you out of there. Concentrate on these as clearly as you can when you use them. Block them from your mind until then. As I told you before we cannot re-cloak you once you’ve attained physical status so choose your moment well. No one can see you while you are cloaked but we can’t hide sound waves. When you are ready for the return jump we’ll get a clearer signal if you’re in the open, outside the temple itself. You will be jumped back automatically after one hour if no return thought-code reaches us before then. Is all that clear, Sir?”

  Borg gave a slight nod of the head. He was beginning to sweat now, Jack noticed, small rivulets of moisture tracing the dry cracks of his face. Good, he thought. At least I know what’s coming, and when we’re in Fulchestorium I’ll be the one who knows the terrain. He looked down at the large shiny gun at Borg’s side and had a premonition that only one of them would be coming back.

  As if reading his mind Borg spoke again. “Don’t get any bright ideas, Master Johnson, I’ve left Commander Taros with specific instructions regarding Stewart’s daughter if you somehow manage to return on your own. I suggest, therefore, that you guard me with your life.”

  “Why don’t you let Taros go instead?” Jack asked, “Why risk your own life? Is it because you don’t trust him not to keep the Truth Serum for himself.”

  “Don’t be so cheeky, boy! I have the Commander’s total loyalty, something you wouldn’t understand. We go back a very long way.”

  “What about one of your other top Commanders?” Jack persisted. “I’m sure there must be a few who’d be up for it if you paid them well or offered further promotion. Maybe both.”

  This time Borg ignored him.

  “Then aren’t you wary of Taros taking over from you in your absence? While the cat’s away…”

  “I said don’t be cheeky!” Borg replied. “I told you the General is loyal to me alone. He always has been and always will be. And if any others harbour such ambitions I’ve kept documented evidence of their misdemeanours: every death, torture and execution carried out in my name. They know that list will be transmitted to the Grand Senate in Rome on the hour of my death so they too have good reasons to keep me alive. Never travel without insurance, Jack.” He gave a stiff grimace but the fear in his eyes remained. The man was scared out of his wits.

  Jack noticed the blurred figure of Michael watching this exchange. The Centre’s new Head of Operations must feel his glittering career assured now, he thought. As long as Borg was his mentor Michael could do whatever he liked, or rather whatever Borg commanded. That could mean interfering in the past to give the tyrant even greater power. Perhaps even, Jack realised with a gulp, a visit to his own world, his own reality. What terrible damage could his brainwashed EG armies do there?

  “There must be something else going on for you to jump with me. You’re not stupid enough to risk your own life without good reason.”

  Borg stared at him then, for no good reason that Jack could perceive, he replied.

  “We have a connection.”

  “Who is ‘we’?” He’d play along. Perhaps this sudden revelation, whatever it turned out to be, was to take Borg’s mind off the Jump. The fear of it seemed to be making him increasingly erratic.

  “Who do you think?”

  “I don’t know, how could I?” Were they going to continue talking in riddles? There wasn’t long now till the countdown.

  “Your old friend.” Borg replied, actually smiling as he said it although Jack noticed an unhinged quality was beginning to manifest itself in the dry voice. The bl
oodshot eyes continued to stare at him.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Gaius Flavius Drucillus”

  Jack shook his head without realising; this had gone beyond a joke now. Fear of the coming Jump must have turned the man temporarily mad. Borg didn’t know what he was saying but even so Jack was in no mood to hear any more ramblings about his former torturer. It was bad enough having to see the man alive again!

  “I don’t want to hear that sod’s name!” Jack actually shouted back. It was too late for any repercussions; the Jump couldn’t be stopped now and he would very possibly die on it. He’d say what he damn well liked to this idiot!

  But Borg didn’t seem angry with him. In fact he was smiling. “You don’t understand Mr Johnson. Drucillus and myself are the same thing; we are one person. That’s why I’ve been able to do what I’ve done, conquer this land and bend its people to my will. Don’t you see? I am the reincarnation of Gaius Drucillus. I failed once before to fulfil my destiny but this time I will succeed! And Gaius will help me; I will help me. Once I have the Truth Serum again nothing will stand in the way of my conquest. With the EGs’ help I will rule this entire planet.”

  “Well that explains a lot.” Jack told him. “You’re totally crackers.”

  There was a lurch beneath the Capsule.

  “What was that?” Borg demanded.

  “It’s starting.” Jack replied. “Better get ready to Jump, whoever you are.”

  The Control Room rapidly darkened until Jack could only see the wavering figures on the giant screens. They all ran green now. Paolo’s amplified voice boomed out. “Final All Systems Check complete. We are go, I repeat go, for Jump in J minus sixty seconds and counting.”

  A red number sixty appeared on one of the screens, changed to a fifty-nine then continued downwards. Jack strained his eyes for a glimpse of Portia’s face but she was lost in shadow, along with everyone else beyond the brilliant sphere of light surrounding the Capsule.

  There was a vibration. He looked down.

  Under its canopy in the energy chamber the giant metal discs surrounding the Capsule were already spinning at crazy speeds. There was a loud crack; something flashed across the top disc’s surface. Tongues of lightning began to lick around its edges as the Capsule jerked and vibrated. It felt far too insubstantial to protect them from the static storm crackling around the glass cocoon.

  The discs were now a blur. He heard a low fearful groan and turned to his fellow jumper. Two unblinking red eyes bored into him as Borg, quivering and contorting, began to babble.

  “I’m sorry, Mama…”

  ‘What the hell’s he on about now?’ thought Jack. He glimpsed the countdown, now reduced to the teens.

  “Please Mama, I’m begging you! No more operations…your little Silas can’t take anymore…”

  “I thought your name was Gaius?” Jack told him sarcastically. Even so he couldn’t look away from the developing spectacle of Borg’s unravelling. A hideous childhood experience appeared to be tumbling out of his mouth.

  He screamed like a frightened child.

  “It’s all right.” Jack began as the Capsule lurched again. “Silas, it’s all right. I’m still here with you. Give me your hand.”

  Ten, nine, eight, seven…

  “No more! Don’t torture me anymore!” He screamed again.

  There was a loud bang as a ring of lightning completely encircled the Capsule. A radioactive web of membranes spread across the glass hood until they fused together as one. Jack saw Borg’s form take on the same translucent sheen his own body had the first time he jumped. The Control Room span away from them down a churning tunnel of darkness. The last sight he could make out was of the distant green figures of the countdown. One changed to zero.

  And then there was just the crackling static and the brilliant white light.

  Chapter 22

  He was back in Fulchestorium; the one place he’d never expected to see again. The smells, the sounds, the very air in his lungs still heaving from the shock of the jump dragged him back to that terrible night and day spent in the ancient Roman town. Had that been two weeks or two thousand years ago? Or was it somehow the same thing?

  They stood under the great wall that encircled the town. The cloaking stopped their shadows being cast across its stone surface by the bright mid-day sunlight. High up to their right atop the slope Jack could see the distant bulk of the fort where he’d been imprisoned. A small guard of soldiers were in the process of being relieved at its forbidding main gates.

  He glanced across at his companion. Borg was still standing in the same hunched posture as in the Capsule. He murmured, caught his breath and looked up at Jack with dazed eyes. ‘I could take him now’, thought Jack, but there were Portia and the others to consider; Taros would kill her if he dared to return alone. Her death would be instantaneous as well. There would be no time to explain, to make an excuse or lie about Borg’s fate. So he must protect the little man’s life at any cost, even at the expense of his own.

  A nervy smile began to edge his charge’s face. Silas Borg had returned from his nightmares, whatever they had been, apparently unaware that he’d shared them with Jack.

  “Do you recognise where we are?” he asked.

  Jack nodded. “That’s the Temple of the Gods where Drucillus made me drink the Truth Serum.” He pointed behind Borg who turned his head to follow Jack’s outstretched finger across the rooftops of the town. His nervous body seemed to still for a few moments as he truly took in his surroundings. The huge white construction of the Temple rose imperiously above the rest of the townhouses, statues and shrines. Even from this distance they could clearly see the glinting marble steps climbing up to its giant doors.

  Borg seemed momentarily moved by its perfection. He shook his head as if to clear the grandiose images from it. “I’m sure you know the way. Let’s make this short and sweet so you can see your young lady friend again.” Borg patted the gun by his side. “Remember what I said.”

  They walked stiffly down the slope onto the same dusty road connecting the fort with the rest of the town that the guards had frogmarched Jack along. When they turned onto a road that passed near the Temple the surface became more even. Simple wood-framed shacks gave way to proper houses of clay and mortar, surrounded by solid walls of stone, as the town centre grew nearer.

  “Do you remember what you told me in the Capsule?” Jack asked as he led the way. He looked back as his companion failed to reply or acknowledge him. “I said, ‘do you remember…’”

  “I said nothing you impudent young savage!”

  Jack realised what Borg might be thinking. “About Drucillus I mean, you said something about reincarnation only I didn’t really understand it all. Could you explain a bit more?”

  Borg was silent long enough for Jack to think he hadn’t heard. When he finally did reply, slowly and quietly, it was if he were dragging the words out of his mouth.

  “I…haven’t told anyone else about it.”

  Jack tried to keep the amazement out of his voice. He would have to play this very carefully.

  “Not even your old friend, General Taros?”

  A long pause then “No, not even him.”

  Jack couldn’t avoid the next logical question. “Then why tell me?”

  The reply was incredible. “Because after what you’ve been through, you alone can understand a man’s commitment to his destiny.”

  “I had no choice.”

  But Borg appeared not to hear him. “You think me a monster, Johnson. But I do what I do for humanity’s sake. Life is cruel…” He laughed bitterly. “As you can see, I am proof of that. But human life is still sacrosanct. The Gods made us in their own image. They didn’t create us so that we could create our own version of life. You come from a time when such a thing would rightly be considered a basic sin, do you not?”

  Jack found he couldn’t answer. The Jump’s after-effects seemed to suddenly have him as confused and
disorientated as the Governor General had been. He should have said ‘No’ immediately but hesitated too long.

  Borg noted his reticence. “Its not as simple as one might think, is it?”

  Jack found his voice. “Genocide is always simple; you just don’t do it.”

  “You’ve no doubt been shown some of our history but you don’t properly understand it yet. The Ectogenetic Warriors killed many poor Normals who only wanted to get enough food to survive. They were hated for it.”

  “That was a long time ago.” Jack reminded him.

  “People have long memories.” Borg smiled. “In fact, I’m counting on it.”

  And there it was, Jack thought; the easy smile of the tyrant. For every dirty, nasty, greedy little horror such a man did there was always a plausible excuse. Even history could be turned to his advantage. Especially history; spilt blood would have its revenge down the generations. And how many Normals would care enough about the EGs even now to stop him?

  “I was talking about Drucillus.” Jack tried to redirect the bizarre conversation. “You said you were his reincarnation, why is that?”

  “None of your business!” Borg snapped. They were on the outskirts of the first simple dwellings; a few seconds more and their voices would be overheard by the townspeople.

  Jack stopped in his tracks. Borg automatically carried on a few more paces then looked back in surprise. “What are you doing?”

  “Tell me why you think you are Drucillus’ reincarnation or I won’t go any further!”

  “What the hell do you care? This is no time for silly games, get moving!”