Alana explained as she ate her portions slowly, “We have to conserve food rations around here. As you probably noticed, vegetation isn’t common here so we harness whatever staple food sources we can from grains and meats that get sent from neighboring villages or from the food regenerator that allows us to replicate certain items but its power reserve is low. Sometimes we just go hungry for a while depending on the season.”
“Guys I have to tell you about what I saw when we were in Ancient Egypt” said James.
“Ancient Egypt?” Said Haverstraw. “You guys aren’t from Old Millburn are you?”
“Well…” Drax started to explain.
“It’s important and cannot wait” insisted James.
Drax leaned over to whisper in James’ ear. “We shouldn’t be talking about the time stone or any prior trip we took in front of the locals.”
“Oh come on. This is baloney. We need to tell now,” yelled James.
“James, don’t do this, wait…” said Tina.
“I had a vision” interrupted James.
“A vision?” Said Haverstraw.
“We’re from your past.” Said James.
“James.” Scolded Tina.
“It’s true. We travelled here through time and space from the past, specifically from Ancient Egypt, where I had a vision. It was a mushroom cloud, a perfect civilization that didn’t exist to us yet wiped out by catastrophe.” James said quickly.
Drax shook his head and covered his eyes.
“Oh my God, Daryl… they’re jumpers.” Said Alana with a wide glare in her eyes.
“What was that?” Asked Drax.
“The ones who have been plucked out of their own time periods and journey along the temporal spatial streams! It’s an old legend I heard when I was a kid.”
“We all heard it” said Haverstraw. “But it is only a legend and not reality. They are liars.”
“No it’s true” said Mercedes, “I know it’s a little bit unbelievable.”
“I know. Come with me into the situation room. We need to discuss some things” said Alana looking at Daryl both rising from their chairs.
In the situation room, a small area, surrounding a long brown table with a map emblazed on it, the two group leaders Alana and Daryl talk to the foursome about their unbelievable adventures.
“So let me get this straight” said Daryl inquisitively, “you guys found the ancient relic, the eye of the gods otherwise known as the time stone? That is the only real explanation.”
“That’s correct” said Drax reluctantly.
“Prove it” said Daryl.
“OK, this is how we travel through time.” He takes out the green emerald. “Legend calls this ‘the eye of the gods’ as you just did but we call it the Time Stone as also just did. We seem to lose its function in each time period of zone we land in but it emits a temporal wormhole, a powerful gateway along the spatial temporal stream.” Drax said.
“You guys really are from another world or time…” said Alana. “We only heard of this in stories passed down from our forefathers from before the Great Conflict.”
“It is pretty amazing” beckoned Mercedes.
“And the future vision you received James, why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Asked Drax.
“I didn’t really get the chance with all we’ve been through back there but it’s like I experienced it first hand, I saw it as if I was there but never left my spot in that past time period. I saw, smelt, and felt the flames and heard the explosion, a beautiful city with amazing technological advancements and roads that stretch to the heavens, flying cars and ships, all wiped out in an instant.” James finished his sentence.
“We don’t know if that is the case for sure” said Drax.
“I know” said James sincerely.
“How is that possible?” Asked Tina. “James, could your psychokinetic powers have grown to full blown premonitions over time?”
“Maybe” James said.
“Maybe his mind as the mythic being the Holder of Stones can culminate multiple powers at once, such as psychokinetic abilities, telepathy, and even remote viewing of events in time and space.” Said Drax.
“That’s incredible” said Mercedes. “Our minds are receptive to things in our direct environment so it’s possible James has the extra sensory perception of picking things up in distant locations and can recollect it in his temporal lobe and case specific subconscious memory. We all have lapses in our minds as the brain is still a mystery. We can see into normal flows of space and time. He can additionally see beyond normal space and time.”
“So I am some kind of psychic?” Said James.
“Well, you saw the future but now it is the past. Are there no records of what happened?” Asked Drax to Alana.
“Nothing survived the Great Conflict but word of mouth. Very few remember or are willing to talk about it. Some were sworn to secrecy and long since forgotten things like my uncle, a big general during the conflict.” Alana said.
“Oh no” said Tina.
“There was one guy, the old kook in the woods, what’s his name, Kokoro?” Asked Daryl.
“Kowolski, Howard Kowalski.” Stated Alana. “He was a very brilliant scientist, worked for the old Army during the Great Conflict and knows a lot about life beforehand but he is very old now and gone quite crazy. Last I heard he build a small shack in the middle of the woods and wanted to remain isolated from people. He said it was too painful to be in this city. I doubt he would be of any help if he is even still alive.”
“It’s worth a try to track him down. Maybe we can do something to help prevent this future when we go back.” Said Mercedes.
“If you really want to help us, we can use your abilities and knowledge of the past to help us find the ‘Dark Star.’” Said Alana.
“What’s that?” Asked Drax.
“It’s another stupid legend” said Daryl, “not real you know.”
“That’s what they said about the jumpers and look who we have here” said Alana. “It’s no legend. It’s an ancient artifact that was supposed to be built and harnessed by a great and powerful warrior. It is rumored in legend that the possessor would gain the strength of a million armies. It was lost long ago in the dark forest and would prove extraordinarily resilient in facing our current dilemma.”
“What’s that?” Asked Drax.
“We are being exterminated by a ruthless villain who dwells in the towers above the city and who was the source of chaos during the Great Conflict. The United Regiment of the Oligarchy. After the old army was destroyed, the villages began to form as strongholds to withstand the tyranny of the Chosen One whose identity we never knew. The oligarchy has become a force of control and corruption against us. They threaten to wipe us out because we won’t worship them. These forces have caused havoc amongst us as we try to rebuild our lives. Little by little we hear of groups such as ours that were scattered throughout the land are being completely wiped out. They have powerful weapons we cannot match and they won’t stop until we are all dead. We believe the dark star could be are only hope. The wind forces above the caverns deep in the dark forest make it impenetrable with our present means plus there are wild beasts in the dark forest rumored to be part man but no one has escaped and lived to confirm it.”
“What are these forces of the Chosen One?” Asked James.
“Really bad things,” Alana continued. “We don’t know exactly where they come from as their origin remains a yet elusive mystery but some who witnessed the carnage barely escaped with their lives told us they were monsters, beings with fangs and animal features, on their mouths and feet, fur and claws on their hands, and they have impenetrable armor that glows when hit. They come without warning and obliterate groups with little effort at all. The human race is facing extinction and it is only a matter of time.” She wept slightly and grabbed hold of the table. Daryl held her arm to help her up.
“I can answer some more. I have seen the horrors first hand.” Said an apparent ninety-n
ine year old man with a robe and cloth approaching, a priest.
“Father Riley” said Alana smiling as he approached. “I am the eldest in the community and was still not yet conceived at the time of the great conflict but I have heard stories from my forefathers and I have heard of the terrible fate that awaits those who challenge forth into the dark woods. Legend tells of a mighty beast that dwells within the dark woods. The quest for the dark star is not an easy one. Put your faith and lives in love, faith, and hope and you will pull through together.”
“Thanks Father” nodded Drax with a smile.
“We know it is a long shot but a powerful weapon like the Dark Star, if it is real, would help us withstand the attack.” Said Alana. “According to legend it is the only thing capable of forcing through the powerful energy shield surrounding the citadel.”
“The citadel at the center of town?” Asked Mercedes.
Alana nodded crying.
“We think their force shield is impenetrable” said Daryl “but if the Dark Star exists it can theoretically create ‘the power of the stars’ as our ancestors put it but our scientists theorize it creates a quantum fluctuation of hyper intensified neutrinos that can vaporize any obstacle, material or otherwise.”
“Your appearance here has given us hope that we can find it. As we speak, forces of the Chosen One are planning to converge on our encampment and we may be the next ones to be wiped out.” Added Alana crying.
Drax and his crew felt a tight knot in the pits of their stomachs as they almost wept as well in shock and horror at hearing about the carnage and the pending onslaught.
“You are time jumpers and have means we can only dream of. You might be our only hope!” Cried Alana.
The foursome felt horrified that the beasts they have battled before resulted in the virtual end of humanity in the future and they felt honor bound to provide whatever assistance they could.
“We have to do something” screamed Tina.
“We shall!” Commanded Drax with his fists clenched at his sides.
The four stood ready before their new allies whose confidence endured with a pair of bright sudden smiles with concerned eyes.
CHAPTER 71
The entrance to the dark woods resembled a “major motion picture horror” as Tina observed. The screeching of nocturnal creatures was dwarfed by the sound of strong winds in the charred remains of old tree barks, branches, and dirt floors smelling of burnt ash and fiery debris. The quartet wandered into the woods with their backpacks filled with food staples, water, and the various items of equipment given to them by their new allies, including light energy projectile weapons.
“I wonder what we can expect in here” said James.
“We got to expect the unexpected as we have been doing” added Tina.
“I wonder why they didn’t come with us” said Mercedes referring back to Alana and Daryl.
“They took us as far as the outskirts of the dark woods. They have to prepare for the defense of the village” said Drax, “but it won’t be much of one unless we can find this ‘Dark Star’.”
“We sure have a knack of getting ourselves into some serious situations” said James.
“We were born adventurers” smiled Tina.
“We should focus on the task at hand. Let’s get to the cave at the end of the woods like Alana told us and start there. We should find something. And even if we don’t find this ‘Dark Star’ we might learn more about what it is that causes these ‘jumps ‘and where the time stone sends us, is it random or some rhyme or reason to it, after all we could be on a mission of exploration and journeying to expand our horizons too, just so happens we also have to be called on to save the human race on occasion” James smirked.
“It is not new stuff to me.” Tina added.
“All of us are. Just how I wanted to start my new career as an ancient relic hunter” said Mercedes.
The quartet activated their flashlight projectile beacons flashing several beams of hot white light into the dark woods and wandered into the woods to start their quest.
Approaching a small cabin several miles into the trek, the foursome stopped and looked at the run down wooden structure made obviously before the fiery inferno that charred this forest. The wooden walls were decayed with mold and beginning to crumble slightly. There was a small candle whose light was faint and dying in the small clouded and dirty window of the cabin.
“Who do you suppose lives there?” Asked Tina.
“Maybe it’s the crazy old man Kowolski. From what Alana tells me, he has got to be over one hundred and two years old by now. He can’t still be alive can he?” Asked Mercedes.
“My grandfather lived to be 102, what’s wrong with that?” Asked James.
“Oh nothing.” Mercedes said sheepishly.
“Come on” said Drax eyeing the cabin and walking forth steadfastly. “Let’s go”, then suddenly a large figure emerged from a single flash of yellow swirling light that instantly appeared and vanished out of nowhere in the hot white light that was overcoming the darkness. The form was a seven foot creature with long pointed ears, a pale complexion, and fangs as it reared its head above them with a sinister roar.
“It’s a vampire” screamed Mercedes.
“No, it’s a beast” said Drax putting his fists together and swinging at the torso area striking a blow that bent the creature over and knocked it to the ground. Tina ran up to it to grab it’s arm but it quickly revived itself and swung itself knocking her far into the woods near the cabin causing her to hit her head on a tree limb and lie there unconscious. James waved his hands before a tree attracting the limbs causing them to break off and then fly towards them and then boomerang towards the creature’s head knocking it to the ground rendering it unconscious. After that, another similar creature jumped out and swung at James knocking him to the ground. He quickly rose and tried to use his powers again but they were soon surrounded by four creatures as three more joined their friend. “We are outnumbered.” Said Drax. The three moved around docking blows and barely getting knocked out. James waved his hands trying to summon more broken branches but as the branches flung towards one of the creatures, it maneuvered itself and dodged them. Two of the creatures grabbed James from behind and subdued him. Mercedes kicked one of the creatures who tried to rush towards her but was pushed back herself. Drax picked up a branch and struck one of the creatures holding James and as James broke free, he ran off with his colleagues as Drax saw a sudden opening and in the haste of conflict they ran off further towards the vast unknown expanse of the dark woods away from the creatures that departed off in their various directions, their roars heard in the distance. Tina remained lying unconscious on the dirt floor. A shadowy form stands over her after the creatures have departed, ominously looking down.
Drax, James, and Mercedes ran as fast as they could through the dark woods and made it over a mile across the large tract of land. They stopped to catch their breaths at a clearing.
“That was close.” Said Mercedes.
“What were those things?” Asked James.
“Beasts …” Drax said.
“But they seemed stronger somehow and more advanced like with some weird bumps on their bodies and additional speed, agility, and….” Said Mercedes.
“They were definitely more resilient” said Drax.
“Where is Tina?” Noticed James.
“She must have been dropped” said Drax.
“We have to go back for her” James screamed with an overprotective voice as he tried to run back but Drax grabbed him.
“You don’t even know where they are or how far away or if she is even still alive. You go back there and you will get yourself killed.” Drax lectured James.
“We have to help her” said James screaming struggling free.
“We can’t!” Exclaimed Drax.
“What’s that?” Pointed out Mercedes to a glowing series of lights in the distance. The two men turned to look and saw a series of glowing
lights representing all colors of the rainbow spectrum brightly illuminating the dark woods in the distance as a single beacon of light besides their individual portable light projectiles. The beacon glistened brightly as they stood mesmerized by it and approached it slowly like brainwashed zombies following a lure to their subconscious. As they approached, it became clear it was more than a random phenomenon of lights but an object that stood several dozen meters high and about half a dozen meters wide. It had a circular shape made of some type of stone metallurgy that they had never seen before. It had several circular layers of platforms each smaller than the last and each almost hovering on top of the other one below it, each separated by a thin series of line connectors that extends down to a central tower that extended higher and higher with rings around it like a giant water fountain growing thinner until it reached its apex and extended outward to encompass another series of circular layers starting with the smallest and connecting to each subsequent layer larger than the last until it had a larger circular layer somewhat smaller than the main one on the bottom series. The top and bottom layers had light bearing circuitry that caused the rainbow lights to increase and dim slowly in turn. The center had a pod that looked like it could fit a person standing upright. Its power aura of rainbow colored lights surrounded the pod and created an image of a person standing in it which faded and recurred again. A slight hum came from the center of the device as it vibrated with lights.
“Wow, it’s amazing” said Mercedes. “But what is it?” Asked Drax.
“I thought you were the expert” said James with a smirk.
“It looks almost like a teleportation pad… I haven’t seen one in years… from our own time of course.” Said Drax.
“They had these in our time?” Asked Mercedes.
“It was classified at the top secret level by the government and only high ranking agents and Temporo, Inc. affiliates had clearance.”
“Like you?” She smirked asking.
“Of course. However, it was unveiled to the public in Chronix Bay in 2012. Weren’t you guys aware of it?”
“No I am not from Chronix Bay” said Mercedes “and I don’t really own a television set or computer.
The Time Stone Page 28