by Jones, D. F.
“Take a breath and get a drink. You’re hyperventilating.”
Running her hands through her hair, Charlie said, “Monica has files on the Lord Supreme and Prince Aelius. I suppose Agriaous helped her gain access to the Plates of Prophecy, which are predicting a major volcanic explosion in Yellowstone Park.”
She walked into the kitchen, picked up the tequila and took a couple of gulps. Charlie released a sigh and rubbed the heels of her hands into her eyes. She turned to Ruben. “Life on Earth is going to change in a big way. From what I read, everything living will die. Monica’s been sending the Spinners to that planet for fifty years to train warriors and work as slaves. What in the hell are we going to do?”
Ruben cocked his head to the side and said, “Julia’s pregnant?”
Charlie shouted, “Good god, man. I give you information that can change the history of our planet, and all you can say, is ‘Julia’s pregnant.’ Snap out of it! Where’s Ruben? What alien has abducted the best damn Time Tracker I know because he sure as shit isn’t in this room?”
Ruben shook his head and stood to face Charlie. “Don’t get your panties in a twist. It makes sense now. That’s why the Lord Supreme sent me? I’m supposed to protect Julia and her unborn son from that deranged woman? Wonder why the Lord Supreme didn’t give me those specifics.”
Ruben pulled on his neck and groaned. “Look, the Lord Supreme and Prince Aelius are immortals. They control the Milky Way Galaxy, so I’m confident they’re monitoring Monica’s actions. They must’ve permitted Monica to colonize the planet to allow progenation of the species. But I’ll plan a trip to the Empyreal Palace as soon as I know Julia’s safe. At least while Julia is pregnant, Monica won’t harm her. She wouldn’t jeopardize the boy.”
Then he looked up and added, “For the record, I’m sorry I made Phillip shoot you with a Black Beauty.” Ruben smiled, and Charlie melted. “You're working for me now. I’ll call my liaison with the Lord Supreme to officially change your orders. We can’t allow Monica to hurt Julia or take the baby. Will you help me?”
Rolling her eyes, Charlie replied, “You do know Monica is trying to kill you? I was ordered to kill you, goofus. Are you willing to die for Julia? And if I go to work for you, then I’m as good as dead too.”
Frowning, Ruben said, “There are worse things in life than dying. Sacrificing oneself to preserve the Lord Supreme’s Universe is worth dying for, is it not?”
Taking a deep breath, she sighed. “And how are you going to convince Ms. Boatwright to play along with your plans?”
“I’m going to tell Julia the truth and stop by the pharmacy and pick up about a dozen pregnancy tests.”
“Ruben? Where’s Klock?”
Ruben draped an arm around Charlie. “He’s with Julia. Oh, the back of the Hummer is full of tools and weapons from our more advanced savvy neighbors. If I were a betting man, Monica will probably send maybe four to six enforcers. Too many would alert the ATTRA militia on Earth that’s under Prince Aelius’s command. Do you have any weapons?”
Ducking out of his arm, Charlie placed one hand on her hip. “I never leave home without them. I want to kick Monica’s ass because if I don’t, she’ll put my head on a spike in Lunar Square. She’s lost her mind.”
Ruben lifted Charlie’s chin with the tip of his forefinger. “I won’t let anyone hurt you, Charlie. Plus, we’ll be waiting for Monica.” He kissed her forehead.
Charlie would die for Ruben. He was the only person in the Universe that mattered to Charlie.
One day, maybe he’d realize that.
* * *
Julia sat in one of the Adirondack chairs on the patio, holding a cup of coffee in her hands with Klock at her feet. The caffeine had her nerves on edge. She was still furious from the newspaper clipping she’d found last night about Ruben, that had kept her awake most the night.
Julia placed the newspaper clipping in a manila folder and put it on the patio table, securing it with a decorative stone so it wouldn’t fly away in the breeze.
The backyard fence opened, and Ruben rounded the corner. He carried a pharmacy bag in his hand. “Hi, gorgeous!” he said cheerfully.
Julia snarled and narrowed her eyes at Ruben. She went over to the table, picked up the folder and shoved it into his hands. “You’re a lying sneaking bastard. I want to know who the hell you are, and what you want with Phillip and me.”
Ruben’s eyes widened as he opened the folder. Taking the newspaper in his hand, he looked at Julia. “You have every right to be mad at me. But let’s go inside to talk about the newspaper in private. Give me ten minutes. If you aren’t satisfied with my explanation, I’ll leave, and you’ll never see me again.”
Ruben’s answer infuriated her more. “Oh, I bet you have a doozy of an explanation. I can’t wait to hear it.” Julia spun around and went inside the sunroom, plopping on the sofa with her hands in her lap, back straight, chin lifted.
Ruben sat on the other side of the couch and swallowed hard while Klock settled on the floor. “I’m a Time Tracker. I work for ATTRA. Which means Alien Time Travel and Research Agency. Our galaxy is ruled by the Lord Supreme, who issued an order for me to find you once you traveled through the portal. I know the basics about you and Phillip. I studied you, researched you, and found you. You are of great importance. I traveled to 1950 to give Phillip the blueprints to the Needle-Horn, my time travel craft.”
Rubbing his hands on his thighs, Ruben shook his head. “It’s the reason you and Andy have Phillip’s folders. My ship is designed for one traveler, and it’s custom fit to my DNA. You can’t time travel without joining the ATTRA program, and if you joined the program, you would never see any of your family again.”
He watched Julia’s face turn paper white. “Unfortunately, Phillip didn’t find a way to alter the craft’s design. The Plates of Prophecy state your son will create a time travel machine with no limitations.”
Twisting around to face him, Julia opened and closed her mouth, then anxiously asked, “I can’t go home? Why am I important? What son?”
With a look of exasperation, he said, “Ten minutes, please, Julia.”
She crossed her arms over her stomach. “My heart is nearly bursting through my chest. This is more than I can bear.”
Hands extended, Ruben said, “People like you and me are known as Spinners. I was a Spinner too. I fell into a natural time portal in 1918. ATTRA recruited me into the Time Tracker program. The entire ATTRA organization is made up of Spinners, like us. The Lord Supreme assigned me to protect you and your baby.”
Julia shook her head and blinked several times. “What baby? And you were a Spinner too?”
“Yes, I was a Spinner.” Ruben handed the bag over to Julia, and she opened it and he said, “The bag is full of pregnancy tests.”
Pregnancy tests?
Ruben nodded and placed his arm on the back of the couch. “Another Tracker, her name is Charlie, followed me to the twenty-first century. She waited for me last night and informed me that our time travel Commander, Monica Adams, wants you, but more specifically, she wants your baby. Up until now, scientists and physicists proved time travel happens in the future, and ATTRA can only manipulate a hundred years into the past. Your son’s discovery may prove disastrous in the wrong hands.”
Julia shook her head and stood up. “My son? You’re talking as if you know him already when he hasn’t even been born yet.” She walked mindlessly about the room then she glared at Ruben. “Phillip’s notes mention he doesn’t trust ATTRA, and neither did my father. Why should I trust you?”
The rat-tat-tat of mini sonic booms echoed in the air as bullets hit the sunroom windows shattering glass, spraying shards across the room. Klock ran to the door barking and snarling. Ruben yelled, “Get down, Julia! Don’t move.” He reached from the back of his pants and pulled out what appeared to be a small handgun.
The high-pitched sound still reverberated in Julia’s ears as Ruben and Klock dashed out the back door. Sh
e didn’t know what to do. She froze in fear, plastered to the tile floor.
Suddenly, Julia thought about the possibility that she was pregnant and carrying Phillip’s son. No longer afraid for herself, she crouched low to the ground and crawled her way into the hallway next to Andy’s office and went into the half bath. At least, she had walls between her and the bullets.
The door swung open, and a tall red-haired woman in leather stood with one hand on the doorknob, staring down at her. “Julia, I’m Charlie. I work with Ruben. Come with me into the inner part of the house. Ruben’s tracking down the shooters. It won’t take long.”
Julia didn’t budge. “How do I know that you’re not the shooter?”
The woman chuckled and said, “Because you’d be dead. Please. I promise I’m not going to hurt you.”
A couple of minutes later, Ruben stuck his head in the bathroom and Klock pushed passed Ruben and ran his head into Julia’s hand.
Ruben said, “The coast is clear. Two shooters, both are dead. They were Monica’s enforcers. It’s time to flip scripts, Julia.”
Julia trembled at the realization Ruben had just shot two people trying to kill them.
Ruben crouched down and slowly approached Julia. In a low and even tone, he whispered, “I’ll lay my life down for you. Do you believe me?” Julia nodded but remained silent. He said, “They were shooting at me, not you. You’re no longer safe here.”
Julia released Klock. She stood and stepped out of the half bath, looking both ways before she went back into the sunroom. “We have to call the police. Look at the windows.”
Ruben reached over and held Julia’s hand. “I’m sorry, but we don’t have time to call the police. I have Andy’s cell number, but I need the Chalet’s.”
Exhaling deeply, Julia walked into Andy’s office and pulled the post-it off the bulletin board. “Here’s Andy’s numbers. I’ll not lie, I’m frightened to death, but I don’t want to place Andy in harm’s way. Call him and tell him what happened, but can’t we find somewhere else to stay?”
“Give me a minute.” Ruben took out his device and went outside. A few moments later he walked back in. “Grab some clothes. We’re going on a trip.”
“I suppose I don’t have a choice.” Julia left Ruben and Charlie in the sunroom. She should call Sloane but was afraid it might place her in danger too. Opening different closets, Julia found a couple of suitcases. She put in clothes and a few other essentials. Then she ran into Phillip’s room, Andy had taken the journals with him so, she grabbed her letters. Oh, Phillip can it be true? Can I be carrying your child?
Julia strode into the kitchen where Ruben, Charlie, and Klock waited for her. She said, “Give me one of those pregnancy tests. I’m not going anywhere until I find out if I’m carrying Phillip’s child.”
Charlie handed Julia the brown paper bag. “The instructions are on the back, but it’s relatively straightforward. Pee on the stick. You’ll know pretty quick if you’re pregnant.”
Julia went into the main bathroom and pulled the test out of the packaging. She read the instructions while sitting on the pot. Minutes later, the test read positive. Julia’s heart began to soar. If she had to live in this century, at least she’d have a part of Phillip with her.
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Julia felt stronger and had an inner love for the life growing inside her womb. Straightening her back, she went into the bedroom, grabbed the suitcases and walked into the kitchen. Smiling despite the danger, she said, “I’m pregnant. Is it okay to call Sloane?”
Ruben placed his hands on his hips and breathed deeply. “I’m sorry. But Monica may have operatives watching Sloane’s residence, and the phones might be bugged. By the way, give me your phone.”
Julia placed the suitcases on the floor, reached into her purse and handed him the phone Andy had bought her.
Ruben opened the back and pulled out something, then smashed the thing under his heel. He looked at her and said, “It’s a computer card that tracks everything you do. We’re going off the grid. I’ve instructed Andy to drive out of town and do the same with his SIM cards. No devices, no Wi-Fi, no computers, unless Charlie and I inspect them first. We’ll issue new cards and phones that aren’t traceable.” Julia nodded.
Charlie scratched her bicep absentmindedly. “Hey, Ruben, even if she wanted to, Julia can’t time travel while she’s pregnant. It’ll risk their lives. Well, we know Monica’s enforcers are watching this place. So, what’s the plan?”
Ruben rubbed his jaw and then latched onto Charlie’s elbow. “I’ve made the call for your reassignment. Go to your condo and get your toys. Just give me a quick sec to write down the directions. You can meet us there in a couple of hours.”
Charlie shrugged out of his hand. “No need. I went to the condo last night after you went to sleep. I’ll follow you and keep an eye out for any tails.”
With a sharp nod to Charlie, Ruben turned to Julia. “We’re going to Phillip’s Chalet in the mountains. After we arrive, Charlie, Klock, and I will make sure the location is secure. I’ll throw a Cloak Shield around the Chalet. We’ll place Security Breach Beams around the property’s perimeters. I also have my monitoring equipment case in the Hummer. It’s not foolproof, but it’s all I have for now.”
Turning back to Charlie, he said, “Keep up, baby sister. I’m going to push the Hummer to the limits. I’ll take several back roads before heading to the interstate. If I lose you, just make sure you don’t have any tails before you arrive at the Chalet.” Charlie gave Ruben a nod of agreement.
Cloak shields? Security Breach Beams? Monitoring equipment? What was Ruben talking about? Julia said, “But, but...”
Ruben shook his head from side to side. “No buts. We’ll make other arrangements if the need arises. Okay?” He looked at his watch and said, “Sixteen hundred hours, Charlie.” She nodded again.
Julia placed her hand over her stomach, then looked up at Ruben. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Ruben, Charlie, thank you for helping me.”
Pregnant. Oh God, please protect my child. Please, show me the way.
Chapter 11
After securing her seatbelt, Julia twisted around to look at Ruben and Klock sat between them. She said, “Where are the records of my son’s birth? How do you know he’s the one that develops the new time travel theory? Maybe it was someone completely different, and your records are wrong?”
Looking into his left rearview mirror, Ruben accelerated speed and pulled onto the interstate. He gripped the steering wheel as he weaved in and out of traffic. “I really need to concentrate on driving.”
Steering the Hummer into the slow lane of traffic, Ruben pressed his lips together in apparent frustration. “Julia, I’ve told you most of what I know, but I’ll tell you again. I’m a Tracker for ATTRA. Often my assignments are given with minimal instructions because a Tracker may unknowingly influence a decision that could trigger a paradox. I have basic information about you and Phillip, but Charlie is the one who told me about your son.”
“Is she a Tracker too?”
“Yes, up until last night, Charlie worked directly with Monica, but went rogue and broke rank because she hacked into Monica’s computer. Charlie found files that implicate Monica in high treason. Monica also issued an order to kill me so that she can capture you.”
Resting his arm on the console, Ruben said, “I don’t know the how or when of your son’s discovery; only that Monica wants his machine. Charlie thinks if Monica has your son, she’ll control her destiny. Only certain individuals have access to the Plates of Prophecy. General Agriaous is one of those people, and he’s partnered with Monica.” He gave her a one-shoulder shrug. “Prophecy is merely a prediction; it’s not infallible.”
Julia looked out the window, nervously biting her fingernails. They were climbing elevation, and her ears started popping. “Who is the Lord Supreme? Is he God?”
Ruben chuckled. “That is a fifty-billion-dollar question. I’ve met him. He
looks like a person, but he’s immortal. I suppose he’s God in that respect. He creates and his son, Prince Aelius, created everything in our Galaxy. Julia, I won’t allow Monica to hurt you or the baby. That’s my job.”
Julia’s voice quivered, and with broken words, she said, “So you can’t take me home in your time machine? My place is with Phillip. I miss my mom, and I don’t like seeing my baby sister using a walker. I don’t belong here.”
Ruben shut his eyes for a moment, then stared into Julia’s dark green eyes. “The Needle-Horn is calibrated for one person, me, and my genome is tied into the mainframe’s control system because of matter changing during time travel. Most accidental Spinners don’t survive the time portals. Your son is supposed to change that.”
“Well, I guess my chances to go home are slim if I have to wait for my son to develop a time machine.”
Ruben drew in a ragged breath and exhaled before running his fingers through his hair. “You’re living in an alternate reality in a parallel universe. Every decision you make changes future events in your life.”
“Alternate realities and parallel universes, ugh. I’m getting a splitting headache.” She reached down into her purse and pulled out a bottle of aspirin.
Ruben took the bottle from her and placed it inside the console. “Aspirin isn’t good for the baby.”
“Okay, okay.”
* * *
Surrounded by tall cedar trees and firs, Phillip’s timber-framed Chalet was nestled on the side of a mountain adjacent to the Pisgah National Forest. The ridge ran north and south and offered incredible views from nearly every angle.
Andy gripped the ornate wooden railing of the large covered front porch framed in red cedar with wide planked floors. Rustic wood-hewn furniture sat on braided rugs with red and white striped cushions. He’d been pacing the floors since Ruben’s call.