“There’s something I must tell you as well sir,” said Gregorical.
Darbian stood straight, but peered towards the floor. “It’s about that weapon the children were using, isn’t it?”
“Yes sir,” said Gregorical. “I think you will be surprised where it came from.”
“I was wondering,” Darbian’s ears perked up.
“A time traveler boarded the ship unannounced and left it for them to use. He said nothing. He didn’t identify himself. According to Micah, he looked like a Warden. The children chased him before he disappeared.” Gregorical paused.
“Go on. Did you get footage of him? Surely you did,” said Darbian.
“Yes I did. I said nothing to the children about it. In fact, I directed them to hide in the heart of the ship because I didn’t want them to see who it was.”
“Why is that? Who was it?” Darbian put his hands on his waist and furled his brow.
Gregorical brought an image up on his screen. “It was a man in Wardein armor. I identified his face and DNA structure as matching Micah Alfero.”
“So we’re playing the long game,” said Darbian.
“Should we tell the children, sir?” Gregorical said.
“No, I don’t think so. It could impact their future in unpredictable ways, especially Micah,” responded Darbian.
Gregorical replied, “Being that Micah has already visited himself, it’s reasonable to assume it has already changed their future.”
Darbian wiped blood from the back of his head. “Possibly, but for whatever reason Micah didn’t want his younger self to know it was him. Let’s go with that for now until we have a good reason to do otherwise.”
Chapter 14
Darbian brought up the star maps on the main screen to study the coordinates given to him by Erevosa.
The coordinates pointed to a remote part of the universe almost devoid of stars, a good distance away from any galaxy.
Gregorical interrupted. “Shall we embark?”
Darbian’s mind was consumed with thoughts about the things Halinkoy had told him. “The people that Halinkoy kidnapped…I believe they were on one of those ships. I’ve heard of the technology he spoke about. Some of the archives about the Tammeder speak about transmitting a person’s consciousness, but it was purely experimental. The amount of power it took to transmit a person’s mind was tremendous. It’s not like a communications signal. There’s no way those people were very far from Halinkoy himself.”
“Do you think we should go back then? To attempt a rescue?” Gregorical responded.
“No, we’re not ready to take on Halinkoy. What you and the children did was risky enough, not to mention irresponsible, not to mention a direct violation of my orders.” Darbian pointed to the ceiling as if to scold his ship.
“You’re welcome,” said Gregorical.
Darbian smiled.
“To find the Astrolabe then?” Gregorical continued.
“Yes, we should proceed there immediately. There's no telling what Halinkoy has in store. We can't delay another minute.” Darbian reached into his pocket and pulled out the disc that Erevosa had given him. “This should be safe to insert in to your databanks, shouldn’t it?”
“Yes, I’ve already scanned it for corruption. You may insert it any time,” Gregorical replied.
Darbian inserted the disc. “Perhaps this will tell us more about this mysterious Astrolabe.”
After a few seconds, nothing had happened.
“Is it working?” Darbian asked.
“The disc is working, but there doesn’t appear to be anything on it,” Gregorical analyzed the disc further.
“She said we needed the disc?” Darbian was tired of questions. He wanted answers.
“Let’s prepare the wormhole. We can worry about what the disc does or doesn’t do later,” Darbian said.
“Coming to a full stop now. Activating Chrono drive,” Gregorical produced a wormhole to their most mysterious location yet, a place where neither had ever been before.
“Proceed,” said Darbian.
Within an instant, the ship and its crew were transported to the remote portion of the galaxy said to harbor the Astrolabe. It was dark there as the nearest stars were millions of light years away. A few galaxies could be seen in the distance, but they appeared as dots on the horizon.
“There doesn’t appear to be anything here, sir. I’ve scanned a large area and I find nothing.” Gregorical turned his screen on to show nothing in the area.
“What’s this Secret she spoke of? I don’t understand. We’ve done exactly as she instructed us to do.” Darbian sat down and put his head in his hands.
“Sir, the disc doesn’t work and there’s nothing here. I hesitate to say it, but perhaps the trauma of Halinkoy’s attack rendered her insane? In the first place, it makes little sense that the Council would keep any secrets from the Wardein,” Gregorical said.
Darbian paused and stared at the screen for what seemed like several minutes.
Gregorical abandoned the plan rather quickly. “Sir, where should we go next?”
“Perhaps, you’re right Gregorical. Perhaps we’re alone after all,” Darbian got up and walked to one of the bunk rooms in the back of the ship. “I think I’ll get some sleep myself. I need rest to think about our next move.”
“Certainly, sir,” responded Gregorical.
There was little else found on this ship other than despair.
As Darbian slept, Gregorical analyzed the recordings of the conversation with Erevosa to discover any clues. He found none.
After a couple of hours, Micah woke up and walked to the bridge. “Gregorical, where’s Darbian?”
“He’s resting. He may be a while,” Gregorical said.
“Where are we? Did we find the Astrolabe?” Micah rubbed his eyes.
Gregorical replied. “I’m afraid not, my child.”
Micah’s eyes tracked from one end of the bridge to another. “Are we sure we’re looking in the right place?”
Suddenly, there was a knocking on the hull of the ship. Three taps and the sound was no more.
“What was that?” Micah asked.
“Something contacted my hull. Perhaps they were meteorites.” Gregorical offered.
The knocking returned, this time in a pattern. It sounded reminiscent of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.”
“That wasn’t a meteorite,” said Micah.
“No, it wasn’t,” Gregorical responded. “My sensors detect nothing. Whatever it is appears to be intelligent, however.”
The knocking occurred again. This time it was steady, thump after thump.
Then on the screen appeared an object beyond Micah’s imagination and beyond Gregorical’s memory banks. It looked to be made of gold and comprised several interlocking rings that formed the outline of a sphere. The inner portion of the sphere appeared to be hollow. The galaxies could be seen through the other side. All along the rings were strange markings; some could be interpreted as familiar constellations. Others were unrecognizable.
Micah’s gaze was fixed upon it.
Meanwhile, Gregorical had no explanation as his sensors still showed nothing present.
The rings rotated. They weren't all moving in the same direction, mind you. They each moved independently of one another as if they weren't even connected.
At that moment, the thumping stopped and Micah disappeared.
Gregorical sounded an alarm. Lights all over the ship flashed and a sharp buzzing sound reverberated through the halls.
“Darbian, wake up. Wake up now. Micah has been taken,” Gregorical said sternly as he was incapable of yelling.
Darbian roused himself. “What did you say?”
“Micah has been taken,” Gregorical responded.
Hannelore had woken up too in all the madness. She came running down the hall to ask what the matter was.
“Stay in your room, Hannelore. I have to go to the bridge,” said Darbian.
“
But what’s going on? And where’s Micah?” Hannelore held back a yawn.
“I don’t know, Hannelore. He’s been taken.” Darbian ran down the hall, but changed his mind.
“What?” Hannelore screamed.
“Wait a minute, my dear. Come with me instead. I’m sorry.” Darbian took Hannelore partly because the thought of Micah disappearing had clearly scared the girl, and partly because he wanted her in his sight to protect her should whatever had taken Micah now come for her.
Hannelore shed a tear. “Darbian, you’re going to get him back aren’t you?”
“Yes, we will get him back,” Darbian said without a shred of confidence, as he did not understand who or what could have taken the boy. The last thing he wanted, however, was for Hannelore to stew in fear.
“Gregorical, tell me what happened,” Darbian said as he rounded the bend and entered the bridge.
“Sir, look at the screen,” Gregorical responded.
Darbian slid and came to a stop in front of the main screen. “Where in heaven’s name did that come from?”
“I’m not sure, sir. The sensors still show nothing. There was knocking on the hull and then this object appeared.” Gregorical stated.
“Try to communicate with it. Send a message. Tell it we mean no harm and we just want our friend back.” Darbian scowled.
Micah appeared in a space he had never seen before and didn’t understand.
It was dark except for one large light near the ceiling. The room itself was shaped like a dome with the walls covered in gears and sprockets. The floor appeared to be made of solid brass and here also were markings resembling constellations.
Micah couldn’t help but think it was like being inside a giant clock.
The occasional streak of light zoomed around the walls. With each pass of light, the structure appeared to open itself and reveal star clusters and planets on the other side of the barrier.
“There are no stars that close. We’re in the middle of nowhere,” said Micah.
A disembodied voice echoed through the hall. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
Micah whipped around. “Who was that?” Where am I?”
“You’re in the Astrolabe and I am the Timekeeper,” the voice responded.
“What is this place?” Micah asked as he looked all over for the source of the voice.
“I told you. This is the Astrolabe. Did you not seek me out?” the Timekeeper inquired.
Micah shifted from one foot to the other. “We came here to find a way to beat Halinkoy. Can you help us?”
“That will come in time,” the Timekeeper said.
“I don’t understand. Who are you? And how were you expecting me?” Micah roamed around the edge of the room.
“I’ve been watching you all your life, Micah,” the Timekeeper responded.
Micah looked up in shock.
“But let’s talk about these friends of yours. They keep sending me messages that they want you back. That seems like a wasted trip. Why don’t I bring them here? That’s a better idea, don’t you think?” the Timekeeper said.
Suddenly, both Darbian and Hannelore appeared in the room alongside Micah.
“Micah! Are you okay?” Darbian shouted.
Hannelore was still crying, but calmed down when she saw her new surroundings.
“I’m fine. I’m just confused.” Micah leapt over to Darbian.
Darbian grabbed Micah and hugged him. “Who’s here? Why have you brought us here?” he exclaimed.
“Greetings, weary traveler,” said the Timekeeper as he appeared out of the shadows and stood near a platform in the distance. He looked human. He was tall with gray hair and brown eyes, but didn’t appear very old, however. Wearing a rather majestic robe, he strolled as it dragged the ground behind him. In his hand was a staff, a long, golden rod that was as tall as the one who held it. On top of the staff was a symbol that looked much like a sundial.
“Who are you?” Darbian said as he released Micah, walked forward, and pointed his wrist-bound weapon.
“I’m the Timekeeper and I believe you came here seeking me. Is that not correct?” the mysterious figure responded.
Darbian lowered his arm. “We came here seeking the Astrolabe.”
“You’ve found it,” said the Timekeeper.
“We’ve come here looking for a means to bring back the Wardein and defeat the Halinkoy Cult. I was sent here by Erevosa, the last member of the Council.” Darbian relaxed, but glared at the man in the shadows.
“There’s so much for you to learn, Darbian. So much to tell you.” The Timekeeper walked closer.
“Did you tell him my name, Micah?” Darbian looked back at the boy.
“No, I didn’t. But he knew mine too. Said he was waiting for me and that he had been watching me all my life,” Micah trembled.
The Timekeeper stopped and reached out his hand. “Did you bring a disc with you? From the one who sent you?”
“Yes,” said Darbian.
“Let me see it,” said the Timekeeper.
Darbian reached into his pocket, pulled out the disc, and handed it to the Timekeeper.
The Timekeeper took the disc and walked toward a wall. As he approached, the gears moved, and a space opened. The now hollow portion was dark and looked to be nothing but emptiness. He inserted the disc, and it was swallowed up into the nothingness. The wall rippled as though he had just dropped the disc into a pool of water.
A voice, that of Erevosa, emanated through the hall. “My dear friend, Timekeeper, I’m sending to you the last Warden. He’s all that remains of our force. Crystal Dawn has already fallen, and I am here to ask you for your personal aid. Please, secure him from being followed by members of the Halinkoy Cult, a vicious religious faction that seeks to rule all life in the universe. Soon, I’ll tell the Warden of the Secret. He won’t understand it, but perhaps in time he will. Please finish what has been started. As I leave you, I fear I won’t survive the next few hours. Remember me fondly. Long live the Timekeeper.”
“She’s dead, isn’t she?” The Timekeeper sounded somber for the first time since they met him.
“Yes, she died, but she died bravely,” responded Darbian.
“Well, I’ve been asked to make sure no one follows you, and I’ll do that. Would you like us to move so that this Halinkoy Cult doesn’t arrive as well?” The Timekeeper faced Darbian.
“What? They’re following us?” Darbian's eyes bugged out.
“I imagine they’ve been following you since you left Crystal Dawn. It’s not a problem though. I’ll bring your ship aboard and we’ll be off.” The Timekeeper was nonchalant as though avoiding the Halinkoy Cult was a small thing.
“How could you tell they were following us? Our sensors detected nothing,” Darbian said.
“They’ve been following you from a great distance, far beyond the range of your sensors. I imagine then that their sensors are much stronger than yours if they’ve been able to track you all this way. No matter though; we’ll leave.” The Timekeeper walked toward his platform. “You might want to move.”
The wall once again swirled around. The gears shifted in varying directions as Gregorical himself now appeared and moved through the water-like substance.
Safely inside the hall of the Astrolabe, Gregorical spoke. “Sir, are you alright? I’ve been searching frantically for you.”
“We’re fine, Gregorical. Are you okay?” Darbian replied.
“Quite well, sir. Never better,” responded Gregorical.
Darbian looked back to the Timekeeper. “Who are you? No, really. Who are you?”
The Timekeeper looked at Darbian with a glaze in his eyes. “I’m the ghost of a race long dead. A remnant, an artifact, but a friend.”
“What race?” Darbian peered though the dim light.
“Well, that’s the Secret. I came from the First World,” the Timekeeper responded.
“The First World?” Darbian exclaimed. “That’s a legend, nothing more.”
>
The Timekeeper smiled. “Oh no, it’s very real, and you’ll see it yourself one day. Of that I’m now sure.”
Micah stared up at Darbian. “What’s he talking about?”
“He’s talking about an old legend, one of the oldest in the universe,” Darbian responded.
“Yeah, go on,” said Micah.
“The legend says all people everywhere came from one place…the First World. It says the people of this planet seeded the universe with life. Soon after, they fell into oblivion.” Darbian rubbed his chin and looked back to the Timekeeper.
“Oh, there’s more to the legend than that,” said the Timekeeper.
“Is there?” Micah tugged at Darbian’s arm.
Darbian huffed. “The legend also states that a child of this people was lost, but that he’ll return one day and put everything right in the universe.”
“So it’s like a prophecy?” said Micah.
Darbian ignored Micah and approached the Timekeeper. “You seem to know certain things. Other things you don’t. Why is that?”
“My purview is limited by what the Creator allows me to see,” the Timekeeper responded.
“The Creator? There’s no such thing,” Darbian stated with confidence.
“Are you sure about that?” The Timekeeper turned back and walked to the center of the room.
“My father believed in God. I’m not sure whether I do or not,” said Micah.
“That’s all well and good, but…” Darbian paused.
“But what?” Micah cocked his head to the side.
“Nothing, my boy. Nothing,” Darbian said.
“Perhaps you lost your belief in God when you were abandoned as a child? Wouldn’t you say so, Darbian?” The Timekeeper stopped and inserted his staff into a small notch in the floor.
“What did you say?” Darbian rushed forward and grabbed the Timekeeper by the shoulder.
“I don’t blame you. I probably would have doubted as well if I had lived the life you’ve lived. You’ve been abandoned, raised on a foreign world, and faced the loss of everything you hold most dear.” The Timekeeper turned around.
The Accidental Astronaut Page 12