Out of Time the Grand Quest

by Christopher Douglass

  “Cut the laid back routine, we both know your lying through your teeth every time you open your mouth. I’m on to you. Don ’t think I don’t know you’re plotting something behind our back.”

  “Me? Plotting? Perish the thought.”

  Marvin turned with a raised eyebrow. “Really? Then I suppose you don’t know anything about a girl pulled in from Earth a week ago. Around the time you happened to forget to return to Atlantis. And she happened to come from the place you are known to frequent. In the year you were stationed, and your tear signature was recorded right around the same time.”

  “Not a clue. All coincidence I am sure.”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Don’t believe me? Check the records”

  “I have. I still don’t trust them.”

  Jeremy smiled as he nodded knowingly. “Ah, I understand now. You are jealous. Your time tear ability can only take you into the mid-seventeen hundreds to observe. So you are trying to find something to keep me from going the farthest into the future. Don’t be mad about your lack of ability then try to take it out on me.”

  As Marvin opened his mouth to retort angrily, a woman’s voice cut him off. “Let him be, he’s not lying-- this time. His tear signature was recorded after the girl was taken. And she went directly to Aerth due to coincidence as well.”

  Jeremy turned around to see Vulana step into the room, as always, she wore a cape with an array of peacock feathers fanned out behind her head. Nicknamed the human lie detector, she had earned her place among the sages due to her impressive ability to not only read minds, but also control them. It was believed lying anywhere within a hundred foot radius of her was impossible. But Jeremy knew it wasn’t. His people had stumbled upon a drug that blocked her ability from getting a true read upon the mind. As long as he remained calm, any lies he told would register as truth to her. Without it, Jeremy doubted his plans would succeed.

  “Vulana.”

  “Rat.”

  Jeremy shrugged off the insult, sitting in his chair and propping his legs up on the table. Soon Hadra, the other rift creator, who could jump as far as the early nineteen hundreds, entered and sat as well. One by one, the rest of the sages entered. There was Bris the man who could not only shift into any animal, but speak to them all as well. Shelly, the goddess of all things flora and fauna. And finally the man only known as D. Rumored to be over three hundred years old with the powers of regeneration. Despite his rumored age, he walked without aid of a cane or stooped back.

  Each and every one of them was his enemy in this game. Each and every one of them would eventually need to be killed if they did not come over to his way of thinking. But that was in the future, the time of revolution was not yet right.

  D settled in his place, folding his hands on top of the plyaplasti tabletop. “Before we get into our few items of business, I would like it to be known the dress of the people has slowly become more immodest over the last few months. Women are showing more skin and men are wearing tighter shirts to display their muscles. I vote we pass a law against such things. Those who disobey can spend one month behind bars. Repeat offenders will be summarily executed. If we allow such anarchy to reign, our society shall break down. All those in favor, raise your hand.”

  As one, six hands went up.

  “Those opposed?”

  Jeremy’s, as always, was the only one to rise.

  “So be it, the law becomes effective immediately.”

  Jeremy stood, turning his back on the council as he made for the door.

  “Where do you think you are going Sage Jeremy?”

  “Anywhere else but here. We both know how this will go. You all make stupid rules and cast a vote. I disagree with them as the lone voice of reason and you all pass them anyway. I’m not needed. I mean, come on, a change in dress code is anarchy? The men and women of the twenty-first century wear things far more scandalous and they manage just fine.”

  “Yes, well they are still barbarians. I order you to sit down Sage. Your duty is to the people. And we seven are the voice of those people.”

  “If that’s true, then I don’t know what people you are talking for anymore.”

  “Jeremy Vahn! I demand you sit down this instant or I shall arrest you on counts of treason!”

  Jeremy’s anger flaired. D had finally gone mad. That was the only explanation for his delusional ideas and attitude. Perhaps it was time to stir the council up a bit.

  “Keep your damn tongue in check old man. Or better yet--”

  Jeremy thrust his hand towards the door, sliding through a time tear to grab the mans tongue between his fingers as his portal came out in his throat. Deftly he cut the hunk of meat off using his power and pulled it back through the rift, holding it out for the old man to see.

  “How about I keep it in check for you. I’ve always wondered just how long and how much you can regenerate. I’m sure if I keep slicing bits and pieces off, eventually your ability won’t be able to keep up. And how much of that power is keeping you alive anyway? How much do you really have to use? I dare any and all of you to try and kill me if you wish. I’m done playing your stupid games. But remember this, out of all of us, I’m still the strongest combat wise. I won’t hesitate to kill every one of you vermin. I have said it before and I will say it again, you lot are the sum of everything wrong with Atlantis right now, and your time is coming.”

  As he faced the door again, he had to dodge to the side to avoid a fist coming out of a portal in front of him. Grabbing the fist, he piggybacked through the tear to come out in front of Marvin. Before the man had time to react, Jeremy slid his fingers up Marv’s body from crotch to crown. The rift split him down the middle as it opened up and Jeremy stepped through to end up by the door once more. Jeremy watched the two halves of the body splatter against the floor, organs going every which way.

  “Now we are the council of six. Anyone else want to take a stab at me?”

  No one moved, all of them looking away. All except for D, who was shooting daggers of hate in his direction, foam bubbling at his mouth. By this time he had re-grown his tongue to speak. “You’re a monster!”

  “No, I’m powerful. It is the right of the powerful to dictate the laws. Isn’t that what this council does? Well It’s time I start dictating some laws of my own. You all best stay out of my way if you know what’s good for you. Because it is high time I clean house.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  “No, it’s a declaration of war.”

  With that Jeremy stepped backwards and vanished through a time tear.

  Chapter 31: The Seer of Manipulation

  Kimberly paced back and forth in the little hospital room. She wondered where exactly she was. No one would tell her anything. The two doctors and three nurses she had seen had all been tight lipped, barely saying enough to let her know they could speak. At least they looked human, though she felt there was something not quite normal about them.

  The room itself had no windows and no door. Kimi knew from watching, that at least one of the walls was fake. The doctors and nurses had simply stepped through it like it was some hologram. Yet when Kimi had reached out, it had been a solid object. She was effectively a prisoner and she didn’t like it one bit.

  She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she reached inside for her Other power. Her thoughts felt sluggish, as if she was tired. Not surprising, considering she had overextended herself. She could see the inner room of her mind where all her characters rested, but she couldn’t summon them forth. It was as if there was an invisible wall keeping her from connecting with them like she used to.

  Once more she looked at herself in the mirror, the face that looked back not feeling like it belonged to her. It was the face she was used to seeing. Same black hair cascading down to just past the nape of her neck, same hazel eyes, and same slightly pretty face. At the same time it was different. For one thing she wore no glasses, yet she could see perfectly. Her hair had a shine to it that Kimi did
n’t remember, and her features were a tad more angular, making her look more elfish. These changes were not obvious to most, but to her they felt like someone else’s face. Her youthful looking body, someone else’s body.

  The worst part of this whole thing was the feeling of eyes. Kimberly felt like everything had eyes and everything was watching her. Listening to every small sound she made. Once she had found out people here could literally walk through walls, she suspected even the most mundane things held secrets. She knew nothing at all about this strange place and these cold people. That fact alone terrified her. Added on to her already massive amount of anxiety and rising paranoia, and Kimberly was surprised she was holding it together as well as she was.

  In the mirror she saw someone step through the wall. Closing her eyes she turned, prepared to deal with another doctor or nurse. Instead, she came face to face with a tall man wearing black jeans and shirt. His clothes reminded her more of a regular person than anyone else since she had been pulled over to Aerth. The biggest difference between him and the people who had entered before was the joker mask covering his face. Half the face smiled, the other half cried. The dividing line was slightly crooked as it ran from above his right eye down to the left side of his chin.

  “Welcome to Atlantis. I hope you have so far been treated well.”

  “Atlantis? I thought people couldn’t come from Aerth to Atlantis.”

  “Oh you know about Aerth? That is unusual. Are you the daughter of a pair that was trapped on Earth then? For that is from whence you came. A time scar that opened from Earth.”

  “Who are you anyway?”

  “Oh, excuse my rudeness. You may call me J. I am also known as the seventh Sage, the Sage of Manipulation.”

  “Not a very comforting title if you want me to trust you.”

  “Better than being called the Sage of Lies, or the Sage of Death like some of the others.”

  “I suppose not. But why am I here then? Last I remember, I was on quest in a Paradox Echo with my mage and a bunch of other people.”

  “Well, I don’t really know to be honest. How about we find out together? It is my motto that things are meant to be known. People are afraid of the unknown, so it makes sense they will cease to be afraid if they know what they previously didn’t. The same with change. People fear change, yet change is needed to grow and evolve. If they are taught properly, they will no longer fear change.”

  “Kimi nodded, it was the same thing she had always believed. Than how about taking off the mask? I got to be honest, its kind of creepy.”

  “I apologize, but as a Sage, I must wear this at all times. The people must trust the position, not just the sage who wears the mask. But if it would be of help and make you feel more secure---”

  J ran his finger from cheek to cheek, going up over the nose like it was a hill. The lower half of the mask split, folding up over the eye sockets. Two new holes appeared as the mask settled, showing a blank white slate over his normal looking smile. He reached up, pushing a small strand of black hair over his ear.

  “This is about all I can accommodate you though. I hope it helps.”

  Strangely, the easy manner in which he spoke, and his open attitude made her inclined to trust him. At least for the moment. When he winked at her, she had the oddest sensation of being back in Virginia.

  “Come, let me show you around a bit. If you have questions, feel free to ask. I would suggest you stay close to me though, while there is the risk of you getting lost, currently our city is undergoing some changes in leadership. I don’t expect you to know much about our policies and politics, but there are those who are unsatisfied with the way things currently are. They are currently fighting to take control. Do not fear though, this section of the capitol building is safe and secure.”

  J touched some kind of keypad only he saw. The effect though was instant, the wall turning opaque to show her the hallway outside. With a grand gesture he let her walk ahead of him out of the room.

  “Also, forgive keeping you restrained to that room. You are not the first Phaser to come here. You do know what a Phaser is right? Some have become--- how shall we say--- disruptive in their new environment. It is now policy to hold them until one in authority can come get them acclimatized.”

  “Is that why the nurses and doctors didn’t speak to me?”

  “Correct. Loose lips can be dangerous. So can offering imperfect knowledge to those who may already be confused and disoriented.”

  “And because humans react with negative emotions when given imperfect information. That in turns leads to violence. I suppose I can see where you are coming from.”

  J led Kimberly through a large storage room filled with rows upon rows of test tubes and other science equipment. In the distance to her left she saw what looked like human sized canisters filled with glowing blue liquid.

  “What is this place?”

  “Our incubation room. While we have evolved a great deal, it is now impossible for us to have children normally. Thanks to repopulation with a very limited gene pole-- namely that of those who live in Atlantis-- genetic mutations are a serious problem. Those families who wish for children must go through due process and be approved, with a limit of two per household. After that, they are given access to a varied list of potential genes for their child. This list is of course selected based on their financial standing, influence, job, and a multitude of other factors. So while one family might be given the opportunity to chose an artistic gene due to their income, another family might never see it at all. This is why deciding when to have a child is as important as the decision itself, changes in status and income can change your options.

  “Once the genes are decided, basic DNA is collected from the mother and father to be mixed together. The resulting cells are then incubated for nine months within the nutrient tanks before the new baby is given to the parents. This ensures the mother is not inconvenienced from work due to maternity leave. And it avoids the pain that comes with childbirth.”

  “So there are no children born outside of this incubation room?”

  “Not quite true. While about ninety percent of our population is sterile or unable to bear children, there are still those that can. But as I said, mutations and deformities are a serious problem. Those that are born with missing limbs, twisted features, or other oddities such as bone for skin-- are disposed of. There is not much love for the imperfect here. There has not been a healthy child born naturally here on Atlantis for the last hundred and forty-three years. It might sound cruel and cold to you, and I would agree. But that is one of the prices we pay for our utopia.”

  “Then all the mediators who go over to Aerth are also sterile?”

  “Perhaps not all, but on the whole-- yes. There is a good chance those that decide to become mediators cannot conceive. There is an oddity of the magical barriers the mages of old erected when they separated Aerth from Atlantis, though. Once a mediator crosses the veil, they regain their reproductive functions. Previously barren women can give birth with no trouble, the same with men.”

  “Do all Phasers end up becoming mediators?”

  “Not at all. Many do, it is true. But some decide to stay here and live their lives. They are treated just like any other Atlantian once they have become acclimatized to our ways. I myself am a Phaser.”

  “Really? What was your time like then? And when was it?”

  “I was born in the year 2045, my timeline no longer exists. I lived at the end of days you could say. I was born to two soldiers, and had killed my first human at the age of five. World War III. The war to end all wars it was called. Atomic bombs, chemical warfare, human depravity, the struggle to survive. I saw and survived it all. When I was pulled through at the age of twelve, there were less than five hundred people still alive in the entire world.”

  “I thought you faded out of existence if your timeline is destroyed.”

  “I am-- special. One of my Other powers is unique, The Paradoxial allows me to
exist when and where I have no right to. But only on Atlantis. If I were to ever go to Aerth, I would disappear immediately. Well, perhaps not. I have altered my own genetic makeup over the years, so perhaps I am more Atlantian than Earthling now.”

  Kimi went silent as she walked along next to him, listening to this masked man tell her some of Atlantis’ history. With a wave of his hand, he pulled up pictures of the outside world and far off places within the city for her to see. She saw doctors, aides, secretaries, and a variety of other people running around working on mysterious projects. She saw a few soldiers and a few wounded sporting injuries unlike any she had seen before. There were basic burns, but also things like a man who had tree roots and vines intertwined through his body, and another that looked like his arm had been sheared off and reattached to his stomach.

  “--- Atlantis is spread out over forty-four miles of land, and is surrounded by ocean that goes out exactly one mile. But that is also the extent of our world. There are no other cities, no other countries.”

  Kimi broke into his speech before he could continue. “You said right now you were having some fighting going on. What side are you on?”

  J shrugged. “I am on the winning side of course.”

  “How do you know that? Is that your power, to see the future?”

  “No, my power isn’t anything like that. I know because I am strong. And those I fight with are strong. Stronger than the other side. Resistance will be tough, but our side will prevail in the end.”

  “That still doesn’t tell me if you are the good guys or the bad guys.”

  “Does that really matter?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, good and bad are subjective, I am sure you realize that. But tell me, do you fear-- or embrace-- change? Perhaps I should rephrase that. Do you believe change is a good or bad thing?”

  “I suppose it is usually a good thing. I mean, I don’t always like change. Some change, like moving up a grade in school, or when me or my mom experiment when we cook, isn’t so bad. But other changes, like moving or making new friends can be kind of scary. I get used to them after the fact, but at that moment, I resist them. I’m sure some changes can be bad overall, but there is always something good about them too.”