Time Makers

by Charlie Carter

‘Come in, Omega Squad! Come in!’

  Professor Perdu whispered into her Battle Watch. She longed to shout but guards might still be lurking on the other side of the thick metal wall that separated her and Bernard from the Launch Chamber and Aeon Reactor. After Omega Squad had surprised everyone and made it into Battle Book 3, there’d been a big search of the area to find out how they’d sneaked into the complex. Bernard had managed to lock the hatch from their side, so the guards had ruled that out as a possibility. But they still needed to be careful.

  ‘Something’s wrong,’ she said to Bernard. ‘They’ve stopped.’ She pointed at the G-C Scanner. ‘That green dot is them, and it hasn’t moved for too long. It’s like they’re stuck at the entrance to the laneway.’

  ‘And you can’t reach them?’

  ‘No. I’ve tried all their Battle Watches. None of them is receiving.’

  Professor Perdu and Bernard stared at the G-C Scanner’s tiny screen, willing the green dot to do something.

  ‘Please, Omega Squad. Come in,’ the professor begged. She could hear Dr Vandakrol’s voice booming through the other side of the metal wall. ‘Excellent news,’ he crowed. ‘Alpha Agent 002 reports that the Temple of Zeus is now in sight.’ The announcement was met with a volley of cheers.

  Professor Perdu closed her eyes and buried her face in her hands, her mind uttering a silent prayer. She nearly blocked her ears against the taunting cheers of the androids. But then in the very next instant she heard Bernard’s excited voice.

  ‘It moved,’ he almost shouted. ‘The dot definitely moved!’

  He was right. The professor smiled as she watched the tiny green dot twitch, shifting back and forth. And then her Battle Watch crackled.

  ‘Prof?’ Five’s voice sounded dry and husky. He coughed, and the professor could hear the others coughing in the background. ‘Sorry, we’ve just had a nasty incident. Alpha Two has gone mad.’

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘He’s shooting the fleeing Trojans with his EMD for a start.’

  ‘What! They’re not real people, of course, only digital energy blueprints. But even so he —’

  ‘That’s not all. He tried to kill us as well.’

  ‘He really is out of control, then. But you’re all okay, aren’t you?’

  ‘Yeah, though we only just escaped with our lives. And I have to report that Battle Agent 016 is done for. Alpha Two brought down tonnes of rubble on him. There’s no way we can get any-where near him. And even if we could he wouldn’t be alive.’

  ‘Oh, dear.’ The professor was silent, digesting the news of the agent’s death. ‘So Alpha Two really has gone mad. He’s obsessed with getting the Chronos Stone. Be careful, won’t you.’

  ‘We will, Prof, but if we’re going to stop him we’d better get going without delay. Over and out.’

  Professor Perdu heaved a sigh of relief, then turned to Bernard and gave him a huge hug.

  * * *

  ‘We can make it,’ BA005 shouted to the others as they turned into the wide avenue.

  They paused briefly to catch their breath, exhausted by the mad scramble over the mountain of rubble that blocked the laneway, and then the struggle against the flood of fleeing Trojans that choked the narrow alley.

  ‘There’s the Temple of Zeus,’ said Five, pointing to the far end of the avenue.

  ‘At least it’s not crowded here,’ said 009. ‘The street is wider and there aren’t as many people.’

  ‘That’s because Sigma Squad is shooting every-one,’ said 004.

  ‘Correction,’ Skin interrupted. ‘That only partly explains the reduction in crowd size. The main cause is that Sigma Squad’s interference is beginning to impact on the stability of Battle Book 3.’

  ‘You mean the energy vacuum, Skin?’ asked 005.

  ‘Precisely. Time and Energy Dark Holes are forming as we speak. Observe one in Sector 15H.’ A round black shadow about a metre across hovered off to the left some distance away. ‘These are already absorbing things around them, and that includes Trojans.’

  ‘You’re right,’ shouted 009 as a whole family was dragged off their feet and sucked into the Dark Hole.

  ‘But that is only the beginning,’ Skin continued. ‘The holes will grow in size and destructive power. Entire buildings can be absorbed by them. Battle Book implosion is becoming a real possibility.’

  ‘Thanks, Skin,’ said 005. ‘I think we’ve got the message. We have to move fast.’

  Five immediately set off down the long avenue, the rest of the squad right behind him. As they ran they saw more people pulled into Dark Holes, and they even felt the suction themselves. Statues toppled, a building collapsed and sections of the cobblestone avenue buckled before their eyes.

  They ran as fast as they could and were soon at the Temple of Zeus. They raced up its granite steps, through its massive oak doors and into its cavernous interior, skidding to a stop before the figure of Zeus on his throne.

  They stared up and their hearts sank.

  ‘Oh, no!’ they gasped.

  The statue towered above Omega Squad, glowering down with fierce eyes of stone, its arms outstretched, palms upwards. Standing in one palm was Battle Agent 011, hands on his hips, looking pleased with himself. In Zeus’s other hand, looking even more self-satisfied, was Alpha Agent 002, clutching the Chronos Stone.

  ‘You’re too late.’ He clicked his tongue in mock pity. ‘Lost again. But then you’d be used to losing, wouldn’t you, Amoeba Squad?’ He burst out laughing, quickly joined by BA011. Their laughter filled the vast temple.

  ‘Listen to me,’ Five cried out. ‘Don’t do this. You’re making a big mistake.’

  ‘Ha! Why would I listen to you?’

  As Alpha Two spoke a loud rumble shook the temple and hunks of masonry crashed to the floor.

  ‘See what you’ve done?’ Five replied. ‘You’ve made this Battle Book seriously unstable.’

  ‘Who cares? You’ve got it all wrong.’ Alpha Two held the Chronos Stone above his head like a trophy. ‘This is the only thing that matters. This is the future; and that’s where I’m heading. You’re all stuck in the past; and that’s where you’ll stay.’ The flame inside the stone flared and the crystal glowed with an aurora of light. Alpha Two shouted into his Battle Watch. ‘Dr Vandakrol. Activate Exit Beam.’

  Almost at once a beam of searing light shone on Zeus’s hand, just in front of Alpha Two.

  ‘I’ve got news for you lot,’ he sneered down on Omega Squad. ‘There’s only going to be one Exit Beam out of this Battle Book. And I’ll be the only one in it.’

  ‘Wait,’ shouted BA011. ‘What about me?’

  Alpha Two chuckled. ‘What about you?’

  ‘You promised —’

  ‘You didn’t honestly believe me?’ Alpha Two gave 011 the thumbs down. ‘You’re a bigger fool than I thought you were.’

  ‘Please,’ BA011 begged. ‘Don’t leave me here!’

  ‘Sorry, Eleven,’ Alpha Two replied. ‘Gotta fly.’

  ‘No!’ 011 screamed, and made a desperate leap towards the beam.

  The jump was far better than anyone could’ve expected. BA011 actually managed to grab onto Zeus’s little finger. He clung there for a few seconds, looking up at Alpha Two with pleading, fear-filled eyes.

  ‘Help me,’ he croaked. ‘Please!’

  ‘Okay then,’ Alpha Two said with a wicked grin. He took a single step towards BA011 and stamped on his fingers. ‘Oops. How clumsy of me.’

  The members of Omega Squad watched in horror as agent Eleven fell. TEX sprang forward, arms outstretched in a desperate bid to catch him. But he just missed. The Sigma agent hit the ground with a deadly crack, splitting his skull open on Zeus’s big toe. His body twitched for a few seconds, and then lay still.

  ‘Lost your touch, TEX?’ Alpha Two said. ‘Bye, bye, losers.’

  He stepped into the Exit Beam and vanished instantly.

  Everyone stood in stunned silence. They watched the Exi
t Beam fade and vanish before turning their gaze briefly towards 011. The sight of his broken body slumped at the foot of the statue made each of them shudder and look away. But no matter where their eyes fell they saw only scenes of death and destruction, and a dreadful sense of doom crept over them all.

  Five broke the silence. ‘Come on, guys,’ he said. ‘Moping won’t get us out of this mess.’ He activated his Battle Watch. ‘Come in, Prof. Urgent action required. Come in at once!’

  ‘Preparing for re-entry to the present.’

  Dr Vandakrol couldn’t hide the excitement in his voice as he announced the impending return of Alpha Two from Troy. Everything was coming together perfectly according to plan. A few Battle Agents had been lost along the way, but that was always expected. They were expendable after all; a small sacrifice for such a huge history-making – no, history-breaking! – gain. He stared down at the Battle Book locked in place on the Launch Pad, the suspense mounting by the second. This was a triumph, his triumph.

  ‘Any moment now,’ he whispered eagerly at the control panel. Battle Book 3 suddenly burst open and a mighty shaft of light shot up into the Tome Tower. It struck the reflector dome at the top and was instantly redirected to the Landing Pad where it glowed fiercely for a few seconds before exploding in a spectacular barrage of fireworks.

  When the sparks and smoke cleared, Alpha Two was standing on the Landing Pad clutching the Chronos Stone.

  ‘Congratulations, Alpha Agent 002.’ The doctor’s voice bellowed through the chamber. ‘You have shown yourself a worthy servant of the cause. Your reward will be most fitting.’

  The whole gallery of observers rose to their feet and erupted into a standing ovation. Alpha Two held the Chronos Stone high above his head, revelling in the applause. Dr Vandakrol stood back and smiled benignly, allowing Alpha Two his moment of triumph, while keeping an eye on the Central Controller, waiting for the nod.

  When the nod eventually came, the doctor left his control panel and strode down to the Landing Pad, where he was joined by five officials dressed in white hooded cloaks reaching to the ground. They surrounded Alpha Two. As soon as they were in position the Central Controller spoke, his voice filling the chamber.

  ‘Alpha Agent 002,’ he said. ‘The final phase of the operation is about to begin. Your role in this phase is most important. In fact it is crucial. You have been especially chosen for it.’

  ‘Thank you, Central Controller,’ Alpha Two replied, his face beaming with pride. ‘I cannot say how deeply honoured I am to be of service. And if in the future I might —’

  ‘To the Aeon Reactor with him,’ the Controller butted in, his voice suddenly cold and curt.

  Four of the white-cloaked figures moved in on Alpha Two.

  His jaw dropped and his face went pale. ‘What does he mean?’ he asked Dr Vandakrol, fear chasing the pride from his eyes. ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Go with them,’ the doctor replied, his voice as cold as the Controller’s. ‘It is your duty.’

  ‘Duty? What are you talking about?’

  ‘A human component is required with the Chronos Stone to make the catalyst work.’

  ‘A human component?’ Alpha Two’s eyes filled with fear and he began shaking his head. ‘Do you mean like a . . . sacrifice?’

  ‘Consider it a privilege. An honour.’

  ‘Let me out of here!’ Alpha Two shouted, trying to make a run for it.

  But before he could move he was grabbed by the white-cloaked ones. His arms were bound, a tape slapped across his mouth, and the Chronos Stone was ripped from his hands. Gripped between the four escorts he was then led from the Launch Chamber, the fifth white figure walking behind with the precious crystal.

  Dr Vandakrol joined in the escort, followed by the gallery of observers.

  As soon as the Launch Chamber was empty a small hatch in a far corner of the cavern opened and Bernard crawled out. He checked quickly for guards and then beckoned with his finger. A moment later Professor Perdu joined him. She whispered into her Battle Watch as she and Bernard crept towards the control panel.

  ‘Get this, Omega Squad. The Launch Chamber is ours, though I don’t know for how long. I should be able to send you an Exit Beam any moment now. Be ready to leave. It may be your only chance.’

  The professor slid into the seat and ran her eye over the controls.

  ‘Are you there, Omega Squad?’

  * * *

  ‘We hear you, Prof,’ Five shouted into his Battle Watch. ‘But only just. There’s heaps of static and we’re on the run right now. Our present position is way too dangerous. Don’t send the Exit Beam to the temple. I’ll give you our co-ordinates asap. Over and out for now.’

  Omega Squad stumbled through the Temple of Zeus. The entire building shuddered, its walls wobbled, chunks of masonry crashed down around the Battle Agents as they ran, the ground buckling beneath their feet, cracks opening in it. The enormous statue of Zeus shook violently, one hand smashing to the ground, followed by an arm and then the head. As the squad reached the temple’s entrance, the rest of the statue tilted sideways and crashed down. They only just managed to escape into the open air of the city square before the entire temple collapsed in a thunderous roar.

  ‘Phew,’ gasped Four as they looked back at the pile of rubble. ‘That’s about as close as it gets.’

  Five immediately transmitted their co-ordinates to Professor Perdu. Then he stared out across the city square and shuddered with dread. At the far end of the square he could see the Trojan Horse, the source of death and destruction that was raging throughout the city, and at once the memories came flooding back again. That night with Polyxena. Fleeing through the city. Begging her to come with him. Grasping her hand and dragging her into the Exit Beam, all the while knowing it was futile. Her fading face. Her fading cry.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Professor Perdu asked, snapping Five out of his daze. ‘My data tell me that Battle Book 3 is seriously unstable.’

  ‘It is,’ Five replied. ‘The Temple of Zeus has just collapsed and I can see at least two more buildings that could do the same at any moment.’

  ‘You’re inside a time bomb with a fuse that could be very short indeed.’ Professor Perdu quickly adjusted dials and flicked switches. ‘I want you out of there as fast as possible. Sending through an Exit Beam now. Be ready to move.’

  The members of Omega Squad carefully scanned the city square, poised to run the moment the Exit Beam appeared. But the Battle Book had become even more unstable. A palace collapsed on one side of the square, crushing people, statues crumbled before their eyes, a wide hole opened in the pavement only metres away. Everything was shuddering, as if a giant had picked up the ancient city and was shaking it.

  Five saw all this as he scanned the city square but he was searching for more than the Exit Beam. His mind kept hoping that he still might see Polyxena. He felt certain she was out there. Something deep inside him said so. Was it exhaustion? Battle Book fatigue? Impossible to say and, yet, he definitely felt she was near.

  ‘There it is!’ TEX shouted. ‘There’s the Exit Beam. Next to the fountain, a hundred-metre dash. Go!’

  Five ran with the others. But while they focused their attention on the Exit Beam, he was still looking everywhere else, frantically searching the faces he passed as well as those ahead.

  ‘What’s the matter, Five?’ Nine called to him as he dropped back a little.

  ‘Keep up,’ TEX yelled.

  ‘We have to do this together,’ Four shouted. ‘Come on, Five!’

  Five caught up to them, but his eyes still darted from one face to another. And then, when they were less than ten metres from the beam, he suddenly saw her – or thought he did. She was on the other side of the Exit Beam, being jostled along in the crowd. He could just make out her face through the shaft of shimmering light.

  He skidded to a stop.

  Four, Nine and TEX stopped too, just short of the Exit Beam. ‘What are you doing?’ they shoute
d at Five. ‘What’s wrong?’

  But Five didn’t even hear them. It was her. She looked a little different, but it was definitely her.

  ‘Polyxena!’ he called, running towards the Trojan princess. The others followed.

  Polyxena’s face brightened at once. ‘Pelarcus?’ she cried, calling him by the name he had had for his Battle Book mission almost three years ago. ‘Is it really you?’

  ‘It is,’ Five replied, Skin immediately translating his words into the ancient Trojan tongue.

  ‘You look different,’ she said with a smile. ‘Older.’

  ‘You do too, Princess.’ Five stared at Polyxena, confused. She was taller than he’d remembered. Her hair was longer and her face had filled out.

  Even as Five spoke he knew she couldn’t be older. It was impossible. The people inside Battle Books didn’t age. That was one of the first laws of Time and Energy capture. They were not real people, but energy manifestations caught in a fixed TimeLine. The energy cycle in a Battle Book simply kept rolling over and over, replaying the same events forever.

  And yet, somehow, Polyxena had broken that law.

  Five thought-channelled Skin. ‘I’m not imagining it, am I? She’s older by a few years, isn’t she?’

  ‘Correct, BA005,’ Skin info-streamed in reply. ‘Polyxena has definitely aged since you last met.’

  That was exactly what Five thought. But how could it be? He stared at Polyxena, trying to make sense of things.

  ‘You look so different,’ he said.

  ‘I feel different,’ she replied. ‘It’s as if I don’t belong here anymore.’

  ‘Maybe you don’t. Perhaps you should —’

  Before Five could finish, his Battle Watch beeped furiously.

  ‘What’s going on, 005?’ Professor Perdu barked. ‘Why haven’t you exited?’

  ‘Because I saw Polyxena, and —’

  ‘I don’t care who you saw. I can’t hold the Exit Beam much longer. This could be your only —’

  ‘She’s older, Prof.’

  ‘Are you listening to me, 005?’

  ‘Polyxena is older, Prof . . . ’

  ‘Don’t be ridi —’ Professor Perdu paused. ‘What? She’s older? Are you sure?’