Time Makers

by Charlie Carter

  ‘Affirmative.’ Skin replied this time. ‘Chrono-spectral analysis indicates that she has aged nearly three years.’

  There was a moment of silence, and then Professor Perdu squealed with delight.

  ‘I knew it! OET. I always said it was possible but nobody believed me.’

  ‘Slow down, Prof. What are you talking about? What’s OET?’

  ‘Organic Energy Transfer. Life-giving energy transfer.’

  ‘I still don’t understand.’

  ‘When you were last in this Battle Book, almost three years ago, you tried to bring Polyxena back with you. You failed, of course. But as you held her hand, organic energy must have moved from you into her. Organic energy, 005, the energy of Life. A tiny part of you must have passed through the Time Barrier and become part of her. Since then it has grown.’

  ‘Are you saying that Polyxena has become a real living person?’

  ‘Not quite, but she most certainly has life in her; that’s why she has become older. She is no longer part of the time-locked Battle Book; she has already outgrown it.’

  Five’s eyes brightened. ‘Does that mean she can come back with me this time?’

  ‘That’s exactly what it means. Because she is now partly a living person she cannot stay in the Battle Book. She must come back with you. And . . . ’ The professor paused.

  ‘And what?’ asked Five.

  ‘The princess may be able to help us beat the MANIC Maniacs.’

  ‘What? How?’

  ‘There isn’t time to explain now. It’s just a hunch and I could be wrong. But it’s worth a try.’

  ‘We’d best hurry, then,’ TEX yelled. ‘The Exit Beam is breaking up.’

  ‘You’re right,’ the professor cried. ‘In all the excitement I forgot. Move it! Now!’

  Four, Nine and TEX stepped towards the beam. Five turned to Polyxena and held out his hand.

  But she pulled back, her brow creased. ‘Was that some kind of spirit you were speaking to in that strange tongue?’

  Five laughed. ‘Yes, you could say that. But a good spirit, from that other time where I live. It’s calling me back, Polyxena. And this time you can come with me.’ He beckoned to her. ‘Please.’

  The Trojan princess looked around at her crumbling city, at the death and destruction, the chaos and confusion, tears welling in her eyes. A whole row of buildings collapsed nearby, the fountain split in half, its gushing spout spluttering to a trickle, and a large crack opened in the city square.

  ‘Yes,’ she said, and placed her hand in his.

  As cobblestones buckled and twisted around them, Five pulled Polyxena towards the Exit Beam. Four, Nine and TEX welcomed her, and together they all vanished in an instant.

  Alpha Agent 002 stood at the base of the Aeon Reactor, firmly held by the four priestly figures in white cloaks. The monstrous machine growled down at him like a beast cornering its prey. But the Time Trooper barely moved, for he had been drugged so that he no longer struggled. He hung there in a dazed stupor, his outfit from the Battle Book mission replaced by a simple white robe that reached to the floor. His feet were bare.

  The gallery of scientists and officials were gathered around the reactor in a wide arc. They’d all been given designated positions, each next to a TimePause Pod – torpedo-shaped nano-carbon capsules designed to protect them in the Time Freeze that was to come as Earth spiralled back to the Past. The five Controllers were in a separate line ahead of the others, with special TimePause Pods. The Central Controller was out in front of them all.

  ‘Proceed with the ascent,’ his amplified voice commanded.

  Alpha Two was led onto a platform by his escorts. Dr Vandakrol pressed a button and the platform began to rise. As it did, the Aeon Reactor growled even louder. When the platform reached the top, a large panel on the side of the reactor opened like a mouth, flaming tongues flickering from it.

  As Alpha Two was edged closer by the ones in white, tongues of fire licked at him. Suddenly startled from his stupor, his eyes flashed with fear and he struggled, trying to break free. But it was too late. His escorts blocked the way, spun him around and threw him into the inferno.

  The Aeon Reactor let out a terrifying howl, and the onlookers below cheered as the four escorts stepped aside, allowing the one with the Chronos Stone to step forward.

  ‘The moment has arrived!’ the Central Controller announced. ‘Prepare yourselves, my friends, for we are about to inherit the Earth, a brand new Earth of our own making, one that will last for eternity.’

  A roar of approval filled the cavern. The gallery saluted in unison and climbed into their TimePause Pods. An expectant hush descended while the white-cloaked figure high above moved closer to the mouth of the Aeon Reactor. Even the monstrous machine itself quietened as the carrier of the Chronos Stone held out the crystal to its flickering tongues.

  But then the quiet was suddenly shattered.

  A fierce howling like the rush of a hurricane startled everyone and tore their attention away from the reactor to the Launch Chamber. Battle Book 3 had burst open and the Exit Beam was focused in full force on the Landing Pad. After a quick blast and spray of sparks, Omega Squad appeared on the pad with Polyxena supported between TEX and 005. She was deathly pale and could barely stand.

  ‘She is still not totally organic,’ Skin explained. ‘All her energy is being used to help her survive outside the Battle Book environment. Unless we —’

  Before Skin could finish the Central Controller leapt up from his TimePause Pod.

  ‘Seize them!’ he ordered, frothing with fury. ‘How dare they delay our Future. Sacrifice them to Aeon. Seize them at once.’

  Guards rushed from everywhere at Omega Squad, but a shrill scream stopped them in their tracks. It came from the carrier of the Chronos Stone.

  ‘Ayeee!’ he howled. ‘Too hot.’ He juggled the crystal for a few seconds longer before dropping it and running for his life.

  But the timeless gem didn’t fall when dropped. Instead it hovered in the one spot, glowing fiercely. Sparks and flames sprayed from it in a shower of light as it hummed and throbbed and pulsated.

  ‘It’s like a living thing,’ shouted Four. ‘What’s happening?’

  As Four spoke, the crystal seemed to turn in their direction and a shaft of soft silvery light shone down from it, settling on the Trojan princess.

  ‘Yes!’ Professor Perdu whispered with delight. ‘It’s as I thought.’

  ‘What is?’ asked Five.

  ‘It’s very complicated,’ Professor Perdu continued. ‘But the Chronos Stone senses a connection with Polyxena.’

  ‘How?’ they all muttered at the same time.

  ‘The Stone is timeless. And so too is the Princess now, for she has broken the Time Barrier, the block that stops movement between the past, the present and the future. Look!’ Professor Perdu pointed at the princess.

  The light on Polyxena had brightened, and she slowly opened her eyes. She was weak and it took all her strength to keep her eyelids open, but as the light filled her eyes they began to glow until they were like two crystals themselves, two tiny Chronos Stones.

  ‘Amazing!’ said the professor. ‘Unless I’m very mistaken, Polyxena has woken the Chronos Stone, and now —’

  The professor’s words were drowned out by the Central Controller whose voice filled the loud-speakers. ‘Don’t just stand there!’ he screamed at the guards. ‘Omega Squad is ruining everything. Destroy them!’ He was jumping up and down on the spot, his face purple with fury.

  The guards reacted at once. But so did Polyxena. A strange fierceness swept over her face, and she seemed to fill with a strength that couldn’t have been hers alone, for she was still so weak. She took a deep breath, as though sucking in more energy from somewhere, and focused on the Chronos Stone. For a moment her eyes blazed like timeless crystals, and then a bead of light zapped from them, spearing straight up through the chamber and striking the ancient crystal with a resounding crack.

/>   The Chronos Stone shuddered for a few seconds, and then shot off. It circled the Aeon Reactor, crashing into it several times and cracking its thick metal skin as if it were no more than egg shell. Then it swooped down among the MANIC scientists and officials, scattering them in all directions. It slammed into many, passing straight through some, leaving gaping holes in them, slicing others in half.

  Next it turned on the guards surrounding Omega Squad, sending them fleeing as well. Then, it hurtled around the vast cavern like a frantic fire bird, striking the walls and showering all below with shards of rock.

  Finally the Chronos Stone dived down to Omega Squad. There it paused, hovering over them, its golden glow singling out the Trojan princess once more. For a moment that glow seemed to grow ten-fold, wrapping Polyxena in a cocoon of warmth. The squad had to shield their eyes against the fierce radiance, so they didn’t see the princess smile. She gazed briefly on the crystal with a grateful smile before closing her eyes again, upon which the blazing stone rocketed up into the Tome Tower, smashing right through the top and streaking across the sky above Futura like a comet.

  ‘Wow!’ Five gasped. ‘Have you any idea of what just happened, Skin?’

  ‘Professor Perdu is correct, BA005: Polyxena’s timeless status has forged a strong bond with the Chronos Stone. And significant energy transfer has taken place between the princess and the crystal. She is much warmer and more organic now. However, further explanation is not possible at present.’

  ‘Are you saying you don’t know what else happened, Skin?’

  ‘Negative, BA005. I am saying that further explanation is not possible at present because WE DO NOT HAVE TIME! My Vibe Detector indicates that mortal danger approaches at an alarming speed. Please observe Battle Book 3.’ The Battle Book was shaking violently on the Launch Pad; it was red hot, with smoke seeping from it. ‘Analysis indicates that BB3 will implode soon, sucking everything in the vicinity into it.’

  ‘That’s not all,’ said TEX. ‘The Aeon Reactor is in bad shape, too.’

  The crack caused by the Chronos Stone had widened and was opening up along the length of the reactor. The machine was shuddering and spewing out plumes of black smoke.

  ‘Correct, Uber Trooper Experiment One,’ said Skin. ‘The Aeon Reactor appears to be in danger of Chronic Meltdown. IMMEDIATE evacuation STRONGLY recommended.’

  Omega Squad was already running, chaos wherever they looked. Scientists and officials babbled and argued in total confusion, no-one sure what to do. A few military figures tried to take charge but they were ignored. The Central Controller bellowed orders but no-one listened to him either. A group of guardroids struggled to repair the Aeon Reactor, but soon realised it was pointless, and fled. Some made a rush to escape through the main doors, only to find them locked. Panic was spreading through the subterranean chambers like wildfire.

  In this chaos it was easy for Omega Squad to escape, for the guardroids had completely forgotten about them. Joined by Bernard and Professor Perdu, the squad raced straight to the hatch that led into the fire escape. Scrambling through the small opening, TEX carrying Polyxena over his shoulder, they scaled the spiral staircase at speed and burst out of the building into the open air.

  ‘DO NOT STOP,’ Skin said as they fell into the street. ‘Keep moving.’

  They ran as fast as they could up the road, covering about a hundred metres before an ominous rumbling came from deep below. They kept running, but the pavement began to shake so violently that they were thrown to the ground.

  Seconds later a great subterranean thump sent a shudder through the whole area, and as they looked back most of the Time Store district sank into the ground before their eyes. A vast cloud of dust, smoke and fumes was sent high into the sky over Futura. The earth trembled for a while longer in a series of dying spasms, and an eerie wailing bubbled up from the depths. But ultimately the spasms ceased and the howls faded to silence.

  For some time everyone remained perfectly still, gaping in amazement at the pile of rubble and the huge sinkhole left where the Time Store area had been. They let the silence wrap around them like a welcome blanket against the cold reality of what might have been. That silence spelt the end of the MANIC Maniacs, as well as their mad plan for the human race.

  One by one, the team slowly rose to their feet and moved cautiously towards the great sinkhole. When they reached its edge, they gazed out in awe. A vast circular area almost a kilometre across had sunk into the ground. Fumes and smoke drifted up from the hollow, rumbles still came from deep down, and for a moment the earth even trembled again.

  ‘We could’ve been down there, buried under all that.’ Five spoke for everyone. ‘Thanks, Skin. You just saved us from a very nasty end.’

  ‘Glad to be of service, BA005. But in fact you are the ones who should be congratulated. Thanks to Omega Squad the entire planet has escaped a catastrophic finale.’

  ‘And thanks to Prof,’ said 009, saluting her Mission Controller. ‘You kept us going all the time, even when some of us had lost faith in you.’

  ‘Along with Alpha One, of course,’ Professor Perdu added. ‘He kept me going.’

  ‘As well as Bernard,’ said 004, giving his chauffeur the thumbs-up. ‘For always being in the right place at the right time.’

  ‘We mustn’t forget Granny Smythe, either,’ said Five with a chuckle.

  ‘And then there’s this one,’ said TEX, stepping forward carrying Polyxena in his arms. ‘She turned out to be our secret weapon. Without her we almost certainly would’ve ended up down there.’

  ‘Of course,’ everyone said, gathering around the Trojan princess.

  ‘She will be okay, won’t she, Prof?’ asked Five.

  ‘Oh yes,’ Professor Perdu replied, inspecting Polyxena closely. ‘Look at the colour in her cheeks. Her skin is so much warmer, too, and her ghostly pallor has completely gone. She is very close to being a real person. Quite frankly, I’m astonished.’

  ‘Astonishment is entirely appropriate,’ said Skin. ‘We are looking at nothing less than a scientific first here. The Time Barrier has unquestionably been broken.’

  ‘You are so right, Skin,’ said the professor. ‘Which means that a whole new field of research has opened up for me. I can’t wait to get back to work.’

  ‘Work?’ asked Bernard. ‘Do you think you’ll still have a job?’

  ‘I’m sure I will. With Vandakrol gone, I’ll be needed more than ever. And I think the research will be more careful this time. Our work with androids took us down a very dangerous path.’

  ‘It sure did,’ agreed Bernard. ‘If those MANIC Maniacs had been successful, the human race would have become a thing of the past.’

  ‘We’d have been extinct,’ added Four. ‘Just like the dinosaurs.’

  They all thought about this for a moment as they stood at the edge of the sinkhole.

  ‘That’s true,’ said Five after a while. ‘And yet no-one but us in this whole city knows how close we came to global catastrophe.’ He turned his gaze towards the city centre. ‘Everyone in there is just getting on with their daily lives as if nothing had happened.’

  ‘Yes, and that’s what we will do when we leave this disaster zone,’ said Professor Perdu. ‘TEX and I will go back to the Special Reading Room, Bernard to his limousine, and you three will go back to your families as if nothing out of the ordinary ever happened.’ The professor held up her index finger. ‘Except —’

  ‘Except that we’ll know we saved the world,’ said Nine.

  ‘We did more than that,’ added Four. ‘We set things up to make the world a better place.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Five. ‘A place where people might learn to stand up for their rights again.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said Professor Perdu. ‘And for that you all can be very proud indeed.’

  Princess Polyxena suddenly stirred, opening her eyes and slowly sitting up in TEX’s arms. He carefully set her down. Her cheeks were rosy and her eyes sparkled. A li
ght breeze played upon her hair, and she shivered as the mid-morning sun warmed her. Then she stretched, life coursing through her limbs and body. She smiled as she gazed at her new friends.

  ‘Is this the future?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Five replied. ‘It’s our future.’

  Also by Charlie Carter

  Open Fire (Battle Boy 1)

  Red Devil Down (Battle Boy 2)

  Destroy Troy (Battle Boy 3)

  Bloodaxe (Battle Boy 4)

  Aztec Attack (Battle Boy 5)

  Battle Bust-up (Battle Boy 6)

  Vampire Virus (Battle Boy 7)

  Chariot Charge (Battle Boy 8)

  White War (Battle Boy 9)

  Caveman Bash (Battle Boy 10)

  Super Soldier (Battle Boy 11)

  Sky Wars (Battle Boy 12)

  Samurai Secrets (Battle Boy 13)

  Black Prince (Battle Boy 14)

  Underwater War (Battle Boy 15)

  Warrior Queen (Battle Boy 16 – ebook)

  Omega Squad: Time Thieves

  Omega Squad: History Hackers

  First published Pan in 2013 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd

  1 Market Street, Sydney 2000

  Copyright © Charlie Carter 2013

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.

  This ebook may not include illustrations and/or photographs that may have been in the print edition.

  National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:

  Carter, Charlie.

  Time makers/Charlie Carter.

  9781742612164 (pbk.)

  Carter, Charlie. Omega Squad; 3

  For children.

  Time travel–Juvenile fiction.