The Last Time Traveler

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  Early the following morning Morgan stepped onto the bridge. He had shaved, brushed his teeth, flossed, used mouthwash, had cinnamon chewing gum in his pocket, had on clean pants, and had cleaned his shoes up. And, he had even put on a very special shirt for Azure's pick up.

  “What's with the shirt?” Robert asked, glancing over his shoulder.

  “Oh,” the young man replied, looking down at his chest. “I figured it would help us convince her that we know her deep dark secret.”

  “Yeah...” the traveler replied. “But that's a Big Foot shirt, man. How's that supposed to help?”

  “Well,” the young man said with a knowing smile, “she always wanted a monster truck, right?”

  “Yes...”

  “Well,” he continued. “Big Foot!”

  “Right, Morgan,” Robert said shaking his head. “But that's a Big Foot shirt, not a monster truck shirt.”

  “What do you mean?” Morgan asked. “Big Foot was like the most famous monster truck ever...”

  “No...” the traveler explained. “Big Foot was the most famous monster truck on Earth.”

  “I don't follow.”

  “Wow...” Robert replied. “Okay. I get your idea there. What I'm telling you is that she's not going to think monster truck when she sees that shirt. She's going to think Sasquatch. That is, if she thinks anything of it at all...”

  “Ah...” Morgan said. “Well, do we have any monster truck shirts on board?”

  “Good question! And, yes, we do actually. I'll get one for you.”

  “Epic,” the young man said. “And, by the way, is that common?”

  “Is what common, Morgan?”

  “Monster trucks?”

  “Basically,” the traveler replied. “It's kind of like shoes.”

  “Monster trucks are like shoes?” Morgan asked.

  “I mean,” Robert explained. “That very few societies that discover space travel don't discover shoes.”

  “Like how many.”

  “Like none in the history of the universe.”

  “Yep. That qualifies as few.”

  “And,” the traveler continued, “since a monster truck is just a big truck, and a truck is just a modified car, and all advanced societies develop cars, monster trucks are really pretty common.”

  “So in reality,” Morgan said thoughtfully. “The universe is replete with green women and monster trucks.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “Man the universe is an awesome place!” Morgan observed.

  “That it is, Morgan,” the traveler agreed. “That it is.”

  Over the next few minutes the ship landed at the pickup zone and Morgan changed into a clearly monster truck themed T-shirt. The two young men strode side by side through the thick grass and flowers that filled the valley that currently contained Azure.

  “It's hard to believe this place is about to be hit by an avalanche,” Morgan observed.

  “Well it is,” the traveler pointed-out. “And we got like ten minutes tops.”

  “And there she is,” the young man said excitedly. “And I think she's younger!”

  “I believe she is.”

  “She's not quite as hot as she was though...”

  “It happens,” Robert nodded. “Now, shut up man. It's show time!”

  The two men quickly approached the fair blue maiden.

  “Hey Azure!” the traveler said with a wide smile. “It's good to see you!”

  “Do I know you?” she asked, clearly surprised by his knowing her name.

  “Now, that's a fair question,” Robert chuckled. “And, yes, you do. Or more accurately, you did.”

  “What do you mean did?” she asked.

  “Well,” he replied. “I'm the last time traveler and you knew me in a future that no longer exists.”

  “So...” she said. “Are you like some nut escaped from a loony bin or something?”

  “I get that a lot,” he laughed. “But no, I'm not. My name's Robert by the way.”

  “And I'm Morgan!” the young man interjected. “And you knew me too!”

  “So... you're both loonies?”

  “Azure, do you know what you always wanted when you were in your early teens?” the traveler asked with a smile. “You didn't want a horse or a convertible car like all the other girls, did you? No... You wanted a monster truck.”

  “And that's why I'm wearing this shirt!” Morgan pointed-out.

  “Yes it is,” Robert replied. “And do you know how we knew that about you?”

  “How?” she asked, gazing at him under knitted brows.

  “You told me.”

  “That's impossible,” she replied.

  “No,” he corrected. “That's improbable. But it's also absolutely true.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Say that I believed you, which I don't, so what? You knew me. And?”

  “Well, I know why you're up here,” he replied. “You're looking for enlightenment, searching for a purpose.”

  “So?”

  “So,” he said staring into her eyes. “I'm the last time traveler and it's my job to save the universe. And I want you to help me do it.”

  “You really are nuts!” she exclaimed. “And you're kind of scaring me.”

  “Here,” he replied, pulling a tranq-pistol from his jacket pocket and handing it to her. “That's a tranquilizer gun. I could have just shot you with it. I didn't. Now you could just shoot me with it. Please, don't. So, can I keep talking?”

  “Talk,” she said.

  “Azure,” he replied, pointing toward the nearby mountains. “In just minutes an avalanche is going to sweep through this valley. Your body will never be found. According to history you're a missing person. Now, it's up to you whether you go missing because you came with us or because you got killed in an avalanche. But either way, we have to start heading back to our ship.”

  “We can walk and talk,” she said. “So, how exactly are you saving the universe?”

  “We're going through time undoing all the damage other time travelers did,” he said, walking quickly toward the ship with Morgan and Azure following at his heels. “In fact, just yesterday... well... sort of... you helped us save billions of lives.”

  “And how did I do that?” she asked.

  “Well, actually,” he said increasing his pace and glancing at his watch. “Actually, we may want to jog at this point... And it's complicated time stuff, Azure. But trust me, you helped save your people's original home world as well as this planet.”

  “Rob,” Morgan said excitedly, “what's that sound?”

  “Run!” he replied.

  All three burst into a mad dash as snow began pouring down from the mountains. They reached the loading platform before the avalanche reached the ship and stood panting in the cargo bay just seconds later.

  “We made it,” Robert smiled. “No way the snow will get through the shields.”

  “Take me home now,” Azure demanded, aiming the gun at Rob.

  “Azure you can't...” Morgan began, taking a step toward her.

  The maiden fired, shooting the young man right in the chest.

  “Ow!” he screamed. “Rob, can you believe...”

  The next thing Morgan remembered was Doc staring down at him.

  “He's fine,” Doc said, glancing over at the wall. “And awake in just three hours. Not too bad.”

  “Morgan,” Azure said, taking him by the hand. “I'm sorry I shot you. I honestly didn't mean to. I'd never even held a gun before. I had no idea what I was doing with it.”

  “It's cool,” he said, trying his best to focus on her face. “Are you alright?”

  “I will be, I think,” she smiled. “I've had a long talk with Doc. It's just really hard to wrap my head around, you know.”

  “I see where you're coming from.” Morgan replied.

  Doc kept the young man in the medi-bay for a few more hours, just for observation. Morgan grabbed a pen and pad and began talking to Azure, who had
decide to sit with him until he had completely recovered. He intended to make very good use of the time. Well... from his point of view anyway...

  “So,” Morgan said, dropping down in a seat on the bridge, “in order to prove you wrong I’ve made up a little list.”

  “Prove me wrong about what?” the traveler replied. “And what list?”

  “You see what it says right there at the top?” the young man replied, holding out the pad and tapping the top of it with his pen. “Morgan’s Love List. And that’s just what it is. It will prove that I really love her, not just lust after her. So, you want to see how Azure measures up?”

  “Sure,” Robert replied. “Hit me with it.”

  “From the top down: Is she blue?”

  “When did that get on your love list?”

  “Then when doesn’t matter, Rob,” Morgan asserted. “The point is that’s it’s at the very top of the list.”

  “If you say so…” Robert chuckled.

  “Check!” Morgan replied, making a check mark as he spoke. “Has she got huge…”

  “I believe you’ve missed the point of this, man.”

  “Check!” the young man continued. “Could you crack an egg on her…”

  “Morgan, this is actually more of a lust list,” Robert pointed-out.

  “Check!” Morgan said again, checking off the point with great flourish. “Does she not throw up when she’s in the same room with me?”

  “Actually, that’s a good one,” the traveler agreed.

  “Check!”

  “Morgan, can we skip to the chase?” Robert asked. “Now that you’ve made your list up is there any line where Azure doesn’t get a check?”

  “Right here, doubting Thomas!” Morgan replied, shoving the list under Robert's nose. “Does she like Monty Python’s Flying Circus? No check!”

  “Ouch!” the traveler exclaimed.

  “Yeah...” Morgan sighed. “But I figure I have to make some sacrifices.”

  “Sure… but that’s a big one.”

  “I figure I’ll work on it after we’re married.”

  “That’s always a bad idea in my experience.”

  Chapter 9: Tea for Two

  “So...” Morgan said, stepping onto the bridge and lowering himself into a seat. “Have you seen Rob lately?”

  “No,” Cleo sighed. “Not for three days, six hours, and twelve minutes.”

  “Yeah,” the young man replied. “I haven't seen him for like four days. What's he working on?”

  “Saving the universe,” she asserted. “That's what he's always working on...”

  “Yeah...” Morgan replied.

  “Can I help you with something?” she asked.

  “Cleo, what do you think I’d look good in?”

  “Another room?” she suggested.

  “You know,” he said nodding, “it hurts when you say things like that.”

  “I’m just teasing,” she giggled.

  “Yeah… Anyways, I’ve come to accept the fact that you’re Rob’s bird.”

  “I’m not anyone’s bird, Morgan.”

  “Right…” he replied slowly. “Either way, that doesn’t mean we can’t be friends.”

  “Oh, trust me, Morgan, that’s all we’ll ever be.”

  “I know!” he exclaimed. “That’s what I’m saying! So… Help me Cleo!”

  “How?” she asked.

  “I don’t know how to dress myself,” he explained.

  “I noticed that…”

  “So help me!”

  “How?” she asked again.

  “Come dress me.”

  “That is well beyond the realm of friendship, Morgan.”

  “No…” he explained. “I mean: come pick out my clothes.”

  “That I can do…” she replied. “Provided you stand outside the room while I do it.”

  “That’s not very friendly…” he pointed-out.

  “You know I’m teasing,” she replied, giggling again.

  “Do I?”

  “Well you should by now.”

  “Alright,” he replied. “I’ll keep it in mind. And you keep in mind that I know we’ll never be anything more than friends. And honestly all I want from you Cleo, is friendship. I mean, sure, I’ll always cherish the countless fantasies you filled my imagination with. They took me to places…

  “Morgan!” she interrupted. “That’s not very friendly! That’s very stalkerish and creepy!”

  “Oh, sorry…” he replied. “I meant it as a compliment... Either way, my point is that I’m past that. I'm really wanting to make something happen with Azure. I mean, I actually have a chance with her.”

  “I think you may be overestimating your abilities,” she observed.

  “Okay!” he replied. “In that case I’ll just have to settle for stalking you for the rest of my life.”

  “Let’s go get you some clothes!”

  “Awesome!”

  The two of them rose and quickly made their way to Morgan's room. Leaving the door as open as she could possibly make it, Cleo began laying out clothes on the young man's bed. Mainly she stuck to different shirts. It was pretty obvious the he was a jeans type of guy and she really didn't want him pulling off his pants at any stage of this whole affair. As a result one shirt after another went on and then off the young man's still-very-pale back.

  “Do you actually think any of these look good on me?” he asked.

  “Some do…” she admitted. “I mean Morgan, it’s not that you're bad looking…”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” she replied. “It’s just that you’re… well... bad in every other aspect that might allow you to someday attract a mate.”

  “But I’m good looking?” he asked.

  “No. You’re just not bad looking.”

  “Oh…”

  “Look Morgan,” she said. “I’m not the only woman in the universe. I’m sure somewhere there’s a woman that would think you look great. Everyone has different tastes, you know?”

  “That’s what Rob said…”

  “That you’re not bad looking?” she asked.

  “No…” he replied. “He said that everyone has different tastes.”

  “Well, they do. Who knows? Maybe Azure even thinks you’re handsome. I find it hard to imagine, but…”

  “Well looks aren’t everything,” he observed. “Not to women anyway. I’m mean, you’re crazy about Rob and he’s like five-foot six!”

  As he said this, he turned his back and started pulling off his current shirt. Cleo turned around as well. She had already seen more than enough of his back just a few days ago on the beach.

  “They care a lot more about a man’s qualities than his looks,” he continued. “Well, the ones that I’ve got any chance with do anyway.”

  “That’s certainly true,” she agreed.

  “Right! And that’s exactly why I do have a chance! I’m never going to give up, Cleo. I’m going to prove to Azure that I love her. I’m always going to be trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous…”

  “That’s the boy scouts, Morgan.”

  “I figured it was a good place to start,” he asserted.

  “It kind of is I guess...”

  “Right!” he replied. “Anyways, I’m going to keep working until I get her. Nothing will stop me. I’m going to keep buffing up, learn to dress myself, learn how to talk, learn how to act, learn how to dance, I may even learn to play the…”

  At that moment Morgan noticed the scent of honeysuckle filling that cabin. He turned around to see Cleo's head down and her shoulders shaking slightly.

  “What’s wrong?” he asked.

  “Nothing, Morgan,” she lied.

  “Something’s wrong!” he exclaimed. “Did I say… Look I’m sorry, I was just teasing. I know Rob’s a great guy even if he’s not six feet tall.”

  “Rob is not a great guy, Morgan…”

  “But you love him.”

  “I hate him, Morgan,”
she asserted.

  “You hate… But why?”

  “The main reason, Morgan,” she replied, turning to face him, tears running down her face, “is because I love him.”

  “So you do love him?”

  “With everything I have!” she almost screamed. “With everything I am! With every fiber of my being and to the furthest depths of my soul. I love everything about him. Except for one small flaw…”

  “And what is that?”

  “He doesn’t love me…” she explained.

  “Oh yes he does!” Morgan exclaimed.

  “Don’t say that!” she yelled. “If you want us to be friends, Morgan, never say that again. He does not love me! He owns me!”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It’s like you said,” she laughed bitterly, “I’m just Rob’s bird.”

  “I didn’t mean…”

  “Yes you did!” she exclaimed. “Oh, you didn’t mean to mean it, but you did mean it!”

  “What?”

  “You know why I’m here, Morgan?” she asked. “Why we’re all here? Because Rob needs us. He doesn’t care about me any more than he cares about the rest of you. To him we’re just a bunch of tools in a box. His heart is way too big to love meaningless individuals. The only thing he cares about is the entire universe. Nothing smaller than that can attract his attention. Of course… who can blame him? He really is the savior of all of time. And I honestly am glad be one of the tools he uses to save it.”

  “Well…” the young man replied. “He kissed you.”

  “Of course he kissed me!” she screamed. “I tricked him!”

  “You tricked Rob?”

  “Yes!” she laughed again, tears falling from her face. “I’m one of the few people in the history of time that has ever outwitted him. And had I known how truly terrible his vengeance could be I would never have dared!”

  “Vengeance?” Morgan asked, his brows knitted.

  “Without even trying…” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “I’m destined to spend the rest of my, perhaps immortal, life in my own personal purgatory with the thing my soul most longs for just out of reach. Where I can touch it, but never grasp it.”

  “How did you trick him?”

  “He’s a man!” she snapped. “He may seem like a god…”

  “I don’t see it…” the young man replied shaking his head.