by Chucho Jones
“Merida, Yucatan. This is where F.A.M.I.L.Y. was born. We need to go to Thaddeus Worthington’s estate. It’s our only hope,” said, Oliver, as he studied the orthopedic view of the Mexican wild land.
“Onward Greg, we don’t have time to waste. I know what we need to do,” said the boy with confidence as the stagecoach raced through the trails like Leon’s hotrod through Deadman’s pass.
12
Chapter 12
It was late at night. The cooing and chirping of the children of the night soothed the ambient light as the moon reached its apex. The crew was getting close to the outskirts of the city. Oliver looked inside the stagecoach. His mother and dear friend Victoria seemed calm enough. They have been for a few minutes since they haven’t been followed by the treacherous human beasts. Leon still seemed in shock at all the wonders they had encountered so far.
“Shouldn’t we keep a low profile? I don’t think speeding robots are a thing of the here and now,” said Victoria, advising Laura with the commanding suggestion.
“None of us are prepared for what’s coming, but you’re right. We should keep a low profile. Let’s look for a place to hide,” said Laura reiterating the girl’s suggestion. Oliver felt that his family was beginning to cope well with the situation. Despite not being able to return to nineteen fifty-six they managed to come atop at every turn so far. He thought of relying a little more on his family. They had gotten him this far.
“Greg, stop at a hidden spot. We need to plan what’s next. They closed into a barn on the outskirts. Greg brought the stagecoach around the back. The team unloaded and got inside the shack. They rested for a few minutes, Oliver felt the need to unload certain information to his teammates.
“Wow, that was quite the ride, how’s it going commander? How are you holding up?” the boy asked curious about his friends well-being.
“I’m alright, considering. We haven’t had a real breather, but I just feel we can’t stop right now,” said the teen with a tiresome expression in her eyes as she smiled at the cute boy. Oliver felt butterflies in his stomach, his crush on Victoria grew despite the worries and turmoil all around. He broke the awkward moment by redirecting his question.
“Mom, are you doing alright?” The boy wondered.
“I’m fine dear, just trying to look out for what’s next.” We must make it home.
“I’m sure we will, somehow,” said Oliver.
“Greg, help me with the display. I’ve got to show you something to all of you. Historical records show, that Thaddeus Worthington was holding expeditions in dig sites in order to look for a cure for his condition. Like me, he was also bound to the lunar activity,” said Oliver.
“What’s wrong with him? Did aliens experiment on him too?” Leon asked the boy sarcastically.
“Most likely. The ancient ruins that we just left hours ago, depicted god-like figures half-man, half-animals like we saw in the neo-prime city,” he said revealing the information to the team. Greg’s hologram was displaying ancient images of Mayan interpretations across the ruin’s walls. Leon looked at the images and realized…
“Faceless said to me that he was following the mandate. He said he had been called many names. He mentioned the Mayans. I wonder if it has to do with the nexus,” he added to the briefing.
“Maybe the maiden knew we weren’t able to go back to our rightful time. Maybe she left us a puzzle?” Victoria asked. Oliver gazed at the teen beauty and didn’t want to ruin her deduction.
“Almost. She knew exactly the consequences that we faced. She understood the shattered loop. I believe she did it when the Phantom technology and she were attached to the nexus. Somehow, she connected to something else. I can’t explain how yet, but something out there can help us,” he said to the crew. Everyone seemed to understand what lay ahead.
“We were never meant to go home, were we?” Leon asked with a look of disappointment.
“When we spent time apart on sector six, she mentioned something about anomalies, and understanding their flow. Oliver, you need to teach me how to get under the Intra-Phase’s hood. I need to understand what she meant. For the journey,” said Leon convincingly, holding the boy from his shoulders. The moment was interrupted by a snarling howl in the distance. Howling wolves followed the much stronger more menacing sound in the distance. The crew was attentive to the night’s sounds.
“We need to get to Thaddeus’ estate,” the boy said firmly to this family.
“How exactly do you plan to do that?” Leon asked.
“I believe we were sent here because something big is about to happen, Thaddeus is pretty much desperate at this point in his life for a cure. I think I have a plan, just follow my lead,” said Oliver confident about his scheme.
The team took haste and grabbed what clothes they could from the hanging wires by the waterhole of the home. Victoria grabbed a maiden’s gown, a simple garment – probably one of the workers who lived in the home. Oliver grabbed a school uniform, overall shorts, and a formal blouse. He covered his alien arm with a hooded poncho of blue wool. Leon wore light brown slacks, a red ribbon of a teller’s shirt, a striped vest made of wool, a top hat, and a long coat. Laura whore a big dress, with the maiden’s hat and a parasol. The team blended in, except for some minor distinctions: Leon’s grey space boots, Oliver’s arm, Laura’s rifle, and Victoria’s blasters. The intro-phase gave them a timeless look to their overall attire’s.
The stagecoach was pulled by Greg and it was covered with a dark cloth. As they approached a long pathway that lead up to the grand estate. The coach way was lit with gas lamps that had steel poles and silver detailing. Oliver took a closer look and realized the chandeliers bases where made of Mercuranium. They approached a grand entrance where a man with a portable gas lamp stood watch, holding a long musket.
“Hola señor,” Oliver said in Spanish to throw the man off, “My name is Ollivander the boy wonder, I have been summoned by the gods. I understand your master lives in great peril, due to a lifetime of Illness. I can make him well. Oliver began to light his arm underneath his cloth. The man amazed at this feat, cocked his weapon and warned the intruders.
“Listen here, you trespassers, I am authorized to shoot at any charlatan at my discretion. I don’t like magic juju,” said the man, appearing terrified. A loud howling roar resounded overhead. Oliver recognized the sound.
“I believe, that is your master’s call. We are here to help him. We bring answers from beyond,” said, Oliver, to convince the man. The guarding man stood there trembling, holding his musket.
“I repeat, I have a revolving musket and I’m not afraid to use it. Leon popped his magnetic grapple towards the man and knocked him out cold.
“Ok, the conversation was getting boring. I’d say we go in before they find out what we did,” he said as he padded Oliver in the back. Laura rolled her eyes at the impetuous scoundrel. The coach made it to the front door by the valet. The doors opened abruptly as a wind gust blew towards the crew. An oddity for just an open door, Oliver thought. An old valet approached the coach and crew. Leon got off the stagecoach and introduced Oliver to the man.
“This is my associate Ollivander the boy wonder, he’s got powers for your master blah, blah, blah. We are people of the road with wonders from beyond, we’re here to help. Leon pushed the man aside as he disposed to walk into the home. A gust of wind knocked Leon back down the stairs and into the courtyard where the valet stood. A grand vampire bat dived down in order to strike. The bat turned into a redheaded beauty that sat on top of him. Leon got distracted by the pleasant transforming surprise. He acted quickly as the she-devil opened her mouth to strike his neck.
“This is what we’re talking about. The vampires are back.” Leon yelled. His crew got ready for action Leon grabbed his phatasfa and used his new favorite feature. The vampiric lady was shot through the air when Leon activated his magnetic grapple. She flew across and broke a pair of spare cartwheels that sat by the front door.
�
��Enough, enough, enough!” said the old valet. The lady got up swiftly on her feet in a glide. Leon stood up ready to continue the fight. Laura held him from the shoulder. Gusts of wind and dust surrounded the home. The lights began to turn on and off. The doors and windows opened and closed in loud bangs. Leon reincorporated with his team.
“This has to be the work of gypsies,” said Leon in surprise.
“Historical records show that every lore related to Vampires, werewolves, and the occult is highly tied with the traveling witches known as gypsies. So, you are correct Captain,” said the robot, completely aloof to Leon’s surprise. The commotion dissipated and both parties took a halt and calmed themselves. The old valet walked over to the crew.
“Thank you, thank you, Fausto. Amazing cognitive display my ghostly friend,” the man said to the house, “that was Fausto. He runs the house, or any other place or vessel that might need haunting, don’t let his demeanor fool you. He’s just a child at heart. This is my master’s associate, Justina and I am Gaspar, the main valet. I take care of anything and everything master Worthington requires.” Said the man to the team.
“My name is Oliver Hawke, We are travelers…” Said, Oliver, before he was interrupted by the valet.
“I have a notion of who you are my boy. Justina here notified me about our secret affairs when the master was indisposed,” said the man – with a calm manner. Oliver was reminded of his mentor Dr. Dickens. The whole endeavor made him feel comfortable.
“If you know who we are, then you can understand that we come from an else world. That we are part of the events that led your master to his condition. We’re here to help with his quest, in exchange for his help in furthering our journey,” said the boy pouring his heart out to the man. The boy wondered what they might discover next.
“Something in your eyes makes me believe you,” said the old man to the boy. The crew was surprised at the words because Oliver’s eyes had not been able to show through the white glare on his glasses ever since the alien arm attached to him. The man turned and walked into the house, Justina handed the man a cane to help himself around the house. The man walked around the grand stairs of the home’s entrance and down a long hall.
“I’m sorry if I don’t look all of you in the eye, but I’m blind. I do sense that you’re all troubled but well-intentioned. We don’t let any strangers into our home.”
The man grabbed a ring of strong keys from his pockets. He placed one of the smaller keys into the keyhole of a steel door that was on a stone wall at the end of the hall. The crew walked down the stairs following the blind valet. Laura realized there were markings on the wall.
“What did this?” Laura asked. The man nodded his head.
“What indeed my uninvited guests. What you will see is not for the faint of heart,” said the old man.
“We’ve seen plenty to toughen it up I’m sure.” Said the playful scoundrel as he gazed upon the brunette beauty behind him. They kept walking down the corridor and into a cavernous place. Wolfsbane was being kept indoors – grown with a rustic, yet advanced irrigation system, and a lighting system consisting of mirrors. They kept walking while Oliver’s heart pounded, he couldn’t believe that despite all the dreadful situations they have endured he still is amazed at the wonders that lurk at every corner. He accounted his amazement at his life-long scientific nature.
“I would keep as quiet as possible, although the master handles his condition on the worse days, he’s still a force to be reckoned with,” warned the man to the intrigued team. Leon gripped his phatasfa strongly, the elegant lady grabbed Leon’s hand suggesting him to yield. Victoria held Chuggy close to her, the creature pushed herself closer to Victoria as it whimpered. Oliver felt the subtle touch of a gentle hand grabbing on to his arm. He looked over and Victoria stood close by him holding him tight by the arm. The boy felt the blood rushing from the bottom of his feet all the way up his legs. His heart pounded like crazy, he couldn’t decide if being held by Victoria felt more exciting then what they were about to discover.
The old valet opened the door with a rusty key. The metal door creaked, growls and snarls could be heard from inside. A grand beast was sitting atop a think wooden chair, chained across its chest, neck, arms, and legs. The skin sizzled as the black hairs on the beast scorched at the touch of the mercuranium chains. It was a beast: half-man, with black hair all over its corpulent body. Its teeth protruded from its lower jaw. The shaggy hair ran across his face hints of silver streaks ran across his cheekbones to the tip of his silver pointy ears. the tip of the nose seemed humid and coarse, its eyes glow a shiny silver. The beast howled at the crowd and took a gulp from a gallon’s deep jug he held in his left claw. The man-beast seemed out of shape and appeared to be dosing off.
“Master Thaddeus has come up with a formula to neutralize himself from his original form, he’s what you call a wolfman, but people around these parts call him Xolotl, the dog god of death and thunder,” said the blind man.
“He looks like a hairy bulldog,” whispered Victoria to Oliver as the breeze of her whisper tickled his ear. Oliver slightly cackled at the comment. The blind man turned his head to the young lady.
“He does look quite odd, it’s due to the neutrality when he’s in full form his presence is uncanny, there’s a reason why they call him the god of the monsters around these parts.” Said the man to the young crew. Oliver stepped forward and reached out with his right arm. The geothermal battery began to glow intensely. The vitro-plasma fluid stored in the back of his hand began to glow. his palm emitted a light that encumbered the grand beast. Light particles traveled from the feral man to the boy’s arm. Slowly, the man began to show from underneath the fur and snout. his claws changed to a regular hand. His elongated paws, began to retract to regular feet and a middle-aged well-endowed man turned right before their eyes. Oliver withstood the drain of energy. He grunted as the arm received all the power and knowledge behind the mature explorer’s condition. Oliver turned to Greg and stretched his arm into the robot’s chest cavity. He infused the energy into the mechanical bipedal and felt much better. As if the weight had been lifted off. He then turned to the man and looked him in the eye.
“My name is Oliver Hawke, I come from a future time from an alternate dimension. We arrived at your dig site. We can help you in exchange for your help.” Oliver said in a confident tone. He felt backed up by his previous display of power. He knew that he needed to remain in control of the situation. Laura grabbed her son by the shoulder as she stood behind him. She took off a cloth part off her dress and tossed it at the middle-aged man.
“Cover yourself first. Be a gentleman,” said the commanding officer to the rustic man.
13
Chapter 13
The dim lights gave the night a cool tone, Redwoods accents dressed the corners of the grand study’s great window. The moonlight’s coolness contrasted with the warm interior of the white light that hit the elegant library. A middle-aged man stood wearing his night robes, looking straight at the moon. Laura stood next to her family, and Oliver stood front of her. She began to feel comfortable standing behind her son and his quest. She noticed Justina couldn’t keep her eyes off Leon, and wondered how he managed to get so much attention. Thaddeus took a sip from the glass he held in his hand and turned to the crew. He looked at the boy and smiled.
“It’s been centuries since I was able to witness such a beautiful night without losing my mind to the beast. Thank you, boy,” said the man to Oliver.
“It’s just a temporary solution,” said Oliver to the man. Laura took notice of how the man looked at Oliver. She wondered if the boy’s father would have ever looked at him that way had he ever had the chance.
“We can help each other out, but we only have so much time before we get to know each other and figure out exactly how we’re going to do this,” said Laura to Thaddeus. Her heart raced when the man locked his eyes on her. His look was sincere, it brought peace.
“I’m sure w
e’ll have more than enough time to do that. I understand that I haven’t been cured. I’ve been looking for a remedy to my condition for three hundred years. I can’t imagine this having such a quick solution. I trust that you are here for a reason. I’ll tell you what I know, and then you’ll tell me your story,” said the man in a pleasant yet firm tone as he put his glass firmly on the edge of a great globe that stood next to him. Laura felt a rushing sensation going down her neck. Her heart pounded, she didn’t want to make an impetuous decision, but she thought she could rely on such a powerful being. She slightly bowed her head towards the elegant host.
“Mr. Worthington, I’m sure we will be able to meet each other’s needs along this journey until our paths part ways. My son, my family has traveled across the stars, time, and dimensions in order to understand the mysteries of existence,” said Laura to the man as she looked at her family. Leon looked at her with a raised eyebrow and a loose jaw.
“Well, I’ll tell you what miss…” the man paused awaiting a name from the well-dressed general.
“Miss Quail, Laura Quail,” she said hesitantly as the man grabbed the lady’s hand and disposed to kiss it.
“Mrs. Quail-Hawke, she’s a widow,” Oliver interrupted with an unpleasant grin on his face. The charming host nodded in agreement with the young boy.
“Pleased to formally meet you Mrs. Quail-Hawke,” continued the gracious man.
“I will make my story a brief one. When I was a young lad, I always gravitated to the thrill of adventure. Having a natural knack to be drawn to the strangest events. I worked as a miner when I met a man who told me of a lucrative endeavor. When I saw this faceless man, I thought to myself I had sold my soul to Death. I wasn’t wrong. We set to discover the rests of the ancient Ark. It turned out to be an ancient chamber. The faceless monster submitted me to endure a physical change. apparently, I was a failed attempt. I can only become what he made me on a full moonlight. During the remaining days, I suffer minor transformations that I can overtake. I have used these mild abilities in my favor to find a cure. Unfortunately, my associate Justina suffered a far worse fate. She got turned into a vile creature that lives off sucking the life of anyone or anything she encounters. A true parasite of society and a danger to herself,” the man said as he took a big gulp from his glass. Leon walked over to the small liquor cabinet by the globe. He poured himself a glass of the fine scotch and took a big gulp.
