“You mean the project is true? We are going to…” Elizabeth started but was interrupted by her boss and mentor.
“Yes my dear, we are going after the scourge of legend, the mythic artifact of the eons. That is the famous artifact that was wrongfully stolen from us, ‘the eye of the gods’.”
“Why?”
“Because …” he stood shocked that she would ask, “we are faced with a serious dilemma and that only way is to answer it and recognize our chances, save our future, are to know the past and that which binds it.”
“I see.”
“Dr. Thinga, our chief scientist will now tell us about his latest creation with R&D to help us on our journey.”
“Yes,” spoke George Thinga, a small portly man with glasses and a thinning hairline. “We have been improving the collectivization of projection of molecular atomic cohesion, a process that allows for the harnessing of enormous amounts of energy into a localized field. In laymen’s terms, we have finally after much painstaking research into the field of particle field analysis that we can emit energy from a single projection point towards a body as a single projectile.”
“In other words, it’s a ray gun.” Broad added with a jubilant laugh. “Sorry the old science fiction kid in me couldn’t resist.”
“Well, sir. We are not yet at the popular ‘science fiction’ stage with the technology but we are confident that with further research we can improve it to become more portable. Right now, the Mark Ten is just out of the box as a five foot cylinder with projection coils and tubing to localize the photonic field.“ He gestures to a cutout wooden box behind him with a series of tubing and coils within it.
“When will this device be ready for field work?” Asked police chief Hightower.
“We haven’t field tested it yet.” Spoke Dr. Thinga. “We are pending results from the experimental lab stage first to see how it reacts with living tissue. Some of the rodent specimens we tested it on were developing unusual side effects.
“Such as…” added Hightower.
“Well… “Dr. Thinga giggled as he twiddled his thumbs.
“What the good doctor means,” interrupted Broad. “We have our homework to do to make sure that every contingency is covered for but the device is fully functional and ready for further use.” He nodded and Dr. Thinga nodded emphatically,
“Just you wait until you see what else we have in store.”
“Good work doctor. You may leave, now.”
“Yes, sir” Dr. Thinga walked out of the room pushing his cart full of gadgets and a tubular device while whistling “pop goes the weasel.” He had a slight waddle to his walk that made him seem exceptionally joyous for a highly paid and top ranking technologist and physicist.
“So we shall come to a vote now on our new endeavor.” Added Broad.
“We shall commit fully to the project, Broad Staffnight.” A dark crinkled and translucent voice emanated from the monitor at the far end of the table and the shadowed faceless man appeared to speak as many in the midst of their silence. “However, there are problems and we must address them, including the relic has been lost, the thieves sent to heist it from the museum have disappeared, and the relic is nowhere within our grasp. We must find it to fulfill this mission.”
“Yes my lordship. It is simply lost again, lost to time.” Said Broad.
“Can’t we track it down like the ancient Mayan’s did?” Asked Elizabeth.
“That may be our only hope.” Said the man. The room seemed darker and more ominous when he spoke, thought Broad. “We must find the relic before the last time.” The man with the cloaked dark face added.
“Send us to Brazil, my Lordship.” Broad added.
“It shall be done.”
“So we have narrowed down the location?” Hightower asked.
“We have narrowed done everything we need to find it. We shall assemble a small team of four to travel to the deep heart of the rainforest and jungle terrain of the world to seek out mankind’s greatest scourge and the world’s salvation and our future.”
“Finally we could seek out the greatest treasure man has ever known,” Elizabeth’s eyes gleamed with eagerness.
“I want you on my team Liz, but we are seeking the treasure not for monetary worth but for the promise it brings to control to whomever, wherever, whenever it’s found.” Broad spoke eloquently.
“It should be used for peace, to keep and protect the people.” Hightower added.
“You will join my team as security only, Chief Hightower.”
“And how are we going to penetrate the tropical rain forests of the Brazilian landscape? The artifact was only rumored to be there in legend.” Asked and commented Hightower with his deep voice.
“Ahem” unnoticeably Mr. Cumberberry stood up slightly reminding the small group of his appearance. He appeared slender, lanky, balding, and pale-faced, seemingly malnourished at the edge of the conference room table resting his chin on his hands cupped before him with his elbows on the table before he rose up to speak. He wore a maroon tie and loose fitting suit. His cock-backed hair was silky and gave him the impression of a retired type. He lifted his glass and sipped his cabernet before he spoke. He bore a strange heavy inlaid dark brown mole on his left cheek that gave a very hairy and disfiguring appearance. “I am very eager to participate in this quest but the truth is that the item exists and we all know it but it is gone from its rightful place here in Chronix Bay. Our only hope is to trace the origin of its final resting place before it was found.”
“Won’t we be interfering if we take it before it is ‘found’?” Asked Elizabeth.
“I fear not for the fates have spoken and we are facing the last moment where the attempts to fulfill our destiny will be possible. If we do not succeed, then our future will be forsaken.” Mark’s voice crinkled slowly and almost mechanical as it ran down the table with his philosophical diatribe.
“Yes, um” Broad spoke almost impetuously nervous, “Mr. Cumberberry will be the most cherished member of our little entourage of course. We can always go to the Florida office if we have to for completion of the project but for now we stay the course.” Broad added slowly choosing his words in a nervous fashion as he squinted at the man’s hideous mole.
CHAPTER 25
Broad Staffnight was afraid. He hid his fears well with his dynamic personality and quick-witted speaking ability but he had a kindred hatred and sense of solidarity for himself and for his superiors. He knew what he wanted but was blindsided at the meeting and torn between his own feelings of guilt and confusion with his desires, his lust and avarice for the success he yearned for, the prize of the ages. He struggled with this inner pain and how it was changing within him in his heartless rugged exterior.
“In the dark recesses of his imagination was spawned an optimal force that is dominant throughout the universe and concentrated in unspeakable horrors since the origins of time. Hmmm.” He pondered strange and fascinating things as he spoke to himself staring at the globe twirling it with his fingers in his private office, a three hundred square foot marvel symbolizing the wealth and ultra-conservatism of the vibrant man.
“A mystery in reality itself, and their existence is enigmatic and their powers ultimate.” His voice hoarse and eyes piercing darkness before him as the globe turned to where his index finger lay, the mid Atlantic Ocean down by Bermuda, “The Devil’s Triangle. It is difficult to accept because no matter what time period one is in, the concept remains sacrosanct as true. But who are they and where do they come from?
”They came from another galaxy perhaps.” A soft delicate voice spoke from behind him in a joking manner but strangely confident tone. “Mr. Staffnight, you have been interested in everything from spirit possession to extraterrestrial hyper galactic beings. What makes you so curious, Boss?” She pushed up her suit jacket sleeves and crossed her arms, a petite young woman in her early twenties, highly educated and having experience with the business world since she was a child.
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br /> “Elizabeth, I just have so much on my mind lately.” He uttered to his young protégé, “Their reality” he spoke harshly with a twinkle in his eye on the prize spot he continued to point to the model of the earth. “Their reality is different, perceptions, thoughts, and vice versa. When they are apparent to us we see them as two dimensional objects but they see us as a curse on their realm and seek destruction. Humanity’s end is the shadow’s realm and its purpose. I will get them to see what I know to be true, that together we can be triumphant and obliterate those with no cause or purpose.” Shocked she looked at him. He sighed.
She smiled. “Bravo and Wow that is deep sir.” She dropped her hands to her side and her jaw wide open as if tired from applauding a miraculous performance of some divine comedy.
“It is as it has always been, good vs. evil, ying vs. yang, opposites, light vs. dark, but if only as true one cannot exist without the other and they are subject to our own inner points of view. “
“What will we seek to make this wish come true, Sir?”
“It is what has been sought since the start of time, the project to obtain pure power… dark matter and negative energy as one! Our true boss, it is like facing the ultimate enemy of mankind and yet its redemption.”
“God help us!”
“Indeed.”
CHAPTER 26
Outside of Chronix Bay International Airport, James and Tina sat on a bench going through a bag of old clothes they received from the Salvation Army as donations.
“Good thing we don’t really need too much proof that were are poor to qualify for donations”, said Tina as she grabbed a multi-colored blouse from the bag and tossed the bag over to her partner in crime.
James grabbed it while staring at the ground, his mind fixated on other things. “I am still confused about what happened back there.”
“Which part, our new lives as fugitives from justice or your strange new powers?”
“It’s like I felt some weird energy all of a sudden and then I was able to get us here without thinking from the alleyway where we ditched the motorbike to the airport, supposedly miles and miles apart.” He ignored her slightly.
“Instant teleportation” she smiled. “It is actually quite unusual to develop mental abilities but it has been done. Maybe we practice you could become good at it.”
“Really? You think I can make it happen again on purpose?”
“Think now… concentrate on being in another place. Where is the nearest pizza joint?” She laughed all of a sudden.
“Very funny.”
“I’m just teasing you James, you got a real gift. Don’t run from it. Embrace it, Dude.”
“Same thing happened when we were in the jail cells and I felt something come over me. I wish I could say it was like nothing that I have ever felt before but I had similar experiences as a kid many years ago. Maybe I am crazy.” He shook his head.
“Or maybe you’re gifted.” She nodded with a smile. “Not to mention quite cute”, she said.
They both laughed slightly sharing a casual smile. “Thanks, what do you think of this?” He showed off a flannel work shirt he pulled out of the bag.
“Awesome.” She replied. “Let’s get on line at the airport, unless you can think and get us teleported again.”
“I wish I could” he closed his eyes and concentrated, “but I guess I am all zapped out” he laughed. “I honestly don’t understand how I did it. I just focused on the fear I felt riding on the back of that demon machine.”
“Well. Don’t worry. We’ll use convention.” She said.
Tina and James had donned their new disguises to hide themselves from the law. James wore a black leather jacket with silver stars studded on it from their grab bag and dark sun glasses that he found in the side compartment of the bike that they stole. He tucked in his shirt and slicked his hair back to appear more vicious as he smiled. And Tina had worn a plaid shirt and denim jacket from the bag and also items from a local department store bag that she seized for her cosmetic disguising like a blonde wig, with her notorious sense of rapidness or the “old five finger discount” as she put it. She rolled up the sleeves to her elbows and topped off her appearance with the blonde wig and a pair of maroon shaded sunglasses, to cover her face. The duo strode down Main Street together arms akimbo none the wiser that they were a wanted man and woman.
CHAPTER 27
Downtown Chronix Bay was quiet that night without a movement of any wind but stillness begotten outside of the small shop of sorrows and happiness intertwined. The sign outside read “Fortune Teller: extremely low prices, 100% accuracy readings”. The lack of a proper college education was enough for even James to realize the grammatical inaccuracies.
“What do you think?” Asked Tina as the duo stood silently in front of the shop.
“At least it’s a place to hide for now. Nothing else seems to be open, not even a Motel 6.”
“Like we could afford it,” she added and they laughed silently at the poor attempt at humor and entered the shop.
The interior of the shop was lit with an old world sense of charm and wonder of mystic mysteriousness as candelabra hung from the ceiling painting a vivid flashback to yesteryear.
“It is like travelling back in time,” James thought as he looked around until he noticed the candles were replaced by electric fixtures but still maintaining the ancient rustics of the old mixed with the new. “It’s completely different from the outside” said James.
“Huh?” Tina whispered in response followed by a belligerent and sudden yell. “Help!” Tina yelled at the top of her lungs all of a sudden.
“Silence” whispered James, “why so loud?”
Tina looked at him and shrugged in response, “why not?”
Then suddenly in the silence before he could answer, a confident and imperiled voice echoed down the corridors, “Welcome to the World of Mystery!” They turned to look and found a slender woman, aged with time but beautiful in captivity descending slowly from a long narrow staircase as if floating on a cloud of smoke, from a burnt out fog machine, surrounding her feet. She wore a gold colored shawl that spread with her arms and long rhinestone studded dress, her brown curly hair with threads of gray wavered on behind her and her smile adorned by the wrinkles on her checks covered slightly by various shades of Azul and lapis, fuchsia, and magenta in makeup and eye coloring but still visible nevertheless.
“I am Ezelzaba, mistress of enchantment and powers beyond this world and fortune teller extraordinaire, but for you… I sense a greater need!” She squinted her eyes and peered into James who stood before her reflecting her gaze in stunned silence.
“Can we stay the night?” Tina spoke looking in between both.
“We literally have no place to go,” added James.
Ezelzaba dropped her arms and the mystery act as the fog machine died down and she casually descended. “My normal rates for a reading are fifty dollars. I don’t take boarders but you seem like non-threatening people and since my readings usually wipe people out, you can stay if you pay.” She spoke more relaxed and less mysterious.
“Uh” James and Tina looked at one another and Ezelzaba smirked as if reading their thoughts.
“You guys are up on hard times, huh? Ooh,” before they could answer she moaned deeply as her eyes widened as she saw James up close walking to him. “Oh I see, for you no cost. I see you will travel far together, farther than you ever thought possible and you will need your rest. You will both encounter great forces on your journey so take care of each other. A miracle of fate awaits you and you will come to see in one another a hidden purpose, a true destiny, are your combined paths. When the time comes, you will know all you will ever need to know.” She looked directly at James with a sinister glare of her eyes beneath her colorful yet excessive red and blue eyelid make up. “The world awaits you and time is your greatest ally but also foe. Remember to follow your instincts.”
“What does that mean?” Tina asked annoyingly
.
“You will find out. Also be good to each other and look out for one another. Always remember to look out for one another. Be there for each other. Always love and respect one another” she added. You two will be together for many times.”
“Thanks.” He nodded. “But just one question, why no cost?”
Tina struck his arm and gave him a sinister glare.
“I am just curious” he added as she looked away upset.
“Well,” started Ezelzaba quite sheepishly, “let’s just say I recognized something on you that made me think we’re related. And let’s leave it at that, James.”
James smirked at the obvious flaw and smiled looking at his dumbfounded companion and then retiring to a room Ezelzaba pointed to in the back. They turned and slightly exited into the back room.
The next morning, James and Tina prepared to leave the shop having felt completely renewed and rejuvenated.
“Sleeping in an actual non-jail bed felt good for a change.” Tina muttered.
“Yeah, I wonder what Ezelzaba meant by all that mumbo jumbo about love and traveling far?” James asked.
“What a cryptic lady!” Tina muttered.
“Yeah, but what a drama queen she was. Your guess is as good as mine.” James added brushing off the mystery of her cryptic attitude for now. “Anyway, ready to go buddy?”
“Yep.” She nodded with a repetition that signified extreme eagerness.
“Thank you madam Ezelzaba, for everything.” James whispered into the air as they departed out the door and into their uncertain and yet forsaken future.
A mysterious figure remained lurking in the distance of their peripheral vision as sleek and as hidden as a silhouette in the shadows quietly observing them, his face robotic like and mechanical, motioned by jerk movements, and a black hat and suit his attire of choice.
The Time Stone Page 8
