by JC Ryan
JR looked up at the lights, then back to the TV … and saw his old friend Robert standing before him.
“Arrrrrgh!” he yelled, “Shiiiit! What the hell!
Rebecca, just finishing up in the bathroom, heard the commotion and ran into the bedroom to find JR standing before a man who couldn’t possibly be there … Robert Cartwright.
Her breath caught in her throat preventing the scream she felt.
“Roy!” JR shouted in fury and started for the door.
Rebecca placed her hand on JR’s arm to stop him from doing something they would all regret.
“I’m going to kick that sore loser’s ass!” JR fumed. “He lost the toss fair and square, and he’ll get his turn next week…”
“JR, that’s not going to solve anything …”
“… And it’s not in the least bit funny to haunt me with the image of my best friend who’s dead.”
Robert grinned and started speaking. “No, my friend, I am not dead, I’m very much alive. I…”
JR yanked his arm away from Rebecca. “I’m going to show him that some things aren’t funny and put a stop to this bullshit.”
“JR, Roy would never do something like this to you,” Rebecca said. “He’d never be so cruel; besides Salome would kill him if he tried.”
“So, what the hell is this then? You know as well as I do that Robert is dead. I buried him, I know he’s dead.”
“Yes, JR. John Brideaux did kill me,” Robert tried again. “I was dead, and you did bury me right there under the rocks just as you remember. But I have been reconstructed, resurrected so to speak, and…”
“Do you think I was born under a rock?” JR spoke incredulously.
“JR let him speak,” Rebecca said. “I’m sure this is not a ruse from Roy. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I have a sense we need to listen to… this… ah…”
“Thing?” JR completed the sentence for her. “Ah well, let’s hear what the thing has to say then,” he said, flopping down on the bed.
“Hologram, actually,” Robert said, “Perhaps I should explain.”
Rebecca reached out to touch Robert, and her hand passed through his arm. She realized that this was not the same holographic technology she’d become so familiar with. This was something in a different class—much clearer and more life-like than what they used to spook Hayden and his people with.
Sitting down beside him, Rebecca said, “JR, this holographic technology is different from Roy’s, it’s more advanced.”
“Alright, mister… thing… whatever you are. Let’s hear your explanation, and take note my patience is wearing thin.”
“I know this is impossible to believe, but please hear me out.”
JR and Rebecca nodded slowly, hesitantly.
“As you know the site in the Grand Canyon, which you and I discovered was constructed and occupied by the people of the 8th Cycle. You know everything about it, well, almost everything.
“What you don’t know is that when you and I entered the site the first time it triggered an activation sequence in another part of the facility, which we didn’t know existed. The activation sequence brought to life three people who were in a cryonic state or as they call it a deep sleep.”
“Robert… or whoever you are, don’t…”
“Let him finish JR,” Rebecca said softly.
Robert waited for a second, and when JR sat back, he continued.
“Those three people are from the 8th Cycle, in other words…”
“Some sixty odd thousand years old!” JR shouted. “Now listen …”
“Wait JR,” Rebecca stopped him again. “The idea of cryonics has been around since the early seventy’s, almost fifty years. You know about it. The thing is we have seen so many mind-bogglingly advanced technologies coming out of the Tenth, Ninth, and Eighth Cycles, why would we want to exclude this possibility?”
JR stared at his beautiful wife and realized what she said was true. He had to admit that they had indeed seen incredible technologies coming from ancient civilizations. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned his eyes to Robert and said. “Okay, keep on talking, I’ll try my best not to interrupt again.”
“JR, Rebecca is right, fanciful as it may seem, the Eighth Cyclers have perfected the technology to put human beings in a state of deep sleep for up to a hundred thousand years and awake them whenever they want.
“They can also revive a human body as long as it has not been dead for longer than twelve hours - which is what they did with me. I don’t understand the technology… all I know is, it works…”
“Hang on there. Are you saying they brought you back to life shortly after we buried you there, outside the facility?
“Yes, they did.”
“Then why have you waited for so long, what’s it been, two, three years, before contacting us?”
Rebecca nodded in agreement, looking probingly at Robert. JR had a point.
Robert shook his head slightly. “This is going to be much harder than I thought.” He paused for a moment thinking of the best way to break the next bit to them. There was a fleeting moment where Tawndo threatened to take over and issue orders, but he managed to stifle him.
“They only used my body… I was implanted with the memory of another man, one who lived during the time of the Eighth Cycle…”
“Oh, I see,” JR sneered. “Not only can these geniuses make people come back to life, they can also pick and choose who you’ll be? How damn convenient.
“And while I’m on it let me tell you, my friend Robert’s brains were blown away by a bullet. There is no one who could fix, mend, restore, call it what you want, that damage.”
“Not today, but the Eighth Cyclers could, and that’s exactly what they did,” Robert replied.
“Bloody hell. You expect us,” JR pointed to Rebecca and himself, “to believe this fairytale? Tell me what does Rebecca do? What’s her job?”
“She’s a medical doctor, JR.”
“And despite that knowledge, you’re trying to tell us those wunderkinds of yours can perform all those medical wonders?”
“Exactly.”
“Okay, I’ve heard enough… this little charade is over… I’m outta here,” and he moved to get up.
To JR’s surprise, Rebecca held him back as he got up. “Wait, JR, I’m still intrigued, I’ve got a few more questions.”
JR stared at her and shook his head. “Okay, go for it, might as well hear the whole story, maybe I can use it to write a best-selling sci-fi novel.”
“Robert, I have to say I’m starting to agree with JR,” Rebecca started, “but I’ll give you a little bit more latitude. JR shared the details of a few of your escapades with me over the years. So, what I want you to do now is tell me a few stories about you and JR, stories which only the two of you could know about.”
JR smiled. Now we’re going to sort this out quickly.
To his surprise, Robert also started smiling. “Okay, you asked for it.” Fixing a steady gaze on JR, he asked, “You sure she should hear all about it, JR?”
“Absolutely,” JR smirked. “I don’t keep anything secret from my wife.”
“Have you ever shown her those pictures I took of you on the back of that mule on our first expedition to the Eighth Cycle site in the Canyon?” Robert chuckled as he remembered the comic look of JR swaying from side to side with the mule’s gait and those long legs sticking out at a crazy angle—a real life Disney cartoon.”
“Huh, what...” JR’s eyes were wide as he remembered. “N… hmm… no, I didn’t.’ He stuttered.
He looked at his wife and found her inquisitive gaze fixed on him and shrugged.
“How about our first trip down that scary elevator? You know the one where you thought you’d died and were in heaven and were surprised to see me there.” Robert struggled to get the last bit out before he exploded in laughter.
Another inquisitive stare from Rebecca and another shrug from JR.
“Did you tell her abou
t my reaction to the floating, self-adjusting chairs?”
All of a sudden, the wall of doubt came down. “Oh, my God!” JR whispered. “Robert! It really is you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, old friend, it really is me.”
“Oh, my God, I can’t believe … what the … but you … you were dead! I can’t believe this, it’s … it’s impossible. I saw … and Max …”
“I know mate,” Robert whispered, “I know it’s beyond comprehension, but every word of what I told you is true.”
“But, why, how… “JR shook his head. “Okay, I don’t know what to believe … I’m starting to wonder if I’m awake or even alive. I…it’s… it’s... just so surreal, impossible…”
JR had entered a mild state of shock. Rebecca put her hand on his knee.
“Robert, I want to believe you, but my brain is protesting… we’ve …”
Robert held his hand up. “Here’s what I suggest; come out to the Canyon site, and I will show you everything. If you don’t trust me, bring guards with you. My only request is that you do it quickly, we don’t have time.”
“What are you talking about Robert? What do mean by, ‘we don’t have time’?” Rebecca asked.
“The world is in grave danger. I - or rather my body - has been alive since shortly after Brideaux shot me, but my mind was someone else’s. It was only a few days ago that my original mind, Robert’s mind, was merged with this other person’s and I became fully aware of who Robert is.
“The reason why they did it, the merging as they call it, was so that I could contact you and warn you about the impending peril. And for what it’s worth, the merging of two people’s minds like they did, has never been done before.
“This body was in danger of being permanently destroyed by the procedure. Nevertheless, I took the risk. I’ve been through hell and back since that procedure.” He paused for breath and to subdue Tawndo who was becoming impatient and threatened to take over.
Shaken to his core, JR stared in disbelief. He looked at Rebecca, she was staring at Robert, and then it seemed as if her doubts also disappeared.
“Let’s see what we can arrange. Come back in two hours, and we’ll let you know,” she said.
“Thank you. That’s all I can ask for,” Robert replied. “See you in two.” The hologram disappeared.
Rebecca looked at JR and started, “JR, I… I don’t know about you… but I…”
“Believe him, “JR completed for her. “So, do I, Becky, so do I. Don’t ask me why; there is no rhyme or reason to this but I believe what we have just seen was really Robert.”
“Let’s get hold of Sam and Jack tell them we’re going to be away for a day or two. I’m sure they’ll be okay with it, we’re not that irreplaceable.” Rebecca said,
“I agree.”
“Oh, just one more thing,” she started smiling, “I thought there were no secrets between us and tonight I’ve learned…”
“Becky,” JR laughed, those are not secrets, those are embarrassments. Stuff men don’t like to talk about—very bad for the ego.”
“Hmm, no that won’t do it for me. Unfortunately, my curiosity has been stirred, and my curiosity ranks higher than your ego.”
“Okay, I know when I’ve lost. Let’s get our trip authorized first then I’ll tell you. And if that really was Robert we spoke to, and he is really alive, you can be assured he will fill in any details which I might leave out unintentionally.”
Chapter 87- To get the party moving again
JR and Rebecca’s request for a few days R&R was met with understanding smiles at first, but that quickly turned to frowns when their intended destination was withheld. The longer they remained vague about their itinerary, the more questions Sam and Jack had.
“We’ll have our mirror phones with us all the time. You can recall us at any time, and we’ll be back here in a matter of hours,” Rebecca grinned slyly.
Sam and Jack remained suspicious, but they knew they wouldn’t get any more out of them. Sam looked at Jack and said, “Your call.”
Jack was sitting at the same table as JR and Rebecca in one of the meeting rooms at Raven Rock; Sam was on the video link from the Rabbit Hole.
“It seems obvious that we’re not going to get any more information out of you two without reverting to torture, but I’m fairly sure you’re not planning to collude with the enemy. Okay, as long as you keep those mirror phones with you, fully charged, and on, I agree.”
JR and Rebecca thanked them, jumped up and made for their suite. They had to pack, make travel arrangements, and talk to Robert.
“Oh, just one more condition though,” Sam’s voice stopped them just short of the door. “You’ll tell us all about it when you get back. Yes?”
JR grinned mischievously, and put his arm around Rebecca, “Some of it, Sam, not all!”
Sam had the good graces to look slightly embarrassed, “Well yes,” he stammered, “of course, that’s what I meant.”
“We’ll do that then! Thanks again and have a good night,” JR shouted over his shoulder as he escorted Rebecca out the door.
In the hallway, Rebecca slapped him playfully on the arm. “That was evil, JR.”
“I know, but having them think we’re on a romantic get-away will ease their minds.”
***
The next morning, before the break of dawn, JR was tapping Peter on the foot. “Hey, wake up!”
“Huh?” Peter said. “What the hell? Go away and come back in the morning. We agreed to go in the morning, not the middle of the night,” Peter said rolling over and pulling the pillow over his head.
“Come on, get up lazy ass. We have to go. Rebecca has packed coffee and sandwiches.”
“JR,” Peter’s muffled voice came from under the pillow, “can’t this wait a few more hours? I’m tired man.”
“No. It can’t. Now come. Get up and get dressed. Or should I pour a bucket of ice water over you?”
Peter rolled back over and sat up, yawning and wiping the sleep from his eyes. He finally got to his feet. “Does anyone else know about this little middle-of-the-night escapade of yours?”
“At the moment, no; and it’s going to stay that way for now. Capiche?”
“Are you in some kind of trouble, JR? This is starting to sound serious. And where are we going?”
“I believe we’re all in some kind of trouble, my friend, and the sooner the three of us get to our destination the better. You first get us in the air and then I’ll tell you where we’re going.”
“And that’s all you’re going to tell me?”
“For now,” JR nodded.
“I hope you know what you’re getting us into JR,” he said slinging his bag over his shoulder and heading for the door.
***
By the time they arrived at the airport, the Eastern horizon signaled that dawn would soon arrive. Peter got the six-passenger Baron 58 ready for take-off while Rebecca handed them coffee and breakfast sandwiches.
They were airborne and fed before Peter broached the subject again.
“Ok JR. We’re in the air in case you haven’t noticed. Whereto?”
“Page, Arizona.”
Peter turned and stared at JR. “Page, Arizona, that place on the edge of the Grand Canyon?”
JR nodded, “that’s the one, yes.”
Peter felt a cold shiver running down his spine when he realized that JR and Rebecca were going to the Eighth Cycle site in the Grand Canyon. He was familiar with the discovery made by the Rossler Foundation and had firsthand experience of the immense evil that was released on the world as a result. He put the plane on autopilot and pulled up a map.
“That’s about 1600 nautical miles, eight hours flying. We’ll need to refuel somewhere.”
“Whatever it takes Peter,” Rebecca replied. “We have to get there and find out what’s going on. We’re praying that it is all a big hoax, but both JR and I have an uneasy feeling it’s not.”
Peter was quiet for a moment. “W
ould one or both of you care to explain what exactly is going on? What is urging you to go back there? I know the history of your discovery and, as you know, lived through the consequences. Are you saying we’re up for more of that kind of trouble.”
JR and Rebecca recounted the events of the previous night to Peter. To describe Peter’s reaction to what they told him as skeptical would have been like calling Mount Everest a hill. There were points during the discussion where he threatened to turn back to DC and find a ‘special’ doctor to treat his passengers.
“Have you two lost your collective minds! How two highly educated adults like you can fall for such a scam, is beyond me!” Peter exploded at one stage.
Rebecca replied. “Peter, you’ve lived and worked for the Rossler Foundation for some time now. Are you saying that in all this time you have never realized that almost every bit of technology we have used to defeat Brideaux and Hayden originated in pre-historical times? Brideaux took control of the world with fifty-thousand-year-old technology. We took him down with twenty-plus-thousand-year old nanotechnology, communications, and… Shall I continue?”
“Yea well, if you put it like that… I guess…” Peter interjected stutteringly. “But, you have to agree it’s befuddling to think of this… reviving people after sixty-thousand years, bringing dead people back to life and…”
“We’re not in disagreement Peter. We are as bamboozled as you are. What we’re not prepared to do is to chalk it up to lunacy and ignore it. Don’t you agree, that in light of what we have learned over the years, it would be madness not to at least investigate?”
“You’re right. Apologies for my outbursts. Associating with you Rosslers for the past few years has certainly done my head in,” he tittered.
For the rest of the trip to Page, they talked about the trials and tribulations brought over the world and the Rossler Foundation since Daniel and Sarah discovered the Tenth Cycle Library in the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
They also speculated about what the danger, which Robert had referred to, could be. He didn’t want to tell JR and Rebecca the night before, insisting they travel to the canyon site and be shown.
They landed at the Page airfield shortly after 4pm. The owner of a small helicopter tour company was already waiting for them. They hangered the plane and were picked up by the tour operator and transported to one of his helicopters where the pilot was ready to take off.
