by Adair Hart
Evaran tapped at the console, causing the screens to dim. “You are correct. The center is pure timeline energy. The magnetic shielding around it keeps it contained, and the tubes running off split it into various buffers, which allows them to dilute it enough to be of use to them.” He pointed at the far wall. “The command interface is there.”
Emily wrinkled her eyebrows as she pointed at the large sphere embedded above the command interface. “What is that?”
“The Time Warden commander,” said Levaran. “It is interfaced into every system. If we need to get a command claw from it, we will need to have it come out.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” said Dr. Snowden.
Evaran nodded. “I concur. I am going to head in that direction and interface with a few maintenance nodes to appear as if we are doing a routine check.”
“Sounds good,” said Emily. She watched with rapture as soldiers passed between the other two doorways in the room. There were other maintenance drones milling about and guards at each doorway. It surprised her that the room was not heavily secured, but she figured not many would make it this far. With that thought in mind, she said, “The Hoxscarus could rip through this place.”
“They could,” said Levaran, raising a finger, “but I sent them away. They were not meant to be involved in the plane outside their ascension.”
“They were, though,” said Dr. Snowden. “We saw it with the matter mages here, and in our universe when we met one.”
Evaran turned his head to the side. “It seems I told them to do some of it, although as Levaran mentioned, I would be against it and limit it if I could. However, that knowledge they gain from me is from a future event that I am involved in and is part of the time loop. Those should be the only instances we see them, unless we go outside the plane.”
“I understand, although I’m with Emily on this one. The Hoxscarus would make this place Swiss cheese,” said Dr. Snowden.
“We are with the Hoxscarus, in some regard,” said Levaran, raising her head a bit.
Emily grinned at Dr. Snowden.
When they worked their way around near the command interface, they paused. In front of the circular command port was a guard.
Evaran rubbed his chin. “Hmm, this could be tricky.” He tapped at the console.
The drone ducked off to a side room that had an open entrance. Once it was inside the room, Evaran moved it over to the farthest spot out of the line of sight of any Time Warden.
“I will need to go out there with the command interface claw. Emily, we will need your camouflage,” said Evaran.
Emily nodded. “How do we want to do this?”
“You can ride my back.”
“Got it.”
Dr. Snowden shook his head. “This is nuts.”
“We can do it,” said Emily, squeezing Dr. Snowden’s arm.
“Well, as a side note, we should probably think about adding camouflage to my and Evaran’s suits. Then you don’t need back riding.”
“It has moved up in priority on my list of things to do,” said Evaran.
Dr. Snowden nodded.
Emily activated her camouflage, and when Evaran and she were outside, she hopped onto his back.
They crept along the wall out of the side room and headed toward the command interface.
Emily thought she saw the guard wave a tentacle in their direction, but it went back to looking forward. Since they were coming in from the side, she understood that they were only outside the guard’s line of sight unless it decided to turn their way or wave a tentacle toward them and scan.
Her camouflage had turned out to be more useful than she had imagined. Maybe there was some enhancement that could give it a larger field. V already had stealth, and like Dr. Snowden, she agreed that he and Evaran could use it. Evaran had the ability to change his clothing appearance, so she did not think it would be a stretch to mirror the environment. She understood Dr. Snowden’s concern, but moments like this fired her up. Going with Evaran while deep in enemy territory was not something she gave a second thought to.
When they arrived at the command interface, Evaran inserted the command claw into the circular port.
She checked on the guard.
It still stood stationary.
She had wondered if it could smell them, but since they were in suits, maybe not. Her heart fluttered a few times when the guard swung its tentacles around. She figured that was maybe part of some rotation.
At one point, the tentacle was only a few feet away, but aimed up high.
She wondered if maybe the sensors had detected a command claw being used. Her lips drew flat when Evaran shook his head. He pulled out the command claw, and together, they began to creep away.
When they got back to the side room, another maintenance drone was there.
Evaran stuck to the wall while facing it and walked sideways. At one point, the maintenance drone began to turn, but focused on their drone when it waved a tentacle at it.
Emily figured Levaran had initiated some type of communication with it.
Once the other drone had left, they crawled back into their drone.
Evaran sighed. “The configuration is different. It would not activate.”
“I guess then it’s time for plan B,” said Emily.
“Which is … get it off the commander embedded in the wall, right?” asked Dr. Snowden.
Evaran nodded. “We will need a distraction to clear this room. It should then seal the doors. They will expect an attack from the outside.” He placed his UIC on the console and interacted with his ARI.
A projection of V and Edev appeared in split-screen mode on the front screen.
“We need a distraction,” said Evaran.
“Acknowledged,” said V.
“You got it!” said Edev.
After a few moments, the lights in the room changed color, and soldiers scurried out. Every other Time Warden except for the guard and the commander stayed in the room as the three doorways sealed shut.
Evaran interacted with the console. After a minute, he said, “I have secured the door access controls to the control chamber for now. This means the guards and soldiers outside will not be able to get in. They will try, so we will need to hurry.”
“So it’s just us, one guard, the commander, and a ticking clock then,” said Emily. “We can do that.”
Evaran nodded.
“So … how are we going to get the claw off the commander then?”
Levaran smiled. “I have an idea.”
Dr. Snowden gulped as he shuffled along behind Emily. She was sandwiched between him and Evaran, and although they moved slower, the camouflage was working. This just strengthened Dr. Snowden’s resolve to get camouflage on his suit. The Time Warden guard was much bigger up close than he expected. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of his face.
It took them a bit, but they reached a spot by the command interface.
He was not sure he was fully on board with the plan, given the unknown nature of the commander. Per Evaran, this one was bigger and had eight arms instead of six.
Evaran surveyed the surrounding area and then tapped at his ARI.
Levaran rushed out of the side room and to the entrance they had initially used. The Time Warden guard rose up and began to move toward her. She raised her hand. “Hear me, Time Warden commander.”
The commander began to move, and after a moment, its massive body fell forward out of the wall with four legs holding it up.
Evaran and the others had moved out of the way as the commander reached down and inserted one of its tentacles into the command interface.
“You have been heard, and judged,” said the commander in a deep digital voice.
“Excellent,” said Levaran. She tilted her head and aimed forward.
Evaran had extended his utility handle into a sharp blade. With one downward slice, he cut off the commander’s tentacle and separated the command claw.
As the c
ommander began to spin around, it was yanked back by Levaran’s grappling beam.
The guard spun around and charged Evaran.
As it got close, Dr. Snowden fired a mist beam and Emily fired a stun beam.
The guard paused for a moment, allowing Evaran to rush forward and pierce the body. Yellow goo oozed out of the puncture wound, and the guard fell to the side.
“I need some time with this claw, but time is of the essence. Help Levaran!” said Evaran.
Emily and Dr. Snowden hustled off to the side.
Dr. Snowden saw that Levaran had grappled one of the commander’s tentacles and slammed the commander into the wall.
The commander pulled itself forward and grabbed Levaran with two tentacles.
Emily glanced at Dr. Snowden while pointing at one of the rear tentacles holding up the commander. “Sticky that!” She rushed forward with her PSD extended in a blade similar to what Evaran had.
Dr. Snowden took aim and fired several rounds of the sticky globules at the base. Although he missed a few times, it did not take long to cover the commander’s splayed-out claw in gooey white muck.
As the commander tried to move, it slowly began to break the hold. Emily charged forward and sliced the splayed-out claw from the rest of the tentacle.
The commander emitted a shrieking noise and dropped Levaran as it turned toward Emily.
Dr. Snowden rushed forward with his shield raised, and when he got to Emily, they stood together and were pushed back by the commander’s energy beams.
Levaran cut two tentacles that served as the commander’s legs in half.
The commander tilted toward Levaran. It pulled in its remaining tentacles and rested its spherical body on the ground. After a moment, it straightened out its tentacles horizontally and began to spin as it moved around. When the tentacles hit Levaran, she went flying back and crashed into one of the pillars in the room.
Dr. Snowden and Emily were knocked off their feet at a high velocity. They slammed into the wall and then fell forward to the ground.
Dr. Snowden tried to get up, but his body was not responding. Although his nanobots were at full tilt, he could not feel his legs or arms. His head was turned in such a way that he could see Emily, and she was out. He screamed her name a few times, but she did not respond. His nanobots ramped up to a level he had never felt before, but his body still did not respond. He shouted Evaran’s name several times.
Evaran paused what he was doing and rushed over. After scanning with his ring, he said, “You both have sustained massive internal injury. You are dying.” He faced Dr. Snowden. “I am unsure how you are still conscious, but there is only one thing that can be done. You would not make it to the Torvatta in time.” He ran off to help Levaran, who was struggling to get back up.
Dr. Snowden could see what was going on, and the thought that he might die had never seemed possible. Although he could only feel a cold sensation and his nanobots, a sense of panic began to swell up in him. His chest had tightened, and it became difficult to breathe. It was like the cold, dark hands of death were climbing up inside his body.
He could move his head, and when he saw Emily, his eyes misted. Thoughts of them celebrating her various birthdays sprang into his mind. He clenched his jaw. This could not be the end. There was a future event, but maybe time could be rewritten and them out of it. He gritted his teeth as he watched Evaran.
Evaran was a blur as he shot a grappling beam at the ceiling. After reaching the top, he fell and jammed his blade deep into the commander’s body.
The commander shrieked nonstop as it tried to shake Evaran, but it began to slow down.
Levaran ran under the commander’s tentacles and extended a rod into the side.
A deep gash formed on the commander’s side as it stopped spinning.
She grabbed the two sides of the gash.
Rip!
She reached in and pulled herself inside, tossing out chunks until a yellow goo began to ooze out of the gash.
The commander stopped moving.
Levaran jumped out of the commander’s body as it rolled to the side. She joined Evaran in rushing over to Dr. Snowden and Emily.
“They are dying,” said Evaran. He clenched his jaw as he looked down and away. “I know it is not my place to ask …”
Levaran shook her head. “You don’t need to. I owe you and both of them already.”
Dr. Snowden had no idea what they were talking about, but he could feel his nanobots winding down. The panic that had begun earlier was consuming him. He tried to talk, but nothing came out. Tears ran down his face as his head trembled.
Levaran knelt on the ground and placed a hand on both Dr. Snowden and Emily. She closed her eyes. A yellow glow emanated from her hands and surged into both of them.
Dr. Snowden’s eyes popped open. It was like a fire had been lit in every part of his body. He understood why he could not move before, everything had been smashed. How he remained conscious was a mystery to him. As his internals reorganized, he screamed.
Emily gasped and then screamed along with him.
Although he did not know what was going on, he could feel everything healing. He thought he saw a yellow glow shoot out from his mouth when he screamed. The fire in him had subsided, and a warm glow began to spread. He coughed, spitting blood, and began to move. As he propped up on his right elbow, he began to breathe faster. Something was off. It was like the feeling he had when his nanobots were going full strength, but this was something beyond that. After a moment, he hopped up and noticed Emily had as well.
Evaran nodded at Levaran. “Thank you.”
“The pleasure was mine,” said Levaran.
Evaran placed a hand on Dr. Snowden’s and Emily’s shoulders. “I will let Levaran explain what happened. I need to get the command claw functioning. The doors are close to opening.” He hugged Emily, then Dr. Snowden, and headed back to the command interface.
“What … what happened?” asked Emily.
“Yeah … I’d like to know too,” said Dr. Snowden.
Levaran smiled. “I have given you the remainder of my re-formation energy. You are fully healed, and then some. The unusual effect you’re feeling will wear off soon, but for now, you possess advanced strength and speed and … a heightened regeneration factor.”
Dr. Snowden’s eyes misted. “We … we were dying.”
“We were?” asked Emily with widened eyes.
“You both were, but now you’re not,” said Levaran.
Emily frowned as her eyes watered. She rushed forward and hugged Levaran.
Dr. Snowden joined them.
Levaran put her arms around them. “You are both worthy, and I was glad to offer any help I could.”
They stood for a minute crying in Levaran’s embrace.
It dawned on Dr. Snowden how close they had come to dying. Traveling with Evaran had given him the impression that anything could be overcome. Apparently there were limits. His mind reeled at the thought that without Levaran, they would have died. Levaran’s calmness as she held them soothed his nerves.
Emily stepped back and wiped her eyes. “Are there any repercussions? Are you going to be okay?”
“I will not be as strong,” said Levaran, glancing toward Evaran. “However, maybe strength is not the answer to every problem.”
“It helped in this situation,” said Dr. Snowden.
“Perhaps, but Evaran was able to do it with a strength level even lower than my current weakened state.”
Dr. Snowden and Emily nodded.
Levaran gestured toward Evaran. “Take a moment, then join us.” She headed toward Evaran.
Dr. Snowden trembled as he hugged Emily.
She laid her head on his shoulder. “I … can’t believe we almost died.”
“Me either,” he said. He exhaled from his mouth. “Seems like every adventure gets crazier.”
She stepped back and swallowed hard. “But we somehow survive, and get stronger.”
He met her gaze and nodded. “That we do.” He motioned toward Levaran and Evaran, who were discussing things. “Let’s go.”
Emily gripped his arm as they walked over.
When they got there, Evaran extended his arms out. Dr. Snowden and Emily both hugged him again.
Dr. Snowden gulped as he realized that Evaran had to ask Levaran to give a part of herself to them. He was not sure of the protocol on it, but there appeared to be one. It seemed like a big sacrifice. Something he would ask about later.
As they all stepped back, Evaran smiled. “I am glad you two are safe now. However,” he said, pointing at the command interface with the commander claw still in it, “I have configured the self-destruct on the timeline energy shielding, but not set the timer yet. When the timer hits zero and the shielding is gone, the timeline energy will surge forward unobstructed. We have a problem, though. The sequence can only be delayed for up to twenty minutes. That was not the case in our universe. Heading out of here in the maintenance drone would take too long.”
Emily nodded. “Then we fight our way out. I feel like … I could run on the walls.”
“The effect will only last inside you for a few hours. There is a price your body has paid for it, but we can discuss that later,” said Evaran.
Dr. Snowden’s eyebrows rose. He was not sure what the price would be, but like Emily, he felt like a car revving its engine.
“Are we ready?” asked Evaran.
“Let’s do it!” said Emily.
Evaran reached into the command claw and fidgeted around. After a moment, the doors to the room opened. He pulled out the claw, hooked it onto his belt, and then gestured forward. “Go!”
Evaran and Levaran took the lead and rushed headfirst into the guards and soldiers spilling into the room.
Dr. Snowden fired mist beams to the sides while Emily shot her stun beams. The mass stun effect halted the advance on the right and left sides.
Evaran and Levaran engaged the two guards ahead of them.
Emily ran alongside Evaran and jabbed the guard, causing its yellow goo to come out. Dr. Snowden did the same for the one Levaran was fighting. Evaran nodded at everyone, and they exited the room.
