by Jeff Walsh
The old man shook his head. “No. The three of you have seen oddities today. Oddities that would puzzle and frighten others. Your news crews and investigators will soon pile up and around this place. Your professors and academics will write books and papers for years, stating their theories and guesses about what transpired here. All because of the question, why.”
The old man chuckled slightly.
“But you three.” He pointed at the group. “Instead of turning and running, you drew near. A stranger appeared. You stopped and asked him questions. He wouldn't answer any of them of course, but you didn't care. He made things vanish and other things appear. Did you run? No, you came even closer. And in my opinion, that makes you three special.”
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but was quickly interrupted.
“And look at you,” the old man continued. “You're standing here, so close, ready to throw caution to the wind. You're fighting the instinct within that says 'run!' But deep down, way in the pit of your stomach, far beyond the reaches of logic and sensibility, you can feel it. That sense of adventure and mystery that you desperately crave. And now you ask yourself, 'Is this situation that makes no sense worth venturing out upon? Should I throw caution aside and simply follow my gut?' And that, my three soon to be friends, is a question only you can answer.”
The three paused for a moment and then each looked intently at the others. Anthony shrugged indicating his inclination to join the old man. Genny nodded in agreement. Marcus scrunched his face at the two.
“You two can't be serious,” he whispered. “You heard him ask us if we want a tour of the second earth, right? He's also more than hinting that he's an alien, and he all but outright said wherever he wants to take us is dangerous. You two seriously want to get up on that thing just to see what happens next?”
“Yeah,” Anthony said emphatically. “I kind of do. Don't you?”
“No,” Marcus answered back. “I most certainly do not.”
“You're not the least bit curious?” Genny asked.
“No.” He answered. “And I don't understand why you two are so keen on following some stranger, who is either crazy or dangerous, but probably both.”
“You know earth man,” the old man said from the platform. “I'd love to tell you why you should listen to your friends on this, but I can't.”
“Oh yeah,” Marcus replied with a little attitude. “Why is that?”
“You already know,” the old man said. “That's why you're afraid. That's why you don't want to step one foot on this platform. You've figured it out, or least have a really good guess.”
“What's he talking about?” Anthony asked Marcus. “What do you already know?”
“This is ridiculous,” Marcus blurted out.
“I'm afraid I have to press the issue here folks,” the old man said. “If we don't leave, real soon, we might not make it. By my guess we have less than fifteen minutes now. But bravo to you,” he pointed to Marcus, “for seeing things as they really are. You're a smart one.”
“Marcus,” Genny said. She grabbed his face to look him in the eyes. “What's he talking about? What have you seen?”
“There's a reason why he's purposefully not answering our questions,” Marcus answered. “It's all part of the act.”
“Bingo,” the old man said.
Genny and Anthony turned and looked at the old man then back to Marcus.
“Talk to us Marcus,” Anthony said. “You've figured something out like you always do.”
“Everything,” Marcus answered. “All of this, even his speech was meant to prod us into following him. An object falls from the sky right in front of us, but somehow we aren't harmed. Then it turns out to be some weird rock that's all intriguing but completely out of place. But that wasn't enough,” Marcus said as he looked to the old man. “Was it?”
“You're on a roll,” the old man said. “Don't stop now.”
“There had to be something more,” he continued. “Something we couldn't dismiss or explain. An object we'd recognize as safe and harmless but so far out of place that it was unexplainable.”
“The elevator,” Anthony said.
“Yeah,” Marcus confirmed. “But none of it was real. It all disappeared at the clap of his hands. It's all a show.”
“As I said,” the old man chimed in again. “Smart man. But not everything is as you think.”
“Okay,” Anthony said. “We're being set up. So we turn around and leave, right?”
“That's just it,” Marcus answered. “There's no real threat, which is why I've stood around and listened to this guy. My first thought was maybe this was some setup or prank. But there's nothing, no evidence that points in that direction. Everything looks real, but it can't be.”
“The clock's a ticking,” the old man said. “Twelve minutes until things get really serious. And if that happens, I can't guarantee you'll all make it out safely.”
“Okay,” Anthony stated. “So what are our options?”
“And there's the problem,” the old man said.
Marcus spun and glared at the old man
“Tell them,” the old man said.
“Tell us what? Anthony asked.
“Our options,” Marcus said. Agitation ran through his voice. “If there's no evidence of a prank or some setup here, then we're only left with one option, the impossible.”
“Wait,” Genny said. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you see it Genny,” Marcus blurted out. “All of us see it, and that's why we're standing around having this conversation. He's promising us the impossible: that he's an alien offering to take us into space.”
“So?” Genny asked. “You're right. We all know what he's hinting at, and it's ridiculous. So, we just turn around and get out of here. What's the big deal?”
“His intrigue is getting the better of him,” the old man said.
“You shut up,” Marcus said as he stepped forward and pointed to the old man.
“Marcus,” Anthony said, “we're all captivated by these events , there's no harm in that.”
“Intrigue is what got me into the mess I was in,” Marcus spat out. “Against all evidence, I just couldn't walk away.”
“This isn't like before,” Genny said.
“No, it's not,” Marcus said. “This is all perfect. There's not a single hair out of place. No room for the explainable, we're standing here facing the impossible.”
“And that's what worries you,” the old man said.
Genny and Anthony turned to the old man and back to Marcus.
“It's really bothering you that suddenly the impossible might just be possible, isn't it?” The old man asked of Marcus.
“Look,” Anthony said to Marcus. “Forget all of this. Let's just turn and leave.”
“We don't have to play his game,” Genny said to Marcus.
“We leave,” Anthony said. “And no one is the wiser. It's only us three and this crazy guy.”
“Not quite,” the old man blurted out.
“What?” Anthony asked.
“Whatever that thing was that fell from the sky,” Marcus replied. “We couldn't have been the only people who saw it. Given that it's midday, if I had to guess, anyone within a few hundred miles, maybe more, could've seen it easily.”
“A little over a hundred and thirty people,” the old man said. “Phone calls and reports have already been made. News crews are on their way.”
“And if people show up, and this is all some joke,” Marcus said. “We look like fools. Trust me, you don't want that kind of humiliation.”
“Well,” the old man paused a moment and looked to the sky before saying, “If you'd like a little more proof, I believe it's on the way. Don't worry though, they're just blind firing.”
The trio looked to the sky and watched as three orbs of light appeared. They watched as they grew larger and larger. After a few moments the trio realized that these orbs were falling from the sky. In an instant, the
y rocketed to earth. Three explosions rang out, dirt and rock flew into the air.
“Holy--” Anthony blurted out.
“What is that?” Marcus screamed.
“Oh, those,” the old man said. “Just light matter blasts. Typically harmless to most ships and planets running phase induced shielding, but I don't think you all have discovered that tech yet.”
Genny grabbed at Marcus' hand, “We need to get out of here.”
Another three lights from the sky caught their attention and the trio looked up once more.
“Here comes another set,” the old man said. “But like I said, don't worry, they're shooting at me, not you.
“What do you mean, don't worry,” Anthony blurted out. “We're all standing right next to you.”
“Huh,” the old man said. “So you are. Good thing you didn't get back into your vehicle.” He pointed to the jeep.
Two light matter blasts crashed down and exploded off in the distance, but the third slammed down just beyond the edge of the crater. The jeep was tossed into the air and crashed down on its side.
“Holy--” Anthony yelled out.
“We're stuck,” Genny whispered. “We have no way out now.”
“Calm down,” the old man said. “I told you there wasn't much time. I'm running a displacer field. It'll take at least another four or five shots before they discern my position.”
Marcus looked to the old man who was a picture of calm.
“I wish I could offer you more time, I really do,” the old man said. “Either come with me or deal with them.” He pointed to the sky. “Although, I don't think they'll be nearly as pleasant as I've been.”
The old man paused and looked to Marcus.
“I know you're trying to figure another way out of this, but there isn't a third option. I promise.”
Another three light matter blasts appeared in the sky. A moment later all three crashed down around the perimeter of the crater. Dirt and debris rained down on the group.
“Either join me or get blown up,” the old man said. “We are out of time.”
“Fine!” Marcus blurted out. “Fine.”
“Good call,” Anthony fired back. He jumped up on the platform and turned to take Genny's hand. “C'mon.”
Marcus motioned for Genny to join him and in turn followed her up onto the platform.
“Fantastic, I really didn't want to get blown up today,” the old man said. His tone sounded ever so pleased.
“So now what?” Anthony asked.
As the four looked to the sky, a dozen light matter orbs appeared.
“Whoa,” the old man blurted out. “They stopped playing around. Time to go.”
The old man flicked a few switches and turned a couple dials. Then with a punch he slammed down the big red button.
Nothing happened.
“Hmm,” the old man puzzled.
He looked to the sky and every light matter blast was fixed on their location.
“Looks like they've upgraded their targeting system,” he said.
He punched the red button once more.
“C'mon you old heap,” he blurted out. He looked to the sky. The orbs were descending quickly.
“Let's go, let's go, let's go!” The old man yelled as he punched the red button over and over.
The floor jostled for a moment and the machinery below them began to hum and whir.
The orbs above were seconds away. The sounds of energy crackles and hums could be heard coming from above.
A flash of light burst forth and the entire desert scenery beyond became a canvas of pure white.
Chapter 3
“Well, that was exciting,” the old man stated having actually enjoyed the danger. “Sorry about that by the way, the displacer field was still on and interfering with our trans-warp. We're perfectly safe now, I assure you. There is, of course, a mass limit on trans-warps, but as I said, there's nothing to worry about. Alvin's mass is significantly more than ours and he's always fine.”
The three stood after having dropped to the floor and taking cover. With legs shaking they peered around. There was nothing but pure white light everywhere they looked. After a moment, the bright scene beyond the elevator dimmed slightly as a dark spot on the white canvas appeared directly in front of them. The group felt the grated floor shift slightly and watched as the dark spot grew in size. It doubled, then doubled again. A moment later the trio realized they were moving toward an opening of some kind, and doing so at a great speed.
The three began to panic as it appeared they were going to launch through the opening. However, at the last moment, the scene before them halted and the edges of white faded away. The group heard the machinery beneath them power down, but paid it no real attention. Instead, the trio now stood, mouths agape, peering into a rocky cavern, practically oblivious that the old man was still with them on the platform.
They quickly took in all the standard features of a cave. Typical stalactites covering the ceiling, dark crevices and jagged recesses scattered the walls. A musky, old-timely, dirt smell overpowered everything else. Marcus, for a split second, attempted to discern where the unknown light source that illuminated the cavernous expanse, which seemed to stretch on for hundreds of feet in every direction, came from.
For all the questions the group may have had, each came and went from their minds, dismissed almost immediately due to the cause of their bewildered look. There in the center of the cavern was a massive, spheroid machine splayed out horizontally. Easily a hundred feet wide and three times as long, the light green metallic object rested upon three extended, but retractable legs.
Attached across its arced top were four oval shaped pods, as well as two larger pods across the bottom. The pods were the same shade of green as the rest of the machine, with the exception of the red translucent material that ran straight through the center of each pod.
As their minds pieced together all they saw, it was concluded that they were facing the back of this machine, with all six of its engines pointing their way. An open door, that served as a ramp, revealed a rather spacious cargo bay. However, in all of that, it was the next item their eyes came across that kept them from immediately moving off the platform.
A robot, standing at least nine feet tall and easily four feet wide, hoisted a tall, metal, finger-like structure into the air, which he then planted firmly into the ground.
A wave of excitement and terror washed over the trio as they realized they were now staring at a spaceship, which had a robot removing things from its bay.
“Well this is it,” the old man said as he stepped out and around the group.
His words snapped the group from their mesmerized state.
“What's going on here?” Marcus asked as he attempted to regained his wits. “Is that a spaceship? Is that a robot? Is that a spaceship with a robot in it?”
His finger darted and dashed around, pointing at everything as the words left his lips. He found himself stepping off the platform and treading forward a few steps.
“Oh yes, so sorry, where are my manners,” the old man said. “Alvin, these are the guests I was telling you about. Guests, Alvin; Alvin, guests,” the old man said as he swung a hand toward the robot and then back at the trio.
“Hey there gang it's great to meet you,” Alvin said. He unnervingly spun at the waist to face the group while his legs continued forward. “I'm so happy we'll be traveling together. I look forward to all of our amazing and fun adventures.”
The three friends were now side by side, off the platform, each with mouths still agape, and eyes as wide as they could get.
Anthony, being the next to come to compose himself, spoke up, “Umm…guy, person? That robot, did it just talk to us?”
“Yes I did,” Alvin responded. “And it was a fantastic conversation wasn’t it? I look forward to having another just as soon as we can.”
“Okay, it's talking to us. Holy—” Anthony said, but was cut short.
“That robot,
” Genny blurted out, “is unloading things from that...thing.”
“Spaceship,” the old man said matter-of-factly.
“Spaceship, right,” Genny continued. “You said something about explaining things, up there, back then.”
Her arm moved around, and pointed back behind her and upward, while not turning away from the display before her.
“Right, yes I did,” the old man said with gusto. “Uh, okay. Your planet is about to be repossessed. Well, actually it's being stolen, but they're calling it a repo. By my guess it's going to get time-locked, which means that everyone and everything is about to be frozen at this exact moment in time. Unfortunately, we don't really have the time to explain why your planet is being taken from you.
“If it helps,” he continued, “just know that the people doing so will most likely say that payments haven’t been made in quite some time. I'm sure they haven't, but normally no one cares unless the planet actually becomes valuable, which yours suddenly has.”
“Did you just say our planet is about to be repossessed?” Marcus asked.
“Yes,” the old man answered.
“Why?” Marcus asked. “Why, the planet thing first. Then, why is there a spaceship with a robot doing robot things?”
“I know this is a lot for you three,” the old man said. “If we had the time I would explain everything, but for now I need you to get on board. Once we're safe, I promise more will be explained.”
“You're telling us that our planet, the planet Earth, is about to be repossessed,” Anthony said attempting to clarify the situation for his sanity. “And in response to that, you want us to climb aboard your spaceship?” He paused for a moment. “The same spaceship that has the talking robot moving in and out of it.”
“Yes,” the old man answered definitively.
Just then the entire cavern shook violently. The trio stumbled in place.
“That's our queue,” the old man said sternly. “We need to leave immediately.”
“What's happening?” Marcus blurted out.
The group looked up and watched as cracks began to form across the cavern ceiling.
