“Some things never change.”
“That success gave the Brocks’ the power and monetary support they needed to become the global leader in high tech arms and ammunition sales.
Today, we believe your Marion Brock IV has decided to invest substantial financial support, in an effort to control events in time by purchasing Time Travel Research Inc.”
“How does Jake Burns relate to Brock?”
“After the power shift in 2160, the matriarch’s sister, Ellen Brock, moved from North America to England. She married Zachery Burns; the direct descendant to your Jake Burns.”
“That’s why Jake and Marion have more than similar genetic make-ups.”
“We believe GGM Gordon Swanson found out, quite by chance some time ago, after he met Burns at a weapons convention.”
“So Swanson hired Burns, knowing he was related to Brock?”
“Some have said, keeping your enemy close is a wise choice.”
“But Burns is not our enemy. He is an Ever-Life citizen; not to mention our colonies’ Security Chief.”
“Correct; as it turns out; he, like Brock, is Compatible with us. Ages ago, before our treaties, our kind rebelled, because of the power ‘compatibilities’ brought.”
“We don’t have those records; and I wasn’t made aware of that. If true, all of Ever-Life is in danger from your rogue Carrier. We could have a war for the first time in our history; and a timeline shift.”
“Correct; that is why I am here.”
“I need to get to the Giza, the Great Pyramid, before we go to the Post 2 station drop. You need to get me inside. Is that a problem?”
“The entire Pyramid is still quite insulated. We should have no problem.”
“You know as well as I that the entire Pyramid was a battery, eons ago. I am counting on it to have preserved certain magnetic frequency echoes. That may give us some clues...Tell me why have you allowed yourself to be seen like this? My friend, in the other room, will not forget you.”
“It is time; and, he is a witness of our sincerity. We could not prevent this. Our Grand Council acknowledges the surface wherewithal has evolved. We must postpone our meeting with you, until this matter is reconciled. I will interface with you and the surface as is appropriate. Trust remains a great issue. We recognize the need to approach the surface; and, regardless of their constant warlike behavior, they are progressing to the point of space-time and interplanetary travel. We need to educate and establish controls. We have much to investigate. The Sidron events are very disturbing, especially if one of us has used surface men in ‘a compatibility’. It generates many questions.”
He then turned and absorbed into the Carrier’s wall. Allenfar swam, faster than a missile, across inner Earth’s ocean of heat to the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
Chapter 14
The Marshall Decision
Early the next morning, at the Arden City courthouse, Brian Sheldon sat with Angie Bellos, in the right side back row of courtroom 210. The jury began seating to read the verdict for David Marshall, who had been arrested for the murder in the Andrews morgue months ago. The charges against him included: one count, murder in the first degree of Jack Sheldon; conspiracy to attempt murder; conspiracy to commit a terrorist attack, on the Brock/Swanson Complex; and, five counts of aggravated battery, during his stay in the Arden city jail.
“I thought your dad didn’t want you here, Angie.”
“I had to come. You know I hate this guy. And, frankly, I wanted to be with you. I only wish your mom could be here.”
“Yeah, me too; I got a message from her. She went to Washington D.C.; some convention. She went, because my dad couldn’t.”
“ Shhh; it’s the bailiff.
“Hear ye, hear ye; all rise…”
“Okay Brian, here we go.”
“...This 3rd District Court of Arden Township is now in session…The honorable Judge Pamela Wills, presiding.”
The judge walked into the courtroom, from chambers behind his elevated bench. She stepped up to his desk, sat down and looked out over the courtroom.
“You may all be seated…Today, after much time and effort; I would like to thank both, the prosecution and the defense, for their exhaustive and thorough handling of this case. Madam Foreman, has the jury reached a verdict?”
A woman in her mid fifties stood up from the jury box and replied, “Yes we have, your honor.”
She handed an envelope to the bailiff, who gave it to the judge. She opened and read it, silently.
“I never understood this part.” Brian whispered to Angie. “Why doesn’t she just read the damn thing out loud, for God’s sake?”
Angie placed her hand on his.
“Protocol, Brian; you know about that. Be patient.”
“Madam Foreman, you may read the verdict.”
The bailiff handed the folded, letter sized note, back to the woman and she read it.
“We the jury, in the matter of case-51269: The state of New Mexico vs. David J. Marshall; on this day June 4, do hereby unanimously declare: regarding count#1- Murder in the first degree, of Dr. Jack Avuar Sheldon; we find in favor of the state and we do judge Mr. David J. Marshall guilty, as charged…
-Regarding count #2…”
At that instant, Brian Sheldon leapt to his feet and screamed, “Yes! You ‘sonofabitch’; yes! Woohoo!”
Brian’s outburst stopped the reading. All eyes focused on his rant. Angie pulled at him, trying to get him to sit down.
“Order in the court; order in the court!” the judge yelled. “Bailiff, remove that man.”
“Wait; oh my God, no!” Brian suddenly realized his wrongful behavior. “I have to hear the rest. Angie, no…!”
Two police guards grabbed and forcibly escorted Brian out, through the courtroom double doors. Angie followed, behind them, watching the guards push and prod him out the building and down onto the concrete steps. She ran to Brian and grabbed his arm, helpfully.
“What did you think you were doing, for heaven’s sake?”
He got up, brushing himself off.
“…Releasing months of cooped up anger; and, satisfying my need to kill that bastard.”
“Well that worked, didn’t it; now what?”
“Now we celebrate, if you’re up to it. What do you say?”
“It is ten o’clock in the morning. How do you plan on celebrating?”
“Hmm; yeah; right, I guess. But, that felt so great.”
Brian rolled his eyes and sat back down on the steps. Angie started to sit down, next to him, when it happened. Brian stared wide eyed at her and blinked, in disbelief. He shook his head, trying to focus. He grabbed at her; but, just as they made eye contact, Angie cried out, “Brian, my God, what is happening?”
She appeared to flicker; her image blurred; and then, she was gone; just vanished. Brian jumped up, twisting, turning, and reaching for her. “What the f…?”
As he looked around, he saw someone running out of the courthouse and down the steps. Brian yelled, “Hay you! Help me here! It’s an emergency!”
The man stopped and turned, “I can’t. Something just happened in the courtroom. Wait a minute. I remember you. You are the ranting idiot, they kicked out.”
They both started walking toward each other, talking at the same time.
“I’m Randy Farrell, reporter for the Daily Gazette. I know you. Your friend the convict; he just vanished in the court room, not two minutes ago, gone; just like that. I’ve never seen anything like it. It was unbelievable. They are all in a panic, in there; everyone, including the judge. And she’s holding everybody, until it’s sorted out. I was in the back and ran out, before they noticed. You were lucky to get out.”
Farrell squeezed Brian’s shoulders, but Brian shook them off and yelled at him, “My girl friend just vanished, out here, right before my eyes on these steps, right there…”
“Holy shit; both of them at the same time?”
Farrell collected his thoughts.
“I videoed the whole scene. I’ve got to get back to the office to study it.”
“We should take it to the police.”
“Bullshit! They have cameras all over the courthouse.”
Farrell turned and ran across the stairs, to his car. Brian called his father, Jack Sheldon; but, the phone displayed, ‘no signal’; so, he ran across the street to the parking garage and his car.
…In a blink, it was hours earlier…
The rising sun was beginning to burn the haze away from the Arden morning sky. Angie Bellos rustled, in her king size bed, fighting off the covers. She opened her eyes and startled, shocked at seeing Brian Sheldon lying next to her. He was snoring and naked. She sat up, throwing the covers back onto him.
“Was that a dream?”
She was drenched, in sweaty wet clothes that clung to her body.
“Oh my god!” she yelled in a whisper, feeling and pulling at her clothing. “What the hell just happened?”
She ran to the bathroom, threw cold water on her face and looked in the mirror.
“Yes it’s me…These are the clothes I wore, at the courthouse.”
She turned around and looked at her bed.
“Brian? Why are you here? Christ; how did I get here? This is insane!”
She tiptoed to the window, drew back the curtains and looked out, at the rising sun. Then she looked at the clock on the nightstand. At the same time, she pulled a Knofer out of her pant pocket.
“Shit, that can’t be right. The clock says 4:00 a.m.”
She brought the Knofer close to her lips and whispered, “Confirm time and day.”
The Knofer immediately displayed a 3D model that read 9 a.m., USA Mountain Time-Ever-Life record Tuesday, November 12, Arden, New Mexico.
She also noticed something else. At the bottom of the Knofer display, red letters blinked the words, ‘Defensive Mode’.
“That can’t be good.”
Angie began to shake, involuntarily. She sat down in the chair, next to the window; and placed her hands over her face, sobbing, disoriented; trying to gather herself, when she felt two hands on her shoulders lifting her.
“Hay you, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”
She looked up to see a naked Brian Sheldon, standing before her. He took her in his arms and hugged her.
“Come on, Babe, don’t cry. You’re so cold, and shaking.”
He rubbed her back.
“Why are you dressed in these wet clothes?”
Then, he released her, enough that they could see face to face. Angie looked deeply into his eyes and felt paralyzed in the moment. Brian caressed her face; and, as they fixed on each other, he kissed her tenderly. They both felt the warmth of the moment and each held on to the other, pushing their mouths together. Angie felt the shaking stop; replaced by her heart rate pounding. Brian pulled her into him. He opened his eyes, and held her chin, as they separated. Then, he took her hand and led her over to the bed. She was in shock, at seeing him that way; but she followed him and sat beside him, on the bed.
“Brian, I…”
“No,” he said. “Not a word, this time. Let’s get you out of these wet things.”
Angie was frozen, numb and limp, at the same time. She couldn’t speak. Brian took off her top, then her skirt and shoes. They sat together.
“There, that’s better. You’re not shaking anymore.”
“Brian,” she said. “Is it really you?”
He giggled and kissed her, again, pulling her back down on the bed, beside him.
“Yes Darlin. I’m the same guy you made love with, last night.”
“What? Wait a minute…” Angie pushed back and stood up.”
“You know Babe, naked and serious somehow don’t quite go together. Look at me,” he gestured with a smile.
Angie stared and shook her head. She felt the shaking start again and turned her back to him.
“Brian, something is wrong-dead wrong! Something has happened. We have to talk.”
She went to the closet and opened the door. There were two white bathrobes, so she threw one at Brian and put on the other.
“Turn on the TV, will you….Put on the news.”
“Okay…”
They both watched the monitor as local newscaster Parker Phillips announced, “Good morning Arden, it’s 4:16 a.m. Our skies look like they are going to clear nicely, for the Marshall verdict today.”
“Brian, do you have a Knofer?”
“What, my phone is on the table?”
“Oh my God; look at the time on the screen.” Angie grabbed Brian’s phone on the nightstand and studied it. Shit, it says 4:18 too, same time…Brian; we have to get to the courthouse!”
“Why, what are you talking about, Luv? Ah, we should be asleep. The verdict is hours from now”
Angie stood fixed.
“Brian, it’s really after 9; and, we already saw and heard the verdict…Oh my God!”
She pushed Brian on the bed again.
“Listen, something is not right-all this. Here, look at my Knofer.”
“This thing says 9:08. How could that be? It must be on Ever-Life time; who cares?”
Angie stood and paced.
“Tell me; what is our relationship?”
Brian chuckled, “Come on, Babe. We love each other. We’ve been living together, for four months.”
“Brian, I hate to tell you this; so, don’t freak out. I don’t think I am your Angie.”
^^^^^^^^
At precisely the same time, across town in the Arden city jail, prisoner Dave Marshall awoke on his cot in a 6 ft. X 9 ft. jail cell. He was soaked in sweat and shaking, in his green prison night garb.
“My God, my God.” He cried.
Rushing to the small mirror hanging on the concrete wall, he studied his reflection for a moment.
“It works! Shit, it really works…Sonofabitch!”
Then, he gathered his senses and turned, examining the room.
“This isn’t right. It’s my jail cell…I’m supposed to be out, not in here.”
He stumbled to the jail bars and grabbed on tight, screaming, “…BROCK!”
^^^^^^^^^^
Back in Angie’s apartment, Brian showered and Angie recounted her morning to him, as she sat in her bathrobe, on the toilet. When he shut the water off, she reached inside, handed him his robe, and he stepped out.
“Your turn, girl; go on, you need it, more than I do.”
The shower’s warmth calmed her shaking. While Brian dried, he talked, “So, what do you suggest, my sweet?”
“At a time like this; I wish I had more headset sessions. Ever-Life taught me that the more I have; the more memories lock. There has got to be something, in headset files, about a situation like this.”
“What are you talking about? I was never an Ever-Life candidate. You know that. It was the C.P.T. and our dads’ friendship that brought us together. So, I don’t understand headset this, headset that…”
Angie turned the water off, put her robe on again and stepped out shaking her head. She plopped on the edge of the bed.
“Shit shit, shit!”
“That sounds very productive. I know this might sound silly; but, you say that Knofer is in defensive mode. Do you remember any of the protocols?”
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, “I think we have to get back to the courthouse.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure. I had a conversation with a man, in a hospital bed, last night; or whenever. He said things that seemed ridiculous to me then. They didn’t really register…Then this?”
“Who; what are you talking about? You’re not in Oz. What you need is an attitude adjustment.”
“I need to talk to Mr. Wheeler.”
“And if anything you say is true, where is my Angie? God, as if we haven’t been through enough. Anyone else would say you are a raving lunatic.”
“No…no! Brian listen; something or someone has done this. I don’t know
why or how. ”
Brian saw the determination in her eyes. He cupped her face and kissed her on the cheek.
“You are not even dressed….Fine; I’ll do anything you say; just calm down. You’re going to have a heart attack.”
They hugged; and, after a few seconds, Brian spoke softly, “Angie, do you think I’m a ghost, or maybe a figment of your imagination?”
“No…I don’t know.”
She talked as she quickly dressed.
“What I’ve told you is the truth. You know I am the daughter of a GGM. I am not crazy. You know what both of us went through before; for God’s sake.”
“Yes; I remember. You don’t think anything like that is happening again, do you?”
They fixed on each other’s gaze.
“I don’t know…What if? Brian, I think the sooner we get the Knofer to trigger, the better off we are all going to be.”
Just then, Angie startled, from hearing a squeaky beep.
“Speak of the Devil; it’s coming from your Knofer over there.”
Angie picked it up, only to feel intense heat; and, instinctively, she threw it on the bed.
“Jesus, that hurt; maybe it’s over charged or something. It shouldn’t be that hot?”
Then, Knofer bellowed a very low-pitched noise, and the couple watched, as the shiny silver unit began projecting a blue triangular light, up to the ceiling. Within seconds, it sculpted a life-sized hologram of Sir Thomas Wheeler.
“That’s the guy. That’s the man I talked to last night.”
When the Knofer finished, his image stood by the bed. He was wearing an Ever-Life doctor’s coat, glasses, pants and shoes. But the Knofer wasn’t done. It began to fill in the 3D image, and he became a solid model. After several minutes, it released the doctor’s solid model, enabling him to move and speak as any normal person.
“Hello child.”
“Oh my God,” Brian said. “What are you? How did you get here?”
Angie grabbed his arm. “No Brian; wait. He is a friend…I remember my Mom was like you. Hi, hello, Mr. Wheeler. I just saw you last night, remember?”
“Yes, Angie, hi; except he is flesh and bone. I am here, as your defense guide. At present, your protocol only requires me to advise and see if we can’t remedy your situation.”
Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust Page 32
