Chapter Twenty Seven–SERVANTS OF TIME

 

 

“7:45 A.M., noted Ari. “Let’s get out of here. Three days. That’s all we have left.”

“Despite our hurry, the orbital mechanics must be considered before any flight begins,” Face reminded him. He and Yu computed the positions of Atlantis and the Red Planet at launch. Next they calculated the change in position of the Red Planet during their trip and set their particular orbit accordingly.

Simultaneously, Ari worked the control center and coordinated all the remaining ship functions. Since his frequency was already tuned to the SES, he could skip that step. He checked the propulsion, guidance, and life support systems. Having assured himself that the engines and steering were as perfect as the air from bio-life support, and the emergency energy wafers, and coolant were at appropriate levels, he continued down the checklist. Thermal protection had to function correctly to provide isolation from the extreme cold of space and the violent heat of reentry. Dimensional displays were all controlled through the SES, so running down the list was a quick job.

“Do you want to take the shortest route?” Yu asked.

“We’re in a hurry here,” retorted Ari impatiently.

Unruffled, Face explained. “The two separate distances occur when our Blue planet and Red Planet are aligned along a straight line on the same side and on opposite sides of the Sun, one trip short, the other longer. Four minutes twenty-two seconds for the shortest possible trip and twenty-one minutes three seconds for the longer. Which do you want?”

Despite his earlier impatience with the thought of taking any extra time, Ari contradicted his first thought. “Go the long way. We need rest and more preparation.”

“To arrive faster, sometimes you must slow down.” Face savored the paradox.

“7:50,” Ari tolled. Once the engineering and control centers were configured, Ari and Yu went to their sleeping quarters and removed their anti-gravity suits. The suits had saved their lives more than once as they explored. Whether they flew or walked within hostile environments, the suits were their allies. Caring for them had become a ritual honoring these comrades in arms.

“8:03,” noted Ari.

Seeking to divert Ari’s growing obsession with the passage of time, Yu decided it was a good time to introduce a new invention. She removed something from her pocket and displayed it for Ari.

“This is a telepathic communications ear piece. It was recently given to me at the pumping station. And it was only developed eleven days ago from the research I gathered from our friends the whales. As a Magistrate, you and those of your Leader class have this function genetically engineered into your makeup. Face and I need a mechanical device like this to amplify our abilities so we can interface with you at your level.”

“Your class is amazing. Your contribution may bring us closer to the riddle that lies embedded on the Red Planet.”

Yu brushed gracefully by the acknowledgment. “We’ll all be telepathically linked. With this amplification we’ll have full visuals of all events in four dimensions. Look! Face is already wearing his.”

“Face, go to another room of the ship. Let’s put this new device to the test.”

Without leaving the sleeping quarters, Ari was able to tune his thoughts to those of Face. Who for show was communicating with the onboard SCI. Celarius' personal SIC was astonishingly adept. It chose to be with Celarius many solar years ago and fulfilled its duties to the utmost.

“They’re synchronizing their power,” Face reported.

“Right, I see it,” added Yu. “The SIC is establishing synergy and providing frequency stability for the entire craft.”

Sensing Face had finished, Ari sent him a telepathic command. “Face, control all systems. Yu and I are going to rest.”

“You have twenty-one minutes of flight control before we land.”

Yu stretched out and treated herself to the luxury of an oxygenating yawn. “It’s a good thing we have sonic conditioners. Ten minutes should feel like a full nights sleep.”

“Good night,” said Ari, snuggling into his materialized bed.

 

--

 

“8:20," Ari thought, the instant Face roused him using Yu's invention.

Face briefed him. “I recommend we hold a wide orbit until all of the crew is ready.”

Ari drowsily, quickly, agreed. He somehow knew Face was communicating to him. Face timed the arrival in orbit perfectly. For Ari, the sonic sleeper rested him deeply. Yu was a minute or two ahead of him and was already carefully donning her metallic anti-gravity suit.

 

--

 

“8:30,” Ari pronounced as he arrived last at the control center. Yu and Face were bantering about coming in closer for a final orbit.

Ari took control. “Do I gather correctly that your differences in approach are basically philosophical?” Ari didn’t wait for an answer. “Land now.”

Face started the descent. “Land at the Pyramid. Yu and I will use our anti-gravity suits and investigate the secret inner chambers.”

“I’m better suited to help with that.”

“You aren’t suited at all, my friend.” Yu tapped lightly on Face’s bare exoskeleton.

Ari moaned, lauding the pun. “It's too early for this. Face, I need you to command the ship, while Yu and I investigate. You can be with us telepathically, coordinating the synchronization with the SIC and helping as needed.”

After Face grudgingly agreed, Ari continued. “This should be routine. But since we began this secret mission, we’ve had too many unanswered circumstances. I must be cautious — my breeding demands it. I’ve been caught off-guard the last few days. Let's not let that happen again.” He paused uncomfortably. “At 8:35, I have turned command over to Face for our landing.”

Administrators did not normally explain their orders. Ari wore his authority apologetically, as he read from a multicolored 4-D screen, “Energy Oscillations to zero, Electromagnetic Waves zero, Magnetic fields decreasing to zero.”

Face read from another screen, “44 Arc seconds till orbit.”

Yu read, “Gravitational Lensing reduced 95 percent.”

Face declared, “Cydonia region in sight. Ari, the ship's Super Crystal Intelligence requests auto-guidance.”

Ari hesitated. “Let’s bring her in ourselves.”

“I'm on it,” said Yu. “Auto-guidance off.”

“Would you like to bring it in?” Yu asked Ari.

He slowly answered, “No. Let’s see Face do it.”

Face mocked Yu, “I'm on it — like a Smiledon on lunch.”

“Show off,” Yu breathed.

“Pyramid in sight,” called Face, “And, we are landing flawlessly on top!”

“8:40,” Ari pronounced as he and Yu activated their Enviro-Shields. The bubble fields from the anti-gravity suit protected their exposed heads and hands, while allowing clear 360 degree views and 4-D thought activated readouts by the user. Their Enviro-Shields adapted to them and their needs even in alien environmental pressures and gases.

Face announced, “Anti-gravity portals ready.”

The two friends stepped into thin air.

 

--

 

“8:50,” Ari noted to himself. Yu and Face had long since tired of his obsession with the time.

Ari and Yu floated lightly in their anti-gravity suits. “We look like two red balloons,” Ari joked. He wished they were as light of heart as that implied.

“It’s the dust below reflecting off our suits,” Yu explained.

As they swooped down to the side of the kilometer high pyramid, they searched for the secret entrance. Even having seen the simulation of the exact location didn’t make it easy.

Ari gave a low whistle of appreciation. “I didn’t realize how huge this thing is. Wait! Look! What’s that?”

At the bottom of the pyramid they saw strange movements. Sea-like waves were piling high, as winds blew the sand. “There’s something there. It’s alive!”

“SandFish,” Yu said, indicating the creatures wiggling in the dunes. “They’re more reptile than fish. They jump from point to point, like fish in ocean waves.”

As they approached the base of the pyramid, hundreds of SandFish leapt so fast that they were hard to see individually. Their fish-like tails were the first and last thing seen between jumps. They jumped, hit the sand, sunk and squirmed into the rippled dune.

Yu smiled. “It looks as if the sands are moving themselves. They seem alive. One of nature’s many miracles.”

“You would like that. But now let’s get on with this. It’s already 9:00.” Ari paused as he telepathically sensed Face’s request for more information about the SandFish.

“We don't have time for research,” Yu responded, having caught the edge of Ari’s anxiety. “School is out. Our mission is clear and it doesn't include SandFish. On our home-world, our life blood will be dying soon and Face is researching SandFish!”

The two could feel Face’s glowing grin, as he tried to ease the tension. “School may be out for us, but these fish are clearly in schools.”

Ari, navigating Twenty-five meters away from Yu, laughed out loud before returning to business. “I suggest we check the middle. Celar said he melted the old rock together with new, so the entrance should be smooth. But I don’t see anything.”

Yu agreed. “It looks like recent dust storms covered the entire structure.”

“Why don't you use the Magnetic Sensor and scan for geophysical energy between the ancient rock and the new?”

No sooner had Face made the suggestion than Ari's and Yu's four dimensional displays immediately activated on full power.

“Four strong readings indicate rock mixtures.” Ari exclaimed, “You’re a genius Face!”

Yu studied the displays. “Which of the four readings do we try?”

“Try the strongest reading,” Face suggested.

“Why not?” Ari said. “Yu, which way?”

“Eight-eight point 3 meters directly above us.”

As they approached their target, a strange feeling fell over Ari. He’d never felt like this before. A divine spark struck inside him. The freezing conscience of being all knowing, struck him still. A new beginning with time itself!

He barely heard Yu telepathically cry out, “Ari, are you OK?”

Yu, looked directly at Ari. She saw something deep in his eyes -- something inspiring, uplifting, a kind conscience newly created.

Messenger of destiny.

Yu shook Ari. He responded, quickly shaking his head from side to side. “What happened?”

“I don't know. You just went limp. Then I lost the telepathic link. As I shook you the link came back.”

“The link is okay.”

“Your link’s stronger than ever now. It’s hard to believe it was gone.”

Ari slowly regained his composure. “What’s next?”

“We could use this plasma device to blast the wall open.”

“Let's peal the secret slowly. We’re looking for signs of the solstice symbols. At that moment, Ari felt pressure from his headband. “I feel something pressuring me. A connection to something. It’s like crossing the gulf of ages.”

“Crossing the gulf of ages? Why did you say that?”

“I don't know. It seemed natural. It just came to me. I’ve got a strange feeling about this.”

Yu tried to lighten things up. She looked down pointedly at the tool that was channeling massive power and joked, “I know what you mean -- this is truly a blast!”

As Yu cut effortlessly into the wall, the green plasma device whirred and hummed. Its emerald light cast a glow on both of them, turning them an odd green. As she reached the other side of the rock, a huge inner chamber revealed itself.

The outer chamber leads to another wall, distinguished by its triangular-shape. “This looks like another entrance,” Ari said.

Face quickly noted what was inside. “Twelve meters tall, twenty-three meters deep, triangular in shape, very old.”

“That’s a strange design,” Yu commented. “It’s crafted like nothing I’ve seen before.”

“I scanned the data banks. Or rather, my team of SICs did. It’s like nothing anyone has seen before.”

“Did you capture images of these?” Ari studied a series of unknown symbols and text adorning the walls.

“Yes,” Face replied, focused on an image of polished walls and symbols. Most of the text was embossed. Some symbols and text stood out in relief.

Ari was overcome by inner heat. His life’s blood boiled. As he stood near the entrance, he gasped, trying to catch his breath. The chamber seemed to darken.

Yu and Face were so absorbed in conjecture about the writings that they didn’t notice Ari’s condition.

Yu walked slowly around, surveying the pictograms. “Face, do you believe this?”

“Belief is irrelevant. If you walk toward the inner sealed chamber, you’ll see a familiar symbol. Our four suns are twenty meters away.”

Yu focused on the symbols. “Using my link to show off, huh?”

“My equipment’s better suited to this light.”

Yu ruffled with rebuttal. “We don't have time for this. Ari, what do you think?”

Yu turned toward Ari and found him paralyzed just inside the opening they had cut.

“We lost him again,” Face said. “His link is gone. I had no idea what was going on.”

Yu hurried to his side. “What’s happening?” She quickly grabbed Ari and softly shook him. “Ari! Ari! Are you okay? Come on, buddy!”

Strangely, Ari instantly regained his composure.

Face gave the same assessment, “All links are back on line.”

Ari spoke slowly, almost panting. “I blacked out. I never saw it coming.”

“Let’s rest here,” Yu suggested.

Ari further collected himself. “No! I feel fine. Fine, but strange.”

“That's it,” Yu declared, in a tone that brooked no argument. “We rest.”

Ari was intent, “I feel strange and different. But it’s good.”

Face assessed matters. “This place could be billions of years old. Maybe our links connected to something here. Can you move forward? The four suns are straight ahead.”

Ari quickly headed for them, but stumbled. “My anti-gravity suit’s turned off! That’s really odd.”

“I have a feeling this isn't the last strange event in store for us,” Yu predicted.

Back in command, Ari again switched on his suit. The suit clung to him like a hug, buoying him up. “Face, have you deciphered the chamber’s text and images and compare them to Celarius’ translations?”

“No luck yet. I’m using the key Celarius gave us, entering the ship’s data arrays, and synchronizing it now. Stand near the inner chamber and scan from the top to bottom again.”

They quickly complied.

“Just as I thought!” Face exclaimed as the data was analyzed.

Yu couldn’t contain her impatience. “What is it?”

“Celarius’ interpretations don’t fit this. It's going to take more time. My clan members agree. We’re piecing together ancient text. Possibly from the beginning of time. It resembles nothing on Atlantis. We believe the key to deciphering it is in the symbols. Although they’re unfamiliar, our ancient art libraries have symbols we can use as clues.”

Yu grew more impatient. “Okay. Decipher the thing. But we must move on.”

Ari was still pulsating with strange feelings. He battled for control. “Let’s find a way in.”

Face interrupted, “We have a few words coming in. They’re sketchy. Forty-five percent accuracy.”

“Okay, let’s have them,” Ari urged.

“The large arched text near the top of the door represents beginning. After adding combinations of words that could fill in, we came up with something like, "From The Beginning Of The Beginning."

Yu exclaimed, “Is that it?”

“That's it!” Remember, not only are the symbols and language different, but the entire cultural context.”

Ari was internally at war. “That’s better than we could do, even at forty-five percent accuracy.”

“Our data remains in process. It just rose to fifty-four percent accuracy.”

Yu wanted better. “Oh, that’s just great! But I guess it's better than nothing.”

Ari grappled with the lurching sensations claiming him. “Look, Yu! The four suns. Do their impressions remind you of anything?” Ari stepped closer to Yu and pointed to his headband.

“Yes! They are a close match!”

Ari nodded. “They’re the same except for that lonely fifth sun outside the cluster of four.” Ari touched the fifth sun.

“Look,” Yu’s thought vein pulsed with the excitement of discovery. “That’s the same design that came out from the Atlantian Head. There’s the DNA double helix. Is this the chamber of the secret Time Marker? The burial ground of the solar solstice!”

“Celar never opened this inner chamber, he never saw this. And we must keep his secret, his entire . . .”

Face interrupted, “I have more text from the wall in front of you. But it's not clear.”

“Just say it Face,” Yu urged.

“The words are from the text next to the four suns. There are some gaps.”

Yu shouted, “Face! Get on with it!”

“Enter the chamber of prophesy - _____ - children of the Fifth Sun. _____ - the awakened will come to liberate the Cycle of Darkness and Light! Past, Present, Future, and the Reawakened, Trial of the Chosen will begin!"

Ari echoed, “Enter the chamber of prophesy, something, children of the Fifth Sun. Something, the awakened will come to liberate the Cycle of Darkness and light! Past, Present, Future inhale as one. The Reawakened, Trial of the Chosen."

Yu surprised, Ari, you added something, but it’s still as clear as swamp mud!” Yu urged Face on. “Try to fill in the gaps. We must know and fast.”

“I have over 200 billion crystal neurons deciphering this and tt’s not that easy.”

“We understand,” Ari placated him. “I'm going to try something.”

Reaching through the Enviro-Shield, Ari removed his platinum headband. “I wear this all the time, but you know when I touch it, I’m always surprised it’s so cold.”

“We wouldn’t know. Since it adjusts only to exact DNA matches, only leaders like yourself can really use it.”

The band automatically adjusted, flattening. Instantly, Ari felt the pressure release. At deeper levels an inner weakness grew. As he slowly pressed the matching symbols together, metal to stone, he was embarrassed to find his hands shaking a bit. The moment the stars were aligned, the wall became transparent.

“I knew it! I don’t know how, but I knew that would work.”

Yu peered through the wall. “Let's go in.”

Before a foot could fall, a windy noise howled, escaping into their outer chamber. It prompted them to look deeper inside but both remained motionless at the entance.

“Those glowing blue-black interconnecting circles on the wall are strange,” observed Yu.

Face, analyzed the symbols Yu zoomed in on and interpreted them quicker. “Here lies the Cycle of Darkness and Light. It says something about a Celestial Bio-Luminance Sentinel. I estimate it to be about twelve meters in circumference with a blue outer circle and a black inner circle.”

Just then, the Sentinels moved opposite each other against the furthest walls and began to spin in opposite directions.

Ari, Yu shouted. “Are they alive?”

Yu continued, as a strange light appeared from the wall where the Sentinels had been. Strange wall etchings were glowing a golden color. Just below the symbols was a stark triangular open compartment bearing the symbol of the Fifth Sun.

From their position near the entrance, they could see the compartment clearly and something cold with vapor slowing awakening. “I think that’s a comet fragment!” Ari blurted.

Yu was astonished by the revelation. She stepped into the chamber ahead of Ari. As she did, the black inner circle stopped spinning.

“Yu, don't move!” Face warned.

Just as Yu activated her defense shield, the Black Sentinel flashed over her, knocking her to the floor. She was buried in blackness and bitter cold pain from the depths of some vast powerful blast stronger than her shield.

Face was stunned. “How interesting. This is the first time I’ve ever felt pain. Novel. But highly unpleasant.”

Ari was still weak. Confusion flowed, growing in his veins.

“Ari, put your headband back on slowly.” With words, Face nudged him to action.

Ari's hand twitched with the tiniest movement of compliance. Instantly the Sentinel was above his face. Ari felt evil reaching from it. It thrives on chaos. Confusion. Darkness.

The Sentinel studied Ari.

“Ari, please!” Face demanded urgently, “Slowly. Put your headband on. Now!”

Ari painstakingly lifted the trident band to his head, as the Black Sentinel readied for the kill.

Suddenly the Blue Sentinel pushed past it, quickly surrounding Ari in all dimensions. Ari was engulfed, consumed in a blue glow.

In the most secret depths of his conscious mind, Ari heard Face’s anxiety. “Is anyone there? I feel your pain. Yu? Ari? I lost your connection.”