23

Chapter Twenty-three

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 commander 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.

As they ran down the tunnel, they overpowered small packs of soldiers and shot down the drones that flew in.

Dr. Snowden noted that there was a growing army behind them. He could not only see them, but he could feel them, and hear them, to the degree that he knew how many there were. The small packs of soldiers were no match for them. He could see Levaran’s weakened state when she punched one and it did not fly back as far as he had calculated it would. It still got jabbed, though.

Emily was a tornado. She had one end of her PSD extended as a blade, the other a rod.

He imagined the Time Wardens they ran into were shocked to be sliced up so fast.

She was smiling while she did it, as if it was redemption for having almost died and for the previous encounter with a predator.

Although he opted to go for range usually, he found that he too could determine the path a Time Warden would take in combat. He wondered if this was how Evaran and Levaran saw things. Dodging tentacles while shooting at drones was like second nature with whatever was inside him.

In one fight, he shot a sticky globule at several drones, sliced off two tentacles from one solider, then jabbed another, and batted one away like a baseball. And it was done without breaking a sweat. No wonder Evaran and Levaran were confident.

When they got to the entrance, both Torvattas were stacked on top of each other and blocking the way. Evaran’s was on the bottom, and it swiveled around, exposing the entrance.

They rushed on board and assembled in the command area.

Scene Break

Emily surveyed the landing pad as Time Warden ships began to arrive. They fired on the Torvattas to no avail. The energy Levaran had dumped into her was still surging throughout her body. She realized she should be sleeping, but half of her wanted to go back in and fight the Time Wardens. If this was how Evaran and Levaran felt all the time, it was no wonder they did not fear much.

V and Edev had greeted them upon their entry. V had rushed over to hug her and Dr. Snowden. She wondered if V had been monitoring everything. Both V and Edev were now at the front console.

“So … we just sit here and wait?” asked Dr. Snowden.

Evaran nodded while in his command chair. “That is correct. The explosion will incinerate everything around us and toss both Torvattas out of the timeline. However, we can go back in, whereas the Time Wardens will be where they should be.”

“What if when we come back in, the Time Wardens sneak in?” asked Emily.

“They would not have their suits and would end up evaporating back out,” said Evaran.

The landing pad shuddered as a wave of energy swept the Torvatta down the tunnel.

“It begins,” said Evaran.

Emily gulped as she saw that they were surfing the explosion out. The Torvatta showed a screen behind them, but it was just an orange glow. To the sides, she could see everything become part of the explosion.

It did not take long before they were tossed out into space. A moment later, after the smaller structures had been destroyed, the Torvattas were pulled back in.

Emily saw that they were headed to an irregularly shaped patch of space. The Torvatta had outlined it with a green border. She pointed at it. “That’s the timeline exit?”

“It is,” said Evaran.

She took a measured breath. “I don’t mean to change the subject, but you said earlier that there was a price our bodies paid for Levaran helping us …”

Evaran gestured at Levaran.

“You’ve lost approximately thirty percent of your nanobots. My re-formation energy used them to help re-form your body,” said Levaran.

Dr. Snowden furrowed his eyebrows. “Are the nanobots still the same, or different now?”

“They have transformed,” said Levaran. “I’m unsure what impact that will have on you, but Evaran will study it and let you know.”

Dr. Snowden chuckled. “Well, sure beats dying.”

Emily nodded. “Was that the fire we felt? The nanobots being transformed?”

“I don’t know what the sensation would be, since a plane form would not give away their re-formation energy before the plane form is settled.”

Dr. Snowden swallowed hard. “But … you did … for us.”

“You saved me when I was going to die. I have not forgotten that I am only here due to you three coming to my aid,” said Levaran, looking down. “I have a second chance, and I’m beyond grateful for that. Losing some strength in order to help those who helped me is an acceptable trade.”

Emily smiled at Levaran. “That commander was a hell of a fight.”

“It was, and although I suspect I could’ve taken it in time, it would’ve been hard, if not impossible, while trying to figure out how to stop the facility.”

Dr. Snowden nodded. “Well, I think I have a taste of just a glimmer of your power. It’s intoxicating, scary, and feels good at the same time.”

“I didn’t know if your forms would accept it,” said Levaran. “Your nanobots are what I infused to do the work. They acted as a buffer so that your internals were not liquefied.”

“Oh,” said Emily with widened eyes. “I’m glad that didn’t happen.”

“You will be fine, and,” said Levaran, gesturing at Evaran, “if there are any complications, I’m sure he will be able to help you.”

“We can train and assess any changes,” said V, glancing at Emily.

Dr. Snowden raised a finger. “I think … I’m going to join you.”

“Analysis. Your presence would be appreciated.”

Dr. Snowden chuckled. “I’m sure it would be. After all of this, I need some training.”

V’s lights glowed a bit brighter.

Emily narrowed her eyes at Levaran. “So … where are you headed now? I mean … after we exit the timeline?”

“I will go meet with Dan and the others. From their perspective, it would’ve been about three months. You three should come a day later, and we can have that cookout event Dan mentioned,” said Levaran.

“Sounds like a plan to me,” said Dr. Snowden, suppressing a yawn.

Emily noticed that it was pitch-black outside the Torvatta. “Looks like we’re outside the timeline now.”

“Analysis. Your assessment is correct,” said V.

Levaran stood. “I will return to my Torvatta. Get some rest, and I will see you all here shortly.”

Dr. Snowden and Emily hugged Levaran.

V and Edev joined them, causing them all to laugh.

After they separated, Levaran and Evaran touched hands, palms forward. They nodded at each other, and then Levaran and Edev headed to the elevator.

After Levaran and Edev had departed, Evaran gestured at Dr. Snowden and Emily. “You two should get some rest. It has been a while since you slept, and after these events, it would be good to recharge.”

Dr. Snowden shook his arms out. “I still have this energy in me. My body feels tired, but my mind is on fire.”

“It will pass,” said Evaran. “When it does, you will feel the full effects of exhaustion. I suggest whatever you decide to do, you do it in your quarters.”

Emily sighed. “I feel like I want to train, but … maybe I’ll just take it slow.” She cocked her head toward Evaran. “So you don’t know what impact this new type of nanobot will have?”

Evaran shook his head. “I do not. There has never been a merging of this type before that I am aware of, and I have been around for a long time.”

“New territory,” said Dr. Snowden. “This must be exciting for you too.”

Evaran dipped his head. “I am just glad you are safe. I think our next trip after all of this will be to Earth. We can take a break there, and you can take some time to assess if you wish to continue traveling with me.”

Dr. Snowden snorted. “No question here on that.”

“Here either,” said Emily.

“You almost died. That is not something to take lightly. I suspect the infusion of re-formation energy is clouding that aspect from you at the moment,” said Evaran. “There was nothing I could do to prevent your death from occurring. If Levaran were not around …”

“But she was,” said Dr. Snowden.

Emily could see that it bothered Evaran that he was powerless to save them. Despite all his knowledge, strength, and power, he had to ask for help to save them. She could see how that would be disconcerting. With a wagging finger, she said, “You can’t get rid of us that easy.”

Evaran smiled. “That was not my intent. However, I understand that a near-death experience can change someone’s views. I think some time on Earth back in our universe will be helpful.”

Dr. Snowden shrugged. “Works for me, but it still won’t change my opinion.”

“Same,” said Emily.

Evaran nodded.

“To our quarters then,” said Dr. Snowden.

Emily watched as Dr. Snowden nodded at everyone and headed to the living quarters. “I guess I’ll go too. I’m not ready to sleep yet, but I’m sure I will be once this thing wears off.” She eyed V. “If you’re interested, maybe those massage techniques you claim to know will help.”

“Analysis. The claim is valid. I am knowledgeable in many techniques.”

She stood and slapped V on the back, causing him to stumble forward a bit. “I have some time to kill. Prove it.”

“Acknowledged.”

She squeezed Evaran’s shoulder as she passed him. Evaran would probably chew on the events throughout the night. She would too at some point, but for now, a bath, a massage, and sleep were in order.